A novel cationic lipid with intrinsic antitumor activity to facilitate gene therapy of TRAIL DNA

Nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS) in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): current status, prospects and challenges

About one-third of the global population suffers from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), but specific treatments for MASLD have long been lacking, primarily due to the unclear etiology of the disease. In addition to lifestyle modifications and weight loss surgery, pharmacotherapy is the most common treatment among MASLD patients, and these drugs typically target the pathogenic factors of MASLD. However, bioavailability, efficacy, and side effects all limit the maximum therapeutic potential of the drugs. With the development of nanomedicine, recent years have seen attempts to combine MASLD pharmacotherapy with nanomaterials, such as liposomes, polymer nanoparticles, micelles, and cocrystals, which effectively improves the water solubility and targeting of the drugs, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing toxic side effects, offering new perspectives and futures for the treatment of MASLD.

A doxycycline-loaded microfiber of poly-metformin/PCL for eradicating melanoma stem cells

Nowadays, electrospun fibrous mats are used as drug delivery systems for loading of potential drugs in order to kill cancer cells. In the study, a skin patch for treating melanoma cancer after surgery was made using polycaprolactone and polymetformin microfibers that were loaded with doxycycline (PolyMet/PCL@DOX), an anti-cancer stem cell agent. The morphology, structure, mechanical characteristics, swelling, and porosity of the electrospun microfibers were examined. Drug release andanticancereffectiveness of PolyMet/PCL@DOXwas evaluated against A375 melanoma cancer stem cells using the MTS, Flow cytometry, colony formation and CD44 expression assays. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) verified the micro fibrous structure with a diameter of about 2.31 µm. The porosity and swelling percentages for microfibers was 73.5 % and 2.9 %, respectively. The tensile strength at the breaking point was equal to 3.84 MPa. The IC50 of PolyMet/PCL@DOX was 7.4 μg/mL. The survival rate of A375 cells after 72 h of PolyMet/PCL@DOX treatment was 43.9 %. The colony formation capacity of A375 cells decreased after PolyMet/PCL@DOX treatment. The level of CD44 expression in the PolyMet/PCL@DOX group decreased compared to the control group. Generally, PolyMet/PCL@DOX microfibers can be a promising candidate as a patch after surgery to eradicate cancer stem cells, effectively.

Biochemical hallmarks-targeting antineoplastic nanotherapeutics

Tumor microenvironments (TMEs) have received increasing attention in recent years as they play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis, progression, metastases, and resistance to the traditional modalities of cancer therapy like chemotherapy. With the rapid development of nanotechnology, effective antineoplastic nanotherapeutics targeting the aberrant hallmarks of TMEs have been proposed. The appropriate design and fabrication endow nanomedicines with the abilities for active targeting, TMEs-responsiveness, and optimization of physicochemical properties of tumors, thereby overcoming transport barriers and significantly improving antineoplastic therapeutic benefits. This review begins with the origins and characteristics of TMEs and discusses the latest strategies for modulating the TMEs by focusing on the regulation of biochemical microenvironments, such as tumor acidosis, hypoxia, and dysregulated metabolism. Finally, this review summarizes the challenges in the development of smart anti-cancer nanotherapeutics for TME modulation and examines the promising strategies for combination therapies with traditional treatments for further clinical translation.

Enhancing gene transfection of poly(β-amino ester)s through modulation of amphiphilicity and chain sequence

Poly(β-amino ester)s (PAEs) have emerged as a type of highly safe and efficient non-viral DNA delivery vectors. However, the influence of amphiphilicity and chain sequence on DNA transfection efficiency and safety profile remain largely unexplored. In this study, four PAEs with distinct amphiphilicity and chain sequences were synthesized. Results show that both amphiphilicity and chain sequence significantly affect the DNA binding and condensation ability of PAEs, as well as size, zeta potential and cellular uptake of PAE/DNA polyplexes. PAEs with different amphiphilicity and chain sequence exhibit cell type-dependent transfection capabilities: in human bladder transitional cell carcinoma (UM-UC-3), hydrophilic PAE (P-Philic) and amphiphilic PAE random copolymer (R-Amphilic) exhibit relatively higher gene transfection efficiency, while in human bladder epithelial immortalized cells (SV-HUC-1), hydrophobic PAE (P-Phobic), R-Amphilic, and amphiphilic PAE block copolymer (B-Amphilic) demonstrate higher transfection capability. Regardless of cell types, amphiphilic PAE block copolymer (B-Amphilic) always exhibits much lower gene transfection efficiency. In addition, in human colon cancer cells (HCT-116), P-Philic and R-Amphilic achieved superior gene transfection efficiency at high and low polymer/DNA weight ratios, respectively. Importantly, R-Amphilic can effectively deliver the gene encoding tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) to human chondrosarcoma cells SW1353 to induce their apoptosis, highlighting its potential application in cancer gene therapy. This study not only establishes a new paradigm for enhancing the gene transfection efficiency of PAEs by modulating their amphiphilicity and chain sequence but also identifies R-Amphilic as a potential candidate for the effective delivery of TRAIL gene in cancer gene therapy.

Folate-modified liposomes mediate the co-delivery of cisplatin with miR-219a-5p for the targeted treatment of cisplatin-resistant lung cancer

Cisplatin (DDP) resistance, often leading to first-line chemotherapy failure in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), poses a significant challenge. MiR-219a-5p has been reported to enhance the sensitivity of human NSCLC to DDP. However, free miR-219a-5p is prone to degradation by nucleases in the bloodstream, rendering it unstable. In light of this, our study developed an efficient nanodrug delivery system that achieved targeted delivery of DDP and miR-219a-5p by modifying liposomes with folate (FA). Based on the results of material characterization, we successfully constructed a well-dispersed and uniformly sized (approximately 135.8 nm) Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA nanodrug. Agarose gel electrophoresis experiments demonstrated that Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA exhibited good stability in serum, effectively protecting miR-219a-5p from degradation. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry experiments revealed that, due to FA modification, Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA could specifically bind to FA receptors on the surface of tumor cells (A549), thus enhancing drug internalization efficiency. Safety evaluations conducted in vitro demonstrated that Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA exhibited no significant toxicity to non-cancer cells (BEAS-2B) and displayed excellent blood compatibility. Cellular functional experiments, apoptosis assays, and western blot demonstrated that Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA effectively reversed DDP resistance in A549 cells, inhibited cell proliferation and migration, and further promoted apoptosis. In summary, the Lipo@DDP@miR-219a-5p@FA nanodrug, through specific targeting of cancer cells and reducing their resistance to DDP, significantly enhanced the anti-NSCLC effects of DDP in vitro, providing a promising therapeutic option for the clinical treatment of NSCLC.

Nanomaterial-mediated modulation of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway for enhanced cancer immunotherapy

Despite the current promise of immunotherapy, many cancer patients still suffer from challenges such as poor immune response rates, resulting in unsatisfactory clinical efficacy of existing therapies. There is an urgent need to combine emerging biomedical discoveries and innovations in traditional therapies. Modulation of the cGAS-STING signalling pathway represents an important innate immunotherapy pathway that serves as a crucial DNA sensing mechanism in innate immunity and viral defense. It has attracted increasing attention as an emerging target for cancer therapy. The recent advancements in nanotechnology have led to the significant utilization of nanomaterials in cancer immunotherapy, owing to their exceptional physicochemical properties such as large specific surface area and efficient permeability. Given the rapid development of cancer immunotherapy driven by the cGAS-STING activation, this study reviews the latest research progress in employing nanomaterials to modulate this signaling pathway. Based on the introduction of the main activation mechanisms of cGAS-STING pathway, this review focuses on nanomaterials that mediate the agonists involved and effectively activate this signaling pathway. In addition, combination nanotherapeutics based on the activation of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway are also discussed, including emerging strategies combining nanoformulated agonists with chemotherapy, radiotherapy as well as other immunomodulation in tumor targeting therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Given the rapid development of cancer immunotherapy driven by the cGAS / STING activation, this study reviews the latest research advances in the use of nanomaterials to modulate this signaling pathway. Based on the introduction of key cGAS-STING components and their activation mechanisms, this review focuses on nanomaterials that can mediate the corresponding agonists and effectively activate this signaling pathway. In addition, combination nanotherapies based on the activation of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway are also discussed, including emerging strategies combining nanoformulated agonists with chemotherapy, radiotherapy as well as immunomodulation in cancer therapy,.

Cell Death Pathway Regulation by Functional Nanomedicines for Robust Antitumor Immunity

Cancer immunotherapy has become a mainstream cancer treatment over traditional therapeutic modes. Cancer cells can undergo programmed cell death including ferroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, apoptosis and cuproptosis which are find to have intrinsic relationships with host antitumor immune response. However, direct use of cell death inducers or regulators may bring about severe side effects that can also be rapidly excreted and degraded with low therapeutic efficacy. Nanomaterials are able to carry them for long circulation time, high tumor accumulation and controlled release to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effect. Nowadays, a large number of studies have focused on nanomedicines-based strategies through modulating cell death modalities to potentiate antitumor immunity. Herein, immune cell types and their function are first summarized, and state-of-the-art research progresses in nanomedicines mediated cell death pathways (e.g., ferroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, apoptosis and cuproptosis) with immune response provocation are highlighted. Subsequently, the conclusion and outlook of potential research focus are discussed.

Superior TRAIL gene expression and cancer cell apoptosis mediated by highly branched-linear poly(β-amino ester)s

Extensive efforts have been dedicated to enhancing the expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in cancer cells for the development of effective cancer treatments. However, highly safe and efficient delivery of TRAIL gene remains a significant challenge, especially using cationic polymers. Here, a series of highly branched-linear poly(β-amino ester)s (H-LPAEs) are developed through a unique oligomer branching strategy. H-LPAEs exhibit a more uniform distribution of linear segments and branching units, leading to excellent DNA condensation and favorable physicochemical properties of H-LPAE/DNA polyplexes. In SW1353 and BMSC cells, the optimized H-LPAEs, H-LPAEB4-S5-TMPTA, achieves superior gene transfection efficiency of 58.0% and 33.4%, which were 2.5-fold and 2.0-fold higher than that of the leading commercial gene transfection reagent, Lipofectamine 3000. Excitingly, H-LPAEB4-S5-TMPTA mediated 56.7% and 28.1% cell apoptosis in HepG2 cells and HeLa cells highlighting its potential application in cancer gene therapy. In addition, locally administered H-LPAEB4-S5-TMPTA delivered TRAIL DNA to HepG2 xenograft tumors and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. This study not only proposes a novel strategy for synthesizing poly(β-amino ester)s with a unique branched-linear topology but also identifies a promising candidate for highly efficient TRAIL gene transfection.

Non-viral gene therapy using RNA interference with PDGFR-α mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transformation for proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Fibrotic eye diseases, a series of severe oculopathy, that will destroy normal ocular refractive media and imaging structures. It is characterized by the transformation of the epithelial cells into mesenchyme cells. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is one of these representative diseases. In this investigation, polyethylene glycol grafted branched Polyethyleneimine (PEI-g-PEG) was used as a non-viral gene vector in gene therapy of PVR to achieve anti-fibroblastic effects in vitro and in vivo by interfering with platelet-derived growth factor alpha receptor (PDGFR-α) in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. The plasmid was wrapped by electrostatic conjugation. Physical characterization of the complexes indicated that the gene complexes were successfully prepared. In vitro, cellular experiments showed excellent biocompatibility of PEI-g-PEG, efficient cellular uptake of the gene complexes, and successful expression of the corresponding fragments. Through gene silencing technique, PEI-g-PEG/PDGFR-α shRNA successfully inhibited the process of EMT in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo animal experiments suggested that this method could effectively inhibit the progression of fibroproliferative membranes of PVR. Herein, a feasible and promising clinical idea was provided for developing non-viral gene vectors and preventing fibroblastic eye diseases by RNA interference (RNAi) technology.

Nano-TRAIL: a promising path to cancer therapy

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand, also called apo-2 ligand (TRAIL/Apo-2L), is a cytokine that triggers apoptosis by binding to TRAIL-R1 (DR4) and TRAIL-R2 (DR5) death receptors. Apoptosis occurs through either the extrinsic or intrinsic pathway. The administration of recombinant human TRAIL (rhTRAIL) or TRAIL-receptor (TRAIL-R) agonists promotes apoptosis preferentially in cancerous cells over normal cells in vitro; this phenomenon has also been observed in clinical studies. The limited efficacy of rhTRAIL in clinical trials could be attributed to drug resistance, short half-life, targeted delivery issues, and off-target toxicities. Nanoparticles are excellent drug and gene delivery systems characterized by improved permeability and retention, increased stability and biocompatibility, and precision targeting. In this review, we discuss resistance mechanisms to TRAIL and methods to overcome TRAIL resistance by using nanoparticle-based formulations developed for the delivery of TRAIL peptides, TRAIL-R agonists, and TRAIL genes to cancer cells. We also discuss combinatorial approaches of chemotherapeutic drugs with TRAIL. These studies demonstrate TRAIL's potential as an anticancer agent.

Delivery process and effective design of vectors for cancer therapy

In recent years, the efficacy of nano-drugs has not been significantly better than that of the drugs themselves, mainly because nano-drugs enter the tumor vasculature, stay near the blood vessels, and cannot enter the tumor tissues or tumor cells to complete the drug delivery process. Although intratumor injection can significantly decrease this risk, the side effects are strong. The advent of drug delivery carrier materials offers an opportunity to avoid the side effects of systemic drug delivery and the damage caused by tumor resection, holding great promise for the future of cancer therapy. Here, we systematically review recent research advances in the classification of drug delivery carrier materials and the delivery process in drug delivery systems. This review is divided into several main sections, first, we summarize the classification of tumor drug carrier materials, including drug delivery vectors and gene delivery vectors, etc., which are introduced in detail, respectively. Then we describe the carrier materials to deliver the drug cascade and the transition pathways for drug delivery, including stabilization transitions, charge inversions, and size changes. Finally, we discuss the current design strategies and research progress of drug vectors and provide a summary and outlook. This review aims to summarize different drug delivery vehicles and delivery processes to provide ideas for effective cancer therapy.

Combating Cancer Stem-Like Cell-Derived Resistance to Anticancer Protein by Liposome-Mediated Acclimatization Strategy

Antibody-based therapeutics, which induce apoptosis of malignant cells by selectively binding to their receptors, hold tremendous promise for clinical cancer therapy. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has received considerable interest due to its favorable capability of activating apoptosis in cancer cells by interacting with death receptors (DRs). However, cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) show deficient or lower DR and are highly resistant to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis limiting the therapeutic efficacy. Here, we report a liposome-mediated acclimatization strategy to overcome the CSC-emanated TRAIL resistance. The liposomal assemblies coencapsulating plasmid DNA encoding TRAIL and salinomycin enable cancer cells as protein generators to express TRAIL, and more importantly, can acclimatize resistant CSCs to be sensitized to the TRAIL-triggered apoptosis by salinomycin-induced upregulation of DR expression on CSCs. This programmable liposome-based drug codelivery system shows the potential to efficiently eliminate CSCs and inhibit CSC-enriched tumor growth in the orthotopic colon tumor mouse model.

Emerging nanomedicines of paclitaxel for cancer treatment

Malignant tumor is still a leading threat to human health. Despite the rapid development of targeted therapeutic strategies, any treatment specifically acting on single target would inevitably suffer from tumor resistance, largely due to the genetic instability and variability of tumor cells. Thus, traditional therapies such as broad-spectrum chemotherapy would certainly occupy an important position in clinical cancer therapy. Nevertheless, most chemotherapeutic drugs have long been criticized for unsatisfactory therapeutic efficacy with severe off-target toxicity. Although several chemotherapeutic nanomedicines with improved therapeutic safety have been applied in clinics, the therapeutic outcomes still do not fulfill expectation. To address this challenge, enormous efforts have been devoted to developing novel nano-formulations for efficient delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs. Herein, we aim to outline the latest progression in the emerging nanomedicines of paclitaxel (PTX), with special attention to the functional nanocarriers, self-delivering prodrug-nanoassemblies and combination nanotherapeutics of PTX. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of these functional PTX nanomedicines in clinical translation are spotlighted.

Biguanides decorated albumin nanoparticles loading nintedanib for synergic enhanced hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

Nintedanib (ND) was known as a triple tyrosine kinase inhibitors, inhibiting angiogenesis and tissue fibrosis. Biguanide group has attracted much attention for its great penetrating ability to the lipid bilayer of cytomembrane and potential anti-cancer efficacy. In this study, a biguanide group (p-biguanidinobenzoic acid, CBH) decorated bovine serum albumin (CBH-AB) was synthesized as a novel functional biomaterial to prepare the ND loaded CBH-AB nanoparticles (ND-CBH-AB NPs). The results of physical and chemical properties showed that ND-CBH-AB NPs possessed high encapsulation efficiency and drug loading efficiency. In vitro cell study indicated that CBH modification on ND-CBH-AB NPs enhanced the cyctotoxicities to HepG2 cells. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic study showed that ND-CBH-AB NPs had good stability in circulation. Finally, pharmacodynamic studies were conducted, the results indicated that ND-CBH-AB NPs exhibited excellent anti-tumor effect and tumor microenvironment regulation effect. Thereby, this work provides a potential function albumin delivery system for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy.

Functionalized DMP-039 Hybrid Nanoparticle as a Novel mRNA Vector for Efficient Cancer Suicide Gene Therapy

Background

Gene therapy has emerged as a new strategy for cancer therapy. As an alternative nucleic acid material, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is being increasingly utilized in cancer gene therapy. However, unfulfilled requirements and a lack of ideal mRNA delivery vectors persist.

Methods

We developed an advanced mRNA delivery system, DMP-039, by fusing a cell-penetrating peptide, cRGD-R9, and a cationic nano-sized DMP backbone together. The DMP gene vector backbone was synthesized by the self-assembly of DOTAP lipid and mPEG-PCL polymer. Introduction of the cRGD-R9 peptide onto the DMP backbone was performed to elevate the mRNA delivery capacity, which resulted in a peptide-functionalized hybrid delivery system.

Results

The average size of the synthesized DMP-039 was 268.9 ± 12.4 nm (PDI = 0.382), with a potential of 17.4 ± 0.5 mV. The synthesized DMP-039 hybrid nanoparticles exhibited high mRNA delivery efficiency through multiple mechanisms during transmembrane transportation. By loading the encoding mRNA from the suicide gene Bim, a locally administered mBim/DMP-039 complex strongly inhibited growth in two colon cancer models. Moreover, intravenous administration of the mBim/DMP-039 complex efficiently suppressed C26 pulmonary metastatic tumor progression with high safety. The in vivo distribution, degradation, and excretion were also investigated in detail.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the DMP-039 peptide-functionalized hybrid nanoparticle is an advanced candidate for mRNA-based suicide gene therapy.

Recent progress on nanomedicine-induced ferroptosis for cancer therapy

The current treatment strategies for cancer therapy have posed many problems in achieving high efficacy. Therefore, an urgent step is needed to develop innovative therapies that can win beyond satisfactory results against tumor. Ferroptosis that is a kind of non-apoptotic based programmed cell death has played a crucial role in eradicating tumors by reactive oxygen species and iron-dependent pathways. Research shows a remarkable potential of ferroptosis in eliminating aggressive malignancies resistant to traditional therapies. The combination of nanomedicine and ferroptosis has revealed a close relationship for the treatment of various cancer types with high efficacy. This review introduces the basics of nanomedicine-based ferroptosis first to emphasize the feasibility and properties of ferroptosis in cancer therapy. Then, the current research on the applications of nanomedicine for the ferroptosis-based anticancer therapy is highlighted. Finally, conclusions and future research directions in perspective of various challenges in developing nanomedicine-based ferroptosis into clinical therapeutics are discussed.

Metformin-conjugated micellar system with intratumoral pH responsive de-shielding for co-delivery of doxorubicin and nucleic acid

A novel PMet-P(cdmPEG_2K) polymeric micellar carrier was developed for tumor-targeted co-delivery of DOX and nucleic acids (NA), based on polymetformin and a structure designed to lose the PEG shell in response to the acidic extracellular tumor environment. NA/DOX co-loaded micelleplexes exhibited enhanced inhibition of cell proliferation compared to DOX-loaded micelles, and displayed a higher level of cytotoxicity at an acidic pH (6.8) which mimicks the tumor microenvironment. The PMet-P(cdmPEG_2K) micelles achieved significantly improved transfection with either a reporter plasmid or Cy3-siRNA, and enhanced DOX intracellular uptake in 4T1.2 cells at pH 6.8. Importantly, PMet-P(cdmPEG_2K) micelles showed excellent pEGFP (EGFP expression plasmid) transfection in an aggressive murine breast cancer (4T1.2) model. By using a plasmid encoding IL-12 (pIL-12), we investigated the combined effect of chemotherapy and gene therapy. PMet-P(cdmPEG_2K) micelles co-loaded with DOX and pIL-12 were more effective at inhibiting tumor growth compared to micelles loaded with DOX or pIL-12 alone. In addition, this micellar system was effective in co-delivery of siRNA and DOX into tumor cells. Our results suggest that PMet-P(cdmPEG_2K) has the potential for chemo and nucleic acid combined cancer therapy.

TRAIL promotes hepatocellular carcinoma apoptosis and inhibits proliferation and migration via interacting with IER3

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can induce substantial cytotoxicity in tumor cells but rarely exert cytotoxic activity on non-transformed cells. In the present study, we therefore evaluated interactions between TRAIL and IER3 via co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence analyses, leading us to determine that these two proteins were able to drive the apoptotic death of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and to disrupt their proliferative and migratory abilities both in vitro and in vivo. From a mechanistic perspective, we determined that TRAIL and IER3 were capable of inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Together, these results indicate that TRAIL can control the pathogenesis of HCC at least in part via interacting with IER3 to inhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling, thus indicating that this TRAIL/IER3/β-catenin axis may be a viable therapeutic target in HCC patients.

Computational and Experimental Approaches to Investigate Lipid Nanoparticles as Drug and Gene Delivery Systems

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been widely applied in drug and gene delivery. More than twenty years ago, DoxilTM was the first LNPs-based drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since then, with decades of research and development, more and more LNP-based therapeutics have been used to treat diverse diseases, which often offer the benefits of reduced toxicity and/or enhanced efficacy compared to the active ingredients alone. Here, we provide a review of recent advances in the development of efficient and robust LNPs for drug/gene delivery. We emphasize the importance of rationally combining experimental and computational approaches, especially those providing multiscale structural and functional information of LNPs, to the design of novel and powerful LNP-based delivery systems.

Tumor Microenvironmental Responsive Liposomes Simultaneously Encapsulating Biological and Chemotherapeutic Drugs for Enhancing Antitumor Efficacy of NSCLC

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most lethal types of cancer with highly infiltrating. Chemotherapy is far from satisfactory, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and angiogenesis results in invasion, migration and relapse.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to construct a novel CPP (mmp) modified vinorelbine and dioscin liposomes by two new functional materials, DSPE-PEG2000-MAL and CPP-PVGLIG-PEG5000, to destroy VM channels, angiogenesis, EMT and inhibit invasion and migration.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The targeting liposomes could be enriched in tumor sites through passive targeting, and the positively charged CPP was exposed and enhanced active targeting via electrostatic adsorption after being hydrolyzed by MMP2 enzymes overexpressed in the tumor microenvironment. We found that CPP (mmp) modified vinorelbine and dioscin liposomes with the ideal physicochemical properties and exhibited enhanced cellular uptake. In vitro and in vivo results showed that CPP (mmp) modified vinorelbine and dioscin liposomes could inhibit migration and invasion of A549 cells, destroy VM channels formation and angiogenesis, and block the EMT process. Pharmacodynamic studies showed that the targeting liposomes had obvious accumulations in tumor sites and magnificent antitumor efficiency.

CONCLUSION

CPP (mmp) modified vinorelbine plus dioscin liposomes could provide a new strategy for NSCLC.

TRAIL therapy and prospective developments for cancer treatment

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL), an immune cytokine of TNF-family, has received much attention in late 1990s as a potential cancer therapeutics due to its selective ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. TRAIL binds to cell surface death receptors, TRAIL-R1 (DR4) and TRAIL-R2 (DR5) and facilitates formation of death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), eventually activating the p53-independent apoptotic cascade. This unique mechanism makes the TRAIL a potential anticancer therapeutic especially for p53-mutated tumors. However, recombinant human TRAIL protein (rhTRAIL) and TRAIL-R agonist monoclonal antibodies (mAb) failed to exert robust anticancer activities due to inherent and/or acquired resistance, poor pharmacokinetics and weak potencies for apoptosis induction. To get TRAIL back on track as a cancer therapeutic, multiple strategies including protein modification, combinatorial approach and TRAIL gene therapy are being extensively explored. These strategies aim to enhance the half-life and bioavailability of TRAIL and synergize with TRAIL action ultimately sensitizing the resistant and non-responsive cells. We summarize emerging strategies for enhanced TRAIL therapy in this review and cover a wide range of recent technologies that will provide impetus to rejuvenate the TRAIL therapeutics in the clinical realm.

Emerging nanotherapeutics for antithrombotic treatment

Thrombus causes insufficient blood flow and ischemia damages to brain and heart, leading to life-threatening cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Development of efficient antithrombotic strategies has long been a high priority, owing to the high morbidity and mortality of thrombotic diseases. With the rapid development of biomedical nanotechnology in diagnosis and treatment of thrombotic disorder, remarkable progresses have been made in antithrombotic nanomedicines in recent years. Herein, we outline the recent advances in this field at the intersection of thrombus theranostics and biomedical nanotechnology. First, thrombus diagnosis techniques based on biomedical nanotechnology are presented. Then, emerging antithrombotic nanotherapeutics are overviewed, including thrombus-targeting strategies, thrombus stimuli-responsive nanosystems and phase transition-driven nanotherapeutics. Furthermore, multifunctional nanosystems for combination theranostics of thrombotic diseases are discussed. Finally, the design considerations, advantages and challenges of these biomedical nanotechnology-driven therapeutics in clinical translation are highlighted.

Bioelectricity for Drug Delivery: The Promise of Cationic Therapeutics

Biological systems overwhelmingly comprise charged entities generating electrical activity that can have significant impact on biological structure and function. This intrinsic bio-electrical activity can also be harnessed for overcoming the tissue matrix and cell membrane barriers, which have been outstanding challenges for targeted drug delivery, by using rationally designed cationic carriers. The weak and reversible long-range electrostatic interactions with fixed negatively charged groups facilitate electro-diffusive transport of cationic therapeutics through full-tissue thickness to effectively reach intra-tissue, cellular, and intracellular target sites. This article presents a perspective on the promise of using rationally designed cationic biomaterials in targeted drug delivery, the underlying charge-based mechanisms, and bio-transport phenomena while addressing outstanding concerns around toxicity and methods to mitigate them. We also discuss electrically charged drugs that are currently being evaluated in clinical trials and identify areas of further development that have the potential to usher in new treatments.

Nanotherapeutics for Antimetastatic Treatment

Tumor metastases, that is, the development of secondary tumors in organs distant from the primary tumor, and their treatment remain a serious problem in cancer therapy. The unique challenges for tracking and treating tumor metastases lie in the small size, high heterogeneity, and wide dispersion to distant organs of metastases. Recently, nanomedicines, with the capacity to precisely deliver therapeutic agents to both primary and secondary tumors, have demonstrated many potential benefits for metastatic cancer theranostics. Given the remarkable progression in emerging nanotherapeutics for antimetastatic treatment, it is timely to summarize the latest advances in this field. This review highlights the rationale, advantages, and challenges for integrating biomedical nanotechnology with cancer biology to develop antimetastatic nanotherapeutics.

A dual-functional buformin-mimicking poly(amido amine) for efficient and safe gene delivery

Biguanides (i.e. metformin, phenformin and buformin) are antidiabetic drugs with potential antitumor effects. Herein, a polycationic polymer, N,N'-bis(cystamine)acrylamide-buformin (CBA-Bu), containing multiple biodegradable disulphide bonds and buformin-mimicking side chains was synthesised. CBA-Bu was equipped with high efficiency and safety profile for gene delivery, meanwhile exhibiting potential antitumor efficacy. As a gene vector, CBA-Bu was able to condense plasmid DNA (pDNA) into nano-sized (<200 nm), positively-charged (>30 mV) uniform polyplexes that were well resistant to heparin and DNase I. Due to the reduction responsiveness of the disulphide bonds, CBA-Bu/pDNA polyplexes could release the loaded pDNA in the presence of dithiothreitol, and induce extremely low cytotoxicity in NIH/3T3 and U87 MG cells. The transfection results showed that CBA-Bu had a cellular uptake efficiency comparable to 25 kDa PEI, while a significantly higher gene expression level. Additionally, CBA-Bu had a lower IC50 value than its non-biguanide counterpart in two cancer cell lines. Furthermore, CBA-Bu could activate AMPK and inhibit mTOR pathways in U87 MG cells, a mechanism involved in the antitumor effect of biguanides. Taken together, CBA-Bu represented an advanced gene vector combining desirable gene delivery capability with potential antitumor activity, which was promising to achieve enhanced therapeutic efficacy in antitumor gene therapy.

Delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has shown great potential as witnessed by an increasing number of immuno-oncology drug approvals in the past few years. Meanwhile, the field of nucleic acid therapeutics has made significant advancement. Nucleic acid therapeutics, such as plasmids, antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), immunomodulatory DNA/RNA, and gene-editing guide RNA (gRNA) are attractive due to their versatile abilities to alter the expression of target endogenous genes or even synthetic genes, and modulate the immune responses. These abilities can play vital roles in the development of novel immunotherapy strategies. However, limited by the intrinsic physicochemical properties such as negative charges, hydrophilicity, as well as susceptibility to enzymatic degradation, the delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics faces multiple challenges. It is therefore pivotal to develop drug delivery systems that can carry, protect, and specifically deliver and release nucleic acid therapeutics to target tissues and cells. In this review, we attempted to summarize recent advances in nucleic acid therapeutics and the delivery systems for these therapeutics in cancer immunotherapy.

Remodeling the fibrotic tumor microenvironment of desmoplastic melanoma to facilitate vaccine immunotherapy

Highly fibrotic and collagen-rich properties in desmoplastic melanoma (DM) result in an immune-suppressive fibrotic tumor microenvironment (TME) that resists clinical therapies. The different clinical and pathological properties, as compared to conventional melanoma, lead to delayed diagnosis and it is difficult to deliver drugs effectively due to fibrosis. Herein, we designed a chemo-immuno strategy focused on combining vaccination immunotherapy with multi-targeting sunitinib (SUN) nano-therapy to remodel TME and generate a robust immune response and a stronger synergistic anti-cancer effect. This strategy was evaluated side-by-side with non-desmoplastic melanoma and achieved significant improvement in therapeutic efficacy. The combination treatment was also synergistically assessed with the desmoplastic melanoma model. This strategy can remodel the fibrotic immunosuppressive TME and result in a robust cytotoxic T-cell response by reducing the collagen content, normalizing blood vessels, inhibiting tumor-associated fibroblasts and reducing high levels of suppressor immune cells. The modification of fibrotic immunosuppressive TME may serve as a good approach to further enhance immunotherapy for desmoplastic tumors.

Relaxin-FOLFOX-IL-12 triple combination therapy engages memory response and achieves long-term survival in colorectal cancer liver metastasis

Induction of memory T cell response is inefficient in colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis following existing therapies due to abundant stroma and immunosuppressive environment within the metastatic liver, which leads to fast disease progression, high recurrence rate, and short survival. Two fundamental steps are involved to elicit extensive memory T cell response: stimulation of naive T cells with robust and persistent antigen signals; and maintenance of differentiated memory T cells with survival factors. Here, we demonstrate a rational design of triple combination regimen, including relaxin (RLN), FOLFOX (combination of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin), and IL-12, successfully stimulates central memory T cells and achieves long-term survival in an aggressive experimental CRC liver metastasis model. Sequential administration of FOLFOX and IL-12 gene therapy following stromal deactivation by RLN gene therapy completely cured established CRC liver metastases in ~50% of mice and provided long-lasting protection against tumor recurrence. The study here may highlight the potential of evoking memory response as a curative therapy for the treatment of CRC liver metastasis.

Safe and Efficacious Diphtheria Toxin-Based Treatment for Melanoma: Combination of a Light-On Gene-Expression System and Nanotechnology

The controversy surrounding the use of diphtheria toxin (DT) as a therapeutic agent against tumor cells arises mainly from its unexpected harmfulness to healthy tissues. We encoded the cytotoxic fragment A of DT (DTA) as an objective gene in the Light-On gene-expression system to construct plasmids pGAVPO (pG) and pU5-DTA (pDTA). Meanwhile, a cRGD-modified ternary complex comprising plasmids, chitosan, and liposome (pG&pDTA@cRGD-CL) was prepared as a nanocarrier to ensure transfection efficiency. Benefiting from spatiotemporal control of this light-switchable transgene system and the superior tumor targeting of the carrier, toxins were designed to be expressed selectively in illuminated lesions. In vitro studies suggested that pG&pDTA@cRGD-CL exerted arrest of the S phase in B16F10 cells upon blue light irradiation and, ultimately, induced the apoptosis and necrosis of tumor cells. Such DTA-based treatment exerted enhanced antitumor activity in mice bearing B16F10 xenografts and displayed prolonged survival time with minimal side effects. Hence, we described novel DTA-based therapy combined with nanotechnology and the Light-On gene-expression system: such treatment could be a promising strategy against melanoma.

TRAIL-based gene delivery and therapeutic strategies

TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand), also known as APO2L, belongs to the tumor necrosis factor family. By binding to the death receptor 4 (DR4) or DR5, TRAIL induces apoptosis of tumor cells without causing side toxicity in normal tissues. In recent years TRAIL-based therapy has attracted great attention for its promise of serving as a cancer drug candidate. However, the treatment efficacy of TRAIL protein was under expectation in the clinical trials because of the short half-life and the resistance of cancer cells. TRAIL gene transfection can produce a "bystander effect" of tumor cell killing and provide a potential solution to TRAIL-based cancer therapy. In this review we focus on TRAIL gene therapy and various design strategies of TRAIL DNA delivery including non-viral vectors and cell-based TRAIL therapy. In order to sensitize the tumor cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, combination therapy of TRAIL DNA with other drugs by the codelivery methods for yielding a synergistic antitumor efficacy is summarized. The opportunities and challenges of TRAIL-based gene delivery and therapy are discussed.

Glycyrrhetinic acid-modified graphene oxide mediated siRNA delivery for enhanced liver-cancer targeting therapy

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted huge attention in biomedical field in recent years. However, limited attempts have been invested in utilizing GO on active targeted delivery for gene therapy in liver cancer treatments. Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) has been reported to be widely used as a targeting ligand to functionalize nanomaterials to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. In this article, GA is employed as a liver targeting ligand to construct GA, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyamidoamine dendrimer (Dendrimer) and nano-graphene oxide (NGO) conjugate (GA-PEG-NGO-Dendrimer, GPND) for siRNA delivery for the first time. As we expected, GPND exhibited excellent stability, low toxicity, negligible hemolytic activity and remarkably high transfection efficiency in vitro. We also found effective VEGFa gene silencing in both mRNA and protein level in HepG2 cells. Notably, siRNA efficiently gathered in liver tumor tissues by the delivery of GPND, and eventually the growth of tumor tissues were inhibited with enhanced targeting capability and no obvious pathological changes. Moreover, histopathological results preliminarily support the high in vivo safety of GPND/anti-VEGFa siRNA nanocomplex. Collectively, GPND/siRNA nanocomplex, with high safety, targeting and transfection as well as prolonged half-life, is a promising nanomedicine and may provide a new direction for highly-specific targeted gene therapy.

Photodynamic PEG-coated ROS-sensitive prodrug nanoassemblies for core-shell synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy

The combination of chemotherapy with photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds promising applications in cancer therapy. However, co-encapsulation of chemotherapeutic agents and photosensitizers (PS) into the conventional nanocarriers suffers from inefficient co-loading and aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect of PS trapped in dense carrier materials. Herein, we report a light-activatable photodynamic PEG-coated prodrug nanoplatform for core-shell synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy. A novel photodynamic polymer is rationally designed and synthesized by conjugating pyropheophorbide a (PPa) to polyethylene glycol 2000 (PEG_2k). PPa is used as the hydrophobic and photodynamic moiety of the amphipathic PPa-PEG_2k polymer. Then, a core-shell nanoassembly is prepared, with an inner core of a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive oleate prodrug of paclitaxel (PTX) and an outer layer of PPa-PEG_2k. PPa-PEG_2k serves for both PEGylation and PDT. Instead of being trapped in the inner core, PPa in the outer PPa-PEG_2k layer significantly alleviates the ACQ effect. Under laser irradiation, ROS generated by PPa-PEG_2k not only is used for PDT but also synergistically promotes PTX release in combination with the endogenous ROS overproduced in tumor cells. The photodynamic PEG-coated nanoassemblies demonstrated synergistic antitumor activity in vivo. Such a unique nanoplatform, with an inner chemotherapeutic core and an outer photodynamic PEG shell, provides a new strategy for synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICATION: The combination of chemotherapy with photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds promising prospects in cancer therapy. However, it remains a tremendous challenge to effectively co-deliver chemotherapeutic drugs and photosensitizers into tumors. Herein, we construct a photodynamic PEGylation-coated prodrug-nanoplatform for high-efficiency synergistic cancer therapy, which is composed of a light-activatable PPa-PEG_2k shell and a ROS-responsive paclitaxel (PTX) prodrug core. The PPa-PEG_2k-generated ROS not only was used for synergistic PTX release but also synergistically facilitated tumor cell apoptosis in combination with PTX-initiated chemo-cytotoxicity. The light-activatable nanoassemblies exhibited multiple drug delivery advantages including high co-loading efficiency, self-enhanced PTX release, extended circulation time, favorable biodistribution, and potent synergistic anticancer activity. Our findings provide a new strategy for the rational design of advanced nano-DDS for high-efficiency combinational chemo-photodynamic therapy.

Contribution of Molecular Structure to Self-Assembling and Biological Properties of Bifunctional Lipid-Like 4-(N-Alkylpyridinium)-1,4-Dihydropyridines

The design of nanoparticle delivery materials possessing biological activities is an attractive strategy for the development of various therapies. In this study, 11 cationic amphiphilic 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) derivatives differing in alkyl chain length and propargyl moiety/ties number and position were selected for the study of their self-assembling properties, evaluation of their cytotoxicity in vitro and toxicity on microorganisms, and the characterisation of their interaction with phospholipids. These lipid-like 1,4-DHPs have been earlier proposed as promising nanocarriers for DNA delivery. We have revealed that the mean diameter of freshly prepared nanoparticles varied from 58 to 513 nm, depending upon the 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP structure. Additionally, we have confirmed that only nanoparticles formed by 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 3 and 6, and by 4-(N-hexadecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 10 and 11 were stable after two weeks of storage. The nanoparticles of these compounds were found to be homogenous in size distribution, ranging from 124 to 221 nm. The polydispersity index (PDI) values of 1,4-DHPs samples 3, 6, 10, and 11 were in the range of 0.10 to 0.37. We also demonstrated that the nanoparticles formed by 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 3, 6, and 9, and 4-(N-hexadecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 10 and 11 had zeta-potentials from +26.07 mV (compound 6) to +62.80 mV (compound 11), indicating a strongly positive surface charge and confirming the relative electrostatic stability of these nanoparticle solutions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of nanoaggregates formed by 1,4-DHPs 3 and 11 confirmed liposome-like structures with diameters around 70 to 170 nm. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) value interval for 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP was from 7.6 µM (compound 11) to 43.3 µM (compound 6). The tested 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives were able to quench the fluorescence of the binary 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH)—1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) system, demonstrating hydrophobic interactions of 1,4-DHPs with phospholipids. Thus, 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivative 3 quenched the fluorescence of the DPH–DPPC system more efficiently than the other 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives. Likewise the compound 3, also 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivative 9 interacted with the phospholipids. Moreover, we have established that increasing the length of the alkyl chain at the quaternised nitrogen of the 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP molecule or the introduction of propargyl moieties in the 1,4-DHP molecule significantly influences the cytotoxicity on HT-1080 (human fibrosarcoma) and MH-22A (mouse hepatocarcinoma) cell lines, as well as the estimated basal cytotoxicity. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the toxicity of the 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives on the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria species and eukaryotic microorganism depended on the presence of the alkyl chain length at the N-alkyl pyridinium moiety, as well as the number of propargyl groups. These lipid-like compounds may be proposed for the further development of drug formulations to be used in cancer treatment.

Structure-function relationships of nonviral gene vectors: Lessons from antimicrobial polymers

In recent years, substantial advances have been achieved in the design and synthesis of nonviral gene vectors. However, lack of effective and biocompatible vectors still remains a major challenge that hinders their application in clinical settings. In the past decade, there has been a rapid expansion of cationic antimicrobial polymers, due to their potent, rapid, and broad-spectrum biocidal activity against resistant microbes, and biocompatible features. Given that antimicrobial polymers share common features with nonviral gene vectors in various aspects, such as membrane affinity, functional groups, physicochemical characteristics, and unique macromolecular architectures, these polymers may provide us with inspirations to overcome challenges in the design of novel vectors toward more safe and efficient gene delivery in clinic. Building off these observations, we provide here an overview of the structure-function relationships of polymers for both antimicrobial applications and gene delivery by elaborating some key structural parameters, including functional groups, charge density, hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance, MW, and macromolecular architectures. By borrowing a leaf from antimicrobial agents, great advancement in the development of newer nonviral gene vectors with high transfection efficiency and biocompatibility will be more promising. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The development of gene delivery is still in the preclinical stage for the lack of effective and biocompatible vectors. Given that antimicrobial polymers share common features with gene vectors in various aspects, such as membrane affinity, functional groups, physicochemical characteristics, and unique macromolecular architectures, these polymers may provide us with inspirations to overcome challenges in the design of novel vectors toward more safe and efficient gene delivery in clinic. In this review, we systematically summarized the structure-function relationships of antimicrobial polymers and gene vectors, with which the design of more advanced nonviral gene vectors is anticipated to be further boosted in the future.

Targeted Interleukin-22 Gene Delivery in the Liver by Polymetformin and Penetratin-Based Hybrid Nanoparticles to Treat Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now a leading cause of chronic liver disease, and there is currently no available treatment strategy. Interleukin-22 (IL-22) has been recognized as a promising agent for alleviating NAFLD, but the efficacy of IL-22 is far from satisfactory because safe dose of IL-22 elicited limited improvement, whereas higher concentration might induce serious side effects and off-target toxicities. Thus, targeted and sustained expression of IL-22 in the liver is necessary. To meet the challenge, we elaborately developed a novel polymetformin carrier by conjugating biguanide to chitosan, termed chitosan-metformin (CM), which could exert advanced gene delivery efficiency and possess intrinsic therapeutic efficacy from metformin for NAFLD. CM accompanied with penetratin and DSPE-PEG2000 could self-assemble to form stable nanocomplexes with IL-22 gene via electrostatic interaction. This nanoparticle (CDPIA) exerted desirable particle size at ∼100 nm, fine morphology, and efficient cellular internalization. Furthermore, CDPIA also demonstrated a unique superiority in endosomal escape capacity and satisfactory biocompatibility as well as predominant liver accumulation. Most importantly, CDPIA distinctly alleviated hepatic steatosis, restored insulin sensitivity, and improved metabolic syndrome in high-fat-diet-fed mice model. This liver-targeted delivery of IL-22 activated STAT3/Erk1/2 and Nrf2/SOD1 signaling transductions as well as modulated lipid-metabolism-related gene expression. These findings altogether demonstrated that the polymetformin and penetratin-based hybrid nanoparticles could be exploited as a novel safe and efficient strategy for the improvement of NAFLD.

Emerging transporter-targeted nanoparticulate drug delivery systems

Transporter-targeted nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (nano-DDS) have emerged as promising nanoplatforms for efficient drug delivery. Recently, great progress in transporter-targeted strategies has been made, especially with the rapid developments in nanotherapeutics. In this review, we outline the recent advances in transporter-targeted nano-DDS. First, the emerging transporter-targeted nano-DDS developed to facilitate oral drug delivery are reviewed. These include improvements in the oral absorption of protein and peptide drugs, facilitating the intravenous-to-oral switch in cancer chemotherapy. Secondly, the recent advances in transporter-assisted brain-targeting nano-DDS are discussed, focusing on the specific transporter-based targeting strategies. Recent developments in transporter-mediated tumor-targeting drug delivery are also discussed. Finally, the possible transport mechanisms involved in transporter-mediated endocytosis are highlighted, with special attention to the latest findings of the interactions between membrane transporters and nano-DDS.

A multifunctional nanocarrier for efficient TRAIL-based gene therapy against hepatocellular carcinoma with desmoplasia in mice

The anticancer efficacy of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-based therapy is limited because of systemic toxicity, poor bioavailability, and development of TRAIL resistance. We developed a tumor-targeted LCPP (lipid/calcium/phosphate/protamine) nanoparticle (NP) to deliver TRAIL plasmid DNA (pDNA) into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in a mouse model of HCC. TRAIL pDNA was encapsulated in a pH stimuli-responsive calcium phosphate (CaP) core, and protamine was added to facilitate nuclear delivery of pDNA. In addition, intracellular release of Ca²⁺ from the CaP core overcame TRAIL resistance by calcium influx-dependent DR5 up-regulation. TRAIL expression also attenuated fibrosis in liver tissues surrounding HCCs by reverting activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to a quiescent state or by directly inducing apoptosis in activated HSCs.

CONCLUSION

TRAIL pDNA delivered by HCC-targeted LCPP NPs in combination with conventional sorafenib treatment attenuated HCC progression as well as liver fibrosis. Overall, our study presents an effective TRAIL-based cancer therapy that could be developed for clinical applications. (Hepatology 2018;67:899-913).

Nanoparticles for Immune Cytokine TRAIL-Based Cancer Therapy

The immune cytokine tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has received significant attention as a cancer therapeutic due to its ability to selectively trigger cancer cell apoptosis without causing toxicity in vivo. While TRAIL has demonstrated significant promise in preclinical studies in mice as a cancer therapeutic, challenges including poor circulation half-life, inefficient delivery to target sites, and TRAIL resistance have hindered clinical translation. Recent advances in drug delivery, materials science, and nanotechnology are now being exploited to develop next-generation nanoparticle platforms to overcome barriers to TRAIL therapeutic delivery. Here, we review the design and implementation of nanoparticles to enhance TRAIL-based cancer therapy. The platforms we discuss are diverse in their approaches to the delivery problem and provide valuable insight into guiding the design of future nanoparticle-based TRAIL cancer therapeutics to potentially enable future translation into the clinic.

Co-delivery of gambogic acid and TRAIL plasmid by hyaluronic acid grafted PEI-PLGA nanoparticles for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-based combination therapy and gene therapy are new strategies to potentially overcome the limitations of TRAIL, however, the lack of efficient and low toxic vectors remains the major obstacle. In this study, we developed a hyaluronic acid (HA)-decorated polyethylenimine-poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PEI-PLGA) nanoparticle (NP) system for targeted co-delivery of TRAIL plasmid (pTRAIL) and gambogic acid (GA) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) therapy. GA was encapsulated into the core of the PEI-PLGA NPs while pTRAIL was adsorbed onto the positive NP surface via charge adsorption. The coating of HA on PEI-PLGA NPs functions as a targeting ligand by binding to CD44 receptor of TNBC cells and a shell to neutralize the excess positive charge of inner NPs. The resultant pTRAIL and GA co-loaded HA-coated PEI-PLGA NPs exhibited spherical shape (121.5 nm) and could promote the internalization of loaded cargoes into TNBC cells through the CD44-dependent endocytic pathway. The dual drug-loaded NPs significantly augmented apoptotic cell death in vitro and inhibited TNBC tumor growth in vivo. This multifunctional NP system efficiently co-delivered GA and pTRAIL, thus representing a promising strategy to treat TNBC and bringing forth a platform strategy for co-delivery of therapeutic DNA and chemotherapeutic agents in combinatorial TNBC therapy.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive nanomedicine for RNAi-based cancer therapy

Although much effort has been dedicated to the development of efficient siRNA delivery for cancer therapy, delivery nanomaterials that can particularly respond to reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are overproduced in the tissue and mitochondria of cancer cells, are still rare for the clinical translation of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapy. To this end, we developed a ROS-responsive boronic vehicle with a lipid envelope for systemic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) siRNA delivery so as to improve RNAi cancer therapy. We found that the efficiency of siRNA delivery largely relied on the ROS responsiveness of the carrier we have developed to mediate timely siRNA release, the PEG-functionalized lipid layer to shield the surface charge of polyplexes as well as the ability of the phenylboronic moiety to stabilize siRNA. The unique carrier nanostructure provides the efficient systemic transportation of siRNA to the tumor site for effective knockdown of the VEGF, which resulted in a significant antiangiogenesis effect and the effective inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. The current study defines a new systemic delivery strategy for siRNA by cooperatively integrating multifunctional lipid coatings with the ROS-responsive boronic polymer, which may potentially benefit RNAi-based therapy in the dawning era of precision nanomedicine for cancer therapy.

Nanoparticles for death‑induced gene therapy in cancer (Review)

Due to the high toxicity and side effects of the use of traditional chemotherapy in cancer, scientists are working on the development of alternative therapeutic technologies. An example of this is the use of death‑induced gene therapy. This therapy consists of the killing of tumor cells via transfection with plasmid DNA (pDNA) that contains a gene which produces a protein that results in the apoptosis of cancerous cells. The cell death is caused by the direct activation of apoptosis (apoptosis‑induced gene therapy) or by the protein toxic effects (toxin‑induced gene therapy). The introduction of pDNA into the tumor cells has been a challenge for the development of this therapy. The most recent implementation of gene vectors is the use of polymeric or inorganic nanoparticles, which have biological and physicochemical properties (shape, size, surface charge, water interaction and biodegradation rate) that allow them to carry the pDNA into the tumor cell. Furthermore, nanoparticles may be functionalized with specific molecules for the recognition of molecular markers on the surface of tumor cells. The binding between the nanoparticle and the tumor cell induces specific endocytosis, avoiding toxicity in healthy cells. Currently, there are no clinical protocols approved for the use of nanoparticles in death‑induced gene therapy. There are still various challenges in the design of the perfect transfection vector, however nanoparticles have been demonstrated to be a suitable candidate. This review describes the role of nanoparticles used for pDNA transfection and key aspects for their use in death‑induced gene therapy.