Iron oxide nanoparticle core-shell magnetic microspheres: Applications toward targeted drug delivery

Superparamagnetic Artificial Cells PLGA-Fe3O4 Micro/Nanocapsules for Cancer Targeted Delivery

Artificial cells have been extensively used in many fields, such as nanomedicine, biotherapy, blood substitutes, drug delivery, enzyme/gene therapy, cancer therapy, and the COVID-19 vaccine. The unique properties of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles have contributed to increased interest in using superparamagnetic artificial cells (PLGA-Fe3O4 micro/nanocapsules) for targeted therapy. In this review, the preparation methods of Fe3O4 NPs and superparamagnetic artificial cell PLGA-drug-Fe3O4 micro/nanocapsules are discussed. This review also focuses on the recent progress of superparamagnetic PLGA-drug-Fe3O4 micro/nanocapsules as targeted therapeutics. We shall concentrate on the use of superparamagnetic artificial cells in the form of PLGA-drug-Fe3O4 nanocapsules for magnetic hyperthermia/photothermal therapy and cancer therapies, including lung breast cancer and glioblastoma.

Fabrication, optimization, and characterization of pH-responsive PEGylated nanoniosomes containing gingerol for enhanced treatment of breast cancer

Multiple potential drug delivery strategies have emerged as a result of recent advances in nanotechnology and nanomedicine. The aim of this research was to prepare an optimized system of PEGylated gingerol-loaded niosomes (Nio-Gin@PEG) as an excellent candidate for the treatment of human breast cancer cells. The preparation procedure was modified by adjusting the drug concentration, lipid content, and Span60/Tween60 ratio, resulting in high encapsulation efficacy (EE%), rapid release rate, and reduced size. The Nio-Gin@PEG exhibited significantly improved storage stability compared to the gingerol-loaded niosomes formulation (Nio-Gin), with minimal changes in EE%, release profile, and size during storage. Furthermore, Nio-Gin@PEG demonstrated pH-dependent release behavior, with delayed drug diffusion at physiological pH and significant drug diffusion under acidic conditions (pH = 5.4), making it a promising option for cancer treatment. Cytotoxicity tests indicated that Nio-Gin@PEG possessed excellent biocompatibility with human fibroblast cells while exerting a remarkable inhibitory effect on MCF-7 and SKBR3 breast cancer cells, attributed to the presence of gingerol and the PEGylated structure in the preparation. Nio-Gin@PEG also exhibited the ability to modulate the expression of target genes. We observed statistically significant down-regulation of the expression of BCL2, MMP2, MMP9, HER2, CCND1, CCNE1, BCL2, CDK4, and VEGF genes, along with up-regulation of the expression of BAX, CASP9, CASP3, and P21 genes. Flow cytometry results revealed that Nio-Gin@PEG could induce a higher rate of apoptosis in both cancerous cells compared to gingerol and Nio-Gin, owing to the optimal encapsulation and efficient drug release from the formulation, as confirmed by cell cycle tests. ROS generation demonstrated the superior antioxidant effect of Nio-Gin@PEG compared to other prepared formulations. The results of this study emphasize the potential of formulating highly biocompatible niosomes in the future of nanomedicine, enabling more precise and effective treatment of cancers.

Enhancing Anticancer Efficacy of Formononetin Microspheres via Microfluidic Fabrication

Formononetin is a flavonoid compound with anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its low solubility limits its clinical use. We employed microfluidic technology to prepare formononetin-loaded PLGA-PEGDA microspheres (Degradable polymer PLGA, Crosslinking agent PEGDA), which can encapsulate and release drugs in a controlled manner. We optimized and characterized the microspheres, and evaluated their antitumor effects. The microspheres had uniform size, high drug loading efficiency, high encapsulation efficiency, and stable release for 35 days. They also inhibited the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. The antitumor mechanism involved the induction of reactive oxygen species and modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins. These findings suggested that formononetin-loaded PLGA-PEGDA microspheres, created using microfluidic technology, could be a novel drug delivery system that can overcome the limitations of formononetin and enhance its antitumor activity.

Enhanced Anti-inflammatory Capacity of the Conditioned Medium Derived from Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Modified with an Iron-Based Nanodrug

Cell-free therapy using conditioned medium (CM) from mesenchymal stem cells takes full advantage of the bioactive factors secreted by the cells while avoiding disadvantages such as immune rejection and tumor formation due to cell transplantation. In this study, human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are modified with the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION)-based nanodrug ferumoxytol (PDLSC-SPION). Compared with PDLSCs, PDLSC-SPION showed good cell viability and better osteogenic differentiation ability. Cell-free CM is collected and the anti-inflammatory capacity of PDLSC CM and PDLSC-SPION CM is assessed by treatment of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages and IL-17-stimulated human gingival fibroblasts. Both CMs inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in cells, and the therapeutic effect is more distinct for PDLSC-SPION CM than PDLSC CM, which may be due to their different proteomic compositions. Therefore, modification of PDLSCs with ferumoxytol enhances the anti-inflammatory capacity of its CM, making it more potentially useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis.

Preparation and Magnetic Manipulation of Fe3O4/Acrylic Resin Core-Shell Microspheres

Core-shell microspheres refer to duo-layer or multilayer microspheres, which are widely used in drug delivery, microreactors, etc. Accurate manipulation of microspheres is a research hot spot, while traditional manipulation methods including ultrasonic manipulation and laser manipulation still face some limitations. In this study, magnetic core-shell microspheres were adopted to realize the accurate manipulation of microspheres. Combined with microfluidic technology, polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA)/Fe3O4 magnetic fluid was utilized as the core material and photosensitive acrylic resin became the shell material. After UV curing, a magnetic core-shell microsphere with an average size of 55 μm could be achieved, and the diameter was uniform and controllable. By adjusting the flow rate of the dispersed phase, the dual-core microspheres with different core particle sizes that ranged from 9.3 to 28.4 μm could be prepared. Experimental results showed that the prepared Fe3O4/acrylic resin core-shell microspheres can be used as functionalized microspheres that have good magnetic response properties and self-assembly ability. In addition, the magnetic manipulation and self-assembly of the prepared core-shell microspheres were presented with different external magnetic fields. The magnetic core-shell microspheres have shown great potential in the fields of biomedical engineering and targeted delivery of drugs.

The recent insight in the release of anticancer drug loaded into PLGA microspheres

Cancer is a series of diseases leading to a high rate of death worldwide. Microspheres display specific characteristics that make them appropriate for a variety of biomedical purposes such as cancer therapy. Newly, microspheres have the potentials to be used as controlled drug release carriers. Recently, PLGA-based microspheres have attracted exceptional attention relating to effective drug delivery systems (DDS) because of their distinctive properties for a simple preparation, biodegradability, and high capability of drug loading which might be increased drug delivery. In this line, the mechanisms of controlled drug release and parameters that influence the release features of loaded agents from PLGA-based microspheres should be mentioned. The current review is focused on the new development of the release features of anticancer drugs, which are loaded into PLGA-based microspheres. Consequently, future perspective and challenges of anticancer drug release from PLGA-based microspheres are mentioned concisely.

Synergistically Enhancing the Therapeutic Effect on Cancer, via Asymmetric Bioinspired Materials

The undesirable side effects of conventional chemotherapy are one of the major problems associated with cancer treatment. Recently, with the development of novel nanomaterials, tumor-targeted therapies have been invented in order to achieve more specific cancer treatment with reduced unfavorable side effects of chemotherapic agents on human cells. However, the clinical application of nanomedicines has some shortages, such as the reduced ability to cross biological barriers and undesirable side effects in normal cells. In this order, bioinspired materials are developed to minimize the related side effects due to their excellent biocompatibility and higher accumulation therapies. As bioinspired and biomimetic materials are mainly composed of a nanometric functional agent and a biologic component, they can possess both the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials and the advantages of biologic agents, such as prolonged circulation time, enhanced biocompatibility, immune modulation, and specific targeting for cancerous cells. Among the nanomaterials, asymmetric nanomaterials have gained attention as they provide a larger surface area with more active functional sites compared to symmetric nanomaterials. Additionally, the asymmetric nanomaterials are able to function as two or more distinct components due to their asymmetric structure. The mentioned properties result in unique physiochemical properties of asymmetric nanomaterials, which makes them desirable materials for anti-cancer drug delivery systems or cancer bio-imaging systems. In this review, we discuss the use of bioinspired and biomimetic materials in the treatment of cancer, with a special focus on asymmetric nanoparticle anti-cancer agents.

Doxorubicin delivery performance of superparamagnetic carbon multi-core shell nanoparticles: pH dependence, stability and kinetic insight

In the past decade, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been among the most attractive nanomaterials used in different fields, such as environmental and biomedical applications. The possibility of designing nanoparticles with different functionalities allows for advancing the biomedical applications of these materials. Additionally, the magnetic characteristics of the nanoparticles enable the use of magnetic fields to drive the nanoparticles to the desired sites of delivery. In this context, the development of new MNPs in new approaches for drug delivery systems (DDSs) for cancer treatment has increased. However, the synthesis of nanoparticles with high colloidal stability triggered drug delivery, and good biocompatibility remains a challenge. Herein, multi-core shell MNPs functionalized with Pluronic ® F-127 were prepared and thoroughly characterized as drug carriers for doxorubicin delivery. The functionalized nanoparticles have an average size of 17.71 ± 4.2 nm, high water colloidal stability, and superparamagnetic behavior. In addition, the nanoparticles were able to load 936 μg of DOX per mg of functionalized nanomaterial. Drug release studies at different pH values evidenced a pH-triggered DOX release effect. An increase of 62% in cumulative drug release was observed at pH simulating tumor endosome/lysosome microenvironments (pH 4.5) compared to physiological conditions (pH 7.4). In addition, an innovative dynamic drug delivery study was performed as a function of pH. The results from this test confirmed the pH-induced doxorubicin release capability of carbon multi-core shell MNPs. The validity of traditional kinetic models to fit dynamic pH-dependent drug release was also studied for predictive purposes.

Mineral medicine: from traditional drugs to multifunctional delivery systems

Mineral drugs are an important constituent of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Taking minerals that contain heavy metals as drugs is a very national characteristic part of TCM. However, the safety and scientific nature of mineral drugs are controversial owing to their heavy metals and strong toxicity. In 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized arsenic trioxide (ATO) as first-line therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia. This makes the development and utilization of mineral drugs become a research hotspot. The development of nanomedicine has found a great prospect of mineral drugs in nano-delivery carriers. And that will hold promise to address the numerous biological barriers facing mineral drug formulations. However, the studies on mineral drugs in the delivery system are few at present. There is also a lack of a detailed description of mineral drug delivery systems. In this review, the advanced strategies of mineral drug delivery systems in tumor therapy are summarized. In addition, the therapeutic advantages and research progress of novel mineral drug delivery systems are also discussed. Here, we hope that this will provide a useful reference for the design and application of new mineral drug delivery systems.

PLGA Core-Shell Nano/Microparticle Delivery System for Biomedical Application

Core-shell particles are very well known for their unique features. Their distinctive inner core and outer shell structure allowed promising biomedical applications at both nanometer and micrometer scales. The primary role of core-shell particles is to deliver the loaded drugs as they are capable of sequence-controlled release and provide protection of drugs. Among other biomedical polymers, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), a food and drug administration (FDA)-approved polymer, has been recognized for the vehicle material. This review introduces PLGA core-shell nano/microparticles and summarizes various drug-delivery systems based on these particles for cancer therapy and tissue regeneration. Tissue regeneration mainly includes bone, cartilage, and periodontal regeneration.

Starch-based magnetic nanocomposite as an efficient absorbent for anticancer drug removal from aqueous solution

In this study, carboxymethyl cassava starch (CMCS)-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (CMCS@Fe₃O₄) were synthesized via a simple one-pot co-precipitation method using CMCS materials with varying degrees of substitution, and used for the adsorption/removal of doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox; a clinically available anti-cancer drug) from aqueous solution. The adsorption of Dox was studied using experimental conditions with varied pH, temperature, initial Dox concentration, and CMCS@Fe₃O₄ dosage. The CMCS@Fe₃O₄ adsorbents were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry. Each CMCS@Fe₃O₄ adsorbent exhibited a cubic inverse spinel iron oxide phase, small particle size, favorable magnetic properties, and good thermal stability. Batch adsorption experiments showed that the Dox adsorption efficiency reached 85.46% at a CMCS@Fe₃O₄ concentration of 20 mg mL^-1 at 303 K in pH 7.0. The adsorption experimental results indicated that the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir equation. Considering the environmentally nontoxic nature of Fe₃O₄ and starch, the CMCS@Fe₃O₄ material demonstrated significant potential for removing Dox from aqueous solution and in magnetic targeted drug delivery systems for synergistic tumor treatments.

Ferrite Nanoparticles-Based Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Cancer Therapy

Ferrite nanoparticles have been widely used in the biomedical field (such as magnetic targeting, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic hyperthermia, etc.) due to their appealing magnetic properties. In tumor acidic microenvironment, ferrite nanoparticles show intrinsic peroxidase-like activities, which can catalyze the Fenton reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to produce highly toxic hydroxyl free radicals (•OH), causing the death of tumor cell. Recent progresses in this field have shown that the enzymatic activity of ferrite can be improved via converting external field energy such as alternating magnetic field and near-infrared laser into nanoscale heat to produce more •OH, enhancing the killing effect on tumor cells. On the other hand, combined with other nanomaterials or drugs for cascade reactions, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can also be increased to obtain more efficient cancer therapy. In this review, we will discuss the current status and progress of the application of ferrite nanoparticles in ROS-mediated cancer therapy and try to provide new ideas for this area.

Recent Developments in Nanomedicine for Pediatric Cancer

Cancer is the second biggest cause of death in children in the US. With the development of chemotherapy, there has been a substantial increase in the overall survival rate in the last 30 years. However, the overall mortality rate in children with cancer remains 25%, and many survivors experience a decline in overall quality of life and long-term adverse effects caused by treatments. Although cancer cells share common characteristics, pediatric cancers are different from adult cancers in their prevalence, mutation load, and drug response. Therefore, there is an urgent unmet need to develop therapeutic approaches specifically designed for children with cancer. Nanotechnology can potentially overcome the deficiencies of conventional methods of administering chemotherapy and ultimately improve clinical outcomes. The nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems can decrease the toxicity of therapy, provide a sustained or controlled drug release, improve the pharmacokinetic properties of loading contents, and achieve a targeted drug delivery with achievable modifications. Furthermore, therapeutic approaches based on combining nanoformulated drugs with novel immunotherapeutic agents are emerging. In this review, we discussed the recently developed nanotechnology-based strategies for treating blood and solid pediatric cancers.

Non-hydrolytic synthesis of caprylate capped cobalt ferrite nanoparticles and their application against Erwinia carotovora and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Magnetic cobalt Ferrite nanoparticles capped with caprylate groups, CH₃(CH₂)₆CO₂^-, have been synthesized using a novel non-hydrolytic coprecipitation method under inert conditions. Particle diameter was characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The spinel ferrite crystal phase was verified using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the presence of the capping agent was confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Bactericidal effects of the particles were tested against broth cultures of Erwinia carotovora and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The final particles had an average diameter of 3.81 nm and readily responded to a neodymium magnet. The particles did have a significant effect on the OD600 of both broth cultures.

Synthesis of FeO@SiO2-DNA core-shell engineered nanostructures for rapid adsorption of heavy metals in aqueous solutions

Creating novel and innovative nanostructures is a challenge, aiming to discover nanomaterials with promising properties for environmental remediation. In this study, the physicochemical and adsorption properties of a heterogeneous nanostructure are evaluated for the rapid removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. Core–shell nanostructures are prepared using iron oxide cores and silica dioxide shells. The core is synthesized via the co-precipitation method and modified in situ with citric acid to grow a carboxyl layer. The shell was hydrolyzed/condensed and then functionalized with amine groups for ds-DNA condensation via electrostatic interaction. The characterization techniques revealed functional FeO@SiO₂–DNA nanostructures with good crystallinity and superparamagnetic response (31.5 emu g⁻¹). The predominant superparamagnetic nature is attributed to the citric acid coating. This improves the dispersion and stability of the magnetic cores through the reduction of the dipolar–dipolar interaction and the enhancement of the spin coordination. The rapid adsorption mechanism of FeO@SiO₂–DNA was evaluated through the removal of Pb(ii), As(iii), and Hg(ii). A rapid adsorption rate is observed in the first 15 min, attributed to a heterogeneous chemisorption mechanism based on electrostatic interactions. FeO@SiO₂–DNA shows higher adsorption efficiency of 69% for Pb(ii) removal compared to As(iii) (51%) and Hg(ii) (41%). The selectivity towards Pb(ii) is attributed to the similar acid nature to ds-DNA, where the ionic strength interaction provides good affinity and stability. The facile synthesis and rapid adsorption suggest a promising nanostructure for the remediation of water sources contaminated with heavy metal ions and can be extended to other complex molecules.

Facile synthesis of well-dispersed and magnetic FeO@SiO₂–DNA nanostructures with electrostatic active sites for interaction and rapid adsorption of heavy metals.