A multifunctional lipid that forms contrast-agent liposomes with dual-control release capabilities for precise MRI-guided drug delivery

Unveiling the potential of molecular imprinting polymer-based composites in the discovery of advanced drug delivery carriers

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are polymeric matrices that can mimic natural recognition entities, such as antibodies and biological receptors. Molecular imprinting of therapeutics is very appealing in the design of drug delivery systems since the specific and selective binding sites created within the polymeric matrix turn these complex structures into value-added carriers with tunable features, notably high drug-loading capacity and good control of payload release. MIPs possess considerable promise as synthetic recognition elements in 'theranostics'. Moreover, the high affinity and specificity of MIPs make them more advantageous than other polymer-based nanocomposites. This review summarizes the present state-of-the-art of MIP-based delivery systems for the targeted delivery of bioactives, with current challenges and future perspectives.

TEMPO-conjugated tobacco mosaic virus as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent for detection of superoxide production in the inflamed liver

Superoxide, an anionic dioxygen molecule, plays a crucial role in redox regulation within the body but is implicated in various pathological conditions when produced excessively. Efforts to develop superoxide detection strategies have led to the exploration of organic-based contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study compares the effectiveness of two such agents, nTMV-TEMPO and kTMV-TEMPO, for detecting superoxide in a mouse liver model with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. The study demonstrates that kTMV-TEMPO, with a strategically positioned lysine residue for TEMPO attachment, outperforms nTMV-TEMPO as an MRI contrast agent. The enhanced sensitivity of kTMV-TEMPO is attributed to its more exposed TEMPO attachment site, facilitating stronger interactions with water protons and superoxide radicals. EPR kinetics experiments confirm kTMV-TEMPO's faster oxidation and reduction rates, making it a promising sensor for superoxide in inflamed liver tissue. In vivo experiments using healthy and LPS-induced inflamed mice reveal that reduced kTMV-TEMPO remains MRI-inactive in healthy mice but becomes MRI-active in inflamed livers. The contrast enhancement in inflamed livers is substantial, validating the potential of kTMV-TEMPO for detecting superoxide in vivo. This research underscores the importance of optimizing contrast agents for in vivo imaging applications. The enhanced sensitivity and biocompatibility of kTMV-TEMPO make it a promising candidate for further studies in the realm of medical imaging, particularly in the context of monitoring oxidative stress-related diseases.

Preparation and performance of biocompatible gadolinium polymer as liver-targeting magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent

A biocompatible macromolecule-conjugated gadolinium chelate complex (PAV2-EDA-DOTA-Gd) as a new liver-specific contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was synthesized and evaluated. An aspartic acid-valine copolymer was used as a carrier and ethylenediamine as a chemical linker, and the aspartic acid-valine copolymer was covalently linked to the small molecule MRI contrast agent Gd-DOTA (Dotarem) to synthesize a large molecule contrast agent. In vitro MR relaxation showed that the T1-relaxivity of PAV2-EDA-DOTA-Gd (13.7 mmol-1 L s-1) was much higher than that of the small-molecule Gd-DOTA (4.9 mmol-1 L s-1). In vivo imaging of rats showed that the enhancement effect of PAV2-EDA-DOTA-Gd (55.37 ± 2.80%) on liver imaging was 2.6 times that of Gd-DOTA (21.12 ± 3.86%), and it produced a longer imaging window time (40-70 min for PAV2-EDA-DOTA-Gd and 10-30 min for Gd-DOTA). Preliminary safety experiments, such as cell experiments and tissue sectioning, showed that PAV2-EDA-DOTA-Gd had low toxicity and satisfactory biocompatibility. The results of this study indicated that PAV2-EDA-DOTA-Gd had high potential as a liver-specific MRI contrast agent.

Apigenin-7-glucoside-loaded nanoparticle alleviates intestinal ischemia-reperfusion by ATF3/SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis

Intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury (II/R injury) is a common and intractable pathophysiological process in critical patients, for which exploring new treatments and mechanisms is of great importance to improve treatment outcomes. Apigenin-7-O-Glucoside (AGL) is a sugar derivative of apigenin natural product with various pharmacological activities to protect against intestinal diseases. In this study, we synthesized two amphiphilic molecules, namely DTPA-N10-10 and mPEG-TK-DA, which can scavenge free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). They were successfully encapsulated AGL through self-assembly, resulting in the formation of multi-site ROS scavenging nanoparticles called PDN@AGL. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that PDN@AGL could protect intestinal tissues by reducing lipid peroxidation, lowering ROS levels and inhibiting ferroptosis during II/R injury. Furthermore, our study revealed, for the first time, that the regulation of the ATF3/SLC7A11 pathway by PDN@AGL may play a crucial role in mitigating II/R injury. In conclusion, our study confirmed the beneficial effects of PDN@AGL in combating II/R injury through the ATF3/SLC7A11-mediated regulation of ferroptosis and oxidative stress. These findings lay the groundwork for the potential application of PDN@AGL in the treatment of II/R injury.

Therapeutic targets and potential delivery systems of melatonin in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent age-related musculoskeletal disorder that typically results in chronic pain and disability. OA is a multifactorial disease, with increased oxidative stress, dysregulated inflammatory response, and impaired matrix metabolism contributing to its onset and progression. The neurohormone melatonin, primarily synthesized by the pineal gland, has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for OA due to its potential to alleviate inflammation, oxidative stress, and chondrocyte death with minimal adverse effects. The present review provides a comprehensive summary of the current understanding regarding melatonin as a promising pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of OA, along with an exploration of various delivery systems that can be utilized for melatonin administration. These findings may provide novel therapeutic strategies and targets for inhibiting the advancement of OA.

Mesoporous polydopamine delivery system for intelligent drug release and photothermal-enhanced chemodynamic therapy using MnO2 as gatekeeper

The non-specific leakage of drugs from nanocarriers seriously weakened the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy, and it was very critical of constructing tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive delivery nanocarriers, achieving the modulation release of drugs. Herein, using manganese dioxide (MnO2) as gatekeeper, an intelligent nanoplatform based on mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) was developed to deliver doxorubicin (DOX), by which the DOX release was precisely controlled, and simultaneously the photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) were realized. In normal physiological environment, the stable MnO2 shell effectively avoided the leakage of DOX. However, in TME, the overexpressed glutathione (GSH) degraded MnO2 shell, which caused the DOX release. Moreover, the photothermal effect of MPDA and the Fenton-like reaction of the generated Mn2+ further accelerated the cell death. Thus, the developed MPDA-DOX@MnO2 nanoplatform can intelligently modulate the release of DOX, and the combined CDT/PTT/chemotherapy possessed high-safety and high-efficacy against tumors.

Engineered Liposomes in Interventional Theranostics of Solid Tumors

Engineered liposomal nanoparticles have unique characteristics as cargo carriers in cancer care and therapeutics. Liposomal theranostics have shown significant progress in preclinical and clinical cancer models in the past few years. Liposomal hybrid systems have not only been approved by the FDA but have also reached the market level. Nanosized liposomes are clinically proven systems for delivering multiple therapeutic as well as imaging agents to the target sites in (i) cancer theranostics of solid tumors, (ii) image-guided therapeutics, and (iii) combination therapeutic applications. The choice of diagnostics and therapeutics can intervene in the theranostics property of the engineered system. However, integrating imaging and therapeutics probes within lipid self-assembly "liposome" may compromise their overall theranostics performance. On the other hand, liposomal systems suffer from their fragile nature, site-selective tumor targeting, specific biodistribution and premature leakage of loaded cargo molecules before reaching the target site. Various engineering approaches, viz., grafting, conjugation, encapsulations, etc., have been investigated to overcome the aforementioned issues. It has been studied that surface-engineered liposomes demonstrate better tumor selectivity and improved therapeutic activity and retention in cells/or solid tumors. It should be noted that several other parameters like reproducibility, stability, smooth circulation, toxicity of vital organs, patient compliance, etc. must be addressed before using liposomal theranostics agents in solid tumors or clinical models. Herein, we have reviewed the importance and challenges of liposomal medicines in targeted cancer theranostics with their preclinical and clinical progress and a translational overview.

A Blood-Responsive AIE Bioprobe for the Ultrasensitive Detection and Assessment of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe subtype of stroke caused by the rupturing of blood vessels in the brain. The ability to accurately assess the degree of bleeding in an SAH model is crucial for understanding the brain-damage mechanisms and developing therapeutic strategies. However, current methods are unable to monitor microbleeding owing to their limited sensitivities. Herein, a new bleeding assessment system using a bioprobe TTVP with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics is demonstrated. TTVP is a water-soluble, small-molecule probe that specifically interacts with blood. Taking advantage of its AIE characteristics, cell membranes affinity, and albumin-targeting ability, TTVP fluoresces in bleeding areas and detects the presence of blood with a high signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. The degree of SAH bleeding in an endovascular perforation model is clearly evaluated based on the intensity of the fluorescence observed in the brain, which enables the ultrasensitive detection of mirco-bleeding in the SAH model in a manner that outperforms the current imaging strategies. This method serves as a promising tool for the sensitive analysis of the degree of bleeding in SAHs and other hemorrhagic diseases.

Reaching new lights: a review on photo-controlled nanomedicines and their in vivo evaluation

The selective and efficient delivery of bioactive molecules to sites of interest remains a formidable challenge in medicine. In recent years, it has been shown that stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems display several advantages over traditional drug administration such as an improved pharmacokinetic profile and the desirable ability to gain control over release. Light emerged as one of the most powerful stimuli due to its high biocompatibility, spatio-temporal control, and non-invasiveness. On the road to clinical translation, various chemical systems of high complexity have been reported with the aim to improve efficacy, safety, and versatility of drug delivery under complex biological conditions. For future research on the chemical design of such photo-controlled nanomedicines, it is essential to gain an understanding of their in vivo translation and efficiency. Here, we discuss photo-controlled nanomedicines that have been evaluated in vivo and provide an overview of the state-of-the-art that should guide future research design.

Soft nano and microstructures for the photomodulation of cellular signaling and behavior

Photoresponsive soft materials are everywhere in the nature, from human's retina tissues to plants, and have been the inspiration for engineers in the development of modern biomedical materials. Light as an external stimulus is particularly attractive because it is relatively cheap, noninvasive to superficial biological tissues, can be delivered contactless and offers high spatiotemporal control. In the biomedical field, soft materials that respond to long wavelength or that incorporate a photon upconversion mechanism are desired to overcome the limited UV-visible light penetration into biological tissues. Upon light exposure, photosensitive soft materials respond through mechanisms of isomerization, crosslinking or cleavage, hyperthermia, photoreactions, electrical current generation, among others. In this review, we discuss the most recent applications of photosensitive soft materials in the modulation of cellular behavior, for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, in drug delivery and for phototherapies.

The role of imaging in targeted delivery of nanomedicine for cancer therapy

Nanomedicines overcome the pharmacokinetic limitations of traditional drug formulations and have promising prospect in cancer treatment. However, nanomedicine delivery in vivo is still facing challenges from the complex physiological environment. For the purpose of effective tumor therapy, they should be designed to guarantee the five features principle, including long blood circulation, efficient tumor accumulation, deep matrix penetration, enhanced cell internalization and accurate drug release. To ensure the excellent performance of the designed nanomedicine, it would be better to monitor the drug delivery process as well as the therapeutic effects by real-time imaging. In this review, we summarize strategies in developing nanomedicines for efficiently meeting the five features of drug delivery, and the role of several imaging modalities (fluorescent imaging (FL), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), positron emission tomography (PET), and electron microscopy) in tracing drug delivery and therapeutic effect in vivo based on five features principle.

Recent Advances in Functionalized Nanoparticles in Cancer Theranostics

Cancer theranostics is the combination of diagnosis and therapeutic approaches for cancer, which is essential in personalized cancer treatment. The aims of the theranostics application of nanoparticles in cancer detection and therapy are to reduce delays in treatment and hence improve patient care. Recently, it has been found that the functionalization of nanoparticles can improve the efficiency, performance, specificity and sensitivity of the structure, and increase stability in the body and acidic environment. Moreover, functionalized nanoparticles have been found to possess a remarkable theranostic ability and have revolutionized cancer treatment. Each cancer treatment modality, such as MRI-guided gene therapy, MRI-guided thermal therapy, magnetic hyperthermia treatment, MRI-guided chemotherapy, immunotherapy, photothermal and photodynamic therapy, has its strengths and weaknesses, and combining modalities allows for a better platform for improved cancer control. This is why cancer theranostics have been investigated thoroughly in recent years and enabled by functionalized nanoparticles. In this topical review, we look at the recent advances in cancer theranostics using functionalized nanoparticles. Through understanding and updating the development of nanoparticle-based cancer theranostics, we find out the future challenges and perspectives in this novel type of cancer treatment.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy-guided synergistic phototherapy: A theranostic platform mediated by a single laser wavelength

Currently, cancer theranostic studies have only focused on integrating existing medical imaging techniques with therapeutic modalities. Obviously, this strategy is not a real theranostic method, as diagnosis and therapy are based on different principles and require independent operation. Here, a cancer theranostic method was established by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)-mediated synergistic photothermal/photodynamic therapy, which was activated by a single 1064-nm light for simultaneous tumor localization and treatment. PEGylated cobalt phosphate (CoP@PEG) nanoparticles (NPs) with strong near-infrared (NIR)-II absorbance, high photothermal conversion efficiency and a reactive oxygen species generation effect were fabricated, and they produced excellent antitumor outcomes under 1064-nm excitation, as evidenced by the substantial increase in HepG2 cell death in vitro and complete tumor elimination in vivo. Meanwhile, the diagnostic method of the LIBS imaging system used in the present study also uses 1064-nm light. The LIBS imaging system can provide fast, real-time analysis and imaging of elements and facilitate the localization of the tumor site by monitoring the distribution of CoP@PEG NPs for precise tumor treatment. We postulate that this theranostic platform will promote the development of further theranostic research.

Research on the Construction of Bispecific-Targeted Sustained-Release Drug-Delivery Microspheres and Their Function in Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Lenvatinib (LEN) is approved as one of the commonly used drugs in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is recognized to be a novel therapeutic choice for the direct and targeted delivery of effective drugs to HCC tumor sites. The key to the proposed method lies in the requirement for efficient targeted drug delivery carriers with targeting performance to deliver effective drugs directly and safely to tumor lesions. Methods: Here, magnetic liposomes (MLs) were modified by phosphatidylinositol proteoglycan 3 (GPC3) and epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EpCAMs). Subsequently, bispecific-targeted sustained-release drug-loaded microspheres containing LEN (GPC3/EpCAM-LEN-MLs) were constructed. In addition, both cytotoxicity and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analyses were performed to establish a mouse model and further perform corresponding performance assessments. Results: The corresponding results showed that GPC3/EpCAM-LEN-MLs were spherical-shaped and evenly dispersed. The encapsulation and drug-loading efficiencies were 91.08% ± 1.83% and 8.22% ± 1.24%, respectively. Meanwhile, GPC3/EpCAM-LEN-MLs showed a high inhibition rate on the proliferation of HCC cells and significantly increased their apoptosis. Furthermore, MRI revealed that the system possessed the function of tracking and localizing tumor cells, and animal experiments verified that it could exert the function of disease diagnosis. Conclusions: Our experiments successfully constructed a safe and efficient bispecific-targeted sustained-release drug delivery system for HCC tumor cells. It provides a useful diagnostic and therapeutic scheme for the clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy of HCC. Moreover, it can be used as a potential tumor-specific MRI contrast agent for the localization and diagnosis of malignant tumors.

Sensitive and precise visually guided drug delivery nanoplatform with dual activation of pH and light

Controlled-release drug carriers in cancer therapy are the most ideal way to reduce toxicity and improve drug efficacy. Since light stimulation is precise and operable, most multi-stimulation response carriers utilize phototherapy to enhance release efficiency. However, phototoxicity severely limits the application of phototherapy. Herein, we designed and synthesized a Cou-ONB lipid with sensitive fluorescence feedback and multi-stimulus response. COBL liposomes prepared from Cou-ONB lipids will passively aggregate at the tumor and guide phototherapy by fluorescence. More importantly, it can reflect the drug release effect in vivo through its own sensitive fluorescence changes, further enabling precise phototherapy and reducing phototoxicity. In this paper, the multi-stimulus superimposed response and precise fluorescence-guided performance of COBL liposomes were investigated at the molecular, liposome, cellular, and animal levels. Finally, tumor treatment experiments showed that the d-COBL-UV group had the best tumor suppression effect (5.3-fold). This paper highlights a real-time fluorescence-guided multi-stimulus superposition strategy and provides a design idea to precisely implement exogenous stimuli by displaying the degree of drug release, aiming to achieve less toxic and more efficient cancer therapy through timely and precise multi-stimulation. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Multi-stimulus responsive drug carriers have been extensively developed in the last decade. Visual guidance is an important tool to achieve precision medicine and precise control of drug release. However, the available visualization materials are more aimed at directing stimulation at the optimal moment. There is little discussion on when to stop exogenous stimulation and how to minimize the damage of stimulation to the patient. Here, we provide a Cou-ONB lipid that not only responds to multiple stimuli, but also provides sensitive feedback on its own dissociation with a fluorescent signal so that physicians can adjust exogenous stimuli in a timely manner. This paper provides insights to facilitate precision drug delivery systems, providing viable design ideas for precise, efficient, and less toxic cancer therapies.

Precise delivery of multi-stimulus-responsive nanocarriers based on interchangeable visual guidance

Cancer treatment is imminent, and controlled drug carriers are an important development direction for future clinical chemotherapy. Visual guidance is a feasible means to achieve precise treatment, reduce toxicity and increase drug efficacy. However, the existing visual control methods are limited by imaging time-consuming, sensitivity and side effects. In addition, the ability of the carrier to respond to environmental stimuli in vivo is another difficulty that limits its application. Here, we propose a highly stimulus-responsive GC liposome with precise tracing and sensitive feedback capabilities. It combines magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescence imaging, and addresses the need for precise visualization by alternating imaging modalities. More importantly, GC liposomes are a carrier that can accumulate stimuli. In this paper, by tracking the fragmentation process of empty GC and drug-loaded D-GC liposomes, we confirm the synergistic effect between multiple stimuli, which can result in a more efficient drug release performance. Finally, in mice models we examined the GC liposome imaging approach and the D-GC + UV group guided by this visualization exhibited the highest tumor inhibition efficiency (6.85-fold). This study highlights the advantages of alternate visualization-guided and co-stimulation treatment strategies, and provides design ideas and potential materials for efficient and less toxic cancer treatments.

Structure-activity relationships of pH-responsive and ionizable lipids for gene delivery

Ionizable lipids are the leading vectors for gene therapy. Understanding the effects of molecular structure on efficient gene delivery is one of the most important challenges for maximizing the utility of such lipid vectors. We synthesized an array of pH-responsive and ionizable lipids to investigate the relationship between lipid structure and activity. The optimized lipid (EDM) has double tertiary amines in the headgroup and an ester linker. EDM exhibited efficient DNA and siRNA delivery to, and gene silencing of, A549 cells. EDM has a pK_a value of 6.67, which enabled it to quickly escape from the endosome after entering the cell; the ester linkages rapidly degraded and enabled gene release into the cytoplasm. EDM also delivered IGF-1R siRNA to inhibit tumor growth and induce cancer cell apoptosis by efficient inhibition of IGF-1R expression in mice. Our study on the structure-activity relationships of ionizable lipids will facilitate clinical applications.

Effects of Docetaxel Injection and Docetaxel Micelles on the Intestinal Barrier and Intestinal Microbiota

Increasing evidence has suggested that chemotherapeutics affect the integrity of the intestinal barrier and alter the intestinal microbiota, thus limiting the therapeutic outcomes of cancer chemotherapy. Docetaxel (DTX) is used for breast cancer treatment and has gastrointestinal side effects, but the influence of DTX formulations on the intestinal barrier and intestinal microbiota remains unknown. Therefore, in this work, the influence of DTX injection (free DTX, commercial formulation) and DTX/methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactide) (mPEG-PDLLA) (DTX micelles, nanoformulation) on the integrity of the intestinal barrier and the intestinal microbiota is investigated. It is found that the free DTX causes significantly greater intestinal barrier damage than the DTX micelles. The diversity of the intestinal microbiota, and the relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Ruminococcus gnavus in the DTX micelle-treated group is significantly higher than that in the free DTX-treated group. Moreover, the tumor growth rate is elevated in antibiotic mixture-pretreated mice, demonstrating that the diversity and composition of the intestinal microbiota may be associated with tumor progression. This work demonstrates that different formulations of chemotherapeutics have different effects on the integrity of the intestinal barrier and the intestinal microbiota.

Enzyme-Induced Transformable Peptide Nanocarriers with Enhanced Drug Permeability and Retention to Improve Tumor Nanotherapy Efficacy

Temporal persistence is as important for nanocarriers as spatial accuracy. However, because of the insufficient aggreagtion and short retention time of chemotherapy drugs in tumors, their clinical application is greatly limited. A drug delivery approach dependent on the sensitivity to an enzyme present in the microenvironment of the tumor is designed to exhibit different sizes in different sites, achieving enhanced drug permeability and retention to improve tumor nanotherapy efficacy. In this work, we report a small-molecule peptide drug delivery system containing both tumor-targeting groups and enzyme response sites. This system enables the targeted delivery of peptide nanocarriers to tumor cells and a unique response to alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the tumor microenvironment to activate morphological transformation and drug release. The amphiphilic peptide AYR self-aggregated into a spherical nanoparticle structure after encapsulating the lipid-soluble model drug doxorubicin (DOX) and rapidly converted to nanofibers via the induction of ALP. This morphological transformation toward a high aspect ratio allowed rapid, as well as effective drug release to tumor location while enhancing specific toxicity to tumor cells. Interestingly, this "transformer"-like drug delivery strategy can enhance local drug accumulation and effectively inhibit drug efflux. In vitro along with in vivo experiments further proved that the permeability and retention of antitumor drugs in tumor cells and tissues were significantly enhanced to reduce toxic side effects, and the therapeutic effect was remarkably improved compared with that of nondeformable drug-loaded peptide nanocarriers. The developed AYR nanoparticles with the ability to undergo morphological transformation in situ can improve local drug aggregation and retention time at the tumor site. Our findings provide a new and simple method for nanocarrier morphology transformation in novel cancer treatments.

An Efficient Carbon-Based Drug Delivery System for Cancer Therapy through the Nucleus Targeting and Mitochondria Mediated Apoptotic Pathway

The emergence of nanocarriers solves the problems of antitumor drugs such as non-targeting, huge side effects, etc., and has been widely used in tumor therapy. Some kinds of antitumor drugs such as doxorubicin (DOX) mainly act on the nucleic acid causing DNA damage, interfering with transcription, and thereby disrupting or blocking the process of cancer cell replication. Herein, a new nanodrug delivery system, the carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs)-Pluronic F127-DOX (CPD), is designed by using CBNs as a nanocarrier for DOX. As a result, the tumor growth inhibition rate of CPD group is as high as 79.42 ± 2.83%, and greatly reduces the side effects. The targeting rate of the CPD group of DOX in the tumor nucleus is 36.78%, and the %ID/g in tumor tissue is 30.09%. The CPD regulates the expression levels of Caspase-3, p53, and Bcl-2 genes by increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and reducing mitochondrial membrane potential, which indicates that mitochondrial-mediated pathways are involved in apoptosis. The CPD nanodrug delivery system increases the effective accumulation of DOX in tumor cell nuclei and tumor tissues, and generates massive ROS, thereby inhibiting tumor growth in vivo, representing a promising agent for anticancer applications.

Soft materials as biological and artificial membranes

The past few decades have seen emerging growth in the field of soft materials for synthetic biology. This review focuses on soft materials involved in biological and artificial membranes. The biological membranes discussed here are mainly those involved in the structure and function of cells and organelles. As building blocks in medicine, non-native membranes including nanocarriers (NCs), especially liposomes and DQAsomes, and polymeric membranes for scaffolds are constructed from amphiphilic combinations of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Artificial membranes can be prepared using synthetic, soft materials and molecules and then incorporated into structures through self-organization to form micelles or niosomes. The modification of artificial membranes can be realized using traditional chemical methods such as click reactions to target the delivery of NCs and control the release of therapeutics. The biomembrane, a lamellar structure inlaid with ion channels, receptors, lipid rafts, enzymes, and other functional units, separates cells and organelles from the environment. An active domain inserted into the membrane and organelles for energy conversion and cellular communication can target disease by changing the membrane's composition, structure, and fluidity and affecting the on/off status of the membrane gates. The biological membrane targets analyzing pathological mechanisms and curing complex diseases, which inspires us to create NCs with artificial membranes.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Multi-Stimulus-Responsive Drug Delivery Strategy for Personalized and Precise Cancer Treatment

The emergence of nano-targeted controlled release liposomal drug carriers has provided a breakthrough in cancer therapy. However, their clinical efficacy is unsatisfactory, which is related to individualized differences in targeted drugs and poor in vivo release efficiency. In this paper, we prepared a class of personalized targeted and precisely controlled-release therapeutic drug carriers (GF liposomes) by co-assembling targeting and traceable o-nitrobenzyl ester lipids to propose a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided personalized in vivo targeted drug screening strategy and a multi-stimulus superimposed controlled-release strategy. Furthermore, by following the drug release process of drug-loaded liposomes (GF-D), it was found that these liposomes could rely on energy superposition to achieve more sensitive and efficient controlled drug release. In addition, the indispensable adjustment of liposome formulation for personalized MRI-based targeted therapy was verified by differential cellular uptake and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging. In the end, the 10.22-fold tumor suppression effect in the stimulus superposition group (GF-D-UV) indicates that the multi-stimulus cumulative response strategy and MRI-guided in vivo screening strategy can more effectively treat cancer. This contribution provides a concise and clever design idea for the future development of personalized precise and efficient clinical cancer therapies.

An endogenous stimulus detonated nanocluster-bomb for contrast-enhanced cancer imaging and combination therapy

Exploitation of stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms is of great value for precise and efficient cancer theranostics. Herein, an in situ activable "nanocluster-bomb" detonated by endogenous overexpressing legumain is fabricated for contrast-enhanced tumor imaging and controlled gene/drug release. By utilizing the functional peptides as bioligands, TAMRA-encircled gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) endowed with targeting, positively charged and legumain-specific domains are prepared as quenched building blocks due to the AuNCs' nanosurface energy transfer (NSET) effect on TAMRA. Importantly, the AuNCs can shelter therapeutic cargos of DNAzyme and Dox (Dzs-Dox) to aggregate larger nanoparticles as a "nanocluster-bomb" (AuNCs/Dzs-Dox), which could be selectively internalized into cancer cells by integrin-mediated endocytosis and in turn locally hydrolyzed in the lysosome with the aid of legumain. A "bomb-like" behavior including "spark-like" appearance (fluorescence on) derived from the diminished NSET effect of AuNCs and cargo release (disaggregation) of Dzs-Dox is subsequently monitored. The results showed that the AuNC-based disaggregation manner of the "nanobomb" triggered by legumain significantly improved the imaging contrast due to the activable mechanism and the enhanced cellular uptake of AuNCs. Meanwhile, the in vitro cytotoxicity tests revealed that the detonation strategy based on AuNCs/Dzs-Dox readily achieved efficient gene/chemo combination therapy. Moreover, the super efficacy of combinational therapy was further demonstrated by treating a xenografted MDA-MB-231 tumor model in vivo. We envision that our multipronged design of theranostic "nanocluster-bomb" with endogenous stimuli-responsiveness provides a novel strategy and great promise in the application of high contrast imaging and on-demand drug delivery for precise cancer theranostics.

Membrane-destabilizing ionizable lipid empowered imaging-guided siRNA delivery and cancer treatment

One of the imperative medical requirements for cancer treatment is how to establish an imaging-guided nanocarrier that combines therapeutic and imaging agents into one system. siRNA therapeutics have shown promising prospects in controlling life-threatening diseases. However, it is still challenging to develop siRNA formulations with excellent cellular entry capability, efficient endosomal escape, and simultaneous visualization. Herein, we fabricated multifunctional ionizable lipid nanoparticles (iLNPs) for targeted delivery of siRNA and MRI contrast agent. The iLNPs comprises DSPC, cholesterol, PEGylated lipid, contrast agent DTPA-BSA (Gd), and ionizable lipid termed iBL0104. siRNA-loaded iLNPs (iLNPs/siRNA) could be decorated with a tumor targeting cyclic peptide (c(GRGDSPKC)) (termed GARP), or without targeting modification (termed GAP). Data revealed that GARP/siRNA iLNPs exhibited significantly higher cellular entry efficiency than GAP/siRNA iLNPs. GARP/siRNA iLNPs rapidly and effectively escaped from endosome and lysosome after internalization. Compared with GAP/siPLK1, GARP/siPLK1 exhibited better tumor inhibition efficacy in both cell-line derived xenograft and liver cancer patient derived xenograft murine models. In addition, GARP formulation displayed ideal MRI effect in tumor-bearing mice, and was well tolerated by testing animals. Therefore, this study provides an excellent example for achieving imaging-guided and tumor-targeted siRNA delivery and cancer treatment, highlighting its promising potential for translational medicine application.

The Value of Convolutional Neural Network-Based Magnetic Resonance Imaging Image Segmentation Algorithm to Guide Targeted Controlled Release of Doxorubicin Nanopreparation

There was an investigation of the auxiliary role of convolutional neural network- (CNN-) based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image segmentation algorithm in MRI image-guided targeted drug therapy of doxorubicin nanomaterials so that the value of drug-controlled release in liver cancer patients was evaluated. In this study, 80 patients with liver cancer were selected as the research objects. It was hoped that the CNN-based MRI image segmentation algorithm could be applied to the guided analysis of MRI images of the targeted controlled release of doxorubicin nanopreparation to analyze the imaging analysis effect of this algorithm on the targeted treatment of liver cancer with doxorubicin nanopreparation. The results of this study showed that the upgraded three-dimensional (3D) CNN-based MRI image segmentation had a better effect compared with the traditional CNN-based MRI image segmentation, with significant improvement in indicators such as accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and specificity, and the differences were all statistically marked (p < 0.05). In the monitoring of the targeted drug therapy of doxorubicin nanopreparation for liver cancer patients, it was found that the MRI images of liver cancer patients processed by 3D CNN-based MRI image segmentation neural algorithm could be observed more intuitively and guided to accurately reach the target of liver cancer. The accuracy of targeted release determination of nanopreparation reached 80 ± 6.25%, which was higher markedly than that of the control group (66.6 ± 5.32%) (p < 0.05). In a word, the MRI image segmentation algorithm based on CNN had good application potential in guiding patients with liver cancer for targeted therapy with doxorubicin nanopreparation, which was worth promoting in the adjuvant treatment of targeted drugs for cancer.

An MRI-guided targeting dual-responsive drug delivery system for liver cancer therapy

The targeting dual-responsive drug delivery system was employed for cancer treatment as a positive strategy. Herein, Lactobionic acid (LA)-modified and non-modified UV/reduction dual-responsive molecules (10,10-NB-S-S-P-LA and 10,10-NB-S-S-P-OMe) were synthesized. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent (12,12-NB-DTPA-Gd) was mixed with 10,10-NB-S-S-P-LA or 10,10-NB-S-S-P-OMe in the optimal ratio (3:1) to develop targeted empty liposomes (GNSPL) or non-targeted empty liposomes (GNSPM) with superior UV/reduction dual-responsiveness, biocompatibility and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performance. The drug-loaded liposomes (GNSPLD and GNSPMD) can keep stable in two weeks, and the drug cumulative release rate reached to the maximum under dual stimulation of ultraviolet (UV) and reducing agent (TCEP). The treatment with GNSPLD + UV significantly inhibited the growth and migration of cancer cells in vitro. The GNSPLD liposomes were more effectively accumulated in tumor site than GNSPMD liposomes, due to the targeting property of GNSPLD liposomes. The treatment with GNSPLD + UV showed a better therapeutic efficacy than Doxorubicin (DOX) in vivo, and almost no side effects during the treatment period. Thus, the MRI-guided targeting dual-responsive drug delivery system provided a reliable therapeutic strategy for treating liver cancer.

Advances in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as Drug Delivery Systems

Despite the tremendous efforts made in the past decades, severe side/toxic effects and poor bioavailability still represent the main challenges that hinder the clinical translation of drug molecules. This has turned the attention of investigators towards drug delivery vehicles that provide a localized and controlled drug delivery. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as novel and versatile drug delivery vehicles have been widely studied in recent years due to the advantages of selective recognition, enhanced drug loading, sustained release, and robustness in harsh conditions. This review highlights the design and development of strategies undertaken for MIPs used as drug delivery vehicles involving different drug delivery mechanisms, such as rate-programmed, stimuli-responsive and active targeting, published during the course of the past five years.

A chitosan/mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based anticancer drug delivery system with a "tumor-triggered targeting" property

To enhance drug utilization and reduce their side effects, the strategy of "tumor-triggered targeting" was introduced to fabricate dual-pH-sensitive chitosan (CHI)/mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-based anticancer drug delivery system (DDS) in this work. Model drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was loaded in MSN, which was modified with benzimidazole (Bz) group. Then chitosan-graft-β-cyclodextrin (CHI-g-CD) was applied as the "gatekeeper" to cover MSN through host-guest interaction between β-CD and Bz. After being coated with targeting peptide adamantane-glycine-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-serine (Ad-GRGDS), methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) benzaldehyde (mPEG-CHO) was finally grafted on CHI through the pH-sensitive benzoic imine bond. Due to the dynamic protection of PEG, the obtained carriers were "stealthy" at pH 7.4, but could reveal the shielded targeting peptide and the positive charge of CHI in the weakly acidic environment achieved a "tumor-triggered targeting". Inside cancer cells, the interaction between β-CD and Bz group could be destroyed due to the lower pH, resulted in DOX release. Both in vitro and in vivo studies proved the DDS could targeting induce cancer cell apoptosis, inhibit tumor growth, and reduce the cytotoxicity of DOX against normal cells. It is expected that the system named DOX@MSN-CHI-RGD-PEG could be a potential choice for cancer therapy.

Targeting drug delivery with light: A highly focused approach

Light is a uniquely powerful tool for controlling molecular events in biology. No other external input (e.g., heat, ultrasound, magnetic field) can be so tightly focused or so highly regulated as a clinical laser. Drug delivery vehicles that can be photonically activated have been developed across many platforms, from the simplest "caging" of therapeutics in a prodrug form, to more complex micelles and circulating liposomes that improve drug uptake and efficacy, to large-scale hydrogel platforms that can be used to protect and deliver macromolecular agents including full-length proteins. In this Review, we discuss recent innovations in photosensitive drug delivery and highlight future opportunities to engineer and exploit such light-responsive technologies in the clinical setting.

Current status of sorafenib nanoparticle delivery systems in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Advanced HCC displays strong resistance to chemotherapy, and traditional chemotherapy drugs do not achieve satisfactory therapeutic efficacy. Sorafenib is an oral kinase inhibitor that inhibits tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis and induces cancer cell apoptosis. It also improves the survival rates of patients with advanced liver cancer. However, due to its poor solubility, fast metabolism, and low bioavailability, clinical applications of sorafenib have been substantially restricted. In recent years, various studies have been conducted on the use of nanoparticles to improve drug targeting and therapeutic efficacy in HCC. Moreover, nanoparticles have been extensively explored to improve the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib, and a variety of nanoparticles, such as polymer, lipid, silica, and metal nanoparticles, have been developed for treating liver cancer. All these new technologies have improved the targeted treatment of HCC by sorafenib and promoted nanomedicines as treatments for HCC. This review provides an overview of hot topics in tumor nanoscience and the latest status of treatments for HCC. It further introduces the current research status of nanoparticle drug delivery systems for treatment of HCC with sorafenib.

Computer Simulations on a pH-Responsive Anticancer Drug Delivery System Using Zwitterion-Grafted Polyamidoamine Dendrimer Unimolecular Micelles

Unimolecular micelles have attracted wide attention in the field of drug delivery because of their thermodynamic stability and uniform size distribution. However, their drug loading/release mechanisms at the molecular level have been poorly understood. In this work, the stability and drug loading/release behaviors of unimolecular micelles formed using generation-5 polyamidoamine-graft-poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (PAMAM(G5)-PCBMA) were studied by dissipative particle dynamics simulations. In addition, the unimolecular micelles formed using generation-5 polyamidoamine-graft-poly(ethyleneglycol methacrylate) (PAMAM(G5)-PEGMA) were used as a comparison. The simulation results showed that PAMAM(G5)-PCBMA can spontaneously form core-shell unimolecular micelles. The PAMAM(G5) dendrimer constitutes a hydrophobic core to load the doxorubicin (DOX), while the zwitterionic PCBMA serves as a protective shell to improve the stability of the unimolecular micelle. The DOX can be encapsulated into the cavity of PAMAM(G5) at the physiological pH 7.4. The drug loading efficiency and drug loading content showed some regularities with the increase in the drug concentration. At the acidic pH 5.0, the loaded DOX can be released gradually from the hydrophobic core. The comparison of DOX-loaded morphologies between the PAMAM(G5)-PCBMA system and PAMAM(G5)-PEGMA system showed that the former has better monodisperse stability. This work could offer theoretical guidance for the design and development of promising unimolecular micelles for drug delivery.

MR-labelled liposomes and focused ultrasound for spatiotemporally controlled drug release in triple negative breast cancers in mice

Rationale: Image-guided, triggerable, drug delivery systems allow for precisely placed and highly localised anti-cancer treatment. They contain labels for spatial mapping and tissue uptake tracking, providing key location and timing information for the application of an external stimulus to trigger drug release. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU or FUS) is a non-invasive approach for treating small tissue volumes and is particularly effective at inducing drug release from thermosensitive nanocarriers. Here, we present a novel MR-imageable thermosensitive liposome (iTSL) for drug delivery to triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). Methods: A macrocyclic gadolinium-based Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agent was covalently linked to a lipid. This was incorporated at 30 mol% into the lipid bilayer of a thermosensitive liposome that was also encapsulating doxorubicin. The resulting iTSL-DOX formulation was assessed for physical and chemical properties, storage stability, leakage of gadolinium or doxorubicin, and thermal- or FUS-induced drug release. Its effect on MRI relaxation time was tested in phantoms. Mice with tumours were used for studies to assess both tumour distribution and contrast enhancement over time. A lipid-conjugated near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) probe was also included in the liposome to facilitate the real time monitoring of iTSL distribution and drug release in tumours by NIRF bioimaging. TNBC (MDA-MB-231) tumour-bearing mice were then used to demonstrate the efficacy at retarding tumour growth and increasing survival. Results: iTSL-DOX provided rapid FUS-induced drug release that was dependent on the acoustic power applied. It was otherwise found to be stable, with minimum leakage of drug and gadolinium into buffers or under challenging conditions. In contrast to the usually suggested longer FUS treatment we identified that brief (~3 min) FUS significantly enhanced iTSL-DOX uptake to a targeted tumour and triggered near-total release of encapsulated doxorubicin, causing significant growth inhibition in the TNBC mouse model. A distinct reduction in the tumours' average T1 relaxation times was attributed to the iTSL accumulation. Conclusions: We demonstrate that tracking iTSL in tumours using MRI assists the application of FUS for precise drug release and therapy.

Recent Progress in Bioconjugation Strategies for Liposome-Mediated Drug Delivery

In nanoparticle (NP)-mediated drug delivery, liposomes are the most widely used drug carrier, and the only NP system currently approved by the FDA for clinical use, owing to their advantageous physicochemical properties and excellent biocompatibility. Recent advances in liposome technology have been focused on bioconjugation strategies to improve drug loading, targeting, and overall efficacy. In this review, we highlight recent literature reports (covering the last five years) focused on bioconjugation strategies for the enhancement of liposome-mediated drug delivery. These advances encompass the improvement of drug loading/incorporation and the specific targeting of liposomes to the site of interest/drug action. We conclude with a section highlighting the role of bioconjugation strategies in liposome systems currently being evaluated for clinical use and a forward-looking discussion of the field of liposomal drug delivery.

Advances and perspectives in carrier-free nanodrugs for cancer chemo-monotherapy and combination therapy

Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems hold impressive promise for biomedical application because of their excellent water dispersibility, prolonged blood circulation time, increased drug accumulation in tumors, and potential in combination therapeutics. However, most nanocarriers suffer from low drug-loading efficiency, poor therapeutic effectiveness, potential systematic toxicity, and unstable metabolism. As an alternative, carrier-free nanodrugs, completely formulated with one or more drugs, have attracted increasing attention in cancer therapy due to their advantage of improved pharmacodynamics/pharmacokinetics, reduced toxicity, and high drug-loading. In recent years, carrier-free nanodrugs have contributed to progress in a variety of therapeutic modalities. In this review, different common strategies for carrier-free nanodrugs preparation are first summarized, mainly including nanoprecipitation, template-assisted nanoprecipitation, thin-film hydration, spray-drying technique, supercritical fluid (SCF) technique, and wet media milling. Then we describe the recently reported carrier-free nanodrugs for cancer chemo-monotherapy or combination therapy. The advantages of anti-cancer drugs combined with other chemotherapeutic, photosensitizers, photothermal, immunotherapeutic or gene drugs have been demonstrated. Finally, a future perspective is introduced to highlight the existing challenges and possible solutions toward clinical application of currently developed carrier-free nanodrugs, which may be instructive to the design of effective carrier-free regimens in the future.

Sustained Release of Melatonin from GelMA Liposomes Reduced Osteoblast Apoptosis and Improved Implant Osseointegration in Osteoporosis

A reduction in bone mass around an implant is the main cause of implant loosening, especially in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. In osteoporosis, excessive oxidative stress, resulting in osteoblast apoptosis, largely contributes to abnormal bone remodeling. Melatonin (MT) synthesized by the pineal gland promotes osteoblast differentiation and bone formation and has been effectively used to combat oxidative stress. Therefore, we hypothesized that MT attenuates osteoblast apoptosis induced by oxidative stress, promotes osteogenesis in osteoporosis, and improves bone mass around prostheses. Moreover, considering the distribution and metabolism of MT, its systemic administration would require a large amount of MT, increasing the probability of drug side effects, so the local administration of MT is more effective than its systemic administration. In this study, we constructed a composite adhesive hydrogel system (GelMA-DOPA@MT) to bring about sustained MT release in a local area. Additionally, MT-reduced apoptosis caused by hydrogen peroxide- (H₂O₂-) induced oxidative stress and restored the osteogenic potential of MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, apoptosis in osteoblasts around the implant was significantly attenuated, and increased bone mass around the implant was observed in ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated with this composite system. In conclusion, our results show that GelMA-DOPA@MT can inhibit osteoblast apoptosis caused by oxidative stress, thereby promoting osteogenesis and improving bone quality around a prosthesis. Therefore, this system of local, sustained MT release is a suitable candidate to address implant loosening in patients with osteoporosis.

Nanomedicine Particles Associated With Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Contrast Agents in Biomedical Applications

Theranostic agents are particles containing both diagnostic and medicinal agents in a single platform. Theranostic approaches often employ nanomedicine because loading both imaging probes and medicinal drugs onto nanomedicine particles is relatively straightforward, which can simultaneously provide diagnostic and medicinal capabilities within a single agent. Such systems have recently been described as nanotheranostic. Currently, nanotheranostic particles incorporating medicinal drugs are being widely explored with multiple imaging methods, including computed tomography, positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and fluorescence imaging. However, most of these particles are metal-based multifunctional nanotheranostic agents, which pose potential toxicity or radiation risks. Hence, alternative non-metallic and biocompatible nanotheranostic agents are urgently needed. Recently, nanotheranostic agents that combine medicinal drugs and chemical exchange saturated transfer (CEST) contrast agents have shown good promise because CEST imaging technology can utilize the frequency-selective radiofrequency pulse from exchangeable protons to indirectly image without requiring metals or radioactive agents. In this review, we mainly describe the fundamental principles of CEST imaging, features of nanomedicine particles, potential applications of nanotheranostic agents, and the opportunities and challenges associated with clinical transformations.

Difunctional Fluorescence Nanoparticles for Accurate Tracing of Nanopesticide Fate and Crop Protection Prepared by Flash Nanoprecipitation

Facile fabrication of difunctional nanoparticles (NPs) for pesticide delivery and imaging is still a fascinating challenge. Here, water-dispersible difunctional NPs were developed using flash nanoprecipitation (FNP) where self-assembling amphiphilic block copolymers were used to encapsulate a highly hydrophobic model pesticide, Lambda-cyhalothrin, and the fluorescent dye Nile red. The particle size (ranging from 158 to 280 nm) and fluorescence property of NPs could be controlled by varying the flow rate or Nile red feed concentration. The aggregation state and rearrangement of the dye molecules in the NPs were also investigated. IVIS imaging and confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis demonstrated that the resulting difunctional nanopesticide particles could allow accurate in situ tracking of the pesticide on the leaf surface, while effectively avoiding interference from chlorophyll autofluorescence. The difunctional NP suspension maintained high insecticidal activity and stability. This work demonstrates the feasibility and great potential of the FNP method in universal fabrication of multifunctional NPs with in situ pesticide tracing and crop protection capabilities.

A Multifunctional Lipid Incorporating Active Targeting and Dual-Control Release Capabilities for Precision Drug Delivery

Active targeting and precise control of drug release based on nanoparticle therapies are urgently required to precisely treat cancer. We have custom-synthesized a functional lipid (termed Fa-ONB) by introducing a folic acid-targeting group into an o-nitro-benzyl ester lipid. As designed, the liposomes formed by Fa-ONB combine active targeting and dual trigger release capabilities, which help to improve drug efficacy and reduce the toxicity of traditional liposomes. We first verified that both pH-induced hydrolysis and light treatment were able to cleave the Fa-ONB lipid. We then prepared a series of liposomes (termed FOBD liposomes) by compounding the Fa-ONB lipid with DOPC at different ratios. After encapsulation of doxorubicin (DOX), we found that the particle size of DOX-loaded FOBD liposomes (DOX/FOBD) first increased (290 to 700 nm) and then decreased again (to 400 nm) under continuous UV irradiation (120 min). The photocatalytic release efficiency under different pH conditions was investigated by dialysis experiments, and it was found that the release efficiency in an acidic environment was significantly increased relative to neutral pH. This pH-triggered release response helps distinguish pathological tissues such as lysosomal compartments and tumors. The light-induced formation of a DOX precipitate increases in efficiency with increasing UV exposure time as well as with increasing environmental acidity or alkalinity. In addition, confocal imaging and flow cytometry showed that the ability of FOBD lipids to actively target HeLa cells increased with increasing Fa-ONB lipid content. Real-time in vivo fluorescence small animal experiments proved targeting to tumors and pH- and photo-induced release properties. Furthermore, therapeutic experiments using a mouse model found a significant tumor inhibitory effect for DOX/FOBD55 liposomes with UV irradiation, clearly demonstrating the benefit of light treatment: the tumor size of the control (PBS) group was 7.59 times that of the light treatment group. Therefore, this research demonstrates the benefits of combining triggerable release functions and effective active tumor targeting in one small lipid molecule for precise cancer treatment.

Central metal-derived co-assembly of biomimetic GdTPP/ZnTPP porphyrin nanocomposites for enhanced dual-modal imaging-guided photodynamic therapy

Dual-modal imaging guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) of multifunctional nanocomposites holds great promise for precision tumor theranostics. However, poor heterogeneous interfacial compatibility between functional components, low hydrophilicity and complicated preparation of nanocomposites remain major obstacles for further bioapplication. Herein, a facile central metal-derived co-assembly strategy is developed to effectively integrate gadolinium porphyrin (GdTPP) contrast agent and Zinc porphyrin (ZnTPP) photosensitizer into a homogeneous GdTPP/ZnTPP nanocomposites (GZNs). GZNs possesses the following advantages: (1) Greatly improved interfacial compatibility facilitated by incorporating two metalporphyrins with same group (phenyl-) and different central metal atoms (Zn and Gd) leading to higher yield (4.7-5 fold) than either monocomponent nanoparticles. (2) Poor dispersity of GdTPP nanoparticles is greatly improved after integrating with ZnTPP blocks. (3) The GZNs inherit excellent fluorescence imaging, high relaxation rate (8.18 mM^-1 s^-1) and singlet oxygen production from two raw metalporphyrins. After camouflaging with homotypic cancer cell membrane for immunologic escape, the HeLa membrane coated GZNs (mGZNs) show enhanced in vivo MR/FL imaging guided anti-tumor targeting efficiency of 80.6% for HeLa cells. Our new strategy using central metal-derived co-assembly of homogeneous building blocks greatly improves interfacial compatibility to achieve combined functions for visualized cancer theranostics.

Engineering Tumor-Targeting Nanoparticles as Vehicles for Precision Nanomedicine

As a nascent and emerging field that holds great potential for precision oncology, nanotechnology has been envisioned to improve drug delivery and imaging capabilities through precise and efficient tumor targeting, safely sparing healthy normal tissue. In the clinic, nanoparticle formulations such as the first-generation Abraxane® in breast cancer, Doxil® for sarcoma, and Onivyde® for metastatic pancreatic cancer, have shown advancement in drug delivery while improving safety profiles. However, effective accumulation of nanoparticles at the tumor site is sub-optimal due to biological barriers that must be overcome. Nanoparticle delivery and retention can be altered through systematic design considerations in order to enhance passive accumulation or active targeting to the tumor site. In tumor niches where passive targeting is possible, modifications in the size and charge of nanoparticles play a role in their tissue accumulation. For niches in which active targeting is required, precision oncology research has identified targetable biomarkers, with which nanoparticle design can be altered through bioconjugation using antibodies, peptides, or small molecule agonists and antagonists. This review is structured to provide a better understanding of nanoparticle engineering design principles with emphasis on overcoming tumor-specific biological barriers.