Cell-Membrane-Coated and Cell-Penetrating Peptide-Conjugated Trimagnetic Nanoparticles for Targeted Magnetic Hyperthermia of Prostate Cancer Cells

Microfluidics-Driven Manufacturing and Multiscale Analytical Characterization of Nanoparticle-Vesicle Hybrids

Coating synthetic nanoparticles (NPs) with lipid membranes is a promising approach to enhance the performance of nanomaterials in various biological applications, including therapeutic delivery to target organs. Current methods for achieving this coating often rely on bulk approaches which can result in low efficiency and poor reproducibility. Continuous processes coupled with quality control represent an attractive strategy to manufacture products with consistent attributes and high yields. Here, this concept is implemented by developing an acoustic microfluidic device together with an analytical platform to prepare nanoparticle-vesicle hybrids and quantitatively characterize the nanoparticle coverage using fluorescence-based techniques at different levels of resolution. With this approach polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanoparticles are successfully coated with liposomes and extracellular vesicles (EVs), achieving a high encapsulation efficiency of 70%. Moreover, the approach enables the identification of design rules to control the efficiency of encapsulation by tuning various operational parameters and material properties, including buffer composition, nanoparticle/vesicle ratio, and vesicle rigidity.

Evaluating the impact of cell-penetrating motif position on the cellular uptake of magnetite nanoparticles

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been employed to enhance the cellular uptake and intracellular delivery of various nanocarriers. Among them, nanoparticles (NPs) have been used as suitable vehicles for delivering different bioactive molecules in the treatment of a diverse range of diseases. Given the pivotal role of the conjugation method of CPPs, this study aims to evaluate the impact of the position of a cell-penetrating motif (LFVCR) on the biocompatibility, cellular uptake, and endosomal escape of magnetite NPs. The designed peptide's physicochemical properties suggest they are well-suited for efficient cell penetration with minimal cytotoxicity. The resulting designed nanoconjugates were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicate that motif position significantly impacts the cellular uptake and endosomal escape of the designed nanobioconjugates. Key findings suggest that motif exposure enhances endocytosis-mediated cell internalization and improves endosomal escape efficiency. These results were compared with nanobioconjugates displaying previously reported CPPs. The selected nanobioconjugate demonstrated superior performance in endosomal escape and comparable cell uptake to the reference nanobioconjugates. These results, along with the nanobioconjugate's physicochemical characteristics and high biocompatibility, position the nanocarrier as a suitable candidate for delivering diverse bioactive molecules.

Combination Using Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Magnetic Field for Cancer Therapy

Iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) demonstrate notable benefits in magnetic induction, attributed to their distinctive physical and chemical attributes. Emerging cancer treatment utilizing magnetic fields have also gathered increasing attention in the biomedical field. However, the defects of difficult dispersion and poor biocompatibility of MNPs seriously hinder their application. In order to overcome its inherent defects and maximize the therapeutic potential of MNPs, various functionalized MNPs have been developed, and numerous combined treatment methods based on MNPs have been widely studied. In this review, we compare and analyze the common nanoparticles based on MNPs with different sizes, shapes, and functional modifications. Additionally, we introduced the therapeutic mechanisms of the strategies, such as magnetically controlled targeting, magnetic hyperthermia, and magneto-mechanical effect, which based on the unique magnetic induction capabilities of MNPs. Finally, main challenges of MNPs as smart nanomaterials were also discussed. This review seeks to offer a thorough overview of MNPs in biomedicine and a new sight for their application in tumor treatment.

MIL-101 magnetic nanocarrier for solid-phase delivery of doxorubicin to breast and lung cancer cells

An efficient strategy for passive delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) to the breast (MDA-MB-231) and lung (A-549) cancer cells is presented and compared with MCF-10A normal breast cells. Two versions of a peptide structure (linear and cyclic) have been designed and assessed. The molecular dynamic simulations in Material Studio2017 exhibited a higher adsorption capacity for L2 (cyclic version) compared with the adsorption capacity of L1 (linear version) on the PG surface by electrostatic interactions between guanidine of arginine and -OH of PG. The prepared final product based on iron oxide nanoparticles and MIL-101(Fe) (formulated as DOX@Fe3O4/MIL-101-(C,L)C[RW]3) is characterized and the drug content has been estimated. The release profiles revealed an ultra-fast stimulus-sensitive model in acidic media, which corroborates a pH-triggered release. The in vitro assessments disclosed that aggregation of nanocargo around the cancer cells and resulted toxicity are more than the neat DOX in the same dosage as DOX@Fe3O4/MIL-101-CC[RW]3. The obtained distinguished features lie in ability to utilize a biocompatible nanocargo structure to release an appropriate dose of DOX in a controlled manner in the cancer cell environment. Moreover, the functionalization of MIL-101 using cyclic and linear peptides and their comparison is one of the important features of this project.

Omics-Enhanced Nanomedicine for Cancer Therapy

Cancer nanomedicine has emerged as a promising approach to overcome the limitations of conventional cancer therapies, offering enhanced efficacy and safety in cancer management. However, the inherent heterogeneity of tumors presents increasing challenges for the application of cancer nanomedicine in both diagnosis and treatment. This heterogeneity necessitates the integration of advanced and high-throughput analytical techniques to tailor nanomedicine strategies to individual tumor profiles. Omics technologies, encompassing genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and more, provide unparalleled insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cancer. By dissecting tumor heterogeneity across multiple levels, these technologies offer robust support for the development of personalized and precise cancer nanomedicine strategies. In this review, the principles, techniques, and applications of key omics technologies are summarized. Especially, the synergistic integration of omics and nanomedicine in cancer therapy is explored, focusing on enhanced diagnostic accuracy, optimized therapeutic strategies and the assessment of nanomedicine-mediated biological responses. Moreover, this review addresses current challenges and outlines future directions in the field of omics-enhanced nanomedicine. By offering valuable insights and guidance, this review aims to advance the integration of omics with nanomedicine, ultimately driving improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cancer.

Tumor cell membrane-based vaccines: A potential boost for cancer immunotherapy

Because therapeutic cancer vaccines can, in theory, eliminate tumor cells specifically with relatively low toxicity, they have long been considered for application in repressing cancer progression. Traditional cancer vaccines containing a single or a few discrete tumor epitopes have failed in the clinic, possibly due to challenges in epitope selection, target downregulation, cancer cell heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment immunosuppression, or a lack of vaccine immunogenicity. Whole cancer cell or cancer membrane vaccines, which provide a rich source of antigens, are emerging as viable alternatives. Autologous and allogenic cellular cancer vaccines have been evaluated as clinical treatments. Tumor cell membranes (TCMs) are an intriguing antigen source, as they provide membrane-accessible targets and, at the same time, serve as integrated carriers of vaccine adjuvants and other therapeutic agents. This review provides a summary of the properties and technologies for TCM cancer vaccines. Characteristics, categories, mechanisms, and preparation methods are discussed, as are the demonstrable additional benefits derived from combining TCM vaccines with chemotherapy, sonodynamic therapy, phototherapy, and oncolytic viruses. Further research in chemistry, biomedicine, cancer immunology, and bioinformatics to address current drawbacks could facilitate the clinical adoption of TCM vaccines.

pH-Responsive magnetic nanocarriers for chelator-free bimodal (MRI/SPECT-CT) image-guided chemo-hyperthermia therapy in human breast carcinoma

Although chemotherapy with magnetic nanocarriers has witnessed significant advancement in the field of cancer treatment, multimodal diagnosis and combinatorial therapy using a single nanoplatform will have much better efficacy in achieving superior results. Herein, we constructed a smart theranostic system by combining pH-sensitive tartaric acid-stabilized Fe3O4 magnetic nanocarriers (TMNCs) with SPECT imaging and a chemotherapeutic agent for image-guided chemo-hyperthermia therapy. The carboxyl-enriched exteriors of TMNCs provided sites for the conjugation of a chemotherapeutic drug (doxorubicin hydrochloride, DOX) and radiolabeling (141Ce). The usage of 145.4 keV gamma rays made this platform an ideal choice for in vivo SPECT-CT imaging, showing the retention of the nanoformulation in the tumor site even after 28 days. Further, TMNCs showed a very high transverse relaxation rate (r2) of 171 mM-1 s-1, which is higher than that of clinically approved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents such as ferumoxtran (65 mM-1 s-1) and ferumoxides (120 mM-1 s-1). Further, the developed drug-loaded hybrid platform showed significantly higher cytotoxicity towards breast cancer cells, which was augmented by in vitro magnetic hyperthermia. Bright-field microscopy and cell cycle analysis suggested that cell death occurred through induction of G2-M arrest and subsequent apoptosis. These findings clearly suggest the potential of the developed hybrid nanoplatform for image-guided combination therapy.

Biomimetic nanocarriers in cancer therapy: based on intercellular and cell-tumor microenvironment communication

Inspired by the concept of "natural camouflage," biomimetic drug delivery systems have emerged to address the limitations of traditional synthetic nanocarriers, such as poor targeting, susceptibility to identification and clearance, inadequate biocompatibility, low permeability, and systemic toxicity. Biomimetic nanocarriers retain the proteins, nucleic acids, and other components of the parent cells. They not only facilitate drug delivery but also serve as communication media to inhibit tumor cells. This paper delves into the communication mechanisms between various cell-derived biomimetic nanocarriers, tumor cells, and the tumor microenvironment, as well as their applications in drug delivery. In addition, the additional communication capabilities conferred on the modified biomimetic nanocarriers, such as targeting and environmental responsiveness, are outlined. Finally, we propose future development directions for biomimetic nanocarriers, hoping to inspire researchers in their design efforts and ultimately achieve clinical translation.

Magnetic nanoparticles and possible synergies with cold atmospheric plasma for cancer treatment

The biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have gained increasing attention due to their unique biological, chemical, and magnetic properties such as biocompatibility, chemical stability, and high magnetic susceptibility. However, several critical issues still remain that have significantly halted the clinical translation of these nanomaterials such as the relatively low therapeutic efficacy, hyperthermia resistance, and biosafety concerns. To identify innovative approaches possibly creating synergies with MNPs to resolve or mitigate these problems, we delineated the anti-cancer properties of MNPs and their existing onco-therapeutic portfolios, based on which we proposed cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) to be a possible synergizer of MNPs by enhancing free radical generation, reducing hyperthermia resistance, preventing MNP aggregation, and functioning as an innovative magnetic and light source for magnetothermal- and photo-therapies. Our insights on the possible facilitating role of CAP in translating MNPs for biomedical use may inspire fresh research directions that, once actualized, gain mutual benefits from both.

Peptide-Functionalized Inorganic Oxide Nanomaterials for Solid Cancer Imaging and Therapy

The diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors have undergone significant advancements marked by a trend toward increased specificity and integration of imaging and therapeutic functions. The multifaceted nature of inorganic oxide nanomaterials (IONs), which boast optical, magnetic, ultrasonic, and biochemical modulatory properties, makes them ideal building blocks for developing multifunctional nanoplatforms. A promising class of materials that have emerged in this context are peptide-functionalized inorganic oxide nanomaterials (PFIONs), which have demonstrated excellent performance in multifunctional imaging and therapy, making them potential candidates for advancing solid tumor diagnosis and treatment. Owing to the functionalities of peptides in tumor targeting, penetration, responsiveness, and therapy, well-designed PFIONs can specifically accumulate and release therapeutic or imaging agents at the solid tumor sites, enabling precise imaging and effective treatment. This review provides an overview of the recent advances in the use of PFIONs for the imaging and treatment of solid tumors, highlighting the superiority of imaging and therapeutic integration as well as synergistic treatment. Moreover, the review discusses the challenges and prospects of PFIONs in depth, aiming to promote the intersection of the interdisciplinary to facilitate their clinical translation and the development of personalized diagnostic and therapeutic systems by optimizing the material systems.

Tumor-Homing Peptides as Crucial Component of Magnetic-Based Delivery Systems: Recent Developments and Pharmacoeconomical Perspective

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is considered to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and new therapeutic approaches, especially improved novel cancer treatment regimens, are in high demand. Considering that many chemotherapeutic drugs tend to have poor pharmacokinetic profiles, including rapid clearance and limited on-site accumulation, a combined approach with tumor-homing peptide (THP)-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles could lead to remarkable improvements. This is confirmed by an increasing number of papers in this field, showing that the on-target peptide functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles improves their penetration properties and ensures tumor-specific binding, which results in an increased clinical response. This review aims to highlight the potential applications of THPs in combination with magnetic carriers across various fields, including a pharmacoeconomic perspective.

Biomimetic Nano-Drug Delivery System: An Emerging Platform for Promoting Tumor Treatment

With the development of nanotechnology, nanoparticles (NPs) have shown broad prospects as drug delivery vehicles. However, they exhibit certain limitations, including low biocompatibility, poor physiological stability, rapid clearance from the body, and nonspecific targeting, which have hampered their clinical application. Therefore, the development of novel drug delivery systems with improved biocompatibility and high target specificity remains a major challenge. In recent years, biofilm mediated biomimetic nano-drug delivery system (BNDDS) has become a research hotspot focus in the field of life sciences. This new biomimetic platform uses bio-nanotechnology to encapsulate synthetic NPswithin biomimetic membrane, organically integrating the low immunogenicity, low toxicity, high tumor targeting, good biocompatibility of the biofilm with the adjustability and versatility of the nanocarrier, and shows promising applications in the field of precision tumor therapy. In this review, we systematically summarize the new progress in BNDDS used for optimizing drug delivery, providing a theoretical reference for optimizing drug delivery and designing safe and efficient treatment strategies to improve tumor treatment outcomes.