Biomineralized Polydopamine Nanoparticle-Based Sodium Alginate Hydrogels for Delivery of Anti-serine/Threonine Protein Kinase B-Rapidly Accelerated Fibrosarcoma siRNA for Metastatic Melanoma Therapy

Nature-inspired protein mineralization strategies for nanoparticle construction: advancing effective cancer therapy

Recently, nanotechnology has shown great potential in the field of cancer therapy due to its ability to improve the stability and solubility and reduce side effects of drugs. The biomimetic mineralization strategy based on natural proteins and metal ions provides an innovative approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles. This strategy utilizes the unique properties of natural proteins and the mineralization ability of metal ions to combine nanoparticles through biomimetic mineralization processes, achieving the effective treatment of tumors. The precise control of the mineralization process between proteins and metal ions makes it possible to obtain nanoparticles with the ideal size, shape, and surface characteristics, thereby enhancing their stability and targeting ability in vivo. Herein, initially, we analyze the role of protein molecules in biomineralization and comprehensively review the functions, properties, and applications of various common proteins and metal particles. Subsequently, we systematically review and summarize the application directions of nanoparticles synthesized based on protein biomineralization in tumor treatment. Specifically, we discuss their use as efficient drug delivery carriers and role in mediating monotherapy and synergistic therapy using multiple modes. Also, we specifically review the application of nanomedicine constructed through biomimetic mineralization strategies using natural proteins and metal ions in improving the efficiency of tumor immunotherapy.

Carbon dots-based stimuli-responsive hydrogel for in-situ detection of thiram on fruits and vegetables

Stimuli-responsive hydrogel possesses a strong loading capacity to embed luminescent indicators for constructing food safety sensors, which are suitable for field application. In this work, a fluorescent hydrogel sensor was fabricated by incorporating Ag+-modified carbon dots (CDs-Ag+) into a sodium alginate (SA) hydrogel for in-situ detection of thiram. The fluorescence of CDs was quenched due to the combined effects of electrostatic adsorption and electron transfer between Ag+ and CDs. The formation of an AgS bond between thiram and Ag+ facilitates the release of CDs, causing subsequently fluorescence recovery. Combined with smartphone and analysis software, the fluorescence color change of the hydrogel sensor was converted into data information for quantitative detection of thiram. Such a sample-to-result step is completed within 10 min. Notably, the in-situ detection experiment of thiram in fruit and vegetable samples confirmed the practical application of the hydrogel sensor. Therefore, the hydrogel sensor provides a new research direction for the in-situ detection of pesticide residues in the monitoring of food safety.

Advances in skin gene therapy: utilizing innovative dressing scaffolds for wound healing, a comprehensive review

The skin, serving as the body's outermost layer, boasts a vast area and intricate structure, functioning as the primary barrier against external threats. Disruptions in the composition and functionality of the skin can lead to a diverse array of skin conditions, such as wounds, burns, and diabetic ulcers, along with inflammatory disorders, infections, and various types of skin cancer. These disorders not only exacerbate concerns regarding skin health and beauty but also have a significant impact on mental well-being. Due to the complexity of these disorders, conventional treatments often prove insufficient, necessitating the exploration of new therapeutic approaches. Researchers develop new therapies by deciphering these intricacies and gaining a thorough understanding of the protein networks and molecular processes in skin. A new window of opportunity has opened up for improving wound healing processes because of recent advancements in skin gene therapy. To enhance skin regeneration and healing, this extensive review investigates the use of novel dressing scaffolds in conjunction with gene therapy approaches. Scaffolds that do double duty as wound protectors and vectors for therapeutic gene delivery are being developed using innovative biomaterials. To improve cellular responses and speed healing, these state-of-the-art scaffolds allow for the targeted delivery and sustained release of genetic material. The most recent developments in gene therapy techniques include RNA interference, CRISPR-based gene editing, and the utilization of viral and non-viral vectors in conjunction with scaffolds, which were reviewed here to overcome skin disorders and wound complications. In the future, there will be rare chances to develop custom methods for skin health care thanks to the combination of modern technology and collaboration among disciplines.

From oncogenes to tumor suppressors: The dual role of ncRNAs in fibrosarcoma

Fibrosarcoma is a challenging cancer originating from fibrous tissues, marked by aggressive growth and limited treatment options. The discovery of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), has opened new pathways for understanding and treating this malignancy. These ncRNAs play crucial roles in gene regulation, cellular processes, and the tumor microenvironment. This review aims to explore the impact of ncRNAs on fibrosarcoma's pathogenesis, progression, and resistance to treatment, focusing on their mechanistic roles and therapeutic potential. A comprehensive review of literature from databases like PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted, focusing on the dysregulation of ncRNAs in fibrosarcoma, their contribution to tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and their cellular pathway interactions. NcRNAs significantly influence fibrosarcoma, affecting cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and angiogenesis. Their function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors makes them promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Understanding their interaction with the tumor microenvironment is essential for developing more effective treatments for fibrosarcoma. Targeting ncRNAs emerges as a promising strategy for fibrosarcoma therapy, offering hope to overcome the shortcomings of existing treatments. Further investigation is needed to clarify specific ncRNAs' roles in fibrosarcoma and to develop ncRNA-based therapies, highlighting the significance of ncRNAs in improving patient outcomes in this challenging cancer.

Dynamic monitoring soft tissue healing via visualized Gd-crosslinked double network MRI microspheres

By integrating magnetic resonance-visible components with scaffold materials, hydrogel microspheres (HMs) become visible under magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), allowing for non-invasive, continuous, and dynamic monitoring of the distribution, degradation, and relationship of the HMs with local tissues. However, when these visualization components are physically blended into the HMs, it reduces their relaxation rate and specificity under MRI, weakening the efficacy of real-time dynamic monitoring. To achieve MRI-guided in vivo monitoring of HMs with tissue repair functionality, we utilized airflow control and photo-crosslinking methods to prepare alginate-gelatin-based dual-network hydrogel microspheres (G-AlgMA HMs) using gadolinium ions (Gd (III)), a paramagnetic MRI contrast agent, as the crosslinker. When the network of G-AlgMA HMs degrades, the cleavage of covalent bonds causes the release of Gd (III), continuously altering the arrangement and movement characteristics of surrounding water molecules. This change in local transverse and longitudinal relaxation times results in variations in MRI signal values, thus enabling MRI-guided in vivo monitoring of the HMs. Additionally, in vivo data show that the degradation and release of polypeptide (K2 (SL)6 K2 (KK)) from G-AlgMA HMs promote local vascular regeneration and soft tissue repair. Overall, G-AlgMA HMs enable non-invasive, dynamic in vivo monitoring of biomaterial degradation and tissue regeneration through MRI, which is significant for understanding material degradation mechanisms, evaluating biocompatibility, and optimizing material design.

Polydopamine-Modified Copper Coordination Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Loaded with Disulfiram for Synergistic Chemo-Photothermal Therapy

Disulfiram (DSF) degrades to diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC) in vivo and coordinates with copper ions to form CuET, which has higher antitumor activity. In this study, DSF@CuMSN-PDA nanoparticles were prepared using mesoporous silica with copper ions, DSF as a carrier, and polydopamine (PDA) as a gate system. The nanoparticles selectively released CuET into tumor tissue by taking advantage of the tumor microenvironment, where PDA could be degraded. The release ratio reached 79.17% at pH 5.0, indicating pH-responsive drug release from the nanoparticles. The PDA-gated system provided the nanoparticles with unique photothermal conversion performance and significantly improved antitumor efficiency. In vivo, antitumor experiments showed that the designed DSF@CuMSN-PDA nanoparticles combined with near-infrared light (808 nm, 1 W/cm2) irradiation effectively inhibited tumor growth in HCT116 cells by harnessing the combined potential of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy; a synergistic effect was achieved. Taken together, these results suggest that the designed DSF@CuMSN-PDA construct can be employed as a promising candidate for combined chemo-photothermal therapy.

A novel fluorescence-electrochemiluminescence dual-mode sensing platform for high-precision BRAF gene detection

In this study, we innovatively synthesized bipyridine ruthenium cluster nanosheets (RuMOFNCs), a novel metal-organic framework material that exhibits both fluorescence and electrochemiluminescence. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were anchored onto RuMOFNCs via bipyridine chelation, enhancing optical signals and creating sites for attaching biologically functional probes. We employed tetraferrocene-modified DNA probes, linked via gold-sulfur (Au-S) bonds, to construct a dual-mode fluorescence-electrochemiluminescence biosensor. This sensor, exploiting exonuclease III (Exo III)-mediated cyclic amplification, inhibits the electron transfer from RuMOFNC to tetraferrocene, resulting in amplified fluorescence and electrochemiluminescence signals. The sensor demonstrates exceptional sensitivity for detecting the BRAF gene, with fluorescence and electrochemiluminescence detection limits of 10.3 aM (range: 0.1 fM to 1 nM) and 3.1 aM (range: 1 aM to 10 pM), respectively. These capabilities are attributed to RuMOFNCs' luminescence properties, tetraferrocene's quenching effect, and the specificity of base pairing. This study's findings hold substantial promise for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics, particularly in precision medicine and early disease detection.

Research progress on hydrogel-based drug therapy in melanoma immunotherapy

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin tumors, and conventional treatment modalities are not effective in treating advanced melanoma. Although immunotherapy is an effective treatment for melanoma, it has disadvantages, such as a poor response rate and serious systemic immune-related toxic side effects. The main solution to this problem is the use of biological materials such as hydrogels to reduce these side effects and amplify the immune killing effect against tumor cells. Hydrogels have great advantages as local slow-release drug carriers, including the ability to deliver antitumor drugs directly to the tumor site, enhance the local drug concentration in tumor tissue, reduce systemic drug distribution and exhibit good degradability. Despite these advantages, there has been limited research on the application of hydrogels in melanoma treatment. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive review of the potential application of hydrogels in melanoma immunotherapy. Hydrogels can serve as carriers for sustained drug delivery, enabling the targeted and localized delivery of drugs with minimal systemic side effects. This approach has the potential to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy for melanoma. Thus, the use of hydrogels as drug delivery vehicles for melanoma immunotherapy has great potential and warrants further exploration. [BMB Reports 2024; 57(2): 71-78].

Injectable hydrogels for personalized cancer immunotherapies

The field of cancer immunotherapy has shown significant growth, and researchers are now focusing on effective strategies to enhance and prolong local immunomodulation. Injectable hydrogels (IHs) have emerged as versatile platforms for encapsulating and controlling the release of small molecules and cells, drawing significant attention for their potential to enhance antitumor immune responses while inhibiting metastasis and recurrence. IHs delivering natural killer (NK) cells, T cells, and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) offer a viable method for treating cancer. Indeed, it can bypass the extracellular matrix and gradually release small molecules or cells into the tumor microenvironment, thereby boosting immune responses against cancer cells. This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy using IHs for delivering NK cells, T cells, APCs, chemoimmunotherapy, radio-immunotherapy, and photothermal-immunotherapy. First, we introduce IHs as a delivery matrix, then summarize their applications for the local delivery of small molecules and immune cells to elicit robust anticancer immune responses. Additionally, we discuss recent progress in IHs systems used for local combination therapy, including chemoimmunotherapy, radio-immunotherapy, photothermal-immunotherapy, photodynamic-immunotherapy, and gene-immunotherapy. By comprehensively examining the utilization of IHs in cancer immunotherapy, this review aims to highlight the potential of IHs as effective carriers for immunotherapy delivery, facilitating the development of innovative strategies for cancer treatment. In addition, we demonstrate that using hydrogel-based platforms for the targeted delivery of immune cells, such as NK cells, T cells, and dendritic cells (DCs), has remarkable potential in cancer therapy. These innovative approaches have yielded substantial reductions in tumor growth, showcasing the ability of hydrogels to enhance the efficacy of immune-based treatments. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: As cancer immunotherapy continues to expand, the mode of therapeutic agent delivery becomes increasingly critical. This review spotlights the forward-looking progress of IHs, emphasizing their potential to revolutionize localized immunotherapy delivery. By efficiently encapsulating and controlling the release of essential immune components such as T cells, NK cells, APCs, and various therapeutic agents, IHs offer a pioneering pathway to amplify immune reactions, moderate metastasis, and reduce recurrence. Their adaptability further shines when considering their role in emerging combination therapies, including chemoimmunotherapy, radio-immunotherapy, and photothermal-immunotherapy. Understanding IHs' significance in cancer therapy is essential, suggesting a shift in cancer treatment dynamics and heralding a novel period of focused, enduring, and powerful therapeutic strategies.

Advancements in pH-responsive nanocarriers: enhancing drug delivery for tumor therapy

INTRODUCTION

Tumors pose a significant global economic and health burden, with conventional cancer treatments lacking tumor specificity, leading to limited efficiency and undesirable side effects. Targeted tumor therapy is imminent. Tumor cells produce lactate and hydrogen ions (H+) by Warburg effect, forming an acidic tumor microenvironment (TME), which can be employed to design targeted tumor therapy. Recently, progress in nanotechnology has led to the development of pH-responsive nanocarriers, which have gathered significant attention. Under acidic tumor conditions, they exhibit targeted accumulation within tumor sites and controlled release profiles of therapeutic reagents, enabling precise tumor therapy.

AREAS COVERED

This review comprehensively summarize the principles underlying pH-responsive features, discussing various types of pH-responsive nanocarriers, their advantages, and limitations. Innovative therapeutic drugs are also examined, followed by an exploration of recent advancements in applying various pH-responsive nanocarriers as delivery systems for enhanced tumor therapy.

EXPERT OPINIONS

pH-responsive nanocarriers have garnered significant attention for their capability to achieve targeted accumulation of therapeutic agents at tumor sites and controlled drug delivery profiles, ultimately increasing the efficiency of tumor eradication. It is anticipated that the employment of pH-responsive nanocarriers will elevate the effectiveness and safety of tumor therapy, contributing to improved overall outcomes.