Bridging Bio-Nano Science and Cancer Nanomedicine

Sonosensitizers for Sonodynamic Therapy: Current Progress and Future Perspectives

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a novel non-invasive treatment method that combines low-intensity ultrasound and sonosensitizers. Compared with photodynamic therapy, SDT has the advantages of deeper tissue penetration, higher accuracy and fewer adverse reactions. Sonosensitizers are essential for the efficacy of SDT. Sonosensitizers have the advantages of clear structure, easy monitoring, evaluation of drug metabolism and clinical transformation, etc. Notably, biochemical techniques can be used in the field of sonosensitizers and SDT to overcome inherent barriers and achieve sustainable innovation. This article first summarizes the molecular mechanism of SDT, focusing on organic sonosensitizers, inorganic nano-sonosensitizers and multi-functional drug delivery systems with targeting, penetration and imaging functions after a series of modifications. This review provides ideas and references for the design of sonosensitizers and SDT and promotes their future transformation into clinical applications.

Smart self-transforming nano-systems for overcoming biological barrier and enhancing tumor treatment efficacy

Nanomedicines need to overcome multiple biological barriers in the body to reach the target area. However, traditional nanomedicines with constant physicochemical properties are not sufficient to meet the diverse and sometimes conflicting requirements during in vivo transport, making it difficult to penetrate various biological barriers, resulting in suboptimal drug delivery efficiency. Smart self-transforming nano-systems (SSTNs), capable of altering their own physicochemical properties (including size, charge, hydrophobicity, stiffness, morphology, etc.) under different physiological conditions, hold the potential to break through multiple biological barriers, thereby improving drug delivery efficiency and the efficacy of cancer treatment. In this review, we first summarize the design strategies of five most popular SSTNs (such as size-, charge-, hydrophilicity-, stiffness-, and morphology-self-transforming nano-systems), and then delve into their biomedical applications in enhancing circulation time, tissue penetration, and cellular uptake. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges that SSTNs face in the future for cancer treatment and diagnosis.

Silicasomes in Oncology: From Conventional Chemotherapy to Combined Immunotherapy

The use of nanoparticles as drug carriers in oncology has evolved from their traditional role as chemotherapy carriers to their application in immunotherapy, exploiting not only their passive accumulation in solid tumors but also their ability to interact with immune cells. Silicasomes are highly versatile nanoplatforms composed of a mesoporous silica core whose external surface is coated with a lipid bilayer that allows the co-delivery of therapeutic agents having different chemical natures (small molecules, proteins, enzymes, or oligonucleotides, among others). Herein, cutting-edge advances carried out in the development and application of silicasomes are presented, providing a general description of the performance of these nanotransporters. Additionally, the specific load of chemotherapeutic drugs is explored, followed by a discussion of the immunotherapeutic application of silicasomes and the combination of different therapeutic strategies, including theragnosis, in a single silicasome platform, highlighting the enormous potential of these nanosystems.

Advancing Nanomedicine Through Electron Microscopy: Insights Into Nanoparticle Cellular Interactions and Biomedical Applications

Nanomedicine has revolutionized cancer treatment by the development of nanoparticles (NPs) that offer targeted therapeutic delivery and reduced side effects. NPs research in nanomedicine significantly focuses on understanding their cellular interactions and intracellular mechanisms. A precise understanding of nanoparticle interactions at the subcellular level is crucial for their effective application in cancer therapy. Electron microscopy has proven essential, offering high-resolution insights into nanoparticle behavior within biological systems. This article reviews the role of electron microscopy in elucidating the cellular uptake and intracellular interactions of NPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides imaging capabilities, such as cryo three-dimensional tomography, which offer in-depth insights into nanoparticle localization, endocytosis pathways, and subcellular interactions, while high resolution-TEM is primarily used for studying the atomic structure of isolated NPs rather than nanoparticles within cells or tissues. On the other hand, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is ideal for examining larger surface areas and provides a broader perspective on the morphology and topography of the samples. The review highlights the advantages of electron microscopy in visualizing nanoparticle interactions with cellular structures and tracking their mechanisms of action. It also addresses the challenges associated with electron microscopy characterization, such as tedious sample preparation, static imaging limitations, and a restricted field of view. By examining various nanoparticle uptake pathways, and cellular destination of NPs with examples, the article emphasizes the importance of these pathways to optimize nanoparticle design and enhance therapeutic efficacy. This review underscores the need for continued advancement in electron microscopy techniques to improve the effectiveness of nanomedicine and address existing challenges. In summary, electron microscopy is a key tool for advancing our understanding of nanoparticle behavior in biological contexts, aiding in the design and optimization of nanomedicines by providing insights into nanoparticle cellular dynamics, uptake mechanisms, and therapeutic applications.

Advanced materials for cancer treatment and beyond

Conservative anti-cancer treatment represented by chemotherapy and surgery lacks tumor-specificity and could hardly resolve the problems associated with multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancers. Novel therapeutic materials in cancer treatment, such as those with anti-MDR or controllable treatment features, represent a significant trend due to their advantages of high and specific efficacy and timely intervention of cancer progress. In addition to their excellent biocompatibility and specificity, they can be utilized in therapies that require ease of operation, provided they are designed with high detection sensitivity. In this review, we summarize a series of recently developed materials that exhibit these advantages, including immune-enhancing and tumor microenvironment (TME)- responsive materials, and those with integrated therapeutic and imaging capabilities. We also introduce advanced modification approaches that can impart essential targeting functionalities to these materials.

An insight into cancer nanomedicine based on polysaccharides

With cancer rates on the rise around the world, cancer treatment has dominated scientific discussions in recent years. The toxicity of cytotoxic drugs, their lack of tumor localization, and their uniform dispersion into tumor tissues are the obstacles to cancer therapy. Other cancer treatment drawbacks include short blood circulation half-lives and undesirable pharmacokinetic behavior. Low-molecular-weight drugs conjugated with macromolecular carriers are better distributed in the body. The enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect causes natural and synthetic polymers, such as polysaccharides, proteins, antibodies, and poly amino acids, to accumulate in tumor tissue. Many manufactured and natural polymers are attractive polymeric drug carriers, allowing the creation of prodrugs from medicinal substances. Polysaccharides are biological polymers with structural and functional variations. They are also non-toxic, hydrophilic, biodegradable, and efficiently bioactive. Polysaccharides are ideal for synthesizing many nanoparticles due to their functional groups. Their ability to adapt to their microenvironment makes them valuable. Nanoplatforms based on polysaccharides can deliver targeted anticancer drugs for personalized cancer treatment. Unique polysaccharide structures and properties offer chemical and biological advantages for novel drug delivery. Polysaccharide-drug conjugation could revolutionize cancer chemotherapy. This study investigates polysaccharide conjugates and polysaccharides as natural biomaterials for cancer drug delivery.

Voices of Nanomedicine: Blueprint Guidelines for Collaboration in Addressing Global Unmet Medical Needs

The "Voices" under this Perspective underline the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships across several disciplines, such as medical science and technology, medicine, bioengineering, and computational approaches, in bridging the gap between research, manufacturing, and clinical applications. Effective communication is key to bridging team gaps, enhancing trust, and resolving conflicts, thereby fostering teamwork and individual growth toward shared goals. Drawing from the success of the COVID-19 vaccine development, we advocate the application of similar collaborative models in other complex health areas such as nanomedicine and biomedical engineering. The role of digital technology and big data in healthcare innovation is highlighted along with the necessity for specialized education in collaborative practices. This approach is decisive in advancing healthcare solutions, leading to improved treatment and patient outcomes.

Molecule interacting with CasL-2 enhances tumor progression and alters radiosensitivity in cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

Cervical cancer is a common malignancy among women, and radiotherapy remains a primary treatment modality across all disease stages. However, resistance to radiotherapy frequently results in treatment failure, highlighting the need to identify novel therapeutic targets to improve clinical outcomes.

METHODS

The expression of molecule interacting with CasL-2 (MICAL2) was confirmed in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines through western blotting (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Siha and Hela cells were used to examine the regulatory and biological functions of MICAL2 via knockdown and overexpression experiments. Assays including MTT, colony formation, wound healing, transwell migration, and sphere formation were employed, along with WB analysis. DNA damage in irradiated cells with MICAL2 knockdown or overexpression was evaluated using the comet assay, while γ-H2AX and Rad51 protein levels were detected by WB. In vivo experiments validated the tumorigenic and radioresistance functions of MICAL2. Additionally, the relationship between MICAL2 expression and radiotherapy response was analyzed in 62 patients with cervical cancer by assessing tumor regression and MICAL2 levels six months post-treatment.

RESULTS

MICAL2 expression was significantly elevated in cervical cancer tissues and cells. Functional analyses demonstrated that MICAL2 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by activating the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways, as confirmed through both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Silencing MICAL2 increased DNA damage, impeded DNA repair, and enhanced radiosensitivity. Among the 62 patients with cervical cancer, elevated MICAL2 expression was associated with a lower complete response rate to radiotherapy (25.6% vs. 60.9% in those with low expression), reduced progression-free survival, and advanced cancer stage (*p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

MICAL2 plays a critical role in tumor progression and radiotherapy resistance in cervical cancer. These findings provide a foundation for developing targeted therapies to improve treatment outcomes in this population.

Smart Cancer Nanomedicine for Synergetic Therapy

Cancer is the second leading cause of death. Notwithstanding endeavors to comprehend tumor causes and therapeutic modalities, no noteworthy advancements in cancer therapy have been identified. Nanomedicine has drawn interest for its diagnostic potential because of its ability to deliver therapeutic agents specifically to tumors with little adverse effects. Nanomedicines have become prevalent in the treatment of cancer. Here, we present four strategic suggestions for improvement in the functionality and use of nanomedicine. (1) Smart drug selection is a prerequisite for both medicinal and commercial achievement. Allocating resources to the advancement of modular (pro)drugs and nanocarrier design ought to consider the role of opportunistic decisions depending on drug availability. (2) Stimuli-responsive nanomedicine for cancer therapy is being designed to release medications at particular locations precisely. (3) The cornerstone of clinical cancer treatment is combination therapy. Nanomedicines should be included more frequently in multimodal combination therapy regimens since they complement pharmacological and physical co-treatments. (4) Regulation by the immune system is transforming cancer therapy. Nanomedicines can improve the effectiveness of the immune system and control the behavior of anticancer immunity. These four approaches, both separately and particularly in combination, will accelerate and promote the creation of effective cancer nanomedicine treatments.

Advances and prospects of precision nanomedicine in personalized tumor theranostics

Tumor, as the second leading cause of death globally, following closely behind cardiovascular diseases, remains a significant health challenge worldwide. Despite the existence of various cancer treatment methods, their efficacy is still suboptimal, necessitating the development of safer and more efficient treatment strategies. Additionally, the advancement of personalized therapy offers further possibilities in cancer treatment. Nanomedicine, as a promising interdisciplinary field, has shown tremendous potential and prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. As an emerging approach in oncology, the application of nanomedicine in personalized cancer therapy primarily focuses on targeted drug delivery systems such as passive targeting drug delivery, active targeting drug delivery, and environmentally responsive targeting drug delivery, as well as imaging diagnostics such as tumor biomarker detection, tumor cell detection, and in vivo imaging. However, it still faces challenges regarding safety, biocompatibility, and other issues. This review aims to explore the advances in the use of nanomaterials in the field of personalized cancer diagnosis and treatment and to investigate the prospects and challenges of developing personalized therapies in cancer care, providing direction for the clinical translation and application.

Nanotheranostics in Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis: Advanced Research Progress and Future Perspectives

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide, with bone being the most common site of all metastatic breast cancer. Bone metastases are often associated with pain and skeletal-related events (SREs), indicating poor prognosis and poor quality of life. Most current therapies for breast cancer bone metastasis primarily serve palliative purposes, focusing on pain management, mitigating the risk of bone-related complications, and inhibiting tumor progression. The emergence of nanodelivery systems offers novel insights and potential solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer-related bone metastasis. This article reviews the recent advancements and innovative applications of nanodrug delivery systems in the context of breast cancer bone metastasis and explores future directions in nanotheranostics.

Functional Ginger-Derived Extracellular Vesicles-Coated ZIF-8 Containing TNF-α siRNA for Ulcerative Colitis Therapy by Modulating Gut Microbiota

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC), and anti-TNF-α siRNA shows great promise in UC therapy. However, delivering siRNA with site-targeted stability and therapeutic efficacy is still challenging due to the complex and dynamic intestinal microenvironment. Here, based on the functional plant-derived ginger extracellular vesicles (EVs) and porous ZIF-8 nanoparticles, we propose a novel TNF-α siRNA delivery strategy (EVs@ZIF-8@siRNA) for UC targeted therapy. Ginger EVs show strong colon and macrophage targeting, as well as robust resistance to acidic degradation in the stomach. Moreover, 6-shogaol in ginger-derived EVs displays anti-inflammatory effects, which enhance the treatment efficiency by cooperation with TNF-α siRNA. In vitro experiments reveal that ZIF-8 nanoparticles have high TNF-α siRNA loading capacity and promote siRNA escape from cellular lysosomes. In vivo experiments show that the TNF-α level is reduced more significantly in colonic tissue than other nontargeted inflammation related factors, showing a good targeting of this composite nanoparticle. Furthermore, gut microbiota sequencing results demonstrate that the nanoparticles can promote intestinal barrier repair by regulating the intestinal microbial balance and restoring the intestinal health of UC mice. Therefore, the developed EVs@ZIF-8@siRNA nanoparticles may represent a novel colon-targeted oral drug, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for UC therapy.

Bismuth-based mesoporous nanoball carrying sorafenib for synergistic photothermal and molecularly-targeted therapy in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft mouse model

Sorafenib (SOR), a multi-kinase inhibitor for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has limited clinical application due to severe side effects and drug resistance. To overcome these challenges, we developed a bismuth-based nanomaterial (BOS) for thermal injury-assisted continuous targeted therapy in HCC. Initially, the mesoporous nanomaterial was loaded with SOR, forming the BOS@SOR nano-carrier system for drug delivery and controlled release. Notably, compared to targeted or photothermal therapy alone, the combination therapy using this nano-carrier system significantly impaired cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. In vivo efficacy evaluations demonstrated that BOS@SOR exhibited excellent biocompatibility, confirmed through hemolysis and biochemical analyses. Additionally, BOS@SOR enhanced contrast in computed tomography, aiding in the precise identification of HCC size and location. The photothermal therapeutic properties of bismuth further contributed to the synergistic anti-tumor activity of BOS@SOR, significantly reducing tumor growth in an orthotopic xenograft HCC model. Taken together, encapsulating SOR within a bismuth-based mesoporous nanomaterial creates a multifunctional and environmentally stable nanocomposite (BOS@SOR), enhancing the therapeutic effect of SOR and presenting an effective strategy for HCC treatment.

Utilizing Multifaceted Approaches to Target Drug Delivery in the Brain: From Nanoparticles to Biological Therapies

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses an important obstacle to treating neurological disorders because it limits the entry of therapeutic agents into the central nervous system (CNS). Surmounting this barrier is crucial for delivering drugs effectively and targeting precise areas of the brain affected by conditions like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and brain tumors. This review examines the diverse strategies employed to enhance brain targeting, including nanotechnology, viral vectors, and biological therapies. Nanoparticles, liposomes, and dendrimers offer promising approaches for encapsulating drugs and facilitating their transport across the BBB. Viral vectors, such as adeno-associated viruses, demonstrate high transfection efficiency for gene therapy applications in CNS diseases. Biological therapies, including stem cell transplantation and neuromodulation techniques, can potentially restore normal cellular function and treat genetic disorders. Challenges such as BBB permeability, safety concerns, and regulatory considerations are discussed, along with future perspectives on precision medicine, noninvasive delivery methods, and biomarker discovery. By addressing these challenges and embracing innovative approaches, the field of brain drug targeting aims to transfer the way that neurological illness is treated and improve patient outcomes.

Nanomedicine-induced programmed cell death in cancer therapy: mechanisms and perspectives

The balance of programmed cell death (PCD) mechanisms, including apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis and others, is pivotal in cancer progression and treatment. Dysregulation of these pathways results in uncontrolled cell growth and resistance to conventional therapies. Nanomedicine offers a promising solution in oncology through targeted drug delivery enabling precise targeting of cancer cells while preserving healthy tissues. This approach reduces the side effects of traditional chemotherapy and enhances treatment efficacy by engaging PCD pathways. We details each PCD pathway, their mechanisms, and innovative nanomedicine strategies to activate these pathways, thereby enhancing therapeutic specificity and minimizing harm to healthy tissues. The precision of nanotechnology in targeting PCD pathways promises significant improvements in cancer treatment outcomes. This synergy between nanotechnology and targeted PCD activation could lead to more effective and less toxic cancer therapies, heralding a new era in cancer treatment.

Bionano Interactions of Organosilica Nanoparticles with Myeloid Derived Immune Cells

Investigating the interactions between nanomaterials and the cells they are likely to encounter in vivo is a critical aspect of designing nanomedicines for imaging and therapeutic applications. Immune cells such as dendritic cells, macrophages, and myeloid derived suppressor cells have a frontline role in the identification and removal of foreign materials from the body, with interactions shown to be heavily dependent on variables such as nanoparticle size, charge, and surface chemistry. Interactions such as cellular association or uptake of nanoparticles can lead to diminished functionality or rapid clearance from the body, making it critical to consider these interactions when designing and synthesizing nanomaterials for biomedical applications ranging from drug delivery to imaging and biosensing. We investigated the interactions between PEGylated organosilica nanoparticles and naturally endocytic immune cells grown from stem cells in murine bone marrow. Specifically, we varied the particle size from 60 nm up to 1000 nm and investigated the effects of size on immune cell association, activation, and maturation with these critical gatekeeper cells. These results will help inform future design parameters for in vitro and in vivo biomedical applications utilizing organosilica nanoparticles.

Current advance of nanotechnology in diagnosis and treatment for malignant tumors

Cancer remains a significant risk to human health. Nanomedicine is a new multidisciplinary field that is garnering a lot of interest and investigation. Nanomedicine shows great potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Specifically engineered nanoparticles can be employed as contrast agents in cancer diagnostics to enable high sensitivity and high-resolution tumor detection by imaging examinations. Novel approaches for tumor labeling and detection are also made possible by the use of nanoprobes and nanobiosensors. The achievement of targeted medication delivery in cancer therapy can be accomplished through the rational design and manufacture of nanodrug carriers. Nanoparticles have the capability to effectively transport medications or gene fragments to tumor tissues via passive or active targeting processes, thus enhancing treatment outcomes while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. Simultaneously, nanoparticles can be employed in the context of radiation sensitization and photothermal therapy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of malignant tumors. This review presents a literature overview and summary of how nanotechnology is used in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. According to oncological diseases originating from different systems of the body and combining the pathophysiological features of cancers at different sites, we review the most recent developments in nanotechnology applications. Finally, we briefly discuss the prospects and challenges of nanotechnology in cancer.

Prevention of chemotherapy-related bone loss with doxorubicin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles

Aim: Breast cancer and its metastases involve high mortality even with advances in chemotherapy. Solid lipid nanoparticles provide a platform for drug delivery, reducing side effects and treatment-induced bone loss. A solid nanoparticle containing doxorubicin was evaluated for its ability to prevent bone loss in a pre-clinical breast cancer model.Methods: We investigated the effects of SLNDox in an aggressive metastatic stage IV breast cancer model, which has some important features that are interesting for bone loss investigation. This study evaluates bone loss prevention potential from solid lipid nanoparticles containing doxorubicin breast cancer treatment, an evaluation of the attenuation of morphological changes in bone tissue caused by the treatment and the disease and an assessment of bone loss imaging using computed tomography and electron microscopy.Results: Chemotherapy-induced bone loss was also observed in tumor-free animals; a solid lipid nanoparticle containing doxorubicin prevented damage to the growth plate and to compact and cancellous bones in the femur of tumor-bearing and healthy animals.Conclusion: The association of solid lipid nanoparticles with chemotherapeutic drugs with proven efficacy promotes the prevention of serious consequences of chemotherapy, reducing tumor progression, increasing quality of life and improving prognosis and survival.

Polydopamine-Based Targeted Nanosystem for Chemo/Photothermal Therapy of Retinoblastoma in a Mouse Orthotopic Model

Background

At present, the few photothermal/chemotherapy studies about retinoblastoma that have been reported are mainly restricted to ectopic models involving subcutaneous implantation. However, eyeball is unique physiological structure, the blood-retina barrier (BRB) hinders the absorption of drug molecules through the systemic route. Moreover, the abundant blood circulation in the fundus accelerates drug metabolism. To uphold the required drug concentration, patients must undergo frequent chemotherapy sessions.

Purpose

To address these challenges above, we need to develop a secure and effective drug delivery system (FA-PEG-PDA-DOX) for the fundus.

Methods

We offered superior therapeutic efficacy with minimal or no side effects and successfully established orthotopic mouse models. We evaluated cellular uptake performance and targeting efficiency of FA-PEG-PDA-DOX nanosystem and assessed its synergistic antitumor effects in vitro and vivo. Biodistribution assessments were performed to determine the retention time and targeting efficiency of the NPs in vivo. Additionally, safety assessments were conducted.

Results

Cell endocytosis rates of the FA-PEG-PDA-DOX+Laser group became 5.23 times that of the DOX group and 2.28 times that of FA-PEG-PDA-DOX group without irradiation. The fluorescence signal of FA-PEG-PDA-DOX persisted for more than 120 hours at the tumor site. The number of tumor cells (17.2%) in the proliferative cycle decreased by 61.6% in the photothermal-chemotherapy group, in contrast to that of the saline control group (78.8%). FA-PEG-PDA-DOX nanoparticles(NPs) exhibited favorable biosafety and high biocompatibility.

Conclusion

The dual functional targeted nanosystem, with the effects of DOX and mild-temperature elevation by irradiation, resulted in precise chemo/photothermal therapy in nude mice model.

Dual-Responsive Epigenetic Inhibitor Nanoprodrug Combined with Oncolytic Virus Synergistically Boost Cancer Immunotherapy by Igniting Gasdermin E-Mediated Pyroptosis

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of various cancers. However, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) limits the efficacy of current immunotherapies. In this study, we designed a dual-responsive DNA methyltransferase inhibitor nanoprodrug ACNPs for combination therapy with oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV). We found that the epigenetic inhibitor 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza) upregulated gasdermin E (GSDME) expression at the gene level, whereas the oHSV decreased the ubiquitination and degradation of GSDME to elevate its levels. Based on these observations, we further discovered that ACNPs and oHSV synergistically enhanced GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. Additionally, the combination therapy of ACNPs and oHSV effectively inhibited tumor growth, remodeled the immunosuppressive TME, and improved the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. These results demonstrate the potential to overcome immunosuppression through synergistic combinations, offering a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy.

Surface Engineering of Superparamagnetic Graphene Oxide Nanosheet as a Chemically Tunable Platform for Facial Biofuel Production by Lipase

In this research, we utilized an efficient approach to synthesize superparamagnetic graphene oxide (SPGO) rapidly in a one-pot method using microwave irradiation of graphene oxide (GO), urea, and Fe(III) ion. Tannic acid (TA) was introduced to the surface of SPGO through a straightforward and eco-friendly process. Methods were devised to furnish GO nanosheets and modify their surfaces with TA in an environmentally friendly manner. Two series of nanosheets, namely, SPGO/TA-COOH and SPGO/TA-IM, were engineered on the surface and used for immobilizing lipase enzyme. Through various analytical tools, the unique biocatalysts SPGO/TA-COOH/L and SPGO/TA-IM/L were confirmed. These biocatalysts exhibited enhanced stability at high temperatures and pH levels compared with free lipase. They also demonstrated prolonged storage stability and reusability over four months and seven cycles, respectively. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of immobilized lipase showed minimal impairment based on kinetic behavior analysis. The kinetic constants of SPGO/TA-IM/L were determined as Vmax = 0.24 mM min-1, Km = 0.224 mM, and kcat = 0.8 s-1. Additionally, the efficiency of biocatalysts for biodiesel production from palmitic acid was studied, focusing on various reaction parameters, such as temperature, alcohol to palmitic acid molar ratio, water content, and lipase quantity. The esterification reaction of palmitic acid with methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol was tested in the presence of SPGO/TA-COOH/L and SPGO/TA-IM/L, and the corresponding esters were obtained with a yield of 30.6-91.6%.

Sorafenib Encapsulated Poly(ester amide) Nanoparticles for Efficient and Biosafe Prostate Cancer Therapy

Prostate cancer (PCa) with a high incidence worldwide is a serious threat to men's health. Despite the continuous development of treatment strategies for PCa in recent years, the long-term prognosis of patients is still poor. Hence, the discovery and development of novel, secure, and efficient therapeutic approaches hold significant clinical significance. Although sorafenib (SOR) displays potential as a therapeutic option for PCa, its clinical efficacy is hindered by drug resistance, limited water solubility, and rapid metabolism. Therefore, we proposed to prepare nanoparticles (named SOR@8P4 NPs) utilizing the phenylalanine-based poly(ester amide) polymer (8P4) as the drug carrier to enhance the solubility and drug stability of SOR and improve the therapeutic targeting and bioavailability. SOR@8P4 NPs had high stability and showed acid-responsive drug release at the acidic tumor microenvironment. Additionally, SOR@8P4 NPs demonstrated more remarkable anticancer, antimetastatic, and antiproliferative abilities in vitro, compared with those of free drugs. SOR@8P4 NPs showed high tumor targeting and significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. In summary, the drug delivery system of SOR@8P4 NPs provides new ideas for the clinical treatment of PCa.

Julolidinyl aza-BODIPYs as NIR-II fluorophores for the bioimaging of nanocarriers

The aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) rationale has been employed to improve the fluorescence imaging accuracy of nanocarriers by precluding free probe-derived interferences. However, its usefulness is undermined by limited penetration and low spatiotemporal resolution of NIR-I (700-900 nm) bioimaging owing to absorption and diffraction by biological tissues and tissue-derived autofluorescence. This study aimed to develop ACQ-based NIR-II (1000-1700 nm) probes to further improve the imaging resolution and accuracy. The strategy employed is to install highly planar and electron-rich julolidine into the 3,5-position of aza-BODIPY based on the larger substituent effects. The newly developed probes displayed remarkable photophysical properties, with intense absorption centered at approximately 850 nm and bright emission in the 950-1300 nm region. Compared with the NIR-I counterpart P2, the NIR-II probes demonstrated superior water sensitivity and quenching stability. ACQ1 and ACQ6 exhibited more promising ACQ effects with absolute fluorescence quenching at water fractions above 40% and higher quenching stability with less than 2.0% fluorescence reillumination in plasma after 24 h of incubation. Theoretical calculations verified that molecular planarity is more important than hydrophobicity for ACQ properties. Additionally, in vivo and ex vivo reillumination studies revealed less than 2.5% signal interference from prequenched ACQ1, in contrast to 15% for P2.

Recent Advances in Targeted Therapies for Infantile Hemangiomas

Targeted therapy for infantile hemangiomas (IHs) has been extensively studied as they can concentrate drugs, increase therapeutic efficacy and reduce drug dosage. Meanwhile, they can extend drug release times, enhance drug stability, decrease dosing frequency, and improve patient compliance. Moreover, carriers made from biocompatible materials reduced drug immunogenicity, minimizing adverse reactions. However, current targeted formulations still face numerous challenges such as the non-absolute safety of carrier materials; the need to further increase drug loading capacity; the limitation of animal hemangioma models in fully replicating the biological properties of human infantile hemangiomas; the establishment of models for deep-seated hemangiomas with high incidence rates; and the development of more specific targets or markers. In this review, we provided a brief overview of the characteristics of IHs and summarized the past decade's advances, advantages, and targeting strategies of targeted drug delivery systems for IHs and discussed their applications in the treatment of IHs. Furthermore, the goal is to provide a reference for further research and application in this field.

Progress and application of lung-on-a-chip for lung cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant tumour with the highest incidence and mortality worldwide. Clinically effective therapy strategies are underutilized owing to the lack of efficient models for evaluating drug response. One of the main reasons for failure of anticancer drug therapy is development of drug resistance. Anticancer drugs face severe challenges such as poor biodistribution, restricted solubility, inadequate absorption, and drug accumulation. In recent years, "organ-on-a-chip" platforms, which can directly regulate the microenvironment of biomechanics, biochemistry and pathophysiology, have been developed rapidly and have shown great potential in clinical drug research. Lung-on-a-chip (LOC) is a new 3D model of bionic lungs with physiological functions created by micromachining technology on microfluidic chips. This approach may be able to partially replace animal and 2D cell culture models. To overcome drug resistance, LOC realizes personalized prediction of drug response by simulating the lung-related microenvironment in vitro, significantly enhancing therapeutic effectiveness, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics while minimizing side effects. In this review, we present an overview of recent advances in the preparation of LOC and contrast it with earlier in vitro models. Finally, we describe recent advances in LOC. The combination of this technology with nanomedicine will provide an accurate and reliable treatment for preclinical evaluation.

Nano-Engineering Strategies for Tumor-Specific Therapy

Nanodelivery systems (NDSs) provide promising prospects for decreasing drug doses, reducing side effects, and improving therapeutic effects. However, the bioapplications of NDSs are still compromised by their fast clearance, indiscriminate biodistribution, and limited tumor accumulation. Hence, engineering modification of NDSs aiming at promoting tumor-specific therapy and avoiding systemic toxicity is usually needed. An NDS integrating various functionalities, including flexible camouflage, specific biorecognition, and sensitive stimuli-responsiveness, into one sequence would be "smart" and highly effective. Herein, we systematically summarize the related principles, methods, and progress. At the end of the review, we predict the obstacles to precise nanoengineering and prospects for the future application of NDSs.

Overcoming the Blood-Brain Tumor Barrier with Docetaxel-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Treatment of Temozolomide-Resistant Glioblastoma

While temozolomide (TMZ) has been a cornerstone in the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM), a significant challenge has been the emergence of resistance to TMZ, which compromises its clinical benefits. Additionally, the nonspecificity of TMZ can lead to detrimental side effects. Although TMZ is capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB), our research addresses the need for targeted therapy to circumvent resistance mechanisms and reduce off-target effects. This study introduces the use of PEGylated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with octyl group modifications (C8-MSN) as a nanocarrier system for the delivery of docetaxel (DTX), providing a novel approach for treating TMZ-resistant GBM. Our findings reveal that C8-MSN is biocompatible in vitro, and DTX@C8-MSN shows no hemolytic activity at therapeutic concentrations, maintaining efficacy against GBM cells. Crucially, in vivo imaging demonstrates preferential accumulation of C8-MSN within the tumor region, suggesting enhanced permeability across the blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB). When administered to orthotopic glioma mouse models, DTX@C8-MSN notably prolongs survival by over 50%, significantly reduces tumor volume, and decreases side effects compared to free DTX, indicating a targeted and effective approach to treatment. The apoptotic pathways activated by DTX@C8-MSN, evidenced by the increased levels of cleaved caspase-3 and PARP, point to a potent therapeutic mechanism. Collectively, the results advocate DTX@C8-MSN as a promising candidate for targeted therapy in TMZ-resistant GBM, optimizing drug delivery and bioavailability to overcome current therapeutic limitations.

Exploiting Nanotechnology for Drug Delivery: Advancing the Anti-Cancer Effects of Autophagy-Modulating Compounds in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background

Cancer continues to be a prominent issue in the field of medicine, as demonstrated by recent studies emphasizing the significant role of autophagy in the development of cancer. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a variety of anti-tumor agents capable of regulating autophagy. However, the clinical application of autophagy-modulating compounds derived from TCM is impeded by their restricted water solubility and bioavailability. To overcome this challenge, the utilization of nanotechnology has been suggested as a potential solution. Nonetheless, the current body of literature on nanoparticles delivering TCM-derived autophagy-modulating anti-tumor compounds for cancer treatment is limited, lacking comprehensive summaries and detailed descriptions.

Methods

Up to November 2023, a comprehensive research study was conducted to gather relevant data using a variety of databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, Web of Science, and CNKI. The keywords utilized in this investigation included "autophagy", "nanoparticles", "traditional Chinese medicine" and "anticancer".

Results

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential of nanotechnology in overcoming delivery challenges and enhancing the anti-cancer properties of autophagy-modulating compounds in TCM. The evaluation is based on a synthesis of different classes of autophagy-modulating compounds in TCM, their mechanisms of action in cancer treatment, and their potential benefits as reported in various scholarly sources. The findings indicate that nanotechnology shows potential in enhancing the availability of autophagy-modulating agents in TCM, thereby opening up a plethora of potential therapeutic avenues.

Conclusion

Nanotechnology has the potential to enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of autophagy-modulating compounds in traditional TCM, through regulation of autophagy.

Preparation and biological evaluation of antibody targeted metal-organic framework drug delivery system (TDDS) in Her2 receptor-positive cells

In this study, we designed and prepared a trastuzumab-coupled drug delivery system with pH response characteristics using mesoporous zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) as the carrier, Trastuzumab@ZIF-8@DOX. As results, the targeted drug delivery system (TDDS) ultimately showed high drug loading and good biocompatibility. The cumulative curve of drug release indicated that the early leakage levels were low under neutral pH conditions. However, under acidic pH conditions, there was an effective enhancement in drug release, indicating the presence of an explicit pH-triggered drug release mechanism. The results indicate that the prepared nanoparticles have the potential to serve as drug delivery systems, as they can release the loaded drug in a controlled manner. The results of cellular uptake tests showed that the uptake of the nanoparticles was greatly enhanced by the internalization mediated by the HER2 antibody. This finding indicates that the prepared nanoparticles can selectively target cancer cells that overexpress HER2. When the doxorubicin dose was 5 μg/ml, the survival rate of SK-BR-3 cells (cancer cells) was 47.75 %, and the survival rate of HaCaT cells (healthy cells) was 75.25 % when co-cultured with both cells. The therapeutic efficacy of Trastuzumab@ZIF-8@DOX was assessed on BALB/c nude mice to validate its potential as an effective drug delivery system for tumor inhibition in vivo. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate the specificity-targeted and pH-responsive nature of this smart drug delivery system, highlighting its promising prospects for efficient and controllable cancer treatment applications.

Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Bone Metastasis in Breast Cancer: Recent Advances and Challenges

Although the frequency of bone metastases from breast cancer has increased, effective treatment is lacking, prompting the development of nanomedicine, which involves the use of nanotechnology for disease diagnosis and treatment. Nanocarrier drug delivery systems offer several advantages over traditional drug delivery methods, such as higher reliability and biological activity, improved penetration and retention, and precise targeting and delivery. Various nanoparticles that can selectively target tumor cells without causing harm to healthy cells or organs have been synthesized. Recent advances in nanotechnology have enabled the diagnosis and prevention of metastatic diseases as well as the ability to deliver complex molecular "cargo" particles to metastatic regions. Nanoparticles can modulate systemic biodistribution and enable the targeted accumulation of therapeutic agents. Several delivery strategies are used to treat bone metastases, including untargeted delivery, bone-targeted delivery, and cancer cell-targeted delivery. Combining targeted agents with nanoparticles enhances the selective delivery of payloads to breast cancer bone metastatic lesions, providing multiple delivery advantages for treatment. In this review, we describe recent advances in nanoparticle development for treating breast cancer bone metastases.

Covalent Organic Frameworks: Opportunities for Rational Materials Design in Cancer Therapy

Nanomedicines are extensively used in cancer therapy. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline organic porous materials with several benefits for cancer therapy, including porosity, design flexibility, functionalizability, and biocompatibility. This review examines the use of COFs in cancer therapy from the perspective of reticular chemistry and function-oriented materials design. First, the modification sites and functionalization methods of COFs are discussed, followed by their potential as multifunctional nanoplatforms for tumor targeting, imaging, and therapy by integrating functional components. Finally, some challenges in the clinical translation of COFs are presented with the hope of promoting the development of COF-based anticancer nanomedicines and bringing COFs closer to clinical trials.

Engineering Mesoscopic 3D Tumor Models with a Self-Organizing Vascularized Matrix

Advanced in vitro systems such as multicellular spheroids and lab-on-a-chip devices have been developed, but often fall short in reproducing the tissue scale and self-organization of human diseases. A bioprinted artificial tumor model is introduced with endothelial and stromal cells self-organizing into perfusable and functional vascular structures. This model uses 3D hydrogel matrices to embed multicellular tumor spheroids, allowing them to grow to mesoscopic scales and to interact with endothelial cells. It is shown that angiogenic multicellular tumor spheroids promote the growth of a vascular network, which in turn further enhances the growth of cocultivated tumor spheroids. The self-developed vascular structure infiltrates the tumor spheroids, forms functional connections with the bioprinted endothelium, and can be perfused by erythrocytes and polystyrene microspheres. Moreover, cancer cells migrate spontaneously from the tumor spheroid through the self-assembled vascular network into the fluid flow. Additionally, tumor type specific characteristics of desmoplasia, angiogenesis, and metastatic propensity are preserved between patient-derived samples and tumors derived from this same material growing in the bioreactors. Overall, this modular approach opens up new avenues for studying tumor pathophysiology and cellular interactions in vitro, providing a platform for advanced drug testing while reducing the need for in vivo experimentation.

Reactive oxygen species-responsive polyprodrug micelles deliver cell cycle regulators for chemosensitization

Combination chemotherapy is a common strategy to enhance treatment efficacy and avoid multidrug resistance (MDR) in clinical practice. However, it is difficult to ensure the co-enrichment and reasonable ratio of synergistic drugs in the lesion site after intravenous administration. Integrating synergistic drugs into a nanocarrier can improve drug stability, targeting, drug loading, and importantly, ensure that synergistic drugs work at one destination. This study uses 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) to construct a polymeric prodrug micelle, and the demethylcantharidin (DMC) is proportionally encapsulated within the micelle. Triggered by reactive oxygen species (ROS), HCPT and DMC were released simultaneously from the co-delivery platform in tumor cells. DMC promotes abnormal cell division by inhibiting the synthesis of the cell cycle checkpoint kinase Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), leading to increased cell vulnerability to DNA damage, disordered replication, and death. The co-delivery platform exhibited satisfactory biosafety and antitumor efficacy in vivo. The proposed co-delivery platform may provide a valuable reference for the translation of clinical combination chemotherapy regimens into nano-drug delivery systems.

Neuronanomedicine for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease: Current progress and a guide to improve clinical translation

Neuronanomedicine is an emerging multidisciplinary field that aims to create innovative nanotechnologies to treat major neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). A key component of neuronanomedicine are nanoparticles, which can improve drug properties and demonstrate enhanced safety and delivery across the blood-brain barrier, a major improvement on existing therapeutic approaches. In this review, we critically analyze the latest nanoparticle-based strategies to modify underlying disease pathology to slow or halt AD/PD progression. We find that a major roadblock for neuronanomedicine translation to date is a poor understanding of how nanoparticles interact with biological systems (i.e., bio-nano interactions), which is partly due to inconsistent reporting in published works. Accordingly, this review makes a set of specific recommendations to help guide researchers to harness the unique properties of nanoparticles and thus realise breakthrough treatments for AD/PD.

Ferroptosis induction via targeting metabolic alterations in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive form of breast cancer, presents severe threats to women's health. Therefore, it is critical to find novel treatment approaches. Ferroptosis, a newly identified form of programmed cell death, is marked by the buildup of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) and high iron concentrations. According to previous studies, ferroptosis sensitivity can be controlled by a number of metabolic events in cells, such as amino acid metabolism, iron metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Given that TNBC tumors are rich in iron and lipids, inducing ferroptosis in these tumors is a potential approach for TNBC treatment. Notably, the metabolic adaptability of cancer cells allows them to coordinate an attack on one or more metabolic pathways to initiate ferroptosis, offering a novel perspective to improve the high drug resistance and clinical therapy of TNBC. However, a clear picture of ferroptosis in TNBC still needs to be completely revealed. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advancements regarding the connection between ferroptosis and amino acid, iron, and lipid metabolism in TNBC. We also discuss the probable significance of ferroptosis as an innovative target for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, nanotherapy and natural product therapy in TNBC, highlighting its therapeutic potential and application prospects.

Cell Membrane Biomimetic Nano-Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy

Nano-delivery systems have demonstrated great promise in the therapy of cancer. However, the therapeutic efficacy of conventional nanomedicines is hindered by the clearance of the blood circulation system and the physiological barriers surrounding the tumor. Inspired by the unique capabilities of cells within the body, such as immune evasion, prolonged circulation, and tumor-targeting, there has been a growing interest in developing cell membrane biomimetic nanomedicine delivery systems. Cell membrane modification on nanoparticle surfaces can prolong circulation time, activate tumor-targeting, and ultimately improve the efficacy of cancer treatment. It shows excellent development potential. This review will focus on the advancements in various cell membrane nano-drug delivery systems for cancer therapy and the obstacles encountered during clinical implementation. It is hoped that such discussions will inspire the development of cell membrane biomimetic nanomedical systems.

Unlocking the potential of the tumor microenvironment for cancer therapy

The tumor microenvironment (TME) holds a crucial role in the progression of cancer. Epithelial-derived tumors share common traits in shaping the TME. The Warburg effect is a notable phenomenon wherein tumor cells exhibit resistance to apoptosis and an increased reliance on anaerobic glycolysis for energy production. Recognizing the pivotal role of the TME in controlling tumor growth and influencing responses to chemotherapy, researchers have focused on developing potential cancer treatment strategies. A wide array of therapies, including immunotherapies, antiangiogenic agents, interventions targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), and therapies directed at the extracellular matrix, have been under investigation and have demonstrated efficacy. Additionally, innovative techniques such as tumor tissue explants, "tumor-on-a-chip" models, and multicellular tumor spheres have been explored in laboratory research. This comprehensive review aims to provide insights into the intricate cross-talk between cancer-associated signaling pathways and the TME in cancer progression, current therapeutic approaches targeting the TME, the immune landscape within solid tumors, the role of the viral TME, and cancer cell metabolism.

Strategy of targeting the tumor microenvironment via inhibition of fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling new era to cancer chemo-immunotherapy resistance

The use of repurposing drugs that may have neoplastic and anticancer effects increases the efficiency and decrease resistance to chemotherapy drugs through a biochemical and mechanical transduction mechanisms through modulation of fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling in tumor microenvironment (TME). Interestingly, fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling plays a vital role in mediating cancer metastasis and drug resistance after immune chemotherapy. The most essential hypothesis for induction of chemo-immunotherapy resistance is via activation of fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling and preventing the infiltration of T cells after is mainly due to the interference between cytoskeleton, mechanical, biochemical, metabolic, vascular, and remodeling signaling pathways in TME. The structural components of the tumor that can be targeted in the fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling include the depletion of the TME components, targeting the cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor associated macrophages, alleviating the mechanical stress within the ECM, and normalizing the blood vessels. It has also been found that during immune-chemotherapy, TME injury and fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling causes the up-regulation of inhibitory signals and down-regulation of activated signals, which results in immune escape or chemo-resistance of the tumor. In this regard, repurposing or neo-adjuvant drugs with various transduction signaling mechanisms, including anti-fibrotic effects, are used to target the TME and fibroblast/fibrosis signaling pathway such as angiotensin 2, transforming growth factor-beta, physical barriers of the TME, cytokines and metabolic factors which finally led to the reverse of the chemo-resistance. Consistent to many repurposing drugs such as pirfenidone, metformin, losartan, tranilast, dexamethasone and pentoxifylline are used to decrease immune-suppression by abrogation of TME inhibitory signal that stimulates the immune system and increases efficiency and reduces resistance to chemotherapy drugs. To overcome immunosuppression based on fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling, in this review, we focus on inhibitory signal transduction, which is the physical barrier, alleviates mechanical stress and prevents mechano-metabolic activation.

Customizing cancer treatment at the nanoscale: a focus on anaplastic thyroid cancer therapy

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare but highly aggressive kind of thyroid cancer. Various therapeutic methods have been considered for the treatment of ATC, but its prognosis remains poor. With the advent of the nanomedicine era, the use of nanotechnology has been introduced in the treatment of various cancers and has shown great potential and broad prospects in ATC treatment. The current review meticulously describes and summarizes the research progress of various nanomedicine-based therapeutic methods of ATC, including chemotherapy, differentiation therapy, radioiodine therapy, gene therapy, targeted therapy, photothermal therapy, and combination therapy. Furthermore, potential future challenges and opportunities for the currently developed nanomedicines for ATC treatment are discussed. As far as we know, there are few reviews focusing on the nanomedicine of ATC therapy, and it is believed that this review will generate widespread interest from researchers in a variety of fields to further expedite preclinical research and clinical translation of ATC nanomedicines.

Biomembrane‐inspired design of medical micro/nanorobots: From cytomembrane stealth cloaks to cellularized Trojan horses

Micro/nanorobots are promising for a wide range of biomedical applications (such as targeted tumor, thrombus, and infection therapies in hard‐to‐reach body sites) because of their tiny size and high maneuverability through the actuation of external fields (e.g., magnetic field, light, ultrasound, electric field, and/or heat). However, fully synthetic micro/nanorobots as foreign objects are susceptible to phagocytosis and clearance by diverse phagocytes. To address this issue, researchers have attempted to develop various cytomembrane‐camouflaged micro/nanorobots by two means: (1) direct coating of micro/nanorobots with cytomembranes derived from living cells and (2) the swallowing of micro/nanorobots by living immunocytes via phagocytosis. The camouflaging with cytomembranes or living immunocytes not only protects micro/nanorobots from phagocytosis, but also endows them with new characteristics or functionalities, such as prolonging propulsion in biofluids, targeting diseased areas, or neutralizing bacterial toxins. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the recent advances and developments of cytomembrane‐camouflaged medical micro/nanorobots. We first discuss how cytomembrane coating nanotechnology has been employed to engineer synthetic nanomaterials, and then we review in detail how cytomembrane camouflage tactic can be exploited to functionalize micro/nanorobots. We aim to bridge the gap between cytomembrane‐cloaked micro/nanorobots and nanomaterials and to provide design guidance for developing cytomembrane‐camouflaged micro/nanorobots.

Small Molecule Targeting Immune Cells: A Novel Approach for Cancer Treatment

Conventional and cancer immunotherapies encompass diverse strategies to address various cancer types and stages. However, combining these approaches often encounters limitations such as non-specific targeting, resistance development, and high toxicity, leading to suboptimal outcomes in many cancers. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is orchestrated by intricate interactions between immune and non-immune cells dictating tumor progression. An innovative avenue in cancer therapy involves leveraging small molecules to influence a spectrum of resistant cell populations within the TME. Recent discoveries have unveiled a phenotypically diverse cohort of innate-like T (ILT) cells and tumor hybrid cells (HCs) exhibiting novel characteristics, including augmented proliferation, migration, resistance to exhaustion, evasion of immunosurveillance, reduced apoptosis, drug resistance, and heightened metastasis frequency. Leveraging small-molecule immunomodulators to target these immune players presents an exciting frontier in developing novel tumor immunotherapies. Moreover, combining small molecule modulators with immunotherapy can synergistically enhance the inhibitory impact on tumor progression by empowering the immune system to meticulously fine-tune responses within the TME, bolstering its capacity to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. This review outlines strategies involving small molecules that modify immune cells within the TME, potentially revolutionizing therapeutic interventions and enhancing the anti-tumor response.

Targeting endothelial permeability in the EPR effect

The characteristics of the primary tumor blood vessels and the tumor microenvironment drive the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, which confers an advantage towards enhanced delivery of anti-cancer nanomedicine and has shown beneficial effects in preclinical models. Increased vascular permeability is a landmark feature of the tumor vessels and an important driver of the EPR. The main focus of this review is the endothelial regulation of vascular permeability. We discuss current challenges of targeting vascular permeability towards clinical translation and summarize the structural components and mechanisms of endothelial permeability, the principal mediators and signaling players, the targeted approaches that have been used and their outcomes to date. We also critically discuss the effects of the tumor-infiltrating immune cells, their interplay with the tumor vessels and the impact of immune responses on nanomedicine delivery, the impact of anti-angiogenic and tumor-stroma targeting approaches, and desirable nanoparticle design approaches for greater translational benefit.

Nanoparticles with transformable physicochemical properties for overcoming biological barriers

In recent years, tremendous progress has been made in the development of nanomedicines for advanced therapeutics, yet their unsatisfactory targeting ability hinders the further application of nanomedicines. Nanomaterials undergo a series of processes, from intravenous injection to precise delivery at target sites. Each process faces different or even contradictory requirements for nanoparticles to pass through biological barriers. To overcome biological barriers, researchers have been developing nanomedicines with transformable physicochemical properties in recent years. Physicochemical transformability enables nanomedicines to responsively switch their physicochemical properties, including size, shape, surface charge, etc., thus enabling them to cross a series of biological barriers and achieve maximum delivery efficiency. In this review, we summarize recent developments in nanomedicines with transformable physicochemical properties. First, the biological dilemmas faced by nanomedicines are analyzed. Furthermore, the design and synthesis of nanomaterials with transformable physicochemical properties in terms of size, charge, and shape are summarized. Other switchable physicochemical parameters such as mobility, roughness and mechanical properties, which have been sought after most recently, are also discussed. Finally, the prospects and challenges for nanomedicines with transformable physicochemical properties are highlighted.

New SDS-Based Polyelectrolyte Multicore Nanocarriers for Paclitaxel Delivery-Synthesis, Characterization, and Activity against Breast Cancer Cells

The low distribution of hydrophobic anticancer drugs in patients is one of the biggest limitations during conventional chemotherapy. SDS-based polyelectrolyte multicore nanocarriers (NCs) prepared according to the layer by layer (LbL) procedure can release paclitaxel (PTX), and selectively kill cancer cells. Our main objective was to verify the antitumor properties of PTX-loaded NCs and to examine whether the drug encapsulated in these NCs retained its cytotoxic properties. The cytotoxicity of the prepared nanosystems was tested on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 tumour cells and the non-cancerous HMEC-1 cell line in vitro. Confocal microscopy, spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, flow cytometry, and RT PCR techniques were used to define the typical hallmarks of apoptosis. It was demonstrated that PTX encapsulated in the tested NCs exhibited similar cytotoxicity to the free drug, especially in the triple negative breast cancer model. Moreover, SDS/PLL/PTX and SDS/PLL/PGA/PTX significantly reduced DNA synthesis. In addition, PTX-loaded NCs triggered apoptosis and upregulated the transcription of Bax, AIF, cytochrome-c, and caspase-3 mRNA. Our data demonstrate that these novel polyelectrolyte multicore NCs coated with PLL or PLL/PGA are good candidates for delivering PTX. Our discoveries have prominent implications for the possible choice of newly synthesized, SDS-based polyelectrolyte multicore NCs in different anticancer therapeutic applications.

Recent Advancements on Self-Immolative System Based on Dynamic Covalent Bonds for Delivering Heterogeneous Payloads

The precisely spatial-temporal delivery of heterogeneous payloads from a single system with the same pulse is in great demand in realizing versatile and synergistic functions. Very few molecular architectures can satisfy the strict requirements of dual-release translated from single triggers, while the self-immolative systems based on dynamic covalent bonds represent the "state-of-art" of ultimate solution strategy. Embedding heterogeneous payloads symmetrically onto the self-immolative backbone with dynamic covalent bonds as the trigger, can respond to the quasi-bio-orthogonal hallmarks which are higher at the disease's microenvironment to simultaneously yield the heterogeneous payloads (drug A/drug B or drug/reporter). In this review, the modular design principles are concentrated to illustrate the rules in tailoring useful structures, then the rational applications are enumerated on the aspects of drug codelivery and visualized drug-delivery. This review, hopefully, can give the general readers a comprehensive understanding of the self-immolative systems based on dynamic covalent bonds for delivering heterogeneous payloads.

Innovative Metal-Organic Frameworks for Targeted Oral Cancer Therapy: A Review

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have proven to be very effective carriers for drug delivery in various biological applications. In recent years, the development of hybrid nanostructures has made significant progress, including developing an innovative MOF-loaded nanocomposite with a highly porous structure and low toxicity that can be used to fabricate core-shell nanocomposites by combining complementary materials. This review study discusses using MOF materials in cancer treatment, imaging, and antibacterial effects, focusing on oral cancer cells. For patients with oral cancer, we offer a regular program for accurately designing and producing various anticancer and antibacterial agents to achieve maximum effectiveness and the lowest side effects. Also, we want to ensure that the anticancer agent works optimally and has as few side effects as possible before it is tested in vitro and in vivo. It is also essential that new anticancer drugs for cancer treatment are tested for efficacy and safety before they go into further research.