Synergistic Platinum(II) Prodrug Nanoparticles for Enhanced Breast Cancer Therapy

Mechanistic insights into cisplatin response in breast tumors: Molecular determinants and drug/nanotechnology-based therapeutic opportunities

Breast cancer continues to be a major global health challenge, driving the need for effective therapeutic strategies. Cisplatin, a powerful chemotherapeutic agent, is widely used in breast cancer treatment. However, its effectiveness is often limited by systemic toxicity and the development of drug resistance. This review examines the molecular factors that influence cisplatin response and resistance, offering crucial insights for the scientific community. It highlights the significance of understanding cisplatin resistance's genetic and epigenetic contributors, which could lead to more personalized treatment approaches. Additionally, the review explores innovative strategies to counteract cisplatin resistance, including combination therapies, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, and targeted therapies. These approaches are under intensive investigation and promise to enhance breast cancer treatment outcomes. This comprehensive discussion is a valuable resource to advance breast cancer therapeutics and address the challenge of cisplatin resistance.

Fenamates: Forgotten treasure for cancer treatment and prevention: Mechanisms of action, structural modification, and bright future

Fenamates as classical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents are widely used for relieving pain. Preclinical studies and epidemiological data highlight their chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic potential for cancer. However, comprehensive reviews of fenamates in cancer are limited. To accelerate the repurposing of fenamates, this review summarizes the results of fenamates alone or in combination with existing chemotherapeutic agents. This paper also explores targets of fenamates in cancer therapy, including COX, AKR family, AR, gap junction, FTO, TEAD, DHODH, TAS2R14, ion channels, and DNA. Besides, this paper discusses other mechanisms, such as regulating Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β, p38 MAPK, and NF-κB pathway, and the regulation of the expressions of Sp, EGR-1, NAG-1, ATF-3, ErbB2, AR, as well as the modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment. Furthermore, this paper outlined the structural modifications of fenamates, highlighting their potential as promising leads for anticancer drugs.

Platinum-based chemotherapy: trends in organic nanodelivery systems

Despite the investment in platinum drugs research, cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin are still the only Pt-based compounds used as first line treatments for several cancers, with a few other compounds being approved for administration in some Asian countries. However, due to the severe and worldwide impact of oncological diseases, there is an urge for improved chemotherapeutic approaches. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical application of platinum complexes is hindered by their inherent toxicity and acquired resistance. Nanodelivery systems rose as a key strategy to overcome these challenges, with recognized versatility and ability towards improving the safety, bioavailability and efficacy of the available drugs. Among the known nanocarriers, organic systems have been widely applied, taking advantage of their potential as drug vehicles. Researchers have mainly focused on the development of lipidic and polymeric carriers, including supramolecular structures, with an overall improvement of encapsulated platinum complexes. Herein, an overview of recent trends and strategies is presented, with the main focus on the encapsulation of platinum compounds into organic nanocarriers, showcasing the evolution in the design and development of these promising systems. This comprehensive review highlights formulation methods as well as characterization procedures, providing insights that may be helpful for the development of novel platinum nanocarriers aiming at future pharmaceutical applications.

Photolysis of tolfenamic acid in aqueous and organic solvents: a kinetic study

Tolfenamic acid (TA) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that was studied for its photodegradation in aqueous (pH 2.0-12.0) and organic solvents (acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol). TA follows first-order kinetics for its photodegradation, and the apparent first-order rate constants (k obs) are in the range of 0.65 (pH 12.0) to 6.94 × 10-2 (pH 3.0) min-1 in aqueous solution and 3.28 (1-butanol) to 7.69 × 10-4 (acetonitrile) min-1 in organic solvents. The rate-pH profile for TA photodegradation is an inverted V (∧) or V-top shape, indicating that the cationic form is more susceptible to acid hydrolysis than the anionic form of TA, which is less susceptible to alkaline hydrolysis. The fluorescence behavior of TA also exhibits a V-top-shaped curve, indicating maximum fluorescence intensity at pH 3.0. TA is highly stable at a pH range of 5.0-7.0, making it suitable for formulation development. In organic solvents, the photodegradation rate of TA increases with the solvent's dielectric constant and solvent acceptor number, indicating solute-solvent interactions. The values of k obs decreased with increased viscosity of the solvents due to diffusion-controlled processes. The correlation between k obs versus ionization potential and solvent density has also been established. A total of 17 photoproducts have been identified through LC-MS, of which nine have been reported for the first time. It has been confirmed through electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry that the excited singlet state of TA is converted into an excited triplet state through intersystem crossing, which results in an increased rate of photodegradation in acetonitrile.

Lumbrokinase Extracted from Earthworms Synergizes with Bevacizumab and Chemotherapeutics in Treating Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Targeted Inactivation of BPTF/VEGF and NF-κB/COX-2 Signaling

As a kind of proteolytic enzyme extracted from earthworms, lumbrokinase has been used as an antithrombotic drug clinically. Nevertheless, its potential in anti-cancer, especially in anti-non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as a single form of treatment or in combination with other therapies, is still poorly understood. In this study, we explored the anti-tumor role and the responsive molecular mechanisms of lumbrokinase in suppressing tumor angiogenesis and chemoresistance development in NSCLC and its clinical potential in combination with bevacizumab and chemotherapeutics. Lumbrokinase was found to inhibit cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner and caused metastasis suppression and apoptosis induction to varying degrees in NSCLC cells. Lumbrokinase enhanced the anti-angiogenesis efficiency of bevacizumab by down-regulating BPTF expression, decreasing its anchoring at the VEGF promoter region and subsequent VEGF expression and secretion. Furthermore, lumbrokinase treatment reduced IC50 values of chemotherapeutics and improved their cytotoxicity in parental and chemo-resistant NSCLC cells via inactivating the NF-κB pathway, inhibiting the expression of COX-2 and subsequent secretion of PGE2. LPS-induced NF-κB activation reversed its inhibition on NSCLC cell proliferation and its synergy with chemotherapeutic cytotoxicity, while COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib treatment boosted such effects. Lumbrokinase combined with bevacizumab, paclitaxel, or vincristine inhibited the xenograft growth of NSCLC cells in mice more significantly than a single treatment. In conclusion, lumbrokinase inhibited NSCLC survival and sensitized NSCLC cells to bevacizumab or chemotherapeutics treatment by targeted down-regulation of BPTF/VEGF signaling and inactivation of NF-κB/COX-2 signaling, respectively. The combinational applications of lumbrokinase with bevacizumab or chemotherapeutics are expected to be developed as promising candidate therapeutic strategies to improve the efficacy of the original monotherapy in anti-NSCLC.

COX 2-inhibitors; a thorough and updated survey into combinational therapies in cancers

Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes are pivotal in inflammation and cancer development. COX-2, in particular, has been implicated in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. Recently, COX-2 inhibitors have arisen as potential therapeutic agents in cancer treatment. In addition, combining COX inhibitors with other treatment modalities has demonstrated the potential to improve therapeutic efficacy. This review aims to investigate the effects of COX inhibition, both alone and in combination with other methods, on signaling pathways and carcinogenesis in various cancers. In this study, a literature search of all major academic databases was conducted (PubMed, Scholar google), including the leading research on the mechanisms of COX-2, COX-2 inhibitors, monotherapy with COX-2 inhibitors, and combining COX-2-inhibitors with chemotherapeutic agents in tumors. The study encompasses preclinical and clinical evidence, highlighting the positive findings and the potential implications for clinical practice. According to preclinical studies, multiple signaling pathways implicated in tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, and metastasis can be suppressed by inhibiting COX. In addition, combining COX inhibitors with chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and miRNA-based approaches has enhanced anti-tumor activity. These results suggest that combination therapy has the potential to overcome resistance mechanisms and improve treatment outcomes. However, caution must be exercised when selecting and administering combination regimens. Not all combinations of COX-2 inhibitors with other drugs result in synergistic effects; some may even have unfavorable interactions. Therefore, personalized approaches that consider the specific characteristics of the cancer and the medications involved are crucial for optimizing therapeutic strategies. In conclusion, as monotherapy or combined with other methods, COX inhibition bears promise in modulating signaling pathways and inhibiting carcinogenesis in various cancers. Additional studies and well-designed clinical trials are required to completely elucidate the efficacy of COX inhibition and combination therapy in enhancing cancer treatment outcomes. This narrative review study provides a detailed summary of COX-2 monotherapy and combination targeted therapy in cancer treatment.

Human Serum Albumin-Oxaliplatin (Pt(IV)) prodrug nanoparticles with dual reduction sensitivity as effective nanomedicine for triple-negative breast cancer

Nanomedicines have emerged as a potential strategy to reduce the toxic effect of drugs administered via conventional approaches. Nanomedicines undergo passive and active targeting of the tumor tissues, thereby causing localized drug delivery and reducing drug demand and side effects. Here, we prepared reduction-sensitive oxaliplatin-conjugated human serum albumin nanoparticles with a small size, uniform surfaces, and a satisfactory encapsulation coefficient. The findings of cellular studies demonstrate that utilizing human serum albumin is effective for active tumor targeting. The presence of glutathione-sensitive disulfide linkers in the crosslinking agent and between Pt(IV) and HSA provided dual reduction sensitivity. Cytotoxicity and cell death were enhanced compared to free Oxaliplatin. The outcomes demonstrate that the approach maximized Oxaliplatin's ability to control tumor growth, induced apoptosis, and reduced drug resistance. Therefore, for the first time, our results imply that OXA-SS-HSA NPs were biocompatible, smart, and effective anticancer nanomedicine for triple-negative breast cancer therapy.

Dual-target inhibitors based on COX-2: a review from medicinal chemistry perspectives

Inhibitors of COX-2 constitute a class of anti-inflammatory analgesics, showing potential against certain types of cancer. However, such inhibitors are associated with cardiovascular toxicity. Moreover, although single-target molecules possess specificity for particular targets, they often lead to poor safety, low efficacy and drug resistance due to compensatory mechanisms. A new generation of dual-target drugs that simultaneously inhibit COX-2 and another target is showing strong potential to treat cancer or reduce adverse cardiac effects. The present perspective focuses on the structure and functions of COX-2, and its role as a therapeutic target. It also explores the current state and future possibilities for dual-target strategies from a medicinal chemistry perspective.

Platinum-based drugs and hydrogel: a promising anti-tumor combination

Platinum-based drugs are widely used as first-line anti-tumor chemotherapy agents. However, they also have nonnegligible side effects due to the free drugs in circulation. Therefore, it is necessary to develop efficient and safe delivery systems for better tumor cell targeting. Hydrogel is a promising anti-tumor drug carrier that can form a platinum/hydrogel combination system for drug release, which has shown better anti-tumor effects in some studies. However, there is a lack of systematic summary in this field. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the platinum/hydrogel combination system with the following sections: firstly, an introduction of platinum-based drugs; secondly, an analysis of the platinum/hydrogel combination system; and thirdly, a discussion of the advantages of the hydrogel-based delivery system. We hope this review can offer some insights for the development of the platinum/hydrogel combination system for better cancer therapy.

Effective-by-method for the preparation of folic acid-coated TiO2 nanoparticles with high targeting potential for apoptosis induction against bladder cancer cells (T24)

The research's goal is to create the surfaces of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) in a layer of folic acid (FA) that can effectively target human bladder cancer cells (T24). An efficient method for creating FA-coated TiO2 NPs was used, and many tools have been used to analyze its physicochemical properties. The cytotoxic effects of FA-coated NPs on T24 cells and the mechanisms of apoptosis generation were examined employing a variety of methodologies. The prepared FA-coated TiO2 NPs suspensions with a hydrodynamic diameter around 37 nm and a negative surface charge of -30 mV reduced T24 cell proliferation with stronger IC50 value (21.8 ± 1.9 μg/ml) than TiO2 NPs (47.8 ± 2.5 μg/ml). This toxicity resulted in apoptosis induction (16.63%) that was caused through enhanced reactive oxygen species formation and stopping the cell cycle over G2/M phase. Moreover, FA-TiO2 NPs raised the expression levels of P53, P21, BCL2L4, and cleaved Caspase-3, while decreasing Bcl-2, Cyclin B, and CDK1 in treated cells. Overall, these findings revealed efficient targeting of the FA-TiO2 NPs resulted in increasing cellular internalization caused increased apoptosis in T24 cells. As a result, FA-TiO2 NPs might be a viable treatment for human bladder cancer.

Sialic Acid Engineered Prodrug Nanoparticles for Codelivery of Bortezomib and Selenium in Tumor Bearing Mice

Most cancer patients rarely benefit from monodrug therapy because of both cancer complexity and tumor environment. One of the main reasons for this failure is insufficient accumulation of the optimal dose at the tumorous site. Our investigation implies a promising strategy to engineer prodrug nanoparticles (NPs) of bortezomib (BTZ) and selenium (Se) using sialic acid (SAL) as a ligand to improve breast cancer therapy. BTZ was conjugated with SAL and HPMA (N-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylamide) to prepare a prodrug conjugate; BTZ-SAL-HPMA (BSAL-HP) and then fabricated into prodrug NPs with Se (Se_BSAL-HP prodrug NPs). The self-assembly of prodrug NPs functionalized with Se showed size (204.13 ± 0.02 nm) and zeta potential (-31.0 ± 0.11 mV) in dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments and spherical shape in TEM and SEM analysis. Good stability and low pH drug release profile were characterized by Se_BSAL-HP prodrug NPs. The tumor-selective boronate-ester-based prodrug NPs of BTZ in combination with Se endowed a synergistic effect against cancer cells. Compared to prodrug conjugate, Se_BSAL-HP prodrug NPs exhibited higher cell cytotoxicity and enhanced cellular internalization with significant changes in mitochondria membrane potential (MMP). Elevated apoptosis was observed in the (G2/M) phase of the cell cycle for Se_BSAL-HP prodrug NPs (2.7-fold) higher than BTZ. In vivo studies were performed on Sprague-Dawley rats and resulted in positive trends. The increased therapeutic activity of Se_BSAL-HP prodrug NPs inhibited primary tumor growth and showed 43.05 fold decrease in tumor volume than the control in 4T1 tumor bearing mice. The surprising and remarkable outcomes for Se_BSAL-HP prodrug NPs were probably due to the ROS triggering effect of boronate ester and selenium given together.

Self-assembly nanoplatform of platinum (Ⅳ) prodrug for enhanced ovarian cancer therapy

Cisplatin is a metal platinum complex commonly used in the field of anti-tumor and one of the most commonly used drugs in combination chemotherapy. However, chemotherapy with Cisplatin induced overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in tumor cells, which could impair the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy on tumor progression. Here, we presented a novel method for the treatment of ovarian cancer with a self-assembly based nano-system. Cisplatin and tolfenamic acid were each linked to linoleic acid to give them the ability to self-assemble into nanoparticles in water. TPNPs had flexible drug ratio adjustability, homogeneous stability, and high drug loading capacity. Compared with Cisplatin, TPNPs could promote cellular uptake and tumor aggregation, co-induce enhanced apoptosis and tumor growth inhibition by inhibiting COX-2 in the mice xenograft model of human ovarian cancer, and reduce systemic toxicity. Therefore, TPNPs is a promising antitumor drug as a kind of self-assembly nano-prodrug with high drug load.

Passing of Nanocarriers across the Histohematic Barriers: Current Approaches for Tumor Theranostics

Over the past several decades, nanocarriers have demonstrated diagnostic and therapeutic (i.e., theranostic) potencies in translational oncology, and some agents have been further translated into clinical trials. However, the practical application of nanoparticle-based medicine in living organisms is limited by physiological barriers (blood-tissue barriers), which significantly hampers the transport of nanoparticles from the blood into the tumor tissue. This review focuses on several approaches that facilitate the translocation of nanoparticles across blood-tissue barriers (BTBs) to efficiently accumulate in the tumor. To overcome the challenge of BTBs, several methods have been proposed, including the functionalization of particle surfaces with cell-penetrating peptides (e.g., TAT, SynB1, penetratin, R8, RGD, angiopep-2), which increases the passing of particles across tissue barriers. Another promising strategy could be based either on the application of various chemical agents (e.g., efflux pump inhibitors, disruptors of tight junctions, etc.) or physical methods (e.g., magnetic field, electroporation, photoacoustic cavitation, etc.), which have been shown to further increase the permeability of barriers.

Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Investigation of the Platinum(IV) Tolfenamato Prodrug–Resolving Cisplatin-Resistance in Ovarian Carcinoma Cell Lines

The research on the anticancer potential of platinum(IV) complexes represents one strategy to circumvent the deficits of approved platinum(II) drugs. Regarding the role of inflammation during carcinogenesis, the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ligands on the cytotoxicity of platinum(IV) complexes is of special interest. The synthesis of cisplatin- and oxaliplatin-based platinum(IV) complexes with four different NSAID ligands is presented in this work. Nine platinum(IV) complexes were synthesized and characterized by use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 195Pt, 19F), high-resolution mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The cytotoxic activity of eight compounds was evaluated for two isogenic pairs of cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Platinum(IV) fenamato complexes with a cisplatin core showed especially high in vitro cytotoxicity against the tested cell lines. The most promising complex, 7, was further analyzed for its stability in different buffer solutions and behavior in cell cycle and cell death experiments. Compound 7 induces a strong cytostatic effect and cell line-dependent early apoptotic or late necrotic cell death processes. Gene expression analysis suggests that compound 7 acts through a stress-response pathway integrating p21, CHOP, and ATF3.

Self-Assembly of a Linear-Dendritic Polymer Containing Cisplatin and Norcantharidin into Raspberry-like Multimicelle Clusters for the Efficient Chemotherapy of Liver Cancer

Combination chemotherapy has been proved to be an effective strategy in the clinic, and nanoformulations have drawn much attention in the field of drug delivery. However, conventional nanocarriers suffer from shortcomings such as inefficient coloading and undesired molar ratios of the combined drugs, preleakage of cargos during systemic circulation, and lack of cancer-selective drug release. To achieve tumor-specific codelivery of cisplatin (CDDP) and norcantharidin (NCTD) for synergistic treatment of liver cancer, a novel linear-dendritic polymer, termed as G1(PPDC)x, was designed and synthesized, where a prodrug consisting of cisplatin (CDDP) and norcantharidin (NCTD) was conjugated to PEG2000 via ester bonds to fabricate linear polymer-drug conjugates, and the conjugates were subsequently grafted to the terminal hydroxyls of a dendritic polycarbonate core. Benefiting from the hydrogen bond interactions, G1(PPDC)x could spontaneously self-assemble into a unique type of raspberry-like multimicelle clusters in solution (G1(PPDC)x-PMs). G1(PPDC)x-PMs possessed an optimal synergistic ratio of CDDP and NCTD, without obvious premature release or disassembly in biological environments. Intriguingly, upon extravasation into the interstitial tumor tissues, G1(PPDC)x-PMs (132 nm in diameter) could disassemble and reassemble into smaller micelles (40 nm in diameter) in response to the mildly acidic tumor microenvironment, which would enhance the deep tumor penetration and cellular accumulation of drugs. In vivo delivery of G1(PPDC)x-PMs led to a significantly prolonged blood circulation half-life, which is beneficial to achieve sufficient tumor accumulation through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. G1(PPDC)x-PMs displayed the best antitumor activity in H22 tumor-bearing mice with a tumor inhibition rate of 78.87%. Meanwhile, G1(PPDC)x-PMs alleviated both myelosuppression toxicities of CDDP and vascular irritation of NCTD. Our results demonstrated that G1(PPDC)x-PMs could serve as an effective drug delivery system for codelivery of CDDP and NCTD to treat liver cancer efficiently.

Drawbacks in the efficient monitoring of gold nanoparticle-based cisplatin delivery systems formation by HPLC-ICP-MS

Since chemotherapy suffers many limitations related to side effects of anticancer drugs (e.g. cisplatin - CDDP), nanoparticles are probed as carriers in targeted drug delivery. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are broadly investigated due to their biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and tunable surface. Despite many AuNPs-cisplatin systems (AuNP-CS) reports found in the literature, only a few include studies of their synthesis and formation efficiency using analytical tools providing simultaneously qualitative and quantitative analytical information. Therefore, this research continues our previous study of AuNP-CS formation investigated by capillary electrophoresis with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Namely, it presents the analogical approach but employs the coupling of another separation technique: isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The study concerns the difficulties of analytical method optimization path and contains a discussion of the observed problematic issues related to the analysis and preparation of AuNP-CS. Moreover, the presented work confronts the performance and applicability of both tools for the scrutiny of AuNP-CS, especially considering the comparison of their resolution power.

Gold nanoparticles loaded chitosan encapsulate 6-mercaptopurine as a novel nanocomposite for chemo-photothermal therapy on breast cancer

Background

As a promising strategy to overcome the therapeutic disadvantages of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP), we proposed the encapsulation of 6MP in chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) to form the 6MP-CNPs complexes. The encapsulation was followed by the loading of complexes on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to generate a novel 6MP-CNPs-AuNPs nanocomposite to facilitate the chemo-photothermal therapeutic effect.

Methods

CNPs were produced based on the ionic gelation method of tripolyphosphate (TPP). Moreover, 6MP-CNPs composite were prepared by the modified ionic gelation method and then loaded on AuNPs which were synthesized according to the standard wet chemical method using trisodium citrate as a reducing and capping agent. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by UV–VIS spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The potential cytotoxicity of the prepared nanocomposites on MCF7 cell line was carried out using Sulphorhodamine-B (SRB) assay.

Results

Optimization of CNPs, 6MP-CNPs, and 6MP-CNPs-AuNPs revealed 130 ± 10, 200 ± 20, and 25 ± 5 nm particle size diameters with narrow size distributions and exhibited high stability with zeta potential 36.9 ± 4.11, 37, and 44.4 mV, respectively. The encapsulation efficiency of 6MP was found to be 57%. The cytotoxicity of 6MP-CNPs and 6MP-CNPs-AuNPs on breast cell line MCF7 was significantly increased and reached IC50 of 9.3 and 8.7 µM, respectively. The co-therapeutic effect of the nanocomposites resulted in an improvement of the therapeutic efficacy compared to the individual effect of chemo- and photothermal therapy. Irradiation of 6MP-CNPs and 6MP-CNPs-AuNPs with a diode laser (DPSS laser, 532 nm) was found to have more inhibition on cell viability with a decrease in IC50 to 5 and 4.4 µM, respectively.

Conclusion

The Chemo-Photothermal co-therapy treatment with novel prepared nanocomposite exhibits maximum therapeutic efficacy and limits the dosage-related side effects of 6MP.

Graphical Abstract

Assessment of antitumor activity of BP-C1, a platinum-based anticancer agent with a lignin-derived polymeric ligand, in autochthonous induced and spontaneous carcinogenesis rodent models

BACKGROUND

A standard approach to study the anticancer activity of novel drugs is their testing in animals with inoculated tumors, which has some limitations. An alternative is the use of spontaneous or carcinogen-induced tumor models as they have better translation potential. The carcinogen-induced and transgenic tumor models were used to assess the antitumor activity of BP-C1, a platinum-containing drug with lignin-derived polymeric ligand.

METHODS

We used female Swiss-H-derived mice and Wistar female rats to induce autochthonous tumors via exposure to benzo[a]pyrene and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, respectively. Additionally, transgenic HER-2/neu FVB/N female mice, prone to the development of spontaneous mammary carcinomas, were used.

RESULTS

Antitumor activity of BP-C1 was observed in soft tissue sarcomas, induced by benzo[a]pyrene. The animals treated with BP-C1 exhibited more stabilizations and therapy responses compared to placebo controls. The efficacy of BP-C1 was somewhat reduced compared to cyclophosphamide; however, their combination resulted in an enhanced antitumor effect. For the 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced rat colon cancer model, BP-C1 reduced tumor multiplicity by 21-41 %. For mammary adenocarcinomas in HER-2/neu FVB/N mice, short-termed complete responses were observed in the BP-C1 groups with a frequency of 12-13 %, while complete responses were absent in the placebo group.

CONCLUSION

The results acquired indicated a wide spectrum of antitumor activity of BP-C1.

Constructing turn-on bioluminescent probes for real-time imaging of reactive oxygen species during cisplatin chemotherapy

Real-time imaging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during cisplatin chemotherapy of cancer is imperative to fully reveal their functions in the biological response to cisplatin. Currently, using a bioluminescent probe for real-time imaging of a specific ROS in vivo during cisplatin chemotherapy has not been achieved. Herein, three bioluminescent probes, F Probe, N Probe and P Probe were synthesized for real-time imaging of the primary ROS, O₂^•-. They all consisted of a bioluminescent emitter _D-luciferin (_D-LH₂) and an O₂^•--recognition group, and their bioluminescent signal could be turned on in response to O₂^•-. In vitro results indicated that P Probe was the most suitable one among the three probes for detection of O₂^•-, with high sensitivity, excellent selectivity and stability. P Probe was then successfully applied for real-time imaging of O₂^•- in both cancer cells and tumors during cisplatin chemotherapy. The imaging results demonstrated that O₂^•- amount in cancer cells increased with the increasing dose of cisplatin, and that cisplatin-induced upregulation of O₂^•- level in cancer cells was upstream of the cancer-killing pathway of cisplatin. We envision that P Probe may serve as an elucidative tool to further explore the role of O₂^•- in cisplatin chemotherapy.

Challenges and opportunities in metastatic breast cancer treatments: Nano-drug combinations delivered preferentially to metastatic cells may enhance therapeutic response

Despite advances in breast cancer treatments and related 5-year survival outcomes, metastatic breast cancer cures remain elusive. The current standard of care includes a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and drug therapy. However, even the most advanced procedures and treatments do not prevent breast cancer recurrence and metastasis. Once metastasis occurs, patient prognosis is poor. Recent elucidation of the spatiotemporal transit of metastatic cancer cells from primary tumor sites to distant sites provide an opportunity to integrate knowledge of drug disposition in our effort to enhance drug localization and exposure in cancer laden tissues . Novel technologies have been developed, but could be further refined to facilitate the distribution of drugs to target cancer cells and tissues. The purpose of this review is to highlight the challenges in metastatic breast cancer treatment and focus on novel drug combination and nanotechnology approaches to overcome the challenges. With improved definition of metastatic tissue target, directed localization and retention of multiple, pharmacologically active drugs to tissues and cells of interest may overcome the limitations in breast cancer treatment that may lead to a cure for breast cancer.

An Overview of the Importance of Transition-Metal Nanoparticles in Cancer Research

Several authorities have implied that nanotechnology has a significant future in the development of advanced cancer therapies. Nanotechnology makes it possible to simultaneously administer drug combinations and engage the immune system to fight cancer. Nanoparticles can locate metastases in different organs and deliver medications to them. Using them allows for the effective reduction of tumors with minimal toxicity to healthy tissue. Transition-metal nanoparticles, through Fenton-type or Haber-Weiss-type reactions, generate reactive oxygen species. Through oxidative stress, the particles induce cell death via different pathways. The main limitation of the particles is their toxicity. Certain factors can control toxicity, such as route of administration, size, aggregation state, surface functionalization, or oxidation state. In this review, we attempt to discuss the effects and toxicity of transition-metal nanoparticles.

Preparation, characterization and in vitro evaluation of cisplatin-bound triblock polymeric micelle solution for ovarian cancer treatment

The main objective of this study was to prepare cisplatin (CDDP) bound triblock polymeric micelle solution which will have a hydrophilic shell not being phagocytosed by mononuclear phagocyte system, and evaluate in vitro behavior for the treatment of ovarian cancer. For this aim, CDDP was bound to polyglutamic acid (PGA) and the triblock polymer was prepared using polyethylene glycol)-polylactide-co-glycolide (PEG-PLGA). CDDP-bound triblock copolymer conjugation was characterized, in vitro release and permeability studies were performed using USP II method and Caco-2 cell lines, respectively. The release of CDDP from CDDP-bound triblock polymeric micelle solution was found 87.3 ± 3.56% at the end of the 24th hour. CDDP bound triblock polymeric micelle solution was detected as biocompatible, and permeable according to in vitro studies. According to the MTT results, the measured cytotoxicity was found to be maximum in CDDP-bound triblock polymeric micelle solution when compared with CDDP solution and conjugate in SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells, whereas annexin V-FITC apoptosis results were found to be maximum in A2780 cells.

Saad G. Induction of mitochondria mediated apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cells by folic acid coated tin oxide nanoparticles

PURPOSE

This study aims to prepare folic acid coated tin oxide nanoparticles (FA-SnO2 NPs) for specifically targeting human ovarian cancer cells with minimum side effects against normal cells.

METHODS

The prepared FA-SnO2 NPs were characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD, SEM and TEM. The inhibition effects of FA-SnO2 NPs against SKOV3 cancer cell were tested by MTT and LDH assay. Apoptosis induction in FA-SnO2 NPs treated SKOV3 cells were investigated using Annexin V/PI, AO/EB and Comet assays and the possible mechanisms of the cytotoxic action were studied by Flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, Immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting analyses. The effects of FA-SnO2 NPs on reactive oxygen species generation in SKOV3 cells were also examined. Additionally, the safety of utilization FA-SnO2 NPs were studied in vivo using Wister rats.

RESULTS

The obtained FA-SnO2 NPs displayed amorphous spherical morphology with an average diameter of 157 nm and a zeta potential value of -24 mV. Comparing to uncoated SnO2 NPs, FA-SnO2 NPs had a superior inhibition effect towards SKOV3 cell growth that was suggested to be mediated through higher reactive oxygen species generation. It was showed that FA-SnO2 NPs increased significantly the % of apoptotic cells in the sub- G1 and G2/M phases with a higher intensity comet nucleus in SKOV3 treated cells. Furthermore, FA-SnO2 NPs was significantly increased the expression levels of P53, Bax, and cleaved Caspase-3 and accompanied with a significant decrease of Bcl-2 in the treated SKOV3 cells.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the results suggested that an increase in cellular FA-SnO2 NPs internalization resulted in a significant induced cytotoxicity in SKOV3 cancer cells in dose-dependent mode through ROS-mediated cell apoptosis that may have occurred through mitochondrial pathway. Additionally, the results confirmed the safety of utilization FA-SnO2 NPs against living systems. So, FA-SnO2 NPs with a specific targeting moiety may be a promising therapeutic candidate for human ovarian cancer.

A versatile and low-toxicity material for photothermal therapy in deeper tissues

The limited depth of the near infrared (NIR) response is one of the major flaws of the present photothermal therapy (PTT). In this article, thermosensitive polyurethane urea (TPUU) was synthesized by polymerization. Subsequent experiments showed that, compared with classical photosensitizers, TPUU has higher photothermal effects and lower cytotoxicity. These valuable properties could make the present PTT research provide more therapeutic options among different tissues and organs. As a practical example, TPUU was applied to regulate the intestinal flora through external NIR irradiation, which implied its promising expanded applications in deeper tissues.

Synergetic delivery of triptolide and Ce6 with light-activatable liposomes for efficient hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been known as the second common leading cancer worldwide, as it responds poorly to both chemotherapy and medication. Triptolide (TP), a diterpenoid triepoxide, is a promising treatment agent for its effective anticancer effect on multiple cancers including HCC. However, its clinical application has been limited owing to its severe systemic toxicities, low solubility, and fast elimination in the body. Therefore, to overcome the above obstacles, photo-activatable liposomes (LP) integrated with both photosensitizer Ce6 and chemotherapeutic drug TP (TP/Ce6-LP) was designed in the pursuit of controlled drug release and synergetic photodynamic therapy in HCC therapy. The TP encapsulated in liposomes accumulated to the tumor site due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Under laser irradiation, the photosensitizer Ce6 generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and further oxidized the unsaturated phospholipids. In this way, the liposomes were destroyed to release TP. TP/Ce6-LP with NIR laser irradiation (TP/Ce6-LP+L) showed the best anti-tumor effect both in vitro and in vivo on a patient derived tumor xenograft of HCC (PDXHCC). TP/Ce6-LP significantly reduced the side effects of TP. Furthermore, TP/Ce6-LP+L induced apoptosis through a caspase-3/PARP signaling pathway. Overall, TP/Ce6-LP+L is a novel potential treatment option in halting HCC progression with attenuated toxicity.

Nano-assembly of ursolic acid with platinum prodrug overcomes multiple deactivation pathways in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

As the most common cause of gynecological cancer-related deaths worldwide, ovarian cancer requires novel therapy strategies. Pt(ii)-Based antitumor drugs (e.g. cisplatin) are one of the most successful and frequently used drugs in ovarian cancer chemotherapy at present. However, drug resistance and severe side effects are the major problems in cancer treatment. Herein, the design of a reduction responsive platinum(iv) (Pt(iv))/ursolic acid (UA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) dual prodrug amphiphile (Pt(iv)-UA-PEG) to treat cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer is reported for the first time. Pt(iv)-UA-PEG could self-assemble into nanoparticles (Pt(iv)-UA NPs) with a fixed and precise Pt/UA ratio, and a constantly high content of drugs. Pt(iv)-UA NPs could be efficiently taken up by cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells and release the drug in intracellular reductive and acidic environments. In vitro studies show that the released UA and cisplatin have different anticancer mechanisms, and their synergistic effects overcome the detoxification and anti-apoptotic mechanisms of cancer cells. Furthermore, the in vivo results indicate that Pt(iv)-UA NPs have a prolonged blood circulation time, enhanced tumor accumulation, and significantly improved antitumor efficacy in A2780/DDP tumor-bearing mice, without causing any side effects. In summary, our results demonstrate that the development of the stimuli-responsive dual prodrug amphiphile nano-assembly provides a new strategy to overcome drug resistance.

Methodology for characterization of platinum-based drug's targeted delivery nanosystems

Conventional anticancer therapies exploiting platinum-based drugs rely principally on the intravascular injection of the therapeutic agent. The anticancer drug is distributed throughout the body by the systemic blood circulation undergoing cellular uptake, rapid clearance and excretion. Consequently, only a small portion of the platinum-based drug reaches the tumor site, which is associated with severe side effects. For this reason, targeted delivery systems are of great need since they offer enhanced and selective delivery of a drug to cancerous cells making the therapy safe and more effective. Up to date, a variety of the Pt-based drug targeted delivery systems (Pt-based DTDSs) utilizing nanomaterials have been developed and tested using a range of analytical techniques that provided essential information on their synthesis, stability, biodistribution and cytotoxicity. Here we summarize those experimental techniques indicating their applicability at different stages of the research, as well as pointing out their strengths, advantages, drawbacks and limitations. Also, the existing strategies and approaches are critically reviewed with the objective to reveal and give rise to the development of the analytical methodology suitable for reliable Pt-based DTDSs characterization which would eventually result in novel therapies and better patients' outcomes.

Recent advances in prodrug-based nanoparticle therapeutics

Extensive research into prodrug modification of active pharmaceutical ingredients and nanoparticle drug delivery systems has led to unprecedented levels of control over the pharmacological properties of drugs and resulted in the approval of many prodrug or nanoparticle-based therapies. In recent years, the combination of these two strategies into prodrug-based nanoparticle drug delivery systems (PNDDS) has been explored as a way to further advance nanomedicine and identify novel therapies for difficult-to-treat indications. Many of the PNDDS currently in the clinical development pipeline are expected to enter the market in the coming years, making the rapidly evolving field of PNDDS highly relevant to pharmaceutical scientists. This review paper is intended to introduce PNDDS to the novice reader while also updating those working in the field with a comprehensive summary of recent efforts. To that end, first, an overview of FDA-approved prodrugs is provided to familiarize the reader with their advantages over traditional small molecule drugs and to describe the chemistries that can be used to create them. Because this article is part of a themed issue on nanoparticles, only a brief introduction to nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems is provided summarizing their successful application and unfulfilled opportunities. Finally, the review's centerpiece is a detailed discussion of rationally designed PNDDS formulations in development that successfully leverage the strengths of prodrug and nanoparticle approaches to yield highly effective therapeutic options for the treatment of many diseases.

Berberine Reverses Breast Cancer Multidrug Resistance Based on Fluorescence Pharmacokinetics In Vitro and In Vivo

Exploring the mechanism through which berberine (Ber) reverses the multidrug resistance (MDR) of breast cancer is of great importance. Herein, we used the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay to determine the drug resistance and cytotoxicity of Ber and doxorubicin (DOX) alone or in combination on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7/DOX^Fluc. The results showed that Ber could synergistically enhance the inhibitory effect of DOX on tumor cell proliferation in vitro, and the optimal combination ratio was Ber/DOX = 2:1. Using a luciferase reporter assay system combined with the bioluminescence imaging technology, the efflux kinetics of d-luciferin potassium salt in MCF-7/DOX^Fluc cells treated with Ber in vivo was investigated. The results showed that Ber could significantly reduce the efflux of d-luciferin potassium salt in MCF-7/DOX^Fluc cells. In addition, western blot and immunohistochemistry experiments showed that the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp/ABCB1) and multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) in MCF-7/DOX^Fluc cells was downregulated upon Ber treatment. Finally, high-performance liquid chromatography was used to investigate the effect of Ber on DOX tissue distribution in vivo, and the results showed that the uptake of DOX in tumor tissues increased significantly when combined with Ber (P < 0.05). Thus, the results illustrated that Ber can reverse MDR by inhibiting the efflux function of ATP-binding cassette transporters and downregulating their expression levels.

A carrier-free anti-inflammatory platinum (II) self-delivered nanoprodrug for enhanced breast cancer therapy

Cisplatin is one of the most used first-line anticancer drugs for various solid tumor therapies. However, cisplatin-based chemotherapy can induce tumor cells to secrete excessive prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) catalyzed by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which, in turn, counteracts its chemotherapeutic effect and further accelerates tumor metastasis. Here, we report a carrier-free self-delivered nanoprodrug based on platinum (II) coordination bonding coupled with tolfenamic acid (Tolf) (named Tolfplatin). Tolfplatin can spontaneously assemble into uniformly sized nanoparticles (NPs) with a high drug-loading capacity. Compared with cisplatin, Tolfplatin NPs can facilitate cellular uptake, significantly decrease PGE2 secretion by COX-2 inhibition, which further downregulate tumorous anti-apoptotic and metastasis-associated proteins, thereby efficiently inducing apoptotic cell death and significantly inhibit tumor metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, as the carrier-free nanoprodrug, Tolfplatin NPs are promising anti-tumoral agents to inhibit tumor proliferation and metastasis by enriching the function and promoting the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin.

pH-sensitive micelles self-assembled from star-shaped TPGS copolymers with ortho ester linkages for enhanced MDR reversal and chemotherapy

TPGS approved by FDA can be used as a P-gp inhibitor to effectively reverse multi-drug resistance (MDR) and as an anticancer agent for synergistic antitumor effects. However, the comparatively high critical micelle concentration (CMC), low drug loading (DL) and poor tumor target limit its further clinical application. To overcome these drawbacks, the pH-sensitive star-shaped TPGS copolymers were successfully constructed via using pentaerythritol as the initial materials, ortho esters as the pH-triggered linkages and TPGS active-ester as the terminated MDR material. The amphiphilic star-shaped TPGS copolymers could self-assemble into free and doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded micelles at neutral aqueous solutions. The micelles exhibited the lower CMC (8.2 × 10⁻⁵ mg/ml), higher DL (10.8%) and long-term storage and circulation stability, and showed enhanced cellular uptake, apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and growth inhibition for in vitro MCF-7/ADR and/or MCF-7/ADR multicellular spheroids and in vivo MCF-7/ADR tumors via efficiently targeted drug release at tumoral intracellular pH (5.0), MDR reversal of TPGS, and synergistic effect of DOX and TPGS. Therefore, the pH-sensitive micelles self-assembled from star-shaped TPGS copolymers with ortho ester linkages are potentially useful to clinically transform for enhanced MDR cancer treatment.

A review on recent advances in amino acid and peptide-based fluorescence and its potential applications

Fluorescence is widely used to detect functional groups and ions, and peptides are used in various fields due to their excellent biological activity.

An ROS-sensitive tegafur-PpIX-heterodimer-loaded in situ injectable thermosensitive hydrogel for photodynamic therapy combined with chemotherapy to enhance the tegafur-based treatment of breast cancer

A temperature-sensitive hydrogel encapsulating tegafur and protoporphyrin IX dimers could be delivered intratumorally for synergetic chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy.

Preparation and antitumor evaluation of quercetin nanosuspensions with synergistic efficacy and regulating immunity

To study the effect of quercetin (QUR) on modulating immune effects, enhancing anti-tumor activity, and reducing drug related side effects, three QUR nanosuspensions (QUR-NPs) with different particle sizes were prepared by a microprecipitation-high pressure homogenization method using mPEG-DCA as a stabilizer. Dynamic light scattering was used to analyze the particle sizes of the three QUR-NPs. The results of stability tests showed that the three QUR-NPs had good storage and plasma stability. It was confirmed that plasma protein adsorption occurred for all three QUR-NPs. The results of DSC, DTG, XRPD, and Raman spectroscopy showed that there was no significant change in the crystal form of QUR for any of the three QUR-NPs compared with the commercial QUR. The in vitro dissolution rate of the three QUR-NPs was significantly faster than that of the micronized QUR, with the dissolution rate increasing as particle size decreased. All three QUR-NPs showed stronger in vitro inhibitory activity on MCF-7 cells than the pure QUR solution, with the largest NPs having the strongest inhibitory effect. The pharmacokinetic parameters in rats showed that the MRT and t_1/2 of the QUR-NPs increased as particle size increased. QUR-NPs and the pure QUR solution showed obvious anti-tumor effects against murine hepatic carcinoma H22 model in vivo, although they were not as effective as cyclophosphamide (CTX). However, the anti-tumor effect of the large QUR-NPs combined with CTX was the strongest among all the tested groups. From the results of the thymus and spleen index, it was found that the QUR-NPs could not only regulate the immunity of tumor-bearing mice, but also alleviate the immunosuppression caused by CTX and protect normal tissues, all while enhancing the anti-tumor effect. The immunomodulatory effect of the QUR-NPs on tumor-bearing mice was significantly better than that of the pure QUR solution. Therefore, nanosuspensions can be used as a new drug delivery system for QUR to assist tumor therapy and regulate immunity.

Self-Amplification of Tumor Oxidative Stress with Degradable Metallic Complexes for Synergistic Cascade Tumor Therapy

The ferroptosis effect has been illuminated with a clear Fenton reaction mechanism that converts endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into highly oxidative hydroxyl radicals (·OH) in ROS-amplified tumor therapy. This ferroptosis-related oxidation effect was then further enhanced by the enzyme-like roles of cisplatin (CDDP). This CDDP-induced apoptosis was promoted in reverse by ferroptosis via the depletion of glutathione (GSH) and prevention of DNA damage repair. Here, we have developed degradable metallic complexes (PtH@FeP) containing an Fe(III)-polydopamine (FeP) core and HA-cross-linked CDDP (PtH) shell, exaggerating in situ toxic ROS production via the synergistic effect of CDDP and Fe(III). Taken together, the rationally designed PtH@FeP provided a new strategy for self-amplified synergistic chemotherapy/ferroptosis/photothermal therapy (PTT) antitumor effects with a reduced dosage that facilitates clinical safety.

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for enhanced diagnosis and therapy of oral cancer

Oral cancer is a common malignant life-threatening tumor. Despite some advances in traditional therapy, mortality and mobidity rates are high due to delayed diagnosis and ineffective treatment. Additionally, some patients inevitably suffer from various fatal adverse effects during the course of therapy. Therefore, it is imperative to develop novel methods to eradicate oral cancer cells with minimal adverse effects on normal cells. Nanotechnology is a promising and novel vehicle for the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer with encouraging recent achievements. In this review, we present state-of-the-art nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems employed in the domain of oral cancer, especially for its enhanced diagnosis and therapy. We describe in detail the types of nanotechnology used in the management of oral cancer and summarize administration routes of nanodrugs. Finally, the potential and prospects of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems as promising modalities of diagnosis and therapy of oral cancer are highlighted.

A dendritic, redox-responsive, supramolecular (Dr.S) system for lysis-triggered delivery for drug-resistant renal cancer

Purpose: Aiming to improve the drug loading capacity of dendritic nanoparticles and enhance delivery efficacy in drug-resistant cancer, we developed and optimized a more advanced dendritic, redox-responsive, supramolecular (Dr.S) system for intravenous RAD001 administration. Materials and methods: The Dr.S system was engineered by linking 3^rd generation polyamidoamine dendrimers (G3 PAMAM) with 8-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) to encapsulate a molecular targeted agent RAD001. The drug-loading capacity was measured by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. In vitro release behavior was determined with a two-compartment model, and the in vivo distribution pattern was tracked by Cy5.5 fluorescence. The therapeutic effect of Dr.S/RAD001 was evaluated in RAD001-resistant cancer cells and tumor-bearing nude mice, respectively. Results: The Dr.S system encapsulating RAD001 with a loading efficiency of 10.6% formed a core–shell structure, by shifting hydrophobic PAMAM/RAD001 components towards inner space and exposing the hydrophilic PEG on the surface. The Dr.S/RAD001 system could respond to a lysis-mimicking reduction stimulus, and functionally release cargoes to facilitate tumor accumulation and cellular internalization. These features contributed to the enhanced anti-tumor activity of RAD001 in renal cancers in vitro and in vivo. The Dr.S/RAD001 system also reversed acquired RAD001-resistance by a 60-fold increase in tumor accumulation of the therapeutics. Conclusion: The functional Dr.S/RAD001 system enables lysis-triggered release of RAD001 to achieve better tumor accumulation, which helps overcome acquired drug resistance in renal cancers.

Aiming to improve the drug loading capacity of dendritic nanoparticles and enhance delivery efficacy in drug-resistant cancer, we developed and optimized a more advanced dendritic, redox-responsive, supramolecular (Dr.S) system for intravenous RAD001 administration.

Polymer-Based Scaffold Strategies for Spinal Cord Repair and Regeneration

The injury to the spinal cord is among the most complex fields of medical development. Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to acute loss of motor and sensory function beneath the injury level and is linked to a dismal prognosis. Currently, while a strategy that could heal the injured spinal cord remains unforeseen, the latest advancements in polymer-mediated approaches demonstrate promising treatment forms to remyelinate or regenerate the axons and to integrate new neural cells in the SCI. Moreover, they possess the capacity to locally deliver synergistic cells, growth factors (GFs) therapies and bioactive substances, which play a critical role in neuroprotection and neuroregeneration. Here, we provide an extensive overview of the SCI characteristics, the pathophysiology of SCI, and strategies and challenges for the treatment of SCI in a review. This review highlights the recent encouraging applications of polymer-based scaffolds in developing the novel SCI therapy.

A biocompatible glycol-capped nano-delivery system with stimuli-responsive drug release kinetics abrogates cancer cell survival

An eco-friendly polysaccharide (PSP001) isolated from the fruit rind of Punica granatum is a biodegradable polymer with immunostimulatory and anticancer properties. PSP001 was employed for the stimuli-responsive targeted delivery of antineoplastic agent doxorubicin (Dox) by the fabrication of Dox-holding PSP nanoparticles (DPN). The galactose moieties of PSP001 were occupied as an effective tumor-targeted motif against the over-expressed asialoglycoprotein and galectin receptors of cancers. DPN followed a pH-sensitive cargo release kinetics, competent cancer cell internalization profile, and appealing biocompatibility towards peripheral red blood cells. The selective execution of caspase-mediated programmed cell death by the DPN on cancer cells was confirmed with multiple apoptosis studies. Extensive toxicity profiling on BALB/c mice rules out any palpable signs of abnormality with DPN administration while bare Dox produced vital signs of toxicity. Studies on syngraft solid tumor-bearing mice uncovered the tumor homing nature of DPN with the subsequent release of the entrapped drug which further translated in the direction of a significant reduction in the tumor payload and enhanced survival benefits, thus offering a robust approach towards endurable cancer management.

NIR II-Excited and pH-Responsive Ultrasmall Nanoplatform for Deep Optical Tissue and Drug Delivery Penetration and Effective Cancer Chemophototherapy

The limited tumor tissue penetration of many nanoparticles remains a formidable challenge to their therapeutic efficacy. Although several photonanomedicines have been applied to improve tumor penetration, the first near-infrared window mediated by the low optical tissue penetration depth severely limits their anticancer effectiveness. To achieve deep optical tissue and drug delivery penetration, a near-infrared second window (NIR-II)-excited and pH-responsive ultrasmall drug delivery nanoplatform was fabricated based on BSA-stabilized CuS nanoparticles (BSA@CuS NPs). The BSA@CuS NPs effectively encapsulated doxorubicin (DOX) via strong electrostatic interactions to form multifunctional nanoparticles (BSA@CuS@DOX NPs). The BSA@CuS@DOX NPs had an ultrasmall size, which allowed them to achieve deeper tumor penetration. They also displayed stronger NIR II absorbance-mediated deep optical tissue penetration than that of the NIR I window. Moreover, the multifunctional nanoplatform preferentially accumulated in tumor sites, induced tumor hyperthermia, and generated remarkably high ROS levels in tumor sites upon NIR-II laser (1064 nm) irradiation. More importantly, our strategy achieved excellent synergistic effects of chemotherapy and phototherapy (chemophototherapy) under the guidance of photothermal imaging. The developed nanoparticles also showed good biocompatibility and bioclearance properties. Therefore, our work demonstrated a facile strategy for fabricating a multifunctional nanoplatform that is a promising candidate for deep tumor penetration as an effective antitumor therapy.

Stannic Oxide Nanoparticle Regulates Proliferation, Invasion, Apoptosis, and Oxidative Stress of Oral Cancer Cells

Objective

To explore the effects of SnO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) on proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, and oxidative stress of oral cancer.

Methods

SnO₂ NPs were prepared and characterized. Oral cancer cell lines CAL-27 and SCC-9 were cultured in vitro. We detected the effects of various concentrations of SnO₂ NPs (0, 5, 25, 50, 100, 200 μg/mL) on the proliferation of oral cancer cells, and observed the morphological changes, and measured the cells ability of migration, invasion and apoptosis condition, and the levels of oxidative stress were measured by detecting malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Besides, we also measured the changes of mRNA and protein levels of factors related to cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and oxidative stress.

Results

SnO₂ NPs inhibited the proliferation of oral cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner (all P < 0.05). And SnO₂ NPs treatment could reduce the migration and invasion ability of cells (all P < 0.05), induce apoptosis, and those effects were better when treated for 48 h than 24 h (all P < 0.05). And SnO₂ NPs could induce oxidative stress in cells (all P < 0.05). Besides, the concentrations of cyclin-D1, C-myc, matrix MMP-9, and MMP-2 in SnO₂ NPs treated group was decreased (all P < 0.05), and the expression levels of cleaved Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-9, and Cytochrome C were increased (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In the present study, we found that SnO₂ NPs could play a cytotoxic role in oral cancer cells, and inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induce oxidative stress and apoptosis, which suggests that SnO₂ NPs may have the effects of anti-oral cancer. However, a more in-depth study is needed to determine its roles.

Combined chemotherapy with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors in treating human cancers: Recent advancement

Chemotherapy with a single chemotherapeutic agent or a combined chemotherapeutic regimen is the clinically standardized treatment for almost all human cancers. Upregulated expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, also known as prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS), is associated with human carcinogenesis and cancer progression and COX-2 inhibitors show antitumor activity in different human cancers. Thus, a combination of chemotherapeutic agents with COX-2 inhibitors has been shown to improve therapeutic effects on human cancers. This review discusses and summarizes recent advances in cancer control and treatment using various antineoplastic drugs combined with COX-2 inhibitors. These combinations showed synergistic antitumor effects. At the gene level, COX-2 inhibitors can reduce inflammatory factors thereby regulating macrophage recruitment for activating the antitumor immune microenvironment; downregulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to inhibit tumor angiogenesis; and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to induce tumor cell apoptosis. In addition, such a combination can reduce toxicity and chemoresistance and enhance radiosensitivity, although COX-2 inhibitors-related cardiotoxicity may potentially affect its use. Further in-depth investigation of these drug combinations is needed to maximize antitumor efficacy and minimize the side effects.