Ag2S nanoparticle-mediated multiple ablations reinvigorates the immune response for enhanced cancer photo-immunotherapy

Synthesis and surface engineering of Ag chalcogenide quantum dots for near-infrared biophotonic applications

Quantum dots (QDs), a novel category of semiconductor materials, exhibit extraordinary capabilities in tuning optical characteristics. Their emergence in biophotonics has been noteworthy, particularly in bio-imaging, biosensing, and theranostics applications. Although conventional QDs such as PbS, CdSe, CdS, and HgTe have garnered attention for their promising features, the presence of heavy metals in these QDs poses significant challenges for biological use. To address these concerns, the development of Ag chalcogenide QDs has gained prominence owing to their near-infrared emission and exceptionally low toxicity, rendering them suitable for biological applications. This review explores recent advancements in Ag chalcogenide QDs, focusing on their synthesis methodologies, surface chemistry modifications, and wide-ranging applications in biomedicine. Additionally, it identifies future directions in material science, highlighting the potential of these innovative QDs in revolutionizing the field.

Diagnosis and treatment status of inoperable locally advanced breast cancer and the application value of inorganic nanomaterials

Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is a heterogeneous group of breast cancer that accounts for 10-30% of breast cancer cases. Despite the ongoing development of current treatment methods, LABC remains a severe and complex public health concern around the world, thus prompting the urgent requirement for innovative diagnosis and treatment strategies. The primary treatment challenges are inoperable clinical status and ineffective local control methods. With the rapid advancement of nanotechnology, inorganic nanoparticles (INPs) exhibit a potential application prospect in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. Due to the unique inherent characteristics of INPs, different functions can be performed via appropriate modifications and constructions, thus making them suitable for different imaging technology strategies and treatment schemes. INPs can improve the efficacy of conventional local radiotherapy treatment. In the face of inoperable LABC, INPs have proposed new local therapeutic methods and fostered the evolution of novel strategies such as photothermal and photodynamic therapy, magnetothermal therapy, sonodynamic therapy, and multifunctional inorganic nanoplatform. This article reviews the advances of INPs in local accurate imaging and breast cancer treatment and offers insights to overcome the existing clinical difficulties in LABC management.

A Biodegradable "One-For-All" Nanoparticle for Multimodality Imaging and Enhanced Photothermal Treatment of Breast Cancer

Silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S-NP) hold promise for various optical-based biomedical applications, such as near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging, photoacoustics (PA), and photothermal therapy (PTT). However, their NIR absorbance is relatively low, and previous formulations are synthesized using toxic precursors under harsh conditions and are not effectively cleared due to their large size. Herein, sub-5 nm Ag2S-NP are synthesized and encapsulated in biodegradable, polymeric nanoparticles (AgPCPP). All syntheses are conducted using biocompatible, aqueous reagents under ambient conditions. The encapsulation of Ag2S-NP in polymeric nanospheres greatly increases their NIR absorbance, resulting in enhanced optical imaging and PTT effects. AgPCPP nanoparticles exhibit potent contrast properties suitable for PA and NIRF imaging, as well as for computed tomography (CT). Furthermore, AgPCPP nanoparticles readily improve the conspicuity of breast tumors in vivo. Under NIR laser irradiation, AgPCPP nanoparticles significantly reduce breast tumor growth, leading to prolonged survival compared to free Ag2S-NP. Over time, AgPCPP retention in tissues gradually decreases, without any signs of acute toxicity, providing strong evidence of their safety and biodegradability. Therefore, AgPCPP may serve as a "one-for-all" theranostic agent that degrades into small components for excretion after fulfilling diagnostic and therapeutic tasks, offering good prospects for clinical translation.

Synthesis of Taxifolin-Loaded Polydopamine for Chemo-Photothermal-Synergistic Therapy of Ovarian Cancer

Chemotherapy is a well-established method for treating cancer, but it has limited effectiveness due to its high dosage and harmful side effects. To address this issue, researchers have explored the use of photothermal agent nanoparticles as carriers for precise drug release in vivo. In this study, three different sizes of polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA-1, PDA-2, and PDA-3) were synthesized and evaluated. PDA-2 was selected for its optimal size, encapsulation rate, and drug loading rate. The release of the drug from PDA-2@TAX was tested at different pH and NIR laser irradiation levels. The results showed that PDA-2@TAX released more readily in an acidic environment and exhibited a high photothermal conversion efficiency when exposed to an 808 nm laser. In vitro experiments on ovarian cancer cells demonstrated that PDA-2@TAX effectively inhibited cell proliferation, highlighting its potential for synergistic chemotherapy-photothermal treatment.

Oxygen-Independent Synchronized ROS Generation and Hypoxia Prodrug Activation with Z-Scheme Heterostructure Sonosensitizer

Combination therapy has emerged as a promising approach for effective tumor treatment. However, the combination of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs) has not been explored due to the contradictory requirement of oxygen (O2 ) for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the necessity to avoid O2 for the activation of HAPs. In this study, this challenge is addressed by developing BiOCl-Au-Ag2 S Z-scheme heterostructure nanoparticles loaded with tirapazamine (TPZ) to achieve O2 -independent therapy. These nanoparticles demonstrate efficient electron-hole separation under ultrasound irradiation while maintaining a high redox potential. The generated holes react with water to efficiently produce hydroxyl radicals, while the electrons autonomously activate TPZ, negating the need for O2 . In vitro and in vivo assessments validate the effective tumor elimination by these Z-scheme nanoparticles without disrupting the hypoxic environment. This innovative design overcomes the limitations associated with O2 requirement in SDT and introduces a novel strategy for HAP activation and synergistic therapy between ROS and HAPs-based therapy.

Near-infrared-II Ag2S quantum dot probes targeting podoplanin enhance immunotherapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (pEMT) plays a vital role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cervical lymph node metastasis and tumor immune escape as an immune barrier. However, targeted interventions for pEMT have yet to be established. In this study, we generated an αPDPN-Ag2S probe by modifying a Podoplanin(PDPN) monoclonal antibody on the surface of near infrared (NIR)-II Ag2S quantum dots (QDs) with carboxyl groups through an amide reaction. Then, we evaluated its in vivo targeting ability, therapeutic efficacy of eliminating pEMT using αPDPN-Ag2S-mediated NIR-II photoimmunotherapy (PIT) and biological safety. Here, we found that pEMT is related to CD8 + T-cell infiltration in our human OSCC tissue microarray. Compared with PdpnWT SCC7, the slower growth rate of subcutaneous graft tumors implanted with PdpnKD SCC7 was associated with a change in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) in an immunocompetent C3H/HeJ mouse model. In vitro, αPDPN-Ag2S plus NIR 808 nm laser irradiation induced SCC7 cell death. In vivo, NIR-II imaging results show that the αPDPN-Ag2S probe has a good active-targeting ability in a 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO)-induced C57 mouse OSCC model and C3H/HeJ SCC7 subcutaneous graft tumor model. Elimination of pEMT cells by NIR-II αPDPN-Ag2S probe-mediated PIT significantly reversed the local immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and enhanced PD-1 immunotherapy efficacy. The safety profiles of αPDPN-Ag2S in BALB/c mice were also acceptable. Thus, αPDPN-Ag2S has important clinical translational value in predicting the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis. Importantly, our study proposed a new way to improve the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy.

Potential Immunoregulatory Mechanism of Plant Saponins: A Review

Saponins are extracted from different parts of plants such as seeds, roots, stems, and leaves and have a variety of biological activities including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory effects, and hypoglycemic properties. They demonstrate inherent low immunogenicity and possess the capacity to effectively regulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Plant saponins can promote the growth and development of the body's immune organs through a variety of signaling pathways, regulate the activity of a variety of immune cells, and increase the secretion of immune-related cytokines and antigen-specific antibodies, thereby exerting the role of immune activity. However, the chemical structure of plant saponins determines its certain hemolytic and cytotoxicity. With the development of science and technology, these disadvantages can be avoided or reduced by certain technical means. In recent years, there has been a significant surge in interest surrounding the investigation of plant saponins as immunomodulators. Consequently, the objective of this review is to thoroughly examine the immunomodulatory properties of plant saponins and elucidate their potential mechanisms, with the intention of offering a valuable point of reference for subsequent research and advancement within this domain.

A biodegradable "one-for-all" nanoparticle for multimodality imaging and enhanced photothermal treatment of breast cancer

Silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag 2 S-NP) have been proposed for various optical-based biomedical applications, such as near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging, photoacoustics (PA) and photothermal therapy (PTT). However, their absorbance is relatively low in the NIR window used in these applications, and previous formulations were synthesized using toxic precursors under harsh conditions and have clearance issues due to their large size. Herein, we synthesized sub-5 nm Ag 2 S-NP and encapsulated them in biodegradable, polymeric nanoparticles (AgPCPP). All syntheses were conducted using biocompatible reagents in the aqueous phase and under ambient conditions. We found that the encapsulation of Ag 2 S-NP in polymeric nanospheres greatly increases their NIR absorbance, resulting in enhanced optical imaging and photothermal heating effects. We therefore found that AgPCPP have potent contrast properties for PA and NIRF imaging, as well as for computed tomography (CT). We demonstrated the applicability of AgPCPP nanoparticles as a multimodal imaging probe that readily improves the conspicuity of breast tumors in vivo . PTT was performed using AgPCPP with NIR laser irradiation, which led to significant reduction in breast tumor growth and prolonged survival compared to free Ag 2 S-NP. Lastly, we observed a gradual decrease in AgPCPP retention in tissues over time with no signs of acute toxicity, thus providing strong evidence of safety and biodegradability. Therefore, AgPCPP may serve as a "one-for-all" theranostic agent that degrades into small components for excretion once the diagnostic and therapeutic tasks are fulfilled, thus providing good prospects for translation to clinical use.

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Nanoparticle-Based Photothermal Therapy for Breast Cancer Noninvasive Treatment

Rapid advancements in materials science and nanotechnology, intertwined with oncology, have positioned photothermal therapy (PTT) as a promising noninvasive treatment strategy for cancer. The breast's superficial anatomical location and aesthetic significance render breast cancer a particularly pertinent candidate for the clinical application of PTT following melanoma. This review comprehensively explores the research conducted on the various types of nanoparticles employed in PTT for breast cancer and elaborates on their specific roles and mechanisms of action. The integration of PTT with existing clinical therapies for breast cancer is scrutinized, underscoring its potential for synergistic outcomes. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying PTT and consequential modifications to the tumor microenvironment after treatment are elaborated from a medical perspective. Future research directions are suggested, with an emphasis on the development of integrative platforms that combine multiple therapeutic approaches and the optimization of nanoparticle synthesis for enhanced treatment efficacy. The goal is to push the boundaries of PTT toward a comprehensive, clinically applicable treatment for breast cancer.

Construction of a non-negative matrix factorization model of immunogenic cell death-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma and analysis of survival prognosis

Purpose

To explore the effectiveness of the model based on non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), analyze the tumor microenvironment and immune microenvironment for evaluating the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma, establish a risk model, and screen independent prognostic factors.

Methods

Downloading the transcription data files and clinical information files of lung adenocarcinoma from TCGA database and GO database, the R software was used to establish the NMF cluster model, and then the survival analysis between groups, tumor microenvironment analysis, and immune microenvironment analysis was performed according to the NMF cluster result. R software was used to construct prognostic models and calculate risk scores. Survival analysis was used to compare survival differences between different risk score groups.

Results

Two ICD subgroups were established according to the NMF model. The survival of the ICD low-expression subgroup was better than that of the ICD high-expression subgroup. Univariate COX analysis screened out HSP90AA1, IL1, and NT5E as prognostic genes, and the prognostic model established on this basis has clinical guiding significance.

Conclusion

The model based on NMF has the prognostic ability for lung adenocarcinoma, and the prognostic model of ICD-related genes has a certain guiding significance for survival.

Functionalized biomimetic nanoparticles combining programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 blockade with photothermal ablation for enhanced colorectal cancer immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint blockade therapy targeting programmed death-1 (PD-1) or its major ligand programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has achieved remarkable success in the treatment of several tumors, including colorectal cancer. However, the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors is limited in some colorectal cancers within the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (such as when there is a lack of immune cell infiltration). Herein, anti-PD-L1 functionalized biomimetic polydopamine-modified gold nanostar nanoparticles (PDA/GNS@aPD-L1 NPs) were developed for synergistic anti-tumor treatment by combining PD-1/PD-L1 blockade with photothermal ablation. PDA/GNS@aPD-L1 NPs were prepared by encapsulating photothermal nanoparticles (polydopamine-modified gold nanostar, PDA-GNS) with cell membrane isolated from anti-PD-L1 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) over-expressing cells. In addition to disrupting PD-1/PD-L1 immunosuppressive signals, the anti-PD-L1 scFv on the membrane of PDA/GNS@aPD-L1 NPs was conducive to the accumulation of PDA-GNS at tumor sites. Importantly, the tumor photothermal ablation induced by PDA-GNS could reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, thereby further improving the efficiency of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy. In this study, the synthetized PDA/GNS@aPD-L1 NPs exhibited good biocompatibility, efficient photothermal conversion ability, and enhanced tumor-targeting ability. In vivo studies revealed that a PDA/GNS@aPD-L1 NP-based therapeutic strategy significantly inhibited tumor growth, and prolonged overall survival by further promoting the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), increasing the infiltration of CD8⁺T cells, and decreasing the number of immunosuppressive cells (such as regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressive cells). Collectively, the developed PDA/GNS@aPD-L1 NP-based therapeutic strategy combines PD-1/PD-L1 blockade with photothermal ablation, which could remodel the tumor microenvironment for effective clinical colorectal cancer therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment is the main challenge facing programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) blockade therapy. By encapsulating photothermal nanoparticles (polydopamine-modified gold nanostar, PDA-GNS) with cell membrane over-expressing anti-PD-L1 single-chain variable fragment, we constructed anti-PD-L1 functionalized biomimetic nanoparticles (PDA/GNS@aPD-L1 NPs). By specific binding to the PD-L1 present on tumor cells, PDA/GNS@aPD-L1 NPs could disrupt PD-1/PD-L1 immunosuppression signaling, and effectively deliver PDA-GNS targeting to tumor sites. Additionally, PDA-GNS-mediated local photothermal ablation of tumors promoted the release of tumor-associated antigens and thus activated anti-tumor immune responses. Meanwhile, hyperthermia facilitates immune cell infiltration by increasing tumor vascular permeability. Therefore, PDA/GNS@aPD-L1 NPs could sensitize tumors to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy by remodeling the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which provides a new strategy for tumor treatment.

A Phase-Change Mediated Intelligent Nanoplatform for Chemo/Photothermal/Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer

Up to now, chemotherapy is still the main strategy for cancer treatment. However, the emergence of chemo-resistance and systemic side effects often seriously affects the treatment and prognosis. Herein, an intelligent nanoplatform based on dendritic mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (DMON) is constructed. The encapsulated phase-change material, 1-tetradecanol (TD) can serve as a "doorkeeper" and enable the responsive release of drugs based on the temperature changes. Meanwhile, polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used to improve the dispersibility and biocompatibility. Cisplatin is chosen as the model of chemotherapy drug, which is co-loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) in DMON to produce DMON-PEG-cisplatin/ICG-TD (DPCIT). Exciting, the hyperthermia and reactive oxygen species induced by ICG under the NIR-laser irradiation will initiate a phase transition of TD to release cisplatin, thus leading a combined therapy (chemo/photothermal/photodynamic therapy). The results indicated that under laser irradiation, DPCIT can kill cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth efficiently. In addition, the designed nanoplatform reveals minimal systemic toxicity in vivo, in contrast, the distinct liver damage can be observed by the direct treatment of cisplatin. Overall, this research may provide a general approach for the targeted delivery and controlled release of chemotherapy drugs to realize a cooperatively enhanced multimodal tumor therapy.

Bismuth Tungstate-Silver Sulfide Z-Scheme Heterostructure Nanoglue Promotes Wound Healing through Wound Sealing and Bacterial Inactivation

Rapid wound closure and bacterial inactivation are effective strategies to promote wound healing. Herein, a versatile nanoglue, bismuth tungstate (Bi₂WO₆)-silver sulfide (Ag₂S) direct Z-scheme heterostructure nanoparticles (BWOA NPs), was designed to accelerate wound healing. BWOA NPs' hollow structure and rough surface could effectively close wound tissues acting as a barrier between external bacteria and the wound. More importantly, the unique Z-scheme heterostructure endows BWOA NPs with an effective electron and hole separating ability with potent redox potential, where electrons and holes could effectively react with water and oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species, leading to a higher antibacterial activity against both endogenous and external bacteria at the wound site. A series of in vitro and in vivo biological assessments demonstrated that BWOA NPs could rapidly close wounds and promote wound healing. With sunlight irradiation, the inhibiting rates of BWOA NPs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are 61.62 ± 2.85 and 73.40 ± 3.28%, respectively. Also, the wound healing rate in BWOA NP-treated mice is 25.90 ± 5.85% higher than PBS. This design provides a new effective strategy to promote bacterial inactivation and accelerate wound healing.

Nanoparticles-based phototherapy systems for cancer treatment: Current status and clinical potential

Remarkable progress in phototherapy has been made in recent decades, due to its non-invasiveness and instant therapeutic efficacy. In addition, with the rapid development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, phototherapy systems based on nanoparticles or nanocomposites also evolved as an emerging hotspot in nanomedicine research, especially in cancer. In this review, first we briefly introduce the history of phototherapy, and the mechanisms of phototherapy in cancer treatment. Then, we summarize the representative development over the past three to five years in nanoparticle-based phototherapy and highlight the design of the innovative nanoparticles thereof. Finally, we discuss the feasibility and the potential of the nanoparticle-based phototherapy systems in clinical anticancer therapeutic applications, aiming to predict future research directions in this field. Our review is a tutorial work, aiming at providing useful insights to researchers in the field of nanotechnology, nanoscience and cancer.

K. ZHENG ET AL.Gold-nanoparticle-based multistage drug delivery system for antitumor therapy

Nanoparticles can promote the accumulation of drugs in tumors. However, they find limited clinical applications because they cannot easily penetrate the stroma of cancer tissues, and it is difficult to control drug release. We developed a multiresponse multistage drug-delivery nanogel with improved tumor permeability and responsiveness to the tumor microenvironment for the controlled delivery of anticancer agents. For this purpose, ∼100 nm multistage drug delivery nanogels with pH, redox, near-infrared stimulation, and enzyme responsiveness were grown in situ using 20 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via an emulsion-aiding crosslinking technique with cysteine crosslinker. An alginate cysteine AuNP (ACA) nanocarrier can efficiently load the cationic drug doxorubicin (DOX) to produce a multistage drug delivery nanocarrier (DOX@ACA). DOX@ACA can maintain the slow release of DOX and reduce its toxicity. In cancer tissues, the high pH and reductase microenvironment combined with the in vitro delivery of alginate and near-infrared light drove drug release. The developed nanoparticles effectively inhibited cancer cells, and in vivo evaluations showed that they effectively enhanced antitumor activity while having negligible in vivo toxicity to major organs.

A Two-Pronged Strategy for Enhanced Deep-Tumor Penetration and NIR-II Multimodal Imaging-Monitored Photothermal Therapy

The second near-infrared (NIR-II)-induced photothermal therapy (PTT) has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years due to its non-invasiveness and because it uses less energy. However, the penetration of photothermal agents into solid tumors is seriously impeded by the dense-tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) containing cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA), thereby compromising the ultimate therapeutic effects. Herein, acid-labile metal-organic frameworks were employed as nanocarriers to efficiently mineralize hyaluronidase (HAase) and encapsulate Ag₂S nanodots by a one-pot approach under mild conditions. The obtained nanocomposites (AHZ NPs) maintained enzyme activity and changed in size to prolong blood circulation and complete delivery of the cargo to the tumor. Moreover, the released HAase could specifically break out the HA to loosen ECM and enable the Ag₂S nanodots to breeze through the tumor matrix space and gain access to the deep tumor. Under near-infrared laser irradiation, the AHZ NPs displayed remarkable fluorescence, outstanding photoacoustic signals, and excellent photothermal properties in the whole tumor. This work offers a promising two-pronged strategy via a decrease in nanoparticle size and the degradation of dense ECM for NIR-II multimodal imaging-guided PTT of deep tumors.

Two-Wave Variable Nanotheranostic Agents for Dual-Mode Imaging-Guided Photo-Induced Triple-Therapy for Cancer

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising strategy for cancer treatment, but its clinical application relies heavily on accurate tumor positioning and effective combination. Nanotheranostics has shown superior application in precise tumor positioning and treatment, bringing potential opportunities for developing novel PTT-based therapies. Here, a nanotheranostic agent is proposed to enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/ near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRFI) imaging-guided photo-induced triple-therapy for cancer. Thermosensitive liposomes co-loaded with SPIONs/IR780 and Abemaciclib (SIA-TSLs), peptide ACKFRGD, and click group 2-cyano-6-amino-benzothiazole (CABT) are co-modified on the surface of SIA-TSLs to form SIA-αTSLs. ACKFRGD can be hydrolyzed to expose the 1, 2-thiolamino groups in the presence of cathepsin B in tumors, which click cycloaddition with the cyano group on CABT, resulting in the formation of SIA-αTSLs aggregates. The aggregation of SIA-αTSLs in tumors enhances the MRI/NIRFI imaging capability and enables precise PTT. Photo-induced triple-therapy enhances precision cancer therapy. First, PTT ablates specific tumors and induces ICD via localized photothermal. Second, local tumor heating promotes the rupture of SIA-αTSLs, which release Abemaciclib to block the tumor cell cycle and inhibit Tregs proliferation. Third, injecting GM-CSF into tumor tissue leads to recruitment of dendritic cells and initiation of antitumor immunity. Collectively, these results present a promising nanotheranostic strategy for future cancer therapy.

CuS Nanoparticles-Loaded and Cisplatin Prodrug Conjugated Fe(III)-MOFs for MRI-Guided Combination of Chemotherapy and NIR-II Photothermal Therapy

Ovarian cancer has become an urgent threat to global female healthcare. Cisplatin, as the traditional chemotherapeutic agent against ovarian cancer, retains several limitations, such as drug resistance and dose-limiting toxicity. In order to solve the above problems and promote the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy, combining chemotherapy and phototherapy has aroused wide interest. In this study, we constructed a versatile cisplatin prodrug-conjugated therapeutic platform based on ultrasmall CuS-modified Fe(III)-metal-organic frameworks (MIL-88) (named M-Pt/PEG-CuS) for tumor-specific enhanced synergistic chemo-/phototherapy. After intravenous injection, M-Pt/PEG-CuS presented obvious accumulation in tumor and Fe(III)-MOFs possessed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide synergy therapy. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental results showed that M-Pt/PEG-CuS could not only successfully inhibit tumor growth by combining chemotherapy and NIR-II PTT but also avoid the generation of liver damage by the direct treatment of cisplatin(II). Our work presented the development of the nanoplatform as a novel NIR-II photothermal agent, as well as gave a unique combined chemo-photothermal therapy strategy, which might provide new ways of ovarian cancer therapy for clinical translation.

Non-negative matrix factorization model-based construction for molecular clustering and prognostic assessment of head and neck squamous carcinoma

Purpose

We aimed at exploring the efficacy of non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) model-based clustering for prognostic assessment of head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods

The transcriptome microarray data of HNSCC samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital. R software packages were used to establish NMF clustering, from which relevant prognostic models were developed.

Results

Based on NMF, samples were allocated into 2 subgroups. Predictive models were constructed using differentially expressed genes between the two subgroups. The high-risk group was associated with poor prognostic outcomes. Moreover, multi-factor Cox regression analysis revealed that the predictive model was an independent prognostic predictor.

Conclusion

The NMF-based prognostic model has the potential for prognostic assessment of HNSCC.

An Ag2S@ZIF-Van nanosystem for NIR-II imaging of bacterial-induced inflammation and treatment of wound bacterial infection

Bacterial diseases pose a serious threat to human health. Continued development of precise diagnostic methods and synergistic therapy techniques for combating bacteria are needed. Herein a hybrid nanosystem (Ag₂S@ZIF-Van NS) was constructed by one-step self-assembly of Zn²⁺, vancomycin (Van) and Ag₂S quantum dots (QDs). The nanosystem possesses excellent second near-infrared transparency window (NIR-II) fluorescence properties (∼1200 nm emission wavelength), good photothermal conversion properties, and biocompatibility. The material system enables precise, targeted NIR-II fluorescent imaging of bacterial inflammation in vivo as well as promoting anti-bacterial and wound healing effects.

Construction of Double-Shelled Hollow Ag2S@Polydopamine Nanocomposites for Fluorescence-Guided, Dual Stimuli-Responsive Drug Delivery and Photothermal Therapy

The design and preparation of multifunctional drug carriers for combined photothermal–chemotherapy of cancer have attracted extensive attention over the past few decades. However, the development of simple-structured stimuli-responsive theranostic agents as both photothermal agents and chemotherapeutic agents remains a big challenge. Herein, a novel double-shelled nanocarrier composed of hollow Ag₂S (HAg₂S) nanospheres and a mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) exterior shell was fabricated through a facile process. Notably, HAg₂S possesses both fluorescence and photothermal properties. MPDA acts as a drug carrier and photothermal agent. Meanwhile, the cavity structure between HAg₂S and MPDA provides more space for drug loading. The nanocarrier presents a high drug loading rate of 23.4%. It exhibits an apparent pH-responsive DOX release property due to the acidic sensitivity of PDA. In addition, the release of DOX is promoted under NIR irradiation, which is attributed to the heating action generated by the photothermal effect of HAg₂S and MPDA. The cytotoxicity test shows that the nanocarriers possess good biocompatibility. Compared with single photothermal therapy or chemotherapy, the combined treatment represents a synergistic effect with higher therapeutic efficacy. In addition, the nanocarriers exhibit excellent fluorescence imaging capability and can target HepG2 cells. These simple-structured smart nanocarriers have a great potential for fluorescence-mediated combination cancer therapy.

Injectable and Self-Healing Polysaccharide Hydrogel Loading Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoflakes for Synergistic Photothermal-Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer

In order to overcome the limitation of traditional therapies for cancer and improve the accuracy of treatment, more advantageous cancer treatment methods need to be explored and studied. As a result, photothermal photodynamic therapy of breast cancer using bovine serum albumin (BSA) modifies molybdenum disulfide nanoflakes. Then the well-dispersed BSA-MoS₂ NFs are loaded in the injectable and self-healing polysaccharide hydrogel which is prepared by the reaction of oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) and hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS) through the formation of Schiff base bonds. The injection and self-healing properties of the nanocomposite hydrogel are investigated. In vitro photothermal and photodynamic investigations demonstrate that BSA-MoS₂ NFs possess obvious photothermal conversion and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the irradiation of near infrared (NIR) laser (808 nm). In vivo anticancer investigation indicates that the nanocomposite hydrogel can be directly injected and remain in the tumor sites and achieve the synergistic photothermal-photodynamic therapy of cancer.

Tumor-targeted/reduction-triggered composite multifunctional nanoparticles for breast cancer chemo-photothermal combinational therapy

Breast cancer has become the most commonly diagnosed cancer type in the world. A combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as a promising strategy for breast cancer therapy. However, the intricacy of precise delivery and the ability to initiate drug release in specific tumor sites remains a challenging puzzle. Therefore, to ensure that the therapeutic agents are synchronously delivered to the tumor site for their synergistic effect, a multifunctional nanoparticle system (PCRHNs) is developed, which is grafted onto the prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) by reduction-responsive camptothecin (CPT) prodrug copolymer, and then modified with tumor-targeting peptide cyclo(Asp-d-Phe-Lys-Arg-Gly) (cRGD) and hyaluronic acid (HA). PCRHNs exhibited nano-sized structure with good monodispersity, high load efficiency of CPT, triggered CPT release in response to reduction environment, and excellent photothermal conversion under laser irradiation. Furthermore, PCRHNs can act as a photoacoustic imaging contrast agent-guided PTT. In vivo studies indicate that PCRHNs exhibited excellent biocompatibility, prolonged blood circulation, enhanced tumor accumulation, allow tumor-specific chemo-photothermal therapy to achieve synergistic antitumor effects with reduced systemic toxicity. Moreover, hyperthermia-induced upregulation of heat shock protein 70 in the tumor cells could be inhibited by CPT. Collectively, PCRHNs may be a promising therapeutic way for breast cancer therapy.

Tumor-Microenvironment-Activated NIR-II Nanotheranostic Platform for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Colon Cancer

Rational design of tumor-microenvironment (TME)-activated nanoformulation for precisely targeted cancer treatment has recently attracted an enormous attention. However, the all-in-one TME-activated theranostic nanosystems with a simple preparation and high biocompatibility are still rarely reported. Herein, catalase nanocrystals (CatCry) are first introduced as a tumor microenvironment activatable nanoplatform for selective theranostics of colon cancer. They are engaged as (i) a "nanoreactor" for silver nanoparticles (AgNP) synthesis, (ii) a nanovehicle for tumor delivery of anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX), and (iii) an in situ O2 generator to relief tumor hypoxia. When CatCry-AgNP-DOX nanoformulation is within a tumor, the intratumoral H2S turns AgNP into Ag2S nanoparticles, inducing a photothermal effect and NIR-II emission under 808 nm laser irradiation and also triggering DOX release. Simultaneously, CatCry catalyzes intratumoral H2O2 into O2, relieving hypoxia and enhancing chemotherapy. In contrast, when delivered to healthy tissue without increased concentration of H2S, the developed nanoformulation remains in the "off" state and no theranostic action takes place. Studies with colon cancer cells in vitro and a murine colon cancer model in vivo demonstrated that CatCry-AgNP-DOX delivered a synergistic combination of PTT and enhanced chemotherapy, enabling complete eradication of tumor with minimal side effects. This work not only introduces nanoplatform for theranostics of H2S-rich tumors but also suggests a general strategy for protein-crystal-based nanomedicine.

Multifunctional inorganic nanomaterials for cancer photoimmunotherapy

Phototherapy and immunotherapy in combination is regarded as the ideal therapeutic modality to treat both primary and metastatic tumors. Immunotherapy uses different immunological approaches to stimulate the immune system to identify tumor cells for targeted elimination. Phototherapy destroys the primary tumors by light irradiation, which induces a series of immune responses through triggering immunogenic cancer cell death. Therefore, when integrating immunotherapy with phototherapy, a novel anti-cancer strategy called photoimmunotherapy (PIT) is emerging. This synergistic treatment modality can not only enhance the effectiveness of both therapies but also overcome their inherent limitations, opening a new era for the current anti-cancer therapy. Recently, the advancement of nanomaterials affords a platform for PIT. From all these nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials stand out as ideal mediators in PIT due to their unique physiochemical properties. Inorganic nanomaterials can not only serve as carriers to transport immunomodulatory agents in immunotherapy owing to their excellent drug-loading capacity but also function as photothermal agents or photosensitizers in phototherapy because of their great optical characteristics. In this review, the recent advances of multifunctional inorganic nanomaterial-mediated drug delivery and their contributions to cancer PIT will be highlighted.

Near-Infrared Light-Activated Oxygen Generator a Multidynamic Photo-Nanoplatform for Effective Anti-Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment

Introduction

Nanophototherapy has emerged as a novel and promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment; however, its efficacy in dermatological tumors and precancerous lesions remains severely limited. This study aimed to use the gas-liquid injection technique to fully utilize the synergistic photodynamic therapy (PDT)/photothermal therapy (PTT) of nanomaterials to enhance the antitumor effect.

Methods

A novel oxygen-generating nanocomposite (TSL-IR820-CAT) was synthesized by encapsulating the photosensitizer IR820 and catalase (CAT) using a matrix encapsulation method based on thermosensitive liposomes (TSL).-The liquid injection technology enhances the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). The combined PDT/PTT therapeutic effect of TSL-IR820-CAT on cSCC was investigated using in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Results

TSL-IR820-CAT, with good stability, efficient drug release, and photothermal conversion ability, was successfully developed. Nanoparticles injected through a needle-free syringe efficiently accumulate in the tumor tissue. As TSL-IR820-CAT was consumed by A431 cells, some of it localized to the mitochondria and produced oxygen to relieve hypoxia, thereby enhancing the efficacy of PDT. PDT/PTT combination therapy resulted in irreversible apoptosis and inhibited cSCC growth. TSL-IR820-CAT coupled with gas-liquid injection was free from apparent systemic side effects.

Conclusion

This article discusses new strategies and ideas for treating skin tumors and has significant application value.

Ultra-small bimetallic phosphide for dual-modal MRI imaging guided photothermal ablation of tumor

Metal phosphides have been proved to be the potential theranostic agents of tumor. However, the limitation of single-modal imaging or treatment effect of such materials need to be further improved....

A Raman/fluorescence dual-modal imaging guided synergistic photothermal and photodynamic therapy nanoplatform for precision cancer theranostics

A nanoplatform that integrates hypoxia-responsive fluorescent probe function as well as imaging and therapeutic functions is developed.

BSA-templated Ultrasmall Ag/Gd2O3 as A Self-enabled Nanotheranostics for MR/CT/PA tri-modality Imaging and Photothermal Therapy

It is becoming more and more important to effectively integrate multiple complementary diagnostic imaging and synergistic therapy into a nano-platform, but it is still challenging. Here, we used bovine serum...

A Comprehensive Evaluation of ZrC Nanoparticle in Combined Photothermal and Radiation Therapy for Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Because of the difficulty in treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the search for treatments has never stopped. Treatment opinions remain limited for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The current treatment approach of using photothermal therapy (PTT) is often imprecise and has limited penetration below the surface of the skin. On the other hand, radiation therapy (RT) has its unavoidable disadvantages, such as side effects or ineffectiveness against hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). In this study, we proposed the use of ZrC nanoparticles in conjunction with RT/PTT to enhance antitumor and antimetastatic effect. We modified the ZrC nanoparticle with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and folic acid (FA), sizing desirable about 100nm. The photothermal conversion efficiency was calculated to be 40.51% and sensitizer enhancement ration (SER) was 1.8. With addition of ZrC NPs, more DNA were damaged in γ-H2AX and more ROS were detected with immunofluorescence. In vitro and vivo, the combined therapy with ZrC NPS showed the best effect of tumor cell inhibition and safety. Our results provide evidence that the combination of ZrC NPs, PT, and RT is effective in of TNBC, making it a great potential application for cancer therapy in clinic.

Tumor microenvironment-responsive Ag2S-PAsp(DOX)-cRGD nanoparticles-mediated photochemotherapy enhances the immune response to tumor therapy

Chemotherapy drugs play important roles in clinical treatment, and most first-line regimens of cancer therapy contain chemotherapy drugs. In particular, some chemotherapeutic drugs can also produce ICD effect and enhance the immune response of the body. However, most chemotherapy drugs do not specifically target tumors or the complex tumor microenvironment, which renders their curative effect insufficient. Therefore, we constructed a tumor microenvironment-responsive drug delivery system (Ag₂S-PAsp-cRGD) combined with doxorubicin (DOX) for tumor therapy. Firstly, Ag₂S nanoparticles (NPs) were modified with polymer aspartic acid (PAsp) to construct the drug-loading platform. Then, an active targeting ligand (cRGD) was coupled through an amide reaction to enhance the functional targeting ability of the drug delivery system. In vivo imaging of the system showed that the nanoparticles accumulated in the tumor site, which facilitated the delivery of the chemotherapy drug DOX to the targeted tumor site. Furthermore, the photothermal effect of Ag₂S NPs can effectively killed tumor cells, and also helped the release of DOX from nanoparticles into tumor tissue, thus enhancing the chemotherapeutic effect. Moreover, combined with the ICD effect jointly induced by photothermal therapy (PTT) and DOX, the treatment further activated the host immune response against tumors by enhancing the presentation of antigens and promoting the differentiation of T cells. This strategy of photo-chemo-immunotherapy showed excellent antitumor effect, not only eliminating the primary tumor but also preventing recurrence and inhibiting metastasis.

Silver chalcogenide nanoparticles: a review of their biomedical applications

Silver chalcogenide (Ag2X, where X = S, Se, or Te) nanoparticles have been extensively investigated for their applications in electronics but have only recently been explored for biomedical applications. In the past 10 years, Ag2X, primarily silver sulfides at first, have become of great importance as quantum dots, since they not only possess excellent deep tissue imaging properties in the near-infrared regions I and II, but also have low toxicities. Their appealing properties have led to numerous recent developments of Ag2X for biomedical applications. Furthermore, Ag2X have been discovered in the past 2-3 years to be potent X-ray contrast agents, adding to the numerous biomedical uses of these nanoparticles. In this review, we discuss the most recent advances in silver chalcogenide nanoparticle use in areas such as bio-imaging, theranostics, and biosensors. Moreover, we examine the advances in synthetic approaches for these nanoparticles, which include aqueous and organic syntheses routes. Finally, we discuss the advantages and current limitations in the use of silver chalcogenides for different biomedical applications and their potential for advancement and expansions in use.

Stimuli Responsive Nitric Oxide-Based Nanomedicine for Synergistic Therapy

Gas therapy has received widespread attention from the medical community as an emerging and promising therapeutic approach to cancer treatment. Among all gas molecules, nitric oxide (NO) was the first one to be applied in the biomedical field for its intriguing properties and unique anti-tumor mechanisms which have become a research hotspot in recent years. Despite the great progress of NO in cancer therapy, the non-specific distribution of NO in vivo and its side effects on normal tissue at high concentrations have impaired its clinical application. Therefore, it is important to develop facile NO-based nanomedicines to achieve the on-demand release of NO in tumor tissue while avoiding the leakage of NO in normal tissue, which could enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects at the same time. In recent years, numerous studies have reported the design and development of NO-based nanomedicines which were triggered by exogenous stimulus (light, ultrasound, X-ray) or tumor endogenous signals (glutathione, weak acid, glucose). In this review, we summarized the design principles and release behaviors of NO-based nanomedicines upon various stimuli and their applications in synergistic cancer therapy. We also discuss the anti-tumor mechanisms of NO-based nanomedicines in vivo for enhanced cancer therapy. Moreover, we discuss the existing challenges and further perspectives in this field in the aim of furthering its development.

Gold nanorods conjugated with biocompatible zwitterionic polypeptide for combined chemo-photothermal therapy of cervical cancer

Combined chemo-photothermal therapy of gold nanorods (GNRs) for cancer treatment shows better therapeutic efficiency than mono-chemotherapy, which has gained worldwide interests of scientists and clinician in both laboratory and clinic application. However, high cytotoxicity, declined delivery efficiency, and unsatisfactory therapy effect of the GNRs are still challenging in anti-cancer treatment. Herein, a series of pH-sensitively zwitterionic polypeptide conjugated GNRs were synthesized via a gold-thiol interaction for combination of chemo-photothermal therapy in cervical cancer treatment. The acid-labile hydrazone bond was utilized to incorporate the doxorubicin (DOX) for pH-sensitive drug release under tumoral environment. The as prepared GNRs conjugates demonstrated pH-triggered surface charge conversion from negative to positive when transporting from blood circulation to tumor extracellular environment, which can facilitate the cellular uptake via electrostatic interaction. After cellular internalization, the drug release was promoted by cleavage of the hydrazone in GNRs conjugates under cancer intracellular acid environment. As the effective near-infrared (NIR) photothermal materials, the as prepared GNRs conjugates can absorb NIR photo energy and convert it into heat under irradiation, which can efficiently kill the tumor cells. In cell assay, the GNRs conjugates displayed excellent biocompatibility against normal cell, enhanced cancer cell uptake, and remarkable cancer cell killing effects. In HeLa tumor-bearing mice, the GNRs conjugates demonstrated enhanced tumor inhibition efficacy by combination of chemo-photothermal therapy.

Recent Progress on NIR-II Photothermal Therapy

Photothermal therapy is a very promising treatment method in the field of cancer therapy. The photothermal nanomaterials in near-infrared region (NIR-I, 750-900 nm) attracts extensive attention in recent years because of the good biological penetration of NIR light. However, the penetration depth is still not enough for solid tumors due to high tissue scattering. The light in the second near-infrared region (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) allows deeper tissue penetration, higher upper limit of radiation and greater tissue tolerance than that in the NIR-I, and it shows greater application potential in photothermal conversion. This review summarizes the photothermal properties of Au nanomaterials, two-dimensional materials, metal oxide sulfides and polymers in the NIR-II and their application prospects in photothermal therapy. It will arouse the interest of scientists in the field of cancer treatment as well as nanomedicine.

Biomimetic black phosphorus quantum dots-based photothermal therapy combined with anti-PD-L1 treatment inhibits recurrence and metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive malignant disease with a high rate of recurrence and metastasis, few effective treatment options and poor prognosis. Here, we designed and constructed a combined photothermal immunotherapy strategy based on cancer cell membrane-coated biomimetic black phosphorus quantum dots (BBPQDs) for tumor-targeted photothermal therapy and anti-PD-L1 mediated immunotherapy.

Results

BBPQDs have good photothermal conversion efficiency and can efficiently target tumor cells through homologous targeting and tumor homing. Under near infrared irradiation, we found that BBPQDs kill tumors directly through photothermal effects and induce dendritic cells maturation. In vivo studies have confirmed that the combined photothermal immunotherapy strategy displays a stronger antitumor activity than anti-PD-L1 monotherapy. In addition, BBPQDs-mediated photothermal therapy in combination with anti-PD-L1 treatment inhibit tumor recurrence and metastasis by reprograming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment into an immune-active microenvironment, and promoting the local and systemic antitumor immune response. We further found that the combined photothermal immunotherapy strategy can produce an immune memory effect against tumor rechallenge.

Conclusions

This study provides a novel therapeutic strategy for inhibiting the recurrence and metastasis of TNBC, with broad application prospects.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-021-00932-2.

Engineering of bioactive metal sulfide nanomaterials for cancer therapy

Metal sulfide nanomaterials (MeSNs) are a novel class of metal-containing nanomaterials composed of metal ions and sulfur compounds. During the past decade, scientists found that the MeSNs engineered by specific approaches not only had high biocompatibility but also exhibited unique physicochemical properties for cancer therapy, such as Fenton catalysis, light conversion, radiation enhancement, and immune activation. To clarify the development and promote the clinical transformation of MeSNs, the first section of this paper describes the appropriate fabrication approaches of MeSNs for medical science and analyzes the features and limitations of each approach. Secondly, we sort out the mechanisms of functional MeSNs in cancer therapy, including drug delivery, phototherapy, radiotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, gas therapy, and immunotherapy. It is worth noting that the intact MeSNs and the degradation products of MeSNs can exert different types of anti-tumor activities. Thus, MeSNs usually exhibit synergistic antitumor properties. Finally, future expectations and challenges of MeSNs in the research of translational medicine are spotlighted.

Plasmonic-Fluorescent Janus Ag/Ag2S Nanoparticles for In Situ H2O2-Activated NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging

Silver sulfide (Ag₂S) has gained widespread attention in second near-infrared (950-1700 nm, NIR-II) window imaging because of its high fluorescence quantum yield and low toxicity. However, its "always on" fluorescence shows inapplicability for targeted molecule-activated biomedical applications. Herein, we first developed a novel silver/silver sulfide Janus nanoparticle (Ag/Ag₂S JNP) for specific activatable fluorescence imaging in the NIR-II window. Inner-particle electron compensation from Ag to Ag₂S upon laser irradiation endowed JNPs an "off" state of fluorescence, whereas the oxidization of Ag incubated with H₂O₂, decreasing the electron-transfer effect and illuminating the NIR-II fluorescence of the Ag₂S part. In contrast, the absorption of Ag/Ag₂S JNPs slightly decreased in an H₂O₂-dependent manner, showing an activated photoacoustic imaging mechanism. The Ag/Ag₂S JNPs were used for noninvasive location and diagnosis of diseases in vivo, such as for liver injury and cancer, with high sensitivity and accuracy.

One-Step Synthesis of Water-Soluble Silver Sulfide Quantum Dots and Their Application to Bioimaging

This work reports a simple water-phase microwave method for the synthesis of water-soluble red emission Ag₂S quantum dots at low temperatures without the need for an anaerobic process. It is worth noting that the prepared water-soluble Ag₂S quantum dots enjoy positive water dispersion stability. 3-(4,5)-Dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) results showed that the prepared Ag₂S quantum dots had promising biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. In addition, we further applied the low-toxicity near-infrared Ag₂S quantum dots for cell imaging, demonstrating a promising biological probe for cell imaging.

MOFs-Derived Fe-N Codoped Carbon Nanoparticles as O2-Evolving Reactor and ROS Generator for CDT/PDT/PTT Synergistic Treatment of Tumors

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derivatives had been widely explored in electronic and environmental fields, but rarely evaluated in the biomedical applications. Herein, Fe-N codoped carbon (FeNC) nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized via facile pyrolysis of precursor ZIF-8 (Fe/Zn) nanoparticles, and their potential applications in tumor therapy were assessed in this investigation both in vitro and in vivo. After PAA (sodium polyacrylate) modification, the FeNC@PAA nanoparticles were able to initiate a Fe-based Fenton-like reaction to generate ·OH and O₂ for chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and O₂ evolution. Meanwhile, the porphyrin-like metal center in the FeNC@PAA nanoparticles could be used as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors, which could be enhanced by O₂ generated in CDT. Furthermore, the FeNC@PAA nanoparticles were also found to be effective in photothermal therapy (PTT) with a photothermal conversion efficiency of 29.15%, owing to a high absorbance in the near-infrared region (NIR). In conclusion, the synthesized FeNC@PAA nanoparticles exhibited promising applications in O₂ evolution and CDT/PDT/PTT synergistic treatment of tumors.