Co-delivery of silybin and paclitaxel by dextran-based nanoparticles for effective anti-tumor treatment through chemotherapy sensitization and microenvironment modulation

Comparison of the accumulation manner of a macromolecular drug between two mouse tumour models: study with magnetic resonance imaging and the model macromolecular drug, gadolinium-conjugated dextran

A knowledge of the difference of spatio-temporal behaviour of nanomedicine in different type of tumour models is important to develop well-targeted nanomedicine for tumour. In this study, intratumoral accumulation of the model nanomedicine, gadolinium-conjugated dextran (Gd-Dex), was examined with magnetic resonance imaging in two tumour models; mouse sarcoma S180 and radiation-induced mouse fibrosarcoma RIF-1. From time-course of the distribution images, the plasma-to-tumour interstitial tissue transfer constant (Ktrans) and fractional plasma volume (Vp) were calculated and mapped. Gd-Dex preferentially distributed to the marginal region of S180 tumours immediately after its injection, and then started to accumulate in some parts of the central region. Ktrans and Vp values were large in the marginal region, while only Ktrans was large in some parts of the central region. In contrast, the distribution of Gd-Dex in RIF-1 tumours was fairly homogeneous, and may have resulted from the homogeneous distributions of Ktrans and Vp. The amounts of Gd-Dex that accumulated in entire tumours in both tumour models correlated with the volume of tumours; however, accumulation in large S180 tumours deviated from the correlation in the early phase. The differences in the manner and pharmacokinetics of nanomedicine among tumour models may affect the accumulation of the medicine.

Herb-Nanoparticle Hybrid System for Improved Oral Delivery Efficiency to Alleviate Breast Cancer Lung Metastasis

Background

Metastasis is a complex process involving multiple factors and stages, in which tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) play significant roles. A combination of orally bioavailable therapeutic agents that target both tumor cells and TME is conducive to prevent or impede the progression of metastasis, especially when undetectable. However, sequentially overcoming intestinal barriers, ensuring biodistribution in tumors and metastatic tissues, and enhancing therapeutic effects required for efficient therapy remain challenging.

Methods

Inspired by the unique chemical features of natural herbs, we propose an oral herb-nanoparticle hybrid system (HNS) formed through the self-binding of Platycodon grandiflorum-Curcuma zedoaria (HG), a herb pair/group used in clinical practice to treat breast cancer metastasis, to lipid-polymer nanoparticles (LPNs) loaded with silibinin. The molecular structure responsible for HG association with LPNs was assessed using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for HNS surface chemistry characterization. Moreover, the molecular class of HG was identified using UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS to further confirm the surface binding. Mucus diffusion and in vivo biodistribution were evaluated using in vitro multiple-particle tracking and environment-responsive fluorescence probe in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, respectively. The alleviation of breast cancer metastasis was assessed in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, and the underlying mechanism was investigated.

Results

The HNS reduced particle-mucus interactions by altering hydrophilicity and surface characteristics compared to LPNs. The epithelium transportation of HNS and absorption through Peyer's patch in mice were improved, promoting their biodistribution in the lung and tumor tissues. Furthermore, the HNS alleviated lung metastasis by inducing cell apoptosis and regulating the expression of MMP-9 and TGF-β1, which altered the TME in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice.

Conclusion

HNS provides an appealing system with multi-component binding of herbal medicine to facilitate both oral nanoparticle delivery efficiency and the alleviation of lung metastasis. This strategy may potentially help improve treatment for patients with breast cancer.

A structure-functionality insight into the bioactivity of microbial polysaccharides toward biomedical applications: A review

Microbial polysaccharides (MPs) are biopolymers secreted by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi during their metabolic processes. Compared to polysaccharides derived from plants and animals, MPs have advantages such as wide sources, high production efficiency, and less susceptibility to natural environmental influences. The most attractive feature of MPs lies in their diverse biological activities, such as antioxidative, anti-tumor, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory activities, which have demonstrated immense potential for applications in functional foods, cosmetics, and biomedicine. These bioactivities are precisely regulated by their sophisticated molecular structure. However, the mechanisms underlying this precise regulation are not yet fully understood and continue to evolve. This article presents a comprehensive review of the most representative species of MPs, including their fermentation and purification processes and their biomedical applications in recent years. In particular, this work presents an in-depth analysis into the structure-activity relationships of MPs across multiple molecular levels. Additionally, this review discusses the challenges and prospects of investigating the structure-activity relationships, providing valuable insights into the broad and high-value utilization of MPs.

Better together: nanoscale co-delivery systems of therapeutic agents for high-performance cancer therapy

Combination therapies can enhance the sensitivity of cancer to drugs, lower drug doses, and reduce side effects in cancer treatment. However, differences in the physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics of different therapeutic agents limit their application. To avoid the above dilemma and achieve accurate control of the synergetic ratio, a nanoscale co-delivery system (NCDS) has emerged as a prospective tool for combined therapy in cancer treatment, which is increasingly being used to co-load different therapeutic agents. In this study, we have summarized the mechanisms of therapeutic agents in combination for cancer therapy, nanoscale carriers for co-delivery, drug-loading strategies, and controlled/targeted co-delivery systems, aiming to give a general picture of these powerful approaches for future NCDS research studies.

Glucans and applications in drug delivery

Glucan is a natural polysaccharide widely distributed in cereals and microorganisms that has various biological activities, including immunomodulatory, anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. In addition to wide applications in the broad fields of food, healthcare, and biomedicines, glucans hold promising potential as drug delivery carrier materials or ligands. Specifically, glucan microparticles or yeast cell wall particles are naturally enclosed vehicles with an interior cavity that can be exploited to carry and deliver drug payloads. The biological activities and targeting capacities of glucans depend largely on the recognition of glucan moieties by receptors such as dectin-1 and complement receptor 3, which are widely expressed on the cell membranes of mononuclear phagocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and some lymphocytes. This review summarizes the chemical structures, sources, fundamental properties, extraction methods, and applications of these materials, with an emphasis on drug delivery. Glucans are utilized mainly as vaccine adjuvants, targeting ligands and as carrier materials for various drug entities. It is believed that glucans and glucan microparticles may be useful for the delivery of both small-molecule and macromolecular drugs, especially for potential treatment of immune-related diseases.

Application of Electrospun Drug-Loaded Nanofibers in Cancer Therapy

In the 21st century, chemotherapy stands as a primary treatment method for prevalent diseases, yet drug resistance remains a pressing challenge. Utilizing electrospinning to support chemotherapy drugs offers sustained and controlled release methods in contrast to oral and implantable drug delivery modes, which enable localized treatment of distinct tumor types. Moreover, the core-sheath structure in electrospinning bears advantages in dual-drug loading: the core and sheath layers can carry different drugs, facilitating collaborative treatment to counter chemotherapy drug resistance. This approach minimizes patient discomfort associated with multiple-drug administration. Electrospun fibers not only transport drugs but can also integrate metal particles and targeted compounds, enabling combinations of chemotherapy with magnetic and heat therapies for comprehensive cancer treatment. This review delves into electrospinning preparation techniques and drug delivery methods tailored to various cancers, foreseeing their promising roles in cancer treatment.

Exploiting Apical Sodium-Dependent Bile Acid Transporter (ASBT)-Mediated Endocytosis with Multi-Functional Deoxycholic Acid Grafted Alginate Amide Nanoparticles as an Oral Insulin Delivery System

OBJECTIVE

Oral administration of insulin is a potential candidate for managing diabetes. However, it is obstructed by the gastrointestinal tract barriers resulting in negligible oral bioavailability.

METHODS

This investigation presents a novel nanocarrier platform designed to address these challenges. In this regard, the process involved amination of sodium alginate by ethylene diamine, followed by its conjugation with deoxycholic acid.

RESULTS

The resulting DCA@Alg@INS nanocarrier revealed a significantly high insulin loading content of 63.6 ± 1.03% and encapsulation efficiency of 87.6 ± 3.84%, with a particle size of 206 nm and zeta potentials of -3 mV. In vitro studies showed sustained and pH-dependent release profiles of insulin from nanoparticles. In vitro cellular studies, confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry analysis confirmed the successful attachment and internalization of DCA@Alg@INS nanoparticles in Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, the DCA@Alg@INS demonstrated a superior capacity for cellular uptake and permeability coefficient relative to the insulin solution, exhibiting sixfold and 4.94-fold enhancement, respectively. According to the uptake mechanism studies, the results indicated that DCA@Alg@INS was mostly transported through an energy-dependent active pathway since the uptake of DCA@Alg@INS by cells was significantly reduced in the presence of NaN3 by ~ 92% and at a low temperature of 4°C by ~ 94%.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the significance of administering insulin through oral route, deoxycholic acid-modified alginate nanoparticles present a viable option to surmount various obstacles presented by the gastrointestinal.

Synchronous targeted delivery of TGF-β siRNA to stromal and tumor cells elicits robust antitumor immunity against triple-negative breast cancer by comprehensively remodeling the tumor microenvironment

The poor permeability of therapeutic drugs, limited T-cell infiltration, and strong immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) acts as a prominent barrier to the delivery of drugs and immunotherapy including programmed cell death ligand-1 antibody (anti-PD-L1). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, an important cytokine produced by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor cells contributes to the pathological vasculature, dense tumor stroma and strong immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, a nanomedicine platform (HA-LSL/siTGF-β) employing dual-targeting, alongside hyaluronidase (HAase) and glutathione (GSH) triggered release was elaborately constructed to efficiently deliver TGF-β small interference RNA (siTGF-β). It was determined that this system was able to improve the efficacy of anti-PD-L1. The siTGF-β nanosystem efficiently silenced TGF-β-related signaling pathways in both activated NIH 3T3 cells and 4T1 cells in vitro and in vivo. This occurred firstly, through CD44-mediated uptake, followed by rapid escape mediated by HAase in endo/lysosomes and release of siRNA mediated by high GSH concentrations in the cytoplasm. By simultaneous silencing of TGF-β in stromal and tumor cells, HA-LSL/siTGF-β dramatically reduced stroma deposition, promoted the penetration of nanomedicines for deep remodeling of the TME, improved oxygenation, T cells infiltration and subsequent anti-PD-L1 deep penetration. The double suppression of TGF-β has been demonstrated to promote blood vessel normalization, inhibit an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and further modify the immunosuppressive TME, which was supported by an overall increase in the proportion of dendritic cells and cytotoxic T cells. Further, a reduction in the proportion of immunosuppression cells such as regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells was also observed in the TME. Based on the comprehensive remodeling of the tumor microenvironment by this nanosystem, subsequent anti-PD-L1 therapy elicited robust antitumor immunity. Specifically, this system was able to suppress the growth of both primary and distant tumor while preventing tumor metastasis to the lung. Therefore, the combination of the dual-targeted siTGF-β nanosystem, alongside anti-PD-L1 may serve as a novel method to enhance antitumor immunotherapy against stroma-rich TNBC.

Combined Amphiphilic Silybin Meglumine Nanosuspension Effective Against Hepatic Fibrosis in Mice Model

Introduction

Silybin (SLB) as an effective hepatoprotective phytomedicine has been limited by its hydrophobicity, poor bioavailability and accumulation at lesion sites. Additionally, present drug loading methods are impeded by their low drug loading capacity, potential hazard of materials and poor therapeutic effects. Consequently, there is a pressing need to devise an innovative approach for preparing nanosuspensions loaded with both SLB and Silybin Meglumine salt (SLB-M), as well as to investigate the therapeutic effects of SLB nanosuspensions against hepatic fibrosis.

Methods

The SLB nanosuspension (NS-SLB) was prepared and further modified with a hyaluronic acid-cholesterol conjugate (NS-SLB-HC) to improve the CD44 targeting proficiency of NS-SLB. To validate the accumulation of CD44 and ensure minimal cytotoxicity, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity assessments were carried out for the nanosuspensions. Western blotting was employed to evaluate the anti-hepatic fibrosis efficacy in LX-2 cells by inhibiting the secretion of collagen I. Hepatic fibrosis mouse models were used to further confirm the effectiveness of NS-SLB and NS-SLB-HC against hepatic fibrosis in vivo.

Results

Uniform nanosuspensions were prepared through self-assembly, achieving high drug loading rates of 89.44% and 60.67%, respectively. Both SLB nanosuspensions showed minimal cytotoxicity in cellular environments and mitigated hepatic fibrosis in vitro. NS-SLB-HC was demonstrated to target activated hepatic stellate cells by receptor-ligand interaction between HA and CD44. They can reverse hepatic fibrosis in vivo by downregulating TGF-β and inhibiting the secretion of α-SMA and collagen I.

Conclusion

Designed as a medical excipient analogue, SLB-M was aimed to establish an innovative nanosuspension preparation method, characterized by high drug loading capacity and a notable impact against hepatic fibrosis.

Enhancing chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer through efficient and sustained tumor microenvironment remodeling with a fibroblast-targeted nanosystem

Pancreatic cancer (PC) carries a poor prognosis among all malignancies and poses great challenges to clinical drug accessibility due to the severely fibrotic and hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). Therein, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are extremely abundant in PC, play a key role in forming the complex PC microenvironment. Therefore, a highly efficient TME reprogramming therapeutic paradigm that can specifically inhibit CAF function is urgently needed. Herein, we successfully developed a novel CAF-tailored nanosystem (Dex-GP-DOCA, DPD) loaded with a potent anti-fibrosis flavonoid compound (Quercetin, QUE), which possesses biological responsiveness to fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP-α), prolonged TME remodeling and enhancement of clinical chemotherapeutics. Specifically, DPD/QUE allowed for extracellular matrix (ECM) reduction, vessel normalization, hypoxia-induced drug resistance reversal, and blockade of Wnt16 paracrine in CAFs. More importantly, this chemotherapy conducive microenvironment persisted for at least 8 days following treatment with DPD/QUE. It should also be noted that the effective and prolonged microenvironment modulation induced by DPD/QUE significantly improved the chemotherapy sensitivity of Abraxane and gemcitabine, the first-line chemotherapeutic drugs for PC, with inhibition rates increasing from 37.5% and 40.0% to 87.5% and 85.2%, respectively. Overall, our CAFs-targeted nanosystem showed promising prospects for remodeling the TME and facilitating chemotherapy for refractory pancreatic cancer.

Current advances in nanoformulations of therapeutic agents targeting tumor microenvironment to overcome drug resistance

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in cancer development and progression. In this line, revealing the precise mechanisms of the TME and associated signaling pathways of tumor resistance could pave the road for cancer prevention and efficient treatment. The use of nanomedicine could be a step forward in overcoming the barriers in tumor-targeted therapy. Novel delivery systems benefit from enhanced permeability and retention effect, decreasing tumor resistance, reducing tumor hypoxia, and targeting tumor-associated factors, including immune cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Emerging evidence also indicates the engagement of multiple dysregulated mediators in the TME, such as matrix metalloproteinase, vascular endothelial growth factor, cytokines/chemokines, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Hedgehog, and related inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. Hence, investigating novel multitargeted agents using a novel delivery system could be a promising strategy for regulating TME and drug resistance. In recent years, small molecules from natural sources have shown favorable anticancer responses by targeting TME components. Nanoformulations of natural compounds are promising therapeutic agents in simultaneously targeting multiple dysregulated factors and mediators of TME, reducing tumor resistance mechanisms, overcoming interstitial fluid pressure and pericyte coverage, and involvement of basement membrane. The novel nanoformulations employ a vascular normalization strategy, stromal/matrix normalization, and stress alleviation mechanisms to exert higher efficacy and lower side effects. Accordingly, the nanoformulations of anticancer monoclonal antibodies and conventional chemotherapeutic agents also improved their efficacy and lessened the pharmacokinetic limitations. Additionally, the coadministration of nanoformulations of natural compounds along with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, monoclonal antibodies, and nanomedicine-based radiotherapy exhibits encouraging results. This critical review evaluates the current body of knowledge in targeting TME components by nanoformulation-based delivery systems of natural small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, conventional chemotherapeutic agents, and combination therapies in both preclinical and clinical settings. Current challenges, pitfalls, limitations, and future perspectives are also discussed.

Dual functionalized hyaluronic acid micelles loading paclitaxel for the therapy of breast cancer

Although many carriers for the delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs have been investigated, the disadvantages of passive targeting and uncontrolled drug release limit their utility. Herein, hyaluronic acid (HA) was hydrophobically modified to serve as a carrier for binding to cluster determinant 44 (CD44) overexpressed on tumor cell surfaces. Specifically, after deacetylation, HA was grafted to dodecylamine or tetradecylamine to afford amphiphilic zwitterionic polymer micelles, designated dHAD and dHAT, respectively, for the delivery of paclitaxel (PTX). The micelles were negatively charged at pH 7.4 and positively charged at pH 5.6, and this pH sensitivity facilitated PTX release under acidic conditions. The cell uptake efficiencies of the dHAD-PTX and dHAT-PTX micelles by MCF-7 cells after 4 h of incubation were 96.9% and 95.4%, respectively, and their affinities for CD44 were twice that of HA. Furthermore, the micelles markedly inhibited tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo, with IC50 values of 1.943 μg/mL for dHAD-PTX and 1.874 μg/mL for dHAT-PTX for MCF-7 cells; the tumor inhibition rate of dHAD-PTX (92.96%) was higher than that of dHAT-PTX (78.65%). Importantly, dHAD and dHAT micelles showed negligible systemic toxicity. Our findings suggest that these micelles are promising delivery vehicles for antitumor drugs.

Induced Vascular Normalization-Can One Force Tumors to Surrender to a Better Microenvironment?

Immunotherapy has changed the way many cancers are being treated. Researchers in the field of immunotherapy and tumor immunology are investigating similar questions: How can the positive benefits achieved with immunotherapies be enhanced? Can this be achieved through combinations with other agents and if so, which ones? In our view, there is an urgent need to improve immunotherapy to make further gains in the overall survival for those patients that should benefit from immunotherapy. While numerous different approaches are being considered, our team believes that drug delivery methods along with appropriately selected small-molecule drugs and drug candidates could help reach the goal of doubling the overall survival rate that is seen in some patients that are given immunotherapeutics. This review article is prepared to address how immunotherapies should be combined with a second treatment using an approach that could realize therapeutic gains 10 years from now. For context, an overview of immunotherapy and cancer angiogenesis is provided. The major targets in angiogenesis that have modulatory effects on the tumor microenvironment and immune cells are highlighted. A combination approach that, for us, has the greatest potential for success involves treatments that will normalize the tumor's blood vessel structure and alter the immune microenvironment to support the action of immunotherapeutics. So, this is reviewed as well. Our focus is to provide an insight into some strategies that will engender vascular normalization that may be better than previously described approaches. The potential for drug delivery systems to promote tumor blood vessel normalization is considered.

Review of the Role of Nanotechnology in Overcoming the Challenges Faced in Oral Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Throughout the world, oral cancer is a common and aggressive malignancy with a high risk of morbidity, mortality, and recurrence. The importance of early detection in cancer prevention and disease treatment cannot be overstated. Conventional therapeutic strategies have minor difficulties but considerable side effects and unfavourable consequences in clinical applications. Hence, there is a requirement for effective ways for early detection and treatment of oral cancer. At present, numerous forms of nanoparticles have piqued researchers' interest as a potentially useful tool for diagnostic probes and medicinal devices. Because of their inherent physicochemical properties and customizable surface modification, they are able to circumvent some of restrictions and accomplish the intended diagnostic and therapeutic impact. Nanotechnology is a unique field that has revolutionised the industry and is paving the way for new treatments for oral cancer. It can help with a better diagnosis with less harmful substances and is setting current guidelines for treatment. The use of nanotechnology in cancer diagnosis, therapy, and care improves clinical practise dramatically. The different types of nanoparticles that have been developed for the diagnosis and therapy of oral cancers will be covered in this study. The difficulties and potential uses of nanoparticles in the treatment and diagnosis of oral cancer are then highlighted. In order to emphasise existing difficulties and potential remedies for oral cancer, a prospective view of the future is also provided.

Recent Progress in Nanotechnology Improving the Therapeutic Potential of Polyphenols for Cancer

Polyphenols derived from fruits, vegetables, and plants are bioactive compounds potentially beneficial to human health. Notably, compounds such as quercetin, curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and resveratrol have been highlighted as antiproliferative agents for cancer. Due to their low solubility and limited bioavailability, some alternative nanotechnologies have been applied to encapsulate these compounds, aiming to improve their efficacy against cancer. In this comprehensive review, we evaluate the main nanotechnology approaches to improve the therapeutic potential of polyphenols against cancer using in vitro studies and in vivo preclinical models, highlighting recent advancements in the field. It was found that polymeric nanomaterials, lipid-based nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials, and carbon-based nanomaterials are the most used classes of nanocarriers for encapsulating polyphenols. These delivery systems exhibit enhanced antitumor activity and pro-apoptotic effects, particularly against breast, lung, prostate, cervical, and colorectal cancer cells, surpassing the performance of free bioactive compounds. Preclinical trials in xenograft animal models have revealed decreased tumor growth after treatment with polyphenol-loaded delivery systems. Moreover, the interaction of polyphenol co-delivery systems and polyphenol-drug delivery systems is a promising approach to increase anticancer activity and decrease chemotherapy side effects. These innovative approaches hold significant implications for the advancement of clinical cancer research.

Inhalable CAR-T cell-derived exosomes as paclitaxel carriers for treating lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a worldwide health threat with high annual morbidity and mortality. Chemotherapeutic drugs such as paclitaxel (PTX) have been widely applied clinically. However, systemic toxicity due to the non-specific circulation of PTX often leads to multi-organ damage, including to the liver and kidney. Thus, it is necessary to develop a novel strategy to enhance the targeted antitumor effects of PTX.

METHODS

Here, we engineered exosomes derived from T cells expressing the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-Exos), which targeted mesothelin (MSLN)-expressing Lewis lung cancer (MSLN-LLC) through the anti-MSLN single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of CAR-Exos. PTX was encapsulated into CAR-Exos (PTX@CAR-Exos) and administered via inhalation to an orthotopic lung cancer mouse model.

RESULTS

Inhaled PTX@CAR-Exos accumulated within the tumor area, reduced tumor size, and prolonged survival with little toxicity. In addition, PTX@CAR-Exos reprogrammed the tumor microenvironment and reversed the immunosuppression, which was attributed to infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells and elevated IFN-γ and TNF-α levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides a nanovesicle-based delivery platform to promote the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs with fewer side effects. This novel strategy may ameliorate the present obstacles to the clinical treatment of lung cancer.

Challenges and opportunities for improving the druggability of natural product: Why need drug delivery system?

Bioactive natural products (BNPs) are the marrow of medicinal plants, which are the secondary metabolites of organisms and have been the most famous drug discovery database. Bioactive natural products are famous for their enormous number and great safety in medical applications. However, BNPs are troubled by their poor druggability compared with synthesis drugs and are challenged as medicine (only a few BNPs are applied in clinical settings). In order to find a reasonable solution to improving the druggability of BNPs, this review summarizes their bioactive nature based on the enormous pharmacological research and tries to explain the reasons for the poor druggability of BNPs. And then focused on the boosting research on BNPs loaded drug delivery systems, this review further concludes the advantages of drug delivery systems on the druggability improvement of BNPs from the perspective of their bioactive nature, discusses why BNPs need drug delivery systems, and predicts the next direction.

The Role of Integrins for Mediating Nanodrugs to Improve Performance in Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment

Integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane proteins that mediate adhesive connections between cells and their surroundings, including surrounding cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). They modulate tissue mechanics and regulate intracellular signaling, including cell generation, survival, proliferation, and differentiation, and the up-regulation of integrins in tumor cells has been confirmed to be associated with tumor development, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Thus, integrins are expected to be an effective target to improve the efficacy of tumor therapy. A variety of integrin-targeting nanodrugs have been developed to improve the distribution and penetration of drugs in tumors, thereby, improving the efficiency of clinical tumor diagnosis and treatment. Herein, we focus on these innovative drug delivery systems and reveal the improved efficacy of integrin-targeting methods in tumor therapy, hoping to provide prospective guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of integrin-targeting tumors.

Nanomaterial-Based Antivascular Therapy in the Multimodal Treatment of Cancer

Abnormal tumor vasculature and a hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) limit the effectiveness of conventional cancer treatment. Recent studies have shown that antivascular strategies that focus on antagonizing the hypoxic TME and promoting vessel normalization effectively synergize to increase the antitumor efficacy of conventional therapeutic regimens. By integrating multiple therapeutic agents, well-designed nanomaterials exhibit great advantages in achieving higher drug delivery efficiency and can be used as multimodal therapy with reduced systemic toxicity. In this review, strategies for the nanomaterial-based administration of antivascular therapy combined with other common tumor treatments, including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, phototherapy, radiotherapy, and interventional therapy, are summarized. In particular, the administration of intravascular therapy and other therapies with the use of versatile nanodrugs is also described. This review provides a reference for the development of multifunctional nanotheranostic platforms for effective antivascular therapy in combined anticancer treatments.

Lipid-functionalized gold nanorods with plug-to-direct mitochondria targeting ligand for synergetic photothermal-chemotherapy of tumor therapy

Mitochondria targeting therapeutic strategies are promising for more effective and precise cancer therapy. Photothermal therapy are extensively studied as noninvasive cancer treatment. With regards to all-in-one nanocarrier-mediated drug delivery platform, it is still a challenge to enhance one of the features but not compromise other merits. Herein, we present a mitochondrial targeting photothermal-chemotherapy all-in-one nanoplatform involving lipid-functionalized gold nanorods (AuNR) with plug-to-direct mitochondria targeting ligand for synergetic enhanced tumor therapy. Firstly, AuNR were modified by DSPE-PEG-SH owing to the special affinity of sulfhydryl group and gold. And then, DSPE-PEG-DOX with mitochondrial targeting character was directly inserted into DSPE-PEG-SH layer. Meanwhile, paclitaxel (PTX) was loaded in hydrophobic region of the lipid layer. Quite different from introducing additional mitochondrial targeting molecules, we incorporated amphiphilic DSPE-PEG-DOX into a DSPE-PEG-SH layer modified around AuNR to achieve both mitochondrial targeting, photothermal and dual drug loading in a simple AuNR-lipid-DOX/PTX platform, in the case that efficiently enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mitochondria and excellent anti-tumor efficacy were achieved. With good biocompatibility, the constructed nanoplatform based on lipid-functionalized AuNR synergistically combined mitochondrial targeted DSPE-PEG-DOX with mitochondrial-acted PTX and photothermal therapy (PTT), which provided a feasible strategy for organelle-targeted combination PTT-chemotherapy to improve therapeutic effects.

Codelivery of Phytochemicals with Conventional Anticancer Drugs in Form of Nanocarriers

Anticancer drugs in monotherapy are ineffective to treat various kinds of cancer due to the heterogeneous nature of cancer. Moreover, available anticancer drugs possessed various hurdles, such as drug resistance, insensitivity of cancer cells to drugs, adverse effects and patient inconveniences. Hence, plant-based phytochemicals could be a better substitute for conventional chemotherapy for treatment of cancer due to various properties: lesser adverse effects, action via multiple pathways, economical, etc. Various preclinical studies have demonstrated that a combination of phytochemicals with conventional anticancer drugs is more efficacious than phytochemicals individually to treat cancer because plant-derived compounds have lower anticancer efficacy than conventional anticancer drugs. Moreover, phytochemicals suffer from poor aqueous solubility and reduced bioavailability, which must be resolved for efficacious treatment of cancer. Therefore, nanotechnology-based novel carriers are employed for codelivery of phytochemicals and conventional anticancer drugs for better treatment of cancer. These novel carriers include nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, metallic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes that provide various benefits of improved solubility, reduced adverse effects, higher efficacy, reduced dose, improved dosing frequency, reduced drug resistance, improved bioavailability and higher patient compliance. This review summarizes various phytochemicals employed in treatment of cancer, combination therapy of phytochemicals with anticancer drugs and various nanotechnology-based carriers to deliver the combination therapy in treatment of cancer.

PDT-sensitized ROS-responsive dextran nanosystem for maximizing antitumor potency of multi-target drugs

The heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment leads to uneven distribution of bio-stimuli. Thus, the multi-site delivery efficiency of responsive drug delivery systems (DDS) inner tumor was always limited. Herein, we proposed a combination strategy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with ROS-responsive nanosystem which was constructed from dextran-phenylboronic acid pinacol ester conjugates. This combination utilized PDT to amplify and homogenize tissular oxidation level, and achieve effective multi-site response and release of multi-target drugs like gambogic acid (GA). Our research demonstrated the successful preparation of GA and protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) co-loaded nanoparticles, and the PDT-mediated spatiotemporal controlled multi-site drug release in simulated conditions. Furthermore, data from in vitro and in vivo researches on B16F10 cells, HUVEC, and B16F10-bearing C57BL/6 mice potently confirmed the enhanced multi-mechanism regulations of GA mediated by the effective and homogeneous tumoral release. This tactic based on bio-stimuli amplification and homogenization proposes a paradigm to maximize the potency of multi-target drugs.

Oral spatial-to-point cascade targeting "sugar-coated bullets" for precise and safe chemotherapy by intervention Warburg effect

Glycolysis plays a vital role in the development and progression of tumors. Inhibiting glycolysis via smart and safe methods serves as a promising target for cancer therapy. Here, an oral "sugar-coated bullet" aiming at intervening Warburg effect is designed by coating colloidal mesoporous silica nanoparticles (CMS) encapsulating glycolysis inhibitor shikonin (SHK) with dextran, namely DCMS/SHK. The solubility and drug-loading capacity of SHK were enhanced by the special structure of CMS. Besides, the tempting bullets possess the spatial-to-point cascade targeting ability in delivering SHK from the colonic lumen to colon cancer cells and finally to PKM2. After DCMS/SHK reaches the colon, the dextran is hydrolyzed by dextranase especially existing in the colon site to glucose and the carriers become glucose-coated nanoparticles. The glucose-cloak nanoparticles would be largely endocytosed by tumor cells and complete the efficient delivery of SHK. The encapsulated SHK can prevent the glycolysis of cancer cells and thus inhibit tumor growth effectively. This work presents an ingenious cascade colon-targeting strategy to treat colon cancer by destroying cell energy metabolism.

Polysaccharide-based nanocarriers for efficient transvascular drug delivery

Polysaccharide-based nanocarriers (PBNs) are the focus of extensive investigation because of their biocompatibility, low cost, wide availability, and chemical versatility, which allow a wide range of anticancer agents to be loaded within the nanocarriers. Similar to other nanocarriers, most PBNs are designed to extravasate out of tumor vessels, depending on the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. However, the EPR effect is compromised in some tumors due to the heterogeneity of tumor structures. Transvascular transport efficacy is decreased by complex blood vessels and condensed tumor stroma. The limited extravasation impedes efficient drug delivery into tumor parenchyma, and thus affects the subsequent tumor accumulation, which hinders the therapeutic effect of PBNs. Therefore, overcoming the biological barriers that restrict extravasation from tumor vessels is of great importance in PBN design. Many strategies have been developed to enhance the EPR effect that involve nanocarrier property regulation and tumor structure remodeling. Moreover, some researchers have proposed active transcytosis pathways that are complementary to the paracellular EPR effect to increase the transvascular extravasation efficiency of PBNs. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the design of PBNs with enhanced transvascular transport to enable optimization of PBNs in the extravasation of the drug delivery process. We also discuss the obstacles and challenges that need to be addressed to clarify the transendothemial mechanism of PBNs and the potential interactions between extravasation and other drug delivery steps.

Dextran Formulations as Effective Delivery Systems of Therapeutic Agents

Dextran is by far one of the most interesting non-toxic, bio-compatible macromolecules, an exopolysaccharide biosynthesized by lactic acid bacteria. It has been extensively used as a major component in many types of drug-delivery systems (DDS), which can be submitted to the next in-vivo testing stages, and may be proposed for clinical trials or pharmaceutical use approval. An important aspect to consider in order to maintain high DDS' biocompatibility is the use of dextran obtained by fermentation processes and with a minimum chemical modification degree. By performing chemical modifications, artefacts can appear in the dextran spatial structure that can lead to decreased biocompatibility or even cytotoxicity. The present review aims to systematize DDS depending on the dextran type used and the biologically active compounds transported, in order to obtain desired therapeutic effects. So far, pure dextran and modified dextran such as acetalated, oxidised, carboxymethyl, diethylaminoethyl-dextran and dextran sulphate sodium, were used to develop several DDSs: microspheres, microparticles, nanoparticles, nanodroplets, liposomes, micelles and nanomicelles, hydrogels, films, nanowires, bio-conjugates, medical adhesives and others. The DDS are critically presented by structures, biocompatibility, drugs loaded and therapeutic points of view in order to highlight future therapeutic perspectives.

Recent advances in flavonoid-based nanocarriers as an emerging drug delivery approach for cancer chemotherapy

Flavonoids are an interesting class of biomolecules, which exhibit cancer-inhibitory effects through both chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activities. However, their therapeutic efficacy is affected by poor pharmacokinetics (PK) and biopharmaceutical attributes. One of the most promising approaches to resolve these issues is to formulate flavonoids in nanosystems. Different flavonoid nanoformulations have shown therapeutic superiority over free flavonoids. Functionalization of nanoparticles (NPs) further improves their therapeutic efficacy by facilitating site-specific delivery and reducing nonspecific toxicities. In this review, we highlight recent developments in the field of flavonoid-based NPs to gain translational insights into the potential applications of flavonoid-based nanocarriers in cancer management.

Nano-drug co-delivery system of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment: a review

Chemotherapy drugs have been used for a long time in the treatment of cancer, but serious side effects are caused by the inability of the drug to be solely delivered to the tumor when treating cancer with chemotherapy. Natural products have attracted more and more attention due to the antitumor effect in multiple ways, abundant resources and less side effects. Therefore, the combination of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs may be an effective antitumor strategy, which can inhibit the growth of tumor and multidrug resistance, reduce side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Nano-drug co-delivery system (NDCDS) can play an important role in the combination of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the research status and application prospect of nano-delivery strategies for the combination of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs, aiming to provide a basis for the development of anti-tumor drugs.

Advances in Engineered Biomaterials Targeting Angiogenesis and Cell Proliferation for Cancer Therapy

Antiangiogenic therapy in combination with chemotherapeutic agents is an effective strategy for cancer treatment. However, this combination therapy is associated with several challenges including non-specific biodistribution leading to systemic toxicity. Biomaterial-mediated codelivery of chemotherapeutic and anti-angiogenic agents can exploit their passive and active targeting abilities, leading to improved drug accumulation at the tumor site and therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we present the progress made in the field of engineered biomaterials for codelivery of chemotherapeutic and antiangiogenic agents. We present advances in engineering of liposome/hydrogel/micelle-based biomaterials for delivery of combination of anticancer and anti-angiogenesis drugs, or combination of anticancer and siRNA targeting angiogenesis, and targeted nanoparticles. We then present our perspective on developing strategies for targeting angiogenesis and cell proliferation for cancer therapy.

Coordinated regulation of BACH1 and mitochondrial metabolism through tumor-targeted self-assembled nanoparticles for effective triple negative breast cancer combination therapy

The poor prognosis of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) results from a lack of approved targeted therapies coupled with aggressive proliferation and metastasis, which is associated with high recurrence and short overall survival. Here we developed a strategy by employing tumor-targeted self-assembled nanoparticles to coordinately regulate BACH1 (BTB domain and CNC homology 1) and mitochondrial metabolism. The BACH1 inhibitor hemin and mitochondria function inhibitor berberine derivative (BD) were used to prepare nanoparticles (BH NPs) followed by the modification of chondroitin sulfate (CS) on the surface of BH NPs to achieve tumor targeting (CS/BH NPs). CS/BH NPs were found to be able to inhibit tumor migration and invasion by significantly decreasing the amounts of tumor cell metabolites, glycolysis and metastasis-associated proteins, which were related to the inhibition of BACH1 function. Meanwhile, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, activated caspase 3/9 and increased ROS production demonstrated coordinated regulation of BACH1 and mitochondrial metabolism. In a xenograft mice model of breast cancer, CS/BH NPs significantly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis due to the synergetic effect of hemin and BD without showing obvious toxicities for major organs. In sum, the results of efficacy and safety experiments suggest potential clinical significance of the prepared self-assembled CS/BH nanoparticles for the treatment of TNBC.

Natural Products-Based Nanoformulations: A New Approach Targeting CSCs to Cancer Therapy

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) lead to the occurrence and progression of cancer due to their strong tumorigenic, self-renewal, and multidirectional differentiation abilities. Existing cancer treatment methods cannot effectively kill or inhibit CSCs but instead enrich them and produce stronger proliferation, invasion, and metastasis capabilities, resulting in cancer recurrence and treatment resistance, which has become a difficult problem in clinical treatment. Therefore, targeting CSCs may be the most promising approach for comprehensive cancer therapy in the future. A variety of natural products (NP) have significant antitumor effects and have been identified to target and inhibit CSCs. However, pharmacokinetic defects and off-target effects have greatly hindered their clinical translation. NP-based nanoformulations (NPNs) have tremendous potential to overcome the disadvantages of NP against CSCs through site-specific delivery and by improving their pharmacokinetic parameters. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of NPNs targeting CSCs in cancer therapy, looking forward to transforming preclinical research results into clinical applications and bringing new prospects for cancer treatment.

Estrone-Conjugated PEGylated Liposome Co-Loaded Paclitaxel and Carboplatin Improve Anti-Tumor Efficacy in Ovarian Cancer and Reduce Acute Toxicity of Chemo-Drugs

Purpose

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. The combination of paclitaxel (PTX) and carboplatin (CBP) is the first-line remedy for clinical ovarian cancer. However, due to the limitations of adverse reaction and lacking of targeting ability, the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer is still poorly effective. Here, a novel estrone (ES)-conjugated PEGylated liposome co-loaded PTX and CBP (ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP) was designed for overcoming the above disadvantages.

Methods

ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP was prepared by film hydration method and could recognize estrogen receptor (ER) over-expressing on the surface of SKOV-3 cells. The characterizations, stability and in vitro release of ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP were studied. In vitro cellular uptake and its mechanism were observed by fluorescence microscope. In vivo targeting effect in tumor-bearing mice was determined. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution were studied in ICR mice. In vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy were evaluated on SKOV-3 cells and tumor-bearing mice, respectively. Finally, the acute toxicity in ICR mice was explored for assessing the preliminary safety of ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP.

Results

Our results showed that ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP was spherical shape without aggregation. ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP exhibited the optimum targeting effect on uptake in vitro and in vivo. The pharmacokinetics demonstrated ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP had improved the pharmacokinetic behavior. In vitro cytotoxicity showed that ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP maximally inhibited SKOV-3 cell proliferation and its IC₅₀ values was 1.6 times lower than that of non-ES conjugated liposomes at 72 h. The in vivo anti-tumor efficacy study demonstrated that ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP could lead strong SKOV-3 tumor growth suppression with a tumor volume inhibitory rate of 81.8%. Meanwhile, acute toxicity studies confirmed that ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP significantly reduced the toxicity of the chemo drugs.

Conclusion

ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP was successfully prepared with an optimal physicochemical and ER targeting property. The data of pharmacokinetics, anti-tumor efficacy and safety study indicated that ES-PEG-Lip-PTX/CBP could become a promising therapeutic formulation for human ovarian cancer in the future clinic.

Drug Nanocrystals for Active Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery

Drug nanocrystals, which are comprised of active pharmaceutical ingredients and only a small amount of essential stabilizers, have the ability to improve the solubility, dissolution and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs; in turn, drug nanocrystal technology can be utilized to develop novel formulations of chemotherapeutic drugs. Compared with passive targeting strategy, active tumor-targeted drug delivery, typically enabled by specific targeting ligands or molecules modified onto the surface of nanomedicines, circumvents the weak and heterogeneous enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect in human tumors and overcomes the disadvantages of nonspecific drug distribution, high administration dosage and undesired side effects, thereby contributing to improving the efficacy and safety of conventional nanomedicines for chemotherapy. Continuous efforts have been made in the development of active tumor-targeted drug nanocrystals delivery systems in recent years, most of which are encouraging and also enlightening for further investigation and clinical translation.

Emerging nanomedicines of paclitaxel for cancer treatment

Malignant tumor is still a leading threat to human health. Despite the rapid development of targeted therapeutic strategies, any treatment specifically acting on single target would inevitably suffer from tumor resistance, largely due to the genetic instability and variability of tumor cells. Thus, traditional therapies such as broad-spectrum chemotherapy would certainly occupy an important position in clinical cancer therapy. Nevertheless, most chemotherapeutic drugs have long been criticized for unsatisfactory therapeutic efficacy with severe off-target toxicity. Although several chemotherapeutic nanomedicines with improved therapeutic safety have been applied in clinics, the therapeutic outcomes still do not fulfill expectation. To address this challenge, enormous efforts have been devoted to developing novel nano-formulations for efficient delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs. Herein, we aim to outline the latest progression in the emerging nanomedicines of paclitaxel (PTX), with special attention to the functional nanocarriers, self-delivering prodrug-nanoassemblies and combination nanotherapeutics of PTX. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of these functional PTX nanomedicines in clinical translation are spotlighted.

Emergence of Advanced Manufacturing Techniques for Engineered Polymeric Systems in Cancer Treatment

Clinical performances of chemotherapeutic drugs which are used to manage different stages of cancers are usually facing numerous pharmacological challenges such as tumor microenvironment, high dose requirements, poor selectivity towards cancer cells, life-threatening cytotoxicity, and frequent drug resistance incidences, in addition to pharmacotechnical issues such as poor aqueous solubility, uncontrolled drug-release, low stability, non-specific bio-distribution, and erratic bioavailability profiles. The chapter aims to provide a brief account of advancements made in nanotechnology-enabled manufacturing engineering tools for manipulating polymeric materials as efficient carriers so that loaded anti-cancer drugs would exhibit better therapeutic applications and optimized clinical significance in cancers.

Development and optimization of paclitaxel loaded Eudragit/PLGA nanoparticles by simplex lattice mixture design: Exploration of improved hemocompatibility and in vivo kinetics

Anemia is the most common hematological abnormality of chemotherapy, which is responsible for poor clinical outcomes. To overcome this complication, the present study was aimed for developing a Eudragit/polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) based nanoparticulate system for a model drug paclitaxel (PTX). The study was planned using a simplex lattice mixture design. PTX nanoparticles (PTXNp) were evaluated in vitro for physicochemical properties, hemolytic effects and cytotoxic effects. Further, the nanoparticles were subjected to in vivo screening using rats for hemocompatibility, pharmacokinetic profile, and biodistribution to the vital organs. The PTXNps were 65.77-214.73 nm in size, showed more than 60% sustained drug release in 360 h and caused less than 8% hemolysis. The parameters like red blood cell count, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT) and C3 complement were similar to the negative control. Cytotoxicity results suggested that all the PTXNp demonstrated drug concentration-dependent cytotoxicity. The in vivo pharmacokinetic study concluded that PTXNp formulations had significantly higher blood AUC (93.194.55-163,071.15 h*ng/mL), longer half-lives (5.80-6.35 h) and extended mean residence times (6.05-8.54 h) in comparison to PTX solution (p < 0.05). Overall, the study provides a nanoparticulate drug delivery system to deliver PTX safely and effectively along with reducing the associated hematological adverse effects.

Sorafenib and triptolide loaded cancer cell-platelet hybrid membrane-camouflaged liquid crystalline lipid nanoparticles for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

In addition to early detection, early diagnosis, and early surgery, it is of great significance to use new strategies for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Studies showed that the combination of sorafenib (SFN) and triptolide (TPL) could reduce the clinical dose of SFN and maintain good anti-HCC effect. But the solubility of SFN and TPL in water is low and both drugs have certain toxicity. Therefore, we constructed a biomimetic nanosystem based on cancer cell-platelet (PLT) hybrid membrane camouflage to co-deliver SFN and TPL taking advantage of PLT membrane with long circulation functions and tumor cell membrane with homologous targeting. The biomimetic nanosystem, SFN and TPL loaded cancer cell-PLT hybrid membrane-camouflaged liquid crystalline lipid nanoparticles ((SFN + TPL)@CPLCNPs), could simultaneously load SFN and TPL at the molar ratio of SFN to TPL close to 10:1. (SFN + TPL)@CPLCNPs achieved long circulation function and tumor targeting at the same time, promoting tumor cell apoptosis, inhibiting tumor growth, and achieving a better "synergy and attenuation effect", which provided new ideas for the treatment of HCC.

Cancer nanotechnology: current status and perspectives

Modern medicine has been waging a war on cancer for nearly a century with no tangible end in sight. Cancer treatments have significantly progressed, but the need to increase specificity and decrease systemic toxicities remains. Early diagnosis holds a key to improving prognostic outlook and patient quality of life, and diagnostic tools are on the cusp of a technological revolution. Nanotechnology has steadily expanded into the reaches of cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, diagnostics, and imaging, demonstrating the capacity to augment each and advance patient care. Nanomaterials provide an abundance of versatility, functionality, and applications to engineer specifically targeted cancer medicine, accurate early-detection devices, robust imaging modalities, and enhanced radiotherapy adjuvants. This review provides insights into the current clinical and pre-clinical nanotechnological applications for cancer drug therapy, diagnostics, imaging, and radiation therapy.

Multiple-therapy strategies via polysaccharides-based nano-systems in fighting cancer

Polysaccharide-based biomaterials (e.g., chitosan, dextran, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and heparin) have received great attention in healthcare, particularly in drug delivery for tumor therapy. They are naturally abundant and available, outstandingly biodegradable and biocompatible, and they generally have negligible toxicity and low immunogenicity. In addition, they are easily chemically or physically modified. Therefore, PSs-based nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively investigated for the enhancement of tumor treatment. In this review, we introduce the synthetic pathways of amphiphilic PS derivatives, which allow the constructs to self-assemble into NPs with various structures. We especially offer an overview of the emerging applications of self-assembled PSs-based NPs in tumor chemotherapy, photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), gene therapy and immunotherapy. We believe that this review can provide criteria for a rational and molecular level-based design of PS-based NPs, and comprehensive insight into the potential of PS-based NPs used in multiple cancer therapies.

Enhanced Synergistic-Antioxidant Activity of Melatonin and Tretinoin by Co-encapsulation into Amphiphilic Chitosan Nanocarriers: During Mice In Vitro Matured Oocyte/Morula-Compact Stage Embryo Culture Model

The use of exogenous antioxidants or the combination of them during in vitro oocyte/embryo culture media is reasonable. Co-delivery by nanocarrier has been designed to overcome the limitations of combining them traditionally. In this work, amphiphilic chitosan nanocarrier (ACN) was applied to co-encapsulate melatonin (Mel) and tretinoin (TTN) by the self-assembled method and evaluate their synergistic antioxidant efficacy in mice oocytes/embryos. The formation of single/dual-ACN was confirmed by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The average particle diameter, size distribution, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential of them were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the morphology was evaluated by TEM and SEM technologies. Also, the encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and drug loading content (DL%) of the nanocapsules were determined by UV-vis spectrophotometry. Studies of the in vitro release showed a continued drug release without any bursting effect of Mel+TTN-ACNs compared with single Mel/TTN-ACNs. Then, in both experiments, nuclear staining (Aceto-orcein and Hoechst 33342), fluorescent staining of H2DCFDA, chemiluminescence test, and qRT-PCR technique were performed as in vitro toxicity studies. The results of all these evaluations demonstrated that the dual delivery of Mel and TTN could accumulate a safety (without high-dose toxicity) synergistic anti-oxidative effect in oocyte/embryo by passive controlled, and inhibit intra/extracellular ROS levels by an enhanced intracellular penetration.

Self-Assembled pH-Sensitive Nanoparticles Based on Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharide-Methotrexate Conjugates for the Co-delivery of Anti-tumor Drugs

In tumor therapy, polymer nanoparticles are ideal drug delivery materials because they can mask the disadvantages of anti-tumor drugs such as poor solubility in water, high toxicity, and side effects. However, most polymer-based nanoparticles do not themselves have anti-tumor properties. Herein, a novel pH-sensitive nanoparticle drug delivery system based on Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs), which have demonstrated anti-tumor activities, was designed to enable the delivery of methotrexate (MTX) and 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) to tumor cells, where they could exert synergistic anti-tumor effects. The prepared nanoparticles were irregularly spherical in shape with a uniform particle size of ∼190 nm, and they exhibited a high drug-loading capacity (MTX 21.5% and HCPT 22.6%) and excellent biocompatibility. Moreover, the loaded MTX and HCPT units were rapidly released under acidic conditions within the tumor cells while remaining stable under normal physiological conditions. Meanwhile, compared to free MTX and HCPT, the GLP-APBA-MTX/HCPT nanoparticles presented exhibited better tumor suppressive effects and fewer side effects in vivo, which indicates that they may be an effective anti-tumor treatment strategy.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Colorectal Cancer: Implications for Drug Discovery

As an important part of complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been applied to treat a host of diseases for centuries. Over the years, with the incidence rate of human colorectal cancer (CRC) increasing continuously and the advantage of TCM gradually becoming more prominent, the importance of TCM in both domestic and international fields is also growing with each passing day. However, the unknowability of active ingredients, effective substances, and the underlying mechanisms of TCM against this malignant tumor greatly restricts the translation degree of clinical products and the pace of precision medicine. In this review, based on the characteristics of TCM and the oral administration of most ingredients, we herein provide beneficial information for the clinical utilization of TCM in the prevention and treatment of CRC and retrospect the current preclinical studies on the related active ingredients, as well as put forward the research mode for the discovery of active ingredients and effective substances in TCM, to provide novel insights into the research and development of innovative agents from this conventional medicine for CRC treatment and assist the realization of precision medicine.

Redox-sensitive hyaluronic acid-cholesterol nanovehicles potentiate efficient transmembrane internalization and controlled release for penetrated "full-line" inhibition of pre-metastatic initiation

Metastatic breast cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The tumor-specific penetration and triggered drug release for "full-line" inhibition of pre-metastatic initiation are of essential importance in improving mortality rates. Here, a crosslinked, redox-sensitive amphiphilic conjugate (cHLC) was constructed with a combination of features, including hyaluronic acid (HA)-mediated tumor active targeting, lipoic acid (LA) core-crosslinking based bio-stability and reducibility, and lipid raft anchoring-promoted HA-mediated endocytosis through cholesterol (CHO) modification for the penetrated co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and the multi-targeted anti-metastatic agent, silibinin (SB). Resultantly, the nanodrug (cHLC/(PTX + SB)) demonstrated enhanced tumor cytoplasm-selective rapid drug delivery in a 4T1 model both in vitro and in vivo. The released SB efficiently sensitized cells to PTX treatment and inhibited the whole process of pre-metastatic initiation including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), local and blood vessel invasion. The exquisite design of this delivery system provides a deep insight into enhancing focus accessibility of multi-targeted drugs for an efficient inhibition of tumor metastasis.

Nano drug delivery system reconstruct tumour vasculature for the tumour vascular normalisation

The abnormal structure and function of blood vessels in the TME are obvious characteristics of the tumour. Abnormal blood vessels with high leakage support the occurrence of malignant tumours and increase the possibility of tumour cell invasion and metastasis. The formation of abnormal vascular also enhances immunosuppression and prevents the delivery of chemotherapy drugs to deeper tumours. Therefore, the normalisation of tumour blood vessels is a very promising approach to improve anti-tumour efficacy, aiming to restore the structural integrity of vessels and improve drug delivery efficiency and anti-tumour immunity. In this review, we have summarised strategies to improve cancer treatment that via nano drug delivery technology regulates the normalisation of tumour blood vessels. The treatment strategies related to the structure and function of tumour blood vessels such as angiogenesis factors, tumour-associated macrophages, tumour vascular endothelial cells, tumour-associated fibroblasts and immune checkpoints in the TME were mainly discussed. The normalisation of tumour blood vessels presents new opportunities and challenges for the more efficient delivery of nanoparticles to tumour tissues and cells and an innovative combination of treatments for cancer.

Recent advances in the production of biomedical systems based on polyhydroxyalkanoates and exopolysaccharides

In recent years, growing attention has been devoted to naturally occurring biological macromolecules and their ensuing application in agriculture, cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical industries. They inherently have antigenicity, low immunogenicity, excellent biocompatibility and cytocompatibility, which are ideal properties for the design of biomedical devices, especially for the controlled delivery of active ingredients in the most diverse contexts. Furthermore, these properties can be modulated by chemical modification via the incorporation of other (macro)molecules in a random or controlled way, aiming at improving their functionality for each specific application. Among the wide variety of natural polymers, microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) are often considered for the development of original biomaterials due to their unique physicochemical and biological features. Here, we aim to fullfil a gap on the present associated literature, bringing an up-to-date overview of ongoing research strategies that make use of PHAs (poly (3-hydroxybutyrate), poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), poly (3-hydroxyoctanoate), poly(3-hydroxypropionate), poly (3-hydroxyhexanoate-co-3-hydroxyoctanoate), and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)) and EPS (bacterial cellulose, alginates, curdlan, pullulan, xanthan gum, dextran, hyaluronan, and schizophyllan) as sources of interesting and versatile biomaterials. For the first time, a monograph addressing the properties, pros and cons, status, challenges, and recent progresses regarding the application of these two important classes of biopolymers in biomedicine is presented.

Co-encapsulation of tertinoin and resveratrol by solid lipid nanocarrier (SLN) improves mice in vitro matured oocyte/ morula-compact stage embryo development

As a promising strategy in overcoming drug resistance, the nano drug co-delivery system (NDCDS) can transport two or more drugs into the cell. In this study, we sought to compare the dual and single drug-delivery system, to deliver the optimal dose of Resveratrol (RES) and Tretinoin (TTN) into the in vitro matured oocyte and morula-compact stage embryonic cells. The formation of single (RES/TTN) and dual-drug (RES + TTN)-SLN were confirmed by Uv-vis spectrophotometery, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technologies. In two experiments, the oocytes/presumptive zygotes were cultured under various concentrations of the single (RES/TTN) and dual-drug (RES + TTN)-SLN. In vitro toxicity studies, including nuclear staining (Aceto-orcein and Hoechst 33342), H2DCFDA fluorescent staining, chemiluminescence assay, and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) techniques, indicated an excellent oocyte/embryo internalization of RES and TTN. Moreover, when oocytes/embryos were treated with the lowest concentration of RES + TTN-SLN, antioxidants-related genes were upregulated, apoptotic-related genes were downregulated, and intra/extracellular ROS production was reduced. In vitro cytotoxicity studies also demonstrated that single/dual-encapsulation of RES or TTN were safe even at the highest concentration (10 and 5 μM) compared to the control group. To sum it up, both delivery systems of RES and TTN by SLN (dual or single encapsulation) can deliver the optimal dose of RES and TTN into the oocyte/embryo. Where the dual-delivery of RES and TTN even at the lowest concentration (0.25 μM + 0.1 μm) showed a synergistic anti-oxidative effect in oocyte/embryo with a better inhibition of intra/extra-cellular ROS production by an enhanced/controlled intracellular penetration.