Lysyl oxidase-responsive anchoring nanoparticles for modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment

GSH/pH-sensitive Förster resonance energy transfer nanoparticles for synergistic chemotherapy and chemodynamic therapy

Stimulus-responsive polymers have attracted significant attention as intelligent and advanced drug delivery systems. In this work, a glutathione-responsive polymer was synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of natural biological molecules lipoic acid and tetraphenylene (TPE)-containing vinyl monomers. The poly(disulfide) block ensures rapid degradation of carriers and drug release under specific conditions. In addition, the introduction of pendant carboxyl groups enables Fe3+ incorporating capacity and the hydrophobic TPE block significantly boosts drug loading and aggregation induced emission (AIE) for visualization of assembly. Fe3+ and doxorubicin (DOX) loaded nanoparticles (DOX@Fe NPs) were obtained via coordination and hydrophobic interactions for synergistic chemodynamic therapy and chemotherapy. Especially, the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between TPE and DOX further enables visualization of DOX release via a fluorescence signal. The in vitro release experiment results demonstrated that under the conditions of pH 5.5 and 5 mM GSH, the release efficiency of DOX reached 79.2% in 12 hours. In the cellular experiment, the viability of 4T1 cells co-incubated with DOX@Fe NPs for 48 hours was only 2.5%, verifying that DOX@Fe NPs possess potent tumor-killing capability.

Hyaluronic acid-functionalized nanoparticles enable enhanced chemo/chemodynamic therapy for the targeted treatment of colon cancer

Colon cancer (CC) is the third most common cancer globally and one of the leading causes of death. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an efficient and low-toxicity CC treatment regimen. The combination of chemotherapy (CT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has great potential in cancer treatment. In this work, an amphiphilic molecule, HA-Fc-PEG-SS-CPT, containing ferrocene and camptothecin (CPT) was designed and synthesized. HA-Fc-PEG-SS-CPT was self-assembled and loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) to prepare a nanoparticle (HCF@DOX) with active targeting, GSH consumption, controlled drug release, and induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst to achieve CT/CDT anti-CC. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that the particle size and morphology of HCF@DOX are suitable for passive targeting effects. HCF@DOX was found to have excellent stability, antitumor activity and biosafety. In addition, HCF@DOX achieved CT/CDT anti-CC by inhibiting tumour cell proliferation through ferroptosis and apoptosis. In summary, this study provides an interesting strategy for nanoparticles based on CT/CDT to enhance anti-CC efficacy. This research may pave the way for the development of innovative and transformative treatments for CC.

Multifunctional mesoporous polydopamine nanoplatforms for synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy and enhanced immunotherapy in breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers among women worldwide, necessitating the development of more effective and comprehensive treatment strategies. In this study, we successfully synthesized mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) with photothermal effects for the co-delivery of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) and the immune adjuvant imiquimod (R837), resulting in the development of a multifunctional nanoplatforms termed MDR. MDR displayed excellent photothermal conversion efficiency and pH-responsive drug release behavior. In vitro assessments revealed significant cytotoxicity of MDR against 4T1 cells under 808 nm laser irradiation, with enhanced cellular uptake in both 4T1 cells and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Additionally, the expression levels of the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 were remarkably higher in the MDR-treated group than free R837 after co-incubation with immature BMDCs, indicating a stronger ability to promote BMDC maturation and effectively stimulate immune response activation. Intratumoral injection in breast cancer-bearing mice further demonstrated that the MDR + NIR group significantly inhibited tumor growth compared to other groups, with no apparent side effects. In conclusion, the multifunctional nanoplatforms integrating photothermal therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy are expected to provide a novel therapeutic approach for the multimodal treatment of breast cancer.

Oral pH-Sensitive Solid Self-Microemulsion of Norcantharidin Wrapped in Colon-Coated Capsule for Selective Therapy of Colorectal Carcinoma

Due to the poor solubility, permeability, stability and tumor-targeting ability of norcantharidin (NCTD), currently commercially available NCTD formulations require patients to take the medicine more frequently. Moreover, the formulation of NCTD themselves have certain toxicity, thus showing unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes and serious systemic side effects. Based on the specific acidic environment at the tumor site, in this study, the pH-sensitive NCTD solid self-microemulsion (NCTD@CS-DMMA SSME) was prepared by introducing 2,3-dimethylmaleic acid amide modified chitosan (CS-DMMA), and it was wrapped in colon-coated capsule to achieve stable and controlled drug release in the acidic environment of colonic tumors. After self-emulsification, it had a particle size of 75.88 ± 0.85 nm and carried a negative charge. Under the condition of pH 6.5, NCTD@CS-DMMA SSME exhibited first-order release kinetics characteristics. Moreover, the cumulative release under the condition of pH 6.5 was 2.04-fold higher than that under the condition of pH 7.4. The in situ intestinal absorption assay elucidated that the prepared formulation could effectively improve the absorption rate constant and apparent permeability coefficients of NCTD in colon tumor site. The antitumor effect in vivo and in vitro showed that it could not only improve the inhibition ability of tumor growth, migration and invasion in mice, but also increase the tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes in mice with colon cancer, thus inhibiting tumor growth. In summary, the NCTD@CS-DMMA SSME can deliver drugs to the site of colon tumors and continuously release drugs, providing new insights into improving the treatment effectiveness of colon cancer.

Nanosized Porphyrin-Containing Covalent Organic Polymer to Enhance Ferroptosis in Photodynamic Treatment of Tumor Cells via Glutathione Depletion

A porphyrin-containing nanoscale covalent organic polymer (COP) was fabricated from 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) and cystamine via an acylation reaction. On the one hand, TCPP can induce tumor cell death by laser irradiation. Due to the presence of disulfide bonds of cystamine which can react with glutathione, it exhibits depletion of glutathione and accumulation of peroxides in tumor cells. Ultimately by the hyaluronic acid to encapsulate the COP to get S-COP@HA, the nanoparticle with a size of 168.6 nm also exhibits good tumor accumulation and biosafety. Significant inhibition of tumor cell growth was observed after two consecutive doses of S-COP@HA at relatively low laser densities. This combination therapy was proved to reduce the level of reduced glutathione in tumor cells, where ferroptosis occurs after photodynamic treatment. Overall, this study presents a potent, good therapeutic option for the effective enhancement of photodynamic therapy by glutathione depletion.

Cytoskeleton-modulating nanomaterials and their therapeutic potentials

The cytoskeleton, an intricate network of protein fibers within cells, plays a pivotal role in maintaining cell shape, enabling movement, and facilitating intracellular transport. Its involvement in various pathological states, ranging from cancer proliferation and metastasis to the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, underscores its potential as a target for therapeutic intervention. The exploration of nanotechnology in this realm, particularly the use of nanomaterials for cytoskeletal modulation, represents a cutting-edge approach with the promise of novel treatments. Inorganic nanomaterials, including those derived from gold, metal oxides, carbon, and black phosphorus, alongside organic variants such as peptides and proteins, are at the forefront of this research. These materials offer diverse mechanisms of action, either by directly interacting with cytoskeletal components or by influencing cellular signaling pathways that, in turn, modulate the cytoskeleton. Recent advancements have introduced magnetic field-responsive and light-responsive nanomaterials, which allow for targeted and controlled manipulation of the cytoskeleton. Such precision is crucial in minimizing off-target effects and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This review explores the importance of research into cytoskeleton-targeting nanomaterials for developing therapeutic interventions for a range of diseases. It also addresses the progress made in this field, the challenges encountered, and future directions for using nanomaterials to modulate the cytoskeleton. The continued exploration of nanomaterials for cytoskeleton modulation holds great promise for advancing therapeutic strategies against a broad spectrum of diseases, marking a significant step forward in the intersection of nanotechnology and medicine.

Yogurt Alleviates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression in Mice through D-Lactate

Numerous studies have investigated the immunomodulatory effects of yogurt, but the underlying mechanism remained elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the alleviating properties of yogurt on immunosuppression and proposed the underlying mechanism was related to the metabolite D-lactate. In the healthy mice, we validated the safety of daily yogurt consumption (600 μL) or D-lactate (300 mg/kg). In immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX), we evaluated the immune regulation of yogurt and D-lactate. The result showed that yogurt restored body weight, boosted immune organ index, repaired splenic tissue, recovered the severity of delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions and increased serum cytokines (IgA, IgG, IL-6, IFN-γ). Additionally, yogurt enhanced intestinal immune function by restoring the intestinal barrier and upregulating the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Further studies showed that D-lactate alleviated immunosuppression in mice mainly by promoting cellular immunity. D-lactate recovered body weight and organ development, elevated serum cytokines (IgA, IgG, IL-6, IFN-γ), enhanced splenic lymphocyte proliferation and increased the mRNA level of T-bet in splenic lymphocyte to bolster Th1 differentiation. Finally, CTX is a chemotherapeutic drug, thus, the application of yogurt and D-lactate in the tumor-bearing mouse model was initially explored. The results showed that both yogurt (600 μL) and D-lactate (300 mg/kg) reduced cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression without promoting tumor growth. Overall, this study evaluated the safety, immune efficacy and applicability of yogurt and D-lactate in regulating immunosuppression. It emphasized the potential of yogurt as a functional food for immune regulation, with D-lactate playing a crucial role in its immunomodulatory effects.

Biopolymer-based tumor microenvironment-responsive nanomedicine for targeted cancer therapy

Nanomedicine has opened up new avenues for cancer treatment by enhancing drug solubility, permeability and targeted delivery to cancer cells. Despite its numerous advantages over conventional therapies, nanomedicine may exhibit off-target drug distribution, harming nontarget regions. The increased permeation and retention effect of nanomedicine in tumor sites also has its limitations, as abnormal tumor vasculature, dense stroma structure and altered tumor microenvironment (TME) may result in limited intratumor distribution and therapeutic failure. However, TME-responsive nanomedicine has exhibited immense potential for efficient, safe and precise delivery of therapeutics utilizing stimuli specific to the TME. This review discusses the mechanistic aspects of various TME-responsive biopolymers and their application in developing various types of TME-responsive nanomedicine.