Targeted H+-Triggered Bubble-Generating Nanosystems for Effective Therapy in Cancer Cells

Dual-targeted delivery system using hollow silica nanoparticles with H+-triggered bubble generating characteristic coated with hyaluronic acid and AS1411 for cancer therapy

OBJECTIVE

Herein, a dual-targeting delivery system using mesoporous silica nanoparticles with hollow structures (HMSNs) was developed for the specific delivery of epirubicin (EPI) to cancer cells and introducing a H+-triggered bubble generating nanosystem (BGNS). HMSNs containing EPI are covered by hyaluronic acid (HA) shell and AS1411 aptamer to create the BGNS-EPI-HA-Apt complex, which is highly selective against CD44 marker and nucleolin overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells.

METHODS

MTT assay compared the cytotoxicity of different treatments in CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells as well as 4T1 (murine mammary carcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cells. The internalization of Epi was assessed by flow cytometry along with fluorescence imaging. In vivo studies were conducted on BALB/c mice bearing a tumor from 4T1 cell line where monitoring included measuring tumor volume, mouse weight changes over time alongside mortality rate; accumulation levels for Epi within organs were also measured during this process.

RESULTS

The collected data illustrated that BGNS-EPI-HA-Apt complex controlled the release of EPI in a sustained method. Afterward, receptor-mediated internalization via nucleolin and CD44 was verified in 4T1 and MCF-7 cells using fluorescence microscopy assay and flow cytometry analysis. The results of tumor inhibitory effect study exhibited that BGNS-EPI-HA-Apt complex decreased off-target effect and improved on-target effects because of its targeting ability.

CONCLUSION

The data acquired substantiates that HA-surface modified HMSNs functionalized with aptamers possess significant potential as a focused platform for efficient transportation of anticancer agents to neoplastic tissues.

Recent developments in mesoporous polydopamine-derived nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics

Polydopamine (PDA), which is derived from marine mussels, has excellent potential in early diagnosis of diseases and targeted drug delivery owing to its good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and photothermal conversion. However, when used as a solid nanoparticle, the application of traditional PDA is restricted because of the low drug-loading and encapsulation efficiencies of hydrophobic drugs. Nevertheless, the emergence of mesoporous materials broaden our horizon. Mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) has the characteristics of a porous structure, simple preparation process, low cost, high specific surface area, high light-to-heat conversion efficiency, and excellent biocompatibility, and therefore has gained considerable interest. This review provides an overview of the preparation methods and the latest applications of MPDA-based nanodrug delivery systems (chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy, photothermal therapy combined with chemotherapy, photothermal therapy combined with immunotherapy, photothermal therapy combined with photodynamic/chemodynamic therapy, and cancer theranostics). This review is expected to shed light on the multi-strategy antitumor therapy applications of MPDA-based nanodrug delivery systems.

The pH-triggered drug release and simultaneous carrier decomposition of effervescent SiO2-drug-Na2CO3 composite nanoparticles: to improve the antitumor activity of hydrophobic drugs

To achieve a better release effect of hydrophobic drugs and spontaneous nanocarrier disintegration by dissolution as well as the CO₂ production of Na₂CO₃ further, improving the therapeutic effect of hydrophobic drugs, and thereby avoiding the accumulation of the nanocarrier in vivo to produce organ toxicity, effervescent SiO₂–drug–Na₂CO₃ composite nanoparticles (ESNs) were prepared in this study using a tetraethyl orthosilicate hydrolysis method. Sodium carbonate was used as the effervescent disintegrant to respond to the acidic microenvironment of the tumor. The properties of ESNs were assessed and TEM images were taken to verify the self-disintegration characteristics of nanocarrier materials. The in vitro anticancer efficacy of ESNs was evaluated in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. ESNs loaded with hydrophobic drugs were successfully constructed, and showed high entrapment efficiency and drug loading. The nanocarrier successfully achieved self-disintegration in a PBS environment of pH value at 5.0, and showed excellent antitumor effect in vitro. ESNs can effectively load hydrophobic drugs and achieve self-disintegration, while avoiding toxicity from the accumulation of the nanocarrier. These results suggest that ESNs are a promising drug delivery system capable of maximizing the anticancer therapeutic efficacy and minimizing the systemic toxicity.

Effervescent SiO₂–drug–Na₂CO₃ composite nanoparticles were prepared in this study using a tetraethyl orthosilicate hydrolysis method to achieve a better release effect of hydrophobic drugs and spontaneous nanocarrier disintegration by dissolution.

A siramesine-loaded metal organic framework nanoplatform for overcoming multidrug resistance with efficient cancer cell targeting

ZIF-8@Sira/FA induces the cancer cells apoptosis and then eliminates cancer cells from the inside through the lysosomal death pathway.

Molecular determinants as therapeutic targets in cancer chemotherapy: An update

It is well known that cancer cells are heterogeneous in nature and very distinct from their normal counterparts. Commonly these cancer cells possess different and complementary metabolic profile, microenvironment and adopting behaviors to generate more ATPs to fulfill the requirement of high energy that is further utilized in the production of proteins and other essentials required for cell survival, growth, and proliferation. These differences create many challenges in cancer treatments. On the contrary, such situations of metabolic differences between cancer and normal cells may be expected a promising strategy for treatment purpose. In this article, we focus on the molecular determinants of oncogene-specific sub-organelles such as potential metabolites of mitochondria (reactive oxygen species, apoptotic proteins, cytochrome c, caspase 9, caspase 3, etc.), endoplasmic reticulum (unfolded protein response, PKR-like ER kinase, C/EBP homologous protein, etc.), nucleus (nucleolar phosphoprotein, nuclear pore complex, nuclear localization signal), lysosome (microenvironment, etc.) and plasma membrane phospholipids, etc. that might be exploited for the targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs for therapeutic benefits. This review will help to understand the various targets of subcellular organelles at molecular levels. In the future, this molecular level understanding may be combined with the genomic profile of cancer for the development of the molecularly guided or personalized therapeutics for complete eradication of cancer.

Application of polydopamine in tumor targeted drug delivery system and its drug release behavior

Inspired by the bionics of marine mussels, polydopamine (PDA), a new polymer with unique physicochemical properties was discovered. Due to its simple preparation, good biocompatibility, unique drug-loading methods, PDA has attracted tremendous attentions in field of drug delivery and imaging, and the combination of chemotherapy and other therapies or diagnostic methods, such as photothermotherapy (PTT), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), etc. As an excellent drug carrier in tumor targeted drug delivery system, the drug release behavior of drug-loaded PDA-based nanoparticles is also an important factor to be considered in the establishment of drug delivery systems. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the various applications of PDA in tumor targeted drug delivery systems and to gain insight into the release behavior of the drug-loaded PDA-based nanocarriers. A sufficient understanding and discussion of these aspects is expected to provide a better way to design more rational and effective PDA-based tumor nano-targeted delivery systems. Apart from this, the prospects for the future application of PDA in this field and some unique insights are listed at the end of the article.