Nanoscale drug delivery for targeted chemotherapy

Advances in nano-preparations for improving tetrandrine solubility and bioavailability

Tetrandrine (TET) is a natural bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Stephania species with a wide range of biological and pharmacologic activities; it mainly serves as an anti-inflammatory agent or antitumor adjuvant in clinical applications. However, limitations such as prominent hydrophobicity, severe off-target toxicity, and low absorption result in suboptimal therapeutic outcomes preventing its widespread adoption. Nanoparticles have proven to be efficient devices for targeted drug delivery since drug-carrying nanoparticles can be passively transported to the tumor site by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects, thus securing a niche in cancer therapies. Great progress has been made in nanocarrier construction for TET delivery due to their outstanding advantages such as increased water-solubility, improved biodistribution and blood circulation, reduced off-target irritation, and combinational therapy. Herein, we systematically reviewed the latest advancements in TET-loaded nanoparticles and their respective features with the expectation of providing perspective and guidelines for future research and potential applications of TET.

Recent Advancements in Metallic Au- and Ag-Based Chitosan Nanocomposite Derivatives for Enhanced Anticancer Drug Delivery

The rapid advancements in nanotechnology in the field of nanomedicine have the potential to significantly enhance therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. There is considerable promise for enhancing the efficacy of cancer therapy through the manufacture of innovative nanocomposite materials. Metallic nanoparticles have been found to enhance the release of anticancer medications that are loaded onto them, resulting in a sustained release, hence reducing the dosage required for drug administration and preventing their buildup in healthy cells. The combination of nanotechnology with biocompatible materials offers new prospects for the development of advanced therapies that exhibit enhanced selectivity, reduced adverse effects, and improved patient outcomes. Chitosan (CS), a polysaccharide possessing distinct physicochemical properties, exhibits favorable attributes for controlled drug delivery due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Chitosan nanocomposites exhibit heightened stability, improved biocompatibility, and prolonged release characteristics for anticancer medicines. The incorporation of gold (Au) nanoparticles into the chitosan nanocomposite results in the manifestation of photothermal characteristics, whereas the inclusion of silver (Ag) nanoparticles boosts the antibacterial capabilities of the synthesized nanocomposite. The objective of this review is to investigate the recent progress in the utilization of Ag and Au nanoparticles, or a combination thereof, within a chitosan matrix or its modified derivatives for the purpose of anticancer drug delivery. The research findings for the potential of a chitosan nanocomposite to deliver various anticancer drugs, such as doxorubicin, 5-Fluroacil, curcumin, paclitaxel, and 6-mercaptopurine, were investigated. Moreover, various modifications carried out on the chitosan matrix phase and the nanocomposite surfaces to enhance targeting selectivity, loading efficiency, and pH sensitivity were highlighted. In addition, challenges and perspectives that could motivate further research related to the applications of chitosan nanocomposites in cancer therapy were summarized.

Surface Modification of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Application in Targeted Delivery Systems of Antitumour Drugs

The problem of tumour therapy has attracted the attention of many researchers for many decades. One of the promising strategies for the development of new dosage forms to improve oncology treatment efficacy and minimise side effects is the development of nanoparticle-based targeted transport systems for anticancer drugs. Among inorganic nanoparticles, mesoporous silica deserves special attention due to its outstanding surface properties and drug-loading capability. This review analyses the various factors affecting the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and biocompatibility of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), constituting a key aspect in the development of safe and effective drug delivery systems. Special attention is paid to technological approaches to chemically modifying MSNs to alter their surface properties. The stimuli that regulate drug release from nanoparticles are also discussed, contributing to the effective control of the delivery process in the body. The findings emphasise the importance of modifying MSNs with different surface functional groups, bio-recognisable molecules, and polymers for their potential use in anticancer drug delivery systems.

Extracellular Vesicles and Exosomes: Novel Insights and Perspectives on Lung Cancer from Early Detection to Targeted Treatment

Lung cancer demands innovative approaches for early detection and targeted treatment. In addressing this urgent need, exosomes play a pivotal role in revolutionizing both the early detection and targeted treatment of lung cancer. Their remarkable capacity to encapsulate a diverse range of biomolecules, traverse biological barriers, and be engineered with specific targeting molecules makes them highly promising for both diagnostic markers and precise drug delivery to cancer cells. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of exosomal content and biogenesis offers crucial insights into the molecular profile of lung tumors. This knowledge holds significant potential for the development of targeted therapies and innovative diagnostic strategies for cancer. Despite notable progress in this field, challenges in standardization and cargo loading persist. Collaborative research efforts are imperative to maximize the potential of exosomes and advance the field of precision medicine for the benefit of lung cancer patients.

Engineering Platelet Membrane Imitating Nanoparticles for Targeted Therapeutic Delivery

Platelet Membrane Imitating Nanoparticles (PMINs) is a novel drug delivery system that imitates the structure and functionality of platelet membranes. PMINs imitate surface markers of platelets to target specific cells and transport therapeutic cargo. PMINs are engineered by incorporating the drug into the platelet membrane and encapsulating it in a nanoparticle scaffold. This allows PMINs to circulate in the bloodstream and bind to target cells with high specificity, reducing off-target effects and improving therapeutic efficacy. The engineering of PMINs entails several stages, including the separation and purification of platelet membranes, the integration of therapeutic cargo into the membrane, and the encapsulation of the membrane in a nanoparticle scaffold. In addition to being involved in a few pathological conditions including cancer, atherosclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, platelets are crucial to the body's physiological processes. This study includes the preparation and characterization of platelet membrane-like nanoparticles and focuses on their most recent advancements in targeted therapy for conditions, including cancer, immunological disorders, atherosclerosis, phototherapy, etc. PMINs are a potential drug delivery system that combines the advantages of platelet membranes with nanoparticles. The capacity to create PMMNs with particular therapeutic cargo and surface markers provides new possibilities for targeted medication administration and might completely change the way that medicine is practiced. Despite the need for more studies to optimize the engineering process and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of PMINs in clinical trials, this technology has a lot of potential.

Self-Delivery Photodynamic Re-educator Enhanced Tumor Treatment by Inducing Immunogenic Cell Death and Improving Immunosuppressive Microenvironments

Immunotherapy is known to be a promising strategy in the clinical treatment of malignant tumors, but it has received generally low response rates in various tumors because of the poor immunogenicity and multiple immunosuppressive microenvironments. A self-delivery photodynamic re-educator, denoted as CCXB, is synthesized through the self-assembly of chlorine e6 (Ce6) and celecoxib (CXB). As a carrier-free nanomedicine, CCXB shows a high drug loading rate, improved water stability, superior cellular uptake, and tumor accumulation capability. In comparison with free Ce6, CCXB triggers much stronger photodynamic therapy (PDT) to reduce the proliferation of breast cancer cells and activates robust immune responses via the induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD). Better yet, CXB-mediated cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibition can decrease the level of synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to further improve immunosuppressive microenvironments. With the increase of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and decrease of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tumor, in vivo antitumor immunity is significantly amplified to inhibit the metastasis of breast cancer. This study sheds light on developing drug codelivery systems with collaborative mechanisms for immunotherapy of metastatic tumors.

Application of mPEG-CS-cRGD/Bmi-1RNAi-PTX nanoparticles in suppression of laryngeal cancer by targeting cancer stem cells

Although surgery-based comprehensive therapy is becoming the main approach to treat laryngeal cancer, recurrence, metastasis, radiotherapy resistance and chemotherapy tolerance are still the main causes of death in patients. Targeted inhibition of laryngeal cancer stem cells has been considered as the consensus to cure laryngeal cancer. Our previous study has confirmed proto-oncogene Bmi-1 as a key regulator for self-renewal of laryngeal cancer stem cells. Targeted knockdown of Bmi-1 gene effectively inhibited the self-renewal and differentiation of laryngeal cancer stem cells, leading to the promoted sensitivity to chemotherapy including paclitaxel. However, due to off-target effects and quick degradation of the naked Bmi-1-RNAi small RNA oligo by nuclease in body fluids, it is urgently needed to develop a tumor-targeted delivery system with a protective shell. In this study, we designed and synthesized cRGD peptide-modified chitosan-polyethylene glycol slow-release nanoparticles (mPEG-CS-cRGD/Bmi-1RNAi-PTX) containing Bmi-1RNAi siRNA oligo and paclitaxel, which showed spherical in shape, 200 nm diameter in size, low cytotoxicity, strong DNA wrapping, resistance to nuclease degradation and high transfection efficiency to cells. Functional analysis indicated significant suppression of cell proliferation and migration and induction of apoptosis by the nanocomplex in laryngeal cancer cells in vitro. By application to the mouse model with laryngeal cancer, the nanocomplex inhibited tumor growth significantly in vivo. In addition, cRGD peptide, paclitaxel and Bmi-1 siRNA in the nanoparticles showed synergistic effects to suppress laryngeal cancer stem cells. In conclusion, this study not only developed a laryngeal tumor-targeted chemotherapeutic system, but also demonstrated a Bmi-1 RNAi-based chemotherapeutic strategy to inhibit cancer stem cells, having strong potential to treat laryngeal cancer patients suffering therapy resistance and/or tumor recurrence.

A hidden translatome in tumors-the coding lncRNAs

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been extensively identified in eukaryotic genomes and have been shown to play critical roles in the development of multiple cancers. Through the application and development of ribosome analysis and sequencing technologies, advanced studies have discovered the translation of lncRNAs. Although lncRNAs were originally defined as noncoding RNAs, many lncRNAs actually contain small open reading frames that are translated into peptides. This opens a broad area for the functional investigation of lncRNAs. Here, we introduce prospective methods and databases for screening lncRNAs with functional polypeptides. We also summarize the specific lncRNA-encoded proteins and their molecular mechanisms that promote or inhibit cancerous. Importantly, the role of lncRNA-encoded peptides/proteins holds promise in cancer research, but some potential challenges remain unresolved. This review includes reports on lncRNA-encoded peptides or proteins in cancer, aiming to provide theoretical basis and related references to facilitate the discovery of more functional peptides encoded by lncRNA, and to further develop new anti-cancer therapeutic targets as well as clinical biomarkers of diagnosis and prognosis.

Selenium nanoparticles: Enhanced nutrition and beyond

Selenium is a trace nutrient that has both nutritional and nutraceutical functions, whereas narrow nutritional range of selenium intake limits its use. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are less toxic and more bioavailable than traditional forms of selenium, suggesting that SeNPs have the potential to replace traditional selenium in food industries and/or biomedical fields. From the perspective of how SeNPs can be applied in health area, this review comprehensively discusses SeNPs in terms of its preparation, nutritional aspect, detoxification effect of heavy metals, nutraceutical functions and anti-pathogenic microorganism effects. By physical, chemical, or biological methods, inorganic selenium can be transformed into SeNPs which have increased stability and bioavailability as well as low toxicity. SeNPs are more effective than traditional selenium form in synthesizing selenoproteins like glutathione peroxidases. SeNPs can reshape the digestive system to facilitate digestion and absorption of nutrients. SeNPs have shown excellent potential to adjunctively treat cancer patients, enhance immune system, control diabetes, and prevent rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, SeNPs have good microbial anti-pathogenic effects and can be used with other antimicrobial agents to fight against pathogenic bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Development of novel SeNPs with enhanced functions can greatly benefit the food-, nutraceutical-, and biomedical industries.

Surface modification potentials of cell membrane-based materials for targeted therapies: a chemotherapy-focused review

Nanotechnology has significant potential for cancer management at all stages, including prevention, diagnosis and treatment. In therapeutic applications, nanoparticles (NPs) have biological stability, targeting and body-clearance issues. To overcome these difficulties, biomimetic or cell membrane-coating methods using immune cell membranes are advised. Macrophage or neutrophil cell membrane-coated NPs may impede cancer progression in malignant tissue. Immune cell surface proteins and their capacity to maintain activity after membrane extraction and NP coating determine NP functioning. Immune cell surface proteins may offer NPs higher cellular interactions, blood circulation, antigen recognition for targeting, progressive drug release and reduced in vivo toxicity. This article examines nano-based systems with immune cell membranes, their surface modification potential, and their application in cancer treatment.

Comparative Study of Nanoparticle Blood Circulation after Forced Clearance of Own Erythrocytes (Mononuclear Phagocyte System-Cytoblockade) or Administration of Cytotoxic Doxorubicin- or Clodronate-Loaded Liposomes

Recent developments in the field of nanomedicine have introduced a wide variety of nanomaterials that are capable of recognizing and killing tumor cells with increased specificity. A major limitation preventing the widespread introduction of nanomaterials into the clinical setting is their fast clearance from the bloodstream via the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS). One of the most promising methods used to overcome this limitation is the MPS-cytoblockade, which forces the MPS to intensify the clearance of erythrocytes by injecting allogeneic anti-erythrocyte antibodies and, thus, significantly prolongs the circulation of nanoagents in the blood. However, on the way to the clinical application of this approach, the question arises whether the induced suppression of macrophage phagocytosis via the MPS-cytoblockade could pose health risks. Here, we show that highly cytotoxic doxorubicin- or clodronate-loaded liposomes, which are widely used for cancer therapy and biomedical research, induce a similar increase in the nanoparticle blood circulation half-life in mice as the MPS-cytoblockade, which only gently and temporarily saturates the macrophages with the organism's own erythrocytes. This result suggests that from the point of view of in vivo macrophage suppression, the MPS-cytoblockade should be less detrimental than the liposomal anti-cancer drugs that are already approved for clinical application while allowing for the substantial improvement in the nanoagent effectiveness.

Recent advances in natural small molecules as drug delivery systems

Drug delivery systems (DDSs) are a multidisciplinary approach toward the effective delivery of drugs to their target sites. Natural small molecule (NSM) compounds with anticancer activity, self-assembly and co-assembly functions show great potential for application as novel DDSs in the biomedical field. NSMs are widely sourced, have many modification sites, and readily form hydrogen bonds, π-π interactions, van der Waals interactions, and other non-covalent bonds in solvents, resulting in ordered structures. Moreover, their good biocompatibility and bioactivity allow compositions based on these compounds to be used in life science applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery and cell imaging, showing the potential medical value of NSMs as DDSs. In this review, we summarise the role, assembly principles and applications of natural products such as triterpenoids, diterpenoids, sterols, alkaloids and polysaccharides in the construction of small molecule systems, which are expected to provide an important reference for the development of more active natural nanomaterials and the study of single or multi-component interactions.

Nanosized drug delivery strategies in osteosarcoma chemotherapy

Despite recent developments worldwide in the therapeutic care of osteosarcoma (OS), the ongoing challenges in overcoming limitations and side effects of chemotherapy drugs warrant new strategies to improve overall patient survival. Spurred by rapid progress in biomedicine, nanobiotechnology, and materials chemistry, chemotherapeutic drug delivery in treatment of OS has become possible in recent years. Here, we review recent advances in the design of drug delivery system, especially for chemotherapeutic drugs in OS, and discuss the relative merits in trials along with future therapeutic options. These advances may pave the way for novel therapies requisite for patients with OS.

Immunomodulatory activity of manganese dioxide nanoparticles: Promising for novel vaccines and immunotherapeutics

Manganese (Mn), a nutrient inorganic trace element, is necessary for a variety of physiological processes of animal body due to their important roles in oxidative regulation effects and other aspects of activities. Moreover, manganese ion (Mn²⁺) has widely reported to be crucial for the regulations of different immunological responses, thus showing promising application as potential adjuvants and immunotherapeutics. Taking the advantages of Mn-based biological and immunological activities, Manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO₂ NPs) are a new type of inorganic nanomaterials with numerous advantages, including simple preparation, low cost, environmental friendliness, low toxicity, biodegradable metabolism and high bioavailability. MnO₂ NPs, as a kind of drug carrier, have also shown the ability to catalyze hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to produce oxygen (O₂) under acidic conditions, which can enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other therapeutics for tumor treatment by remodeling the tumor microenvironment. More importantly, MnO₂ NPs also play important roles in immune regulations both in innate and adaptive immunity. In this review, we summarize the biological activities of Manganese, followed by the introduction for the biological and medical functions and mechanisms of MnO₂ NPs. What's more, we emphatically discussed the immunological regulation effects and mechanisms of MnO₂ NPs, as well as their potentials to serve as adjuvants and immunomodulators, which might benefit the development of novel vaccines and immunotherapies for more effective disease control.

GE11 peptide-decorated acidity-responsive micelles for improved drug delivery and enhanced combination therapy of metastatic breast cancer

Nanotechnology-mediated drug delivery systems suffer from insufficient retention in tumor tissues and unreliable drug release at specific target sites. Herein, we developed an epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted multifunctional micellar nanoplatform (GE11-DOX+CEL-M) by encapsulating celecoxib into polymeric micelles based on the conjugate of GE11-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(trimethylene carbonate) with doxorubicin to suppress tumor growth and metastasis. The polymeric micelles maintained stable nanostructures under physiological conditions but quickly disintegrated in a weakly acidic environment, which is conducive to controlled drug release. Importantly, GE11-DOX+CEL-M micelles effectively delivered the drug combination to tumor sites and enhanced tumor cell uptake through GE11-mediated active tumor targeting. Subsequently, GE11-DOX+CEL-M micelles dissociated in response to intracellular slightly acidic microenvironmental stimuli, resulting in rapid release of celecoxib and doxorubicin to synergistically inhibit the proliferation and migration of tumor cells. Systemic administration of GE11-DOX+CEL-M micelles into mice bearing subcutaneous 4T1 tumor models resulted in higher tumor growth suppression and decreased lung metastasis of tumor cells compared with micelles without GE11 decoration or delivering only doxorubicin. Furthermore, the micelles effectively reduced the systemic toxicity of the chemotherapy drugs. This nanotherapeutic system provides a promising strategy for safe and effective cancer therapy.

Elastin-like Polypeptides in Development of Nanomaterials for Application in the Medical Field

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are biopolymers formed by amino acid sequences derived from tropoelastin. These biomolecules can be soluble below critical temperatures, forming aggregates at higher temperatures, which makes them an interesting source for the design of different nanobiomaterials. These nanobiomaterials can be obtained from heterologous expression in several organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and plants. Thanks to the many advantages of ELPs, they have been used in the biomedical field to develop nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanocomposites. These nanostructures can be used in multiple applications such as drug delivery systems, treatments of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, tissue repair, and cancer therapy. Thus, this review aims to shed some light on the main advances in elastin-like-based nanomaterials, their possible expression forms, and importance to the medical field.

Drug Nanocrystals for Active Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery

Drug nanocrystals, which are comprised of active pharmaceutical ingredients and only a small amount of essential stabilizers, have the ability to improve the solubility, dissolution and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs; in turn, drug nanocrystal technology can be utilized to develop novel formulations of chemotherapeutic drugs. Compared with passive targeting strategy, active tumor-targeted drug delivery, typically enabled by specific targeting ligands or molecules modified onto the surface of nanomedicines, circumvents the weak and heterogeneous enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect in human tumors and overcomes the disadvantages of nonspecific drug distribution, high administration dosage and undesired side effects, thereby contributing to improving the efficacy and safety of conventional nanomedicines for chemotherapy. Continuous efforts have been made in the development of active tumor-targeted drug nanocrystals delivery systems in recent years, most of which are encouraging and also enlightening for further investigation and clinical translation.

ATP-responsive near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticles for synergistic chemotherapy and starvation therapy

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide, and traditional chemotherapy or a single therapeutic strategy often fails to achieve expected results in cancer treatment. Thus, the development of a method to realize controlled drug delivery and synergistic therapy is required. Herein, MOF-based nanoparticles named RhI-DOX-GOD@ZIF-90 are synthesized using RhI (a near-infrared fluorescent dye), DOX (an anti-cancer drug) and GOD (glucose oxidase). RhI and DOX are encapsulated inside the ZIF-90 framework and GOD is loaded on the surface of ZIF-90. Owing to the fact that the ATP level in cancer cells is abnormally higher than that in normal cells, RhI-DOX-GOD@ZIF-90 nanoparticles are destructed only in cancer cells. RhI is released to give outstanding NIR emission and realize controlled drug delivery. DOX is released and cancer cells are killed by chemotherapy. Also, GOD is released to consume glucose and achieve the purpose of starving the cancer cells. By making full use of the advantages of near-infrared emission, RhI-DOX-GOD@ZIF-90 nanoparticles can be used to image ATP in tumor-bearing mice. At the same time, DOX and GOD can be released accurately at tumor sites of mice and excellent anti-tumor efficiency by synergistic chemotherapy and starvation therapy is achieved.

Lipids coated CaCO3-PDA nanoparticles as a versatile nanocarrier to enable pH-responsive dual modal imaging guided combination cancer therapy

Development of an intelligent and versatile delivery system to achieve tumor targeted delivery and controlled release of diverse functional moieties is of great significance to realize precise cancer theranostics. In...

Heterostructures Made of Upconversion Nanoparticles and Metal-Organic Frameworks for Biomedical Applications

Heterostructure nanoparticles (NPs), constructed by two single-component NPs with distinct nature and multifunctional properties, have attracted intensive interest in the past few years. Among them, heterostructures made of upconversion NPs (UCNPs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can not only integrate the advantageous characteristics (e.g., porosity, structural regularity) of MOFs with unique upconverted optical features of UCNPs, but also induce cooperative properties not observed either for single component due to their special optical or electronic communications. Recently, diverse UCNP-MOF heterostructures are designed and synthesized via different strategies and have demonstrated appealing potential for applications in biosensing and imaging, drug delivery, and photodynamic therapy (PDT). In this review, the synthesis strategies of UCNP-MOF heterostructures are first summarized, then the authors focus mainly on discussion of their biomedical applications, particularly as PDT agents for cancer treatment. Finally, the authors briefly outlook the current challenges and future perspectives of UCNP-MOF hybrid nanocomposites. The authors believe that this review will provide comprehensive understanding and inspirations toward recent advances of UCNP-MOF heterostructures.

Antitumor Activity of α-Linolenic Acid-Paclitaxel Conjugate Nanoparticles: In vitro and in vivo

Purpose

Small molecule modified antitumor drug conjugate nanoparticles have the advantages of high drug loading, simple synthesis and preparation, and better biocompatibility. Due to the large demand for exogenous α-linolenic acid (ALA) by tumor cells, we synthesized α-linolenic acid-paclitaxel conjugate (ALA-PTX) and prepared α-linolenic acid-paclitaxel conjugate nanoparticles (ALA-PTX NPs), in order to obtain better tumor cellular uptake and antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

We synthesized and characterized ALA-PTX, and then prepared and characterized ALA-PTX NPs. The cellular uptake, uptake pathways, intracellular behavior, in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of ALA-PTX NPs were evaluated.

Results

The size of ALA-PTX NPs was approximately 110.7±1.7 nm. The drug loading was approximately 90% (w/w) with CrEL-free and organic solvent-free characteristics. The cellular uptake of ALA-PTX NPs was significantly higher than that of PTX injection by MCF-7, MCF-7/ADR and HepG2 cells. In these three cell lines, the cellular uptake of ALA-PTX NPs at 6h was approximately 1.5-2.6 times higher than that of PTX injection. ALA-PTX NPs were ingested through clathrin-mediated endocytosis, then transferred to lysosomes, and could dissolve in cells to play an antitumor activity. The in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of ALA-PTX NPs was confirmed in MCF-7/ADR and HepG2 cell models and tumor-bearing nude mouse models.

Conclusion

ALA-PTX NPs developed in our study could provide a new method for the preparation of nano-delivery systems suitable for antitumor therapy that could increase tumor cellular uptake and enhance antitumor activity.

Cholesterol-Based Nanovesicles Enhance the In Vitro Cytotoxicity, Ex Vivo Intestinal Absorption, and In Vivo Bioavailability of Flutamide

Critical adverse effects and frequent administration, three times per day, limit the use of flutamide (FLT) as a chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of prostate cancer. Therefore, our research aimed to develop new cholesterol-based nanovesicles for delivering FLT to malignant cells in an endeavor to maximize its therapeutic efficacy and minimize undesired adverse effects. Draper–Lin small composite design was used to optimize the critical quality attributes of FLT-loaded niosomes and ensure the desired product quality. The influence of the selected four independent variables on mean particle size (Y₁), zeta potential (Y₂), drug entrapment efficiency (Y₃), and the cumulative drug release after 24 h (Y₄) was examined. The optimized nanovesicles were assessed for their in vitro cytotoxicity, ex-vivo absorption via freshly excised rabbit intestine as well as in vivo pharmacokinetics on male rats. TEM confirmed nanovescicles’ spherical shape with bilayer structure. Values of dependent variables were 748.6 nm, −48.60 mV, 72.8% and 72.2% for Y₁, Y₂, Y₃ and Y₄, respectively. The optimized FLT-loaded niosomes exerted high cytotoxic efficacy against human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) with an IC₅₀ value of 0.64 ± 0.04 µg/mL whilst, it was 1.88 ± 0.16 µg/mL for free FLT. Moreover, the IC₅₀ values on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) were 0.27 ± 0.07 µg/mL and 4.07 ± 0.74 µg/mL for FLT-loaded niosomes and free FLT, respectively. The permeation of the optimized FLT-loaded niosomes through the rabbit intestine showed an enhancement ratio of about 1.5 times that of the free FLT suspension. In vivo pharmacokinetic study displayed an improvement in oral bioavailability of the optimized niosomal formulation with AUC and C_max values of 741.583 ± 33.557 μg/mL × min and 6.950 ± 0.45 μg/mL compared to 364.536 ± 45.215 μg/mL × min and 2.650 ± 0.55 μg/mL for the oral FLT suspension. With these promising findings, we conclude that encapsulation of FLT in cholesterol-loaded nanovesicles enhanced its anticancer activity and oral bioavailability which endorse its use in the management of prostate cancer.

Engineering nanomedicine for glutathione depletion-augmented cancer therapy

Glutathione (GSH), the main redox buffer, has long been recognized as a pivotal modulator of tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. It is also implicated in the resistance of platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Therefore, depleting intracellular GSH was considered a potent solution to combating cancer. However, reducing GSH within cancer cells alone always failed to yield desirable therapeutic effects. In this regard, the convergence of GSH-scavenging agents with therapeutic drugs has thus been pursued in clinical practice. Unfortunately, the therapeutic outcomes are still unsatisfactory due to untargeted drug delivery. Advanced nanomedicine of synergistic GSH depletion and cancer treatment has attracted tremendous interest because they promise to deliver superior therapeutic benefits while alleviating life-threatening side effects. In the past five years, the authors and others have demonstrated that numerous nanomedicines, by simultaneously delivering GSH-depleting agents and therapeutic components, boost not only traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy but also multifarious emerging treatment modalities, including photodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, ferroptosis, and immunotherapy, to name a few, and achieved decent treatment outcomes in a large number of rodent tumor models. In this review, we summarize the most recent progress in engineering nanomedicine for GSH depletion-enhanced cancer therapies. Biosynthesis of GSH and various types of GSH-consuming strategies will be briefly introduced. The challenges and perspectives of leveraging nanomedicine for GSH consumption-augmented cancer therapies will be discussed at the end.

Synthesis of pH-sensitive hyaluronic acid nanogels loaded with paclitaxel and interferon gamma: Characterization and effect on the A549 lung carcinoma cell line

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in various populations. Apart from the effects that anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel (PTX) have on cancer cells, they also have many side effects on healthy cells. Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is also one of the cytokines used in the treatment of cancer. Current research is focused on providing new drug carriers to find new therapeutic goals. After synthesis of nanogels and loading of PTX and IFN-γ, the cytotoxicity of these nanogels on A549 and HEK293 healthy cell line was measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. Finally, the expression of STAT1 gene was investigated using Real time-PCR. The results of MTT assay showed that the survival rate of healthy cells treated with PTX and IFN-γ-loaded nanogels was 2.15 and 2.39 times higher than cancer cells, respectively. The results also showed that the gene expression STAT1 in A549 cells exposed to these nanogels was higher than healthy cells (p < 0.05). Based on flow cytometry results, the death rate of healthy cells treated with the mentioned nanogels was lower than cancer cells (p < 0.05). Therefore, Studies showed that synthesized nanogels have positive effects on cancer cells and also have fewer side effects on healthy cells.

GDC-0326 Enhances the Effects of 5-Fu in Colorectal Cancer Cells by Inducing Necroptotic Death

AIM

Chemoresistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) is common in colorectal cancer (CRC). Programmed necrosis (necroptosis) is an alternative form of programmed cell death regulated by receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK) 1 and 3, assumed as a novel target of cancer therapy. In this study, we aimed to explore whether a novel small molecular agent GDC-0326 could facilitate the effect of 5-Fu through necroptosis.

MAIN METHODS

Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and colony formation were performed to confirm the function of GDC-0326 in CRC cells. Western blot and immunofluorescence were conducted to measure the altered expressions of RIPK1/RIPK3 induced by GDC-0326. Subcutaneous tumor models were used to evaluate the chemotherapeutic effects and concomitant side effects of GDC-0326 in vivo.

KEY FINDINGS

We found that GDC-0326 effectively suppressed the growth of CRC cells in a dose-dependent manner. The induction of necroptosis by GDC-0326 was correlated with the modulation of RIPK1 and RIPK3. Necrostatin-1 and GSK-872, inhibitors of RIPK1 and RIPK3, respectively, could rescue the cell death induced by GDC-0326. In addition, in vitro and in vivo studies showed that 5-Fu plus GDC-0326 evinced a better antitumor efficacy by suppressing tumor growth and increasing tumor necrosis with no increased toxicity.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study demonstrates that GDC-0326 plus 5-Fu has augmented antitumor efficacy and acceptable safety, which might be a promising therapeutic strategy for CRC patients in the future.

Gum polysaccharide/nanometal hybrid biocomposites in cancer diagnosis and therapy

Biopolymers are of prime importance among which gum polysaccharides hold an eminent standing owing to their high availability and non-toxic nature. Gum biopolymers offer a greener alternative to synthetic polymers and toxic chemicals in the synthesis of metal nanostructures. Metal nanostructures accessible via eco-friendly means endow astounding characteristics to gum-based biocomposites in the field of diagnosis and therapy towards cancer diseases. In this review, assorted approaches for the assembly of nanomaterials mediated by gum biopolymers are presented and their utility in cancer diagnosis and therapy, e.g., bioimaging, radiotherapy, and phototherapy, are deliberated to provide a groundwork for future stimulative research.

Reactive oxygen species and glutathione dual responsive nanoparticles for enhanced prostate cancer therapy

Docetaxel (DTX)-based chemotherapy of prostate cancer is still confronted with significant challenges due to insufficient drug accumulation at the tumor sites and the systemic side effects on normal cells and organs. Tumor microenvironment-responsive nanosized drug delivery systems have shown enormous potential to improve the anticancer efficacy and minimize the systemic side effects of chemotherapeutics. However, most of the currently redox-responsive nanoparticles respond only to single stimuli, which compromise the treatment effect. Hence, inspired by the abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells, we proposed a unique ROS and GSH dual responsive nanocarrier (PCL-SS) for DTX delivery. The DTX-loaded PCL-SS nanoparticles (PCL-SS@DTX NPs) were not only stable in a normal physiological environment but also rapidly triggered DTX release in prostate cancer cells. In vitro experiments showed that PCL-SS@DTX NPs had robust prostate cancer cell cytotoxicity, induced cell apoptosis, inhibited cell migration and invasion and exhibited satisfactory biocompatibility. In mice bearing orthotopic prostate cancer, PCL-SS@DTX NPs could accumulate in orthotopic tumor sites and then significantly weaken tumor growth by inhibiting prostate cancer cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis, without obvious damages to major organs. Overall, this dual responsive nanosized drug delivery system may act as a promising therapeutic option for prostate cancer chemotherapy.

Monodisperse Hollow MnO2 with Biodegradability for Efficient Targeted Drug Delivery

The development of new nanocarriers with desired degradability and targeted ability is of great significance for efficient drug delivery. In this work, a monodisperse hollow structured MnO₂ (H-MnO₂) with a mesoporous shell is prepared and functionalized for efficient targeted drug delivery. The highly monodisperse H-MnO₂ with a uniform morphology was obtained by in situ growing MnO₂ on solid silica nanoparticles and subsequently removing the silica core. Then, the H-MnO₂ is successively modified with polyethylene glycol and targeted molecule folate (FA). The resultant H-MnO₂-FA shows excellent colloidal stability and high drug-loading content (∼58.2%) of the antitumor drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). The H-MnO₂-FA possesses acid-responsive T₁-weighted magnetic resonance imaging ability. The pH-dependent biodegradation behavior of H-MnO₂-FA is directly observed in vitro and confirmed by in vivo imaging, which is expected to favor the potential clearance of this hollow structured nanocarrier and eliminate its long-term toxicity. In addition, the DOX-loaded H-MnO₂-FA also demonstrates excellent cancer cell-killing effect and tumor inhibition efficacy.

Theranostic application of nanoemulsions in chemotherapy

Theranostics has the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cancer, where novel drug delivery systems could be used to detect the disease at an early stage with instantaneous treatment. Various preclinical approaches of nanoemulsions with entrapped contrast and chemotherapeutic agents have been documented to act specifically on the tumor microenvironment (TME) for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However, bringing these theranostic nanoemulsions through preclinical trials to patients requires several fundamental hurdles to be overcome, including the in vivo behavior of the delivery tool, degradation, and clearance from the system, as well as long-term toxicities. Here, we discuss recent advances in the application of nanoemulsions in molecular imaging with simultaneous therapeutic efficacy in a single delivery system.

Paclitaxel/IR1061-Co-Loaded Protein Nanoparticle for Tumor-Targeted and pH/NIR-II-Triggered Synergistic Photothermal-Chemotherapy

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to develop an "all-in-one" nanoplatform that integrates at the second near-infrared (NIR-II) region dye IR1061 and anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) into an apoferritin (AFN) nanocage (IR-AFN@PTX). Simultaneously, folic acid (FA), tumor target molecule,  was conjugated onto IR-AFN@PTX to be IR-AFN@PTX-FA for tumor-targeted and pH/NIR-II-triggered synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy.

METHODS

IR1061 was firstly reacted with PEG and then conjugated with AFN to be IR-AFN. Then, FA was conjugated onto the surface of IR-AFN to be IR-AFN-FA. At last, PTX was incorporated into IR-AFN-FA to fabricate a nanoplatform IR-AFN@PTX-FA. The NIR-II photothermal properties and pH/NIR-II triggered drug release were evaluated. The ability of IR-AFN@PTX-FA to target tumors was estimated using optical bioluminescence. In vitro and in vivo synergistic therapeutic effects of pH/NIR-II-triggered and tumor-targeted photothermal-chemotherapy were investigated in 4T1 tumor model.

RESULTS

IR-AFN@PTX-FA showed excellent water solubility and physiological stability, which significantly enhanced the solubility of both IR1061 and PTX. After 5 min of laser irradiation at 1064 nm, IR-AFN@PTX-FA exhibited an effective photothermal effect compared with laser irradiation at 808 nm, even when blocked with 0.6 cm thick chicken breast. Cellular uptake experiments showed IR-AFN@PTX-FA utilized clathrin-mediated and caveolae-mediated endocytosis pathways to enter 4T1 cells, and was then delivered by the endosome to the lysosome. NIR-II laser irradiation and pH could synergistically trigger PTX release, inducing significant tumor inhibition in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSION

As a novel "all-in-one" nanoplatform, IR-AFN@PTX-FA was found to selectively target tumors and showed very efficient NIR-II photothermal effects and pH/NIR-II triggered drug release effects, showing a remarkable, synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy effect.

pH- and Ultrasound-Responsive Paclitaxel-Loaded Carboxymethyl Chitosan Nanodroplets for Combined Imaging and Synergistic Chemoradiotherapy

Background

Synergistic chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has become a primary effective curative approach for many solid cancers. However, CRT is still associated with several obstacles, including the increases in side effects and systemic toxicity. Incorporating nanocarriers into CRT is a new and exciting approach to solve these obstacles. The purpose of the present study was to design a unique pH- and ultrasound-responsive perfluoropentane-encapsulated, paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded carboxymethyl chitosan nanodroplets (NDs) for combined imaging and synergistic CRT.

Materials and Methods

The NDs were prepared by a homogenization/emulsion method. Their physicochemical properties, echogenicity and biocompatibility were evaluated. PTX-loaded NDs with a high loading efficiency and encapsulation efficiency were prepared and their pH-responsive drug release profile was determined by dialysis sack method. Then, PC3 cells were exposed to (1) PTX (4 μg/mL), (2) NDs (30 μg/mL), (3) PTX-loaded NDs (34 μg/mL), (4) RT (6 Gy), (5) RT (10 Gy), (6) combination of PTX (4 μg/mL), ultrasound (0.5 W/cm², 30 s) and RT (6 Gy), (7) combination of NDs (30 μg/mL), ultrasound (0.5 W/cm², 30 s) and RT (6Gy), (8) combination of PTX-loaded NDs (30 μg/mL), ultrasound (0.5 W/cm², 30 s) and RT (6 Gy). 24 hrs later, CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and migration assay were carried out to evaluate their therapeutic effects in CRT.

Results

The desired NDs were successfully prepared, which were with round, spherical shapes, relatively smooth surfaces, core-shell structures and uniform in sizes (<300 nm with PDI<0.3 when at pH≧6.0). The NDs exhibited good abilities in pH-dependent charge conversion, biocompatibility and ultrasound contrast echogenicity. The in vitro drug release from PTX-loaded NDs (the highest loading efficiency and encapsulation efficiency were 20.35% and 91.58%) was pH dependent and exhibited an initial burst followed by a sustained drug release. The results of the CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and migration assay all showed PTX-loaded NDs combined ultrasound and RT significantly enhanced cell responses in CRT.

Conclusion

The pH- and ultrasound-responsive PTX-loaded NDs, which exhibited a high echogenicity, drug delivery ability and radiosensitization ability, could be a feasible option for combined imaging and novel enhancing approach in synergistic CRT.

The influence of nanocarrier architectures on antitumor efficacy of docetaxel nanoparticles

To study the structural influence, hybrid amphiphilic copolymer (G2C₁₈) and linear amphiphilic copolymer (PEG₄₅C₁₈) were utilized to prepare docetaxel (DTX)-loaded nanoparticles through an antisolvent precipitation method. The different architectures of the hydrophilic portion affected the particle sizes significantly, and then induced the different antitumor activity. Compared with DTX/PEG₄₅C₁₈ nanoparticles, the antitumor efficacy of DTX/G2C₁₈ nanoparticles was significantly enhanced, the IC₅₀ value was 2.1-fold lower in vitro, and the inhibition rate was 1.3-fold higher in vivo. These results suggested that the antitumor activity was significantly affected by the architecture of the nanocarriers, and should be considered when nanocarriers are designed.

Nanocarrier branched structure affects the particle size of drug-loaded nanoparticles and further induces different antitumor efficacy.

Transferrin/α-tocopherol modified poly(amidoamine) dendrimers for improved tumor targeting and anticancer activity of paclitaxel

Aim: Transferrin anchored, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and α-tocopheryl succinate (α-TOS) conjugated generation 4 dendrimer has been prepared in order to develop a tumor targeted delivery system of a hydrophobic chemotherapeutic agent, paclitaxel (PTX). Materials & methods: The dendrimers were characterized physicochemically for size, ζ and encapsulation ability. The cellular uptake, cytotoxicity potential and apoptosis of prepared nanoconstruct were evaluated in human cervical epithelial cells monolayer and 3D spheroids. Results & conclusion: G4-TOS-PEG-Tf demonstrated increased cellular uptake, cytotoxicity and apoptotic potential of PTX compared with free PTX and G4-TOS-PEG-PTX. G4-TOS-PEG-Tf-PTX inhibited growth of human cervical epithelial cells spheroids significantly. The newly developed dendrimers hold promise as an efficient delivery system for PTX or other hydrophobic chemotherapeutic agents for targeted delivery to tumors.

Target delivery selective CSF-1R inhibitor to tumor-associated macrophages via erythrocyte-cancer cell hybrid membrane camouflaged pH-responsive copolymer micelle for cancer immunotherapy

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is a promising therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy, while TAMs targeting therapy using nano-sized drug delivery system (NDDS) is a great challenge. To overcome these drawbacks, a novel erythrocyte-cancer cell hybrid membrane camouflaged pH-responsive copolymer micelle (dextran-grafted-poly (histidine) copolymer) was prepared to target deliver a selective CSF-1R inhibitor: BLZ-945 (shorten as DH@ECm) to TAMs for TAMs depletion. The prepared DH@ECm possessed favorable particle size (~190 nm) preferable immune camouflage and tumor homologies targeting characteristic when it was intravenously administrated into blood system. In tumor acidic microenvironment, DH@ECm possessed pH-responsive characteristic and unique "membrane escape effect" to facilitate recognition and internalization by TAMs via dextran-CD206 receptor specific interaction (about 3.9 fold than free drug), followed by TAMs depletion in vitro. For in vivo studies, DH@ECm could reverse tumor immune-microenvironment with the elevation of CD8⁺ T cells and possess sufficient tumor immunotherapy (inhibition rate: 64.5%). All the in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the therapeutical potential of DH@ECm for tumor immunotherapy.

Anti-CD133 Antibody-Targeted Therapeutic Immunomagnetic Albumin Microbeads Loaded with Vincristine-Assisted to Enhance Anti-Glioblastoma Treatment

Poor uptake of antitumor drugs by tumor cells is a critical challenge for anticancer therapeutics. Moreover, the deficiency of specific tumor selectivity for tumor sites may further limit the therapeutic efficacy and cause side effects in healthy regions of the body. Vincristine (VCR) is an effective antitumor drug; however, because of its severe nerve toxicity, short half-life, and fast metabolism, its clinical application is limited. Herein, novel anti-CD133 monoclonal antibody (^CD133mAb)-targeted therapeutic immunomagnetic albumin microbeads (^CD133mAb/TMAMbs) are smartly constructed for enhancing antiglioblastoma treatment. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO NPs) were first fabricated as nanocarrier cores, then encapsulated with human serum albumin (HSA), and loaded antitumor drug VCR. Then ^CD133mAb, which has specific affinity with the cell membrane CD133, was subsequently conjugated to form ^CD133mAb-decorated therapeutic immunomagnetic albumin microbeads (^CD133mAb/TMAMbs). The influence of ^CD133mAb/TMAMbs on the viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, cell cytoskeleton, migration, and invasion of CD133-overexpressing U251 cells was explored. The ^CD133mAb-conjugated magnetic albumin microbeads exhibited a high drug loading capacity, stability and hemocompatibility, and active targeting ability by specific recognition of the CD133 surface antigen by the bioconjugation of ^CD133mAb. More importantly, the constructed therapeutic ^CD133mAb/TMAMbs have a specifically effective uptake via the CD133 transmembrane protein that is overexpressed in U251 glioblastoma cells and displayed an effective antitumor proliferation and invasive ability. Therefore, based on these results, the fabricated ^CD133mAb/TMAMbs demonstrate promising uses in brain cancer-targeted diagnosis and therapy.

Suicide among cancer patients: adolescents and young adult (AYA) versus all-age patients

Background

Many researchers have studied suicide risk factors of patients with one specific cancer. But there is no comprehensive study to compare suicide issues between adolescents and young adult (AYA) group and all-age groups in a pan-cancer view.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with 20 solid malignancies were identified from SEER database. Multivariable logistic regression was operated to find out risk factors of suicide.

Results

Male sex has less impact on AYA than all-age patients (OR 2.72, 95% CI: 2.23-3.31, P<0.001 vs. OR 4.64, 95% CI: 4.37-4.94, P<0.001), while white race (OR 3.28, 95% CI: 2.02-5.77, P<0.001 vs. OR 3.40, 95% CI: 3.02-3.84, P<0.001) and unmarried status (OR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.24-1.83, P<0.001 vs. OR 1.39, 95% CI: 1.33-1.46, P<0.001) have similar impact on AYA and all-age groups. Localized cancer stage may have stronger impact on AYA than all-age (OR 2.90, 95% CI: 1.83-4.84; P<0.001 vs. OR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.61-1.92; P<0.001), while surgery only influence all-age (OR 1.14, P=0.451 vs. 1.24, P<0.001). Within 5 years from cancer diagnosis, longer survival time is associated with higher suicide risk of both all-age and AYA patients.

Conclusions

Male sex, white race and unmarried status, earlier cancer stage and longer survival time within 5 years are similar prevalent risk factors for both AYA group patients and all-age patients. It is not necessary to pick AYA cancer patients out when considering suicide risk of cancer patients.

Analyses of the Temperature Field of a Piezoelectric Micro Actuator in the Endoscopic Biopsy Channel

Micro actuators have been used to realize the arrival of digestive tract lesions for the local targeted application of drugs in endoscopes. However, there still exists a key safety issue that casts a shadow over the practical and safe implementation of actuators in the human body, namely an overheated environment caused by actuators’ operation. Herein, with the aim of solving the temperature rising problem of a piezoelectric micro actuator operating in an endoscopic biopsy channel (OLYMPUS, Tokyo, Japan), a thermal finite element method (FEM) based on COMSOL Multiphysics software is proposed. The temperature distribution and its rising curves are obtained by the FEM method. Both the simulated and experimental maximum temperatures are larger than the safety value (e.g., 42 °C for human tissues) when the driving voltage of the actuator is 200 Vpp, which proves that the overheating problem really exists in the actuator. Furthermore, the results show that the calculated temperature rising curves correspond to the experimental results, proving the effectiveness of this FEM method. Therefore, we introduce a temperature control method through optimizing the duty ratio of the actuator. In comparison with a 100% duty ratio operation condition, it is found that a 60% duty ratio with a driving voltage of 200 Vpp can more effectively prevent the temperature rising issue in the first 3 min, as revealed by the corresponding temperatures of 44.4 and 41.4 °C, respectively. When the duty ratio is adjusted to 30% or less, the temperature rise of the actuator can be significantly reduced to only 36.6 °C, which is close to the initial temperature (36.4 °C). Meanwhile, the speed of the actuator can be well-maintained at a certain level, demonstrating its great applicability for safe operation in the human body.

Cellular Targeting of Bispecific Antibody-Functionalized Poly(ethylene glycol) Capsules: Do Shape and Size Matter?

In the present study, a capsule system that consists of a stealth carrier based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and functionalized with bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) is introduced to examine the influence of the capsule shape and size on cellular targeting. Hollow spherical and rod-shaped PEG capsules with tunable aspect ratios (ARs) of 1, 7, and 18 were synthesized and subsequently functionalized with BsAbs that exhibit dual specificities to PEG and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Dosimetry (variation between the concentrations of capsules present and capsules that reach the cell surface) was controlled through "dynamic" incubation (i.e., continuously mixing the incubation medium). The results obtained were compared with those obtained from the "static" incubation experiments. Regardless of the incubation method and the capsule shape and size studied, BsAb-functionalized PEG capsules showed >90% specific cellular association to EGFR-positive human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-468 and negligible association with both control cell lines (EGFR negative Chinese hamster ovary cells CHO-K1 and murine macrophages RAW 264.7) after incubation for 5 h. When dosimetry was controlled and the dose concentration was normalized to the capsule surface area, the size or shape had a minimal influence on the cell association behavior of the capsules. However, different cellular internalization behaviors were observed, and the capsules with ARs 7 and 18 were, respectively, the least and most optimal shape for achieving high cell internalization under both dynamic and static conditions. Dynamic incubation showed a greater impact on the internalization of rod-shaped capsules (∼58-67% change) than on the spherical capsules (∼24-29% change). The BsAb-functionalized PEG capsules reported provide a versatile particle platform for the evaluation and comparison of cellular targeting performance of capsules with different sizes and shapes in vitro.

Highly biocompatible thermosensitive nanocomposite gel for combined therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma via the enhancement of mitochondria related apoptosis

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor. Surgery is the main treatment, but HCC patients have a potential risk of tumor recurrence. Besides, many limitations arise during the application of single first-line antitumor drugs. Here, we selected Pluronic F-127 and sodium alginate (SA) to prepare a thermosensitive gel (Gel). The optimal synergistic ratio of PTX and DOX on the SMMC-7721 cells was 1: 2 (w/w), calculated by the Chou-Talalay analysis. Then, PTX and DOX coloaded liposomes (PD-LPs) with such drugs ratios presented enhanced anticancer ability in vitro. Upon local injection, the PD-LPs Gel formed a nanoparticles reservoir at tumor via sol-gel transformation, while exhibiting a long-term effective anti-tumor ability in vivo. The relative tumor volume after the PD-LPs Gel treatment was reduced over 62%. Effective mitochondria related apoptosis induction was observed. Therefore, the local delivery of PD-LPs Gel can be a promising alternative method for the HCC therapy.

Multifunctionalized Microscale Ultrasound Contrast Agents for Precise Theranostics of Malignant Tumors

In ultrasonography, ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) that possess high acoustic impedance mismatch with the bulk medium are frequently employed to highlight the borders between tissues by enhanced ultrasound scattering in a clinic. Typically, the most common UCA, microbubble, is generally close in size to a red blood cell (<∼10 μm). These microscale UCAs cannot be directly entrapped into the target cells but generate several orders of magnitude stronger echo signals than the nanoscale ones. And their large containment and high ultrasound responsiveness also greatly facilitate to perform combined treatments, e.g., drug delivery and other imaging techniques. So multifunctionalized microscale UCAs appear on this scene and keep growing toward a promising direction for precise theranostics. In this review, we systematically summarize the new advances in the principles and preparations of multifunctionalized microscale UCAs and their medical applications for malignant tumors.

Tumor-facing hepatocytes significantly contribute to mild hyperthermia-induced targeting of rat liver metastasis by PLGA-NPs

The effect of mild hyperthermia (MHT) on nanoparticle (NP) accumulation in rat model liver metastasis and the contribution of neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells were characterized. CdSe/ZnS QD-doped poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) NPs (155 ± 10 nm) were delivered via the ileocolic vein to metastatic livers 15 min after localized MW irradiation (1 min, 41 °C) or in normothermia (37 °C, NT). Quantitative analysis of tissue sections by confocal fluorescence microscopy 1 h after NP injection showed no NP tumor accumulation in NT. On the contrary, MHT increased NP association with tumor, compared to normal tissue. Counterstaining of specific markers showed that the MHT effect is due to an increased NP endocytosis not only by tumor cells, but also by hepatocytes at the growing tumor edge and, to a minor extent, by tumor-associated macrophages. High-NP capturing hepatocytes, close to the tumor, may be a relevant phenomenon in MHT-induced increased targeting of NPs to liver metastasis, influencing their therapeutic efficacy.

Loading Auristatin PE onto boron nitride nanotubes and their effects on the apoptosis of Hep G2 cells

Auristatin PE (PE) as an anti-microtubule agent possesses good anticancer activity. However, the poor target effect and strong side effect limit the clinical application of PE. Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) represent an outstanding carrier candidate providing a wise choice for liver-targeted drug delivery. A drug delivery system based on BNNTs and PE (BNNTs-PE) against liver cancer cells was designed and constructed in this study. Firstly, BNNTs were prepared and hydroxylated, subsequently, PE was loaded onto BNNTs by noncovalent conjugation and was stable at neutral pH but released at pH 4.49. It was found that BNNTs-PE demonstrates an enhanced anticancer activity against Hep G2 cells in comparison with free PE. BNNTs-PE kills cancer cells in a manner of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway through reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential, activating caspase cascade. This BNNTs-PE system may be very promising for the treatment of liver cancer in the future.

New liquid crystal polycarbonate micelles for intracellular delivery of anticancer drugs

To construct pH/temperature dual sensitive micelles as novel drug delivery carriers, the synthesis of two diblock copolymers mPEG₁₁₃-PMCC₉-(PMCC-DBO)₂₇ and mPEG₄₃-PMCC₂₅-(PMCC-DHO)₁₅ based on mPEG and polycarbonate modified by acid and liquid crystal groups is described. In aqueous solution, mPEG₁₁₃-PMCC₉-(PMCC-DBO)₂₇ and mPEG₄₃-PMCC₂₅-(PMCC-DHO)₁₅ could self-assemble to form nanospheres and vesicles at very low critical micelle concentration, respectively. Both nanospheres and vesicles were less than 100 nm in diameter and demonstrated high loading capacity of doxorubicin (DOX) through ionic interaction between the free carboxyl groups in PMCC segments and the amine groups in DOX. In vitro release studies indicated that the two copolymer micelles were capable of pH/temperature-triggered release of doxorubicin and without a significant initial burst release. Furthermore, MTT assays showed that the blank copolymer micelles were nontoxic, while the drug-loaded micelles exhibited potent cytotoxic activity towards HeLa cells. These pH/temperature responsive copolymer micelles provided a new strategy for constructing stimuli-responsive drug delivery carriers in chemotherapy.