Regulation on mechanical properties of collagen: Enhanced bioactivities of metallofullerol

Antitumor Activity and Potential Mechanism of Novel Fullerene Derivative Nanoparticles

The development of novel nanoparticles as a new generation therapeutic drug platform is an active field of chemistry and cancer research. In recent years, fullerene nanoparticles have received extensive attention due to their unique physical and chemical properties. Properly modified fullerene nanoparticles have excellent biocompatibility and significant anti-tumor activity, which makes them have broad application prospects in the field of cancer therapy. Therefore, understanding the anti-tumor mechanism of fullerene nanoparticles is of great significance for the design and development of anti-tumor drugs with low toxicity and high targeting. This review has focused on various anti-tumor mechanisms of fullerene derivatives and discusses their toxicity and their distribution in organisms. Finally, the review points out some urgent problems that need solution before fullerene derivatives as a new generation of anti-tumor nano-drug platform enter clinical research.

The pharmaceutical multi-activity of metallofullerenol invigorates cancer therapy

Currently, cancer continues to afflict humanity. The direct destruction and killing of tumor cells by surgery, radiation and chemotherapy gives rise to many side effects and compromised efficacy. Encouragingly, the rapid development of nanotechnology offers attractive opportunities to revolutionize the current situation of cancer therapy. Metallofullerenol Gd@C82(OH)22, in contrast to chemotherapeutics that directly kill tumor cells, demonstrates anti-tumor behavior with high efficiency and low toxicity by modulating the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, Gd@C82(OH)22 has been recently reported to specifically target cancer stem cells. In this review, we give a concise introduction to the development of the fullerene family and then report the anti-tumor activity of Gd@C82(OH)22 based on its unique physicochemical characteristics, followed by a comprehensive summary of the anti-tumor biological mechanisms which target different components of the tumor microenvironment as well as the biodistribution and toxicity of Gd@C82(OH)22. Finally, we describe Gd@C82(OH)22 as a "particulate medicine" to highlight its distinctions from conventional "molecular medicine", with considerable emphasis on the advantages of nanomedicine. The in-depth investigation of Gd@C82(OH)22 undoubtedly provides a constructive reference for the development of other nanomedicines, especially in the fullerene family. The application of nanotechnology in the medical field definitely provides a promising and favorable future for improving the current status of cancer therapy.

Gd-Metallofullerenol nanoparticles cause intracellular accumulation of PDGFR-α and morphology alteration of fibroblasts

Gadolinium-metallofullerenols (Gd@C82(OH)22) are a promising agent for cancer therapy and have shown beneficial effects in regulating the tumor microenvironment with low toxicity. However, the underlying mechanism by which Gd@C82(OH)22 interacts with fibroblasts remains unclear. In order to explore the critical role that activated fibroblasts play in tumorigenesis and fibrosis, we investigated the regulatory effect of Gd@C82(OH)22 in fibroblast activation and oncogenic transformation, and found that the PDGFR-α is an essential molecule in modulating the morphology and functional changes in fibroblasts after Gd@C82(OH)22 treatment. Apart from increasing the PDGFR-α protein level, Gd@C82(OH)22 nanoparticles also significantly increased the protein level of Rab5, which is required for regulating PDGFR-α endosomal recycling. The Rab5-mediated recycling of PDGFR-α maybe attributed to the Gd@C82(OH)22 regulated inhibition of fibroblast activation. Overall, our work demonstrated that Gd@C82(OH)22 nanoparticles can attenuate the PDGF-stimulated phosphorylation of PDGFR-α in fibroblasts and suppress the fibroblast activation by interrupting endosomal recycling. These findings may be contributed to the collagen accumulation for encaging cancer.

Tuning of elasticity and surface properties of hydrogel cell culture substrates by simple chemical approach

When designing materials for tissue engineering applications various parameters characterizing both materials and tissue have to be taken into account. The characteristics such as chemistry, elasticity, wettability, roughness and morphology of the substrate's surface have significant impact on cell behavior. The paper presents biopolymer (collagen/chitosan) based hydrogel materials with tunable elasticity and surface properties useful for fabrication of substrates for cell culture. Using simple chemical approach involving the change in concentration of crosslinking agent (genipin) and composition of the reaction mixture the hydrogels characterized with various features were obtained. Detailed analysis of morphology, topography, roughness and elasticity of surface performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and rheological measurements has shown that the topographical aspects and roughness parameter can be modulated in nanoscale regime (13-47 nm). Substrate's elasticity could be modified in a wide range (0.2-270 kPa). Biological in vitro studies on fibroblasts behavior revealed that the materials prepared provide satisfactory conditions for cell culture, ensuring their high viability, good adhesion and normal morphology. The genipin crosslinked collagen-chitosan hydrogels characterized by denser fiber structure, higher elasticity and lower surface roughness are the most attractive supports for fibroblasts cultivation. The results obtained indicate that the properties of the materials developed can be easily tailored to the needs of the given type of cells.

Molecular mechanism of Gd@C82(OH)22 increasing collagen expression: Implication for encaging tumor

Gadolinium-containing fullerenol Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂ has demonstrated low-toxicity and highly therapeutic efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis through new strategy of encaging cancer, however, little is known about the mechanisms how this nanoparticle regulates fibroblast cells to prison (instead of poison) cancer cells. Here, we report that Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂ promote the binding activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) to tumor necrosis factor receptors 2 (TNFR2), activate TNFR2/p38 MAPK signaling pathway to increase cellular collagen expression in fibrosarcoma cells and human primary lung cancer associated fibroblasts isolated from patients. We also employ molecular dynamics simulations to study the atomic-scale mechanisms that dictate how Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂ mediates interactions between TNFα and TNFRs. Our data suggest that Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂ might enhance the association between TNFα and TNFR2 through a "bridge-like" mode of interaction; by contrast, the fullerenol appears to inhibit TNFα-TNFR1 association by binding to two of the receptor's cysteine-rich domains. In concert, our results uncover a sequential, systemic process by which Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂ acts to prison tumor cells, providing new insights into principles of designs of cancer therapeutics.

Diverse Applications of Nanomedicine

The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic.

Development of cell-laden 3D scaffolds for efficient engineered skin substitutes by collagen gelation

Cell-laden layered scaffolds containing keratinocytes and fibroblasts were fabricated using a 3D cell-printing technique. The scaffolds effectively promoted proliferation and migration, and can be efficiently used as engineered skin substitutes.