Novel dual VES phospholipid self-assembled liposomes with an extremely high drug loading efficiency

Targeted liposomes for combined delivery of artesunate and temozolomide to resistant glioblastoma

The effective treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) is a great challenge because of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the growing resistance to single-agent therapeutics. Targeted combined co-delivery of drugs could circumvent these challenges; however, the absence of more effective combination drug delivery strategies presents a potent barrier. Here, a unique combination ApoE-functionalized liposomal nanoplatform based on artesunate-phosphatidylcholine (ARTPC) encapsulated with temozolomide (ApoE-ARTPC@TMZ) was presented that can successfully co-deliver dual therapeutic agents to TMZ-resistant U251-TR GBM in vivo. Examination in vitro showed ART-mediated inhibition of DNA repair through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade, which also improved GBM sensitivity to TMZ, resulting in enhanced synergistic DNA damage and induction of apoptosis. In assessing BBB permeation, the targeted liposomes were able to effectively traverse the BBB through low-density lipoprotein family receptors (LDLRs)-mediated transcytosis and achieved deep intracranial tumor penetration. More importantly, the targeted combination liposomes resulted in a significant decrease of U251-TR glioma burden in vivo that, in concert, substantially improved the survival of mice. Additionally, by lowering the effective dosage of TMZ, the combination liposomes reduced systemic TMZ-induced toxicity, highlighting the preclinical potential of this novel integrative strategy to deliver combination therapies to brain tumors.

Vitamin E succinate with multiple functions: A versatile agent in nanomedicine-based cancer therapy and its delivery strategies

Vitamin E succinate (VES), a succinic acid ester of vitamin E, is one of the most effective anticancer compounds of the vitamin E family. VES can inhibit tumor growth by multiple pathways mainly involve tumor proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction, and metastasis prevention. More importantly, the mitochondrial targeting and damaging property of VES endows it with great potential in exhibiting synergetic effect with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR). Given the lipophilicity of VES that hinders its bioavailability and therapeutic activity, nanotechnology with multiple advantages has been widely explored to deliver VES and opened up new avenues for its in vivo application. This review aims to introduce the anticancer mechanisms of VES and summarize its delivery strategies using nano-drug delivery systems. Specifically, VES-based combination therapy for synergetic anticancer effect, MDR-reversal, and oral chemotherapy improvement are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and perspectives are discussed.

A DNA Nanotube-Peptide Biocomplex for mRNA Detection and Its Application in Cancer Diagnosis and Targeted Therapy

A biocomplex of DNA nanotube-peptide, consisting of six concatenated DNA strands, three locked DNA strands, and a cell-penetrating peptide, is reported. The barrel-structured DNA nanotube-peptide was successfully applied as a codrug-delivery system for targeting cancer therapy. The mucin 1 protein (MUC-1) aptamer is part of a DNA nanotube that can specifically recognize MUC-1 protein on the surface of MCF-7 cells. Cyclo (Arg-Gly-Asp-d-Phe-Lys; cRGD), as a cell-penetrating peptide, facilitates recruitment and uptake of targeting drugs by binding to integrin receptors (α_v β₃ ) of the cytomembrane surface. Anticancer drugs doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PTX) were loaded into the capsulated DNA nanotube-peptide (CDNP), which was used as codrug cargo models. The as-prepared biocomplex can be utilized not only to deliver drugs, but also to achieve anticancer effects in vivo. Experimental results suggested that the treatment efficacy of the codrug delivery platform (CDNP/DOX/PTX) was better than that of a single-drug delivery platform (CDNP/DOX or CDNP/PTX). This system, which is composed of DNA strands and peptide, has good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Furthermore, the system can readily detect target mRNA in MCF-7 cells in vitro. The detection limits of mRNA are 9.7×10^-8 and 1.8×10^-8  m with CDNP/DOX and CDNP/PTX-FITC (FITC=fluorescein isothiocyanate), respectively, as probes.