Cur-loaded magnetic ZnFe2O4@L-cysteine – Ox, N-rich mesoporous -gC3N4 nanocarriers as a targeted sonodynamic chemotherapeutic agent for enhanced tumor eradication

Emerging Roles of Graphitic Carbon Nitride-based Materials in Biomedical Applications

Graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a two-dimensional conjugated polymer with a unique energy band structure similar to graphene. Due to its outstanding analytical advantages, such as relatively small band gap (2.7 eV), low-cost synthesis, high thermal stability, excellent photocatalytic ability, and good biocompatibility, g-C3N4 has attracted the interest of researchers and industry, especially in the medical field. This paper summarizes the latest research on g-C3N4-based composites in various biomedical applications, including therapy, diagnostic imaging, biosensors, antibacterial, and wearable devices. In addition, the application prospects and possible challenges of g-C3N4 in nanomedicine are also discussed in detail. This review is expected to inspire emerging biomedical applications based on g-C3N4.

Tailored Covalent Organic Framework Platform: From Multistimuli, Targeted Dual Drug Delivery by Architecturally Engineering to Enhance Photothermal Tumor Therapy

Engineering bulk covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to access specific morphological structures holds paramount significance in boosting their functions in cancer treatment; nevertheless, scant effort has been dedicated to exploring this realm. Herein, silica core-shell templates and multifunctional COF-based reticulated hollow nanospheres (HCOFs) are novelly designed as a versatile nanoplatform to investigate the simultaneous effect of dual-drug chemotherapy and photothermal ablation. Taking advantage of the distinct structural properties of the template, the resulting two-dimensional (2D) HCOF, featuring large internal voids and a peripheral interconnected mesoporous shell, presents intriguing benefits over its bulk counterparts for cancer treatment, including a well-defined morphology, an outstanding drug loading capability (99.6%) attributed to its ultrahigh surface area (2087 m2/g), great crystallinity, improved tumor accumulation, and an adjustable drug release profile. After being loaded with hydrophilic doxorubicin with a remarkable loading capacity, the obtained drug-loaded HCOFs were coated with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) to confer them with three properties, including pore entrance blockage, active-targeting capability, and improved biocompatibility via secondary modification, besides high near infrared (NIR) absorption for efficient photothermal hyperthermia cancer suppression. The resultant structure was functionalized with mono-6-thio-β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as a second pocket to load docetaxel as the hydrophobic anticancer agent (combination index = 0.33). The dual-drug-loaded HCOF displayed both pH- and near-infrared-responsive on-demand drug release. In vitro and in vivo evaluations unveiled the prominent synergistic performance of coloaded HCOF in cancer elimination upon NIR light irradiation. This work opens up a new avenue for exciting applications of structurally engineered HCOFs as hydrophobic/hydrophilic drug carriers as well as multimodal treatment agents.

Biosynthesis, characterization, magnetic hyperthermia, and in vitro toxicity evaluation of quercetin-loaded magnetoliposome lipid bilayer hybrid system on MCF-7 breast cancer

Novel biocompatible and effective hyperthermia (HT) treatment materials for breast cancer therapeutic have recently attracting researchers, because of their effective ablation of cancer cells and negligible damage to healthy cells. Magnetoliposome (MLs) have numerous possibilities for utilize in cancer treatment, including smart drug delivery (SDD) mediated through alternating magnetic fields (AMF). In this work, magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) encapsulated with liposomes lipid bilayer (MLs), Quercetin (Q)-loaded MgFe2O4@Liposomes (Q-MLs) nano-hybrid system were successfully synthesized for magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) and SDD applications. The hybrid system was well-investigated by different techniques using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Zeta Potential (ZP). The characterization results confirmed the improving quercetin-loading on the MLs surface. TEM analysis indicated the synthesized MgFe2O4, MLs, and Q-MLs were spherical with an average size of 23.7, 35.5, and 329.5 nm, respectively. The VSM results revealed that the MgFe2O4 exhibit excellent and effective saturation magnetization (MS) (40.5 emu/g). Quercetin drug loading and entrapment efficiency were found to be equal to 2.1 ± 0.1% and 42.3 ± 2.2%, respectively. The in-vitro Q release from Q-loaded MLs was found 40.2% at pH 5.1 and 69.87% at pH 7.4, verifying the Q-loading pH sensitivity. The MLs and Q-MLs hybrid system as MHT agents exhibit specific absorption rate (SAR) values of 197 and 205 W/g, correspondingly. Furthermore, the Q-MLs cytotoxicity was studied on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, and the obtained data demonstrated that the Q-MLs have a high cytotoxicity effect compared to MLs and free Q.

Biosensors and Drug Delivery in Oncotheranostics Using Inorganic Synthetic and Biogenic Magnetic Nanoparticles

Magnetic nanocarriers have attracted attention in translational oncology due to their ability to be employed both for tumor diagnostics and therapy. This review summarizes data on applications of synthetic and biogenic magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in oncological theranostics and related areas. The basics of both types of MNPs including synthesis approaches, structure, and physicochemical properties are discussed. The properties of synthetic MNPs and biogenic MNPs are compared with regard to their antitumor therapeutic efficiency, diagnostic potential, biocompatibility, and cellular toxicity. The comparative analysis demonstrates that both synthetic and biogenic MNPs could be efficiently used for cancer theranostics, including biosensorics and drug delivery. At the same time, reduced toxicity of biogenic particles was noted, which makes them advantageous for in vivo applications, such as drug delivery, or MRI imaging of tumors. Adaptability to surface modification based on natural biochemical processes is also noted, as well as good compatibility with tumor cells and proliferation in them. Advances in the bionanotechnology field should lead to the implementation of MNPs in clinical trials.

Utility of Biogenic Iron and Its Bimetallic Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications: A Review

Nanotechnology mainly deals with the production and application of compounds with dimensions in nanoscale. Given their dimensions, these materials have considerable surface/volume ratios, and hence, specific characteristics. Nowadays, environmentally friendly procedures are being proposed for fabrication of Fe nanoparticles because a large amount of poisonous chemicals and unfavorable conditions are needed to prepare them. This work includes an inclusive overview on the economical and green procedures for the preparation of such nanoparticles (flower, fruits, tea, carbohydrates, and leaves). Pure and bimetallic iron nanoparticles, for instance, offer a high bandwidth and excitation binding energy and are applicable in different areas ranging from antibacterial, anticancer, and bioimaging agents to drug delivery systems. Preparation of nano-sized particles, such as those of Fe, requires the application of high quantities of toxic materials and harsh conditions, and naturally, there is a tendency to develop more facile and even green pathways (Sultana, Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2013, 29, 795–800; Bushra et al., Journal of hazardous materials, 2014, 264, 481–489; Khan et al., Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2015, 54, 76–82). This article tends to provide an overview on the reports describing green and biological methods for the synthesis of Fe nanoparticles. The present review mainly highlights selenium nanoparticles in the biomedical domain. Specifically, this review will present detailed information on drug delivery, bioimaging, antibacterial, and anticancer activity. It will also focus on procedures for their green synthesis methods and properties that make them potential candidates for various biomedical applications. Finally, we provide a detailed future outlook.