Tuning Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in Novel Avenues of Cancer Therapy

Mesoporous SiO2 based nanocomplex enzymes for enhanced chemodynamic therapy of pancreatic tumors

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is a therapeutic method that uses a Fenton/Fenton-like reaction to convert intracellular H2O2 into highly cytotoxic ˙OH to effectively kill cancer cells. This method is adapted to the specific characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, boasting high selectivity and strong specificity among other advantages. However, CDT still faces challenges. Glutathione (GSH), which is present in high levels in the tumor microenvironment, can consume a large amount of ˙OH, significantly limiting the effectiveness of CDT. In this study, we synthesized a core-shell nanozyme (mSiO2@MnO2) with a composite structure comprising a mesoporous silica core and a manganese dioxide (MnO2) shell. The mesoporous structure was loaded with the chemotherapeutic drug genistein (Gen) and surface-modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to enhance its effectiveness in treating pancreatic cancer. This formulation, denoted as the Gen@mSiO2@MnO2-PEG nanocomplex enzyme, exhibits a dual action mechanism. Firstly, upon reaching tumor cells, it releases genistein for kinetic therapy and degrades the MnO2 shell. Secondly, GSH consumption triggers Fenton-like reactions to generate ˙OH, thereby enhancing CDT. At the cellular level, the Gen@mSiO2@MnO2-PEG nanocomplex enzyme demonstrates excellent biocompatibility. It induces the production of reactive oxygen species in the pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1, disrupting the redox balance within tumor cells, and ultimately killing them. In vivo, the Gen@mSiO2@MnO2-PEG nanocomplex enzyme selectively accumulates at the tumor sites in PANC-1 tumor-bearing mice, resulting in the inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis. This study demonstrates that core-shell nanozymes serve as an effective platform for cancer therapy, enhancing the efficacy of combined chemotherapy and CDT for pancreatic cancer.

Current Status and Future Prospects of Lyotropic Liquid Crystals as a Nanocarrier Delivery System for the Treatment of Cancer

Multidrug resistance (MDR) poses a significant challenge in cancer treatment by reducing the efficacy of therapies. This review highlights the potential of lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) as innovative nanocarrier systems to overcome MDR. LLCs are characterized by their highly ordered internal structures, which can self-assemble into various phases, including lamellar, hexagonal, and cubic geometries. These structures allow LLCs to encapsulate and release cargo with diverse sizes and polarities, making them promising candidates for drug delivery applications. The phase of LLCs-whether cubic, hexagonal, or lamellar-can influence the physicochemical properties of encapsulated drugs, enabling tailored release profiles such as sustained, controlled, or targeted delivery. This review also explores the transitions in molecular geometry of amphiphilic compounds, additives, and hydrotrope molecules, which affect the formation and stability of LLC phases with varying pore sizes and water channels. The conclusion underscores the importance of ongoing research into LLCs for addressing cancer treatment challenges, including MDR. The versatility of LLCs extends beyond drug delivery to theranostic and diagnostic applications. By leveraging responsive smart drug delivery systems or incorporating natural compounds, LLCs offer a multifaceted approach to cancer therapy, highlighting their potential as a breakthrough in the field.

Small molecules modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles orally deliver indomethacin with synergistic effect

Molecularly functional drug delivery systems possessed huge potentials to realize novel drug administration. To explore small molecules modified drug delivery, a series of small molecules modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (L-Mal-MSNs, D-Mal-MSNs) were established by grafting small molecules. Poorly water-soluble indomethacin (IMC) was chosen to load into these small molecules modified carriers as well as corresponding control carrier, and further to study characteristics and delivery effects of drug loaded carriers. The results indicated that all these small molecules modified carriers formed hydrogen bonds with drugs and can successfully convert drug crystal phase to amorphous state so as to enhance drug dissolution compared to raw drug. In vivo rat intestinal perfusion demonstrated that IMC loaded L-Mal-MSNs performed the fastest drug absorption while analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of IMC loaded D-Mal-MSNs turned out to be the best, giving hints that D-malic acid exhibited best synergic functions for IMC. The herein small molecules modified delivery system is an effective solution strategy for the current application of analgesia and anti-inflammatory drugs with outstanding significance.

How Precise are Nanomedicines in Overcoming the Blood-Brain Barrier? A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

New nanotechnology strategies for enhancing drug delivery in brain disorders have recently received increasing attention from drug designers. The treatment of neurological conditions, including brain tumors, stroke, Parkinson's Disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD), may be greatly influenced by nanotechnology. Numerous studies on neurodegeneration have demonstrated the effective application of nanomaterials in the treatment of brain illnesses. Nanocarriers (NCs) have made it easier to deliver drugs precisely to where they are needed. Thus, the most effective use of nanomaterials is in the treatment of various brain diseases, as this amplifies the overall impact of medication and emphasizes the significance of nanotherapeutics through gene therapy, enzyme replacement therapy, and blood-barrier mechanisms. Recent advances in nanotechnology have led to the development of multifunctional nanotherapeutic agents, a promising treatment for brain disorders. This novel method reduces the side effects and improves treatment outcomes. This review critically assesses efficient nano-based systems in light of obstacles and outstanding achievements. Nanocarriers that transfer medications across the blood-brain barrier and nano-assisted therapies, including nano-immunotherapy, nano-gene therapy, nano enzyme replacement therapy, scaffolds, and 3D to 6D printing, have been widely explored for the treatment of brain disorders. This study aimed to evaluate existing literature regarding the use of nanotechnology in the development of drug delivery systems that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and deliver therapeutic agents to treat various brain disorders.

The quest for nanoparticle-powered vaccines in cancer immunotherapy

Despite recent advancements in cancer treatment, this disease still poses a serious threat to public health. Vaccines play an important role in preventing illness by preparing the body's adaptive and innate immune responses to combat diseases. As our understanding of malignancies and their connection to the immune system improves, there has been a growing interest in priming the immune system to fight malignancies more effectively and comprehensively. One promising approach involves utilizing nanoparticle systems for antigen delivery, which has been shown to potentiate immune responses as vaccines and/or adjuvants. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the immunological mechanisms of cancer vaccines while focusing specifically on the recent applications of various types of nanoparticles in the field of cancer immunotherapy. By exploring these recent breakthroughs, we hope to identify significant challenges and obstacles in making nanoparticle-based vaccines and adjuvants feasible for clinical application. This review serves to assess recent breakthroughs in nanoparticle-based cancer vaccinations and shed light on their prospects and potential barriers. By doing so, we aim to inspire future immunotherapies for cancer that harness the potential of nanotechnology to deliver more effective and targeted treatments.

Quantum Dot-based Bio-conjugates as an Emerging Bioimaging Tool for Cancer Theranostic- A Review

Cancer is the most widely studied disorder in humans, but proper treatment has not yet been developed for it. Conventional therapies, like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, have been employed. Such therapies target not only cancerous cells but also harm normal cells. Conventional therapy does not result in specific targeting and hence leads to severe side effects. The main objective of this study is to explore the QDs. QDs are used as nanocarriers for diagnosis and treatment at the same time. They are based on the principle of theranostic approach. QDs can be conjugated with antibodies via various methods that result in targeted therapy. This results in their dual function as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Nanotechnology involving such nanocarriers can increase the specificity and reduce the side effects, leaving the normal cells unaffected. This review pays attention to different methods for synthesising QDs. QDs can be obtained using either organic method and synthetic methods. It was found that QDs synthesised naturally are more feasible than the synthetic process. Top or bottom-up approaches have also emerged for the synthesis of QDs. QDs can be conjugated with an antibody via non-covalent and covalent binding. Covalent binding is much more feasible than any other method. Zero-length coupling plays an important role as EDC (1-Ethyl-3-Ethyl dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide is a strong crosslinker and is widely used for conjugating molecules. Antibodies work as surface ligands that lead to antigen- antibody interaction, resulting in site-specific targeting and leaving behind the normal cells unaffected. Cellular uptake of the molecule is done by either passive targeting or active targeting. QDs are tiny nanocrystals that are inorganic in nature and vary in size and range. Based on different sizes, they emit light of specific wavelengths. They have their own luminescent and optical properties that lead to the monitoring, imaging, and transport of the therapeutic moiety to a variety of targets in the body. The surface of the QDs is modified to boost their functioning. They act as a tool for diagnosis, imaging, and delivery of therapeutic moieties. For improved therapeutic effects, nanotechnology leads the cellular uptake of nanoparticles via passive targeting or active targeting. It is a crucial platform that not only leads to imaging and diagnosis but also helps to deliver therapeutic moieties to specific sites. Therefore, this review concludes that there are numerous drawbacks to the current cancer treatment options, which ultimately result in treatment failure. Therefore, nanotechnology that involves such a nanocarrier will serve as a tool for overcoming all limitations of the traditional therapeutic approach. This approach helps in reducing the dose of anticancer agents for effective treatment and hence improving the therapeutic index. QDs can not only diagnose a disease but also deliver drugs to the cancerous site.

Nanoparticle-based delivery systems as emerging therapy in retinoblastoma: recent advances, challenges and prospects

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignancy in children. The treatment of this rare disease is still challenging in developing countries due to delayed diagnosis. The current therapies comprise mainly surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The adverse effects of radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs have been reported to contribute to the high mortality rate and affect patients' quality of life. The systemic side effects resulting from the distribution of chemotherapeutic drugs to non-cancerous cells are enormous and have been recognized as one of the reasons why most potent anticancer compounds fail in clinical trials. Nanoparticulate delivery systems have the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment by offering targeted delivery, enhanced penetration and retention effects, increased bioavailability, and an improved toxicity profile. Notwithstanding the plethora of evidence on the beneficial effects of nanoparticles in retinoblastoma, the clinical translation of this carrier is yet to be given the needed attention. This paper reviews the current and emerging treatment options for retinoblastoma, with emphasis on recent investigations on the use of various classes of nanoparticles in diagnosing and treating retinoblastoma. It also presents the use of ligand-conjugated and smart nanoparticles in the active targeting of anticancer and imaging agents to the tumour cells. In addition, this review discusses the prospects and challenges in translating this nanocarrier into clinical use for retinoblastoma therapy. This review may provide new insight for formulation scientists to explore in order to facilitate the development of more effective and safer medicines for children suffering from retinoblastoma.

Nanomedicine Strategies for Targeting Tumor Stroma

The tumor stroma, or the microenvironment surrounding solid tumors, can significantly impact the effectiveness of cancer therapies. The tumor microenvironment is characterized by high interstitial pressure, a consequence of leaky vasculature, and dense stroma created by excessive deposition of various macromolecules such as collagen, fibronectin, and hyaluronic acid (HA). In addition, non-cancerous cells such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and the extracellular matrix (ECM) itself can promote tumor growth. In recent years, there has been increased interest in combining standard cancer treatments with stromal-targeting strategies or stromal modulators to improve therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, the use of nanomedicine, which can improve the delivery and retention of drugs in the tumor, has been proposed to target the stroma. This review focuses on how different stromal components contribute to tumor progression and impede chemotherapeutic delivery. Additionally, this review highlights recent advancements in nanomedicine-based stromal modulation and discusses potential future directions for developing more effective stroma-targeted cancer therapies.

Targeted Drug Delivery Systems for Curcumin in Breast Cancer Therapy

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent type of cancer in the world and the main reason women die from cancer. Due to the significant side effects of conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the search for supplemental and alternative natural drugs with lower toxicity and side effects is of interest to researchers. Curcumin (CUR) is a natural polyphenol extracted from turmeric. Numerous studies have demonstrated that CUR is an effective anticancer drug that works by modifying different intracellular signaling pathways. CUR's therapeutic utility is severely constrained by its short half-life in vivo, low water solubility, poor stability, quick metabolism, low oral bioavailability, and potential for gastrointestinal discomfort with high oral doses. One of the most practical solutions to the aforementioned issues is the development of targeted drug delivery systems (TDDSs) based on nanomaterials. To improve drug targeting and efficacy and to serve as a reference for the development and use of CUR TDDSs in the clinical setting, this review describes the physicochemical properties and bioavailability of CUR and its mechanism of action on BC, with emphasis on recent studies on TDDSs for BC in combination with CUR, including passive TDDSs, active TDDSs and physicochemical TDDSs.

New insights into nanosystems for non-small-cell lung cancer: diagnosis and treatment

Lung cancer is caused by a malignant tumor that shows the fastest growth in both incidence and mortality and is also the greatest threat to human health and life. At present, both in terms of incidence and mortality, lung cancer is the first in male malignant tumors, and the second in female malignant tumors. In the past two decades, research and development of antitumor drugs worldwide have been booming, and a large number of innovative drugs have entered clinical trials and practice. In the era of precision medicine, the concept and strategy of cancer from diagnosis to treatment are experiencing unprecedented changes. The ability of tumor diagnosis and treatment has rapidly improved, the discovery rate and cure rate of early tumors have greatly improved, and the overall survival of patients has benefited significantly, with a tendency to transform to a chronic disease with tumor. The emergence of nanotechnology brings new horizons for tumor diagnosis and treatment. Nanomaterials with good biocompatibility have played an important role in tumor imaging, diagnosis, drug delivery, controlled drug release, etc. This article mainly reviews the advancements in lipid-based nanosystems, polymer-based nanosystems, and inorganic nanosystems in the diagnosis and treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Kinetics and Mechanism of Camptothecin Release from Transferrin-Gated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles through a pH-Responsive Surface Linker

Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials have emerged as a promising strategy for inclusion in anticancer therapy. In particular, pH-responsive silica nanocarriers have been studied to provide controlled drug delivery in acidic tumor microenvironments. However, the intracellular microenvironment that the nanosystem must face has an impact on the anticancer effect; therefore, the design of the nanocarrier and the mechanisms that govern drug release play a crucial role in optimizing efficacy. Here, we synthesized and characterized mesoporous silica nanoparticles with transferrin conjugated on their surface via a pH-sensitive imine bond (MSN-Tf) to assess camptothecin (CPT) loading and release. The results showed that CPT-loaded MSN-Tf (MSN-Tf@CPT) had a size of ca. 90 nm, a zeta potential of -18.9 mV, and a loaded content of 13.4%. The release kinetic data best fit a first-order model, and the predominant mechanism was Fickian diffusion. Additionally, a three-parameter model demonstrated the drug-matrix interaction and impact of transferrin in controlling the release of CPT from the nanocarrier. Taken together, these results provide new insights into the behavior of a hydrophobic drug released from a pH-sensitive nanosystem.