Nanoparticle-based medicines in clinical cancer therapy

A paradigm use of monoclonal antibodies-conjugated nanoparticles in breast cancer treatment: current status and potential approaches

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are integral to cancer treatment over conventional non-specific therapy methods. This study provides a scoping review of the clinically approved mAbs, focusing on the current application of different nanocarrier technologies as drug delivery targets for mAb-conjugated nanoparticles (NPs) as potential features for breast cancer (BC) treatment. An extensive literature search was conducted between the years 2000 and 2023 using various sources of databases. The first part covered mAb classification, types, and mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics and clinical applications in BC. The second part covered polymeric, lipid and inorganic-based NPs, which are a variety of mAb-conjugated NPs targeting BC. A total of 20 relevant studies were enrolled indicating there are three different types of nanoparticular systems (polymeric NPs, inorganic NPs and lipid-based NPs) that can be used for BC treatment by being loaded with various active substances and conjugated with these antibodies. While mAbs have altered the way in cancer treatment due to targeting cancer cells specifically, the delivery of mAbs with nanoparticulate systems is important in the treatment of BC, as NPs are still being investigated as distinctive and promising drug delivery methods that can be employed for effective treatment of BC.

Cholesterol sulfate-mediated ion-pairing facilitates the self-nanoassembly of hydrophilic cationic mitoxantrone

HYPOTHESIS

Hydrophilic cationic drugs such as mitoxantrone hydrochloride (MTO) pose a significant delivery challenge to the development of nanodrug systems. Herein, we report the use of a hydrophobic ion-pairing strategy to enhance the nano-assembly of MTO.

EXPERIMENTS

We employed biocompatible sodium cholesteryl sulfate (SCS) as a modification module to form stable ion pairs with MTO, which balanced the intermolecular forces and facilitated nano-assembly. PEGylated MTO-SCS nanoassemblies (pMS NAs) were prepared via nanoprecipitation. We systematically evaluated the effect of the ratio of the drug module (MTO) to the modification module (SCS) on the nanoassemblies.

FINDINGS

The increased lipophilicity of MTO-SCS ion pair could significantly improve the encapsulation efficiency (∼97 %) and cellular uptake efficiency of MTO. The pMS NAs showed prolonged blood circulation, maintained the same level of tumor antiproliferative activity, and exhibited reduced toxicity compared with the free MTO solution. It is noteworthy that the stability, cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior of the pMS NAs increased in proportion to the molar ratio of SCS to MTO. This study presents a self-assembly strategy mediated by ion pairing to overcome the challenges commonly associated with the poor assembly ability of hydrophilic cationic drugs.

Advances in Nanomaterials for Immunotherapeutic Improvement of Cancer Chemotherapy

Immuno-stimulative effect of chemotherapy (ISECT) is recognized as a potential alternative to conventional immunotherapies, however, the clinical application is constrained by its inefficiency. Metronomic chemotherapy, though designed to overcome these limitations, offers inconsistent results, with effectiveness varying based on cancer types, stages, and patient-specific factors. In parallel, a wealth of preclinical nanomaterials holds considerable promise for ISECT improvement by modulating the cancer-immunity cycle. In the area of biomedical nanomaterials, current literature reviews mainly concentrate on a specific category of nanomaterials and nanotechnological perspectives, while two essential issues are still lacking, i.e., a comprehensive analysis addressing the causes for ISECT inefficiency and a thorough summary elaborating the nanomaterials for ISECT improvement. This review thus aims to fill these gaps and catalyze further development in this field. For the first time, this review comprehensively discusses the causes of ISECT inefficiency. It then meticulously categorizes six types of nanomaterials for improving ISECT. Subsequently, practical strategies are further proposed for addressing inefficient ISECT, along with a detailed discussion on exemplary nanomedicines. Finally, this review provides insights into the challenges and perspectives for improving chemo-immunotherapy by innovations in nanomaterials.

Copper Nanodrugs by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

In this study, some copper catalysts used for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) were explored as efficient anti-tumor agents. The aqueous solution of copper-containing nanoparticles with uniform spheric morphology was in situ prepared through a copper-catalyzed activator generated by electron transfer (AGET) ATRP in water. Nanoparticles were then directly injected into tumor-bearing mice for antitumor chemotherapy. The copper nanodrugs had prolonged blood circulation time and enhanced accumulation at tumor sites, thus showing potent antitumor activity. This work provides a novel strategy for precise and large-scale preparation of copper nanodrugs with high antitumor activity.

Polymeric Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery

The recent emergence of nanomedicine has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape and necessitated the creation of more sophisticated drug delivery systems. Polymeric nanoparticles sit at the forefront of numerous promising drug delivery designs, due to their unmatched control over physiochemical properties such as size, shape, architecture, charge, and surface functionality. Furthermore, polymeric nanoparticles have the ability to navigate various biological barriers to precisely target specific sites within the body, encapsulate a diverse range of therapeutic cargo and efficiently release this cargo in response to internal and external stimuli. However, despite these remarkable advantages, the presence of polymeric nanoparticles in wider clinical application is minimal. This review will provide a comprehensive understanding of polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles. The biological barriers affecting drug delivery will be outlined first, followed by a comprehensive description of the various nanoparticle designs and preparation methods, beginning with the polymers on which they are based. The review will meticulously explore the current performance of polymeric nanoparticles against a myriad of diseases including cancer, viral and bacterial infections, before finally evaluating the advantages and crucial challenges that will determine their wider clinical potential in the decades to come.

Targeting Myeloid Leukemia-1 in Cancer Therapy: Advances and Directions

As a tripartite cell death switch, B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) family members precisely regulate the endogenous apoptosis pathway in response to various cell signal stresses through protein-protein interactions. Myeloid leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), a key anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, is positioned downstream in the endogenous apoptotic pathway and plays a central role in regulating mitochondrial function. Mcl-1 is highly expressed in a variety of hematological malignancies and solid tumors, contributing to tumorigenesis, poor prognosis, and chemoresistance, making it an attractive target for cancer treatment. This Perspective aims to discuss the mechanism by which Mcl-1 regulates apoptosis and non-apoptotic functions in cancer cells and to outline the discovery and optimization process of potent Mcl-1 modulators. In addition, we summarize the structural characteristics of potent inhibitors that bind to Mcl-1 through multiple co-crystal structures and analyze the cardiotoxicity caused by current Mcl-1 inhibitors, providing prospects for rational targeting of Mcl-1.

Membrane Fusion Liposomes Deliver Antifibrotic and Chemotherapeutic Drugs Sequentially to Enhance Tumor Treatment Efficacy by Reshaping Tumor Microenvironment

The intricate tumor microenvironment in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) hampers chemotherapy and immunotherapy efficacy due to dense extracellular matrix (ECM) by tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs). Nanoparticle-based therapies, especially "all-in-one" nanoparticles, have shown great potential in combined drug delivery strategies to reshape the tumor microenvironment and enhance therapeutic efficiency. However, these "all-in-one" nanoparticles suffer from limitations in targeting different target cells, uncontrollable dosing ratio, and disregarding the impact of delivery schedules. This study prepared cell membrane fusion liposomes (TAFsomes and CCMsomes) to load FDA-approved antifibrotic drug pirfenidone (PFD/TAFsomes) and antitumor drug doxorubicin (DOX/CCMsomes). These liposomes can specifically target TAFs cells and tumor cells, and combined administration can effectively inhibit TAFs activity, reshape the tumor microenvironment (TME), and significantly enhance the tumor chemotherapy efficacy. Combined drug delivery defeats "all-in-one" liposomes (DOX/PFD/Liposomes, DOX/PFD/TAFsomes, and DOX/PFD/CCMsomes) by flexibly adjusting the drug delivery ratio. Moreover, an asynchronous delivery strategy that optimizes the administration schedule not only further improves the therapeutic effect, but also amplifies the effectiveness of α-PD-L1 immunotherapy by modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. This delivery strategy provides a personalized treatment approach with clinical translation potential, providing new ideas for enhancing the therapeutic effect against solid tumors such as TNBC.

Surface Modification of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Application in Targeted Delivery Systems of Antitumour Drugs

The problem of tumour therapy has attracted the attention of many researchers for many decades. One of the promising strategies for the development of new dosage forms to improve oncology treatment efficacy and minimise side effects is the development of nanoparticle-based targeted transport systems for anticancer drugs. Among inorganic nanoparticles, mesoporous silica deserves special attention due to its outstanding surface properties and drug-loading capability. This review analyses the various factors affecting the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and biocompatibility of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), constituting a key aspect in the development of safe and effective drug delivery systems. Special attention is paid to technological approaches to chemically modifying MSNs to alter their surface properties. The stimuli that regulate drug release from nanoparticles are also discussed, contributing to the effective control of the delivery process in the body. The findings emphasise the importance of modifying MSNs with different surface functional groups, bio-recognisable molecules, and polymers for their potential use in anticancer drug delivery systems.

Efficacy tumor therapeutic applications of stimuli-responsive block copolymer-based nano-assemblies

Block copolymers are composed of two or more blocks or segments with different chemical properties via various chemical bonds, which can assemble into nanoparticles with a "core-shell" structure. Due to the benefits of simple functionalization, superior drug-loading capacity, and good biocompatibility, various nano-assemblies based on block copolymers have become widely applied in the treatment of cancers in recent years. These nano-assemblies serve as carriers for anti-tumor bioactive, enhancing drug stability and prolonging their circulation time in vivo, which can reduce the toxic side effects of drugs and improve the therapeutic effect. However, the complex and heterogeneous tumor microenvironment poses challenges to the therapeutic efficacy of these nano-assemblies, having the result in the occurrence of drug resistance and the recurrence of tumors. Consequently, a diverse array of stimuli-responsive nano-assemblies has been devised in order to surmount these obstacles. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the utilization of stimuli-responsive nano-assemblies derived from block copolymers in the context of tumor treatment. The review summarizes block polymers responsive to internal stimuli (like ROS, redox, pH, and enzymes) and external stimuli (like light, and temperature), and discusses current challenges and prospects in this field, aiming to provide novel insights for clinical applications.

Review of recent preclinical and clinical research on ligand-targeted liposomes as delivery systems in triple negative breast cancer therapy

Triple-negative breast Cancer (TNBC) is one of the deadliest types, making up about 20% of all breast cancers. Chemotherapy is the traditional manner of progressed TNBC treatment; however, it has a short-term result with a high reversibility pace. The lack of targeted treatment limited and person-dependent treatment options for those suffering from TNBC cautions to be the worst type of cancer among breast cancer patients. Consequently, appropriate treatment for this disease is considered a major clinical challenge. Therefore, various treatment methods have been developed to treat TNBC, among which chemotherapy is the most common and well-known approach recently studied. Although effective methods are chemotherapies, they are often accompanied by critical limitations, especially the lack of specific functionality. These methods lead to systematic toxicity and, ultimately, the expansion of multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer cells. Therefore, finding novel and efficient techniques to enhance the targeting of TNBC treatment is an essential requirement. Liposomes have demonstrated that they are an effective method for drug delivery; however, among a large number of liposome-based drug delivery systems annually developed, a small number have just received authorization for clinical application. The new approaches to using liposomes target their structure with various ligands to increase therapeutic efficiency and diminish undesired side effects on various body tissues. The current study describes the most recent strategies and research associated with functionalizing the liposomes' structure with different ligands as targeted drug carriers in treating TNBCs in preclinical and clinical stages.

Current developments and future perspectives of nanotechnology in orthopedic implants: an updated review

Orthopedic implants are the most commonly used fracture fixation devices for facilitating the growth and development of incipient bone and treating bone diseases and defects. However, most orthopedic implants suffer from various drawbacks and complications, including bacterial adhesion, poor cell proliferation, and limited resistance to corrosion. One of the major drawbacks of currently available orthopedic implants is their inadequate osseointegration at the tissue-implant interface. This leads to loosening as a result of immunological rejection, wear debris formation, low mechanical fixation, and implant-related infections. Nanotechnology holds the promise to offer a wide range of innovative technologies for use in translational orthopedic research. Nanomaterials have great potential for use in orthopedic applications due to their exceptional tribological qualities, high resistance to wear and tear, ability to maintain drug release, capacity for osseointegration, and capability to regenerate tissue. Furthermore, nanostructured materials possess the ability to mimic the features and hierarchical structure of native bones. They facilitate cell proliferation, decrease the rate of infection, and prevent biofilm formation, among other diverse functions. The emergence of nanostructured polymers, metals, ceramics, and carbon materials has enabled novel approaches in orthopaedic research. This review provides a concise overview of nanotechnology-based biomaterials utilized in orthopedics, encompassing metallic and nonmetallic nanomaterials. A further overview is provided regarding the biomedical applications of nanotechnology-based biomaterials, including their application in orthopedics for drug delivery systems and bone tissue engineering to facilitate scaffold preparation, surface modification of implantable materials to improve their osteointegration properties, and treatment of musculoskeletal infections. Hence, this review article offers a contemporary overview of the current applications of nanotechnology in orthopedic implants and bone tissue engineering, as well as its prospective future applications.

Nano-enhanced immunotherapy: Targeting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

The tumor microenvironment (TME), which is mostly composed of tumor cells, immune cells, signaling molecules, stromal tissue, and the vascular system, is an integrated system that is conducive to the formation of tumors. TME heterogeneity makes the response to immunotherapy different in different tumors, such as "immune-cold" and "immune-hot" tumors. Tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and regulatory T cells are the major suppressive immune cells and their different phenotypes interact and influence cancer cells by secreting different signaling factors, thus playing a key role in the formation of the TME as well as in the initiation, growth, and metastasis of cancer cells. Nanotechnology development has facilitated overcoming the obstacles that limit the further development of conventional immunotherapy, such as toxic side effects and lack of targeting. In this review, we focus on the role of three major suppressive immune cells in the TME as well as in tumor development, clinical trials of different drugs targeting immune cells, and different attempts to combine drugs with nanomaterials. The aim is to reveal the relationship between immunotherapy, immunosuppressive TME and nanomedicine, thus laying the foundation for further development of immunotherapy.

Tumor-targeting polymer nanohybrids with amplified ROS generation for combined photodynamic and chemodynamic therapy

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating strategies have been widely adopted for cancer therapy, but therapeutic efficacies are often low due to the complicated tumor microenvironment. In this study, we present the development of tumor-targeting polymer nanohybrids that amplify ROS generation by combining photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) for cancer treatment. Such polymer nanohybrids contained three main components: a semiconducting polymer (SP) that acted as the photosensitizer for PDT, manganese dioxide (MnO2) that acted as the catalyst for CDT, and transferrin that mediated tumor targeting via binding to transferrin receptors overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells. The formed nanohybrids (TSM) showed obviously enhanced accumulation efficacy in tumor sites because of their targeting ability. In tumor sites, TSM produced singlet oxygen (1O2) under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation and a hydroxyl radical (˙OH) via reacting with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which resulted in amplified generation of ROS to achieve PDT/CDT combinational therapy. The growth of subcutaneous 4T1 tumors was remarkably inhibited via TSM-mediated treatment. In addition, this therapeutic efficacy could suppress tumor metastasis in the liver and lungs. This study presents a targeting hybrid nanoplatform to combine different ROS generating strategies for effective cancer therapy.

Liposomal encapsulation of amoxicillin via microfluidics with subsequent investigation of the significance of PEGylated therapeutics

With an increasing concern of global antimicrobial resistance, the efforts to improve the formulation of a narrowing library of therapeutic antibiotics must be confronted. The liposomal encapsulation of antibiotics using a novel and sustainable microfluidic method has been employed in this study to address this pressing issue, via a targeted, lower-dose medical approach. The study focusses upon microfluidic parameter optimisation, formulation stability, cytotoxicity, and future applications. Particle sizes of circa. 130 nm, with viable short-term (28-day) physical stability were obtained, using two different non-cytotoxic liposomal formulations, both of which displayed suitable antibacterial efficacy. The microfluidic method allowed for high encapsulation efficiencies (≈77 %) and the subsequent in vitro release profile suggested high limits of antibiotic dissociation from the nanovessels, achieving 90% release within 72 h. In addition to the experimental data, the growing use of poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) within lipid-based formulations is discussed in relation to anti-PEG antibodies, highlighting the key pharmacological differences between PEGylated and non-PEGylated formulations and their respective advantages and drawbacks. It's surmised that in the case of the formulations used in this study, the addition of PEG upon the liposomal membrane would still be a beneficial feature to possess owing to beneficial features such as stability, antibiotic efficacy and the capacity to further modify the liposomal membrane.

Self-Assembled Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Bioactive Compounds

Although bioactive compounds (BCs) have many important functions, their applications are greatly limited due to their own defects. The development of nanocarriers (NCs) technology has gradually overcome the defects of BCs. NCs are equally important as BCs to some extent. Self-assembly (SA) methods to build NCs have many advantages than chemical methods, and SA has significant impact on the structure and function of NCs. However, the relationship among SA mechanism, structure, and function has not been given enough attention. Therefore, from the perspective of bottom-up building mechanism, the concept of SA-structure-function of NCs is emphasized to promote the development of SA-based NCs. First, the conditions and forces for occurring SA are introduced, and then the SA basis and molecular mechanism of protein, polysaccharide, and lipid are summarized. Then, varieties of the structures formed based on SA are introduced in detail. Finally, facing the defects of BCs and how to be well solved by NCs are also elaborated. This review attempts to describe the great significance of constructing artificial NCs to deliver BCs from the aspects of SA-structure-function, so as to promote the development of SA-based NCs and the wide application of BCs.

Micro/nanosystems for controllable drug delivery to the brain

Drug delivery to the brain is crucial in the treatment for central nervous system disorders. While significant progress has been made in recent years, there are still major challenges in achieving controllable drug delivery to the brain. Unmet clinical needs arise from various factors, including controlled drug transport, handling large drug doses, methods for crossing biological barriers, the use of imaging guidance, and effective models for analyzing drug delivery. Recent advances in micro/nanosystems have shown promise in addressing some of these challenges. These include the utilization of microfluidic platforms to test and validate the drug delivery process in a controlled and biomimetic setting, the development of novel micro/nanocarriers for large drug loads across the blood-brain barrier, and the implementation of micro-intervention systems for delivering drugs through intraparenchymal or peripheral routes. In this article, we present a review of the latest developments in micro/nanosystems for controllable drug delivery to the brain. We also delve into the relevant diseases, biological barriers, and conventional methods. In addition, we discuss future prospects and the development of emerging robotic micro/nanosystems equipped with directed transportation, real-time image guidance, and closed-loop control.

Multifunctional nanocomposites modulating the tumor microenvironment for enhanced cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has gained momentum for treating malignant tumors over the past decade. Checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor cell therapy (CAR-T) have shown considerable potency against liquid and solid cancers. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) is highly immunosuppressive and hampers the effect of currently available cancer immunotherapies on overall treatment outcomes. Advancements in the design and engineering of nanomaterials have opened new avenues to modulate the TME. Progress in the current nanocomposite technology can overcome immunosuppression and trigger robust immunotherapeutic responses by integrating synergistic functions of different molecules. We will review recent advancements in nanomedical applications and discuss specifically designed nanocomposites modulating the TME for cancer immunotherapy. In addition, we provide information on the current landscape of clinical-stage nanocomposites for cancer immunotherapy.

Current status and prospects for improved targeted delivery approaches for cancer

Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from the complicated disease known as cancer. Though they frequently have serious side effects and can harm healthy cells, the current cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, are effective in many cases. Targeted drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising new paradigm in cancer treatment because they can deliver drugs directly to cancer cells with minimal harm to healthy cells. This review aims to give a broad overview of the state of targeted drug delivery systems for cancer treatment and investigate the technology's potential in the future. We'll go through the various kinds of targeted drug delivery systems, their drawbacks, the most recent developments, and possible future paths for further study and creation. This review aims to provide an overview of the current status of targeted drug delivery systems for cancer treatment, including the different types of targeted drug delivery systems, their limitations, recent advancements, and potential future directions for research and development. By examining the field's current state and exploring prospects, this review aims to highlight the potential of targeted drug delivery systems for improving cancer treatment and ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.

Nanotheranostics in cancer lymph node metastasis: The long road ahead

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) significantly impacts the prognosis of cancer patients. Despite significant advancements in diagnostic techniques and treatment modalities, clinical challenges continue to persist in the realm of LNM. These include difficulties in early diagnosis, limited treatment efficacy, and potential side effects and injuries associated with treatment. Nanotheranostics, a field within nanotechnology, seamlessly integrates diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities. Its primary goal is to provide precise and effective disease diagnosis and treatment simultaneously. The development of nanotheranostics for LNM offers a promising solution for the stratified management of patients with LNM and promotes the advancement of personalized medicine. This review introduces the mechanisms of LNM and challenges in its diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, it demonstrates the advantages and development potential of nanotheranostics, focuses on the challenges nanotheranostics face in its application, and provides an outlook on future trends. We consider nanotheranostics a promising strategy to improve clinical effectiveness and efficiency as well as the prognosis of cancer patients with LNM.

Nanogel Particles Based on Modified Nucleosides and Oligosaccharides as Advanced Delivery System

This work addresses the challenge of delivering bioactive molecules by designing biocompatible nanogel particles (NGPs) utilizing rationally modified nature-sourced building blocks: capryl-oligochitosan and oxidized inosine. Capryl substituents endowed the resultant NGPs with membrane-penetration capabilities, while purine-containing inosine allowed H-bond/π-π/π-cation interactions. The prepared NGPs were complexed with carboxyfluorescein-labeled single-stranded oligonucleotide (FAM-oligo) and DsRed-encoding plasmid DNA. The successful delivery of FAM-oligo to the cell cytoplasm of the Nicotiana benthamiana plant was observed. Alexa 555-labeled bovine serum albumin (Alexa 555-BSA) was also efficiently encapsulated and delivered to the plant. In addition to delivering FAM-oligo and Alexa 555-BSA separately, NGPs also successfully co-delivered both biomolecules to the plant. Finally, NGPs successfully encapsulated the drug amphotericin B and reduced its toxicity while maintaining its efficacy. The presented findings suggest that NGPs may become a promising platform for the advanced delivery of bioactive molecules in various applications.

Multistage Self-Assembled Nanomaterials for Cancer Immunotherapy

Advances in nanotechnology have brought innovations to cancer therapy. Nanoparticle-based anticancer drugs have achieved great success from bench to bedside. However, insufficient therapy efficacy due to various physiological barriers in the body remains a key challenge. To overcome these biological barriers and improve the therapeutic efficacy of cancers, multistage self-assembled nanomaterials with advantages of stimuli-responsiveness, programmable delivery, and immune modulations provide great opportunities. In this review, we describe the typical biological barriers for nanomedicines, discuss the recent achievements of multistage self-assembled nanomaterials for stimuli-responsive drug delivery, highlighting the programmable delivery nanomaterials, in situ transformable self-assembled nanomaterials, and immune-reprogramming nanomaterials. Ultimately, we perspective the future opportunities and challenges of multistage self-assembled nanomaterials for cancer immunotherapy.

Enzyme Engineering Strategies for the Bioenhancement of L-Asparaginase Used as a Biopharmaceutical

Over the past few years, there has been a surge in the industrial production of recombinant enzymes from microorganisms due to their catalytic characteristics being highly efficient, selective, and biocompatible. L-asparaginase (L-ASNase) is an enzyme belonging to the class of amidohydrolases that catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-asparagine into L-aspartic acid and ammonia. It has been widely investigated as a biologic agent for its antineoplastic properties in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The demand for L-ASNase is mainly met by the production of recombinant type II L-ASNase from Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi. However, the presence of immunogenic proteins in L-ASNase sourced from prokaryotes has been known to result in adverse reactions in patients undergoing treatment. As a result, efforts are being made to explore strategies that can help mitigate the immunogenicity of the drug. This review gives an overview of recent biotechnological breakthroughs in enzyme engineering techniques and technologies used to improve anti-leukemic L-ASNase, taking into account the pharmacological importance of L-ASNase.

Simultaneous Delivery of Doxorubicin and EZH2-Targeting siRNA by Vortex Magnetic Nanorods Synergistically Improved Anti-Tumor Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive types of breast cancer, currently lacks a targeted therapy and has a high clinical recurrence rate. The present study reports an engineered magnetic nanodrug based on Fe3 O4 vortex nanorods coated with a macrophage membrane loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and Enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2) siRNA. This novel nanodrug displays excellent tissue penetration and preferential tumor accumulation. More importantly, it significantly increases tumor suppression compared to chemotherapy, suggesting the synergistic activity of the combination of doxorubicin and EZH2-inhibition. Importantly, owing to tumor-targeted delivery, nanomedicine shows an excellent safety profile after systemic delivery, unlike conventional chemotherapy. In summary, chemotherapy and gene therapy are combined into a novel magnetic nanodrug carrying doxorubicin and EZH2 siRNA, which shows promising clinical application potential in TNBC therapy.

Thermal-triggered loading and GSH-responsive releasing property of HBc particles for drug delivery

Hepatitis B core protein virus-like particles (HBc VLPs) have attracted wide attentions using as drug delivery vehicles, due to its excellent stability and easy in large scale production. Here in the present work, we report unique thermal-triggered loading and glutathione-responsive releasing property of the HBc particles for anticancer drug delivery. Through reversible temperature-dependent hole gating of the HBc particle capsid, about 4248 doxorubicin (DOX) were successfully encapsulated inside nanocage of a single nanoparticle at high HBc recovery of 83.2%, by simply incubating the DOX with HBc at 70 °C for 90 min. The new strategy was significantly superior to the disassembly-reassembly methods, which can only yield 3556 DOX loading at 52.3% HBc recovery. The thermal-sensitive drug entry channel in HBc was analyzed by molecular dynamic simulations, and the G113, G117 and R127 were identified as the key amino acid residues that are not conducive to the entrance of DOX but sensitive to temperature. Especially, the ΔGbind of R127 become even higher at high temperature, mutation of the R127 would be the first choice to make the drug entry thermodynamically easier. Due to plenty of disulfide bonds linking the HBc subunits, the HBc particles loaded with DOX exhibited intrinsic glutathione (GSH) responsivity for efficient controlled release in tumor sites. To further increase the tumor-targeting effect of the drug, Cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-d-Tyr-Lys) peptide was conjugated to the surface of HBc through a PEG linker. The prepared HBc-based anticancer drug showed significantly improved stability, tumor specificity, and in vivo anticancer activity on MCF7-bearing Balb/c-nu mice. Overall, our work demonstrated that the HBc VLPs can be an ideal drug carrier to fulfill requirement of the intelligent loading and "on demand" release of the therapeutic agents for efficient cancer therapy with minimal adverse effects.

Transferrin-Decorated PLGA Nanoparticles Loaded with an Organoselenium Compound as an Innovative Approach to Sensitize MDR Tumor Cells: An In Vitro Study Using 2D and 3D Cell Models

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the main challenge in cancer treatment. In this sense, we designed transferrin (Tf)-conjugated PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) containing an organoselenium compound as an alternative to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy and sensitize MDR tumor cells. Cytotoxicity studies were performed on different sensitive tumor cell lines and on an MDR tumor cell line, and the Tf-conjugated NPs presented significantly higher antiproliferative activity than the nontargeted counterparts in all tested cell lines. Due to the promising antitumor activity of the Tf-decorated NPs, further studies were performed using the MDR cells (NCI/ADR-RES cell line) comparatively to one sensitive cell line (HeLa). The cytotoxicity of NPs was evaluated in 3D tumor spheroids and, similarly to the results achieved in the 2D assays, the Tf-conjugated NPs were more effective at reducing the spheroid's growth. The targeted Tf-NPs were also able to inhibit tumor cell migration, presented a higher cell internalization and induced a greater number of apoptotic events in both cell lines. Therefore, these findings evidenced the advantages of Tf-decorated NPs over the nontargeted counterparts, with the Tf-conjugated NPs containing an organoselenium compound representing a promising drug delivery system to overcome MDR and enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy.

Recent Progress in Nanotechnology Improving the Therapeutic Potential of Polyphenols for Cancer

Polyphenols derived from fruits, vegetables, and plants are bioactive compounds potentially beneficial to human health. Notably, compounds such as quercetin, curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), and resveratrol have been highlighted as antiproliferative agents for cancer. Due to their low solubility and limited bioavailability, some alternative nanotechnologies have been applied to encapsulate these compounds, aiming to improve their efficacy against cancer. In this comprehensive review, we evaluate the main nanotechnology approaches to improve the therapeutic potential of polyphenols against cancer using in vitro studies and in vivo preclinical models, highlighting recent advancements in the field. It was found that polymeric nanomaterials, lipid-based nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials, and carbon-based nanomaterials are the most used classes of nanocarriers for encapsulating polyphenols. These delivery systems exhibit enhanced antitumor activity and pro-apoptotic effects, particularly against breast, lung, prostate, cervical, and colorectal cancer cells, surpassing the performance of free bioactive compounds. Preclinical trials in xenograft animal models have revealed decreased tumor growth after treatment with polyphenol-loaded delivery systems. Moreover, the interaction of polyphenol co-delivery systems and polyphenol-drug delivery systems is a promising approach to increase anticancer activity and decrease chemotherapy side effects. These innovative approaches hold significant implications for the advancement of clinical cancer research.

mRNA Delivery Platform Based on Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles for Tumor Vaccine

The rapid display and delivery method for customized tumor mRNA vaccines is limited. Herein, bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are employed as an mRNA delivery platform by surface engineering of an RNA-binding protein, L7Ae. OMV-L7Ae can rapidly adsorb boxC/D sequence-labeled mRNA antigens through L7Ae-boxC/D binding and deliver them into HEK-293T and dendritic cells. This platform provides an mRNA delivery technology distinct from lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for personalized mRNA tumor vaccination and with a Plug-and-Display strategy suitable for rapid preparation of the personalized mRNA tumor vaccine against varied tumor antigens. Key features OMVs are employed as an mRNA delivery platform through L7Ae-boxC/D binding.

Size effect of fluorescent thiol-organosilica particles on their distribution in the mouse spleen

We investigated the distribution of intravenously administered thiol-organosilica particle (thiol-OS) in the spleen to evaluate their size effect in mice. A single administration of particles of thiol-OS containing rhodamine B (Rh) (90, 280, 340, 450, 630, 1110, 1670, and 3030 nm in diameter) was performed. After 24 h, we conducted a combination analysis using histological studies by fluorescent microscopy and quantitative inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), which revealed no clear correlation between the particle size and spleen uptake of particle weight and number per tissue weight, and the injection dose. Moreover, Rh with 450 nm diameter (Rh450) showed the highest uptake, and Rh with 340 nm diameter (Rh340) showed the lowest uptake. Histologically, large fluorescent areas in the marginal zone (MZ) and red pulp (RP) of the spleen were observed for all particle sizes, but less in the follicle of white pulp. Using combination analysis using the particle weights of ICP-OES and the fluorescent area, we compared the distributions of each particle in each region. Rh450 had the largest accumulated weight in the MZ and RP. Particles larger than Rh450 showed negative correlations between their sizes and accumulated weight in the MZ and RP. Simultaneous dual administration of particles using Rhs and thiol-OS containing fluorescein (90 nm in diameter) showed the size-dependent difference in cellular distribution and intracellular localization. Immunohistochemical staining against macrophage markers, CD169, and F4/80 showed various colocalization patterns with macrophages that uptook particles, indicating differences in particle uptake in each macrophage may have novel significance.

Site-Specific Modification of Virus-Like Particles for Exogenous Tumor Antigen Display and Minimizing Preexisting Immunity

The widespread preexisting immunity against virus-like particles (VLPs) seriously limits the applications of VLPs as vaccine vectors. Enabling technology for exogenous antigen display should not only ensure the assembly ability of VLPs and site-specific modification, but also consider the effect of preexisting immunity on the behavior of VLPs in vivo. Here, combining genetic code expansion technique and synthetic biology strategy, a site-specific modification method for hepatitis B core (HBc) VLPs via incorporating azido-phenylalanine into the desired positions is described. Through modification position screening, it is found that HBc VLPs incorporated with azido-phenylalanine at the main immune region can effectively assemble and rapidly conjugate with the dibenzocycolctyne-modified tumor-associated antigens, mucin-1 (MUC1). The site-specific modification of HBc VLPs not only improves the immunogenicity of MUC1 antigens but also shields the immunogenicity of HBc VLPs themselves, thereby activating a strong and persistent anti-MUC1 immune response even in the presence of preexisting anti-HBc immunity, which results in the efficient tumor elimination in a lung metastatic mouse model. Together, these results demonstrate the site-specific modification strategy enabled HBc VLPs behave as a potent antitumor vaccine and this strategy to manipulate immunogenicity of VLPs may be suitable for other VLP-based vaccine vectors.

Size-Dependence of the Skin Penetration of Andrographolide Nanosuspensions: In Vitro Release-Ex Vivo Permeation Correlation and Visualization of the Delivery Pathway

Particle size is a key parameter to determine the capacity of nanoparticles to overcome the skin barrier; however, such effect and the possible mechanism remain only partially understood for nanosuspensions. In this work, we examined the skin delivery performance of andrographolide nanosuspensions (AG-NS) ranging in diameter from 250 nm to 1000 nm and analyzed the role of particle size in influencing their ability of skin penetration. The AG-NS with particle sizes of about 250 nm (AG-NS250), 450 nm (AG-NS450), and 1000 nm (AG-NS1000) were successfully prepared by ultrasonic dispersion method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The drug release and penetration via the intact and barrier-removed skin were compared by the Franz cell method, and the related mechanisms were probed using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) via visualization of penetration routes and histopathological study via observation of structural change of the skin. Our finding revealed that drug retention in the skin or its sub-layers was increased with the reduction of particle size, and the drug permeability through the skin also exhibited an obvious dependence on the particle size from 250 nm to 1000 nm. The linear relationship between the in vitro drug release and ex vivo permeation through the intact skin was well established among different preparations and in each preparation, indicating the skin permeation of the drug was mainly determined by the release process. The LSCM indicated that all these nanosuspensions could deliver the drug into the intercellular lipid space, as well as block the hair follicle in the skin, where a similar size dependence was also observed. The histopathological investigation showed that the formulations could make the stratum corneum of the skin loose and swelling without severe irritation. In conclusion, the reduction of particle size of nanosuspension would facilitate topical drug retention mainly via the modulation of drug release.

Antibody-Loaded Nanoplatforms for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: An Update

At present, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second deadliest type of cancer, partly because a high percentage of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages when tumors have already metastasized. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel diagnostic systems that allow early detection as well as new therapeutic systems that are more specific than those currently available. In this context, nanotechnology plays a very important role in the development of targeted platforms. In recent decades, many types of nanomaterials with advantageous properties have been used for nano-oncology applications and have been loaded with different types of targeted agents, capable of recognizing tumor cells or biomarkers. Indeed, among the different types of targeted agents, the most widely used are monoclonal antibodies, as the administration of many of them is already approved by the main drug regulatory agencies for the treatment of several types of cancer, including CRC. In this way, this review comprehensively discusses the main drawbacks of the conventional screening technologies and treatment for CRC, and it presents recent advances in the application of antibody-loaded nanoplatforms for CRC detection, therapy or theranostics applications.

Facile synthesis of poly(disulfide)s through one-step oxidation polymerization for redox-responsive drug delivery

Poly(disulfide)s-based systems with repetitive disulfide bonds in their backbones are emerging as promising tumor microenvironment responsive platforms for drug delivery. However, complicated synthesis and purification processes have restricted their further application. Herein, we developed redox-responsive poly(disulfide)s (PBDBM) by one-step oxidation polymerization of a commercially available monomer, 1,4-butanediol bis(thioglycolate) (BDBM). PBDBM can self-assemble with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol)₃₄₀₀ (DSPE-PEG_3.4k) by the nanoprecipitation method and be formulated into PBDBM NPs (sub 100 nm). It can also be loaded with docetaxel (DTX), a first-line chemotherapy agent for breast cancer, to form DTX@PBDBM NPs with a loading capacity of 6.13%. DTX@PBDBM NPs with favorable size stability and redox-responsive capability exhibit superior antitumor activity in vitro. In addition, owing to the different glutathione (GSH) levels in normal and tumor cells, PBDBM NPs with disulfide bonds could synergistically increase intracellular ROS levels, further inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Moreover, in vivo studies revealed that PBDBM NPs could accumulate in tumors, suppress 4T1 tumor growth, and significantly attenuate the systemic toxicity of DTX. Thus, a novel redox-responsive poly(disulfide)s nanocarrier was successfully and facilely developed for cancer drug delivery and effective breast cancer therapy.

A Recent Review on Cancer Nanomedicine

Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases globally and is the second major cause of death in the United States. Despite the continuous efforts to understand tumor mechanisms and various approaches taken for treatment over decades, no significant improvements have been observed in cancer therapy. Lack of tumor specificity, dose-related toxicity, low bioavailability, and lack of stability of chemotherapeutics are major hindrances to cancer treatment. Nanomedicine has drawn the attention of many researchers due to its potential for tumor-specific delivery while minimizing unwanted side effects. The application of these nanoparticles is not limited to just therapeutic uses; some of them have shown to have extremely promising diagnostic potential. In this review, we describe and compare various types of nanoparticles and their role in advancing cancer treatment. We further highlight various nanoformulations currently approved for cancer therapy as well as under different phases of clinical trials. Finally, we discuss the prospect of nanomedicine in cancer management.

Transforming Cold Tumors into Hot Ones with a Metal-Organic Framework-Based Biomimetic Nanosystem for Enhanced Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the landscape in clinical tumor therapy, although the response rates in "cold" tumors are relatively low owing to the complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase/stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS/STING) pathway-inducing agents can reprogram the TME; however, their applications remain underutilized. Herein, we engineered a facile manganese-based metal-organic framework (Mn-MOF) encapsulating polyphyllin I (PPI) and coated it with red blood cell (RBC) membranes (RBC@Mn-MOF/PPI) that enhanced the cGAS/STING-mediated antitumor immunity. RBC@Mn-MOF/PPI was engineered by camouflaging it with a biomimetic RBC membrane for prolonged blood circulation and immune escape, which was also extended with TME-sensitive properties for triggering the release of PPI and Mn²⁺ to remodel the suppressive TME and augment antitumor immune responses. Furthermore, RBC@Mn-MOF/PPI helped transform cold tumors into "hot" ones by activating immune cells, as evidenced via dendritic cell maturation, cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration, and natural killer cell recruitment, thereby targeting primary and abscopal tumors and lung metastatic nodules. Therefore, our engineered nanosystem represents a novel strategy to transform immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" ones by activating the cGAS/STING pathway, thereby addressing the major challenges associated with immunotherapy.

Tumor microenvironment stimuli-responsive lipid-drug conjugates for cancer treatment

Lipid drug conjugates (LDCs) have attracted considerable attention in the fields of drug delivery and pharmacology due to their ability to target specific cells, increase drug solubility, reduce toxicity, and improve therapeutic efficacy. These unique features make LDCs promising candidates for the treatment cancer, inflammation, and infectious diseases. In fact, by choosing specific linkers between the lipid and drug molecules, stimuli-responsive LDCs can be designed to target cancer cells based on the unique properties of the tumor microenvironment. Despite the fact that many reviews have described LDCs, few articles have focused on tumor microenvironmental stimuli-responsive LDCs for cancer treatment. Therefore, the key elements of these types of LDCs in cancer treatment will be outlined and discussed in this paper. Our paper goes into detail on the concepts and benefits of LDCs, the various types of tumor microenvironment stimuli-responsive LDCs (such as pH, redox, enzyme, or reactive oxygen species-responsive LDCs), and the current status of LDCs in clinical trials.

Continuous Spatiotemporal Therapy of A Full-API Nanodrug via Multi-Step Tandem Endogenous Biosynthesis

Nanomedicine holds great promise to enhance cancer therapy. However, low active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) loading content, unpredictable drug release, and potential toxicity from excipients limit their translational capability. We herein report a full-API nanodrug composed of FDA-approved 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), human essential element Fe³⁺, and natural bioactive compound curcumin with an ideal API content and pH-responsive release profile for continuous spatiotemporal cancer therapy achieved by multi-step tandem endogenous biosynthesis. First, ALA enzymatically converts into photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). Afterward, multiple downstream products including carbon monoxide (CO), Fe²⁺, biliverdin (BV), and bilirubin (BR) are individually biosynthesized through the PpIX-heme-CO/Fe²⁺/BV-BR metabolic pathway, further cooperating with released Fe³⁺ and curcumin, ultimately eliciting mitochondria damage, membrane disruption, and intracytoplasmic injury. This work not only provides a paradigm for exploiting diversified metabolites for tumor suppression, but also presents a safe and efficient full-API nanodrug, facilitating the practical translation of nanodrugs.

Recent progressions in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications of chitosan nanoparticles: A comprehensive review

Nowadays, the most common approaches in the prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases are along with undeniable limitations. Thus, the ever-increasing need for using biocompatible natural materials and novel practical modalities is required. Applying biomaterials, such as chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs: FDA-approved long-chain polymer of N-acetyl-glucosamine and D-glucosamine for some pharmaceutical applications), can serve as an appropriate alternative to overcome these limitations. Recently, the biomedical applications of CS NPs have extensively been investigated. These NPs and their derivatives can not only prepare through different physical and chemical approaches but also modify with various molecules and bioactive materials. The potential properties of CS NPs, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, serum stability, solubility, non-immunogenicity, anti-inflammatory properties, appropriate pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and so forth, have made them excellent candidates for biomedical applications. Therefore, CS NPs have efficiently applied for various biomedical applications, like regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, biosensors for the detection of microorganisms, and drug delivery systems (DDS) for the suppression of diseases. These NPs possess a high level of biosafety. In summary, CS NPs have the potential ability for biomedical and clinical applications, and it would be remarkably beneficial to develop new generations of CS-based material for the future of medicine.

The Role of Functionalization and Size of Gold Nanoparticles in the Response of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells to Ionizing Radiation Comparing 2D and 3D In Vitro Models

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), as an agent enhancing radiosensitivity, play a key role in the potential treatment of breast cancer (BC). Assessing and understanding the kinetics of modern drug delivery systems is a crucial element that allows the implementation of AuNPs in clinical treatment. The main objective of the study was to assess the role of the properties of gold nanoparticles in the response of BC cells to ionizing radiation by comparing 2D and 3D models. In this research, four kinds of AuNPs, different in size and PEG length, were used to sensitize cells to ionizing radiation. The in vitro viability, uptake, and reactive oxygen species generation in cells were investigated in a time- and concentration-dependent manner using 2D and 3D models. Next, after the previous incubation with AuNPs, cells were irradiated with 2 Gy. The assessment of the radiation effect in combination with AuNPs was analyzed using the clonogenic assay and γH2AX level. The study highlights the role of the PEG chain in the efficiency of AuNPs in the process of sensitizing cells to ionizing radiation. The results obtained imply that AuNPs are a promising solution for combined treatment with radiotherapy.

Targeted Two-Step Delivery of Oncotheranostic Nano-PLGA for HER2-Positive Tumor Imaging and Therapy In Vivo: Improved Effectiveness Compared to One-Step Strategy

Therapy for aggressive metastatic breast cancer remains a great challenge for modern biomedicine. Biocompatible polymer nanoparticles have been successfully used in clinic and are seen as a potential solution. Specifically, researchers are exploring the development of chemotherapeutic nanoagents targeting the membrane-associated receptors of cancer cells, such as HER2. However, there are no targeting nanomedications that have been approved for human cancer therapy. Novel strategies are being developed to alter the architecture of agents and optimize their systemic administration. Here, we describe a combination of these approaches, namely, the design of a targeted polymer nanocarrier and a method for its systemic delivery to the tumor site. Namely, PLGA nanocapsules loaded with a diagnostic dye, Nile Blue, and a chemotherapeutic compound, doxorubicin, are used for two-step targeted delivery using the concept of tumor pre-targeting through the barnase/barstar protein “bacterial superglue”. The first pre-targeting component consists of an anti-HER2 scaffold protein, DARPin9_29 fused with barstar, Bs-DARPin9_29, and the second component comprises chemotherapeutic PLGA nanocapsules conjugated to barnase, PLGA-Bn. The efficacy of this system was evaluated in vivo. To this aim, we developed an immunocompetent BALB/c mouse tumor model with a stable expression of human HER2 oncomarkers to test the potential of two-step delivery of oncotheranostic nano-PLGA. In vitro and ex vivo studies confirmed HER2 receptor stable expression in the tumor, making it a feasible tool for HER2-targeted drug evaluation. We demonstrated that two-step delivery was more effective than one-step delivery for both imaging and tumor therapy: two-step delivery had higher imaging capabilities than one-step and a tumor growth inhibition of 94.9% in comparison to 68.4% for the one-step strategy. The barnase*barstar protein pair has been proven to possess excellent biocompatibility, as evidenced by the successful completion of biosafety tests assessing immunogenicity and hemotoxicity. This renders the protein pair a highly versatile tool for pre-targeting tumors with various molecular profiles, thereby enabling the development of personalized medicine.

Cabazitaxel-Loaded Nanoparticles Reduce the Invasiveness in Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cells: Beyond the Classical Taxane Function

Bone-metastatic prostate cancer symbolizes the beginning of the later stages of the disease. We designed a cabazitaxel-loaded, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticle using an emulsion-diffusion-evaporation technique. Bis (sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate (BS3) was non-covalently inserted into the nanoparticle as a linker for the conjugation of a bone-targeting moiety to the outside of the nanoparticle. We hypothesized that the nanoparticles would have the ability to inhibit the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and migration in prostate cancer cells. Targeted, cabazitaxel-loaded nanoparticles attenuated the EMT marker, Vimentin, and led to an increased E-cadherin expression. These changes impart epithelial characteristics and inhibit invasive properties in cancer progression. Consequently, progression to distant sites is also mitigated. We observed the reduction of phosphorylated Src at tyrosine 416, along with increased expression of phosphorylated cofilin at serine 3. These changes could affect migration and invasion pathways in cancer cells. Both increased p-120 catenin and inhibition in IL-8 expression were seen in targeted, cabazitaxel-loaded nanoparticles. Overall, our data show that the targeted, cabazitaxel-loaded nanoparticles can act as a promising treatment for metastatic prostate cancer by inhibiting EMT, invasion, and migration, in prostate cancer cells.

Thermal immuno-nanomedicine in cancer

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of patients with cancer. However, promoting antitumour immunity in patients with tumours that are resistant to these therapies remains a challenge. Thermal therapies provide a promising immune-adjuvant strategy for use with immunotherapy, mostly owing to the capacity to reprogramme the tumour microenvironment through induction of immunogenic cell death, which also promotes the recruitment of endogenous immune cells. Thus, thermal immunotherapeutic strategies for various cancers are an area of considerable research interest. In this Review, we describe the role of the various thermal therapies and provide an update on attempts to combine these with immunotherapies in clinical trials. We also provide an overview of the preclinical development of various thermal immuno-nanomedicines, which are capable of combining thermal therapies with various immunotherapy strategies in a single therapeutic platform. Finally, we discuss the challenges associated with the clinical translation of thermal immuno-nanomedicines and emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary and inter-professional collaboration to facilitate the optimal translation of this technology from bench to bedside.

Recent progress and applications of poly(beta amino esters)-based biomaterials

Poly(beta-amino esters, PBAEs) are a promising class of cationic polymers synthesized from diacrylates and amines via Michael addition. Recently, PBAEs have been widely developed for drug delivery, immunotherapy, gene therapy, antibacterial, tissue engineering and other applications due to their convenient synthesis, good bio-compatibility and degradation properties. Herein, we mainly summarize the recent progress in the PBAEs synthesis and their applications. The amine groups of PBAEs could be protonated in low pH environment, exhibiting proton sponge and pH-sensitive abilities. Furthermore, the positive PBAEs can interact with negative genes via electrostatic interactions for efficient delivery of nucleic acids. Moreover, positive PBAEs could also directly kill bacteria by disrupting their membranes at high doses. Finally, PBAEs can augment the immune responses, and improve the bioactivity of hydrogels in tissue engineering.

Cancer-Specific Delivery of Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) and Their Application to Cancer Immunotherapy

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are rapidly emerging as a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer therapy by inducing the degradation of tumor-overexpressing oncogenic proteins. They can specifically catalyze the degradation of target oncogenic proteins by recruiting E3 ligases and utilizing the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Since their mode of action is universal, irreversible, recyclable, long-lasting, and applicable to 'undruggable' proteins, PROTACs are gradually replacing the role of conventional small molecular inhibitors. Moreover, their application areas are being expanded to cancer immunotherapy as various types of oncogenic proteins that are involved in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. However, poor water solubility and low cell permeability considerably restrict the pharmacokinetic (PK) property, which necessitates the use of appropriate delivery systems for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, the general characteristics, developmental status, and PK of PROTACs are first briefly covered. Next, recent studies on the application of various types of passive or active targeting delivery systems for PROTACs are introduced, and their effects on the PK and tumor-targeting ability of PROTACs are described. Finally, recent drug delivery systems of PROTACs for cancer immunotherapy are summarized. The adoption of an adequate delivery system for PROTAC is expected to accelerate the clinical translation of PROTACs, as well as improve its efficacy for cancer therapy.

Normalizing the Immune Macroenvironment via Debulking Surgery to Strengthen Tumor Nanovaccine Efficacy and Eliminate Metastasis

In tumor nanovaccines, nanocarriers enhance the delivery of tumor antigens to antigen-presenting cells (APCs), thereby ensuring the robust activation of tumor antigen-specific effector T-cells to kill tumor cells. Through employment of their high immunogenicity and nanosize, we have developed a "Plug-and-Display" delivery platform on the basis of bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) for tumor nanovaccines (NanoVac), which can rapidly display different tumor antigens and efficiently eliminate lung metastases of melanoma. In this study, we first upgraded the NanoVac to increase their antigen display efficiency. However, we found that the presence of a subcutaneous xenograft seriously hampered the efficiency of NanoVac to eliminate lung metastases, with the subcutaneous xenograft mimicking the primary tumor burden in clinical practice. The primary tumor secreted significant amounts of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and altered the epigenetic features of granulocyte monocyte precursor cells (GMPs) in the bone marrow, thus disrupting systemic immunity, particularly the function of APCs, and ultimately resulting in NanoVac failure to affect metastases. These changes in the systemic immune macroenvironment were plastic, and debulking surgery of primary tumor resection reversed the dysfunction of APCs and failure of NanoVac. These results demonstrate that, in addition to the formulation design of the tumor nanovaccines themselves, the systemic immune macroenvironment incapacitated by tumor development is another key factor that cannot be ignored to affect the efficiency of tumor nanovaccines, and the combination of primary tumor resection with NanoVac is a promising radical treatment for widely metastatic tumors.

Ferroptosis-based drug delivery system as a new therapeutic opportunity for brain tumors

The brain tumor is a kind of malignant tumor with brutal treatment, high recurrence rate, and poor prognosis, and the incidence and death rate is increasing yearly. Surgery is often used to remove the primary tumor, supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which have highly toxic side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new strategies, methods, and technologies that can genuinely improve the treatment of brain tumors. Ferroptosis differs from traditional apoptosis's morphological and biochemical characteristics, and ferroptosis possesses its unique characteristics and mechanisms, opening up a new field of ferroptosis treatment for cancer. It has been found that there is a close relationship between ferroptosis and brain tumors, and a novel nano-drug delivery system based on ferroptosis has been used for the ferroptosis treatment of brain tumors with remarkable effects. This review firstly analyzes the characteristics of ferroptosis, summarizes the mechanism of its occurrence and some factors that can be involved in the regulation of ferroptosis, introduces the potential link between ferroptosis and brain tumors, and clarifies the feasibility of ferroptosis in the treatment of brain tumors. It then presents the ferroptosis nano drug delivery systems developed under different metabolic pathways for ferroptosis treatment of brain tumors. Finally, it summarizes the current problems and solutions of ferroptosis nano drugs for brain tumor treatment, aiming to provide a reference for developing ferroptosis nano drugs against brain tumors.

Recent developments in plant-derived edible nanoparticles as therapeutic nanomedicines

The use of nanotechnology in the treatment of numerous disorders has proven effective. The predicted development of plant-derived edible nanoparticles (PDNPs) as potential therapeutic agents for treating illness or in the delivery of drugs is inevitable. PDNPs generated from plants resemble mammal-extracted exosomes structurally. In contrast to their excellent biocompatibility with healthy cells, PDNPs are skewed toward malignancies by selectively targeting those cells via unique endocytic pathways. They can be generated in large quantities, are nontoxic, and have tissue-specific targeting abilities. Thus, with fewer off-target effects, using these PDNPs could broaden the breadth of pharmacological therapy. In this discussion, we emphasize the properties and biological activities of PDNPs isolated from fruits and vegetables and discuss the promising implications of these particles as nanomedicines. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: PDNPs have reportedly been employed for therapeutic applications for several ailments and are believed to have characteristics in common with exosomes generated from mammals. The advantages of PDNPs over mammalian-derived exosomes are numerous. Firstly, they may be produced on a commercial scale using a variety of efficient renewable sources. Secondly, the PDNPs' natural components developed in plant cells promise improved cytocompatibility, tolerability, low cytotoxicity, or other adverse effects. We evaluated some current studies on the applications and potential of PDNPs in this article. PDNPs could create new opportunities for drug discovery because of recent advancements in medicine and drug delivery system nanotechnology. Unfortunately, the precise mechanisms behind PDNP's functions and interaction in pathogenic processes have not yet been completely elucidated; as a result, the potential consequences of their clinical use are uncertain. Overall, PDNPs show a wide range of therapeutic possibilities that may be advantageous to patients and might eventually make up the next generation of pharmaceuticals.

Biomimetic nanoparticles for tumor immunotherapy

Currently, tumor treatment research still focuses on the cancer cells themselves, but the fact that the immune system plays an important role in inhibiting tumor development cannot be ignored. The activation of the immune system depends on the difference between self and non-self. Unfortunately, cancer is characterized by genetic changes in the host cells that lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and evade immune surveillance. Cancer immunotherapy aims to coordinate a patient's immune system to target, fight, and destroy cancer cells without destroying the normal cells. Nevertheless, antitumor immunity driven by the autoimmune system alone may be inadequate for treatment. The development of drug delivery systems (DDS) based on nanoparticles can not only promote immunotherapy but also improve the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM), which provides promising strategies for cancer treatment. However, conventional nano drug delivery systems (NDDS) are subject to several limitations in clinical transformation, such as immunogenicity and the potential toxicity risks of the carrier materials, premature drug leakage at off-target sites during circulation and drug load content. In order to address these limitations, this paper reviews the trends and progress of biomimetic NDDS and discusses the applications of each biomimetic system in tumor immunotherapy. Furthermore, we review the various combination immunotherapies based on biomimetic NDDS and key considerations for clinical transformation.

Harnessing Protein Corona for Biomimetic Nanomedicine Design

Nanoparticles (NPs) are usually treated as multifunctional agents combining several therapeutical applications, like imaging and targeting delivery. However, clinical translation is still largely hindered by several factors, and the rapidly formed protein corona on the surface of NPs is one of them. The formation of protein corona is complicated and irreversible in the biological environment, and protein corona will redefine the “biological identity” of NPs, which will alter the following biological events and therapeutic efficacy. Current understanding of protein corona is still limited and incomplete, and in many cases, protein corona has adverse impacts on nanomedicine, for instance, losing targeting ability, activating the immune response, and rapid clearance. Due to the considerable role of protein corona in NPs’ biological fate, harnessing protein corona to achieve some therapeutic effects through various methods like biomimetic approaches is now treated as a promising way to meet the current challenges in nanomedicine such as poor pharmacokinetic properties, off-target effect, and immunogenicity. This review will first introduce the current understanding of protein corona and summarize the investigation process and technologies. Second, the strategies of harnessing protein corona with biomimetic approaches for nanomedicine design are reviewed. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future outlooks of biomimetic approaches to tune protein corona in nanomedicine.