Development of a stable and high loaded liposomal formulation of lapatinib with enhanced therapeutic effects for breast cancer in combination with Caelyx®: In vitro and in vivo evaluations

Recent Advances in Boosting EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors-Based Cancer Therapy

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a key role in signal transduction pathways associated with cell proliferation, growth, and survival. Its overexpression and aberrant activation in malignancy correlate with poor prognosis and short survival. Targeting inhibition of EGFR by small-molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is emerging as an important treatment model besides of chemotherapy, greatly reshaping the landscape of cancer therapy. However, they are still challenged by the off-targeted toxicity, relatively limited cancer types, and drug resistance after long-term therapy. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of oral, pulmonary, and injectable drug delivery systems for enhanced and targeting TKI delivery to tumors and reduced side effects. Importantly, EGFR-TKI-based combination therapies not only greatly broaden the applicable cancer types of EGFR-TKI but also significantly improve the anticancer effect. The mechanisms of TKI resistance are summarized, and current strategies to overcome TKI resistance as well as the application of TKI in reversing chemotherapy resistance are discussed. Finally, we provide a perspective on the future research of EGFR-TKI-based cancer therapy.

Degradable microneedle patches loaded with antibacterial gelatin nanoparticles to treat staphylococcal infection-induced chronic wounds

Infection-induced chronic wounds cause prolonged pains, a high risk of amputation, and even increased mortality in immunocompromised patients. Here we report an antibacterial microneedle (MN) patch, which features high degradability in biological fluids and gelatinase-responsive release of an antibacterial photothermal peptide AMP-Cypate. We first synthesize gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) and then conjugate the AMP-Cypate to afford composite AMP-Cypate@GNPs. The proteinaceous nanoparticles can responsively release AMP-Cypate in the presence of gelatinase, an enzyme secreted specifically by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). AMP-Cypate@GNPs were then deposited in the tips of MNs fabricated by PVP and recombinant human type III collagen (Col III) to devise the antibacterial MN/AMP-Cypate@GNP patches. When applied to the infection site, MNs break through the epidermis and the stratum corneum, dissolve in the infected dermis, reach the bacterial colony or biofilm, release AMP-Cypate@GNPs, and exert a gelatinase-responsive photothermal therapy under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation to kill the pathogen S. aureus. In a rat model of staphylococcal infection-induced chronic wounds mimicking the condition of diabetic foot ulcer, the antibacterial MN/AMP-Cypate@GNP patches eradiated the bacterial infection and resulted in complete healing of the wounds, proving its potential application in the treatment of chronic wound infections and diabetic foot ulcers.