Tumor microenvironment-activated self-recognizing nanodrug through directly tailored assembly of small-molecules for targeted synergistic chemotherapy

Four-component of double-layer infinite coordination polymer nanocomposites for large tumor trimodal therapy via multi high-efficiency synergies

Multimodal /components tumors synergistic therapy is a crucial approach for enhancing comprehensive efficacy. Our research has identified lots of high efficiency synergies among four suitable components, revealing combinations with remarkably low combination index (CI) values (10-3-10-8). These combinations hold promise for large tumor powerful electrothermal-thermodynamic-multi-chemo trimodal therapy. To implement this approach, we developed four-component of double-layer infinite coordination polymer (ICP) nanocomposites, in which hypoxia-activated AQ4N and thermodynamic agent AIPH coordinated with Cu(Ⅱ) to form initial layer of positively charged ICPs-l NPs, chemotherapeutic agents gossypol-hyaluronic acid (G-HA) and CA4 coordinated with Fe(Ⅲ) to form out layer of negatively charged ICPs-2 NPs, then double-layer infinite coordination polymer nanocomposites (ICPs-1@ICPs-2 CNPs) were fabricated by electrostatic adsorption using ICPs-l NPs and ICPs-2 NPs. Cell experiments have extensively optimized the coordination combinations of the four components and the composition of the two layers. A programmable three-stage therapeutic procedure, assisted by a micro-electrothermal needle (MEN), was developed. Under this procedure the resulting nanocomposites demonstrate the powerful trimodal comprehensive therapeutic outcomes for large tumors using lower components dosage, achieving a tumor inhibition rate nearly reaching 100 % and no recurrence for 60 days. This study offers remarkable potential for tumor multimodal /components synergistic therapy in future.

Integrated oral microgel system ameliorates renal fibrosis by hitchhiking co-delivery and targeted gut flora modulation

BACKGROUND

Renal fibrosis is a progressive process associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), contributing to impaired kidney function. Active constituents in traditional Chinese herbs, such as emodin (EMO) and asiatic acid (AA), exhibit potent anti-fibrotic properties. However, the oral administration of EMO and AA results in low bioavailability and limited kidney accumulation. Additionally, while oral probiotics have been accepted for CKD treatment through gut microbiota modulation, a significant challenge lies in ensuring their viability upon administration. Therefore, our study aims to address both renal fibrosis and gut microbiota imbalance through innovative co-delivery strategies.

RESULTS

In this study, we developed yeast cell wall particles (YCWPs) encapsulating EMO and AA self-assembled nanoparticles (NPYs) and embedded them, along with Lactobacillus casei Zhang, in chitosan/sodium alginate (CS/SA) microgels. The developed microgels showed significant controlled release properties for the loaded NPYs and prolonged the retention time of Lactobacillus casei Zhang (L. casei Zhang) in the intestine. Furthermore, in vivo biodistribution showed that the microgel-carried NPYs significantly accumulated in the obstructed kidneys of rats, thereby substantially increasing the accumulation of EMO and AA in the impaired kidneys. More importantly, through hitchhiking delivery based on yeast cell wall and positive modulation of gut microbiota, our microgels with this synergistic strategy of therapeutic and modulatory interactions could regulate the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and thus effectively ameliorate renal fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rats.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our work provides a new strategy for the treatment of renal fibrosis based on hitchhiking co-delivery of nanodrugs and probiotics to achieve synergistic effects of disease treatment and targeted gut flora modulation.

pH/glutathione dual-responsive copper sulfide-coated organic mesoporous silica for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy

Nanodrug delivery systems (NDSs), such as mesoporous silica, have been widely studied because of their high specific surface area, high loading rate, and easy modification; however, they are not easily metabolized and excreted by the human body and may be potentially harmful. Hence, we aimed to examine the synergistic anti-tumor effects of ex vivo chemo-photothermal therapy to develop a rational and highly biocompatible treatment protocol for tumors. We constructed a biodegradable NDS using organic mesoporous silica with a tetrasulfide bond structure, copper sulfide core, and folic acid-modified surface (CuS@DMONs-FA-DOX-PEG) to target a tumor site, dissociate, and release the drug. The degradation ability, photothermal conversion ability, hemocompatibility, and in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor effects of the CuS@DMONs-FA-DOX-PEG nanoparticles were evaluated. Our findings revealed that the nanoparticles encapsulated in copper sulfide exhibited significant photothermal activity and optimal photothermal conversion rate. Further, the drug was accurately delivered and released into the target tumor cells, annihilating them. This study demonstrated the successful preparation, safety, and synergistic anti-tumor effects of chemo-photothermal therapeutic nanomaterials.

Therapeutic Supramolecular Polymers: Designs and Applications

The self-assembly of low-molecular-weight building motifs into supramolecular polymers has unlocked a new realm of materials with distinct properties and tremendous potential for advancing medical practices. Leveraging the reversible and dynamic nature of non-covalent interactions, these supramolecular polymers exhibit inherent responsiveness to their microenvironment, physiological cues, and biomolecular signals, making them uniquely suited for diverse biomedical applications. In this review, we intend to explore the principles of design, synthesis methodologies, and strategic developments that underlie the creation of supramolecular polymers as carriers for therapeutics, contributing to the treatment and prevention of a spectrum of human diseases. We delve into the principles underlying monomer design, emphasizing the pivotal role of non-covalent interactions, directionality, and reversibility. Moreover, we explore the intricate balance between thermodynamics and kinetics in supramolecular polymerization, illuminating strategies for achieving controlled sizes and distributions. Categorically, we examine their exciting biomedical applications: individual polymers as discrete carriers for therapeutics, delving into their interactions with cells, and in vivo dynamics; and supramolecular polymeric hydrogels as injectable depots, with a focus on their roles in cancer immunotherapy, sustained drug release, and regenerative medicine. As the field continues to burgeon, harnessing the unique attributes of therapeutic supramolecular polymers holds the promise of transformative impacts across the biomedical landscape.

Self-delivery of a metal-coordinated anti-angiogenic nanodrug with GSH depleting ability for synergistic chemo-phototherapy

Synergistic chemo-phototherapy has offered tremendous potential in cancer treatment. Nevertheless, nanosystems usually suffer from the complexity of multicomponents (polymeric or inorganic materials), which results in carrier-related toxicity issues. Moreover, the GSH over-expression of tumor cells seriously compromises ROS therapeutic efficiency. Herein, we designed a self-delivered nanodrug via Cu(II) coordination-driven co-self-assembly of celastrol (CST, a chemo-drug with anti-angiogenesis activity) and indocyanine green (ICG, a photosensitizer) for synergistic chemo-phototherapy with GSH depletion. The nanodrug was further cloaked by an erythrocyte membrane (RBC) to prolong the circulation time. Within the tumor microenvironment, the nanodrug would be disassembled upon intracellular GSH triggering. Moreover, the released Cu(II) could efficiently deplete the GSH, thus damaging the ROS-scavenging system and amplifying the phototherapeutic efficiency upon laser irradiation. The in vivo experiments validated the highly effective accumulation at tumor sites, potent tumor growth inhibition, and inappreciable systemic toxicity. The tumor microenvironment-responsive coordination-driven self-assembled biomimetic nanodrug may hold potential applications in tumor theranostics.

Jointly Depleting Glutathione Based on Self-Assembled Nanomicelles for Enhancing Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one common ROS-generating therapeutic method with high tumor selectivity and low side effects. But the GSH-upregulation often alleviates its therapeutic efficiency. Here, we proposed a new strategy of jointly depleting GSH to enhance the therapeutic effect of PDT by preparing a nanomicelle by self-assembly method from GSH-activated photosensitizer DMT, curcumin, and amphiphilic polymer TPGS.

pH/GSH dual-responsive supramolecular nanomedicine for hypoxia-activated combination therapy

Moderate oxygen (O2) supply and uneven distribution of oxygen at the tumor site usually hinder the therapeutic efficacy of hypoxia-activated prodrugs. In this report, we designed a ferrocene-containing supramolecular nanomedicine (PFC/GOD-TPZ) with the PEG corona and disulfide-bond cross-linked core to co-encapsulate 4-di-N-oxide tirapazamine (TPZ) and glucose oxidase (GOD). The PEG corona of PFC/GOD-TPZ could be weakly acidic tumor pH-responsively detached for an enhanced cellular internalization, while the disulfide-bond cross-linked core could be cleavaged by intracellular glutathione (GSH) to present a GSH-triggered drug-release behavior. Subsequently, the cascade reactions, including catalytic reactions among the released GOD, glucose, and O2 to generate H2O2 and the subsequent Fenton reaction between ferrocene and H2O2, occurred. With the depletion of O2, the non-toxic TPZ was activated and converted into the cytotoxic therapeutic agent benzotriazinyl (BTZ) radical under the exacerbated hypoxic microenvironment. Collectively, the PFC/GOD-TPZ provides a promising strategy for effective combination therapy of GOD-mediated starvation therapy, chemodynamic therapy (CDT), and hypoxia-activated chemotherapy (CT).

A mitochondria-targeting self-assembled carrier-free lonidamine nanodrug for redox-activated drug release to enhance cancer chemotherapy

Mitochondria play a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. In recent years, studies have found that mitochondria have an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors, and targeting mitochondria has become a new strategy for tumor treatment. Lonidamine (LND), as a hexokinase inhibitor, can block the energy supply and destroy mitochondria. However, poor water solubility and low mitochondrial selectivity limit its clinical application. To overcome these obstacles, we report redox-activated self-assembled carrier-free nanoparticles (Cy-TK-LND NPs) based on a small molecule prodrug, in which photosensitizer IR780 (Cy) which targets mitochondria is conjugated to LND via a sensitive thioketal (TK) linker. Intracellular oxidative stress induced by laser radiation leads to the responsive cleavage of Cy-TK-LND NPs, facilitating the release of free LND into mitochondria. Subsequently, LND damages mitochondria, triggering the apoptosis pathway. The results show the effective killing effect of Cy-TK-LND NPs on cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The IC50 value of irradiated Cy-TK-LND NPs is 5-fold lower than that of free LND. Moreover, tumor tissue section staining results demonstrate that irradiated Cy-TK-LND NPs induce necrosis and apoptosis of tumor cells, upregulate cytochrome C and pro-apoptotic Bax, and downregulate anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Generally, Cy-TK-LND NPs exhibit efficient mitochondria-targeted delivery to improve the medicinal availability of LND. Accordingly, such a carrier-free prodrug-based nanomedicine holds promise as an effective cancer chemotherapy strategy.

Tirapazamine-loaded UiO-66/Cu for ultrasound-mediated promotion of chemodynamic therapy cascade hypoxia-activated anticancer therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT), an emerging oncology treatment, has received considerable attention owing to its high selectivity, less aggressiveness, and endogenous stimulation. However, the complex intra-tumor environment limits the therapeutic effect. In this study, Cu⁺ was directly doped into the structure of the UiO-66 matrix using an in situ one-pot oil bath method. The as-formed UiO-66/Cu possessed a large surface area, making it feasible to modify folic acid (FA) and carry more chemotherapeutic agents like tirapazamine (TPZ), thus forming UiO-66/Cu-FA-TPZ nanoplatforms. For CDT, the nanoplatform catalyzed the cyclic generation of the highly oxidizing hydroxyl radical (·OH) from H₂O₂. Particularly, low-frequency ultrasound enhanced the curative effect. Notably, in a tumor, a severe hypoxic environment and ultrasound can activate more TPZ for safe and efficient chemotherapy, achieving synergistic and hypoxia-activated tumor treatment with a low risk of side effects. Moreover, the nanoplatform exhibits computed tomography imaging functions for combined diagnosis and treatment. Our designed nanoplatform overcomes the dilemma of insufficient efficacy from conventional therapy attributed to a hypoxic environment, expecting to guide the design of future treatment regimens for hypoxic tumors.

Self-Assembled Nanodelivery System with Rapamycin and Curcumin for Combined Photo-Chemotherapy of Breast Cancer

Nanodelivery systems combining photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy (CT), have been widely used to improve the efficacy and biosafety of chemotherapeutic agents in cancer. In this work, we constructed a self-assembled nanodelivery system, formed by the assembling of photosensitizer (IR820), rapamycin (RAPA), and curcumin (CUR) into IR820-RAPA/CUR NPs, to realize photothermal therapy and chemotherapy for breast cancer. The IR820-RAPA/CUR NPs displayed a regular sphere, with a narrow particle size distribution, a high drug loading capacity, and good stability and pH response. Compared with free RAPA or free CUR, the nanoparticles showed a superior inhibitory effect on 4T1 cells in vitro. The IR820-RAPA/CUR NP treatment displayed an enhanced inhibitory effect on tumor growth in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, compared to free drugs in vivo. In addition, PTT could provide mild hyperthermia (46.0 °C) for 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, and basically achieve tumor ablation, which is beneficial to improving the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs and avoiding damage to the surrounding normal tissue. The self-assembled nanodelivery system provides a promising strategy for coordinating photothermal therapy and chemotherapy to treat breast cancer.

Tumor microenvironment responded naturally extracted FOF1-ATPase loaded chromatophores for antitumor therapy

Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the growth, invasion, and metastasis of tumor cells. The pH of TME is more acidic in solid tumors than in normal tissues. Although targeted delivery in TME has progressed, the complex and expensive construction of delivery systems has limited their application. F_OF1-ATP synthase (F_OF1-ATPase) is a rotation molecular motor found in bacteria, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. Here, F_OF1-ATPase loaded chromatophores (chroma) isolated from thermophilic bacteria were extracted and utilized as a new delivery system targeting TME for the first time. Curcumin as model drug was successfully loaded by a filming-rehydration ultrasonic dispersion method to prepare a curcumin-loaded chroma delivery system (Cur-Chroma). The mobility and propensity distributions of Cur-Chroma reveal its specific pH-sensitive targeting driven by the transmembrane proton kinetic potential, demonstrating its distinct distribution in the TME and more favorable targeting delivery. Cellular uptake experiments indicated that Cur-Chroma entered cells through grid pathway-mediated endocytosis. In vivo studies have shown that Cur-Chroma can specifically target tumor tissue and effectively inhibit tumor growth with good safety. Curcumin's bioavailability and anti-tumor effects were significantly improved. These studies demonstrate that ATPase-loaded chromatophores are potentially ideal vehicles for anti-tumor drug delivery and have promising applications.

Hyaluronic Acid-based Supramolecular Nanomedicine with Optimized Ratio of Oxaliplatin/Chlorin e6 for Combined Chemotherapy and O2-Economized Photodynamic Therapy

Dual- or multi-modality combination therapy has become one of the most effective strategies to overcome drug resistance in cancer therapy, and the optimized ratio of the therapeutic agents working on the tumor greatly affects the therapeutic outcomes. However, the absence of a facile method to optimize the ratio of therapeutic agents in nanomedicine has, at least in part, impaired the clinical potential of combination therapy. Herein, a new cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7])-conjugated hyaluronic acid (HA) based nanomedicine was developed, in which both chlorin e6 (Ce6) and oxaliplatin (OX) were co-loaded non-covalently at an optimized ratio via facile host-guest complexation, for optimal, combined photodynamic therapy (PDT)/chemotherapy. To maximize the therapeutic efficacy, a mitochondrial respiration inhibitor, atovaquone (Ato), was also loaded into the nanomedicine to limit consumption of oxygen by the solid tumor, sparing oxygen for more efficient PDT. Additionally, HA on the surface of nanomedicine allowed targeted delivery to cancer cells with over-expressed CD44 receptors (such as CT26 cell lines). Thus, this supramolecular nanomedicine platform with an optimal ratio of photosensitizer and chemotherapeutic agent not only provides an important new tool for enhanced PDT/chemotherapy of solid tumors, but also offers a CB[7]-based host-guest complexation strategy to facilely optimize the ratio of therapeutic agents for multi-modality nanomedicine. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Chemotherapy remains the most common modality for cancer treatment in clinical practice. Combination therapy by co-delivery of two or more therapeutic agents has been recognized as one of the most effective strategies to improve therapeutic outcome of cancer treatment. However, the ratio of loaded drugs could not be facilely optimized, which may greatly affect the combination efficiency and overall therapeutic outcome. Herein, we developed a hyaluronic acid based supramolecular nanomedicine with facile method to optimize the ratio of two therapeutic agents for improved therapeutic outcome. This supramolecular nanomedicine not only provides an important new tool for enhanced photodynamic therapy/chemotherapy of solid tumors, but also offers insights in using macrocyclic molecule-based host-guest complexation to facilely optimize the ratio of therapeutic agents in multi-modality nanomedicine.

Precise engineering of disulfide bond-bridged prodrug nanoassemblies to balance antitumor efficacy and safety

Prodrug-based nanoassemblies, which combine the merits of prodrug technology and nanocarriers, are regarded as promising platforms for cancer treatment. Notably, the chemical structure of prodrugs is closely associated with antitumor efficacy and safety, and the intrinsic relationships among them need further exploration. Herein, paclitaxel was conjugated with 2-octyldodecan-1-ol through different positions of disulfide bond to construct the prodrug nanoassemblies. Interestingly, the minor differences in chemical structure not only dominated the assembly performance and drug release of nanoassemblies, but also significantly impacted the pharmacokinetics, antitumor efficacy, and safety. It was worth noting that prodrug nanoassemblies with one carbon atom between disulfide bond and ester bond had faster drug release and better antitumor effect, while prodrug nanoassemblies with three carbon atoms between disulfide bond and ester bond possessed moderate antitumor effect and better safety. Our findings illustrated the structure-function relationships of self-assembled prodrugs and provided a promising paradigm for the precise engineering of advanced prodrug nanoplatforms. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: 1. The major effects of minor differences in prodrug chemical structure on pharmacodynamics and safety were explored, which had important clinical reference significance and value. 2. The in-depth exploration of structure-function relationships to balance efficacy and safety had important guiding significance for the design of prodrug nanoassemblies.

MTX-PEG-modified CG/DMMA polymeric micelles for targeted delivery of doxorubicin to induce synergistic autophagic death against triple-negative breast cancer

The chemotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer based on doxorubicin (DOX) regimens suffers from great challenges on toxicity and autophagy raised off-target. In this study, a conjugate methotrexate-polyethylene glycol (shorten as MTX-PEG)-modified CG/DMMA polymeric micelles were prepared to endue DOX tumor selectivity and synergistic autophagic flux interference to reduce systematic toxicity and to improve anti-tumor capacity. The micelles could effectively promote the accumulation of autophagosomes in tumor cells and interfere with the degradation process of autophagic flux, collectively inducing autophagic death of tumor cells. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the micelles could exert improved anti-tumor effect and specificity, as well as reduced accumulation and damage of chemotherapeutic drugs in normal organs. The potential mechanism of synergistic autophagic death exerted by the synthesized micelles in MDA-MB-231 cells has been performed by autophagic flux-related pathway.

Injectable Nanomedicine-Hydrogel for NIR Light Photothermal-Chemo Combination Therapy of Tumor

Traditional hydrogels have drawbacks such as surgical implantation, large wound surfaces, and uncontrollable drug release during tumor treatment. In this paper, targeted nanomedicine has been combined with injectable hydrogel for photothermal-chemotherapy combination therapy. First, targeted nanomedicine (ICG-MTX) was fabricated by combining near-infrared (NIR) photothermal reagents (ICG) and chemotherapy drugs (MTX). The ICG-MTX was then mixed with the hydrogel precursor and radical initiator to obtain an injectable hydrogel precursor solution. Under the irradiation of NIR light, the precursor solution could release alkyl radicals, which promote the transition of the precursor solution from a liquid to a colloidal state. As a result, the nanomedicine could effectively remain at the site of the tumor and continue to be released from the hydrogel. Due to the targeted nature of MTX, the released ICG-MTX could target tumor cells and improve the accuracy of photothermal-chemo combination therapy. The results indicated that the injectable nanomedicine-hydrogel system has a favorable therapeutic effect on tumors.

Multicomponent carrier-free nanodrugs for cancer treatment

Nanocarriers can be used to deliver insoluble anticancer drugs to optimize therapeutic efficacy. However, the potential toxicity of nanocarriers cannot be ignored. Carrier-free nanodrugs are emerging safe drug delivery systems, which are composed of multiple components, such as drugs, bioactive molecules and functional ingredients, avoiding the usage of inert carrier materials and offering advantages that include high drug loading, low toxicity, synergistic therapy, versatile design, and easy surface functionalization. Therefore, how to design multicomponent carrier-free nanodrugs is becoming a priority. In this review, the common strategies for rapid construction of multicomponent carrier-free nanodrugs are briefly explored from the perspective of methodology. The properties of organic-organic, organic-inorganic and inorganic-inorganic multiple carrier-free nanosystems are analyzed according to wettability and in-depth understanding is provided. Further advances in the applications of multiple carrier-free nanodrugs are outlined in anticipation of grasping the intrinsic nature for the design and development of carrier-free nanodrugs.

Lipid nanomaterials-based RNA therapy and cancer treatment

We summarize the most important advances in RNA delivery and nanomedicine. We describe lipid nanoparticle-based RNA therapeutics and the impacts on the development of novel drugs. The fundamental properties of the key RNA members are described. We introduced recent advances in the nanoparticles to deliver RNA to defined targets, with a focus on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). We review recent advances in biomedical therapy based on RNA drug delivery and state-of-the-art RNA application platforms, including the treatment of different types of cancer. This review presents an overview of current LNPs based RNA therapies in cancer treatment and provides deep insight into the development of future nanomedicines sophisticatedly combining the unparalleled functions of RNA therapeutics and nanotechnology.

Advances in Antitumor Nano-Drug Delivery Systems of 10-Hydroxycamptothecin

10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is a natural plant alkaloid from Camptotheca that shows potent antitumor activity by targeting intracellular topoisomerase I. However, factors such as instability of the lactone ring and insolubility in water have limited the clinical application of this drug. In recent years, unprecedented advances in biomedical nanotechnology have facilitated the development of nano drug delivery systems. It has been found that nanomedicine can significantly improve the stability and water solubility of HCPT. NanoMedicines with different diagnostic and therapeutic functions have been developed to significantly improve the anticancer effect of HCPT. In this paper, we collected reports on HCPT nanomedicines against tumors in the past decade. Based on current research advances, we dissected the current status and limitations of HCPT nanomedicines development and looked forward to future research directions.

DNA-cloaked nanoparticles for tumor microenvironment-responsive activation

Although progress has been made in developing tumor microenvironment-responsive delivery systems, the list of cargo-releasing stimuli remains limited. In this study, we report DNA nanothread-cloaked nanoparticles for reactive oxygen species (ROS)-rich tumor microenvironment-responsive delivery systems. ROS is well known to strongly induce DNA fragmentation via oxidative stress. As a model anticancer drug, hydrophobic omacetaxine was entrapped in branched cyclam ligand-modified nanoparticles (BNP). DNA nanothreads were prepared by rolling-circle amplification and complexed to BNP, yielding DNA nanothread-cloaked BNP (DBNP). DBNP was unmasked by DNA nanothread-degrading ROS and culture supernatants of LNCaP cells. The size and zeta potential of DBNP were changed by ROS. In ROS^high LNCaP cells, but not in ROS^low fibroblast cells, the uptake of DBNP was higher than that of other nanoparticles. Molecular imaging revealed that DBNP exhibited greater distribution to tumor tissues, compared to other nanoparticles. Ex vivo mass spectrometry-based imaging showed that omacetaxine metabolites were distributed in tumor tissues of mice treated with DBNP. Intravenous administration of DBNP reduced the tumor volume by 80% compared to untreated tumors. Profiling showed that omacetaxine treatment altered the transcriptional profile. These results collectively support the feasibility of using polymerized DNA-masked nanoparticles for selective activation in the ROS-rich tumor microenvironment.

Polydopamine-modified ZIF-8 nanoparticles as a drug carrier for combined chemo-photothermal osteosarcoma therapy

Single chemotherapy often causes severe adverse effects and chemoresistance which limits therapeutic efficacy. Recently, combination of chemotherapy with photothermal therapy (PTT) have received broad attention for synergistic treatment of osteosarcoma, ultimately resulting in the enhancement of therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs. In this study, we have developed a novel drug delivery system based on polydopamine (pDA)-modified ZIF-8 nanoparticles loaded with methotrexate (MTX) (pDA/MTX@ZIF-8 NPs). Herein, pDA modification avoided the explosive release of the drug, and improved the biocompatibility and near-infrared (NIR) light absorbance performance of nanoparticles. The as-prepared pDA/MTX@ZIF-8 NPs could be used as drug targeting delivery system and simultaneously displayed excellent photothermal effects under NIR irradiation. Biology assays in vitro indicated that the pDA/MTX@ZIF-8 NPs were able to efficiently induce MG63 cell apoptosis through reducing mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMPs), and the introduction of photothermal agents enhanced the antitumor effect and decreased the dose of chemotherapeutic drugs. Moreover, the optimized pDA/MTX@ZIF-8 NPs (40 μg/mL) exhibited better photothermal conversion performance and facilitated tumor cells death. These results triumphantly exhibit that the pDA/MTX@ZIF-8 NPs have a synergistic effect of chemo-photothermal therapy (combination index CI = 0.346) and excellent biocompatibility, which has unexceptionable prospects for the therapy of osteosarcoma.

Vehicle-Free Nanotheranostic Self-Assembled from Clinically Approved Dyes for Cancer Fluorescence Imaging and Photothermal/Photodynamic Combinational Therapy

Phototherapy, including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted growing attention as a noninvasive option for cancer treatment. At present, researchers have developed various “all-in-one” nanoplatforms for cancer imaging and PTT/PDT combinational therapy. However, the complex structure, tedious preparation procedures, overuse of extra carriers and severe side effects hinder their biomedical applications. In this work, we reported a nanoplatform (designated as ICG-MB) self-assembly from two different FDA-approved dyes of indocyanine green (ICG) and methylene blue (MB) without any additional excipients for cancer fluorescence imaging and combinational PTT/PDT. ICG-MB was found to exhibit good dispersion in the aqueous phase and improve the photostability and cellular uptake of free ICG and MB, thus exhibiting enhanced photothermal conversion and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) generation abilities to robustly ablate cancer cells under 808 nm and 670 nm laser irradiation. After intravenous injection, ICG-MB effectively accumulated at tumor sites with a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence signal, which helped to delineate the targeted area for NIR laser-triggered phototoxicity. As a consequence, ICG-MB displayed a combinational PTT/PDT effect to potently inhibit tumor growth without causing any system toxicities in vivo. In conclusion, this minimalist, effective and biocompatible nanotheranostic would provide a promising candidate for cancer phototherapy based on current available dyes in clinic.

A Smart Theranostic Prodrug System Activated by Reactive Oxygen Species for Regional Chemotherapy of Metastatic Cancer

Metastatic cancer is difficult to cure because of its uncontrollable nature and side effects during treatment. We constructed a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-activated smart theranostic prodrug system based on an ROS active site linked with both a targeting group and an anticancer drug for efficient regional chemotherapy of metastatic cancers. The optimized prodrug (Bio-(8)-MB-CPT) with biotin as the targeting group displayed high sensitivity towards ROS and selectively targeting ability towards cervical cancer cells, showing highly efficient drug release (up to 92 %) in vitro. Bio-(8)-MB-CPT thus exerted strong toxicity towards cervical cancer cells, but unlike the parent drug (camptothecin), showed no toxicity towards normal cells. Moreover, the prodrug displayed significantly enhanced antitumor efficacy in vivo and eradicated the tumor with no obvious side effects (inhibition of the tumor reached up to 99.9 %).

Natural Small Molecules Enabled Efficient Immunotherapy through Supramolecular Self-Assembly in P53-Mutated Colorectal Cancer

Nanomedicine, constructed from therapeutics, presents an advantage in drug delivery for cancer therapies. However, nanocarrier-based treatment systems have problems such as interbatch variability, multicomponent complexity, poor drug delivery, and carrier-related toxicity. To solve these issues, the natural molecule honokiol (HK), an anticancer agent in a phase I clinical trial (CTR20170822), was used to form a self-assembly nanoparticle (SA) through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobicity. The preparation of SA needs no molecular precursors or excipients in aqueous solution, and 100% drug-loaded SA exhibited superior tumor-targeting ability due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Moreover, SA significantly enhanced the antitumor immunity relative to free HK, and the mechanism has notable selectivity to the p53 pathway. Furthermore, SA exhibited excellent physiological stability and inappreciable toxicity. Taken together, this supramolecular self-assembly strategy provides a safe and "molecular economy" model for rational design of clinical therapies and is expected to promote targeted therapy of HK, especially in colorectal cancer patients with obvious p53 status.

FC-BBR/IND-induced glucose oxidase nanodrugs for targeted combination therapy

Targeted therapy from cells to mitochondria can improve the bioavailability and therapeutic effects of drugs. Combination therapy by combining two or more therapeutic methods comes to be seen a hopeful strategy to overcome the emergence of resistance. Ferrocene (FC) derivatives of the sandwich structure can not only directly inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells but also catalyze the Fenton reaction to enhance chemodynamic therapy. Berberine (BBR) is a Chinese herbal extract with mitochondria-targeted anticancer activity. In our work, glucose oxidase (GOD) was induced to self-assemble by ferrocene-berberine conjugate (FC-BBR) and indomethacin (IND), which was then encapsulated by hyaluronic acid (HA) and formed nanodrugs (FC-BBR/IND@GOD@HA NPs). Molecular simulation results showed that the drugs could be bound to multiple sites of GOD and induce its self-assembly. The prepared nanoassembly could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of HepG2 cells, which might be the result of targeted chemodynamic therapy and starvation therapy. Moreover, the FC-BBR/IND@GOD@HA NPs could also promote the production of reactive oxygen species and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and block the cells in S phase. More importantly, it could inhibit the movement and migration of cancer cells, which gave it the potential to prevent tumor metastasis.

Complete ablation of tumors using synchronous chemoradiation with bimetallic theranostic nanoparticles

Synchronous chemotherapy and radiotherapy, termed chemoradiation therapy, is now an important standard regime for synergistic cancer treatment. For such treatment, nanoparticles can serve as improved carriers of chemotherapeutics into tumors and as better radiosensitizers for localized radiotherapy. Herein, we designed a Schottky-type theranostic heterostructure, Bi2S3-Au, with deep level defects (DLDs) in Bi2S3 as a nano-radiosensitizer and CT imaging contrast agent which can generate reactive free radicals to initiate DNA damage within tumor cells under X-ray irradiation. Methotrexate (MTX) was conjugated onto the Bi2S3-Au nanoparticles as a chemotherapeutic agent showing enzymatic stimuli-responsive release behavior. The designed hybrid system also contained curcumin (CUR), which cannot only serve as a nutritional supplement for chemotherapy, but also can play an important role in the radioprotection of normal cells. Impressively, this combined one-dose chemoradiation therapeutic injection of co-drug loaded bimetallic multifunctional theranostic nanoparticles with a one-time clinical X-ray irradiation, completely eradicated tumors in mice after approximately 20 days after irradiation showing extremely effective anticancer efficacy which should be further studied for numerous anti-cancer applications.

ROS-responsive dimeric prodrug-based nanomedicine targeted therapy for gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a major public health problem. Ursolic acid (UA) is reported to be effective in inhibiting GC; however, its low solubility and poor biocompatibility have greatly hindered its clinical application. Herein, an innovative reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive UA dimeric prodrug is developed by coupling two UA molecules via a ROS-cleavable linkage, which can self-assemble into stable nanoparticles in the presence of surfactant. This new UA-based delivery system comprises the following major components: (I) dimeric prodrug inner core that can achieve high drug-loading (55%, w/w) and undergo rapid and selective conversion into intact drug molecules in response to ROS; (II) a polyethylene glycol (PEG) shell to improve colloid stability and extend blood circulation, and (III) surface-modified internalizing RGD (iRGD) to increase tumor targeting. Enhancement of the antitumor effect of this delivery system was demonstrated against GC tumors in vitro and in vivo. This novel approach offers the potential for clinical applications of UA.

Delivering more for less: nanosized, minimal-carrier and pharmacoactive drug delivery systems

Traditional nanoparticle carriers such as liposomes, micelles, and polymeric vehicles improve drug delivery by protecting, stabilizing, and increasing the circulatory half-life of the encapsulated drugs. However, traditional drug delivery systems frequently suffer from poor drug loading and require an excess of carrier materials. This carrier material excess poses an additional systemic burden through accumulation, if not degradable the need for metabolism, and potential toxicity. To address these shortcomings, minimal-carrier nanoparticle systems and pharmacoactive carrier materials have been developed. Both solutions provide drug delivery systems in which the majority of the nanoparticle is pharmacologically active. While minimal-carrier and pharmacoactive drug delivery systems can improve drug loading, they can also suffer from poor stability. Here, we review minimal-carrier and pharmacoactive delivery systems, discuss ongoing challenges and outline opportunities to translate minimal-carrier and pharmacoactive drug delivery systems into the clinic.

Light mediated drug delivery systems: a review

Achieving a novel drug delivery system needs site-specificity along with dosage control. Many physical, chemical, mechanical, and biological signals are used for developing these systems, out of which light has been used predominantly in the past decade. Light responsive drug delivery systems have tremendous potential, and their exploration is crucial in developing a precise and controlled delivery system. Spatio-temporal and intensity control of light allows better manipulation of drug delivery vehicles than mechanical, chemical, and biological signals. The use of ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared (NIR) light has helped in upgrading therapeutic functionalities, while the use of up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) has delivered an extension into theranostic tools. Biomaterials incorporated with photosensitizers can readily respond to changes in light and are vital in achieving clinical success via translational research. Further, the inclusion of biological macromolecules for the transportation of drugs, genes, and proteins has seen a broader application of light-controlled systems. The key objective of this review paper is to summarise the evolution of light-activated targeted drug delivery systems and the importance of biomaterials in developing one.

Evaluation of the Biological Activity of Folic Acid-Modified Paclitaxel-Loaded Gold Nanoparticles

Purpose

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with good physical and biological properties are often used in medicine, diagnostics, food, and similar industries. This paper explored an AuNPs drug delivery system that had good target selectivity for folate-receptor overexpressing cells to induce apoptosis.

Methods

A novel drug delivery system, Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX, was developed carrying paclitaxel (PTX) on folic acid (FA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified AuNPs. The nanomaterial was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Also, the biological activity of the AuNPs drug delivery system was examined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in HL-7702, Hela, SMMC-7721, and HCT-116 cells. Furthermore, apoptotic activity using annexin V-FITC, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels was estimated by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.

Results

Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX exhibited a distinct core-shell structure with a controllable size of 28±1 nm. Also, the AuNPs maintained good dispersion and spherical shape uniformity before and after modification. The MTT assay revealed good antitumor activity of the Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX against the Hela, SMMC-7721, and HCT-116 cells, while Au@MPA-PEG-FA-PTX produced better pharmacological effects than PTX in isolation. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that effective internalization of AuNPs by folate-receptor overexpressing cancer cells induced cell apoptosis through excessive production of intracellular ROS.

Conclusion

The AuNPs drug delivery system showed good target selectivity for folate-receptor overexpressing cancer cells to induce target cell-specific apoptosis. These AuNPs may have great potential as theranostic agents such as in cancer.

Virus-Inspired Gold Nanorod-Mesoporous Silica Core-Shell Nanoparticles Integrated with tTF-EG3287 for Synergetic Tumor Photothermal Therapy and Selective Therapy for Vascular Thrombosis

Synergetic therapy includes the combination of two or more conventional therapeutic approaches and can be used for tumor treatment by combining the advantages and avoiding the drawbacks of each type of treatment. In the present study, truncated tissue factor (tTF)-EG3287 fusion protein-encapsulated gold nanorod (GNR)-virus-inspired mesoporous silica core-shell nanoparticles (vinyl hybrid silica nanoparticles; VSNP) (GNR@VSNP-tTF-EG3287) were synthesized to achieve synergetic therapy by utilizing selective vascular thrombosis therapy (SVTT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). By integrating the targeted coagulation activity of tTF-EG3287 and the high tumor ablation effect of GNR@VSNP, local hyperthermia could induce a high percentage of apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells by using near-infrared light. This provided additional phospholipid sites for tTF-EG3287 and enhanced its procoagulant activity in vitro. In addition, the nanoparticles, which had unique topological viral structures, exhibited superior cellular uptake properties leading to significant antitumor efficacy. The in vivo antitumor results further demonstrated an interaction between SVTT and PTT, whereas the synergetic therapy (SVTT and PTT) achieved an enhanced effect, which was superior to the respective treatment efficacy of each modality or the additive effect of their individual efficacies. In summary, the synthesized GNR@VSNP-tTF-EG3287 exerted synergetic effects and enhanced the antitumor efficiency by avoiding multiple injections and suboptimal administration. These effects simultaneously affected both tumor blood supply and cancer cell proliferation. The data suggested that the integration of SVTT induced by tTF-EG3287 and PTT could provide potential strategies for synergetic tumor therapy.

Nanotechnology-Assisted RNA Delivery: From Nucleic Acid Therapeutics to COVID-19 Vaccines

In recent years, the main quest of science has been the pioneering of the groundbreaking biomedical strategies needed for achieving a personalized medicine. Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are outstanding bioactive macromolecules identified as pivotal actors in regulating a wide range of biochemical pathways. The ability to intimately control the cell fate and tissue activities makes RNA-based drugs the most fascinating family of bioactive agents. However, achieving a widespread application of RNA therapeutics in humans is still a challenging feat, due to both the instability of naked RNA and the presence of biological barriers aimed at hindering the entrance of RNA into cells. Recently, material scientists' enormous efforts have led to the development of various classes of nanostructured carriers customized to overcome these limitations. This work systematically reviews the current advances in developing the next generation of drugs based on nanotechnology-assisted RNA delivery. The features of the most used RNA molecules are presented, together with the development strategies and properties of nanostructured vehicles. Also provided is an in-depth overview of various therapeutic applications of the presented systems, including coronavirus disease vaccines and the newest trends in the field. Lastly, emerging challenges and future perspectives for nanotechnology-mediated RNA therapies are discussed.

Nanoparticulation of Prodrug into Medicines for Cancer Therapy

This article provides a broad spectrum about the nanoprodrug fabrication advances co-driven by prodrug and nanotechnology development to potentiate cancer treatment. The nanoprodrug inherits the features of both prodrug concept and nanomedicine know-how, attempts to solve underexploited challenge in cancer treatment cooperatively. Prodrugs can release bioactive drugs on-demand at specific sites to reduce systemic toxicity, this is done by using the special properties of the tumor microenvironment, such as pH value, glutathione concentration, and specific overexpressed enzymes; or by using exogenous stimulation, such as light, heat, and ultrasound. The nanotechnology, manipulating the matter within nanoscale, has high relevance to certain biological conditions, and has been widely utilized in cancer therapy. Together, the marriage of prodrug strategy which shield the side effects of parent drug and nanotechnology with pinpoint delivery capability has conceived highly camouflaged Trojan horse to maneuver cancerous threats.

Dendronized hyaluronic acid-docetaxel conjugate as a stimuli-responsive nano-agent for breast cancer therapy

To achieve target delivery of anti-tumor drugs with great biocompatibility into tumor tissues, a stimuli-responsive dendronized hyaluronic acid (HA)-docetaxel conjugate (HA-DTX-Dendron, HADD) was designed and prepared. The incorporation of HA in HADD improved the delivery of DTX to tumor cells with rich CD44 receptors. Enhanced biocompatibility and therapeutic outcomes were achieved using glyodendrons-modified HA and tumor microenvironment-responsive linkers in HADD. The glycodendron was connected with HA via GSH-responsive disulfide bonds, and the drug DTX was linked to the carrier via a cathepsin B-responsive tetrapeptide GFLG. This design resulted in self-assembly nanostructures for facilitating uptake of HADD by tumor cells and rapid release of DTX to exert its therapeutic effect. Compared to free DTX, HADD showed much higher tumor growth inhibition in the MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing mice model (up to 99.71%), and no toxicity was observed. Therefore, HADD could be employed as an efficacious nano-agent for treating triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Initial Stages of Spontaneous Binding of Folate-Based Vectors to Folate Receptor-α Observed by Unbiased Molecular Dynamics

Active targeting is a prospective strategy for controlled drug delivery to malignant tumor tissues. One of the approaches relies on recognition of a bioactive ligand by a receptor expressed abundantly on the surface of cancer cell membranes. A promising ligand-receptor pair is folic acid (or its dianionic form, folate) combined with the folate receptor-α (FRα). A number of targeting drug delivery systems based on folate have been suggested, but the mechanism of binding of the ligand or its derivatives to the receptor is not fully known at the molecular level. The current study summarizes the results from unbiased all-atom molecular dynamics simulations at physiological conditions describing the binding of two forms of folate and four of its synthetically available derivatives to FRα. The models (ca. 185,000 atoms) contain one receptor molecule, embedded in the outer leaflet of a lipid bilayer, and one ligand, all immersed in saline. The bilayer represents a human cancer cell membrane and consists of 370 asymmetrically distributed lipid molecules from 35 types. The ability of the vector molecules to bind to the receptor, the position of binding, and the interactions between them are analyzed. Spontaneous binding on the nanosecond scale is observed for all molecules, but its time, position, and persistence depend strongly on the ligand. Only folate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, and raltitrexed bind selectively at the active site of the receptor. Two binding poses are observed, one of them (realized by raltitrexed) corresponding qualitatively to that reported for the crystallographic structure of the complex folate-FRα. Pemetrexed adsorbs nonspecifically on the protein surface, while methotrexate and pteroyl ornithine couple much less to the receptor. The molecular simulations reproduce qualitatively correctly the relative binding affinity measured experimentally for five of the ligands. Analysis of the interactions between the ligands and FRα shows that in order to accomplish specific binding to the active site, a combination of hydrogen bonding, π-stacking, and van der Waals and Coulomb attraction should be feasible simultaneously for the vector molecule. The reported results demonstrate that it is possible to observe receptor-ligand binding without applying bias by representing the local environment as close as possible and contain important molecular-level guidelines for the design of folate-based systems for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs.

Erythrocyte membrane bioengineered nanoprobes via indocyanine green-directed assembly for single NIR laser-induced efficient photodynamic/photothermal theranostics

Traditional combinational photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) were limited in clinical therapy of cancer due to exceptionally low drug payload and activation by light with separate wavelengths. We have accidentally discovered that zinc phthalocyanine (ZNPC, a typical hydrophobic photosensitizer) and indocyanine green (ICG, a clinically approved fluorescence probe) could be co-assembled into carrier-free nanodrugs (almost 100 wt%) for single NIR laser-induced efficient PDT/PTT. Interestingly, ICG could act as "transformers" for modulating the geometric shape of ZNPC/ICG co-assembling structures from needle-like/spindle-like structure via cubic structure finally to spherical structure. Unfortunately, the nanodrugs suffered from rapid immune clearance. The ZNPC-ICG nanoprobes were further embedded into the erythrocyte membrane (RBC)-camouflaged framework. The designed ZNPC-ICG@RBC could be efficiently accumulated within the tumor sites (continue for ~60 h) and rapidly internalized into cancer cells upon laser irradiation rather than macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Compared with the free ZnPC or ICG, the biomimetic ZNPC-ICG@RBC nanoprobes exhibited amplified therapeutic effects by simultaneously producing ROS and hyperthermia, thereby synergistically improving antitumor efficiency and eliminating the tumors without any regrowth under the guidance of fluorescence imaging. The co-delivery of ZnPC and ICG via a biomimetic carrier-free system might be a promising strategy for bimodal phototherapy of cancer.

Self-recognizing and stimulus-responsive carrier-free metal-coordinated nanotheranostics for magnetic resonance/photoacoustic/fluorescence imaging-guided synergistic photo-chemotherapy

Carrier-free nanotheranostics directly assembled by using clinically used photosensitizers and chemotherapeutic drugs are a promising alternative to tumor theranostics. However, the weak interaction-driven assembly still suffers from low structural stability against disintegration, lack of targeting specificity, and poor stimulus-responsive property. Moreover, almost all exogenous ligands possess no therapeutic effect. Enlightened by the concept of metal-organic frameworks, we developed a novel self-recognizing metal-coordinated nanotheranostic agent by the coordination-driven co-assembly of photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) and chemo-drug methotrexate (MTX, also served as a specific "targeting ligand" towards folate receptors), in which ferric (FeIII) ions acted as a bridge to tightly associate ICG with MTX. Such carrier-free metal-coordinated nanotheranostics with high dual-drug payload (∼94 wt%) not only possessed excellent structural and physiological stability, but also exhibited prolonged blood circulation. In addition, the nanotheranostics could achieve the targeted on-demand drug release by both stimuli of internal lysosomal acidity and external near-infrared laser. More importantly, the nanotheranostics could self-recognize the cancer cells and selectively target the tumors, and therefore they decreased toxicity to normal tissues and organs. Consequently, the nanotheranostics showed strongly synergistic potency for tumor photo-chemotherapy under the precise guidance of magnetic resonance/photoacoustic/fluorescence imaging, thereby achieving highly effective tumor curing efficiency. Considering that ICG and bi-functional MTX are approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and FeIII ions have high biosafety, the self-recognizing and stimulus-responsive carrier-free metal-coordinated nanotheranostics may hold potential applications in tumor theranostics.

Bimetallic Au@Pd nanodendrite system incorporating multimodal intracellular imaging for improved doxorubicin antitumor efficiency

The sufficient accumulation of drugs is crucial for efficient treatment in a complex tumor microenvironment. Drug delivery systems (DDS) with high surface area and selective cytotoxicity present a novel approach to mitigate insufficient drug loading for improved therapeutic response. Herein, a doxorubicin-conjugated bimetallic gold-core palladium-shell nanocarrier with multiple dense arrays of branches (Au@PdNDs.PEG/DOX) was characterized and its efficacy against breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells were evaluated. Enhanced darkfield and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) microscopy were used to study the intracellular uptake and accumulation of the DOX-loaded nanodendrites A fascinating data from a 3D-CytoViva fluorescence imaging technique provided information about the dynamics of localization and distribution of the nanocarrier. In vitro cytotoxicity assays indicated that Au@PdNDs.PEG/DOX inhibited the proliferative effects of MCF-7 cells at equivalent IC₅₀ dosage compared to DOX alone. The nanocarrier triggered higher induction of apoptosis proved by a time-dependent phosphatidylserine V release, cell cycle arrest, and flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, the cell cycle phase proportion increase suggests that the enhanced apoptotic effect induced by Au@PdNDs.PEG/DOX was via a G2/M phase arrest. Thus, this study demonstrated the potential of dendritic nanoparticles to improve DOX therapeutic efficiency and plasmonic-mediated intracellular imaging as a suitable theranostic platform for deployment in nanomedicine.

The Antibacterial Effects of Supermolecular Nano-Carriers by Combination of Silver and Photodynamic Therapy

The over-use of antibiotics has promoted multidrug resistance and decreased the efficacy of antibiotic therapy. Thus, it is still in great need to develop efficient treatment strategies to combat the bacteria infection. The antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and silver nanoparticles have been emerged as effective antibacterial methods. However, the silver therapy may induce serious damages to human cells at high concentrations and, the bare silver nanoparticles may rapidly aggregate, which would reduce the antibacterial efficacy. The encapsulation of sliver by nano-carrier is a promising way to avoid its aggregation and facilitates the co-delivery of drugs for combination therapy, which does not require high concentration of sliver to exert antibacterial efficacy. This work constructed a self-assembled supermolecular nano-carrier consisting of the photosensitizers (PSs), the anti-inflammatory agent and silver. The synthesized supermolecular nano-carrier produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the exposure of 620-nm laser. It exhibited satisfying biocompatibility in L02 cells. And, this nano-carrier showed excellent antibacterial efficacy in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as indicated by bacterial growth and colony formation. Its antibacterial performance is further validated by the bacteria morphology through the scanning electron microscope (SEM), showing severely damaged structures of bacteria. To summary, the supermolecular nano-carrier TCPP-MTX-Ag-NP combining the therapeutic effects of ROS and silver may serve as a novel strategy of treatment for bacterial infection.

Quantitative self-assembly of pure drug cocktails as injectable nanomedicines for synergistic drug delivery and cancer therapy

New strategies to fabricate nanomedicines with high translational capacity are urgently desired. Herein, a new class of self-assembled drug cocktails that addresses the multiple challenges of manufacturing clinically useful cancer nanomedicines was reported.

Methods: With the aid of a molecular targeted agent, dasatinib (DAS), cytotoxic cabazitaxel (CTX) forms nanoassemblies (CD NAs) through one-pot process, with nearly quantitative entrapment efficiency and ultrahigh drug loading of up to 100%.

Results: Surprisingly, self-assembled CD NAs show aggregation-induced emission, enabling particle trafficking and drug release in living cells. In preclinical models of human cancer, including a patient-derived melanoma xenograft, CD NAs demonstrated striking therapeutic synergy to produce a durable recession in tumor growth. Impressively, CD NAs alleviated the toxicity of the parent CTX agent and showed negligible immunotoxicity in animals.

Conclusions: Overall, this approach does not require any carrier matrices, offering a scalable and cost-effective methodology to create a new generation of nanomedicines for the safe and efficient delivery of drug combinations.

Recent Advances and Implication of Bioengineered Nanomaterials in Cancer Theranostics

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death and affects millions of lives every year. In addition to non-infectious carcinogens, infectious agents contribute significantly to increased incidence of several cancers. Several therapeutic techniques have been used for the treatment of such cancers. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged to advance the diagnosis, imaging, and therapeutics of various cancer types. Nanomaterials have multiple advantages over other materials due to their small size and high surface area, which allow retention and controlled drug release to improve the anti-cancer property. Most cancer therapies have been known to damage healthy cells due to poor specificity, which can be avoided by using nanosized particles. Nanomaterials can be combined with various types of biomaterials to make it less toxic and improve its biocompatibility. Based on these properties, several nanomaterials have been developed which possess excellent anti-cancer efficacy potential and improved diagnosis. This review presents the latest update on novel nanomaterials used to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic of pathogen-associated and non-pathogenic cancers. We further highlighted mechanistic insights into their mode of action, improved features, and limitations.

Tumor acidity-responsive carrier-free nanodrugs based on targeting activation via ICG-templated assembly for NIR-II imaging-guided photothermal–chemotherapy

Novel tumor microenvironment-driven self-targeting supramolecular nanodrugs via ICG-templated small-molecule self-assembly for NIR-II imaging-guided synergistic photothermal–chemotherapy.

Alginate-based hydrogels for cancer therapy and research

Cancer is a major health issue concerning to all of us. Current treatment options are still limited due to not-selective action. Encapsulation is contemplated as an innovative approach to address systemic toxicity and tumor resistance caused by traditional therapies, while increasing encapsulated compounds bioavailability. The coating material of capsules strongly determines the success of the system. Since alginate has been proved non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable, it is considered a potential vehicle for therapeutic factors encapsulation. Besides, it has the particular ability to form hydrogels, which hold a high-water content and greatly resemble to natural soft tissues. The present review exposes the state-of-the-art and the most sophisticated alginate-based systems for cancer therapy and research. It begins with an overview of alginate hydrogels and the qualities that make them especially suitable for biomedical applications. In the following section, the application of alginate hydrogels as pioneering strategies for cancer treatment is described. Several examples of alginate-based delivery systems of therapeutic drugs, proteins and nucleic acids are provided. Significant emphasis is placed in both oral delivery systems and colorectal cancer therapy. Moreover, the role of alginate 3-D scaffolds for both cell culture and delivery is explained. Lastly, other applications of alginate-based hydrogels such as tumor biomarkers immunosensing and fluorescent surgical marker are included.

Self-Delivery Photo-Immune Stimulators for Photodynamic Sensitized Tumor Immunotherapy

Self-delivery of photosensitizer and immune modulator to tumor site is highly recommendable to improve the photodynamic immunotherapy yet remains challenging. Herein, self-delivery photoimmune stimulators (designated as iPSs) are developed for photodynamic sensitized tumor immunotherapy. Carrier-free iPSs are constructed by optimizing the noncovalent interactions between the pure drugs of chlorine e6 (Ce6) and NLG919, which avoid the excipients-raised toxicity and immunogenicity. Intravenously administrated iPSs prefer to passively accumulate on tumor tissues for a robust photodynamic therapy (PDT) with the induction of immunogenetic cell death (ICD) cascade to activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and initiate antitumor immune response. Meanwhile, the concomitant delivery of NLG919 inhibits the activation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO-1) to reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Ultimately, the photodynamic sensitized immunotherapy with iPSs efficiently inhibit the primary and distant tumor growth with a low system toxicity, which would shed light on the development of self-delivery nanomedicine for clinical transformation in tumor precision therapy.

Selective antitumor activity of drug-free TPGS nanomicelles with ROS-induced mitochondrial cell death

D-a-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) as a FDA-approved safe adjuvant has shown an excellent application in the targeting delivery of antitumor drugs and overcoming multidrug resistance. Beside, TPGS can result in apoptogenic activity toward many tumor types because it can induce mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, TPGS can serve as an antineoplastic agent. However, the current research on the selective antitumor activity of TPGS is ignored. To reveal the issue, herein we develop a mitochondria-targeting drug-free TPGS nanomicelles with the hydrodynamic diameter of about 100 nm and outstanding serum stability by weak interaction-driven self-assembly of the amphiphilic TPGS polymer. Moreover, such drug-free TPGS nanomicelles intravenously injected into tumor-bearing mice exhibit long blood circulation time, superior tumor enrichment, and inhibit the tumor growth via inducing excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation within tumor cells. Further in vitro and in vivo researches jointly demonstrate that drug-free TPGS nanomicelles have more significant antitumor effect on HeLa cells compared with that of other tumor cells. On the contrary, drug-free TPGS nanomicelles display the low toxicity toward normal cells and tissues. Taken together, these new findings confirm that TPGS drug-free nanomicelles represent simple, multifunctional, safe, and efficient antineoplastic agents, which can be expected to bring new light on the development of drug-free polymers for tumor therapy.