Dual-active targeting liposomes drug delivery system for bone metastatic breast cancer: Synthesis and biological evaluation

Synthesis and Evaluation of Radiogallium Labeled Bone-Imaging Probes Using Oligo-γ-Carboxy Glutamic Acid Peptides as Carriers to Bone

We investigated the importance of the carboxy group density in bone affinity during the development of peptide-based bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals and carriers. Oligo-γ-carboxy glutamic acid peptides [(Gla)n] with higher carboxy group density than oligo-glutamic acid peptides [(Glu)n] and oligo-aspartic acid peptides [(Asp)n] were chosen. Using the radiogallium chelator N,N'-bis-[2-hydroxy-5-(carboxyethyl)benzyl]ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (HBED-CC), we synthesized [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)n (n = 1, 2, 5, 8, 11, or 14) with high yields. Hydroxyapatite-binding assays, biodistribution, and SPECT imaging showed higher affinity and bone accumulation for [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)n compared to [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Glu)n. Notably, [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)8 and [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)11 exhibited superior bone accumulation and rapid blood clearance. SPECT/CT imaging with [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)8 exclusively visualized the bone tissue. These findings support the potential use of [67Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(Gla)n as excellent bone-imaging PET probes, suggesting (Gla)n peptides are superior bone-seeking carriers.

Enhanced sensitivity in Staphylococcus aureus detection: Unveiling the impact of lipid composition on the performance of carboxyfluorescein (CF)-Loaded liposome-based assay

Liposomes have emerged as versatile nanocarriers, finding applications not only in drug delivery but also in pathogen detection and diagnostics. This study aimed to enhance the sensitivity of liposomes to Staphylococcus aureus by investigating the impact of lipid composition on liposomes loaded with 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF). Liposomes were fabricated using various concentrations of cholesterol (10-40 mol%) combined with saturated phospholipids. Dynamic light scattering results revealed that higher cholesterol concentrations led to reduced liposome size, CF release (%), and entrapment efficiency (%). Liposome sensitivity towards S. aureus was evaluated by using CF-loaded liposomes with and without aptamer insertion. Liposomes with a higher cholesterol content (40 mol%) exhibited a strong ability to detect low bacterial concentrations down to 5 × 102 CFU/mL without relying solely on specific receptor-ligand recognition. However, functionalizing the liposome with an aptamer further improved the specificity and sensitivity of S. aureus detection at even lower concentrations, down to 80 CFU/mL, in the wide range of 80-107 CFU/mL. This study highlights the potential for optimizing the lipid composition of liposomes to improve their sensitivity for pathogen detection, particularly when combined with aptamer-based strategies.

Liposomes modified with a multivalent glutamic hexapeptide: A novel and effective way to promote bone targeting

It is well known that bone-related diseases are difficult to treat due to the relatively low blood flow. Therefore, targeting the delivery of drugs to bone may not only improve the therapeutic effect but also reduce the dose. To prepare liposomes, a series of novel multivalent glutamic hexapeptide derivatives were designed and synthesized as liposome ligands, which can effectively deliver paclitaxel (PTX) to bone. The liposomes were prepared and their encapsulation efficiency, particle size, stability, zeta potential, hemolysis, and release behavior were characterized. The results indicated that the coated liposomes, PTX-Glu61 -Lip, PTX-Glu62 -Lip, PTX-Glu63 -Lip, and PTX-Glu65 -Lip, showed remarkable bone-targeting activity. Compared with the other coated liposomes, PTX-Glu65 -Lip showed prominent targeting ability and anti-bone metastasis activity on the basis of in vitro and in vivo evaluations. Our study may contribute to the field of design of bone-targeting drugs.

Nanomedicine-Based Drug-Targeting in Breast Cancer: Pharmacokinetics, Clinical Progress, and Challenges

Breast cancer (BC) is a malignant neoplasm that begins in the breast tissue. After skin cancer, BC is the second most common type of cancer in women. At the end of 2040, the number of newly diagnosed BC cases is projected to increase by over 40%, reaching approximately 3 million worldwide annually. The hormonal and chemotherapeutic approaches based on conventional formulations have inappropriate therapeutic effects and suboptimal pharmacokinetic responses with nonspecific targeting actions. To overcome such issues, the use of nanomedicines, including liposomes, nanoparticles, micelles, hybrid nanoparticles, etc., has gained wider attention in the treatment of BC. Smaller dimensional nanomedicine (especially 50-200 nm) exhibited improved in vivo effectiveness, such as better tissue penetration and more effective tumor suppression through enhanced retention and permeation, as well as active targeting of the drug. Additionally, nanotechnology, which further extended and developed theranostic nanomedicine by incorporating diagnostic and imaging agents in one platform, has been applied to BC. Furthermore, hybrid and theranostic nanomedicine has also been explored for gene delivery as anticancer therapeutics in BC. Moreover, the nanocarriers' size, shape, surface charge, chemical compositions, and surface area play an important role in the nanocarriers' stability, cellular absorption, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and toxicity. Additionally, nanomedicine clinical translation for managing BC remains a slow process. However, a few cases are being used clinically, and their progress with the current challenges is addressed in this Review. Therefore, this Review extensively discusses recent advancements in nanomedicine and its clinical challenges in BC.

Cell penetrating peptides: Highlighting points in cancer therapy

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), first identified in HIV a few decades ago, deserved great attention in the last two decades; especially to support the penetration of anticancer drug means. In the drug delivery discipline, they have been involved in various approaches from mixing with hydrophobic drugs to the use of genetically conjugated proteins. The early classification as cationic and amphipathic CPPs has been extended to a few more classes such as hydrophobic and cyclic CPPs so far. Developing potential sequences utilized almost all methods of modern science: choosing high-efficiency peptides from natural protein sequences, sequence-based comparison, amino acid substitution, obtaining chemical and/or genetic conjugations, in silico approaches, in vitro analysis, animal experiments, etc. The bottleneck effect in this discipline reveals the complications that modern science faces in drug delivery research. Most CPP-based drug delivery systems (DDSs) efficiently inhibited tumor volume and weight in mice, but only in rare cases reduced their levels and continued further processes. The integration of chemical synthesis into the development of CPPs made a significant contribution and even reached the clinical stage as a diagnostic tool. But constrained efforts still face serious problems in overcoming biobarriers to reach further achievements. In this work, we reviewed the roles of CPPs in anticancer drug delivery, focusing on their amino acid composition and sequences. As the most suitable point, we relied on significant changes in tumor volume in mice resulting from CPPs. We provide a review of individual CPPs and/or their derivatives in a separate subsection.

Transferrin-Targeted Liposomes in Glioblastoma Therapy: A Review

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor, and its treatment is further complicated by the high selectivity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The scientific community is urgently seeking innovative and effective therapeutic solutions. Liposomes are a promising new tool that has shown potential in addressing the limitations of chemotherapy, such as poor bioavailability and toxicity to healthy cells. However, passive targeting strategies based solely on the physicochemical properties of liposomes have proven ineffective due to a lack of tissue specificity. Accordingly, the upregulation of transferrin receptors (TfRs) in brain tissue has led to the development of TfR-targeted anticancer therapeutics. Currently, one of the most widely adopted methods for improving drug delivery in the treatment of GBM and other neurological disorders is the utilization of active targeting strategies that specifically target this receptor. In this review, we discuss the role of Tf-conjugated liposomes in GBM therapy and present some recent studies investigating the drug delivery efficiency of Tf-liposomes; in addition, we address some challenges currently facing this approach to treatment and present some potential improvement possibilities.

Functionalized liposomes for targeted breast cancer drug delivery

Despite the exceptional progress in breast cancer pathogenesis, prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment strategies, it remains a prominent cause of female mortality worldwide. Additionally, although chemotherapies are effective, they are associated with critical limitations, most notably their lack of specificity resulting in systemic toxicity and the eventual development of multi-drug resistance (MDR) cancer cells. Liposomes have proven to be an invaluable drug delivery system but of the multitudes of liposomal systems developed every year only a few have been approved for clinical use, none of which employ active targeting. In this review, we summarize the most recent strategies in development for actively targeted liposomal drug delivery systems for surface, transmembrane and internal cell receptors, enzymes, direct cell targeting and dual-targeting of breast cancer and breast cancer-associated cells, e.g., cancer stem cells, cells associated with the tumor microenvironment, etc.

Synthesis of Novel Carborane-Containing Derivatives of RGD Peptide

Short peptides containing the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) fragment can selectively bind to integrins on the surface of tumor cells and are attractive transport molecules for the targeted delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents to tumors (for example, glioblastoma). We have demonstrated the possibility of obtaining the N- and C-protected RGD peptide containing 3-amino-closo-carborane and a glutaric acid residue as a linker fragment. The resulting carboranyl derivatives of the protected RGD peptide are of interest as starting compounds in the synthesis of unprotected or selectively protected peptides, as well as building blocks for preparation of boron-containing derivatives of the RGD peptide of a more complex structure.

Lipid-Based Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery Systems in Breast Cancer Therapy

Globally, breast cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases, inducing critical intimidation to human health. Lipid-based nanomaterials have been successfully demonstrated as drug carriers for breast cancer treatment. To date, the development of a better drug delivery system based on lipid nanomaterials is still urgent to make the treatment and diagnosis easily accessible to breast cancer patients. In a drug delivery system, lipid nanomaterials have revealed distinctive features, including high biocompatibility and efficient drug delivery. Specifically, a targeted drug delivery system based on lipid nanomaterials has inherited the advantage of optimum dosage and low side effects. In this review, insights on currently used potential lipid-based nanomaterials are collected and introduced. The review sheds light on conjugation, targeting, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical significance of lipid-based nanomaterials to treat breast cancer. Furthermore, a brighter side of lipid-based nanomaterials as future potential drug delivery systems for breast cancer therapy is discussed.

Advances in lipid-based nanocarriers for breast cancer metastasis treatment

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer affecting women worldwide, with over 2 million women diagnosed every year, and close to 8 million women currently alive following a diagnosis of BC in the last 5-years. The side effects such as chemodrug toxicity to healthy tissues and drug resistance severely affect the quality of life of BC patients. To overcome these limitations, many efforts have been made to develop nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems. Among these nanocarriers, lipid-based delivery platforms represented one of the most successful candidates for cancer therapy, improving the safety profile and therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated drugs. In this review we will mainly discuss and summarize the recent advances in such delivery systems for BC metastasis treatment, with a particular focus on targeting the common metastatic sites in bone, brain and lung. We will also provide our perspectives on lipid-based nanocarrier development for future clinical translation.

Lipid-Based Nano-Sized Cargos as a Promising Strategy in Bone Complications: A Review

Bone metastasis has been considered the fatal phase of cancers, which remains incurable and to be a challenge due to the non-availability of the ideal treatment strategy. Unlike bone cancer, bone metastasis involves the spreading of the tumor cells to the bones from different origins. Bone metastasis generally originates from breast and prostate cancers. The possibility of bone metastasis is highly attributable to its physiological milieu susceptible to tumor growth. The treatment of bone-related diseases has multiple complications, including bone breakage, reduced quality of life, spinal cord or nerve compression, and pain. However, anticancer active agents have failed to maintain desired therapeutic concentrations at the target site; hence, uptake of the drug takes place at a non-target site responsible for the toxicity at the cellular level. Interestingly, lipid-based drug delivery systems have become the center of interest for researchers, thanks to their biocompatible and bio-mimetic nature. These systems possess a great potential to improve precise bone targeting without affecting healthy tissues. The lipid nano-sized systems are not only limited to delivering active agents but also genes/peptide sequences/siRNA, bisphosphonates, etc. Additionally, lipid coating of inorganic nanomaterials such as calcium phosphate is an effective approach against uncontrollable rapid precipitation resulting in reduced colloidal stability and dispersity. This review summarizes the numerous aspects, including development, design, possible applications, challenges, and future perspective of lipid nano-transporters, namely liposomes, exosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), and lipid nanoparticulate gels to treat bone metastasis and induce bone regeneration. Additionally, the economic suitability of these systems has been discussed and different alternatives have been discussed. All in all, through this review we will try to understand how far nanomedicine is from clinical and industrial applications in bone metastasis.

Myricetin loaded nano-micelles delivery system reduces bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats through inhibition of osteoclast formation

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the therapeutic effects of phytochemicals on osteoporosis. Other studies have shown that myricetin (MY) could promote osteogenic activity and inhibit osteoclastic effect, albeit little is known about effect of MY micellar system on osteoporosis. Therefore, we sought to discuss the therapeutic effect and mechanism of MY-loaded bone-targeting micelles on osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy (OVA) in rats. The AL-P(LLA-CL)-PEG-P(LLA-CL)-MY micelles were prepared via ethanol injection method, while in vitro release study, bone targeting, pharmacokinetic studies, and the effect on proliferation of osteoblasts were investigated. Further, the therapeutic effect on osteoporosis was studied through ovariectomized rats. Compared with free MY, oral bioavailability of AL-P(LLA-CL)-PEG-P(LLA-CL)-MY micelles in rats was increased by 3.54 times. The AL-P(LLA-CL)-PEG-P(LLA-CL)-MY micelles exhibited bone targeting potential, and could significantly increase the activity of alkaline phosphatase and promote the proliferation of osteoblasts. Importantly, AL-P(LLA-CL)-PEG-P(LLA-CL)-MY micelles mainly regulated bone metabolism by inhibiting bone resorption, thereby improving the symptoms of osteoporosis in OVA rats. The AL-P(LLA-CL)-PEG-P(LLA-CL)-MY micelles substantially enhanced the oral bioavailability of MY and demonstrated good bone targeting capability, thereby suggesting its prospect as carrier for osteoporotic improvement in OVA rats.

A pH-sensitive liposome formulation of a peptidomimetic-Dox conjugate for targeting HER2 + cancer

Cancer treatment faces the challenge of selective delivery of the cytotoxic drug to the desired site of action to minimize undesired side effects. The liposomal formulation containing targeting ligand conjugated cytotoxic drug can be an effective approach to specifically deliver chemotherapeutic drugs to cancer cells that overexpress a particular cell surface receptor. This research focuses on the in vitro and in vivo studies of a peptidomimetic ligand attached doxorubicin for the HER2 positive lung and breast cancer cells transported by a pH-dependent liposomal formulation system for the enhancement of targeted anticancer treatment. The selected pH-sensitive liposome formulation showed effective pH-dependent delivery of peptidomimetic-doxorubicin conjugate at lower pH conditions mimicking tumor microenvironment (pH-6.5) compared to normal physiological conditions (pH 7.4), leading to the improvement of cell uptake. In vivo results revealed the site-specific delivery of the formulation and enhanced antitumor activity with reduced toxicity compared to the free doxorubicin (Free Dox). The results suggested that the targeting ligand conjugated cytotoxic drug with the pH-sensitive liposomal formulation is a promising approach to chemotherapy.

Recent Progress of RGD Modified Liposomes as Multistage Rocket Against Cancer

Cancer is a life-threatening disease, contributing approximately 9.4 million deaths worldwide. To address this challenge, scientific researchers have investigated molecules that could act as speed-breakers for cancer. As an abiotic drug delivery system, liposomes can hold both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, which promote a controlled release, accumulate in the tumor microenvironment, and achieve elongated half-life with an enhanced safety profile. To further improve the safety and impair the off-target effect, the surface of liposomes could be modified in a way that is easily identified by cancer cells, promotes uptake, and facilitates angiogenesis. Integrins are overexpressed on cancer cells, which upon activation promote downstream cell signaling and eventually activate specific pathways, promoting cell growth, proliferation, and migration. RGD peptides are easily recognized by integrin over expressed cells. Just like a multistage rocket, ligand anchored liposomes can be selectively recognized by target cells, accumulate at the specific site, and finally, release the drug in a specific and desired way. This review highlights the role of integrin in cancer development, so gain more insights into the phenomenon of tumor initiation and survival. Since RGD is recognized by the integrin family, the fate of RGD has been demonstrated after its binding with the acceptor’s family. The role of RGD based liposomes in targeting various cancer cells is also highlighted in the paper.

Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis: A Narrative Review of Emerging Targeted Drug Delivery Systems

Bone is one of the most common metastatic sites among breast cancer (BC) patients. Once bone metastasis is developed, patients' survival and quality of life will be significantly declined. At present, there are limited therapeutic options for BC patients with bone metastasis. Different nanotechnology-based delivery systems have been developed aiming to specifically deliver the therapeutic agents to the bone. The conjugation of targeting agents to nanoparticles can enhance the selective delivery of various payloads to the metastatic bone lesion. The current review highlights promising and emerging advanced nanotechnologies designed for targeted delivery of anticancer therapeutics, contrast agents, photodynamic and photothermal materials to the bone to achieve the goal of treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of BC bone metastasis. A better understanding of various properties of these new therapeutic approaches may open up new landscapes in medicine towards improving the quality of life and overall survival of BC patients who experience bone metastasis.

Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of the Anti-Cancer Drugs: A Review

Abstract:

Cancer is one of the main reasons for mortality worldwide. Chemotherapeutic agents have been effectively designed to increase certain patients' survival rates, but ordinarily designed chemotherapeutic agents necessarily deliver toxic chemotherapeutic drugs to healthy tissues, resulting in serious side effects. Cancer cells can often acquire drug resistance after repeated dosing of current chemotherapeutic agents, restricting their efficacy. Given such obstacles, investigators have attempted to distribute chemotherapeutic agents using targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs), especially nanotechnology-based DDSs. Lipid-Based Nanoparticles (LBNPs) are a large and complex class of substances that have been utilized to manage a variety of diseases, mostly cancer. Liposomes seem to be the most frequently employed LBNPs, owing to their high biocompatibility, bioactivity, stability, and flexibility; howbeit Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) and Non-structured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) have lately received a lot of interest. Besides that, there are several reports that concentrate on novel therapies via LBNPs to manage various forms of cancer. In the present research, the latest improvements in the application of LBNPs have been shown to deliver different therapeutic agents to cancerous cells and have been demonstrated LBNPs also can be a quite successful candidate in cancer therapy for subsequent use.

Physicochemical Characterization of Hyaluronic Acid and Chitosan Liposome Coatings

Hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan (CH) are biopolymers that are widely used in many biomedical applications and for cosmetic purposes. Their chemical properties are fundamental to them working as drug delivery systems and improving their synergistic effects. In this work, two different protocols were used to obtain zwitterionic liposomes coated with either hyaluronic acid or chitosan. Specifically, the methodologies used to perform vesicle preparation were chosen by taking into account the specific chemical properties of these two polysaccharides. In the case of chitosan, liposomes were first synthesized and then coated, whereas the coating of hyaluronic acid was achieved through lipidic film hydration in an HA aqueous solution. The size and the zeta-potential of the polysaccharide-coated liposomes were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). This approach allowed coated liposomes to be obtained with hydrodynamic diameters of 264.4 ± 12.5 and 450.3 ± 16.7 nm for HA- and CH-coated liposomes, respectively. The chemical characterization of the coated liposomal systems was obtained by surface infrared (ATR-FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. In particular, the presence of polysaccharides was confirmed by the bands assigned to amides and saccharides being in the 1500–1700 cm−1 and 800–1100 cm−1 regions, respectively. This approach allowed confirmation of the efficiency of the coating processes, evidencing the presence of HA or CH at the liposomal surface. These data were also supported by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), which provided specific assessments of surface (3–5 nm deep) composition and structure of the polysaccharide-coated liposomes. In this work, the synthesis and the physical chemistry characterization of coated liposomes with HA or CH represent an important step in improving the pharmacological properties of drug delivery systems.

Bone-targeted erythrocyte-cancer hybrid membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles for enhancing photothermal and hypoxia-activated chemotherapy of bone invasion by OSCC

Background

Jaw bones are the most common organs to be invaded by oral malignancies, such as oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), because of their special anatomical relationship. Various serious complications, such as pathological fractures and bone pain can significantly decrease the quality of life or even survival outcomes for a patient. Although chemotherapy is a promising strategy for bone invasion treatment, its clinical applications are limited by the lack of tumor-specific targeting and poor permeability in bone tissue. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a smart bone and cancer dual targeting drug delivery platform.

Results

We designed a dual targeting nano-biomimetic drug delivery vehicle Asp8[H40-TPZ/IR780@(RBC-H)] that has excellent bone and cancer targeting as well as immune escape abilities to treat malignancies in jaw bones. These nanoparticles were camouflaged with a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma WSU-HN6 cell (H) and red blood cell (RBC) hybrid membrane, which were modified by an oligopeptide of eight aspartate acid (Asp8). The spherical morphology and typical core-shell structure of biomimetic nanoparticles were observed by transmission electron microscopy. These nanoparticles exhibited the same surface proteins as those of WSU-HN6 and RBC. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy showed a greater uptake of the biomimetic nanoparticles when compared to bare H40-PEG nanoparticles. Biodistribution of the nanoparticles in vivo revealed that they were mainly localized in the area of bone invasion by WSU-HN6 cells. Moreover, the Asp8[H40-TPZ/IR780@(RBC-H)] nanoparticles exhibited effective cancer growth inhibition properties when compared to other TPZ or IR780 formulations.

Conclusions

Asp8[H40-TPZ/IR780@(RBC-H)] has bone targeting, tumor-homing and immune escape abilities, therefore, it is an efficient multi-targeting drug delivery platform for achieving precise anti-cancer therapy during bone invasion.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-021-01088-9.

Redox-responsive glycosylated combretastatin A-4 derivative as novel tubulin polymerization inhibitor for glioma and drug delivery

Combretastatin A-4 (CA4), a tubulin inhibitor, binds to the colchicine site of tubulin, inhibits tubulin polymerization, and leads to the apoptosis of tumor cells. However, the poor hydrophilicity and blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration ability of CA4 hampers its application in the treatment of glioma. In this study, a novel combretastatin A-4 derivative (CA4D) was designed and developed, which was further conjugated with glucose via disulfide-bond-bridged (CA4D-SS-Glu) to enhance the BBB penetration capacity. The obtained CA4D-SS-Glu conjugate displayed a suitable water partition coefficient and the superior ability across BBB in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the CA4D-SS-Glu exhibited rapid redox-responsive drug release in the presence of glutathione, enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity, and cell apoptosis. Our data further confirmed that CA4D-SS-Glu inhibited proliferation, and restrained migration via affecting microtubule stabilization. Additionally, the conjugate also showed the highest antiproliferative and antitumor action on glioma in vivo as compared to CA4D and CA4. Taken together, the novel CA4D-SS-Glu conjugate possess improved physicochemical property and BBB penetration ability, reduction triggered release of CA4D, and efficient antiproliferative activity. These results provided a novel and effective entry to the treatment of glioma.

KIF2C promotes the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies with high mortality and morbidity rates. In recent years, HCC targeted therapy has gained increasing attention. Due to the heterogeneity and high metastasis of HCC, more effective therapeutic targets are needed. Kinesin family member 2C (KIF2C), also known as mitotic centromere-associated kinesin, is a microtubule-based motor protein which is involved in a variety of important cellular processes, such as mitosis. The effects of KIF2C on cancer progression and development have been widely studied; however, its potential effects on HCC remains unclear. In the present study, high expression of KIF2C in human HCC tissues was demonstrated using The Cancer Genome Atlas database and immunohistochemistry assays. KIF2C expression was associated with HCC prognosis, including overall survival and disease-free survival. KIF2C expression was also associated with clinical pathological characteristics including the number of tumor nodes (P=0.015) and tumor size (P=0.009). KIF2C knockdown inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro, confirmed by MTT and colony formation assays, and suppressed tumor growth in mice which was confirmed by a xenograft mouse model. Together, the results suggested that KIF2C may serve as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Liposomes: Ideal drug delivery systems in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) has been recognized as the most common type of cancer in females across the world, accounting for 12% of each cancer case. In this sense, better diagnosis and screening have been thus far proven to contribute to higher survival rates. Moreover, traditional (or standard) chemotherapy is still known as one of the several prominent therapeutic options available, though it suffers from unsuitable cell selectivity, severe consequences, as well as resistance. In this regard, nanobased drug delivery systems (DDSs) are likely to provide promising grounds for BC treatment. Liposomes are accordingly effective nanosystems, having the benefits of multiple formulations verified to treat different diseases. Such systems possess specific features, including smaller size, biodegradability, hydrophobic/hydrophilic characteristics, biocompatibility, lower toxicity, as well as immunogenicity, which can all lead to considerable efficacy in treating various types of cancer. As chemotherapy uses drugs to target tumors, generates higher drug concentrations in tumors, which can provide for their slow release, and enhances drug stability, it can be improved via liposomes in DDSs for BC treatment. Therefore, the present study aims to review the existing issues regarding BC treatment and discuss liposome-based targeting in order to overcome barriers to conventional drug therapy.

cRGDyK-modified procaine liposome inhibits the proliferation and motility of glioma cells via the ERK/p38MAPK pathway

Glioma is a common type of primary tumor in the central nervous system. Glioma has been increasing in incidence yearly and is a serious threat to human life and health. The aim of the present study was to prepare liposomes for enhanced penetration of the blood-brain barrier and targeting of glioma. A procaine-loaded liposome modified with the cyclic pentapeptide cRGDyK (Pro/cRGDyK-L) was designed and developed. The particle size, ζ potential, encapsulation efficiency, release profile, stability and hemolysis of Pro/cRGDyK-L were characterized in vitro. The targeting and antitumor effects of Pro/cRGDyK-L were also investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results suggested that the cRGDyK peptide significantly facilitated the ability of liposomes to transfer procaine across the BBB and improved the cellular uptake of procaine by C6 glioma cells. The results further demonstrated that Pro/cRGDyK-L strongly suppressed cell motility, stimulated apoptosis and induced cell cycle arrest. The findings further confirmed that Pro/cRGDyK-L exhibited superior antitumor effects by targeting the ERK/p38MAPK pathway and thereby suppressed tumor growth in mice. In conclusion, the present study indicated the potential of Pro/cRGDyK-L as a means to provide improved therapeutic effects on glioma through the ERK/p38MAPK pathway.

Cyclin B2 (CCNB2) Stimulates the Proliferation of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive type of breast cancer. Currently, targeting therapy makes great advances for the treatment of TNBC, whereas more effective therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Cyclin B2 (CCNB2), which belongs to B-type cyclins, is known as a cell cycle regulator. CCNB2 is synthesized at G1 phase in cancer cells and downregulated at anaphase. The defects of CCNB2 led to the abnormal cell cycle and tumorigenesis. Though there are wide effects of CCNB2 on multiple types of tumors, the potential role of CCNB2 in TNBC progression is still unclear. Herein, we found that CCNB2 was highly expressed in human TNBC tissues and correlated with the prognosis and clinical pathological features including tumor size (p = 0.022^∗) and pTNM stage (p = 0.021^∗) of patients with TNBC. CCNB2 could promote the proliferation of TNBC cells in vitro and in mice. Our findings therefore confirmed the involvement of CCNB2 in TNBC progression and provided the evidence that CCNB2 could serve as a promising molecular target of TNBC.

Lidocaine liposome modified with folic acid suppresses the proliferation and motility of glioma cells via targeting the PI3K/AKT pathway

Glioma is life-threatening tumor of the central nervous system. Although lidocaine is usually used as local anesthetic, it also has antitumor effects. However, its clinical application in glioma is hampered by limited distribution to the brain. The aim of the present study was to enhance the ability of lidocaine to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to target glioma and investigate its antitumor mechanism. A folic acid (FA)-modified lidocaine-carrying liposome (Lid-FA-Lip) was prepared, and its particle size, ζ potential, encapsulation efficiency, release profile stability and hemolytic effect were characterized in vitro. The targeting capacity and antitumor activities of Lid-FA-Lip were also investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results indicated that the modification of liposomes with FA significantly improved the ability of lidocaine to cross the BBB in an in vitro model and increased its uptake by U87 cells. Additionally, Lid-FA-Lip significantly suppressed the motility of U87 glioma cells and stimulated apoptosis. Furthermore, the results confirmed that Lid-FA-Lip targeted the PI3K/AKT pathway and suppressed the growth of glioma xenografts in mice. In summary, the study demonstrated that Lid-FA-Lip is a promising liposomal formulation of lidocaine that may provide improved therapeutic effects on glioma, mediated via the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Dual-Targeting and Stimuli-Triggered Liposomal Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment

The delivery of chemotherapeutics to solid tumors using smart drug delivery systems (SDDSs) takes advantage of the unique physiology of tumors (i.e., disordered structure, leaky vasculature, abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM), and limited lymphatic drainage) to deliver anticancer drugs with reduced systemic side effects. Liposomes are the most promising of such SDDSs and have been well investigated for cancer therapy. To improve the specificity, bioavailability, and anticancer efficacy of liposomes at the diseased sites, other strategies such as targeting ligands and stimulus-sensitive liposomes have been developed. This review highlights relevant surface functionalization techniques and stimuli-mediated drug release for enhanced delivery of anticancer agents at tumor sites, with a special focus on dual functionalization and design of multistimuli responsive liposomes.

Actin-binding protein anillin promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in mice

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common type of tumor with high mortality worldwide. Investigations associated with the molecular etiology of HCC and screening novel therapeutic targets are still urgently in need. Anillin (ANLN), as a type of evolutionarily conserved actin-binding protein, is involved in multiple cellular processes. ANLN widely affected the progression and metastasis of several types of cancer, and its overexpression was frequently demonstrated in previous studies. The present study demonstrated high expression of ANLN in human HCC tissues, which was also associated the prognosis of patients with HCC. The associations between ANLN expression and the clinicopathological features were determined, including the number of tumor nodes (P=0.011) and tumor size (P=0.003) of patients with HCC. It was found that ANLN promoted cell proliferation, invasion and migration of HCC cells in vitro, and affected tumor growth in vivo. Therefore, ANLN is suggested as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Nanotechnology-Based Strategies to Evaluate and Counteract Cancer Metastasis and Neoangiogenesis

Cancer metastasis is the major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. It represents one of the greatest challenges in cancer therapy, both because of the ability of metastatic cells to spread into different organs, and because of the consequent heterogeneity that characterizes primary and metastatic tumors. Nanomaterials can potentially be used as targeting or detection agents owing to unique chemical and physical features that allow tailored and tunable theranostic functions. This review highlights nanomaterial-based approaches in the detection and treatment of cancer metastasis, with a special focus on the evaluation of nanostructure effects on cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment.

Alendronate-functionalized hypoxia-responsive polymeric micelles for targeted therapy of bone metastatic prostate cancer

Bone metastasis is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death and remains incurable in spite of great efforts. Bone-targeted nanoparticle-based drug carriers can overcome the difficulties in delivering therapeutic agents to metastatic bone and endowing them with a stimuli-responsive feature for controllable drug release can further maximize their therapeutic outcome. In light of hypoxic microenvironment of bone metastasis, we herein reported a bone-targeted and hypoxia-responsive polymeric micelle system for effective treatment of bone metastatic prostate cancer. The micelles were self-assembled from a polyethylene glycol and poly-l-lysine based copolymer using alendronate as a bone-targeted moiety and azobenzene as a hypoxia-responsive linker, showing a high affinity to metastatic bone and a high sensitivity in responding to hypoxia in vitro. In vivo studies further showed that after a selective accumulation in metastatic bone, the micelles could respond to hypoxic bone metastasis for rapid drug release to an effective therapeutic dosage. As a result, the micelles could suppress tumor growth in bone and inhibit bone destruction by inhibiting osteoclast activity and promoting osteoblast activity, achieving an enhanced therapeutic outcome with relieved bone pain and prolonged survival time. Bone-targeted and hypoxia-responsive nanocarriers therefore represent a promising advancement for treating bone metastasis. To our best knowledge, it might be the first example of the application of hypoxia-responsive nanocarriers in treating bone metastasis.

KIF4A promotes the development of bladder cancer by transcriptionally activating the expression of CDCA3

Bladder cancer (BC) is among the most common urinary system tumors with a high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite advancements being made in the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer, targeted therapy remains the most promising treatment, and novel therapeutic targets are urgently required in to improve the outcomes of patients with BC. Kinesin family member 4A (KIF4A) is a plus-end directed motor protein involved in the regulation of multiple cellular processes, such as mitosis and axon growth. Notably, KIF4A plays important roles in tumor growth and progression, and its expression is associated with the prognosis of several types of cancer. However, the potential role and molecular mechanisms of KIF4A in bladder cancer development remain unclear. The present study demonstrated that KIF4A was highly expressed in human BC tissues, and its expression was associated with patient clinicopathological characteristics, such as tumor stage (P=0.012) and with the prognosis of patients with BC. It was further found that KIF4A promoted the cell proliferation of bladder cancer both in vitro and in vivo. On the whole, the data presented herein provide evidence that KIF4A promotes the development of BC through the transcriptional activation of the expression of CDCA3. The present study indicates the involvement of KIF4A in the progression of BC and suggests that KIF4A may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of BC.

Lipidated Peptidomimetic Ligand-Functionalized HER2 Targeted Liposome as Nano-Carrier Designed for Doxorubicin Delivery in Cancer Therapy

The therapeutic index of chemotherapeutic agents can be improved by the use of nano-carrier-mediated chemotherapeutic delivery. Ligand-targeted drug delivery can be used to achieve selective and specific delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to cancer cells. In this study, we prepared a peptidomimetic conjugate (SA-5)-tagged doxorubicin (Dox) incorporated liposome (LP) formulation (SA-5-Dox-LP) to evaluate the targeted delivery potential of SA-5 in human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) overexpressed non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and breast cancer cell lines. The liposome was prepared using thin lipid film hydration and was characterized for particle size, encapsulation efficiency, cell viability, and targeted cellular uptake. In vivo evaluation of the liposomal formulation was performed in a mice model of NSCLC. The cell viability studies revealed that targeted SA-5-Dox-LP showed better antiproliferative activity than non-targeted Dox liposomes (Dox-LP). HER2-targeted liposome delivery showed selective cellular uptake compared to non-targeted liposomes on cancer cells. In vitro drug release studies indicated that Dox was released slowly from the formulations over 24 h, and there was no difference in Dox release between Dox-LP formulation and SA-5-Dox-LP formulation. In vivo studies in an NSCLC model of mice indicated that SA-5-Dox-LP could reduce the lung tumors significantly compared to vehicle control and Dox. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the SA-5-Dox-LP liposome has the potential to increase therapeutic efficiency and targeted delivery of Dox in HER2 overexpressing cancer.

CENPF promotes papillary thyroid cancer progression by mediating cell proliferation and apoptosis

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTHCA) accounts for ~85% cases of thyroid cancer and exhibits high incidence. Targeted therapy is an effective method to combat this disease; however, novel therapeutic targets are required. Centromere protein F (CENPF), a member of centromere proteins and a transient kinetochore protein, regulates various cellular processes such as cell migration and mitosis, and its upregulation has been observed in multiple types of cancer, including breast cancer and gastric cancer. However, the potential role of CENPF in PTHCA progression is remains unclear. The results of the current study demonstrated that CENPF expression was enhanced in human PTHCA tissues through IHC assays. Furthermore, the expression of CENPF was correlated with the prognosis and the clinicopathological features, including T stage (P=0.021) and intraglandular dissemination (P=0.042) in patients with PTHCA. CENPF regulated the proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of PTHCA cells in vitro, which was confirmed through colony formation, MTT and flow cytometry assays, and affected tumor growth in vivo in mice. In conclusion, the current study reported the involvement of CENPF in PTHCA progression and provided a promising therapeutic target for PTHCA treatment.

Actin-binding protein Anillin promotes the progression of gastric cancer in vitro and in mice

BACKGROUND

To detect the expression levels of actin-binding protein anillin (ANLN) in human gastric cancer (GC) tissues and explore the possible involvement of ANLN in GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

METHODS

The bioinformation analysis was performed in TCGA database to explore the expression of ANLN in human GC tissues and the difference of ANLN expression between multiple types of cancers. IHC assays and clinical pathological analysis were performed to confirm ANLN expression and its correlation with clinical features of GC patients. Colony formation, CCK-8, wound closure, and transwell assays were performed to detect its effects on GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Tumor growth was also measured using a xenograft animal model.

RESULTS

We found the high expression of ANLN in human GC tissues based on the results from TCGA database and IHC staining. We further noticed ANLN depletion resulted in the inhibition of GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Our data further confirmed that ANLN contributed to tumor growth of GC cells in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirmed the involvement of ANLN in GC progression and thought ANLN could serve as a promising therapeutic target for GC.

Peptide-functionalized liposomes as therapeutic and diagnostic tools for cancer treatment

Clinically efficacious medication in anticancer therapy has been successfully designed with liposome-based nanomedicine. The liposomal formulation in cancer drug delivery can be facilitated with a functionalized peptide that mediates the specific drug delivery opportunities with increased drug penetrability, specific accumulation in the targeted site, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. This review aims to focus on recent advances in peptide-functionalized liposomal formulation techniques in cancer diagnosis and treatment regarding recently published literature. It also will highlight different aspects of novel liposomal formulation techniques that incorporate surface functionalization with peptides for better anticancer effect and current challenges in peptide-functionalized liposomal drug formulation.

Identification of AK4 as a novel therapeutic target for serous ovarian cancer

The present study aimed to assess the expression level of adenylate kinase 4 (AK4) in human serous ovarian cancer (SOC) tissues and investigate the possible involvement of AK4 in SOC progression. Bioinformatics analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays were performed to assess the expression level of AK4 in human SOC tissues. Clinical pathological features of patients with SOC were also evaluated. Colony formation, MTT, wound healing and Transwell assays were conducted to investigate the effects of AK4 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of SOC cells in vitro. Mouse xenograft and lung metastasis models were developed to evaluate the effects of AK4 on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. High expression levels of AK4 were identified in human SOC tissues compared with in normal tissues according to TCGA database and the results of IHC assays. A contribution of AK4 to tumor growth and metastasis of SOC cells in vivo was also shown. The present study confirmed the involvement of AK4 in the progression of SOC, and the results indicated that AK4 could serve as a novel therapeutic target for SOC treatment.

CEACAM5 stimulates the progression of non-small-cell lung cancer by promoting cell proliferation and migration

Objective

To detect the expression of CEA-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (CEACAM5) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and explore its function in the progression and development of NSCLC.

Methods

qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect CEACAM5 expression in human NSCLC tissues and cell lines. The correlation between CEACAM5 expression and the clinicopathological features of patients with NSCLC was also investigated. MTT, colony formation, wound healing, and immunoblot assays were performed to detect the functions of CEACAM5 in NSCLC cells in vitro, and immunoblotting was used to detect the effects of CEACAM5 on p38–Smad2/3 signaling.

Results

CEACAM5 expression was elevated in human NSCLC tissues and cells. We further found that CEACAM expression was correlated with clinicopathological features including T division, lymph invasion, and histological grade in patients with NSCLC. The in vitro assays confirmed that CEACAM5 depletion inhibited the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells by activating p38–Smad2/3 signaling. We verified the involvement of CEACAM5 in the suppression of NSCLC tumor growth in mice.

Conclusion

CEACAM5 stimulated the progression of NSCLC by promoting cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. CEACAM5 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of NSCLC.

SMYD3 promotes colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) progression by mediating cell proliferation and apoptosis

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a type of common malignant tumor originating in the digestive tract. Recently, targeted therapy has had significant effects on the treatment of COAD. However, more effective molecular targets need to be developed. SET and MYND domain-containing protein 3 (SMYD3) is a type of methyltransferase which methylates histone and non-histone proteins. The effects of SMYD3 on cancer progression and metastasis have been widely revealed. However, its possible role in COAD remains unclear. The current study demonstrated that SMYD3 expression was upregulated in human COAD tissues via analyzing the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the immunohistochemical assays. Furthermore, the expression of SMYD3 was correlated with prognosis and tumor stage (P=0.038) in patients with COAD. Colony formation, MTT, FCM assays and animal assays indicated SMYD3 affected the proliferation, apoptosis and the cell cycle of COAD cells in vitro and promoted tumor growth in mice in vivo. In summary, the results demonstrated the effects of SMYD3 on COAD progression and we hypothesized that SMYD3 is a novel molecular target for COAD treatment.

Bone-targeting polymer vesicles for simultaneous imaging and effective malignant bone tumor treatment

We present a bone-targeting polymer vesicle with excellent single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging capability and high antitumor drug delivery efficiency as an integrated platform for the simultaneous diagnosing and treatment of malignant bone tumors. This polymer vesicle can be self-assembled from poly(ε-caprolactone)₆₇-b-poly[(L-glutamic acid)₆-stat-(L-glutamic acid-alendronic acid)₁₆] (PCL₆₇-b-P[Glu₆-stat-(Glu-ADA)₁₆]), directly in water without the aid of a cosolvent. SPECT/CT dynamically tracked the drug distribution in the bone tumor rabbit models, and the tumor size was significantly reduced from >2.0 cm³ to <0.6 cm³ over 11 days. The pathological analysis demonstrated obvious necrosis and apoptosis of the tumor cells. Overall, this bone-targeting polymer vesicle provides us with a new platform for the combination of real-time diagnosis and therapy of malignant bone tumors.

ASPM predicts poor prognosis and regulates cell proliferation in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most common malignancies with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. In recent years, it is of great importance to investigate the molecular etiology associated with of BCa. Abnormal spindle-like microcephaly associated gene (ASPM) is the human orthologous of the Drosophila abnormal spindle (asp) and the most commonly mutated gene of autosomal recessive primary microcephaly. ASPM is overexpressed in several types of cancer cell lines and affects the progression and development of multiple types of cancers. However, its possible role in BCa progression is still unclear. Herein, we demonstrated the possible involvement of ASPM in the progression of BCa. We noticed that high expression of ASPM was positively associated with the poor prognosis. Its knockdown could significantly inhibit the proliferation of BCa cells in vitro and in mice. Therefore, we thought ASPM could act as a promising therapeutic target for BCa.

MiR-375-3p regulates rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell activity by targeting Notch1 during hypoxia

Objective

Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMECs) exhibit specific responses in adaptation to hypoxia. However, the mechanisms regulating PMEC activities during hypoxia remain unclear. This study investigated the potential involvement of a microRNA, miR-375-3p, in the regulation of PMEC activities.

Methods

Primary PMECs were isolated from rats. The expression levels of miR-375-3p and Notch1 in the PMECs were detected by quantitative PCR and western blotting. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore the transcriptional regulation of Notch1 by miR-375-3p. The proliferation and chemotaxis of the PMECs were measured with the Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell invasion assays, respectively. Additionally, the capacity of hypoxia-treated PMECs for angiogenesis and inflammatory response was determined with tube formation assays and ELISA, respectively.

Results

The expression of miR-375-3p and Notch1 in the PMECs was significantly down-regulated and up-regulated during hypoxia, respectively. The results demonstrated that miR-375-3p directly targets Notch1 in PMECs, thereby suppressing the transcriptional expression of Notch1. It was further revealed that miR-375-3p regulates the proliferation, chemotaxis, angiogenesis, and inflammatory response of PMECs.

Conclusions

Our findings revealed the important role of miR-375-3p in the regulation of PMEC function and suggest the potential involvement of miR-375-3p in the development of lung diseases.

Developmental Strategies of Curcumin Solid Dispersions for Enhancing Bioavailability

BACKGROUND

Although curcumin has been demonstrated to be beneficial in treating various diseases, its low solubility, chemical stability and bioavailability limit its application, especially in cancer therapy.

METHODS

Solid dispersions have been utilized in the last few decades to improve the bioavailability and stability of curcumin.

RESULTS

However, there is a lack of summaries and classifications of the methods for preparing curcumin with this technology. The current review aims to overview the strategies used to develop solid dispersions containing curcumin for improving drug delivery. The classification of techniques for creating solid dispersions for curcumin was summarized, including systems for protecting curcumin degradation despite its chemical stability. The applications of advanced nanotechnologies in recent studies of solid dispersions were also discussed to explain the roles of nanoparticles in formulations.

CONCLUSION

This overview of recent developments in formulating solid dispersions for improving curcumin bioavailability will contribute to future studies of curcumin for clinical development.

Lactoferrin/Hyaluronic acid double-coated lignosulfonate nanoparticles of quinacrine as a controlled release biodegradable nanomedicine targeting pancreatic cancer

Quinacrine is an antimalarial drug that was repositioned for treatment of cancer. This is the first work to enhance quinacrine activity and minimize its associated hepatotoxicity via loading into bio-degradable, bio-renewable lignosulfonate nanoparticles. Particles were appraised for treatment of pancreatic cancer, one of the most life-threatening tumors with a five-year survival estimate. Optimum nanocomposites prepared by polyelectrolyte interaction exhibited a particle size of 138 nm, a negative surface charge (-28 mV) and a pH dependent release of the drug in an acidic environment. Ligands used for active targeting (lactoferrin and hyaluronic acid) were added to nanoparticles' surface via layer by layer coating technique. The highest anticancer activity on PANC-1 cells was demonstrated with dual active targeted particles (3-fold decrease in IC₅₀) along with an increased ability to inhibit migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. In vivo studies revealed that elaborated nanoparticles particles showed the highest tumor volume reduction with enhanced survival without any toxicity on major organs. In conclusion, the elaborated nanoparticles could be considered as a promising targeted nanotherapy for treatment of pancreatic cancer with higher efficacy& survival rate and lower organ toxicity.

Recent advances in bone-targeted therapy

The coordination between bone resorption and bone formation plays an essential role in keeping the mass and microstructure integrity of the bone in a steady state. However, this balance can be disturbed in many pathological conditions of the bone. Nowadays, the classical modalities for treating bone-related disorders are being challenged by severe obstacles owing to low tissue selectivity and considerable safety concerns. Moreover, as a highly mineralized tissue, the bone shows innate rigidity, low permeability, and reduced blood flow, features that further hinder the effective treatment of bone diseases. With the development of bone biology and precision medicine, one novel concept of bone-targeted therapy appears to be promising, with improved therapeutic efficacy and minimized systematic toxicity. Here we focus on the recent advances in bone-targeted treatment based on the unique biology of bone tissues. We summarize commonly used bone-targeting moieties, with an emphasis on bisphosphonates, tetracyclines, and biomimetic bone-targeting moieties. We also introduce potential bone-targeting strategies aimed at the bone matrix and major cell types in the bone. Based on these bone-targeting moieties and strategies, we discuss the potential applications of targeted therapy to treat bone diseases. We expect that this review will put together useful insights to help with the search for therapeutic efficacy in bone-related conditions.

Nanomedicine in treatment of breast cancer - A challenge to conventional therapy

Amongst the various types of cancer, breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease and known as the leading cause of death among women globally. The extensive interdisciplinary investigation in nanotechnology and cancer biomedical research has been evolved over the years for its effective treatment. However, the advent of chemotherapeutic resistance in breast cancer is one of the major confront researchers are facing in achieving successful chemotherapy. Research in the area of cancer nanotechnology over the years have now been revolutionized through the development of smart polymers, lipids, inorganic materials and eventually their surface-engineering with targeting ligands. Moreover, nanotechnology further extended and brings in the notice the new theranostic approach which combining the therapy and imaging simultaneously. Currently, research is being envisaged in the area of novel nano-pharmaceutical design viz. liposome, nanotubes, polymer lipid hybrid system, which focuses to make the chemotherapy curative and long-lasting. In this review, we aimed to discuss the recent advancement of different surface-engineered/targeted nanomedicines that improved the drug efficacy in breast cancer.