A novel flurophore-cyano-carboxylic-Ag microhybrid: Enhanced two photon absorption for two-photon photothermal therapy of HeLa cancer cells by targeting mitochondria

Multifunctional behavior of a carbazole derivative: Red phosphorescent emission, aggregation-induced long-life exciton and light-emitting diode application

A D-π-A typed cyanyl-carboxylic derivative (named as CECZA) merely produced prompt fluorescence with lifetime at nanosceond scale in dilute solutions, whose solid-state luminescence exhibited 3.36 μs lifetime with 13.80 % quantum yield (QY, captured at 522 nm for powder at nanometer scale) at 298 K and 43.36 ms lifetime with 30.46 % QY (650 nm, 80 K, tiny crystals). Femtosecond transient absorption, Raman spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculation provided valid clues to reveal its excitonic transition mechanism. The results indicated that the restricted vibration of benzene ring on carbazole group and alkyl chain weakened the vibrational modes of CECZA molecule and strengthened inter-molecular interactions between adjacent molecules at low temperatures, which promoted the persistent phosphorescent emission. Due to strong UV-vis absorption, high quantum efficiency and excellent thermal stability, CECZA can be used as a potential candidate in light-emitting diode (LED) application. Combined with a commercial InGaN blue-emitting chip, CECZA-InGaN emitted daylight white light.

Self-Assembly-Based Nanoprobes for the Simultaneous Detection and Downregulation of HSP90α mRNA to Enhance Photothermal Therapy

Although photothermal therapy (PTT) has been widely applied for tumor treatment, tumor cells thermotolerance still limits PTT efficiency. Since the overexpressed HSP90α in tumor cells further enhances thermotolerance and protects them from PTT damage, a new nanoprobe that can specifically detect and downregulate HSP90α mRNA was developed to enhance the PTT effect. Based on the HSP90α mRNA sequence, the nanoprobe Au-DNA1/DNA2 can specifically bind to HSP90α mRNA for recovering its fluorescence and further inhibit the synthesis of HSP90α to reduce tumor heat tolerance. Moreover, another nanoprobe, Au-DNA3, can self-assemble with the Au-DNA1 nanoprobe after the detection to form Au aggregations to enhance PTT afterward for better efficiency. Simultaneously, such a design improves tissue penetration and tumor retention, thereby reducing the damage to the surrounding normal tissues. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the nanoprobes have excellent tumor diagnosis and cancer treatment capabilities, which is of great significance for clinical translational applications.

Folic acid-mediated MSNs@Ag@Geb multifunctional nanocomposite heterogeneous platform for combined therapy of non-small cell lung cancer

Molecularly targeted drugs are flourishing in the clinical treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the treatment of a single drug (such as Gefitinib (Geb)) had defects such as poor pharmacokinetics, insufficient drug delivery, and considerable toxic side effects, which greatly affect its therapeutic efficacy against NSCLC. To solve these issues, this study developed a new nanocomposite heterogeneous platform (MSNs@Ag@Geb-FA) that combined photothermal therapy and molecular targeted therapy. The high specific surface area empowered mesoporous silicon dioxide (SiO₂) heterostructure the ability to efficiently load Ag photothermal agents and anti-tumor drug Geb. Meanwhile, a favorable pH response (degradation of residual MnO₂) achieved the controlled release of Ag and Geb. Besides, the targeting and endocytosis properties of nano drugs were greatly improved through the modification of folic acid (FA). Both in vivo and in vitro experiments authenticated that this nanocomposite heterogeneous platform could effectively integrate the multiple tumor suppressor properties of Ag nanoparticles and cooperate with Geb to hasten A549 cell apoptosis, thereby achieving a favorable anti-tumor effect. This heterogeneous structure of the nanocomposite heterogeneous platform could provide an effective strategy for the treatment of NSCLC.

Rigid metal/liquid metal nanoparticles: Synthesis and application for locally ablative therapy

Locally ablative therapy, as the main therapy for advanced tumors, has fallen into a bottleneck in recent years. The breakthrough of metal nanoparticles provides a novel approach for ablative therapy. Previous studies have mostly focused on the combined field of rigid metal nanoparticles and ablation. However, with the maturity of the preparation process of liquid metal nanoparticles, liquid metal nanoparticles not only have metallic properties but also have fluid properties, showing the potential to be combined with ablation. At present, there is no review on the combination of liquid metal nanoparticles and ablation. In this article, we first review the preparation, characterization and application characteristics of rigid metal and liquid metal nanoparticles in ablation applications, and then summarize the advantages, disadvantages and possible future development trends of rigid and liquid metal nanoparticles.

Metal-Coordinated Supramolecular Self-Assemblies for Cancer Theranostics

Metal-coordinated supramolecular nanoassemblies have recently attracted extensive attention as materials for cancer theranostics. Owing to their unique physicochemical properties, metal-coordinated supramolecular self-assemblies can bridge the boundary between traditional inorganic and organic materials. By tailoring the structural components of the metal ions and binding ligands, numerous multifunctional theranostic nanomedicines can be constructed. Metal-coordinated supramolecular nanoassemblies can modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME), thus facilitating the development of TME-responsive nanomedicines. More importantly, TME-responsive organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials can be constructed in vivo by exploiting the metal-coordinated self-assembly of a variety of functional ligands, which is a promising strategy for enhancing the tumor accumulation of theranostic molecules. In this review, recent advancements in the design and fabrication of metal-coordinated supramolecular nanomedicines for cancer theranostics are highlighted. These supramolecular compounds are classified according to the order in which the coordinated metal ions appear in the periodic table. Furthermore, the prospects and challenges of metal-coordinated supramolecular self-assemblies for both technical advances and clinical translation are discussed. In particular, the superiority of TME-responsive nanomedicines for in vivo coordinated self-assembly is elaborated, with an emphasis on strategies that enhance the accumulation of functional components in tumors for an ideal theranostic outcome.

Smart Stimuli-Responsive and Mitochondria Targeting Delivery in Cancer Therapy

Dysfunction in the mitochondria (Mc) contributes to tumor progression. It is a major challenge to deliver therapeutic agents specifically to the Mc for precise treatment. Smart drug delivery systems are based on stimuli-responsiveness and active targeting. Here, we give a whole list of documented pathways to achieve smart stimuli-responsive (St-) and Mc-targeted DDSs (St-Mc-DDSs) by combining St and Mc targeting strategies. We present the formulations, targeting characteristics of St-Mc-DDSs and clarify their anti-cancer mechanisms as well as improvement in efficacy and safety. St-Mc-DDSs usually not only have Mc-targeting groups, molecules (lipophilic cations, peptides, and aptamers) or materials but also sense the surrounding environment and correspondingly respond to internal biostimulators such as pH, redox changes, enzyme and glucose, and/or externally applied triggers such as light, magnet, temperature and ultrasound. St-Mc-DDSs exquisitely control the action site, increase therapeutic efficacy and decrease side effects of the drug. We summarize the clinical research progress and propose suggestions for follow-up research. St-Mc-DDSs may be an innovative and sensitive precision medicine for cancer treatment.

Noble Metal Nanomaterials for NIR-Triggered Photothermal Therapy in Cancer

It is of great significance to develop anticancer therapeutic agents or technologies with high degree of specificity and patient compliance, while low toxicity. The emerging photothermal therapy (PTT) has become a new and powerful therapeutic technology due to its noninvasiveness, high specificity, low side effects to normal tissues and strong anticancer efficacy. Noble metal nanomaterials possess strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect and synthetic tunability, which make them facile and effective PTT agents with superior optical and photothermal characteristics, such as high absorption cross-section, incomparable optical-thermal conversion efficiency in the near infrared (NIR) region, as well as the potential of bioimaging. By incorporating with various functional reagents such as antibodies, peptides, biocompatible polymers, chemo-drug and immune factors, noble metal nanomaterials have presented strong potential in multifunctional cancer therapy. Herein, the recent development regarding the application of noble metal nanomaterials for NIR-triggered PTT in cancer treatment is summarized. A variety of studies with good therapeutic effects against cancer from impressive photothermal efficacy of noble metal nanomaterials are concluded. Intelligent nanoplatforms through ingenious fabrication showing potential of multifunctional PTT, combined with chemo-therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), as well as simultaneous imaging modality are also demonstrated.

Polyoxometalate-antioxidant peptide assembly materials with NIR-triggered photothermal behaviour and enhanced antibacterial activity

Herein, a novel photothermal agent based on polyoxometalate clusters and food-borne antioxidant peptides was exploited to overcome the inherent problems of poor photothermal stability of polyoxometalate photothermal materials, which commonly appear in the current stage of development, and the inevitable simultaneous inflammatory responses during the therapeutic process.