Current trends in smart mesoporous silica-based nanovehicles for photoactivated cancer therapy

Amine-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles decorated by silver nanoparticles for delivery of doxorubicin in breast and cervical cancer cells

Nanocarriers have demonstrated promising potential in the delivery of various anticancer drugs and in improving the efficiency of the treatment. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were green-synthesized using the extracts of different parts of the pomegranate plant, including the peel, flower petals, and calyx. To obtain the most efficient extract used for the green synthesis of AgNPs, all three types of synthesized nanoparticles were characterized. Then, (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs-APTES) decorated with AgNPs were fabricated via a one-pot green-synthesis method. AgNPs were directly coated on the surface of MSNs-APTES by adding pomegranate extract enriched with a source of reducing agent leading to converting the silver ion to AgNPs. The MSN-APTES-AgNPs (MSNs-AgNPs) have been thoroughly characterized using nanoparticle characterization techniques. In addition, DNA cleavage and hemolysis activities of the synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed, confirming the biocompatibility of synthesized nanoparticles. The Doxorubicin (DOX, as a breast/cervical anti-cancer drug) loading (42.8%) and release profiles were investigated via UV-visible spectroscopy. The fibroblast, breast cancer, and cervical cancer cells' viability against DOX-loaded nanoparticles were also studied. The results of this high drug loading, uniform shape, and small functionalized nanoparticles demonstrated its great potential for breast and cervical cancer management.

pH-responsive oxygen self-sufficient smart nanoplatform for enhanced tumor chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy

Premature drug release in chemotherapy and hypoxic conditions in photodynamic therapy (PDT) are perplexing problems in tumor treatment. Thus, it is of great significance to develop the novel therapeutic system with controllable drug release and effective oxygen generation. Herein, a pH-responsive oxygen self-sufficient smart nanoplatform (named DHCCC), integrating hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs), chitosan (CS), doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), chlorin e6 (Ce6) and catalase (CAT), is fabricated to enhance the tumor therapeutic efficacy efficiently through avoiding premature drug release and mitigating hypoxia of tumor microenvironment (TME). The drug DOX can be efficiently loaded into the HMSNs with large cavity and be controllable released because of the pH responsiveness of CS to the weak acidic TME, thereby elevating the chemotherapy efficacy. Meanwhile, CAT can catalyze the decomposition of endogenous hydrogen peroxide in situ generating oxygen to alleviate the hypoxia and enhance the PDT efficiency considerably. In vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that the combined chemo-photodynamic therapy based on the DHCCC nanoplatform exerts more effective antitumor efficacy than chemotherapy or PDT alone. The current study provides a promising inspiration to construct the pH-responsive oxygen self-sufficient smart nanomedicine with potentials to prevent premature drug leakage and overcome hypoxia for efficient tumor therapy.

Chitosan- and hyaluronic acid-based nanoarchitectures in phototherapy: Combination cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy

Cancer phototherapy has been introduced as a new potential modality for tumor suppression. However, the efficacy of phototherapy has been limited due to a lack of targeted delivery of photosensitizers. Therefore, the application of biocompatible and multifunctional nanoparticles in phototherapy is appreciated. Chitosan (CS) as a cationic polymer and hyaluronic acid (HA) as a CD44-targeting agent are two widely utilized polymers in nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization. The current review focuses on the application of HA and CS nanostructures in cancer phototherapy. These nanocarriers can be used in phototherapy to induce hyperthermia and singlet oxygen generation for tumor ablation. CS and HA can be used for the synthesis of nanostructures, or they can functionalize other kinds of nanostructures used for phototherapy, such as gold nanorods. The HA and CS nanostructures can combine chemotherapy or immunotherapy with phototherapy to augment tumor suppression. Moreover, the CS nanostructures can be functionalized with HA for specific cancer phototherapy. The CS and HA nanostructures promote the cellular uptake of genes and photosensitizers to facilitate gene therapy and phototherapy. Such nanostructures specifically stimulate phototherapy at the tumor site, with particle toxic impacts on normal cells. Moreover, CS and HA nanostructures demonstrate high biocompatibility for further clinical applications.

Silica-coated liquid metal nanoparticles with different stiffness for cellular uptake-enhanced tumor photothermal therapy

Cells can sense the mechanical stimulation of nanoparticles (NPs) and then regulate the cellular uptake process. The enhanced endocytosis efficiency can improve the concentration of NPs in tumor cells significantly, which is the key prerequisite for achieving efficient biological performance. However, the preparation methods of NPs with flexible and tunable stiffness are relatively limited, and the impact of stiffness property on their interaction with tumor cells remains unclear. In this study, soft liquid metal (LM) core was coated with hard silica layer, the obtained core-shell NPs with a wide range of Young's modulus (130.5 ± 25.6 MPa - 1729.2 ± 146.7 MPa) were prepared by adjusting the amount of silica. It was found that the NPs with higher stiffness exhibited superior cellular uptake efficiency and lysosomal escape ability compared to the NPs with lower stiffness. The silica layer not only affected the stiffness, but also improved the photothermal stability of the LM NPs. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that the NPs with higher stiffness displayed significantly enhanced tumor hyperthermia capability. This work may provide a paradigm for the preparation of NPs with varying stiffness and offer insights into the role of the mechanical property of NPs in their delivery.

Nanomaterials-incorporated polymeric microneedles for wound healing applications

There is a growing and urgent need for developing novel biomaterials and therapeutic approaches for efficient wound healing. Microneedles (MNs), which can penetrate necrotic tissues and biofilm barriers at the wound and deliver active ingredients to the deeper layers in a minimally invasive and painless manner, have stimulated the interests of many researchers in the wound-healing filed. Among various materials, polymeric MNs have received widespread attention due to their abundant material sources, simple and inexpensive manufacturing methods, excellent biocompatibility and adjustable mechanical strength. Meanwhile, due to the unique properties of nanomaterials, the incorporation of nanomaterials can further extend the application range of polymeric MNs to facilitate on-demand drug release and activate specific therapeutic effects in combination with other therapies. In this review, we firstly introduce the current status and challenges of wound healing, and then outline the advantages and classification of MNs. Next, we focus on the manufacturing methods of polymeric MNs and the different raw materials used for their production. Furthermore, we give a summary of polymeric MNs incorporated with several common nanomaterials for chronic wounds healing. Finally, we discuss the several challenges and future prospects of transdermal drug delivery systems using nanomaterials-based polymeric MNs in wound treatment application.

Biomimetic Exosome-Sheathed Magnetic Mesoporous Anchor with Modification of Glucose Oxidase for Synergistic Targeting and Starving Tumor Cells

Efficient protection and precise delivery of biomolecules are of critical importance in the intervention and therapy of various diseases. Although diverse specific marker-functionalized drug carriers have been developed rapidly, current approaches still encounter substantial challenges, including strong immunogenicity, limited target availability, and potential side effects. Herein, we developed a biomimetic exosome-sheathed magnetic mesoporous anchor modified with glucose oxidase (MNPs@mSiO2-GOx@EM) to address these challenges and achieve synergistic targeting and starving of tumor cells. The MNPs@mSiO2-GOx@EM anchor integrated the unique characteristics of different components. An external decoration of exosome membrane (EM) with high biocompatibility contributed to increased phagocytosis prevention, prolonged circulation, and enhanced recognition and cellular uptake of loaded particles. An internal coated magnetic mesoporous core with rapid responsiveness by the magnetic field guidance and large surface area facilitated the enrichment of nanoparticles at the specific site and provided enough space for modification of glucose oxidase (GOx). The inclusion of GOx in the middle layer accelerated the energy-depletion process within cells, ultimately leading to the starvation and death of target cells with minimal side effects. With these merits, in vitro study manifested that our nanoplatform not only demonstrated an excellent targeting capability of 94.37% ± 1.3% toward homotypic cells but also revealed a remarkably high catalytical ability and cytotoxicity on tumor cells. Assisted by the magnetic guidance, the utilization of our anchor obviously inhibits the tumor growth in vivo. Together, our study is promising to serve as a versatile method for the highly efficient delivery of various target biomolecules to intended locations due to the fungibility of exosome membranes and provide a potential route for the recognition and starvation of tumor cells.

A Novel Boron Dipyrromethene-Erlotinib Conjugate for Precise Photodynamic Therapy against Liver Cancer

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is recognized for its exceptional effectiveness as a promising cancer treatment method. However, it is noted that overexposure to the dosage and sunlight in traditional PDT can result in damage to healthy tissues, due to the low tumor selectivity of currently available photosensitizers (PSs). To address this challenge, we introduce herein a new strategy where the small molecule-targeted agent, erlotinib, is integrated into a boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-based PS to form conjugate 6 to enhance the precision of PDT. This conjugate demonstrates optical absorption, fluorescence emission, and singlet oxygen generation efficiency comparable to the reference compound 7, which lacks erlotinib. In vitro studies reveal that, after internalization, conjugate 6 predominantly accumulates in the lysosomes of HepG2 cells, exhibiting significant photocytotoxicity with an IC50 value of 3.01 µM. A distinct preference for HepG2 cells over HELF cells is observed with conjugate 6 but not with compound 7. In vivo experiments further confirm that conjugate 6 has a specific affinity for tumor tissues, and the combination treatment of conjugate 6 with laser illumination can effectively eradicate H22 tumors in mice with outstanding biosafety. This study presents a novel and potential PS for achieving precise PDT against cancer.

Fabrication of folic acid-modified bovine serum albumin cloaked dual-drug loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for pH-responsive and targeted delivery of gastric cancer therapy

Combination therapy is a highly successful way to address the limitations of using a single treatment method and improve therapy's overall efficacy. In this study, we developed a unique hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticle (HMSN) coated with folic acid (FA)-modified bovine serum albumin (FA-BSA). This nanoparticle, referred to as HFB, was designed to target cancer cells and release dual therapeutic drugs, Indocyanine green (ICG) and Paclitaxel (PTX), in response to specific stimuli termed as HFB@IP. The BSA protein acts as a "gatekeeper" to prevent early drug releases and cargo leakage by detaching from BSA in reaction to GSH. The FA facilitates the targeted transport of the drug into cancer cells that express folate receptors (FR), enhancing the effectiveness of chemo-photodynamic treatment (PDT). The drug nanocarrier demonstrated in vitro pH/redox-triggered drug release from HFB@IP due to breaking the imine bonds between aldehyde-functionalized HMSN (CHO-HMSN) and FA-BSA with the disulfide bond inside BSA. In addition, various biological assessments, including cell uptake experiments, demonstrated that HFB@IP effectively targets SGC-7901 cells and induces apoptosis in vitro. Further, it exhibits remarkable efficiency in synergistically killing cancer cells through chemo-photodynamic therapy, as indicated by a combination index (CI) of 0.328. The results showed that combining HMSN with biodegradable stimuli-responsive BSA molecules could offer a promising approach for precise chemo-photodynamic therapy in treating gastric cancer, allowing for the controlled release of drugs as necessary.

Pore engineering of micro/mesoporous nanomaterials for encapsulation, controlled release and variegated applications of essential oils

Essential oils have become increasingly popular in fields of medical, food and agriculture, owing to their strongly antimicrobial, anti-inflammation and antioxidant effects, greatly meeting demand from consumers for healthy and safe natural products. However, the easy volatility and/or chemical instability of active ingredients of essential oils (EAIs) can result in the loss of activity before realizing their functions, which have greatly hindered the widely applications of EAIs. As an emerging trend, micro/mesoporous nanomaterials (MNs) have drawn great attention for encapsulation and controlled release of EAIs, owing to their tunable pore structural characteristics. In this review, we briefly discuss the recent advances of MNs that widely used in the controlled release of EAIs, including zeolites, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), mesoporous silica nanomaterials (MSNs), and provide a comprehensive summary focusing on the pore engineering strategies of MNs that affect their controlled-release or triggered-release for EAIs, including tailorable pore structure properties (e.g., pore size, pore surface area, pore volume, pore geometry, and framework compositions) and surface properties (surface modification and surface functionalization). Finally, the variegated applications and potential challenges are also given for MNs based delivery strategies for EAIs in the fields of healthcare, food and agriculture. These will provide considerable instructions for the rational design of MNs for controlled release of EAIs.

Modulation of macrophage polarity with carboxymethyl chitin gated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for elevating anti-tumor chemotherapy

The weak immunity of tumors after chemotherapy could cause tumor metastasis and progression. Therefore, to overcome the dilemma of obvious immune deficiency caused by chemotherapy, a nanosystem (N-IL-12/DOX/α-TOS) consisted of thioketal (TK) bonds linked-hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) coated with carboxymethyl chitin (CMCH) by electrostatic interaction, and surface-functionalized glucose-regulated protein 78 binding peptide was prepared for loading doxorubicin (DOX), IL-12 and α-tocopheryl succinate (α-TOS). N-IL-12/DOX/α-TOS displayed a mean size of 275 nm after encapsulated DOX, IL-12 and α-TOS with loading contents of 2.04 × 10-4, 4.01 × 10-2 and 7.12 × 10-2, respectively. The drug-free nanoparticles (NPs) showed good biocompatibility to both 4 T1 cells and RAW264.7 macrophages. N-IL-12/DOX/α-TOS could achieve localized release of IL-12, DOX and α-TOS by pH and H2O2 trigger in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Moreover, the combined therapy by N-IL-12/DOX/α-TOS remarkably elevated the anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy, enhanced immune responses via promoting tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) polarization into tumoricidal M1 phenotypes, and decreased lung metastasis with reduced side effects. N-IL-12/DOX/α-TOS exhibited as a promising strategy for combining chemotherapy and local macrophage modulation-immunotherapy for anti-tumor therapy.

Current trends in gas-synergized phototherapy for improved antitumor theranostics

Phototherapy, such as photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), has been considered an elegant solution to eradicate tumors due to its minimal invasiveness and low systemic toxicity. Nevertheless, it is still challenging for phototherapy to achieve ideal outcomes and clinical translation due to its inherent drawbacks. Owing to the unique biological functions, diverse gases have attracted growing attention in combining with phototherapy to achieve super-additive therapeutic effects. Specifically, gases such as nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have been proven to kill tumor cells by inducing mitochondrial damage in synergy with phototherapy. Additionally, several gases not only enhance the thermal damage in PTT and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in PDT but also improve the tumor accumulation of photoactive agents. The inflammatory responses triggered by hyperthermia in PTT are also suppressed by the combination of gases. Herein, we comprehensively review the latest studies on gas-synergized phototherapy for cancer therapy, including (1) synergistic mechanisms of combining gases with phototherapy; (2) design of nanoplatforms for gas-synergized phototherapy; (3) multimodal therapy based on gas-synergized phototherapy; (4) imaging-guided gas-synergized phototherapy. Finally, the current challenges and future opportunities of gas-synergized phototherapy for tumor treatment are discussed. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: 1. The novelty and significance of the work with respect to the existing literature. (1) Strategies to design nanoplatforms for gas-synergized anti-tumor phototherapy have been summarized for the first time. Meanwhile, the integration of various imaging technologies and therapy modalities which endow these nanoplatforms with advanced theranostic capabilities has been summarized. (2) The mechanisms by which gases synergize with phototherapy to eradicate tumors are innovatively and comprehensively summarized. 2. The scientific impact and interest. This review elaborates current trends in gas-synergized anti-tumor phototherapy, with special emphases on synergistic anti-tumor mechanisms and rational design of therapeutic nanoplatforms to achieve this synergistic therapy. It aims to provide valuable guidance for researchers in this field.

Recent Innovations of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Combined with Photodynamic Therapy for Improving Cancer Treatment

Cancer is a global health burden and is one of the leading causes of death. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is considered an alternative approach to conventional cancer treatment. PDT utilizes a light-sensitive compound, photosensitizers (PSs), light irradiation, and molecular oxygen (O2). This generates cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can trigger necrosis and/ or apoptosis, leading to cancer cell death in the intended tissues. Classical photosensitizers impose limitations that hinder their clinical applications, such as long-term skin photosensitivity, hydrophobic nature, nonspecific targeting, and toxic cumulative effects. Thus, nanotechnology emerged as an unorthodox solution for improving the hydrophilicity and targeting efficiency of PSs. Among nanocarriers, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have gained increasing attention due to their high surface area, defined pore size and structure, ease of surface modification, stable aqueous dispersions, good biocompatibility, and optical transparency, which are vital for PDT. The advancement of integrated MSNs/PDT has led to an inspiring multimodal nanosystem for effectively treating malignancies. This review gives an overview of the main components and mechanisms of the PDT process, the effect of PDT on tumor cells, and the most recent studies that reported the benefits of incorporating PSs into silica nanoparticles and integration with PDT against different cancer cells.

Optimized strategies of ROS-based nanodynamic therapies for tumor theranostics

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in regulating the metabolism of tumor growth, metastasis, death and other biological processes. ROS-based nanodynamic therapies (NDTs) are becoming attractive due to non-invasive, low side effects and tumor-specific advantages. NDTs have rapidly developed into numerous branches, such as photodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy and so on. However, the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and the limitations of existing sensitizers have greatly restricted the therapeutic effects of NDTs, which heavily rely on ROS levels. To address the limitations of NDTs, various strategies have been developed to increase ROS yield, which is an urgent aspect for the positive development of NDTs. In this review, the nanodynamic potentiation strategies in terms of unique properties and universalities of NDTs are comprehensively outlined. We mainly summarize the current dilemmas faced by each NDT and the respective solutions. Meanwhile, the NDTs universalities-based potentiation strategies and NDTs-based combined treatments are elaborated. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of the key issues and challenges faced in the development and clinical transformation of NDTs.

Multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are recognized as a prime example of nanotechnology applied in the biomedical field, due to their easily tunable structure and composition, diverse surface functionalization properties, and excellent biocompatibility. Over the past two decades, researchers have developed a wide variety of MSNs-based nanoplatforms through careful design and controlled preparation techniques, demonstrating their adaptability to various biomedical application scenarios. With the continuous breakthroughs of MSNs in the fields of biosensing, disease diagnosis and treatment, tissue engineering, etc., MSNs are gradually moving from basic research to clinical trials. In this review, we provide a detailed summary of MSNs in the biomedical field, beginning with a comprehensive overview of their development history. We then discuss the types of MSNs-based nanostructured architectures, as well as the classification of MSNs-based nanocomposites according to the elements existed in various inorganic functional components. Subsequently, we summarize the primary purposes of surface-functionalized modifications of MSNs. In the following, we discuss the biomedical applications of MSNs, and highlight the MSNs-based targeted therapeutic modalities currently developed. Given the importance of clinical translation, we also summarize the progress of MSNs in clinical trials. Finally, we take a perspective on the future direction and remaining challenges of MSNs in the biomedical field.

Photothermal therapy of copper incorporated nanomaterials for biomedicine

Studies have reported on the significance of copper incorporated nanomaterials (CINMs) in cancer theranostics and tissue regeneration. Given their unique physicochemical properties and tunable nanostructures, CINMs are used in photothermal therapy (PTT) and photothermal-derived combination therapies. They have the potential to overcome the challenges of unsatisfactory efficacy of conventional therapies in an efficient and non-invasive manner. This review summarizes the recent advances in CINMs-based PTT in biomedicine. First, the classification and structure of CINMs are introduced. CINMs-based PTT combination therapy in tumors and PTT guided by multiple imaging modalities are then reviewed. Various representative designs of CINMs-based PTT in bone, skin and other organs are presented. Furthermore, the biosafety of CINMs is discussed. Finally, this analysis delves into the current challenges that researchers face and offers an optimistic outlook on the prospects of clinical translational research in this field. This review aims at elucidating on the applications of CINMs-based PTT and derived combination therapies in biomedicine to encourage future design and clinical translation.

Functionalized nanohybrids with rod shape for improved chemo-phototherapeutic effect against cancer by sequentially generating singlet oxygen and carbon dioxide bubbles

The application of hybrid nanocarriers is expected to play an active role in improving treatment of chemotherapy and phototherapy. Herein, a nanohybrid with a core of mesoporous silica nanorods and shell of folate-functionalized zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF-8/FA) was synthesized via polydopamine (PDA)-mediated integration. A chemotherapeutic drug (DOX), bubble generator (NH4HCO3, ABC), and photosensitive agent (ICG) were simultaneously loaded into the delivery system to construct smart ZIF-8/FA-coated mesoporous silica nanorods (IDa-PRMSs@ZF). We found that ICG endowed the designed delivery system with a moderate photothermal conversion efficiency of 26.06% and the capacity to release 1O2. The produced hyperthermia caused ABC to decompose and further generate carbon dioxide bubbles, thereby facilitating DOX release, sequentially. Importantly, the underlying mechanism was also investigated using mathematical kinetic modeling. The tumor inhibition rate of IDa-PRMSs@ZF under NIR irradiation reached 83.8%. This study provides a promising strategy based on rod-shaped nanohybrids for effective combination antitumor therapy.

Mucoadhesive Mesoporous Silica Particles as Versatile Carriers for Doxorubicin Delivery in Cancer Therapy

Due to their structural, morphological, and behavioral characteristics (e.g., large volume and adjustable pore size, wide functionalization possibilities, excellent biocompatibility, stability, and controlled biodegradation, the ability to protect cargoes against premature release and unwanted degradation), mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) are emerging as a promising diagnostic and delivery platform with a key role in the development of next-generation theranostics, nanovaccines, and formulations. In this study, MSPs with customized characteristics in-lab prepared were fully characterized and used as carriers for doxorubicin (DOX). The drug loading capacity and the release profile were evaluated in media with different pH values, mimicking the body conditions. The release data were fitted to Higuchi, Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Peppas-Sahlin kinetic models to evaluate the release constant and the mechanism. The in vitro behavior of functionalized silica particles showed an enhanced cytotoxicity on human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. Bio- and mucoadhesion on different substrates (synthetic cellulose membrane and porcine tissue mucosa)) and antimicrobial activity were successfully assessed, proving the ability of the OH- or the organically modified MSPs to act as antimicrobial and mucoadhesive platforms for drug delivery systems with synergistic effects.

Powering mesoporous silica nanoparticles into bioactive nanoplatforms for antibacterial therapies: strategies and challenges

Bacterial infection has been a major threat to worldwide human health, in particular with the ever-increasing level of antimicrobial resistance. Given the complex microenvironment of bacterial infections, conventional use of antibiotics typically renders a low efficacy in infection control, thus calling for novel strategies for effective antibacterial therapies. As an excellent candidate for antibiotics delivery, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) demonstrate unique physicochemical advantages in antibacterial therapies. Beyond the delivery capability, extensive efforts have been devoted in engineering MSNs to be bioactive to further synergize the therapeutic effect in infection control. In this review, we critically reviewed the essential properties of MSNs that benefit their antibacterial application, followed by a themed summary of strategies in manipulating MSNs into bioactive nanoplatforms for enhanced antibacterial therapies. The chemically functionalized platform, photo-synergized platform, physical antibacterial platform and targeting-directed platform are introduced in details, where the clinical translation challenges of these MSNs-based antibacterial nanoplatforms are briefly discussed afterwards. This review provides critical information of the emerging trend in turning bioinert MSNs into bioactive antibacterial agents, paving the way to inspire and translate novel MSNs-based nanotherapies in combating bacterial infection diseases.

Aptamer/doxorubicin-conjugated nanoparticles target membranous CEMIP2 in colorectal cancer

The objectives were to identify the functional domains of a potential oncoprotein, cell migration inducing hyaluronidase 2 (CEMIP2), evaluate its expression levels and roles in colorectal cancer (CRC), and develop an aptamer-based nanoparticle for targeted therapy. Data mining on TCGA identified that CEMIP2 might play oncogenic roles in CRC. In a local cohort, CEMIP2 mRNA levels significantly stepwise increase in CRC patients with higher stages, and high CEMIP2 confers worse disease-free survival. In addition, CEMIP2 mRNA levels significantly correlated to hyaluronan levels in sera from CRC patients. Deletion mapping identified that CEMIP2 containing G8 and PANDER-like domains preserved hyaluronidase activity and oncogenic roles, including cell proliferation, anchorage-independent cell growth, cell migration and invasion, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) tube formation in CRC-derived cells. A customized monoclonal mouse anti-human CEMIP2 antibody probing the PANDER-like domain (anti-289307) counteracted CEMIP2-mediated carcinogenesis in vitro. Cell-SELEX pinpointed an aptamer, aptCEMIP2(101), specifically interacted with the full-length CEMIP2, potentially involving its 3D structure. Treatments with aptCEMIP2(101) significantly reduced CEMIP2-mediated tumorigenesis in vitro. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) carrying atpCEMIP2(101) and Dox were fabricated. Dox@MSN, MSN-aptCEMIP2(101), and Dox@MSN-aptCEMIP2(101) significantly suppressed tumorigenesis in vitro compared to the Mock, while Dox@MSN-aptCEMIP2(101) showed substantially higher effects compared to Dox@MSN and MSN-aptCEMIP2(101) in CRC-derived cells. Our study identified a novel oncogene and developed an effective aptamer-based targeted therapeutic strategy.

PCL/gelatin nanofibers embedded with doxorubicin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles/silver nanoparticles as an antibacterial and anti-melanoma cancer

Melanoma cancer wound healing is critical and complex and poses a significant challenge to researchers. Drug resistance, adverse side effects, and inefficient localization of chemotherapeutic drugs limit common treatment strategies in melanoma cancer. Using drug delivery nanostructures with low side effects and high efficiency, besides having antibacterial and antiseptic properties, can effectively repair the damage caused by the disease. To this end, this study aimed to develop a drug delivery nanosystem based on doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded amine-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), linked with green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Characterization methods including microscopic methods and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the synthesis and functionalization of the well-dispersed nanoparticles with nanosized and uniform structures. The poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers as a strong scaffold were produced by the blow spinning method and DOX-loaded nanoparticles were blow spun on PCL nanofibers along with gelatin solution. The resulting nanosystem including nanofibers and nanoparticles (NFs/NPS) showed a fine loading percent with a proper release profile of DOX and AgNPs and low hemolysis activity. Moreover, besides preventing infection by AgNPs, the DOX-loaded NFs/NPs could effectively destroy melanoma cancer cells. The attachment of normal cells to the nanoparticles-loaded nanofibers scaffold revealed the possibility of healing wounds caused by melanoma cancer.

Photothermal Propelling and Pyroelectric Potential-Promoted Cell Internalization of Janus Nanoparticles and Pyroelectrodynamic Tumor Therapy

Cancer phototherapy experiences limitations in tissue diffusion and cell internalization of phototherapeutic agents and dose-dependent side effects. Herein, Janus pyroelectric nanoparticles (NPs) are designed to generate self-powered motion and built-in electric fields to overcome the delivery barriers. Polydopamine (PDA) layers are partially coated on tetragonal BaTiO3 (tBT) NPs to prepare Janus tBT@PDA, and Au NPs are deposited on the PDA caps to obtain Janus tBT@PDA-Au NPs. Near-infrared (NIR) illumination of tBT@PDA-Au builds in situ pyroelectric potentials on NPs, which selectively affect the membrane potential of tumor cells rather than normal cells to enhance tumor cell internalization and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) for pyroelectric dynamic therapy (PEDT). The asymmetric photothermal effect of the Janus NPs creates thermophoretic force to propel NP motion, which enhances tumor diffusion and cellular uptake of NPs and boosts cytotoxicity and intracellular ROS levels. The inoculation of Au NPs increases the photothermal effect, exhibits larger motion velocities, produces higher pyroelectric potentials, and elevates cellular uptake rates, resulting in significant induction of tumor cell apoptosis, suppression of tumor growth, and extension of animal survival. Thus, the concise design of tBT@PDA-Au/NIR treatment has achieved thermophoretic motion-promoted tissue diffusion, built-in electric field-enhanced cell internalization, and photothermal/PEDT-synergized antitumor efficacy.

Nanoparticle-mediated synergistic anticancer effect of ferroptosis and photodynamic therapy: Novel insights and perspectives

Current antitumor monotherapy has many limitations, highlighting the need for novel synergistic anticancer strategies. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of nonapoptotic cell death that plays a pivotal regulatory role in tumorigenesis and treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) causes irreversible chemical damage to target lesions and is widely used in antitumor therapy. However, PDT's effectiveness is usually hindered by several obstacles, such as hypoxia, excess glutathione (GSH), and tumor resistance. Ferroptosis improves the anticancer efficacy of PDT by increasing oxygen and reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reducing GSH levels, and PDT also enhances ferroptosis induction due to the ROS effect in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Strategies based on nanoparticles (NPs) can subtly exploit the potential synergy of ferroptosis and PDT. This review explores recent advances and current challenges in the landscape of the underlying mechanisms regulating ferroptosis and PDT, as well as nano delivery system-mediated synergistic anticancer activity. These include polymers, biomimetic materials, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), inorganics, and carrier-free NPs. Finally, we highlight future perspectives of this novel emerging paradigm in targeted cancer therapies.

Endogenous NO-release multi-responsive hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for drug encapsulation and delivery

Novel multi-responsive drug delivery vehicles (CDs/PNVCL@HMSNs) were prepared by grafting amino-terminated poly (N-vinyl caprolactam) (PNVCL-NH₂) and amino-rich carbon dots (CDs) on the surface of aldehyde-functionalized HMSNs (HMSNs-CHO) via Schiff base reaction. The CDs were prepared from L-arginine and their surfaces were rich in guanidine. Doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into the nanoparticles to form drug loaded vehicles (CDs/PNVCL@HMSNs-DOX) and the drug loading efficiency was 58.38%. The drug release behaviors of CDs/PNVCL@HMSNs-DOX showed temperature and pH responsiveness due to the poly (N-vinyl caprolactam) (PNVCL) and Schiff base bond. The high concentration of NO released in high concentration H₂O₂ of tumor site could induce tumor cells apoptosis. The multi-responsive CDs/PNVCL@HMSNs are intriguing drug carriers, which combine drug delivery and NO release in one.

Mesoporous Drug Delivery System: From Physical Properties of Drug in Solid State to Controlled Release

Mesoporous materials, which exhibit great potential in the control of polymorphs and delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs, have obtained considerable attention in the field of pharmaceutical science. The physical properties and release behaviors of amorphous or crystalline drugs may be affected by formulating them into mesoporous drug delivery systems. In the past few decades, an increasing amount of papers have been written about mesoporous drug delivery systems, which play a crucial role in improving the properties of drugs. Herein, mesoporous drug delivery systems are comprehensively reviewed in terms of their physicochemical characteristics, control of polymorphic forms, physical stability, in vitro performance, and in vivo performance. Moreover, the challenges and strategies of developing robust mesoporous drug delivery systems are also discussed.

Mesoporous nanodrug delivery system: a powerful tool for a new paradigm of remodeling of the tumor microenvironment

Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in tumor progression, metastasis and therapy resistance. Remodeling the TME has recently been deemed an attractive tumor therapeutic strategy. Due to its complexity and heterogeneity, remodeling the TME still faces great challenges. With the great advantage of drug loading ability, tumor accumulation, multifactor controllability, and persistent guest molecule release ability, mesoporous nanodrug delivery systems (MNDDSs) have been widely used as effective antitumor drug delivery tools as well as remolding TME. This review summarizes the components and characteristics of the TME, as well as the crosstalk between the TME and cancer cells and focuses on the important role of drug delivery strategies based on MNDDSs in targeted remodeling TME metabolic and synergistic anticancer therapy.

Sodium-borohydride exfoliated bismuthene loaded with Mitomycin C for chemo-photo-radiotherapy of triple negative breast cancer

In current study, a new remotely controlled drug delivery, radio-sensitizing, and photothermal therapy agent based on thioglycolic acid modified bismuth nanosheets is thoroughly evaluated. Bismuth nanosheets were synthesized using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) and Tween 20 through low energy (400 W) sonication within 2 h. The resultant nanosheets were 40-60 nm in size and 1-3 atomic layers in thickness. The morphological and structural characteristics of the nanosheets were studied using transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The surface of the nanosheets was modified using thioglycolic acid, which resulted in enhanced Mitomycin C loading capacity to 274.35% and circumvented the burst drug release due to the improved electrostatic interactions. At pH 7.4 and 5.0, the drug release was significantly boosted from 45.1 to 69.8%, respectively. Thioglycolic acid modified bismuth nanosheets under 1064 nm laser irradiation possessed photothermal conversion efficiency of η=51.4% enabling a temperature rise of 24.9 °C at 100 μg/ml in 5 min. The combination of drug delivery, photothermal therapy, and radio-sensitization greatly damaged the MDA-MB-231 cells through apoptosis and diminished their colony forming.

Dual size/charge-switchable and multi-responsive gelatin-based nanocluster for targeted anti-tumor therapy

Biopolymers with excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability show great potential for designing drug nanocarriers, while it's difficult to fabricate smart vehicles with multiple switching (size, surface, shape) based on biopolymers alone. Here, we report a dual size/charge-switchable and multi-responsive doxorubicin-loaded gelatin-based nanocluster (DOX-icluster) for improved tumor penetration and targeted anti-tumor therapy. The DOX-icluster was electrostatically assembled from folic acid and dimethylmaleic anhydride modified gelatin (FA-GelDMA) and small-sized DOX-loaded NH₂ modified hollow mesoporous organosilicon nanoparticles (DOX-HMON-NH₂). DOX-icluster had an initial size of about 199 nm at neutral pH. After accumulation in tumor tissue, the DMA bond of FA-GelDMA was cleaved and gelatin was degraded by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2), thus 48 nm and positively charged DOX-HMON-NH₂ was released to facilitate penetration and cell internalization. DOX-HMON-NH₂ was further degraded by intracellular glutathione (GSH) with releasing 48.1 % of DOX. The cellular uptake results indicated that the fabricated icluster promoted the uptake of DOX by 4T1 cells. With enhanced penetration efficacy, the tumor spheroids volume treated with DOX-icluster was reduced to 15.1 % on day 7. This cytocompatible multi-responsive gelatin-based icluster with size-shrinking and charge-reversible characteristics may be used as a significant drug carrier for tumor therapy.

Polydopamine-coated i-motif DNA/Gold nanoplatforms for synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy

The combination of photothermal therapy with chemotherapy has gradually developed into promising cancer therapy. Here, a synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy nanoplatform based on polydopamine (PDA)-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were facilely achieved via the in situ polymerization of dopamine (DA) on the surface of AuNPs. This nanoplatform exhibited augmented photothermal conversion efficiency and enhanced colloidal stability in comparison with uncoated PDA shell AuNPs. The i-motif DNA nanostructure was assembled on PDA-coated AuNPs, which could be transformed into a C-quadruplex structure under an acidic environment, showing a characteristic pH response. The PDA shell served as a linker between the AuNPs and the i-motif DNA nanostructure. To enhance the specific cellular uptake, the AS1411 aptamer was introduced to the DNA nanostructure employed as a targeting ligand. In addition, Dox-loaded NPs (DAu@PDA-AS141) showed the pH/photothermal-responsive release of Dox. The photothermal effect of DAu@PDA-AS141 elicited excellent photothermal performance and efficient cancer cell inhibition under 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Overall, these results demonstrate that the DAu@PDA-AS141 nanoplatform shows great potential in synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy.

Carbohydrate ligands-directed active tumor targeting of combinatorial chemotherapy/phototherapy-based nanomedicine: A review

Phototherapies or light mediated therapies, including mutually photothermal and photodynamic therapy that encompass irradiation of the target organs with light, have been widely employed as minimally invasive approach associated with negligible drug resistance for eradicating multiple tumors with minimal hazards to normal organs. Despite all these advantages, many obstacles in phototherapy hinder progress toward clinical application. Therefore, researchers have developed nano-particulate delivery systems integrated with phototherapy and therapeutic cytotoxic drugs to overcome these obstacles and achieve maximum efficacy in cancer treatment. Active targeting ligands were integrated into their surfaces to improve the selectivity and tumor targeting ability, enabling easy binding and recognition by cellular receptors overexpressed on the tumor tissue compared to normal ones. This enhances intratumoral accumulation with minimal toxicity on the adjacent normal cells. Various active targeting ligands, including antibodies, aptamers, peptides, lactoferrin, folic acid and carbohydrates, have been explored for the targeted delivery of chemotherapy/phototherapy-based nanomedicine. Among these ligands, carbohydrates have been applied due to their unique features that ameliorate the bioadhesive, noncovalent conjugation to biological tissues. In this review, the up-to-date techniques of employing carbohydrates active targeting ligands will be highlighted concerning the surface modification of the nanoparticles for ameliorating the targeting ability of the chemo/phototherapy.

Synergistic effect of polymer functionalized graphene oxide system for breast cancer treatment

The multifaceted drug carrier system is an emerging trend in delivering chemotherapeutic drugs and photosensitizers for the synergistic effect. In this work, we have designed a functionalized graphene oxide (GO) based carrier system for combined chemo-photodynamic therapeutic effects. Doxorubicin (DOX) and rose bengal (RB) were entrapped on the surface of GO via hydrophobic and π-π stacking interactions. The functional group determination, crystalline properties, surface morphology, and hydrodynamic size were evaluated using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, AFM, and DLS analysis. At 24 h, the entrapment efficiency was 65 % DOX and 40.92 % RB, and the loading capacities were 16.9 % DOX and 5.68 % RB observed at 30 min. The drug release percentage was higher in pH-2.6 rather than in pH-5.5, 6.8, and 7.4 pH environments. The in-vitro toxicity analysis using the LDH assay reveals that the DOX and RB co-loaded carriers had a significant cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells, indicating that the carrier could improve the therapeutic efficacy of DOX. Morphological changes were studied using inverted light microscopy; the cells were irradiated with a laser 525 nm 10 J/cm² for 2 min 51 sec, and it was observed that the DOX and RB co-loaded carrier with laser-irradiated cells exposed the high-level morphological changes with the occurrence of apoptotic cell death. Compared to free DOX, the DOX/RB co-loaded carrier + laser had an efficient anticancer activity, as confirmed by DAPI staining cell uptake, flow cytometry, and intracellular ROS generation analysis. The DOX and RB co-loaded carrier clearly exhibits the RB-mediated photodynamic action on MCF-7 cells in response to external laser light irradiation. It permits an on-demand dual-payload release to trigger an instantaneous photodynamic and chemo treatment for cancer cell eradication. Finally, the ensuing dual-agent release is probable to successfully fight cancer via a synergistic effect.

Mesoporous carbon nanoenzyme as nano-booster for photothermal-enhanced photodynamic therapy compared with graphene oxide

The over-expressed GSH in tumor microenvironment significantly weakens the lethal reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by photodynamic therapy (PDT) and catalysis of nanoenzyme. Hence, it is necessary to excavate a versatile and effective vehicle with oxidative stress-enhancement and GSH-depletion capacity to break the redox homeostasis in tumor microenvironment. GO has been reported to possess GSH-depletion and peroxidase (POD)-like capacity. Based on this, PEGylated mesoporous carbon (MC-PEG) was prepared as ICG vehicle to compare with PEGylated graphene oxide (GO-PEG). Excitingly, MC-PEG was found to exhibit three times higher oxidative capacity by POD-like process than GO-PEG, and owned more effective and continuous GSH-depletion capacity to further amplify the oxidative stress. Meanwhile, MC-PEG exhibited better protective effect on the loaded ICG against unwanted light excitation than GO-PEG. Together with the higher photothermal conversion effect, under the NIR light irradiation, MC-PEG could markedly improve the temperature of tumor cells and produce more hydroxyl radical, continuously consume GSH and provide more better protection for ICG compared with GO-PEG, thus further boosting the combination of photothermal and photodynamic effects. The anti-tumor experiment in cell and in-vivo level both validated that ICG/MC-PEG showed better synergistic effect with lower IC₅₀ value and higher tumor suppression rate than ICG/GO-PEG.

Constructing a drug release model by central composite design to investigate the interaction between drugs and temperature-sensitive controlled release nanoparticles

To study the release behavior of a thermosensitive controlled release drug delivery system and construct a predictable mathematical model of drug release, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-Allylamine) (P(NIPA-AL17)) and ploy(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) were functionalized on the surface of hollow mesoporous carbon nanoparticles (HMCNs) through layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly to construct a photothermal responsive controlled release system. A five-level four-factorial central composite design (CCD) was performed to investigate the relationship between four independent variables including drug loading (A), number of polymer layers (B), temperature (C) and vibration rate of the shaker (D), and three dependent response variables, including cumulative release over 1 h (Y₁), cumulative release over 24 h (Y₂) and the release rate constant k (Y₃). The CCD results indicate that A and C significantly affect Y₁ (P < 0.05). C significantly affects Y₂ (P < 0.05). A and B is found to affect Y₃ (P < 0.05) significantly. When C is below 39 °C, Y₁ and Y₂ decrease with the increase of A and B, and when C is above 39 °C, they increase with the increase of A and B; Y₃ decreases as A and B increase; and D shows the least or even no influence on Y₁, Y₂ and Y₃. The constructed predictable mathematical model will provide a scientific reference for the further development and application of photothermal responsive controlled-release preparations.

Au nanoparticles decorated nanographene oxide-based platform: Synthesis, functionalization and assessment of photothermal activity

A novel hybrid nanocomposite formed of carboxylated Nano Graphene Oxide (c-NGO), highly densely decorated by monodisperse citrate-coated Au nanoparticles (c-NGO/Au NPs), is synthesized and thoroughly characterized for photothermal applications. A systematic investigation of the role played by the synthetic parameters on the Au NPs decoration of the c-NGO platform is performed, comprehensively studying spectroscopic and morphological characteristics of the achieved nanostructures, thus elucidating their still not univocally explained synthesis mechanism. Remarkably, the Au NPs coating density of the c-NGO sheets is much higher than state-of-the-art systems with analogous composition prepared with different approaches, along with a higher NPs size dispersion. A novel theoretical approach for estimating the average number of NPs per sheet, combining DLS and TEM results, is developed. The assessment of the c-NGO/Au NPs photothermal activity is performed under continuous wave (CW) laser irradiation, at 532 nm and 800 nm, before and after functionalization with PEG-SH. c-NGO/Au NPs composite behaves as efficient photothermal agent, with a light into heat conversion ability higher than that of the single components. The c-NGO/Au NPs compatibility for photothermal therapy is assessed by in vitro cell viability tests, which show no significant effects of c-NGO/Au NPs, as neat and PEGylated, on cell metabolic activity under the investigated conditions. These results demonstrate the great potential held by the prepared hybrid nanocomposite for photothermal conversion technologies, indicating it as particularly promising platform for photothermal ablation of cancer cells.

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.

pH-responsive and targeted delivery of chrysin via folic acid-functionalized mesoporous silica nanocarrier for breast cancer therapy

Cancer is a disease of global importance. In order to mitigate conventional chemotherapy-related side effects, phytochemicals with inherent anticancer efficacy have been opted. However, the use of nanotechnology is essential to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of these phytochemicals. Herein, we have formulated folic acid conjugated polyacrylic acid capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (∼47.6 nm in diameter) for pH-dependent targeted delivery of chrysin to breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. Chrysin loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Chr- mSiO2@PAA/FA) have been noted to induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through oxidative insult and mitochondrial dysfunction with subsequent G1 arrest. Further, in tumor bearing mice, intravenous incorporation of Chr-mSiO2@PAA/FA has been noticed to enhance the anti-neoplastic effects of chrysin via tumor site-specific accumulation. Enhanced cytotoxicity of chrysin contributed towards in vivo tumor regression, restoration of normalized tissue architecture and maintenance of healthy body weight. Besides, no serious systemic toxicity was manifested in response to Chr-mSiO2@PAA/FA administration in vivo. Thus, the study evokes about the anticancer potentiality of chrysin and its increased therapeutic activity via incorporation into folic acid conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles, which may hold greater impact in field of future biomedical research.

Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials-Based Recent Approaches in Upgraded Targeting and Management of Cancer: A Review

Along with the extensive improvement in tumor biology research and different therapeutic developments, cancer remains a dominant and deadly disease. Tumor heterogeneity, systemic toxicities, and drug resistance are major hurdles in cancer therapy. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, phototherapy, and surgical therapy are some prominent areas of cancer treatment. During chemotherapy for cancer, chemotherapeutic agents are distributed all over the body and also damage normal cells. With advancements in nanotechnology, nanoparticles utilized in all major areas of cancer therapy offer the probability to advance drug solubility, and stability, extend drug half-lives in plasma, reduce off-target effects, and quintessence drugs at a target site. The present review compiles the use of different types of nanoparticles in frequently and recently applied therapeutics of cancer therapy. A recent area of cancer treatment includes cancer stem cell therapy, DNA/RNA-based immunomodulation therapy, alteration of the microenvironment, and cell membrane-mediated biomimetic approach. Biocompatibility and bioaccumulation of nanoparticles is the major impediment in nano-based therapy. More research is required to develop the next generation of nanotherapeutics with the incorporation of new molecular entities, such as kinase inhibitors, siRNA, mRNA, and gene editing. We assume that nanotherapeutics will dramatically improve patient survival, move the model of cancer treatment, and develop certainty in the foreseeable future.

Nanoparticles-based phototherapy systems for cancer treatment: Current status and clinical potential

Remarkable progress in phototherapy has been made in recent decades, due to its non-invasiveness and instant therapeutic efficacy. In addition, with the rapid development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, phototherapy systems based on nanoparticles or nanocomposites also evolved as an emerging hotspot in nanomedicine research, especially in cancer. In this review, first we briefly introduce the history of phototherapy, and the mechanisms of phototherapy in cancer treatment. Then, we summarize the representative development over the past three to five years in nanoparticle-based phototherapy and highlight the design of the innovative nanoparticles thereof. Finally, we discuss the feasibility and the potential of the nanoparticle-based phototherapy systems in clinical anticancer therapeutic applications, aiming to predict future research directions in this field. Our review is a tutorial work, aiming at providing useful insights to researchers in the field of nanotechnology, nanoscience and cancer.

Biomimetic macrophage membrane-coated gold-quantum dots with tumor microenvironment stimuli-responsive capability for tumor theranostic

Tumor microenvironment (TME) is intently related to tumor growth, progression and invasion, leading to drug resistance and insufficient therapeutic efficacy. However, remodeling TME and utilizing TME for exploring intelligent nanomaterials that can realize tumor theranostic is still challenging. Nowadays, the theranostic based on chemotherapy exposes some deficiencies, such as low targeting, weak permeability and premature clearance. Furthermore, it is challenging to cure drug-resistant tumors effectively. For the sake of solving these problems, a biomimetic decomposable nano-theranostic (MMV-Au-CDs-DOX) was well-established in this work. The Au-CDs are coated with macrophage-derived microvesicle to realize drug release accurately and enhance the biocompatibility of internal nanoparticles. Furthermore, MMV-Au-CDs-DOX would locate in the inflammation position of tumor, and disintegrate correspondingly into pieces with certain different functions stimulated by TME. Subsequently, the released anti-tumor nanodrugs were used for multimodal therapy, including chemotherapy and hemodynamic therapy. In addition, combined with the ability of Au-CDs to recognize GSH specifically, the off-on fluorescent probe was constructed to monitor the GSH of tumor cells and provided information on chemotherapy resistance.

Immune-awakening Saccharomyces-inspired nanocarrier for oral target delivery to lymph and tumors

Utilization of the intestinal lymphatic pathway will allow extraordinary gains in lymph and tumors cascade-targeted delivery of oral drugs and awakening the innate/adaptive immunity of the body and the lesion microenvironment, in addition to improving oral bioavailability relative to other means of delivery of oral drugs. Here, inspired by the specific invasion route of intestinal microorganisms, we pioneered an immune-awakening Saccharomyces-inspired mesoporous silicon nanoparticle (yMSN) for the ingenious cascade-targeted delivery of therapeutic cancer vaccines and antitumor drugs to lymph and tumors via the intestinal lymphatic pathway. Encouragingly, yMSN high-loaded tumor-specific antigens (OVA, 11.9%) and anti-tumor drugs (Len, 28.6%) with high stability, namely Len/OVA/yMSN, efficiently co-delivered OVA and Len to their desired target sites. Moreover, yMSN concomitantly awakened the innate antitumor immunity of dendritic cells and macrophages, strengthening vaccine-induced adaptive immune responses and reversing macrophage-associated immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Surprisingly, Len/OVA/yMSN treatment resulted in excellent synergistic antitumor efficacy and long-term antitumor memory in OVA-Hepa1-6-bearing mice. This high-performance nanocarrier provides a novel approach for lesion-targeting delivery of oral drugs accompanied with awakening of the innate/adaptive immunity of the lesion environment, and also represents a novel path for the oral delivery of diverse therapeutic agents targeting other lymph-mediated diseases.

Nanomaterials-mediated photodynamic therapy and its applications in treating oral diseases

Oral diseases, such as dental caries, periodontitis and oral cancer, have a very high morbidity over the world. Basically, many oral diseases are commonly related to bacterial infections or cell malignant proliferation, and usually located on the superficial positions. These features allow the convenient and efficient application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for oral diseases, since PDT is ideally suitable for the diseases on superficial sites and has been widely used for antimicrobial and anticancer therapy. Photosensitizers (PSs) are an essential element in PDT, which induce the generation of a large number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon absorption of specific lights. Almost all the PSs are small molecules and commonly suffered from various problems in the PDT environment, such as low solubility and poor stability. Recently, reports on the nanomedicine-based PDT have been well documented. Various functionalized nanomaterials can serve either as the PSs carriers or the direct PSs, thus enhancing the PDT efficacy. Herein, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the features of different oral diseases and discuss the potential applications of nanomedicine-based PDT in the treatment of some common oral diseases. Also, the concerns and possible solutions for nanomaterials-mediated PDT are discussed.

NIR-Ⅱ window Triple-mode antibacterial Nanoplatform: Cationic Copper sulfide nanoparticles combined vancomycin for synergistic bacteria eradication

The widespread use of antibiotics leads to the increasing drug resistance of bacteria and poses a threat to human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new antibacterial strategies. Herein, based on the good photothermal properties of Copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles under near infrared (NIR) laser, we developed a NIR-Ⅱ window triple-mode synergetic antibacterial cCuS (cationic CuS) @Vancomycin (Van) nanoplatform. In the proposed nanoplatform, the positive charge on the surface makes cCuS@Van nanoplatform show better bacterial uptake and membrane damage; vancomycin induces chemical sterilization and provides a targeting effect to the nanoplatform; combined with the strong photothermal effect and deep tissue penetration at the excitation of 1064 nm laser, cCuS@Van nanoplatform can effectively kill bacterial. The photothermal conversion efficiency of the nanoplatform can reach 49.12 % and in vitro experiments show a sterilizing rate of more than 99.5 % to staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) at the concentration of 3.0 μM, which also demonstrated the synergistic effect of cCuS@Van nanoplatform. In addition, low cytotoxicity to human cells conforms the good biocompatibility of the as-prepared cCuS@Van nanoplatform, which endows it a good application prospect in the field of antibacterial, such as wound healing and implant sterilization.

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.