Dendronized heparin-doxorubicin conjugate based nanoparticle as pH-responsive drug delivery system for cancer therapy

Surface functionalized nanomaterial systems for targeted therapy of endocrine related tumors: a review of recent advancements

The application of multidisciplinary techniques in the management of endocrine-related cancers is crucial for harnessing the advantages of multiple disciplines and their coordinated efforts in eliminating tumors. Due to the malignant characteristics of cancer cells, they possess the capacity to develop resistance to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Nevertheless, despite diligent endeavors to enhance the prediction of outcomes, the overall survival rate for individuals afflicted with endocrine-related malignancy remains quite miserable. Hence, it is imperative to investigate innovative therapy strategies. The latest advancements in therapeutic tactics have offered novel approaches for the therapy of various endocrine tumors. This paper examines the advancements in nano-drug delivery techniques and the utilization of nanomaterials for precise cancer cures through targeted therapy. This review provides a thorough analysis of the potential of combined drug delivery strategies in the treatment of thyroid cancer, adrenal gland tumors, and pancreatic cancer. The objective of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of current therapeutic approaches, stimulate the development of new drug DDS, and improve the effectiveness of treatment for patients with these diseases. The intracellular uptake of pharmaceuticals into cancer cells can be significantly improved through the implantation of synthetic or natural substances into nanoparticles, resulting in a substantial reduction in the development of endocrine malignancies.

A Self-Skin Permeable Doxorubicin Loaded Nanogel Composite as a Transdermal Device for Breast Cancer Therapy

Modern drug delivery research focuses on developing biodegradable nanopolymer systems. The present study proposed a polymer-based composite nanogel as a transdermal drug delivery system for the pH-responsive targeted and controlled delivery of anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). Nanogels have properties of both hydrogels and nanomaterials. The β-cyclodextrin-based nanogels can enhance the loading capacity of poorly soluble drugs and promote a sustained drug release. The β-cyclodextrin-grafted methacrylic acid conjugated hyaluronic acid composite nanogel was successfully synthesized. β-Cyclodextrin was first grafted onto methacrylic acid. The composite nanogel-based drug carrier was prepared by controlled radical polymerization (CRP) of β-cyclodextrin-grafted methacrylic acid with hyaluronic acid. The doxorubicin-loaded carrier was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The drug loading and release efficiencies were carried out at different pH levels. The maximum drug loading and encapsulation efficiencies of the synthesized final nanogel composite material at pH 8.0 were 86.44 ± 2.12 and 96.07 ± 2.01%, respectively. The DOX-loaded final material showed a 90.0 ± 2.6% release percentage of DOX at pH 5.5, whereas at pH 7.4, the release percentage of DOX was observed to be only 35.0 ± 0.3%. In vitro swelling, degradation, hemocompatibility, drug release kinetics, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell colocalization, skin irritation, and skin permeation studies, along with in vivo pharmacokinetic studies, were performed to prove the efficacy of the synthesized nanogel composite as a transdermal carrier for doxorubicin.

Aptamer and sodium alginate decorated graphene oxide composite material with ion responsiveness for Low-density lipoprotein trapping

The accumulation of excess Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is strongly associated with the occurrence of heart failure, coronary artery disease and hypercholesterolaemia, and is a major factor in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Concerns about the ways to decrease LDL level have continuously arisen. In this study, an ionic stimulation-responsive composite (i.e., GO@Apt@SA) is prepared with modification of graphene oxide (GO) utilising LDL-aptamer (Apt) and sodium alginate (SA). The ion-responsive behaviour of GO@Apt@SA synergistically interacts with the specific recognition property of the aptamer, enabling adsorption of LDL with higher capacity and specificity. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity of GO@Apt@SA for LDL is 730.6 μg mg-1. Interestingly, the aptamer complementary chain could trigger the release of LDL with favourable elution efficiency, which competitively binds with LDL-specific aptamer to trigger LDL release. More importantly, GO@Apt@SA exhibits satisfactory adsorption performances for LDL in goat serum, meaning that the composite material and technology are available for the extraction of LDL from complex sample matrices.

Improving hemocompatibility in tissue-engineered products employing heparin-loaded nanoplatforms

The enhancement of hemocompatibility through the use of nanoplatforms loaded with heparin represents a highly desirable characteristic in the context of emerging tissue engineering applications. The significance of employing heparin in biological processes is unquestionable, owing to its ability to interact with a diverse range of proteins. It plays a crucial role in numerous biological processes by engaging in interactions with diverse proteins and hydrogels. This review provides a summary of recent endeavors focused on augmenting the hemocompatibility of tissue engineering methods through the utilization of nanoplatforms loaded with heparin. This study also provides a comprehensive review of the various applications of heparin-loaded nanofibers and nanoparticles, as well as the techniques employed for encapsulating heparin within these nanoplatforms. The biological and physical effects resulting from the encapsulation of heparin in nanoplatforms are examined. The potential applications of heparin-based materials in tissue engineering are also discussed, along with future perspectives in this field.

pH-responsive self-assembled nanoparticles for tumor-targeted drug delivery

Recent advances in the field of drug delivery have opened new avenues for the development of novel nanodrug delivery systems (NDDS) in cancer therapy. Self-assembled nanoparticles (SANPs) based on tumour microenvironment have great advantages in improving antitumor effect, and pH-responsive SANPs prepared by the combination of pH-responsive nanomaterials and self-assembly technology can effectively improve the efficacy and reduce the systemic toxicity of antitumor drugs. In this review, we describe the characteristics of self-assembly and its driving force, the mechanism of pH-responsive NDDS, and the nanomaterials for pH-responsive SANPs type. A series of pH-responsive SANPs for tumour-targeted drug delivery are discussed, with an emphasis on the relation between structural features and theranostic performance.

A review on multifaceted biomedical applications of heparin nanocomposites: Progress and prospects

Advances in polymer-based nanocomposites have revolutionized biomedical applications over the last two decades. Heparin (HP), being a highly bioactive polymer of biological origin, provides strong biotic competence to the nanocomposites, broadening the horizon of their applicability. The efficiency, biocompatibility, and biodegradability properties of nanomaterials significantly improve upon the incorporation of heparin. Further, inclusion of structural/chemical derivatives, fractionates, and mimetics of heparin enable fabrication of versatile nanocomposites. Modern nanotechnological interventions have exploited the inherent biofunctionalities of heparin by formulating various nanomaterials, including inorganic/polymeric nanoparticles, nanofibers, quantum dots, micelles, liposomes, and nanogels ensuing novel functionalities targeting diverse clinical applications involving drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, biocompatible coatings, nanosensors and so on. On this note, the present review explicitly summarises the recent HP-oriented nanotechnological developments, with a special emphasis on the reported successful engagement of HP and its derivatives/mimetics in nanocomposites for extensive applications in the laboratory and health-care facility. Further, the advantages and limitations/challenges specifically associated with HP in nanocomposites, undertaken in this current review are quintessential for future innovations/discoveries pertaining to HP-based nanocomposites.

Doxorubicin conjugates: a practical approach for its cardiotoxicity alleviation

INTRODUCTION

Doxorubicin (DOX) emerges as a cornerstone in the arsenal of potent chemotherapeutic agents. Yet, the clinical deployment of DOX is tarnished by its proclivity to induce severe cardiotoxic effects, culminating in heart failure and other consequential morbidities. In response, a panoply of strategies has undergone rigorous exploration over recent decades, all aimed at attenuating DOX's cardiotoxic impact. The advent of encapsulating DOX within lipidic or polymeric nanocarriers has yielded a dual triumph, augmenting DOX's therapeutic efficacy while mitigating its deleterious side effects.

AREAS COVERED

Recent strides have spotlighted the emergence of DOX conjugates as particularly auspicious avenues for ameliorating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. These conjugates entail the fusion of DOX through physical or chemical bonds with diminutive natural or synthetic moieties, polymers, biomolecules, and nanoparticles. This spectrum encompasses interventions that impinge upon DOX's cardiotoxic mechanism, modulate cellular uptake and localization, confer antioxidative properties, or refine cellular targeting.

EXPERT OPINION

The endorsement of DOX conjugates as a compelling stratagem to mitigate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity resounds from this exegesis, amplifying safety margins and the therapeutic profile of this venerated chemotherapeutic agent. Within this ambit, DOX conjugates stand as a beacon of promise in the perpetual pursuit of refining chemotherapy-induced cardiac compromise.

Valine conjugated polymeric nanocarriers for targeted co-delivery of rivastigmine and quercetin in rat model of Alzheimer disease

Multifunctional nanocarriers are increasingly promising for disease treatment aimed at finding effective therapy and overcoming barriers in drug delivery. Herein, valine conjugated chitosan (VLCS) was used for surface modification of nanocarriers (NCs) based on Poly (ε-caprolactone)-Poly (ethylene glycol)-Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL) triblock copolymers (NCs@VLCS). The nanocarriers were co-loaded with rivastigmine (RV) and quercetin (QT) to yield the final RV/QT-NCs@VLCS as a multifunctional nanocarrier for Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment. The large amino acid transporter 1 (LAT-1) was selected for the direction of the NCs to the brain. The biocompatibility of the nanocarrier was studied in HEK-293 and SH-SY5Y cells and rats. The Morris water maze test demonstrated a faster regain of memory loss with RV/QT-NCs@VLCS compared to the other groups. Furthermore, RV/QT-NCs@VLCS and RV/QT-NCs improved GSH depletion induced by scopolamine (SCO), with RV/QT-NCs@VLCS having a superior effect. The real-time PCR analysis revealed that co-delivery of RV and QT by NCs@VLCS showed significantly higher efficacy than sole delivery of RV. RV/QT-NCs@VLCS treatment also modulated the expression of BDNF, ACHE, and TNF-α. The findings revealed that NCs@VLCS co-loaded with RV and QT, significantly increased efficacy relative to the single use of RV and could be considered a potent multifunctional drug delivery system for Alzheimer's treatment.

Progressing nanotechnology to improve targeted cancer treatment: overcoming hurdles in its clinical implementation

The use of nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the detection and treatment of cancer. Developments in protein engineering and materials science have led to the emergence of new nanoscale targeting techniques, which offer renewed hope for cancer patients. While several nanocarriers for medicinal purposes have been approved for human trials, only a few have been authorized for clinical use in targeting cancer cells. In this review, we analyze some of the authorized formulations and discuss the challenges of translating findings from the lab to the clinic. This study highlights the various nanocarriers and compounds that can be used for selective tumor targeting and the inherent difficulties in cancer therapy. Nanotechnology provides a promising platform for improving cancer detection and treatment in the future, but further research is needed to overcome the current limitations in clinical translation.

Current perspectives and trends in nanoparticle drug delivery systems in breast cancer: bibliometric analysis and review

The treatment of breast cancer (BC) is a serious challenge due to its heterogeneous nature, multidrug resistance (MDR), and limited therapeutic options. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs) represent a promising tool for overcoming toxicity and chemotherapy drug resistance in BC treatment. No bibliometric studies have yet been published on the research landscape of NDDS-based treatment of BC. In this review, we extracted data from 1,752 articles on NDDS-based treatment of BC published between 2012 and 2022 from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database. VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and some online platforms were used for bibliometric analysis and visualization. Publication trends were initially observed: in terms of geographical distribution, China and the United States had the most papers on this subject. The highest contributing institution was Sichuan University. In terms of authorship and co-cited authorship, the most prolific author was Yu Zhang. Furthermore, Qiang Zhang and co-workers have made tremendous achievements in the field of NDDS-based BC treatment. The article titled "Nanomedicine in cancer therapy: challenges, opportunities, and clinical applications" had the most citations. The Journal of Controlled Release was one of the most active publishers in the field. "Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries" was the most cited reference. We also analysed "hot" and cutting-edge research for NDDSs in BC treatment. There were nine topic clusters: "tumour microenvironment," "nanoparticles (drug delivery)," "breast cancer/triple-negative breast cancer," "combination therapy," "drug release (pathway)," "multidrug resistance," "recent advance," "targeted drug delivery", and "cancer nanomedicine." We also reviewed the core themes of research. In summary, this article reviewed the application of NDDSs in the treatment of BC.

Internal stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for controlled anti-cancer drug release: a review

Cancer disease is one of the most frequent life-threatening, with a high fatality rate worldwide. However, recent immunotherapy studies in various tumours have yielded unsatisfactory outcomes, with just a few individuals experiencing long-term responses. To overcome these issues, nowadays internal stimuli-responsive nanocarriers have been widely exploited to transport a wide range of active substances, including peptides, genes and medicines. These nanosystems could be chemically adjusted to produce target-based drug release at the target location, minimizing pathological and physiological difficulties while increasing therapeutic efficiency. This review highlights the various types of internal stimuli-responsive nanocarriers and applications in cancer diagnosis. This study can provide inspiration and impetus for exploiting more promising internal stimuli-responsive nanosystems for drug delivery.

Heparin Biofunctionalized Selenium Nanoparticles as Potential Antiangiogenic-Chemotherapeutic Agents for Targeted Doxorubicin Delivery

Combining antiangiogenic and chemotherapeutic agents has shown promising clinical benefits in cancer cures when the therapeutic intervention takes into account the tissue and molecular targets. Moreover, the risk of induced drug resistance is minimized when multiple pathways are involved in the treatment regimen, yielding a better therapeutic outcome. Nanodrug delivery systems have proven to be a prudent approach to treating complex disease pathologies. As such, combining antiangiogenic and chemotherapeutic drugs within multimodal nanocarriers synergistically augments the clinical efficiency of the drugs. This study reports the combinatorial efficacy of heparin (Hep), selenium NPs (SeNPs), and doxorubicin (Dox) to inhibit tumor growth and progression. Both Se@Hep-NPs and Se@Hep-Dox-NPs with excellent water dispersity having a size and charge in the range of 250 ± 5 and 253 ± 5 nm and -53 ± 0.4 and -48.4 ± 6.4 mV, respectively, showed strong anticancer potential assessed through in vitro assays like cell viability, specificity, colony formation, and wound scratch in MCF7 cells. Strong synergistic interactions among SeNPs, Hep, and Dox in Se@Hep-Dox-NPs render it to be an antiangiogenic and proapoptotic cancer cell death inducers. In vivo imaging highlights the dual-mode attributes of Se@Hep-NPs with desirable passive tumor targeting and biomedical imaging ability when tagged with Cy7.5, while Se@Hep-Dox-NPs significantly reduce the tumor burden and prolong the longevity of subcutaneous EAC-bearing mice. Histopathology studies reveal no signs of toxicity in major organs. Collectively, these results qualify Se@Hep-Dox-NPs as a plausible clinical therapeutic candidate.

Dendrimer: An update on recent developments and future opportunities for the brain tumors diagnosis and treatment

A brain tumor is an uncontrolled cell proliferation, a mass of tissue composed of cells that grow and divide abnormally and appear to be uncontrollable by the processes that normally control normal cells. Approximately 25,690 primary malignant brain tumors are discovered each year, 70% of which originate in glial cells. It has been observed that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the distribution of drugs into the tumour environment, which complicates the oncological therapy of malignant brain tumours. Numerous studies have found that nanocarriers have demonstrated significant therapeutic efficacy in brain diseases. This review, based on a non-systematic search of the existing literature, provides an update on the existing knowledge of the types of dendrimers, synthesis methods, and mechanisms of action in relation to brain tumours. It also discusses the use of dendrimers in the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours and the future possibilities of dendrimers. Dendrimers are of particular interest in the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours because they can transport biochemical agents across the BBB to the tumour and into the brain after systemic administration. Dendrimers are being used to develop novel therapeutics such as prolonged release of drugs, immunotherapy, and antineoplastic effects. The use of PAMAM, PPI, PLL and surface engineered dendrimers has proven revolutionary in the effective diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours.

A Glimpse into Dendrimers Integration in Cancer Imaging and Theranostics

Cancer is a result of abnormal cell proliferation. This pathology is a serious health problem since it is a leading cause of death worldwide. Current anti-cancer therapies rely on surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. However, these treatments still present major associated problems, namely the absence of specificity. Thus, it is urgent to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Nanoparticles, particularly dendrimers, have been paving their way to the front line of cancer treatment, mostly for drug and gene delivery, diagnosis, and disease monitoring. This is mainly derived from their high versatility, which results from their ability to undergo distinct surface functionalization, leading to improved performance. In recent years, the anticancer and antimetastatic capacities of dendrimers have been discovered, opening new frontiers to dendrimer-based chemotherapeutics. In the present review, we summarize the intrinsic anticancer activity of different dendrimers as well as their use as nanocarriers in cancer diagnostics and treatment.

Recent advances in pH/enzyme-responsive polysaccharide-small-molecule drug conjugates as nanotherapeutics

Now-a-days, the polysaccharides are extensively employed for the delivery of small-molecule drugs ascribed to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability and modifiability. An array of drug molecules is often chemically conjugated with different polysaccharides to augment their bio-performances. As compared to their therapeutic precursors, these conjugates could typically demonstrate an improved intrinsic solubility, stability, bioavailability and pharmacokinetic profiles of the drugs. In current years, various stimuli-responsive particularly pH and enzyme-sensitive linkers or pendants are also exploited to integrate the drug molecules into the polysaccharide backbone. The resulting conjugates could experience a rapid molecular conformational change upon exposure to the microenvironmental pH and enzyme changes of the diseased states, triggering the release of the bioactive cargos at the targeted sites and eventually minimize the systemic side effects. Herein, the recent advances in pH and enzyme -responsive polysaccharide-drug conjugates and their therapeutic benefits are systematically reviewed, following a brief description on the conjugation chemistry of the polysaccharides and drug molecules. The challenges and future perspectives of these conjugates are also precisely discussed.

Preparation of gastrodin-modified dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles as a drug delivery system for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to evaluate the feasibility of multifunctional gastrodin (GAS)-containing nano-drug carrier system against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI).

METHODS

The drug-loaded nanocomposite (Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS) with certain encapsulation efficiency (EE) was prepared by physical adsorption method using different proportions of GAS and drug-carrying system (Au-G5.NHAc-PS). High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the drug loading and EE. Cultured rat astrocytes and hypothalamic neurons were assigned into four groups: PBS, Au-G5.NHAc-PS, Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS, and GAS. CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to examine the cell viability, apoptosis, and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, and IL-6 in the astrocytes and hypothalamic neurons, respectively. Cellular uptake of GAS and Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS was analyzed by using Hoechst 33342 staining. The animal model with focal cerebral ischemia was generated by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, and pathological changes of brain tissue and major organs in the rats were identified by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Apoptosis in rat astrocytes and hypothalamic neurons was detected by TUNEL staining and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Au-G5.NHAc-PS had a spherical shape with a uniform size of 157.3 nm. Among the nanoparticles, Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS with an EE of 70.3% displayed the best release delay effect. Moreover, we observed that in vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS were higher than those of GAS, whereas the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 was significantly downregulated in Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS group as compared to G5.NHAc-PS group. Notably, HE staining revealed that although Au-G5.NHAc-PS/GAS had no toxic and side effects on the main organs of rats, it alleviated the damage of brain tissue in the MCAO rats. Besides, Au-G5.NHAc/GAS markedly reduced MCAO-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Au-G5.NHAc-PS showed favorable surface morphology, sustained drug release ability, no measurable toxicity, and good biocompatibility, indicating that GAS exerts anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects on CIRI.

Applications of mannose-binding lectins and mannan glycoconjugates in nanomedicine

Glycosylated nanoparticles (NPs) have drawn a lot of attention in the biomedical field over the past few decades, particularly in applications like targeted drug delivery. Mannosylated NPs and mannan-binding lectins/proteins (MBL/MBP) are emerging as promising tools for delivery of drugs, medicines, and enzymes to targeted tissues and cells as nanocarriers, enhancing their therapeutic benefits while avoiding the adverse effects of the drug. The occurrence of plenty of lectin receptors and their mannan ligands on cell surfaces makes them multifaceted carriers appropriate for specific delivery of bioactive drug materials to their targeted sites. Thus, the present review describes the tethering of mannose (Man) to several nanostructures, like micelles, liposomes, and other NPs, applicable for drug delivery systems. Bioadhesion through MBL-like receptors on cells has involvements applicable to additional arenas of science, for example gene delivery, tissue engineering, biomaterials, and nanotechnology. This review also focuses on the role of various aspects of drug/antigen delivery using (i) mannosylated NPs, (ii) mannosylated lectins, (iii) amphiphilic glycopolymer NPs, and (iv) natural mannan-containing polysaccharides, with most significant applications of MBL-based NPs as multivalent scaffolds, using different strategies.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Mannosylated NPs and/or MBL/MBP are coming up as viable and versatile tools as nanocarriers to deliver drugs and enzymes precisely to their target tissues or cells. The presence of abundant number of lectin receptors and their mannan ligands on cell surfaces makes them versatile carriers suitable for the targeted delivery of bioactive drugs.

Dendrimers as nanoscale vectors: Unlocking the bars of cancer therapy

Chemotherapy is the first choice in the treatment of cancer and is always preferred to other approaches such as radiation and surgery, but it has never met the need of patients for a safe and effective drug. Therefore, new advances in cancer treatment are now needed to reduce the side effects and burdens associated with chemotherapy for cancer patients. Targeted treatment using nanotechnology are now being actively explored as they could effectively deliver therapeutic agents to tumor cells without affecting normal cells. Dendrimers are promising nanocarriers with distinct physiochemical properties that have received considerable attention in cancer therapy studies, which is partly due to the numerous functional groups on their surface. In this review, we discuss the progress of different types of dendrimers as delivery systems in cancer therapy, focusing on the challenges, opportunities, and functionalities of the polymeric molecules. The paper also reviews the various role of dendrimers in their entry into cells via endocytosis, as well as the molecular and inflammatory pathways in cancer. In addition, various dendrimers-based drug delivery (e.g., pH-responsive, enzyme-responsive, redox-responsive, thermo-responsive, etc.) and lipid-, amino acid-, polymer- and nanoparticle-based modifications for gene delivery, as well as co-delivery of drugs and genes in cancer therapy with dendrimers, are presented. Finally, biosafety concerns and issues hindering the transition of dendrimers from research to the clinic are discussed to shed light on their clinical applications.

Antiproliferative and apoptotic potential of methotrexate lipid nanoparticle in murine breast cancer model

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of novel methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles (MTX-NPs) in vitro and in vivo in the treatment of breast cancer. Materials & methods: MTX-NPs were tested for cellular uptake, cell viability, cell cycle, cellular wound migration and changes in tumor volume using characterized NPs. Results: The solid lipid NPs (SLNPs) showed strong cellular uptake, increased apoptosis, controlled cytotoxicity at lower IC50 of methotrexate and a sizable reduction in tumor burden. Conclusion: MTX-NP oral formulation can be a promising candidate in breast cancer treatment with improved cellular uptake and in vivo efficacy.

Dual stimuli-responsive dendronized prodrug derived from poly(oligo-(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)-based copolymers for enhanced anti-cancer therapeutic effect

In this study, we developed an enzyme- and pH-responsive dendronized poly(oligo-(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (pOEGMA)-doxorubicin (DOX) polymeric prodrug, which combined the pOEGMA structure with a degradable peptide dendron. The introduction of the dendron in the prodrug hindered the entanglement of brush oligo-(ethylene glycol) (OEG) chains, allowed the prodrug to possess dual stimuli-responsiveness, and mediated self-assembly of the polymeric prodrug to form stable nanoparticles (NPs). Brush conformation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) side chains endowed the NPs with long-term circulation with a half-life of 16.0 h. The dual-responsive dendritic structure enhanced cellular uptake of NPs and facilitated drug release in response to overexpressed cathepsin B and an acidic pH in the tumor microenvironment, resulting in an enhanced therapeutic effect with a tumor inhibition rate of 72.9% for 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. The NPs were demonstrated to possess great hemocompatibility and biosafety. Therefore, this strategy could provide great insight for the design of poly(oligo-(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)-based copolymers as drug delivery carriers. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We propose a dual-stimuli-responsive dendronized strategy for improving the cancer therapeutic effect of the poly(oligo-(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (pOEGMA)-based drug conjugates. The introduction of the functional dendron promotes self-assembly of the polymeric prodrug into nanoparticles, hindering the entanglement of brush oligo-(ethylene glycol) (OEG) chains in the conjugated drugs. The obtained poly OEGMA-GFLG-Dendron-NH-N=DOX nanoparticles maintains long circulation, while addresses the drug release issue due to the presence of high-density PEG. The drug delivery system exhibits a high therapeutic potentcy with negligible side effects.

Glycosoaminoglycans in cancer therapy

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are an important component of the tumor microenvironment (TME). GAGs can interact with a variety of binding partners and thereby influence cancer progression on multiple levels. GAGs can modulate growth factor and chemokine signaling, invasion and metastasis formation. Moreover, GAGs are able to change the physical property of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Abnormalities in GAG abundance and structure (e.g., sulfation patterns and molecular weight) are found across various cancer types and show biomarker potential. Targeting GAGs, as well as the usage of GAGs and their mimetics, are promising approaches to interfere with cancer progression. In addition, GAGs can be used as drug and cytokine carriers to induce an anti-tumor response. In this review, we summarize the role of GAGs in cancer and the potential use of GAGs and GAG derivatives to target cancer.

Design, Synthesis, and Bioevaluation of Novel Enzyme-Triggerable Cell Penetrating Peptide-Based Dendrimers for Targeted Delivery of Camptothecin and Cancer Therapy

Novel enzyme-triggerable cell penetrating peptide (ETCPP) dendrimers with a camptothecin (CPT) warhead were designed and synthesized based on an amphiphilic penetrating peptide (FKKFFRKLL, discovered by us before). Among the newly synthesized ETCPP dendrimer conjugates, BL_Oc-SS-CPT (a high-generation dendrimer) exhibited the highest activity with IC₅₀s in the nanomolar range (31-747 nM) against a panel of cancer cells, which is 3-10 times better than that of CPT. BL_Oc-SS-CPT remained intact during transit to target cells and in normal tissues with a plasma half-life of 4.2 h, 2.3-fold longer than that of the monomer (1.8 h). Once reaching the tumor site, BL_Oc-SS-CPT gradually released CPT in the presence of excessive matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 and GSH in cancer cells. Importantly, BL_Oc-SS-CPT exhibited excellent in vivo tumor targeting capability and antitumor efficacy with benign toxicity profiles. Thus, the novel ETCPP dendrimer-based drug delivery system (e.g., BL_Oc-SS-CPT) represents a safe and effective strategy for targeted cancer therapy.

Anticancer nanomedicines harnessing tumor microenvironmental components

INTRODUCTION

Small-molecular drugs are extensively used in cancer therapy, while they have issues of nonspecific distribution and consequent side effects. Nanomedicines that incorporate chemotherapeutic drugs have been developed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs and reduce their side effects. One of the promising strategies is to prepare nanomedicines by harnessing the unique tumor microenvironment (TME).

AREAS COVERED

The TME contains numerous cell types that specifically express specific antibodies on the surface including tumor vascular endothelial cells, tumor-associated adipocytes, tumor-associated fibroblasts, tumor-associated immune cells and cancer stem cells. The physicochemical environment is characterized with a low pH, hypoxia, and a high redox potential resulting from tumor-specific metabolism. The intelligent nanomedicines can be categorized into two groups: the first group which is rapidly responsive to extracellular chemical/biological factors in the TME and the second one which actively and/or specifically targets cellular components in the TME.

EXPERT OPINION

In this paper, we review recent progress of nanomedicines by harnessing the TME and illustrate the principles and advantages of different strategies for designing nanomedicines, which are of great significance for exploring novel nanomedicines or translating current nanomedicines into clinical practice. We will discuss the challenges and prospects of preparing nanomedicines to utilize or alter the TME for achieving effective, safe anticancer treatment.

Self-assembly of Peptide dendrimers and their bio-applications in theranostics

Nanotechnology has brought revolutionized advances in disease diagnosis and therapy. Self-assembled peptide dendrimers own novel physicochemical properties through the synergistic effects of the polypeptide chain, dendrimer and nano-structure, exhibiting great potential in theranostic. This review provides comprehensive insights into various peptide dendrimers for self-assembly. Their nanosize, morphology and composition are presented to understand self-assembly behaviors precisely. We further introduce the emerging theranostic applications based on specific imaging and efficient delivery recently.

Smart pH-Sensitive Hydrogel Based on the Pineapple Peel-Oxidized Hydroxyethyl Cellulose and the Hericium erinaceus Residue Carboxymethyl Chitosan for Use in Drug Delivery

Pineapple and hericium erinaceus (HE) produce a lot of residues in the process of food processing. These processed residues are good potential derivative precursors. In this investigation, a simple and non-toxic method was developed to prepare one new composite hydrogel by the Schiff base reaction between the aldehyde group of oxidized hydroxyethyl cellulose (OHEC) from processed pineapple peel residue and the amino group of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) from processed HE residue. Subsequently, a series of experiments toward these new hydrogel polymers including structure characterization and performances were applied. The resultant hydrogel polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy and confirmed with thermogravimetry. It was observed that the modification of cellulose and chitin was adequate, and the synthesis of OHEC/CMCS hydrogel polymers was successful. The gelation time experiments indicated that the shortest gel time was 33 s at a mass ratio of 4:6 (OHEC-70:CMCS). The hydrogel showed good swelling properties. The maximum swelling rate reached 11.58 g/g, and the swelling rate decreased with the increase of the oxidation degree of OHEC. The drug delivery applications of the prepared hydrogel were evaluated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model drug releasing in vitro. It was discovered that the BSA release from the hydrogel was pH sensitive under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. All of these attributes indicate that the novel prepared hydrogel polymers have the potential as good carriers for oral delivery of protein-type drugs.

Heparin detection based on the fluorescent turn-on probe of amino carbon quantum dots

Amino-rich carbon quantum dots (CDs) were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of ethylene glycol, glucose and polyethyleneimine. CDs have green fluorescence (excitation/emission peaks 435 nm/515 nm) and can be enhanced by the addition of heparin (Hep). A linear relationship between fluorescence intensity and heparin concentration was observed. The fluorescence turn-on probe used for Hep detection showed a very large detection range of 0.02-16 μM, covering different therapeutic ranges in clinical applications. The probe exhibited an ultra-low detection limit of 0.007 nM.

Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agents and Drug Delivery Systems - A Review

The world is facing major issues related to antibiotic resistance, specific drugs targeting and its side effects. Such obstacles can be rectified by nanotechnology as they have essential characteristics with smaller size, target specificity, easy deliverable with lesser side effects. The prime nature of the nanoparticles are, it can probe into the cell wall of the pathogenic microbes and even have the capacity to intrude into cellular pathways. Nanoparticles themselves are capable of destroying unwanted foreign particles or toxic cells, which enter into our bodies. Nanoparticles can be treated as carriers, in which they combine with specific drugs and deliver to target specific cells with lesser side effects. Nanoparticles are used as a drug delivery agent for various kinds of diseases related to cancer. Nanoparticles with drugs increase the antibiotic release at the different target sites and these nanoparticles have a great tendency to deliver a large number of drugs to a cell. In this current review, we discuss the bright future of NPs as drug delivery agents as it can overcome all conventional problems.

Biomimetic camouflage delivery strategies for cancer therapy

Cancer remains a significant challenge despite the progress in developing different therapeutic approaches. Nanomedicine has been explored as a promising novel cancer therapy. Recently, biomimetic camouflage strategies have been investigated to change the bio-fate of therapeutics and target cancer cells while reducing the unwanted exposure on normal tissues. Endogenous components (e.g., proteins, polysaccharides, and cell membranes) have been used to develop anticancer drug delivery systems. These biomimetic systems can overcome biological barriers and enhance tumor cell-specific uptake. The tumor-targeting mechanisms include ligand-receptor interactions and stimuli-responsive (e.g., pH-sensitive and light-sensitive) delivery. Drug delivery carriers composed of endogenous components represent a promising approach for improving cancer treatment efficacy. In this paper, different biomimetic drug delivery strategies for cancer treatment are reviewed with a focus on the discussion of their advantages and potential applications.

Exploring the feasibility of carbamoylethyl pullulan-g-palmitic acid polymeric micelles for the effective targeting of raloxifene to breast tumor: Optimization and preclinical evaluation

Carbamoylethyl pullulan-grafted palmitic acid (CP-g-PA), a novel self-assembled polymer was synthesized and examined for its efficacy in delivering the raloxifene (RA) to mammary carcinoma. The synthesized CP-g-PA was confirmed by evaluating through various spectral and morphological attributes. Further, the central composite design-response surface methodology with two factors at three levels was utilized to obtain the optimized and stable polymeric micelles. The optimized formulation was subjected to in vitro and in vivo evaluation. RA loaded polymeric micelles (RA-PMs) were spherical in shape with particle size less than 100 nm and high entrapment efficiency (77.02%). The developed formulation exhibited pH-dependent release profile of RA when loaded in polymeric micelles and provides substantial compatibility to erythrocytes. In vivo pharmacokinetic study demonstrates that RA-PMs offers higher mean residence time and volume of distribution as compared to pure RA. Besides, the biodistribution study manifested enhanced drug concentration in tumor and decreased concentration in other tissue as compared to pure drug. The treatment with RA-PMs also increases the median survival time, tumor inhibition rate and % increase in life span of the tumor bearing rats. Overall, the results pointed towards the overwhelming response of RA when loaded into micelles made from CP-g-PA.

A tumor-activatable peptide supramolecular nanoplatform for the delivery of dual-gene targeted siRNAs for drug-resistant cancer treatment

Combinatorial short interference RNA (siRNA) technology for the silencing of multiple genes is expected to provide an effective therapeutic approach for cancer with complex genetic mutation and dysregulation. Herein we present a tumor-activatable supramolecular nanoplatform for the delivery of siRNAs to target telomerase and telomeres for paclitaxel-resistant non-small-cell lung cancer (A549/PTX) treatment. Two different sequences of siRNA are incorporated in a single nanoparticle, which is obtained by self-assembly from a peptide dendrimer. The siRNA stability is improved by the nanoparticle in the presence of serum compared to free siRNA, and these siRNAs are protected from RNA enzyme degradation. In the tumor extracellular acid environment, the PEG corona of the nanoparticle is removed to promote the internalization of siRNAs into tumor cells. The disulfide linkages between the nanoparticle and siRNAs are cleared in the reductive environment of the tumor cells, and the siRNAs are released in the cytoplasm. In vitro experiments show that the gene expression of hTERT and TRF2 at the mRNA and protein levels of A549/PTX tumor cells is down-regulated, which results in cooperative restraining proliferation and invasion of A549/PTX tumor cells. For the tumor cell-targeting function of the MUC1 aptamer and the EPR effect, sufficient tumor accumulation of nanoparticles was observed. Meanwhile, a shift of negative surface charge of nanoparticles to positive charge in the tumor extracellular microenvironment enhances deep penetration of siRNA-incorporating nanoparticles into tumor tissues. In vivo animal studies support that successful down-regulation of hTERT and TRF2 gene expression achieves effective inhibition of the growth and neovascularization of drug-resistant tumor cells. This work has provided a new avenue for drug-resistant cancer treatment by designing and synthesizing a tumor-activatable nanoplatform to achieve the delivery of dual-gene targeted combinatorial siRNAs.

Polymeric Nanocarriers: A Transformation in Doxorubicin Therapies

Doxorubicin, a member of the anthracycline family, is a common anticancer agent often used as a first line treatment for the wide spectrum of cancers. Doxorubicin-based chemotherapy, although effective, is associated with serious side effects, such as irreversible cardiotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. Those often life-threatening adverse risks, responsible for the elongation of the patients' recuperation period and increasing medical expenses, have prompted the need for creating novel and safer drug delivery systems. Among many proposed concepts, polymeric nanocarriers are shown to be a promising approach, allowing for controlled and selective drug delivery, simultaneously enhancing its activity towards cancerous cells and reducing toxic effects on healthy tissues. This article is a chronological examination of the history of the work progress on polymeric nanostructures, designed as efficient doxorubicin nanocarriers, with the emphasis on the main achievements of 2010-2020. Numerous publications have been reviewed to provide an essential summation of the nanopolymer types and their essential properties, mechanisms towards efficient drug delivery, as well as active targeting stimuli-responsive strategies that are currently utilized in the doxorubicin transportation field.

An Amphiphilic PEGylated Peptide Dendron-Gemcitabine Prodrug-Based Nanoagent for Cancer Therapy

An amphiphilic peptide dendrimer conjugated with gemcitabine (GEM), PEGylated dendron-Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly-GEM (PEGylated dendron-GFLG-GEM), is developed as a nano-prodrug for breast cancer therapy. The self-assembled behavior is observed under a transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The negatively charged surface and hydrodynamic size of the amphiphilic nanosized prodrug supported that the prodrug can maintain the stability of GEM during circulation and accumulate in the tumor tissue. Drug release assays are conducted to monitor the release of GEM from this nanodrug delivery system in response to the tumor microenvironment, and these assays confirm that GEM released from the nanocarrier is identical to free GEM. The GEM prodrug can prevent proliferation of tumor cells. The therapeutic effect against breast cancer is systematically investigated using an in vivo animal model. Immunohistochemical results are aligned with the significantly enhanced anticancer efficacy of GEM released from the prodrug. This self-assembled amphiphilic drug delivery nanocarrier may broaden the application for GEM and other anticancer agents for breast cancer chemotherapy.

Glycosaminoglycans: Carriers and Targets for Tailored Anti-Cancer Therapy

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of cancerous, non-cancerous, stromal, and immune cells that are surrounded by the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), natural biomacromolecules, essential ECM, and cell membrane components are extensively altered in cancer tissues. During disease progression, the GAG fine structure changes in a manner associated with disease evolution. Thus, changes in the GAG sulfation pattern are immediately correlated to malignant transformation. Their molecular weight, distribution, composition, and fine modifications, including sulfation, exhibit distinct alterations during cancer development. GAGs and GAG-based molecules, due to their unique properties, are suggested as promising effectors for anticancer therapy. Considering their participation in tumorigenesis, their utilization in drug development has been the focus of both industry and academic research efforts. These efforts have been developing in two main directions; (i) utilizing GAGs as targets of therapeutic strategies and (ii) employing GAGs specificity and excellent physicochemical properties for targeted delivery of cancer therapeutics. This review will comprehensively discuss recent developments and the broad potential of GAG utilization for cancer therapy.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Novel DTX-Loaded Multifunctional Heparin-Based Polymeric Micelles Targeting Folate Receptors and Endosomes

BACKGROUND

The development of biocompatible tumor-targeting delivery systems for anticancer agents is essential for efficacious cancer chemotherapy. Nanoparticles, as drug delivery cargoes for cancer therapy, are rapidly improving to overcome the limitations of conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Heparin-modified nanoparticles are currently being considered as one of the favorable carriers for the delivery of chemotherapeutics to cancer tissues.

OBJECTIVE

This study was aimed at evaluating the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of a novel targeted, pH-sensitive, heparin-based polymeric micelle loaded with the poorly water-soluble anticancer drug, docetaxel (DTX). The micelles could overcome the limited water solubility, non-specific distribution, and insufficient drug concentration in tumor tissues.

METHODS

DTX-loaded folate targeted micelles were prepared and evaluated for physicochemical properties, drug release, in vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in folate receptor-positive and folate receptor-negative cells. Furthermore, the antitumor activity of DTX-loaded micelles was evaluated in the tumor-bearing mice. Some related patents were also studied in this research.

RESULTS

The heparin-based targeted micelles exhibited higher in vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity against folate receptor over-expressed cells due to the specific receptor-mediated endocytosis. DTX-loaded micelles displayed greater antitumor activity, higher anti-angiogenesis effects, and lower systemic toxicity compared with free DTX in a tumor-induced mice model as confirmed by tumor growth monitoring, immunohistochemical evaluation, and body weight shift. DTX-loaded targeting micelles demonstrated no considerable toxicity on major organs of tumor-bearing mice compared with free DTX.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that DTX-loaded multifunctional heparin-based micelles with desirable antitumor activity and low toxicity possess great potential as a targeted drug delivery system in the treatment of cancer.

Tumor microenvironment-responsive PEGylated heparin-pyropheophorbide-a nanoconjugates for photodynamic therapy

To deliver photosensitizers with PEGylated heparin (HP) into tumor cells for photodynamic therapy, we prepared two polyethylene glycol (PEG)-functionalized HP-based polymers conjugated with pyropheophorbide-a (Ppa): a non-GSH-responsive nanoagent (HP-Ppa-mPEG) with the mPEG moiety chemically attached to HP directly; and a GSH-responsive nanoagent (HP-Ppa-SS-mPEG) with the mPEG moiety conjugated to HP via a disulfide linkage. The Ppa-functionalized HP without PEGylation (HP-Ppa) was designed as another control. These amphiphilic polymers could aggregate into nanoparticles. Cellular uptake of three nanoparticles by 4T1 cells led to abundant production of reactive oxygen species after irradiation by a 660 nm laser, inducing cell apoptosis. HP-Ppa-SS-mPEG was found to achieve the highest tumor accumulation, the longest retention time and the best penetration into tumor tissues, resulting in the highest in vivo anticancer efficacy with 94.3 % tumor growth inhibition rate, suggesting that tumor microenvironment-responsive PEGylated HP-based nanomedicines may act as efficient anticancer agents.

Synergistic Combination Chemotherapy of Lung Cancer: Cisplatin and Doxorubicin Conjugated Prodrug Loaded, Glutathione and pH Sensitive Nanocarriers

Purpose

Prodrug technology-based combination drug therapy has been exploited as a promising treatment strategy to achieve synergistic lung cancer therapy, reduce drug dose, and decrease side effects. In the present study, we synthesized a pH and glutathione (GSH) sensitive prodrug, cisplatin (CIS) and doxorubicin (DOX) conjugates (CIS-DOXp). CIS-DOXp was loaded by nanocarriers and delivered into the tumor site.

Methods

pH and GSH sensitive CIS-DOX prodrug (CIS-DOXp) was synthesized by conjugating GSH responsive CIS prodrug with pH sensitive DOX prodrug. CIS-DOXp-loaded nanocarriers (CIS-DOXp NC) were prepared using emulsification and solvent evaporation method. The morphology, particle size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential of nanocarriers were measured. In vitro cytotoxicity of nanocarriers and the corresponding free drugs was examined using the MTT assay. In vivo anti-tumor efficiency and biodistribution behaviors were evaluated on lung cancer mice models.

Results

The size, PDI, zeta potential, CIS loading efficiency, and DOX loading efficiency of CIS-DOXp NC were 128.6 ± 3.2 nm, 0.196 ± 0.021, 15.7 ± 1.7 mV, 92.1 ± 2.1%, and 90.4 ± 1.8%, respectively. The best cell killing ability (the lowest combination index of 0.57) was found at the combination ratio of 1:3 (CIS:DOX, w/w) in the drugs co-loaded formulations, indicating the strongest synergism effect. CIS-DOXp NC showed the best tumor inhibition efficiency (79.9%) in mice with negligible body weight lost.

Conclusion

CIS-DOXp NC could be applied as a promising system for the synergistic chemotherapy of lung cancer.

Therapeutic applications of herbal/synthetic/bio-drug in oral cancer: An update

Oral cancer, as one of the most prevalent and invasive cancers that invade local tissue, can cause metastasis, and have high mortality. In 2018, around 355,000 worldwide oral cancers occurred and resulted in 177,000 deaths. Estimates for the year 2020 include about 53,260 new cases added to previous year's cases, and the estimated death toll from this cancer in 2020 is about 10,750 deaths more than previous years. Despite recent advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment, unfortunately, 50% of people with cancer cannot be cured. Of course, it should be remembered that the type of treatment used greatly influences patient recovery. There are not many choices when it comes to treating oral cancer. Research efforts focusing on the discovery and evolution of innovative therapeutic approaches for oral cancer are essential. Such traditional methods of treating this type of cancer like surgery and chemotherapy, have evolved dramatically during the past thirty to forty years, but they continue to cause panic among patients due to their side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to study and use drugs that are less risky for the patient as well as to provide solutions to reduce chemotherapy-induced adverse events that prevent many therapeutic risks. As mentioned above, this study examines low-risk therapies such as herbal remedies, biological drugs, and synthetic drugs in the hope that they will be useful to physicians, researchers, and scientists around the world.

Proteoglycans in the Pathogenesis of Hormone-Dependent Cancers: Mediators and Effectors

Hormone-dependent cancers exhibit high morbidity and mortality. In spite of advances in therapy, the treatment of hormone-dependent cancers remains an unmet health need. The tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibits unique characteristics that differ among various tumor types. It is composed of cancerous, non-cancerous, stromal, and immune cells that are surrounded and supported by components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore, the interactions among cancer cells, stromal cells, and components of the ECM determine cancer progression and response to therapy. Proteoglycans (PGs), hybrid molecules consisting of a protein core to which sulfated glycosaminoglycan chains are bound, are significant components of the ECM that are implicated in all phases of tumorigenesis. These molecules, secreted by both the stroma and cancer cells, are crucial signaling mediators that modulate the vital cellular pathways implicated in gene expression, phenotypic versatility, and response to therapy in specific tumor types. A plethora of deregulated signaling pathways contributes to the growth, dissemination, and angiogenesis of hormone-dependent cancers. Specific inputs from the endocrine and immune systems are some of the characteristics of hormone-dependent cancer pathogenesis. Importantly, the mechanisms involved in various aspects of cancer progression are executed in the ECM niche of the TME, and the PG components crucially mediate these processes. Here, we comprehensively discuss the mechanisms through which PGs affect the multifaceted aspects of hormone-dependent cancer development and progression, including cancer metastasis, angiogenesis, immunobiology, autophagy, and response to therapy.

Thermo- and pH-sensitive glycosaminoglycans derivatives obtained by controlled grafting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) grafted heparin and chondroitin sulfate were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The copolymers were characterized by NMR, IR, SEC, DLS, SLS and NTA methods. High grafting densities were reached for both glycosaminoglycans. The temperature, pH and polymer concentration affected the low critical solution temperatures values. The increased pNIPAAm chain length, grafting density and concentration led to the sharp phase transition at 35 °C. Spherical nanogels were formed around this temperature. Terminal dodecyl trithiocarbonate groups of the copolymers were reduced to thiols that allowed formation of sensitive nanogels with sharp phase transitions induced by pNIPAAm chains. The copolymers showed no toxicity to the ocular cells and they provided the prolonged release of dexamethasone phosphate at 37 °C. These copolymers are interesting alternatives for ocular drug delivery.

Fucoidan-based, tumor-activated nanoplatform for overcoming hypoxia and enhancing photodynamic therapy and antitumor immunity

Multifunctional nanoplatforms combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) and anticancer drugs have shown great promising in cancer therapy. However, their efficacy is limited by the low specificity, low oxygen levels, and a tolerant tumor immune microenvironment. Herein, we developed a biocompatible theranostic nanoplatform (FM@VP) based on co-assembly of a nanocomplex formed by a functional polysaccharide fucoidan and a bioreducible polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer, a photosensitizer verteporfin (VP), and MnO₂ nanoparticles (a tumor microenvironment responsive oxygen evolving nanomaterial) into a multifunctional nanoparticle cluster. The dendrimer-fucoidan polyionic nanocomplex (DFPN) specifically targeted P-selectin-overexpressed triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the tumor-associated vasculature, and was sensitive to glutathione (GSH) in tumor. More importantly, this FM@VP nanocomplex simultaneously overcame tumor hypoxia, suppressed oncogenic signaling, and attenuated tumor-mediated immunosuppression, resulting in improving therapeutic efficacy of PDT while enhancing antitumor immunity and anti-metastasis. This discovery provides a powerful strategy for synergetic cancer targeting/photodynamic/immunotherapy and could serve as a safe clinical translational approach.

pH-Responsive Micelles From an Oleic Acid Tail and Propionic Acid Heads Dendritic Amphiphile for the Delivery of Antibiotics

The aim of this study was to synthesize a novel biocompatible pH-responsive oleic acid-based dendritic lipid amphiphile (OLA-SPDA) which self-assembled into stable micelles (OLA-SPDA -micelles) with a relatively low critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 5.6 × 10^-6 M. The formulated micelles had particle size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (ZP) of 84.16 ± 0.184 nm, 0.199 ± 0.011 and -42.6 ± 1.98 mV, respectively, at pH 7.4. The vancomycin (VCM) encapsulation efficiency was 78.80 ± 3.26%. The micelles demonstrated pH-responsiveness with an increase in particle size to 141.1 ± 0.0707 nm and a much faster release profile at pH 6.0, as compared to pH 7.4. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of VCM-OLA-SPDA-micelle against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was 8-fold lower compared to bare VCM, and the formulation had a 4-fold lower MIC at pH 6.0 when compared to the formulation's MIC at pH 7.4. MRSA viability assay showed the micelles had a percentage killing of 93.39% when compared bare-VCM (58.21%) at the same MIC (0.98 μg/mL). In vivo mice (BALB/c) skin infection models showed an 8-fold reduction in MRSA burden after treatment with VCM-OLA-SPDA-micelles when compared with bare VCM. The above results suggest that pH-responsive VCM-OLA-SPDA-micelles has the potential to be an effective carrier to enhance therapeutic outcomes against infections characterised by low pH.

Advances in Nanoparticles as Anticancer Drug Delivery Vector: Need of this Century

Background:

Nanotechnology has contributed a great deal to the field of medical science. Smart drugdelivery vectors, combined with stimuli-based characteristics, are becoming increasingly important. The use of external and internal stimulating factors can have enormous benefits and increase the targeting efficiency of nanotechnology platforms. The pH values of tumor vascular tissues are acidic in nature, allowing the improved targeting of anticancer drug payloads using drug-delivery vectors. Nanopolymers are smart drug-delivery vectors that have recently been developed and recommended for use by scientists because of their potential targeting capabilities, non-toxicity and biocompatibility, and make them ideal nanocarriers for personalized drug delivery.

Method:

The present review article provides an overview of current advances in the use of nanoparticles (NPs) as anticancer drug-delivery vectors.

Results:

This article reviews the molecular basis for the use of NPs in medicine, including personalized medicine, personalized therapy, emerging vistas in anticancer therapy, nanopolymer targeting, passive and active targeting transports, pH-responsive drug carriers, biological barriers, computer-aided drug design, future challenges and perspectives, biodegradability and safety.

Conclusions:

This article will benefit academia, researchers, clinicians, and government authorities by providing a basis for further research advancements.