Nanomedicine for targeted cancer therapy: towards the overcoming of drug resistance

Turning Cancer Immunotherapy to the Emerging Immune Checkpoint TIGIT: Will This Break Through the Limitations of the Legacy Approach?

The discovery of immune checkpoints (ICs) has pushed cancer treatment into the next era. As an emerging immune checkpoint, the TIGIT/CD155 axis inhibits the cytotoxicity of T and NK cells through multiple pathways. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting TIGIT are hopefully expected to address the issue of unresponsiveness to anti-PD-(L)1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by combination therapy. This paper presents insights on the expression, structure and mechanism of action of TIGIT, as well as the principles and methods of designing mAbs targeting TIGIT and their clinical data. The advantages and disadvantages of targeting TIGIT using mAbs, bispecific and tri-specific antibodies (bsAbs and tsAbs), peptides, and compounds, in addition to potential combination therapies of anti-TIGIT with anti-PD-1 or cancer vaccines, are addressed. Finally, perspectives on current immunotherapies targeting TIGIT are discussed.

Exploring the therapeutic applications of nano-therapy of encapsulated cisplatin and anthocyanin-loaded multiwalled carbon nanotubes coated with chitosan-conjugated folic acid in targeting breast and liver cancers

This study aimed to assess the targeted nano-therapy of encapsulated cisplatin (Cis) and anthocyanin (Ant)-loaded multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT) coated with chitosan conjugated folic acid on breast MCF7 and liver HepG2 cancer cells. Zeta potential, UV-spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, and SEM were used to evaluate CNT, its modified form (CNT Mod), CNT-loaded Cis NPs, CNT-loaded Ant NPs, and CNT- Cis + Ant NPs. All treatments induced apoptosis-dependent cytotoxicity in both cell lines as revealed functionally by the MTT assay, morphologically (DNA degradation) by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) double staining, and molecularly (Bax upregulation and Bcl2 downregulation) by real-time PCR, with best effect for the combined treatment (CNT- Cis + Ant NPs). This combined treatment also significantly reduced inflammation (low TNFα), migration (low MMP9 and high TIMP1), and angiogenesis (low VEGF), while significantly increasing antioxidant status (high Nrf2 and OH-1) in MCF7 and HepG2 cells compared to other treatments. Interestingly, cells treated with CNT Mod exhibited higher cytotoxic, apoptotic, anti-migratory, and anti-angiogenic potentials relative to CNT-treated cells. In conclusion, targeted nano-therapy of encapsulated cisplatin and anthocyanin-loaded carbon nanotubes coated with chitosan conjugated folic acid can efficiently combat breast and liver cancers by sustained release, in addition to its apoptotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-metastatic, and anti-angiogenic effects.

Demystifying the Potential of Embelin-Loaded Nanoformulations: a Comprehensive Review

Phytoconstituent based therapies have the potential to reduce the adverse effects and enhance overall patient compliance for different diseased conditions. Embelin (EMB) is a natural compound extracted from Embelia ribes that has demonstrated high therapeutic potential, particularly as anti-inflammatory and anticancer therapeutic applications. However, its poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability limitations make it challenging to use in biomedical applications. Nanostructure-based novel formulations have shown the potential to improve physicochemical and biological characteristics of active pharmaceutical ingredients obtained from plants. Different nanoformulations that have been utilized to encapsulate/entrap EMB for various therapeutic applications are nanoliposomes, nanostructured lipid carriers, niosomes, polymeric nanoparticles, nanosuspensions, phytosomes, self nanoemulsifying drug delivery system, silver nanoparticles, microparticles, solid lipid nanoparticle, gold nanoparticles and nanomicelles. The common methods reported for the preparation of EMB nanoformulations are thin film hydration, nanoprecipitation, ethanol injection, emulsification followed by sonication. The size of nanoformulations ranged in between 50 and 345 nm. In this review, the mentioned EMB loaded nanocarriers are methodically discussed for size, shape, drug entrapment, zeta potential, in vitro release & permeation and in vivo studies. Potential of EMB with other drugs (dual drug approach) incorporated in nanocarriers are also discussed (physicochemical and preclinical characteristics). Patents related to EMB nanoformulations are also presented which showed the clinical translation of this bioactive for future utilization in different indications.

Delineating the Immunotherapeutic Potential of Vitamin E and Its Analogues in Cancer: A Comprehensive Narrative Review

Cancer is a disease resulting from uncontrolled cell division, which significantly contributes to human mortality rates. An alternative approach to cancer treatment, such as cancer immunotherapy, is needed as the existing chemotherapy and radiotherapy approaches target the cancer cells and healthy dividing cells. Vitamin E is a plant-derived lipid-soluble antioxidant with numerous health-promoting benefits, including anticancer and immunomodulatory properties. Vitamin E comprises eight natural isoforms: tocopherols (α, β, δ, and γ) and tocotrienols (α, β, δ, and γ). While initial research focused on the anticancer properties of α-tocopherol, there is growing interest in other natural forms and modified synthetic analogues of vitamin E due to their unique properties and enhanced anticancer effects. Hence, this review is aimed at outlining the effect of vitamin E and its analogues at various steps of the cancer-immunity cycle that can be used to stimulate anticancer immune responses.

Anti-Quenching NIR-II Excitation Phenylboronic Acid Modified Conjugated Polyelectrolyte for Intracellular Peroxynitrite-Enhanced Chemo-Photothermal Therapy

Multidrug resistance to clinical chemotherapeutic drugs severely limits antitumor efficacy and patient survival. The integration of chemotherapy with photothermal therapy (PTT) and reactive nitrogen species has become a major strategy to enhance cancer treatment efficacy. Herein, a multifunctional peroxynitrite (ONOO-) nanogenerator (PBT/NO/Pt) for NIR-II fluorescence (NIR-II FL)/NIR-II photoacoustic (NIR-II PA) imaging-guided chemo/NIR-II PTT/ONOO- combination therapy is reported. The multifunction nanogenerator is developed by co-loading a pH-sensitive nitric oxide donor (DETA NONOate) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases trigger superoxide (O2 •-) generator chemotherapy drug (CDDP) to an NIR-II excitation-conjugated polyelectrolyte (PNC11BA). PNC11BA has non-conjugated alkyl chain segments in the polymer backbone and abundant positively charged phenylboronic acid in its side chains, which support the anti-quenching of NIR-II FL and the integration of DETA NONOate and CDDP into PBT/NO/Pt. In the acidic tumor microenvironment, the coordination bonds between CDDP and PNC11BA are cleaved, releasing CDDP for chemotherapeutic activity. The simultaneous release of nitric oxide (NO) and O2 •- rapidly leads to the in situ generation of the more cytotoxic reactive physiological nitrogen species ONOO-. In vitro and in vivo results prove that PBT/NO/Pt exhibited a markedly ONOO- enhanced chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy for SKOV3/DDP tumor by downregulating the intracellular glutathione and increasing CDDP-DNA adducts.

Targeted Nanocarrier-Based Drug Delivery Strategies for Improving the Therapeutic Efficacy of PARP Inhibitors against Ovarian Cancer

The current focus of ovarian cancer (OC) research is the improvement of treatment options through maximising drug effectiveness. OC remains the fifth leading cause of cancer-induced mortality in women worldwide. In recent years, nanotechnology has revolutionised drug delivery systems. Nanoparticles may be utilised as carriers in gene therapy or to overcome the problem of drug resistance in tumours by limiting the number of free drugs in circulation and thereby minimising undesired adverse effects. Cell surface receptors, such as human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), folic acid (FA) receptors, CD44 (also referred to as homing cell adhesion molecule, HCAM), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are highly expressed in ovarian cancer cells. Generation of active targeting nanoparticles involves modification with ligands that recognise cell surface receptors and thereby promote internalisation by cancer cells. Several poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) are currently used for the treatment of high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOC) or platinum-sensitive relapsed OC. However, PARP resistance and poor drug bioavailability are common challenges, highlighting the urgent need to develop novel, effective strategies for ovarian cancer treatment. This review evaluates the utility of nanoparticles in ovarian cancer therapy, with a specific focus on targeted approaches and the use of PARPi nanocarriers to optimise treatment outcomes.

Deciphering the Role of Exosomal Non-Coding RNA (ncRNA) in Drug Resistance of Gastrointestinal Tumors; an Updated Review

One of the most prevalent types of cancer worldwide today is gastric intestinal (GI) tumors. To guarantee their lives, people with a developed GI require palliative care. This covers the application of targeted medicines in addition to chemotherapy treatments including cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, and pemetrexed. Because of the evidence of drug resistance emerging in poor patient outcomes and prognoses, determining the exact process of medication resistance is motivated. Besides, it is noteworthy that exosomes and noncoding RNAs, like microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), produced from tumor cells are implicated in both GI medication resistance and the carcinogenesis and development of GI disease. Biochemical events related to the cell cycle, differentiation of cells, growth, and pluripotency, in addition to gene transcription, splicing, and epigenetics, are all regulated by noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). Therefore, it should come as a wonder that several ncRNAs have been connected in recent years to drug susceptibility and resistance as well as tumorigenesis. Additionally, through communicating directly with medications, altering the transcriptome of tumor cells, and affecting the immune system, exosomes may govern treatment resistance. Because of this, exosomal lncRNAs often act as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miRNAs to carry out its role in modifying drug resistance. In light of this, we provide an overview of the roles and processes of ncRNA-enriched exosomes in GI medication resistance.

Magnesium-Catalyzed Dye-Embedded Polylactide Nanoparticles for the Effective Killing of Highly Metastatic B16F10 Melanoma Cells

In the current research, dye-embedded polylactic acid (PLA) conjugate materials were synthesized using one-pot ring-opening polymerization (ROP), i.e., (dtHPLA) (2-[(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) imino]-1(2H)-acenaphthylenone-reduced-PLA) and (dmHPLA) (monoiminoacenaphtheneone-reduced-PLA), and then, nanoparticles (NPs) were engineered in the size range of 150 ± 30 nm. P(dtHPLA) NPs were employed in the treatment of melanoma, an aggressive type of skin cancer, which mandates the development of novel techniques to enhance healing outcomes and eliminate adverse effects related to existing treatments. In addition to exhibiting strong intracellular absorption in the spheroid model, the P(dtHPLA) NPs exhibited a strong cytotoxic effect on B16F10 cells, which resulted in oxidative stress from the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death. Additionally, a live/dead experiment using P(dtHPLA) NPs revealed a notable reduction in cell viability.

Research Progress of Plant-Derived Natural Products against Drug-Resistant Cancer

As one of the malignant diseases globally, cancer seriously endangers human physical and mental health because of its high morbidity and mortality. Conventional cancer treatment strategies, such as surgical resection and chemoradiotherapy, are effective at the early stage of cancer but have limited efficacy for advanced cancer. Along with cancer progress and treatment, resistance develops gradually within the population of tumor cells. As a consequence, drug resistance become the major cause that leads to disease progression and poor clinical prognosis in some patients. The mechanisms of cancer drug resistance are quite complex and involve various molecular and cellular mechanisms. Therefore, exploring the mechanisms and finding specific targets are becoming imperative to overcome drug resistance. In recent years, plant-derived natural products have been evaluated as potential therapeutic candidates against cancer with drug resistance due to low side effects and high anticancer efficacy. A growing number of studies have shown that natural products can achieve superior antitumor effects through multiple signaling pathways. The mechanisms include regulation of multiple drug resistance (MDR)-related genes, inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway, induction of autophagy, and blockade of the cell cycle. This paper reviews the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cancer drug resistance, as well as the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of plant-derived natural products against cancer drug resistance. It provides references for developing therapeutic medication for drug-resistant cancer treatment with high efficacy and low side effects.

PLGA nanomedical consignation: A novel approach for the management of prostate cancer

The malignancy of the prostate is a complicated ailment which impacts millions of male populations around the globe. Despite the multitude of endeavour accomplished within this domain, modalities that are involved in the ameliorative management of predisposed infirmity are still relent upon non-specific and invasive procedures, thus imposing a detrimental mark on the living standard of the individual. Also, the orchestrated therapeutic interventions are still incompetent in substantiating a robust and unabridged therapeutic end point owing to their inadequate solubility, low bioavailability, limited cell assimilation, and swift deterioration, thereby muffling the clinical application of these existing treatment modalities. Nanotechnology has been employed in an array of modalities for the medical management of malignancies. Among the assortment of available nano-scaffolds, nanocarriers composed of a bio-decomposable and hybrid polymeric material like PLGA hold an opportunity to advance as standard chemotherapeutic modalities. PLGA-based nanocarriers have the prospect to address the drawbacks associated with conventional cancer interventions, owing to their versatility, durability, nontoxic nature, and their ability to facilitate prolonged drug release. This review intends to describe the plethora of evidence-based studies performed to validate the applicability of PLGA nanosystem in the amelioration of prostate malignancies, in conjunction with PLGA focused nano-scaffold in the clinical management of prostate carcinoma. This review seeks to explore numerous evidence-based studies confirming the applicability of PLGA nanosystems in ameliorating prostate malignancies. It also delves into the role of PLGA-focused nano-scaffolds in the clinical management of prostate carcinoma, aiming to provide a comprehensive perspective on these advancements.

Gene and Photothermal Combination Therapy: Principle, Materials, and Amplified Anticancer Intervention

Gene therapy (GT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) have emerged as promising alternatives to chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer treatment, offering noninvasiveness and reduced side effects. However, their efficacy as standalone treatments is limited. GT exhibits slow response rates, while PTT is confined to local tumor ablation. The convergence of GT and PTT, known as GT-PTT, facilitated by photothermal gene nanocarriers, has attracted considerable attention across various disciplines. In this integrated approach, GT reciprocates PTT by sensitizing cellular response to heat, while PTT benefits GT by improving gene translocation, unpacking, and expression. Consequently, this integration presents a unique opportunity for cancer therapy with rapid response and improved effectiveness. Extensive efforts over the past few years have been dedicated to the development of GT-PTT, resulting in notable achievements and rapid progress from the laboratory to potential clinical applications. This comprehensive review outlines recent advances in GT-PTT, including synergistic mechanisms, material systems, imaging-guided therapy, and anticancer applications. It also explores the challenges and future prospects in this nascent field. By presenting innovative ideas and insights into the implementation of GT-PTT for enhanced cancer therapy, this review aims to inspire further progress in this promising area of research.

Nanoplatform-Mediated Autophagy Regulation and Combined Anti-Tumor Therapy for Resistant Tumors

The overall cancer incidence and death toll have been increasing worldwide. However, the conventional therapies have some obvious limitations, such as non-specific targeting, systemic toxic effects, especially the multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumors, in which, autophagy plays a vital role. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new treatments to reduce adverse reactions, improve the treatment efficacy and expand their therapeutic indications more effectively and accurately. Combination therapy based on autophagy regulators is a very feasible and important method to overcome tumor resistance and sensitize anti-tumor drugs. However, the less improved efficacy, more systemic toxicity and other problems limit its clinical application. Nanotechnology provides a good way to overcome this limitation. Co-delivery of autophagy regulators combined with anti-tumor drugs through nanoplatforms provides a good therapeutic strategy for the treatment of tumors, especially drug-resistant tumors. Notably, the nanomaterials with autophagy regulatory properties have broad therapeutic prospects as carrier platforms, especially in adjuvant therapy. However, further research is still necessary to overcome the difficulties such as the safety, biocompatibility, and side effects of nanomedicine. In addition, clinical research is also indispensable to confirm its application in tumor treatment.

Nanozymes and carbon-dots based nanoplatforms for cancer imaging, diagnosis and therapeutics: Current trends and challenges

Cancer patients face a significant clinical and socio-economic burden due to increased incidence, mortality, and poor survival. Factors like late diagnosis, recurrence, drug resistance, severe side effects, and poor bioavailability limit the scope of current therapies. There is a need for novel, cost-effective, and safe diagnostic methods, therapeutics to overcome recurrence and drug resistance, and drug delivery vehicles with enhanced bioavailability and less off-site toxicity. Advanced nanomaterial-based research is aiding cancer biologists by providing solutions for issues like hypoxia, tumor microenvironment, low stability, poor penetration, target non-specificity, and rapid drug clearance. Currently, nanozymes and carbon-dots are attractive due to their low cost, high catalytic activity, biocompatibility, and lower toxicity. Nanozymes and carbon-dots are increasingly used in imaging, biosensing, diagnosis, and targeted cancer therapy. Integrating these materials with advanced diagnostic tools like CT scans and MRIs can aid in clinical decision-making and enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy, photothermal, photodynamic, and sonodynamic therapies, with minimal invasion and reduced collateral effects.

Therapeutic Approaches of Dual-targeted Nanomedicines for Tumor Multidrug Resistance

Currently, the main cause of cancer chemotherapy failure is multi-drug resistance (MDR), which involves a variety of complex mechanisms. Compared with traditional small-molecule chemotherapy, targeted nanomedicines offer promising alternative strategies as an emerging form of therapy, especially active targeted nanomedicines. However, although single-targeted nanomedicines have made some progress in tumor therapy, the complexity of tumor microenvironment and tumor heterogeneity limits their efficacy. Dual-targeted nanomedicines can simultaneously target two tumor-specific factors that cause tumor MDR, which have the potential in overcoming tumor MDR superior to single-targeted nanomedicines by further enhancing cell uptake and cytotoxicity in new forms, as well as the effectiveness of tumor-targeted delivery. This review discusses tumor MDR mechanisms and the latest achievements applied to dual-targeted nanomedicines in tumor MDR.

The diverse effects of cisplatin on tumor microenvironment: Insights and challenges for the delivery of cisplatin by nanoparticles

Cisplatin is a well-known platinum-based chemotherapy medication that is widely utilized for some malignancies. Despite the direct cytotoxic consequences of cisplatin on tumor cells, studies in the recent decade have revealed that cisplatin can also affect different cells and their secretions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cisplatin has complex impacts on the TME, which may contribute to its anti-tumor activity or drug resistance mechanisms. These regulatory effects of cisplatin play a paramount function in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. This paper aims to review the diverse impacts of cisplatin and nanoparticles loaded with cisplatin on cancer cells and also non-cancerous cells in TME. The impacts of cisplatin on immune cells, tumor stroma, cancer cells, and also hypoxia will be discussed in the current review. Furthermore, we emphasize the challenges and prospects of using cisplatin in combination with other adjuvants and therapeutic modalities that target TME. We also discuss the potential synergistic effects of cisplatin with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and other agents with anticancer potentials such as polyphenols and photosensitizers. Furthermore, the potential of nanoparticles for targeting TME and better delivery of cisplatin into tumors will be discussed.

Recent advancement of nanomedicine-based targeted delivery for cervical cancer treatment

Cervical cancer is a huge worldwide health burden, impacting women in impoverished nations in particular. Traditional therapeutic approaches, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, frequently result in systemic toxicity and ineffectiveness. Nanomedicine has emerged as a viable strategy for targeted delivery of therapeutic drugs to cancer cells while decreasing off-target effects and increasing treatment success in recent years. Nanomedicine for cervical cancer introduces several novel aspects that distinguish it from previous treatment options such as tailored delivery system, precision targeting, combination therapies, real-time monitoring and diverse nanocarriers to overcome the limitations of one another. This abstract presents recent advances in nanomedicine-based tailored delivery systems for the treatment of cervical cancer. Liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and carbon nanotubes have all been intensively studied for their ability to transport chemotherapeutic medicines, nucleic acids, and imaging agents to cervical cancer cells. Because of the way these nanocarriers are designed, they may cross biological barriers and preferentially aggregate at the tumor site, boosting medicine concentration and lowering negative effects on healthy tissues. Surface modification of nanocarriers with targeting ligands like antibodies, peptides, or aptamers improves specificity for cancer cells by identifying overexpressed receptors or antigens on the tumor surface. Furthermore, nanomedicine-based techniques have made it possible to co-deliver numerous therapeutic drugs, allowing for synergistic effects and overcoming drug resistance. In preclinical and clinical investigations, combination treatments comprising chemotherapeutic medicines, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and photodynamic therapy have showed encouraging results, opening up new avenues for individualized and multimodal treatment regimens. Furthermore, the inclusion of contrast agents and imaging probes into nanocarrier systems has enabled real-time monitoring and imaging of treatment response. This enables the assessment of therapy efficacy, the early diagnosis of recurrence, and the optimization of treatment regimens.

Treatment strategies and drug resistance mechanisms in adenocarcinoma of different organs

Adenocarcinoma is a common type of malignant tumor, originating from glandular epithelial cells in various organs, such as pancreas, breast, lung, stomach, colon, rectus, and prostate. For patients who lose the opportunity for radical surgery, medication is available to provide potential clinical benefits. However, drug resistance is a big obstacle to obtain desired clinical prognosis. In this review, we provide a summary of treatment strategies and drug resistance mechanisms in adenocarcinoma of different organs, including pancreatic cancer, gastric adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and prostate cancer. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in drug resistance of adenocarcinoma vary from one organ to the other, there are several targets that are universal for drug resistance in adenocarcinoma, and targeting these molecules could potentially reverse drug resistance in the treatment of adenocarcinomas.

Cancer treatment therapies: traditional to modern approaches to combat cancers

As far as health issues are concerned, cancer causes one out of every six deaths around the globe. As potent therapeutics are still awaited for the successful treatment of cancer, some unconventional treatments like radiotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy and some advanced technologies like gene therapy, stem cell therapy, natural antioxidants, targeted therapy, photodynamic therapy, nanoparticles, and precision medicine are available to diagnose and treat cancer. In the present scenario, the prime focus is on developing efficient nanomedicines to treat cancer. Although stem cell therapy has the capability to target primary as well as metastatic cancer foci, it also has the ability to repair and regenerate injured tissues. However, nanoparticles are designed to have such novel therapeutic capabilities. Targeted therapy is also now available to arrest the growth and development of cancer cells without damaging healthy tissues. Another alternative approach in this direction is photodynamic therapy (PDT), which has more potential to treat cancer as it does minimal damage and does not limit other technologies, as in the case of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The best possible way to treat cancer is by developing novel therapeutics through translational research. In the present scenario, an important event in modern oncology therapy is the shift from an organ-centric paradigm guiding therapy to complete molecular investigations. The lacunae in anticancer therapy may be addressed through the creation of contemporary and pertinent cancer therapeutic techniques. In the meantime, the growth of nanotechnology, material sciences, and biomedical sciences has revealed a wide range of contemporary therapies with intelligent features, adaptable functions, and modification potential. The development of numerous therapeutic techniques for the treatment of cancer is summarized in this article. Additionally, it can serve as a resource for oncology and immunology researchers.

Biological Evaluation of Xanthene and Thioxanthene Derivatives as Antioxidant, Anticancer, and COX Inhibitors

Xanthene and thioxanthene analogues have been investigated for their potential as anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents. Additionally, cysteine analogues have been found to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities due to their role in cellular redox balance, scavenging of free radicals, and involvement in nucleophilic reactions and enzyme binding sites. In this study, we synthesized a library of tertiary alcohols derived from xanthene and thioxanthene, and further, some of these compounds were coupled with cysteine. The objective of this research was to explore the potential anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of the synthesized compounds. The synthesized compounds were subjected to test for anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Results indicated that compound 3 exhibited excellent inhibition activity (IC50 = 9.6 ± 1.1 nM) against colon cancer cells (Caco-2), while compound 2 showed good inhibition activity (IC50 = 161.3 ± 41 nM) against hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cells. Compound 4 demonstrated potent antioxidant inhibition activity (IC50 = 15.44 ± 6 nM), and compound 7 exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition IC50 (4.37 ± 0.78 nM) and high selectivity for COX-2 (3.83). In conclusion, certain synthesized compounds displayed promising anticancer activity and anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, additional research is necessary to create more analogues, develop a more distinct comprehension of the structure-activity relationship (SAR), and perform in vivo experiments to evaluate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of the compounds under examination. Such research may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic agents with potential applications in cancer and inflammatory diseases.

Effect of phospholipid head group on ultrasound-triggered drug release and cellular uptake of immunoliposomes

Liposomes are the most successful nanoparticles used to date to load and deliver chemotherapeutic agents to cancer cells. They are nano-sized vesicles made up of phospholipids, and targeting moieties can be added to their surfaces for the active targeting of specific tumors. Furthermore, Ultrasound can be used to trigger the release of the loaded drugs by disturbing their phospholipid bilayer structure. In this study, we have prepared pegylated liposomes using four types of phospholipids with similar saturated hydrocarbon tails including a phospholipid with no head group attached to the phosphate head (DPPA) and three other phospholipids with different head groups attached to their phosphate heads (DPPC, DPPE and DPPG). The prepared liposomes were conjugated to the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (TRA) to target the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpressed on HER2-positive cancer cells (HER2+). We have compared the response of the different formulations of liposomes when triggered with low-frequency ultrasound (LFUS) and their cellular uptake by the cancer cells. The results showed that the different formulations had similar size, polydispersity, and stability. TRA-conjugated DPPC liposomes showed the highest sensitivity to LFUS. On the other hand, incubating the cancer cells with TRA-conjugated DPPA liposomes triggered with LFUS showed the highest uptake of the loaded calcein by the HER2+ cells.

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.

Pluronic F-68 and F-127 Based Nanomedicines for Advancing Combination Cancer Therapy

Pluronics are amphiphilic triblock copolymers composed of two hydrophilic poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains linked via a central hydrophobic polypropylene oxide (PPO). Owing to their low molecular weight polymer and greater number of PEO segments, Pluronics induce micelle formation and gelation at critical micelle concentrations and temperatures. Pluronics F-68 and F-127 are the only United States (U.S.) FDA-approved classes of Pluronics and have been extensively used as materials for living bodies. Owing to the fascinating characteristics of Pluronics, many studies have suggested their role in biomedical applications, such as drug delivery systems, tissue regeneration scaffolders, and biosurfactants. As a result, various studies have been performed using Pluronics as a tool in nanomedicine and targeted delivery systems. This review sought to describe the delivery of therapeutic cargos using Pluronic F-68 and F-127-based cancer nanomedicines and their composites for combination therapy.

Recent advances in access to overcome cancer drug resistance by nanocarrier drug delivery system

Cancer is currently one of the most intractable diseases causing human death. Although the prognosis of tumor patients has been improved to a certain extent through various modern treatment methods, multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumor cells is still a major problem leading to clinical treatment failure. Chemotherapy resistance refers to the resistance of tumor cells and/or tissues to a drug, usually inherent or developed during treatment. Therefore, an urgent need to research the ideal drug delivery system to overcome the shortcoming of traditional chemotherapy. The rapid development of nanotechnology has brought us new enlightenments to solve this problem. The novel nanocarrier provides a considerably effective treatment to overcome the limitations of chemotherapy or other drugs resulting from systemic side effects such as resistance, high toxicity, lack of targeting, and off-target. Herein, we introduce several tumor MDR mechanisms and discuss novel nanoparticle technology applied to surmount cancer drug resistance. Nanomaterials contain liposomes, polymer conjugates, micelles, dendrimers, carbon-based, metal nanoparticles, and nucleotides which can be used to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs, photosensitizers, and small interfering RNA (siRNA). This review aims to elucidate the advantages of nanomedicine in overcoming cancer drug resistance and discuss the latest developments.

Long-circulating gambogic acid-loaded nanodiamond composite nanosystem with inhibition of cell migration for tumor therapy

Herein, ultra dispersed and stably suspended nanodiamonds (NDs) were demonstrated to have a high load capacity, sustained release, and ability to serve as a biocompatible vehicle for delivery anticancer drugs. NDs with size of 50-100 nm exhibited good biocompatibility in normal human liver (L-02) cells. In particular, 50 nm ND not only promoted the noticeable proliferation of the L-02 cells but also can effectively inhibited the migration of human liver carcinoma (HepG2) cells. The gambogic acid-loaded nanodiamond (ND/GA) complex assembled by π-π stacking exhibits ultrasensitive and apparent suppression efficiency on the proliferation of HepG2 cells through high internalization and less efflux compared to free GA. More importantly, the ND/GA system can significantly increase the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in HepG2 cells and thus induce the cell apoptosis. The increase in intracellular ROS levels causes damage to the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and activates cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (Caspase-3) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 9 (Caspase-9), which leads to the occurrence of apoptosis. In vivo experiments also confirmed that the ND/GA complex has a much higher anti-tumor capability than free GA. Thus, the current ND/GA system is promising for cancer therapy.

DNA-Based Nanomaterials as Drug Delivery Platforms for Increasing the Effect of Drugs in Tumors

DNA nanotechnology has significantly advanced and might be used in biomedical applications, drug delivery, and cancer treatment during the past few decades. DNA nanomaterials are widely used in biomedical research involving biosensing, bioimaging, and drug delivery since they are remarkably addressable and biocompatible. Gradually, modified nucleic acids have begun to be employed to construct multifunctional DNA nanostructures with a variety of architectural designs. Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids (both DNAs and RNAs) capable of self-pairing to acquire secondary structure and of specifically binding with the target. Diagnosis and tumor therapy are prospective fields in which aptamers can be applied. Many DNA nanomaterials with three-dimensional structures have been studied as drug delivery systems for different anticancer medications or gene therapy agents. Different chemical alterations can be employed to construct a wide range of modified DNA nanostructures. Chemically altered DNA-based nanomaterials are useful for drug delivery because of their improved stability and inclusion of functional groups. In this work, the most common oligonucleotide nanomaterials were reviewed as modern drug delivery systems in tumor cells.

Dual-drug codelivery nanosystems: An emerging approach for overcoming cancer multidrug resistance

Multidrug resistance (MDR) promotes tumor recurrence and metastasis and heavily reduces anticancer efficiency, which has become a primary reason for the failure of clinical chemotherapy. The mechanisms of MDR are so complex that conventional chemotherapy usually fails to achieve an ideal therapeutic effect and even accelerates the occurrence of MDR. In contrast, the combination of chemotherapy with dual-drug has significant advantages in tumor therapy. A novel dual-drug codelivery nanosystem, which combines dual-drug administration with nanotechnology, can overcome the application limitation of free drugs. Both the characteristics of nanoparticles and the synergistic effect of dual drugs contribute to circumventing various drug-resistant mechanisms in tumor cells. Therefore, developing dual-drug codelivery nanosystems with different multidrug-resistant mechanisms has an important reference value for reversing MDR and enhancing the clinical antitumor effect. In this review, the advantages, principles, and common codelivery nanocarriers in the application of dual-drug codelivery systems are summarized. The molecular mechanisms of MDR and the dual-drug codelivery nanosystems designed based on different mechanisms are mainly introduced. Meanwhile, the development prospects and challenges of codelivery nanosystems are also discussed, which provide guidelines to exploit optimized combined chemotherapy strategies in the future.

Lipid-core nanoparticles: Classification, preparation methods, routes of administration and recent advances in cancer treatment

Nanotechnological drug delivery platforms represent a new paradigm for cancer therapeutics as they improve the pharmacokinetic profile and distribution of chemotherapeutic agents over conventional formulations. Among nanoparticles, lipid-based nanoplatforms possessing a lipid core, that is, lipid-core nanoparticles (LCNPs), have gained increasing interest due to lipid properties such as high solubilizing potential, versatility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. However, due to the wide spectrum of morphologies and types of LCNPs, there is a lack of consensus regarding their terminology and classification. According to the current state-of-the-art in this critical review, LCNPs are defined and classified based on the state of their lipidic components in liquid lipid nanoparticles (LLNs). These include lipid nanoemulsions (LNEs) and lipid nanocapsules (LNCs), solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid nanocarriers (NLCs). In addition, we present a comprehensive and comparative description of the methods employed for their preparation, routes of administration and the fundamental role of physicochemical properties of LCNPs for efficient antitumoral drug-delivery application. Market available LCNPs, clinical trials and preclinical in vivo studies of promising LCNPs as potential treatments for different cancer pathologies are summarized.

Synthetic beidellite clay as nanocarrier for delivery of antitumor oxindolimine-metal complexes

Studies on the immobilization of oxindolimine‑copper(II) or zinc(II) complexes [ML] in synthetic beidellite (BDL) clay were developed to obtain a suitable inorganic carrier capable of promoting the modified-release of metallopharmaceuticals. Previous investigations have shown that the studied metal complexes are promising antitumor agents, targeting DNA, mitochondria, and some proteins. They can bind to DNA, causing oxidative damage via formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In mitochondria they lead to a decrease in membrane potential, acting as decoupling agents, and therefore efficiently inducing apoptosis. Additionally, they inhibit human topoisomerase IB and cyclin dependent kinases, proteins involved in the cell cycle. BDL clays in the sodium form were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by a set of physicochemical techniques while the BDL-[ML] hybrid materials were prepared by ion exchange method. The characterization of pristine clay and the obtained hybrids were performed by Infrared, Raman, electron paramagnetic resonance and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopies, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, specific surface area, zeta potential and surface ionic charge measurements. The [ML] release assays under the same cell incubation conditions were performed monitoring metals by X-ray fluorescence. The BDL-[CuL] hybrid materials were stable and able to derail tumor HeLa cells, with corresponding IC₅₀ values in the 0.11-0.41 mg mL^-1 range. By contrast, the analogous hybrid samples of zinc(II) and the pristine BDL proved to be non-toxic facing the same cells. These results indicate a promising possibility of using synthetic beidellite as a carrier of such antitumor metal complexes.

Recent progress in cancer cell membrane-based nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Immune clearance and insufficient targeting have limited the efficacy of existing therapeutic strategies for cancer. Toxic side effects and individual differences in response to treatment have further limited the benefits of clinical treatment for patients. Biomimetic cancer cell membrane-based nanotechnology has provided a new approach for biomedicine to overcome these obstacles. Biomimetic nanoparticles exhibit various effects (e.g., homotypic targeting, prolonging drug circulation, regulating the immune system, and penetrating biological barriers) after encapsulation by cancer cell membranes. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic methods will also be improved by utilizing the properties of cancer cell membranes. In this review, different properties and functions of cancer cell membranes are presented. Utilizing these advantages, nanoparticles can exhibit unique therapeutic capabilities in various types of diseases, such as solid tumors, hematological malignancies, immune system diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, cancer cell membrane-encapsulated nanoparticles show improved effectiveness and efficiency in combination with current diagnostic and therapeutic methods, which will contribute to the development of individualized treatments. This strategy has promising clinical translation prospects, and the associated challenges are discussed.

Therapeutic strategies of dual-target small molecules to overcome drug resistance in cancer therapy

Despite some advances in targeted therapeutics of human cancers, curative cancer treatment still remains a tremendous challenge due to the occurrence of drug resistance. A variety of underlying resistance mechanisms to targeted cancer drugs have recently revealed that the dual-target therapeutic strategy would be an attractive avenue. Compared to drug combination strategies, one agent simultaneously modulating two druggable targets generally shows fewer adverse reactions and lower toxicity. As a consequence, the dual-target small molecule has been extensively explored to overcome drug resistance in cancer therapy. Thus, in this review, we focus on summarizing drug resistance mechanisms of cancer cells, such as enhanced drug efflux, deregulated cell death, DNA damage repair, and epigenetic alterations. Based upon the resistance mechanisms, we further discuss the current therapeutic strategies of dual-target small molecules to overcome drug resistance, which will shed new light on exploiting more intricate mechanisms and relevant dual-target drugs for future cancer therapeutics.

Aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticles and their diagnostic and therapeutic roles in cancer

The burden of incidence rate and mortality of cancer is increasing rapidly, and the development of precise intervention measures for cancer detection and treatment will help reduce the burden and pain of cancer. At present, the sensitivity and specificity of tumor markers such as CEA and CA-125 used clinically are low, while PET, SPECT, and other imaging diagnoses with high sensitivity possess shortcomings, including long durations to obtain formal reports and the inability to identify the molecular pathological type of cancer. Cancer surgery is limited by stage and easy to recur. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy often cause damage to normal tissues, leading to evident side effects. Aptamers can selectively and exclusively bind to biomarkers and have, therefore, gained attention as ligands to be targeted for cancer detection and treatment. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are considered as promising nano carriers for cancer diagnosis and treatment due to their strong light scattering characteristics, effective biocompatibility, and easy surface modification with targeted agents. The aptamer-gold nanoparticles targeting delivery system developed herein can combine the advantages of aptamers and gold nanoparticles, and shows excellent targeting, high specificity, low immunogenicity, minor side effects, etc., which builds a bridge for cancer markers to be used in early and efficient diagnosis and precise treatment. In this review, we summarize the latest progress in the application of aptamer-modified gold nanoparticles in cancer targeted diagnosis and delivery of therapeutic agents to cancer cells and emphasize the prospects and challenges of transforming these studies into clinical applications.

Effect of folate-targeted Erlotinib loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles on tumor size and survival rate in a rat model of glioblastoma

The aim of this study was to prepare folate-targeted Erlotinib loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles (FA-ERL-HSA NPs) and investigate in vitro cytotoxic and apoptotic effects using cell lines (U87MG and C6 cells) and an in vivo rat bearing C6 glioma model. The mean size of the FA-ERL-HSA NPs prepared using a desolvation method was 135 nm. In vitro MTT assays demonstrated that FA-ERL-HSA NPs had an IC₅₀ value of 52.18 μg/mL and 17.53 μg/mL compared to free ERL which had an IC₅₀ value of 119.8 μg/mL and 103.2 μg/mL for U87MG and C6 cells for 72 h, respectively. Flow cytometry results showed the apoptosis rate with FA-ERL-HSA NPs (100 μg/mL, 72 h) was higher compared to free ERL for both U87MG and C6 cells. Experiments using a rat glioblastoma model via TUNEL assay indicated that the apoptosis index of FA-ERL-HSA NPs was 48 % compared to 21 % for free ERL and the tumor size effectively decreased after a daily injection of 220 μg (2.5 mg/kg) from 87.45 mm³ (19th day) to 1.28 mm³ (60th day). The median survival rate of the rats increased after treatment to >100 days which was greater than controls.

Nanotechnology-based approaches overcome lung cancer drug resistance through diagnosis and treatment

Lung cancer continues to be a malignant tumor with high mortality. Two obstacles interfere with curative therapy of lung cancer: (i) poor diagnosis at the early stages, as symptoms are not specific or asymptomatic; and (ii) invariably emerging drug resistance after treatment. Some factors contributing to drug resistance include preexisting genetic/genomic drug-resistant alteration(s); activation of adaptive drug resistance pathways; remodeling of the tumor microenvironment; and pharmacological mechanisms or activation of drug efflux pumps. Despite the mechanisms explored to better understand drug resistance, a gap remains between molecular understanding and clinical application. Therefore, facilitating the translation of basic science into the clinical setting is a great challenge. Nanomedicine has emerged as a promising tool for cancer treatment. Because of their excellent physicochemical properties and enhanced permeability and retention effects, nanoparticles have great potential to revolutionize conventional lung cancer diagnosis and combat drug resistance. Nanoplatforms can be designed as carriers to improve treatment efficacy and deliver multiple drugs in one system, facilitating combination treatment to overcome drug resistance. In this review, we describe the difficulties in lung cancer treatment and review recent research progress on nanoplatforms aimed at early diagnosis and lung cancer treatment. Finally, future perspectives and challenges of nanomedicine are also discussed.

Comprehensive assessment on the applications of oncolytic viruses for cancer immunotherapy

The worldwide burden of cancers is increasing at a very high rate, including the aggressive and resistant forms of cancers. Certain levels of breakthrough have been achieved with the conventional treatment methods being used to treat different forms of cancers, but with some limitations. These limitations include hazardous side effects, destruction of non-tumor healthy cells that are rapidly dividing and developing, tumor resistance to anti-cancer drugs, damage to tissues and organs, and so on. However, oncolytic viruses have emerged as a worthwhile immunotherapeutic option for the treatment of different types of cancers. In this treatment approach, oncolytic viruses are being modeled to target cancer cells with optimum cytotoxicity and spare normal cells with optimal safety, without the oncolytic viruses themselves being killed by the host immune defense system. Oncolytic viral infection of the cancer cells are also being genetically manipulated (either by removal or addition of certain genes into the oncolytic virus genome) to make the tumor more visible and available for attack by the host immune cells. Hence, different variants of these viruses are being developed to optimize their antitumor effects. In this review, we examined how grave the burden of cancer is on a global level, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, major conventional therapeutic approaches to the treatment of cancer and their individual drawbacks. We discussed the mechanisms of action employed by these oncolytic viruses and different viruses that have found their relevance in the fight against various forms of cancers. Some pre-clinical and clinical trials that involve oncolytic viruses in cancer management were reported. This review also examined the toxicity and safety concerns surrounding the adoption of oncolytic viro-immunotherapy for the treatment of cancers and the likely future directions for researchers and general audience who wants updated information.

Characterization and quantification of the interaction between the NFL-TBS.40-63 peptide and lipid nanocapsules

Several studies previously showed that the NFL-TBS.40-63 peptide (NFL-peptide) is capable to specifically penetrating several glioblastoma cell lines (rat, mouse, human) and inhibiting their cell division in vitro and their tumor development in vivo. When lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) are functionalized with the NFL-peptide, their absorption is targeted in glioblastoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the molecular architecture of these nanovectors (LNC-NFL) by using several microscopy techniques (transmission electron microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, and cryo-electron tomography). We also used high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) technique to evaluate the interaction between LNCs and peptides. The work shows that the NFL-peptide forms stable long filaments along which the lipid nanocapsules interact strongly to form some sort of nanomolecular bracelets. This new construction composed of the NFL-peptide and lipid nanocapsules shows a better internalization in rat glioblastoma cells (F98 cells) than lipid nanocapsules alone.

Induction of ferroptosis using functionalized iron-based nanoparticles for anti-cancer therapy

Ferroptosis, a cell death pathway that is induced in response to iron, has recently attracted remarkable attention given its emerging therapeutic potential in cancer cells. The need for a promising modality to improve chemotherapy's efficacy through this pathway has been urgent in recent years, and this non-apoptotic cell death pathway accumulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and is subsequently involved in lipid peroxidation. Here, we report cancer-targeting nanoparticles that possess highly efficient cancer-targeting ability and minimal systemic toxicity, thereby leading to ferroptosis. To overcome the limit of actual clinical application, which is the ultimate goal due to safety issues, we designed safe nanoparticles that can be applied clinically. Nanoparticles containing ferroptosis-dependent iron and FDA-approved hyaluronic acid (FHA NPs) are fabricated by controlling physicochemical properties, and the FHA NPs specifically induce ROS production and lipid peroxidation in cancer cells without affecting normal cells. The excellent in vivo anti-tumor therapeutic effect of FHA NPs was confirmed in the A549 tumor-bearing mice model, indicating that the induction of FHA NP-mediated cell death via the ferroptosis pathway could serve as a powerful platform in anticancer therapy. We believe that this newly proposed FHA NP-induced ferroptosis strategy is a promising system that offers the potential for efficient cancer treatment and provides insight into the safe design of nanomedicines for clinical applications.

Potentiality of raloxifene loaded melittin functionalized lipidic nanovesicles against pancreatic cancer cells

Pancreatic cancer (PC) frequency and incidence have grown rapidly in recent years. One of the most serious problems with PC is the existence of asymptotic manifestations, which frequently delays early detection, and until the diagnosis is established, tumor cells progress to the metastatic stage. Another significant concern with PC is the scarcity of well-defined pharmacotherapeutic drugs. The aim of this study was to develop an efficient nanocarrier system to augment the efficacy of raloxifene (RLX) against PC cells. As a result, the current investigation was carried out in order to give an effective treatment method, in which an optimum RLX loaded phospholipid-based vesicles with melittin (PL-MEL) was chosen using experimental design software, with particle size, zeta potential and entrapment efficiency % as dependent variables. Furthermore, anticancer activity against PANC1 cells was assessed. The optimized nanovesicle parameters were 172.5 nm for the measured size, zeta potential of -0.69 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 76.91% that were in good agreement with the expected ones. RLX-raw, plain formula, and optimized RLX-PL-MEL showed IC50 concentrations of 26.07 ± 0.98, 9.166 ± 0.34, and 1.24 ± 0.05 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis revealed that the nanovesicle was most effective in the G2-M phase, whereas Bax, and Bcl-2 estimates revealed that optimized RLX formula had the highest apoptotic activity among treatments investigated. However, as compared to RLX alone or plain formula alone, the optimized formula demonstrated higher expression of TNFα and Bax while a significant reduction of Bcl-2 and NF-κB expression was observed. mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) analysis confirmed the apoptosis as well as the anticancer effect of the optimized formula. Thus, the present study results showed an improvement in the anti-PC effects of the RLX with phospholipid conjugated melittin, making it a novel treatment approach against PC.

Effect of CaS Nanostructures in the Proliferation of Human Breast Cancer and Benign Cells In Vitro

We report on the effect of naked CaS nanostructures on the proliferation of carcinoma cancer cells and normal fibroblasts in vitro. The CaS nanostructures were prepared via the microwave-mediated decomposition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the presence of calcium acetate Ca ( CH 3 CO 2 ) 2 . Light scattering measurements revealed that dispersions contain CaS nanostructures in the size range of a few Å to about 1 nanometer, and are formed when DMSO is decomposed in the presence of Ca ( CH 3 CO 2 ) 2 . Theoretical calculations at the DFT/B3LYP/DGDZVP level of theory on ( C a S ) n clusters ( n = 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4) are consistent with clusters in this size range. The absorption spectra of the CaS nanostructures are dominated by strong bands in the UV, as well as weaker absorption bands in the visible. We found that a single dose of CaS nanoclusters smaller than 0.8 nm in diameter does not affect the survival and growth rate of normal fibroblasts and inhibits the proliferation rate of carcinoma cells in vitro. Larger CaS nanostructures, approximately (1.1 ± 0.2) nm in diameter, have a similar effect on carcinoma cell proliferation and survival rate. The CaS nanoclusters have little effect on the normal fibroblast cell cycle. Human carcinoma cells treated with CaS nanocluster dispersion exhibited a decreased ability to properly enter the cell cycle, marked by a decrease in cell concentration in the G0/G1 phase in the first 24 h and an increase in cells held in the SubG1 and G0/G1 phases up to 72 h post-treatment. Apoptosis and necrotic channels were found to play significant roles in the death of human carcinoma exposed to the CaS nanoclusters. In contrast, any effect on normal fibroblasts appeared to be short-lived and non-detrimental. The interaction of CaS with several functional groups was further investigated using theoretical calculations. CaS is predicted to interact with thiol ( R-SH ), hydroxide ( R - OH ), amino ( R - NH 2 ), carboxylic acid ( R - COOH ), ammonium ( R-NH 3 + ), and carboxylate ( R-COO - ) functional groups. None of these interactions are predicted to result in the dissociation of CaS. Thermodynamic considerations, on the other hand, are consistent with the dissociation of CaS into Ca 2 + ions and H 2 S in acidic media, both of which are known to cause apoptosis or cell death. Passive uptake and extracellular pH values of carcinoma cells are proposed to result in the observed selectivity of CaS to inhibit cancer cell proliferation with no significant effect on normal fibroblast cells. The results encourage further research with other cell lines in vitro as well as in vivo to translate this nanotechnology into clinical use.

Functional Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cancer Therapy

Cancer is the leading cause of death in people worldwide. The conventional therapeutic approach is mainly based on chemotherapy, which has a series of side effects. Compared with traditional chemotherapy drugs, nanoparticle-based delivery of anti-cancer drugs possesses a few attractive features. The application of nanotechnology in an interdisciplinary manner in the biomedical field has led to functional nanoparticles achieving much progress in cancer therapy. Nanoparticles have been involved in the diagnosis and targeted and personalized treatment of cancer. For example, different nano-drug strategies, including endogenous and exogenous stimuli-responsive, surface conjugation, and macromolecular encapsulation for nano-drug systems, have successfully prevented tumor procession. The future for functional nanoparticles is bright and promising due to the fast development of nanotechnology. However, there are still some challenges and limitations that need to be considered. Based on the above contents, the present article analyzes the progress in developing functional nanoparticles in cancer therapy. Research gaps and promising strategies for the clinical application are discussed.

Nanomedicine as a magic bullet for combating lymphoma

Hematological malignancy like lymphoma originates in lymph tissues and has a propensity to spread across other organs. Managing such tumors is challenging as conventional strategies like surgery and local treatment are not plausible options and there are high chances of relapse. The advent of novel targeted therapies and antibody-mediated treatments has proven revolutionary in the management of these tumors. Although these therapies have an added advantage of specificity in comparison to the traditional chemotherapy approach, such treatment alternatives suffer from the occurrence of drug resistance and dose-related toxicities. In past decades, nanomedicine has emerged as an excellent surrogate to increase the bioavailability of therapeutic moieties along with a reduction in toxicities of highly cytotoxic drugs. Nanotherapeutics achieve targeted delivery of the therapeutic agents into the malignant cells and also have the ability to carry genes and therapeutic proteins to the desired sites. Furthermore, nanomedicine has an edge in rendering personalized medicine as one type of lymphoma is pathologically different from others. In this review, we have highlighted various applications of nanotechnology-based delivery systems based on lipidic, polymeric and inorganic nanomaterials that address different targets for effectively tackling lymphomas. Moreover, we have discussed recent advances and therapies available exclusively for managing this malignancy.

Bioresponsive Nanomaterials: Recent Advances in Cancer Multimodal Imaging and Imaging-Guided Therapy

Cancer is a serious health problem which increasingly causes morbidity and mortality worldwide. It causes abnormal and uncontrolled cell division. Traditional cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and so on. These traditional therapies suffer from high toxicity and arouse safety concern in normal area and have difficulty in accurately targeting tumour. Recently, a variety of nanomaterials could be used for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Nanomaterials have several advantages, e.g., high concentration in tumour via targeting design, reduced toxicity in normal area and controlled drug release after various rational designs. They can combine with many types of biomaterials in order to improve biocompatibility. In this review, we outlined the latest research on the use of bioresponsive nanomaterials for various cancer imaging modalities (magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography and phototacoustic imaging) and imaging-guided therapy means (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy), followed by discussing the challenges and future perspectives of this bioresponsive nanomaterials in biomedicine.

Recent Progress of Novel Nanotechnology Challenging the Multidrug Resistance of Cancer

Multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumors is one of the clinical direct reasons for chemotherapy failure. MDR directly leads to tumor recurrence and metastasis, with extremely grievous mortality. Engineering a novel nano-delivery system for the treatment of MDR tumors has become an important part of nanotechnology. Herein, this review will take those different mechanisms of MDR as the classification standards and systematically summarize the advances in nanotechnology targeting different mechanisms of MDR in recent years. However, it still needs to be seriously considered that there are still some thorny problems in the application of the nano-delivery system against MDR tumors, including the excessive utilization of carrier materials, low drug-loading capacity, relatively narrow targeting mechanism, and so on. It is hoped that through the continuous development of nanotechnology, nano-delivery systems with more universal uses and a simpler preparation process can be obtained, for achieving the goal of defeating cancer MDR and accelerating clinical transformation.

Knockout of the ABCB1 Gene Increases Susceptibility to Emamectin Benzoate, Beta-Cypermethrin and Chlorantraniliprole in Spodoptera frugiperda

ATP-binding cassette transporter B1 (ABCB1, or P-glycoprotein) is known to be an important participant in multidrug resistance in mammals, and it also has been proved as a transporter for some insecticides in several lepidopteran insects, yet the precise function of this transporter in Spodoptera frugiperda is unknown. Here, we generated a SfABCB1 knockout strain of the S. frugiperda using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to explore its potential roles in determining susceptibility to chemical insecticides or Bt toxins. Bioassay results showed that the susceptibility of SfABCB1 knockout strain to beta-cypermethrin, chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate were significantly increased compared with the wild-type strain DH19, whereas there were no changes to Bt toxins for Cry1Ab, Cry1Fa and Vip3Aa. Our results revealed that SfABCB1 plays important roles in the susceptibility of S. frugiperda to beta-cypermethrin, chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate, and imply that overexpression of ABCB1 may contribute to beta-cypermethrin, chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate resistance in S. frugiperda.

Chitosan Nanoparticle-Based System: A New Insight into the Promising Controlled Release System for Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer has been recognized as one of the most often diagnosed and perhaps most lethal cancer diseases worldwide. Conventional chemotherapy for lung cancer-related diseases has bumped into various limitations and challenges, including non-targeted drug delivery, short drug retention period, low therapeutic efficacy, and multidrug resistance (MDR). Chitosan (CS), a natural polymer derived from deacetylation of chitin, and comprised of arbitrarily distributed β-(1-4)-linked d-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (acetylated unit) that exhibits magnificent characteristics, including being mucoadhesive, biodegradable, and biocompatible, has emerged as an essential element for the development of a nano-particulate delivery vehicle. Additionally, the flexibility of CS structure due to the free protonable amino groups in the CS backbone has made it easy for the modification and functionalization of CS to be developed into a nanoparticle system with high adaptability in lung cancer treatment. In this review, the current state of chitosan nanoparticle (CNP) systems, including the advantages, challenges, and opportunities, will be discussed, followed by drug release mechanisms and mathematical kinetic models. Subsequently, various modification routes of CNP for improved and enhanced therapeutic efficacy, as well as other restrictions of conventional drug administration for lung cancer treatment, are covered.