Cell Membrane-Mediated Anticancer Drug Delivery

Layer-by-layer development of chitosan/alginate-based platelet-mimicking nanocapsules for augmenting doxorubicin cytotoxicity against breast cancer

Breast carcinoma is considered one of the most invasive and life-threatening malignancies in females. Mastectomy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy are the most common treatment choices for breast cancer. Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most regularly utilized medications in breast cancer protocols. However, DOX has showed numerous side effects including lethal cardiotoxicity. This study aims to fortify DOX cytotoxicity and lowering its side effects via its combining with the antidiabetic metformin (MET) as an adjuvant therapy, along with its effective delivery using natural platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and newly-developed PRP-mimicking nanocapsules (NCs). The PRP-mimicking NCs were fabricated via layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition of oppositely charged biodegradable and biocompatible chitosan (CS) and alginate (ALG) on a core of synthesized polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) followed by removal of the PS core. Both natural PRP and PRP-mimicking NCs were loaded with DOX and MET adjuvant therapy, followed by their physicochemical characterizations including DLS, FTIR, DSC, and morphological evaluation using TEM. In-vitro drug release studies, cytotoxicity, apoptosis/necrosis, and cell cycle analysis were conducted using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Also, an in-vivo assessment was carried out using EAC-bearing balb/c mice animal model to evaluate the effect of DOX/MET-loaded natural PRP and PRP-mimicked NCs on tumor weight, volume and growth biomarkers in addition to analyzing the immunohistopathology of the treated tissues. Results confirmed the development of CS/ALG-based PRP-mimicking NCs with a higher loading capacity of both drugs (DOX and MET) and smaller size (259.7 ± 19.3 nm) than natural PRP (489 ± 20.827 nm). Both in-vitro and in-vivo studies were in agreement and confirmed that MET synergized the anticancer activity of DOX against breast cancer. Besides, the developed LBL NCs successfully mimicked the PRP in improving the loaded drugs biological efficiency more than free drugs.

Effect of Extracellular Matrix Coating on Cancer Cell Membrane-Encapsulated Polyethyleneimine/DNA Complexes for Efficient and Targeted DNA Delivery In Vitro

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) has a good spongy proton effect and is an excellent nonviral gene vector, but its high charge density leads to the instability and toxicity of PEI/DNA complexes. Cell membrane (CM) capsules provide a universal and natural solution for this problem. Here, CM-coated PEI/DNA capsules (CPDcs) were prepared through extrusion, and the extracellular matrix was coated on CPDcs (ECM-CPDcs) for improved targeting. The results showed that compared with PEI/DNA complexes, CPDcs had core-shell structures (PEI/DNA complexes were coated by a 6-10 nm layer), lower cytotoxicity, and obvious homologous targeting. The internalization and transfection efficiency of 293T-CM-coated PEI70k/DNA capsules (293T-CP70Dcs) were 91.8 and 74.5%, respectively, which were higher than those of PEI70k/DNA complexes. Then, the internalization and transfection efficiency of 293T-CP70Dcs were further improved by ECM coating, which were 94.7 and 78.9%, respectively. Then, the internalization and transfection efficiency of 293T-CP70Dcs were further improved by ECM coating, which were 94.7 and 78.9%, respectively. Moreover, the homologous targeting of various CPDcs was improved by ECM coating, and other CPDcs also showed similar effects as 293T-CP70Dcs after ECM coating. These findings suggest that tumor-targeted CPDcs may have considerable advantages in gene delivery.

Synthesis, Functionalization, and Design of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Theranostic Applications

In order to translate nanotechnology into medical practice, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been presented as a class of non-invasive nanomaterials for numerous biomedical applications. In particular, MNPs have opened a door for simultaneous diagnosis and brisk treatment of diseases in the form of theranostic agents. This review highlights the recent advances in preparation and utilization of MNPs from the synthesis and functionalization steps to the final design consideration in evading the body immune system for therapeutic and diagnostic applications with addressing the most recent examples of the literature in each section. This study provides a conceptual framework of a wide range of synthetic routes classified mainly as wet chemistry, state-of-the-art microfluidic reactors, and biogenic routes, along with the most popular coating materials to stabilize resultant MNPs. Additionally, key aspects of prolonging the half-life of MNPs via overcoming the sequential biological barriers are covered through unraveling the biophysical interactions at the bio-nano interface and giving a set of criteria to efficiently modulate MNPs' physicochemical properties. Furthermore, concepts of passive and active targeting for successful cell internalization, by respectively exploiting the unique properties of cancers and novel targeting ligands are described in detail. Finally, this study extensively covers the recent developments in magnetic drug targeting and hyperthermia as therapeutic applications of MNPs. In addition, multi-modal imaging via fusion of magnetic resonance imaging, and also innovative magnetic particle imaging with other imaging techniques for early diagnosis of diseases are extensively provided.