Evaluation of acute toxicity and in vitro antitumor activity of a novel doxorubicin-loaded folate-coated pH-sensitive liposome

Innovations in Cancer Therapy: Endogenous Stimuli-Responsive Liposomes as Advanced Nanocarriers

Recent advancements in nanotechnology have revolutionized cancer therapy-one of the most pressing global health challenges and a leading cause of death-through the development of liposomes (L), lipid-based nanovesicles known for their biocompatibility and ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. More recent innovations have led to the creation of stimuli-responsive L that release their payloads in response to specific endogenous or exogenous triggers. Dual- and multi-responsive L, which react to multiple stimuli, offer even greater precision, improving therapeutic outcomes while reducing systemic toxicity. Additionally, these smart L can adjust their physicochemical properties and morphology to enable site-specific targeting and controlled drug release, enhancing treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. This review explores the latest advancements in endogenous stimuli-responsive liposomal nanocarriers, as well as dual- and multi-responsive L that integrate internal and external triggers, with a focus on their design strategies, mechanisms, and applications in cancer therapy.

Global Advancements in Bioactive Material Manufacturing for Drug Delivery: A Comprehensive Study

Manufacturing bioactive materials for drug delivery involves developing materials that interact with biological tissues to release drugs in a controlled and targeted manner. The goal is to optimize therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects by combining knowledge from materials engineering, biology, and pharmacology. This study presents a detailed bibliometric analysis, exploring the keywords "manufacturing," "bioactive materials," and "drug delivery" to identify and highlight significant advancements in the field. From the Web of Science, 36,504 articles were analyzed, with 171 selected for a deeper analysis, identifying key journals, countries, institutions, and authors. The results highlight the field's interdisciplinary nature, with keywords grouped into four main themes, including regenerative medicine, scaffolds, three-dimensional (3D) printing, bioactive glass, and tissue engineering. Future research in this area will focus on more effective and precise systems using technologies like 3D printing and nanotechnology to enhance the customization and control of drug release, aiming for more efficient and targeted therapies.

Hybrid Nanosystem Formed by DOX-Loaded Liposomes and Extracellular Vesicles from MDA-MB-231 Is Effective against Breast Cancer Cells with Different Molecular Profiles

Drug delivery selectivity is a challenge for cancer treatment. A hybrid pegylated pH-sensitive liposome-extracellular vesicle isolated from human breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 was developed to investigate its in vitro activity against breast cancer cells of different molecular profiles to overcome this inconvenience. The hybrid nanosystem was produced by film hydration, and doxorubicin (DOX) was encapsulated in this system using the ammonium sulfate gradient method. The characterization of this hybrid nanosystem revealed a mean diameter of 140.20 ± 2.70 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.102 ± 0.033, an encapsulation efficiency of doxorubicin of 88.9% ± 2.4, and a great storage stability for 90 days at 4 °C. The fusion of extracellular vesicles with liposomes was confirmed by nanoflow cytometry using PE-conjugated human anti-CD63. This hybrid nanosystem demonstrated cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cell lines with different molecular subtypes, enhanced anti-migration properties, and exhibited similar cellular uptake to the free DOX treatment. Preliminary acute toxicity assessments using Balb/C female mice indicated a median lethal dose of 15-17.5 mg/kg, with no evidence of splenic, liver, heart, bone marrow, and renal damage at a dose of 15 mg/kg. These findings suggest the hybrid formulation as a versatile nanocarrier for the treatment of various breast cancer subtypes.

Doxorubicin-loaded Niosomes functionalized with gelatine and alginate as pH-responsive drug delivery system: A 3D printing approach

Despite many efforts, breast cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers and its treatment faces challenges related to cancer drug side effects and metastasis. Combining 3D printing and nanocarriers has created new opportunities in cancer treatment. In this work, 3D-printed gelatin-alginate nanocomposites containing doxorubicin-loaded niosomes (Nio-DOX@GT-AL) were recruited as an advanced potential pH-sensitive drug delivery system. Morphology, degradation, drug release, flow cytometry, cell cytotoxicity, cell migration, caspase activity, and gene expression of nanocomposites and controls (Nio-DOX and Free-DOX) were evaluated. Results show that the obtained niosome has a spherical shape and size of 60-80 nm. Sustained drug release and biodegradability were presented by Nio-DOX@GT-AL and Nio-DOX. Cytotoxicity analysis revealed that the engineered Nio-DOX@GT-AL scaffold had 90 % cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells (MCF-7), whereas exhibited <5 % cytotoxicity against the non-tumor breast cell line (MCF-10A), which was significantly more than the antitumor effect of the control samples. Scratch-assay as an indicator cell migration demonstrated a reduction of almost 60 % of the covered surface. Gene expression could provide an explanation for the antitumor effect of engineered nanocarriers, which significantly reduced metastasis-promoting genes (Bcl2, MMP-2, and MMP-9), and significantly enhanced the expression and activity of genes that promote apoptosis (CASP-3, CASP-8, and CASP-9). Also, considerable inhibition of metastasis-associated genes (Bax and p53) was observed. Moreover, flow-cytometry data demonstrated that Nio-DOX@GT-AL decreased necrosis and enhanced apoptosis drastically. The findings of this research can confirm that employing 3D-printing and niosomal formulation can be an effective strategy in designing novel nanocarriers for efficient drug delivery applications.

Lipid-Based Nanotechnology: Liposome

Over the past several decades, liposomes have been extensively developed and used for various clinical applications such as in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and dietetic fields, due to its versatility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, as well as the ability to enhance the therapeutic index of free drugs. However, some challenges remain unsolved, including liposome premature leakage, manufacturing irreproducibility, and limited translation success. This article reviews various aspects of liposomes, including its advantages, major compositions, and common preparation techniques, and discusses present U.S. FDA-approved, clinical, and preclinical liposomal nanotherapeutics for treating and preventing a variety of human diseases. In addition, we summarize the significance of and challenges in liposome-enabled nanotherapeutic development and hope it provides the fundamental knowledge and concepts about liposomes and their applications and contributions in contemporary pharmaceutical advancement.