Phenylboronic Acid Modification Augments the Lysosome Escape and Antitumor Efficacy of a Cylindrical Polymer Brush-Based Prodrug

Peptide-coated DNA nanostructures as a platform for control of lysosomal function in cells

DNA nanotechnology is a rapidly growing field that provides exciting tools for biomedical applications. Targeting lysosomal functions with nanomaterials, such as DNA nanostructures (DNs), represents a rational and systematic way to control cell functionality. Here we present a versatile DNA nanostructure-based platform that can modulate a number of cellular functions depending on the concentration and surface decoration of the nanostructure. Utilizing different peptides for surface functionalization of DNs, we were able to rationally modulate lysosomal activity, which in turn translated into the control of cellular function, ranging from changes in cell morphology to modulation of immune signaling and cell death. Low concentrations of decalysine peptide-coated DNs induced lysosomal acidification, altering the metabolic activity of susceptible cells. In contrast, DNs coated with an aurein-bearing peptide promoted lysosomal alkalization, triggering STING activation. High concentrations of decalysine peptide-coated DNs caused lysosomal swelling, loss of cell-cell contacts, and morphological changes without inducing cell death. Conversely, high concentrations of aurein-coated DNs led to lysosomal rupture and mitochondrial damage, resulting in significant cytotoxicity. Our study holds promise for the rational design of a new generation of versatile DNA-based nanoplatforms that can be used in various biomedical applications, like the development of combinatorial anti-cancer platforms, efficient systems for endolysosomal escape, and nanoplatforms modulating lysosomal pH.

Novel targeting liposomes with enhanced endosomal escape for co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin

Effective endosomal escape is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of nanodrug delivery systems. In this study, we developed a novel liposomal system utilizing acid-sensitive N-(3-amino-propyl) imidazole cholesterol (IM-Chol), specifically designed for the targeted co-delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin (CUR) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Designated as GA-IM-LIP@DOX/CUR, this liposomal system incorporates glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) to improve target specificity toward HCC cells. Notably, both drugs exhibited pH-sensitive release profiles, facilitating precise drug release within acidic environments. Our investigation into cellular uptake demonstrated that modified liposomes, GA-IM-LIP@FITC and IM-LIP@FITC, achieved progressively enhanced intracellular accumulation of FITC compared to unmodified liposomes. Competitive inhibition assays utilizing free GA further validated the targeting efficacy of GA. Moreover, the GA-IM-LIP@FITC and IM-LIP@FITC groups exhibited rapid endosomal escape of FITC within the first two hours, in contrast to delayed escape observed in the LIP@FITC group, confirming that the protonation of IM-Chol promotes drug release into the cytosol. In vivo studies substantiated that GA-IM-LIP@DOX/CUR effectively inhibited tumor growth. This research provides significant insights into the design and functionality of the GA-IM-LIP@DOX/CUR liposomal system, underscoring its potential to enhance drug delivery strategies in the treatment of HCC.

Controlled Fabrication of Unimolecular Micelles as Versatile Nanoplatform for Multifunctional Applications

Unimolecular micelles (UMs) are nano-sized structures that are composed of single molecules with precise composition. Compared to self-assembled polymeric micelles, UMs possess ultra-stable property even in complex biological environment. With the development of controllable polymerization and coupling chemistry, the preparation of narrowly monodispersed UMs with precise morphology and size has been realized, which further facilitates their multifunctional applications. After brief introduction, state-of-the-art advances in the synthesis and applications of UMs are discussed with an emphasis on their bioapplications. It is believed that these UMs have great potential in future fabrication of multifunctional nanoplatforms.

Advances in the development of lipid nanoparticles for ophthalmic therapeutics

Previously, researchers have employed Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to directly encapsulate medicines. In the realm of gene therapy, researchers have begun to employ lipid nanoparticles to encapsulate nucleic acids such as messenger RNA, small interfering RNA, and plasmid DNA, which are known as nucleic acid lipid nanoparticles. Recent breakthroughs in LNP-based medicine have provided significant prospects for the treatment of ocular disorders, such as corneal, choroidal, and retinal diseases. The use of LNP as a delivery mechanism for medicines and therapeutic genes can increase their effectiveness while avoiding undesired immune reactions. However, LNP-based medicines may pose ocular concerns. In this review, we discuss the general framework of LNP. Additionally, we review adjustable approaches and evaluate their possible risks. In addition, we examine newly described ocular illnesses in which LNP was utilized as a delivery mechanism. Finally, we provide perspectives for solving these potential issues.

Anti-Quenching NIR-II Excitation Phenylboronic Acid Modified Conjugated Polyelectrolyte for Intracellular Peroxynitrite-Enhanced Chemo-Photothermal Therapy

Multidrug resistance to clinical chemotherapeutic drugs severely limits antitumor efficacy and patient survival. The integration of chemotherapy with photothermal therapy (PTT) and reactive nitrogen species has become a major strategy to enhance cancer treatment efficacy. Herein, a multifunctional peroxynitrite (ONOO-) nanogenerator (PBT/NO/Pt) for NIR-II fluorescence (NIR-II FL)/NIR-II photoacoustic (NIR-II PA) imaging-guided chemo/NIR-II PTT/ONOO- combination therapy is reported. The multifunction nanogenerator is developed by co-loading a pH-sensitive nitric oxide donor (DETA NONOate) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases trigger superoxide (O2 •-) generator chemotherapy drug (CDDP) to an NIR-II excitation-conjugated polyelectrolyte (PNC11BA). PNC11BA has non-conjugated alkyl chain segments in the polymer backbone and abundant positively charged phenylboronic acid in its side chains, which support the anti-quenching of NIR-II FL and the integration of DETA NONOate and CDDP into PBT/NO/Pt. In the acidic tumor microenvironment, the coordination bonds between CDDP and PNC11BA are cleaved, releasing CDDP for chemotherapeutic activity. The simultaneous release of nitric oxide (NO) and O2 •- rapidly leads to the in situ generation of the more cytotoxic reactive physiological nitrogen species ONOO-. In vitro and in vivo results prove that PBT/NO/Pt exhibited a markedly ONOO- enhanced chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy for SKOV3/DDP tumor by downregulating the intracellular glutathione and increasing CDDP-DNA adducts.

pH/H2O2 Cascade-Responsive Nanoparticles of Lipid-Like Prodrugs through Dynamic-Covalent and Coordination Interactions for Chemotherapy

Traditional lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) suffer from low drug loading capacity (DLC), weak stability, and lack of responsiveness. Conventional approaches to address these issues involve the synthesis of lipid-prodrug by incorporating responsive covalent linkers. However, such approaches often result in suboptimal sensitivity for drug release and undermine therapeutic effectiveness. Herein, the study reports a fundamentally different concept for designing lipid-like prodrugs through boron-nitrogen (B-N) coordination and dynamic covalent interaction. The 5-fluorouracil-based lipid-like prodrugs, featuring a borate ester consisting of a glycerophosphoryl choline head and a boronic acid-modified 5Fu/dodecanamine complex tail, are used to prepare pH/H2O2 cascade-responsive LNPs (5Fu-LNPs). The 5Fu-LNPs exhibit enhanced DLC and stability in a neutral physiological environment due to the B-N coordination and enhanced hydrophobicity. In tumors, acidic pH triggers the dissociation of B-N coordination to release prodrugs, which further responds to low H2O2 concentrations to release drugs, showcasing a potent pH/H2O2-cascade-responsive property. Importantly, 5Fu-LNPs demonstrate greater antitumor efficiency and lower toxicity compared to the commercial 5Fu. These results highlight 5Fu-LNPs as a safer and more effective alternative to chemotherapy. This work presents a unique LNP fabrication strategy that can overcome the limitations of conventional LNPs and broaden the range of intelligent nanomaterial preparation techniques.

A novel marine-derived anti-acute kidney injury agent targeting peroxiredoxin 1 and its nanodelivery strategy based on ADME optimization

Insufficient therapeutic strategies for acute kidney injury (AKI) necessitate precision therapy targeting its pathogenesis. This study reveals the new mechanism of the marine-derived anti-AKI agent, piericidin glycoside S14, targeting peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1). By binding to Cys83 of PRDX1 and augmenting its peroxidase activity, S14 alleviates kidney injury efficiently in Prdx1-overexpression (Prdx1-OE) mice. Besides, S14 also increases PRDX1 nuclear translocation and directly activates the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway to inhibit ROS production. Due to the limited druggability of S14 with low bioavailability (2.6%) and poor renal distribution, a pH-sensitive kidney-targeting dodecanamine-chitosan nanoparticle system is constructed to load S14 for precise treatment of AKI. l-Serine conjugation to chitosan imparts specificity to kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1)-overexpressed cells. The developed S14-nanodrug exhibits higher therapeutic efficiency by improving the in vivo behavior of S14 significantly. By encapsulation with micelles, the AUC0‒t , half-life time, and renal distribution of S14 increase 2.5-, 1.8-, and 3.1-fold, respectively. The main factors contributing to the improved druggability of S14 nanodrugs include the lower metabolic elimination rate and UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT)-mediated biotransformation. In summary, this study identifies a new therapeutic target for the marine-derived anti-AKI agent while enhancing its ADME properties and druggability through nanotechnology, thereby driving advancements in marine drug development for AKI.

Nanoplatform-Based In Vivo Gene Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy

Gene therapy uses modern molecular biology methods to repair disease-causing genes. As a burgeoning therapeutic, it has been widely applied for cancer therapy. Since 1989, there have been numerous clinical gene therapy cases worldwide. However, a few are successful. The main challenge of clinical gene therapy is the lack of efficient and safe vectors. Although viral vectors show high transfection efficiency, their application is still limited by immune rejection and packaging capacity. Therefore, the development of non-viral vectors is overwhelming. Nanoplatform-based non-viral vectors become a hotspot in gene therapy. The reasons are mainly as follows. 1) Non-viral vectors can be engineered to be uptaken by specific types of cells or tissues, providing effective targeting capability. 2) Non-viral vectors can protect goods that need to be delivered from degradation. 3) Nanoparticles can transport large-sized cargo such as CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids and nucleoprotein complexes. 4) Nanoparticles are highly biosafe, and they are not mutagenic in themselves compared to viral vectors. 5) Nanoparticles are easy to scale preparation, which is conducive to clinical conversion and application. Here, an overview of the categories of nanoplatform-based non-viral gene vectors, the limitations on their development, and their applications in cancer therapy.

A General Strategy toward Self-assembled Nanovaccine Based on Cationic Lentinan to Induce Potent Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses

Adjuvants play a critical role in the induction of effective immune responses by vaccines. Here, a self-assembling nanovaccine platform that integrates adjuvant functions into the delivery vehicle is prepared. Cationic Lentinan (CLNT) is mixed with ovalbumin (OVA) to obtain a self-assembling nanovaccine (CLNTO nanovaccine), which induces the uptake and maturation of bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs) via the toll-like receptors 2/4 (TLR2/4) to produce effective antigen cross-presentation. CLNTO nanovaccines target lymph nodes (LNs) and induce a robust OVA-specific immune response via TLR and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathways, retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) receptor, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions. In addition, CLNTO nanovaccines are found that promote the activation of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and induce the differentiation of germinal center (GC) B cells into memory B cells and plasma cells, thereby enhancing the immune response. Vaccination with CLNTO nanovaccine significantly inhibits the growth of ovalbumin (OVA)-expressing B16 melanoma cell (B16-OVA) tumors, indicating its great potential for cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, this study presents a simple, safe, and effective self-assembling nanovaccine that induces helper T cell 1 (Th1) and helper T cell (Th2) immune responses, making it an effective vaccine delivery system.

Biomimetic Exosome-Sheathed Magnetic Mesoporous Anchor with Modification of Glucose Oxidase for Synergistic Targeting and Starving Tumor Cells

Efficient protection and precise delivery of biomolecules are of critical importance in the intervention and therapy of various diseases. Although diverse specific marker-functionalized drug carriers have been developed rapidly, current approaches still encounter substantial challenges, including strong immunogenicity, limited target availability, and potential side effects. Herein, we developed a biomimetic exosome-sheathed magnetic mesoporous anchor modified with glucose oxidase (MNPs@mSiO2-GOx@EM) to address these challenges and achieve synergistic targeting and starving of tumor cells. The MNPs@mSiO2-GOx@EM anchor integrated the unique characteristics of different components. An external decoration of exosome membrane (EM) with high biocompatibility contributed to increased phagocytosis prevention, prolonged circulation, and enhanced recognition and cellular uptake of loaded particles. An internal coated magnetic mesoporous core with rapid responsiveness by the magnetic field guidance and large surface area facilitated the enrichment of nanoparticles at the specific site and provided enough space for modification of glucose oxidase (GOx). The inclusion of GOx in the middle layer accelerated the energy-depletion process within cells, ultimately leading to the starvation and death of target cells with minimal side effects. With these merits, in vitro study manifested that our nanoplatform not only demonstrated an excellent targeting capability of 94.37% ± 1.3% toward homotypic cells but also revealed a remarkably high catalytical ability and cytotoxicity on tumor cells. Assisted by the magnetic guidance, the utilization of our anchor obviously inhibits the tumor growth in vivo. Together, our study is promising to serve as a versatile method for the highly efficient delivery of various target biomolecules to intended locations due to the fungibility of exosome membranes and provide a potential route for the recognition and starvation of tumor cells.

Size- and Shape-controlled Biodegradable Polymer Brushes Based on l-Amino Acid for Intracellular Drug Delivery and Deep-Tissue Penetration

We report size- and shape-controlled polymer brushes based on l-amino acid bioresource and study the role of polymer topology on the enzymatic biodegradation and deep-tissue penetration under in vitro and in vivo. For this purpose, l-tyrosine-based propargyl-functionalized monomer is tailor-made and polymerized via solvent-free melt polycondensation strategy to yield hydrophobic and clickable biodegradable poly(ester-urethane)s. Postpolymerization click chemistry strategy is applied to make well-defined amphiphilic one-dimensional rodlike and three-dimensional spherical polymer brushes by merely varying the lengths of PEG-azides in the reaction. These core-shell polymer brushes are found to be nontoxic and nonhemolytic and capable of loading clinical anticancer drug doxorubicin and deep-tissue penetrable near-infrared biomarker IR-780. In vitro enzymatic drug-release kinetics and lysotracker-assisted real-time live-cell confocal bioimaging revealed that the rodlike polymer brush is superior than its spherical counterparts for faster cellular uptake and enzymatic biodegradation at the endolysosomal compartments to release DOX at the nucleus. Further, in vivo live-animal bioimaging by IVIS technique established that the IR-780-loaded rodlike polymer brush exhibited efficient deep-tissue penetration ability and emphasized the importance of polymer brush topology control for biological activity. Polymer brushes exhibit good stability in the blood plasma for more than 72 h, they predominately accumulate in the digestive organs like liver and kidney, and they are less toxic to heart and brain tissues. IVIS imaging of cryotome tissue slices of organs confirmed the deep-penetrating ability of the polymer brushes. The present investigation opens opportunity for bioderived and biodegradable polymer brushes as next-generation smart drug-delivery scaffolds.

Exosome-mimetic vesicles derived from fibroblasts carrying matrine for wound healing

Background

Chronic skin wounds are a leading cause of hospital admissions and reduced life expectancy among older people and individuals with diabetes. Delayed wound healing is often attributed to a series of cellular abnormalities. Matrine, a well-studied component found in Sophora flavescens, is recognized for its anti-inflammatory effects. However, its impact on wound healing still remains uncertain. This study aims to explore the potential of matrine in promoting wound healing.

Methods

In this study, we utilized gradient extrusion to produce fibroblast-derived exosome-mimetic vesicles as carriers for matrine (MHEM). MHEM were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis. The therapeutic effect of MHEM in wound healing was explored in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Both matrine and MHEM enhanced the cellular activity as well as the migration of fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The potent anti-inflammatory effect of matrine diluted the inflammatory response in the vicinity of wounds. Furthermore, MHEM worked together to promote angiogenesis and the expression of transforming growth factor β and collagen I. MHEM contained growth factors of fibroblasts that regulated the functions of fibroblasts, keratinocytes and monocytes, which synergistically promoted wound healing with the anti-inflammatory effect of matrine.

Conclusions

MHEM showed enhanced therapeutic efficacy in the inflammatory microenvironment, for new tissue formation and angiogenesis of wound healing.

Influence of Polymer Side Chain Size and Backbone Length on the Self-Assembly of Supramolecular Polymer Bottlebrushes

Hydrogen bonds are a versatile tool for creating fibrous, bottlebrush-like assemblies of polymeric building blocks. However, a delicate balance of forces exists between the steric repulsion of the polymer chains and these directed supramolecular forces. In this work we have systematically investigated the influence of structural parameters of the attached polymers on the assembly behaviour of benzene trisurea (BTU) and benzene tris(phenylalanine) (BTP) conjugates in water. Polymers with increasing main chain lengths and different side chain sizes were prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization of hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), tri(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (TEGA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (OEGA). The resulting structures were analyzed using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both BTU and BTP formed fibres with PHEA attached, but a transition to spherical morphologies was observed at degrees of polymerisation (DP) of 70 and above. Overall, the main chain length appeared to be a dominating factor in inducing morphology transitions. Increasing the side chain size generally had a similar effect but mainly impeded any aggregation as is the case of POEGA. Interestingly, BTP conjugates still formed fibres, suggesting that the stronger intermolecular interactions can compensate partially for the steric repulsion.

A convenient protonated strategy for constructing nanodrugs from hydrophobic drug-inhibitor conjugates to reverse tumor multidrug resistance

Combination therapy has proven effective in counteracting tumor multidrug resistance (MDR). However, the pharmacokinetic differences among various drugs and inherent water insolubility for most small molecule agents greatly hinder their synergistic effects, which makes the delivery of drugs for combination therapy in vivo a key problem. Herein, we propose a protonated strategy to transform a water-insoluble small molecule drug-inhibitor conjugate into an amphiphilic one, which then self-assembles into nanoparticles for co-delivery in vivo to overcome tumor MDR. Specifically, paclitaxel (PTX) is first coupled with a third-generation P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor zosuquidar (Zos) through a glutathione (GSH)-responsive disulfide bond to produce a hydrophobic drug-inhibitor conjugate (PTX-ss-Zos). Subsequently treated with hydrochloric acid ethanol solution (HCl/EtOH), PTX-ss-Zos is transformed into the amphiphilic protonated precursor and then forms nanoparticles (PTX-ss-Zos@HCl NPs) in water by molecular self-assembly. PTX-ss-Zos@HCl NPs can be administered intravenously and accumulated specifically at tumor sites. Once internalized by cancer cells, PTX-ss-Zos@HCl NPs can be degraded under the overexpressed GSH to release PTX and Zos simultaneously, which synergistically reverse tumor MDR and inhibit tumor growth. This offers a promising strategy to develop small molecule self-assembled nanoagents to reverse tumor MDR in combination therapy.

FePd Nanozyme- and SKN-Encapsulated Functional Lipid Nanoparticles for Cancer Nanotherapy via ROS-Boosting Necroptosis

Cell necroptosis has presented great potential, acting as an effective approach against tumor apoptotic resistance, and it could be further enhanced via accompanying reactive oxygen species (ROS) overexpression. However, whether overproduced ROS assists the necroptotic pathway remains unclear. Thus, iron-palladium nanozyme (FePd NZ)- and shikonin (SKN)-encapsulated functional lipid nanoparticles (FPS-LNPs) were designed to investigate the ROS overexpression-enhanced SKN-induced necroptosis. In this system, SKN acts as an effective necroptosis inducer for cancer cells, and FePd NZ, a sensitive Fenton reaction catalyst, produces extra-intracellular ROS to reinforce the necroptotic pathway. Both in vitro and in vivo antitumor evaluation revealed that FPS-LNPs presented the best tumor growth inhibition efficacy compared with FP-LNPs or SKN-LNPs alone. Meanwhile, induced necroptosis by FPS-LNPs can further trigger the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and antigens from dying tumor cells to activate the innate immune response. Taking biosafety into consideration, this study has provided a potential nanoplatform for cancer nanotherapy via inducing necroptosis to avoid apoptosis resistance and activate CD8+ T cell immune response.

Unlocking the potential: phenylboronic acid as a nuclear-targeting boron agent for neutron capture therapy

It has been proposed that boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) holds promise as a treatment modality for melanoma. However, the effectiveness of boron agents in delivery remains a critical issue to be addressed for BNCT. To this end, phenylboronic acid, which exhibits good water solubility and low cytotoxicity similar to BPA, has been investigated as a potential nuclear-targeting boron agent. The boron concentration of phenylboronic acid was found to be 74.47 ± 12.17 ng/106 B16F10 cells and 45.77 ± 5.64 ng/106 cells in the nuclei. Molecular docking experiments were conducted to investigate the binding of phenylboronic acid to importin proteins involved in nuclear transport. The potential of phenylboronic acid to serve as a desirable nucleus-delivery boron agent for neutron capture therapy in melanoma warrants further exploration.

Intracellular and extracellular synergistic therapy for restoring macrophage functions via anti-CD47 antibody-conjugated bifunctional nanoparticles in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a significant contributor to global cardiovascular disease. Reducing the formation of atherosclerotic plaque effectively can lead to a decrease in cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, controlling macrophage function is crucial. This study presents the creation of a bifunctional nanoparticle that is specific to macrophages to achieve intracellular and extracellular synergistic therapy for restoring macrophage functions. The nanoparticle is conjugated with anti-CD47 antibody to modulate extracellular CD47-SIRPα phagocytic signaling axis on the outer surface of macrophages and encapsulates the NLRP3 inhibitor (CY-09) to regulate intracellular inflammation response of macrophages. The results showed that the nanoparticles accumulate in the atherosclerotic plaque, alter macrophage phagocytosis, inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and decrease the plaque burden in Apoe-/- mice whilst ensuring safety. Examination of single-cell RNA sequencing indicates that this multifunctional nanoparticle decreases the expression of genes linked to inflammation and manages inflammatory pathways in the plaque lesion. This study proposes a synergistic therapeutic approach that utilizes a bifunctional nanoparticle, conjugated with anti-CD47, to regulate the microenvironment of plaques.

A Multifunctional Bimetallic Nanoplatform for Synergic Local Hyperthermia and Chemotherapy Targeting HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Anti-HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) therapies significantly increase the overall survival of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Unfortunately, a large fraction of patients may develop primary or acquired resistance. Further, a multidrug combination used to prevent this in the clinic places a significant burden on patients. To address this issue, this work develops a nanotherapeutic platform that incorporates bimetallic gold-silver hollow nanoshells (AuAg HNSs) with exceptional near-infrared (NIR) absorption capability, the small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor pyrotinib (PYR), and Herceptin (HCT). This platform realizes targeted delivery of multiple therapeutic effects, including chemo-and photothermal activities, oxidative stress, and immune response. In vitro assays reveal that the HCT-modified nanoparticles exhibit specific recognition ability and effective internalization by cells. The released PYR inhibit cell proliferation by downregulating HER2 and its associated pathways. NIR laser application induces a photothermal effect and tumor cell apoptosis, whereas an intracellular reactive oxygen species burst amplifies oxidative stress and triggers cancer cell ferroptosis. Importantly, this multimodal therapy also promotes the upregulation of genes related to TNF and NF-κB signaling pathways, enhancing immune activation and immunogenic cell death. In vivo studies confirm a significant reduction in tumor volume after treatment, substantiating the potential effectiveness of these nanocarriers.

A facile boronophenylalanine modified polydopamine dual drug-loaded nanoparticles for enhanced anti-tumor immune response in hepatocellular carcinoma comprehensive treatment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has an insidious onset and high malignancy. Most patients have progressed to intermediate and advanced stages by the time of diagnosis, and the long-term efficacy of traditional treatments is not satisfactory. Immunotherapy has shown great promise in the treatment of HCC in recent years; however, the low immunogenicity and severe immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment result in a low response rate to immunotherapy in HCC patients. Therefore, it is of great significance to improve the immunogenicity of HCC and thus enhance its sensitivity to immunotherapy. Here, we prepared the boronophenylalanine-modified dual drug-loaded polydopamine nanoparticles by a facile method. This system used boronophenylalanine-modified polydopamine nanoparticles as a delivery vehicle and photothermal material for the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin and the immune agonist CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN), with both active targeting and lysosomal escape functions. The cancer cells are rapidly killed by photothermal treatment, and then chemotherapy is used to further kill cancer cells that are inadequately treated by photothermal treatment. The combination of photothermal-chemotherapy synergistically induces the release of relevant antigens from tumor cells, thus initiating anti-tumor immunity; and then cooperates with CpG-ODN to trigger a powerful anti-tumor immune memory effect, potently and durably inhibiting HCC recurrence.

Transformable Magnetic Liquid-Metal Nanoplatform for Intracellular Drug Delivery and MR Imaging-Guided Microwave Thermochemotherapy

Improved techniques for the administration of chemotherapeutic drugs are required to enhance tumor therapy efficacy and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy due to insufficient targeting and limited intratumoral drug release. Controlled drug delivery systems combined with thermotherapy are expected to play an important role in personalized tumor therapy. Herein, a novel microwave-responsive transformable magnetic liquid-metal (MLM) nanoplatform is designed for effective endosomal escape that facilitates intracellular drug delivery and enhanced anticancer therapy. The MLM nanoplatform exhibits a sensitive magnetic resonance imaging function for imaging-guided therapy and brilliant synergistic effects of chemotherapy with microwave thermal therapy to kill tumor cells. Once endocytosed by targeted tumor cells, the deep penetration of microwave energy can be absorbed by the MLM nanoplatform to convert heat and reactive oxygen species, which induces the shape transformation from nanospheres to large rods, resulting in the physical disruption of the endosomal membrane for intracellular drug release. Furthermore, the MLM nanoplatform synergistic therapy could activate immunomodulatory effects by M1 macrophage polarization and T cell infiltration, thus inhibiting tumor growth and lung metastasis. This work based on microwave-driven transformable magnetic liquid-metal nanoplatform provides novel ways to precisely control drug delivery and high-efficiency cancer therapy.

Self-assembled porphyrin-peptide cages for photodynamic therapy

The development of photodynamic therapy requires access to smart photosensitizers which combine appropriate photophysical and biological properties. Interestingly, supramolecular and dynamic covalent chemistries have recently shown their ability to produce novel architectures and responsive systems through simple self-assembly approaches. Herein, we report the straightforward formation of porphyrin-peptide conjugates and cage compounds which feature on their surface chemical groups promoting cell uptake and specific organelle targeting. We show that they self-assemble, in aqueous media, into positively-charged nanoparticles which generate singlet oxygen upon green light irradiation, while also undergoing a chemically-controlled disassembly due to the presence of reversible covalent linkages. Finally, the biological evaluation in cells revealed that they act as effective photosensitizers and promote synergistic effects in combination with Doxorubicin.

Enhancing drug penetration in solid tumors via nanomedicine: Evaluation models, strategies and perspectives

Effective tumor treatment depends on optimizing drug penetration and accumulation in tumor tissue while minimizing systemic toxicity. Nanomedicine has emerged as a key solution that addresses the rapid clearance of free drugs, but achieving deep drug penetration into solid tumors remains elusive. This review discusses various strategies to enhance drug penetration, including manipulation of the tumor microenvironment, exploitation of both external and internal stimuli, pioneering nanocarrier surface engineering, and development of innovative tactics for active tumor penetration. One outstanding strategy is organelle-affinitive transfer, which exploits the unique properties of specific tumor cell organelles and heralds a potentially transformative approach to active transcellular transfer for deep tumor penetration. Rigorous models are essential to evaluate the efficacy of these strategies. The patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model is gaining traction as a bridge between laboratory discovery and clinical application. However, the journey from bench to bedside for nanomedicines is fraught with challenges. Future efforts should prioritize deepening our understanding of nanoparticle-tumor interactions, re-evaluating the EPR effect, and exploring novel nanoparticle transport mechanisms.

Construction and in vitro evaluation of pH-sensitive nanoparticles to reverse drug resistance of breast cancer stem cells

Breast cancer is a major threat to safety and health of women. The breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) have multi-drug resistance to chemotherapy drugs, which leads to chemotherapy failure. We proposed a strategy of delivery of tumor-killing drugs and a resistance reversal agent, to enhance inhibition of BCSCs. Here, schisandrin B (SchB)/AP NPs are constructed using acid-grafted-poly (β-amino ester) (ATRA-g-PBAE, AP) grafted polymer nanoparticle encapsulated SchB, with pH-sensitive release function. This drug delivery system has good pharmacological properties and can increase the SchB release with the decrease of pH. The NPs showed cytotoxic effects in reversing ATRA resistance to BCSCs. Lysosomal escape was achieved when the nanoparticles were taken up by BCSCs. In addition, we found that NPs may reverse MDR by inhibiting the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and affecting the energy supply of drug efflux. This study provides a nanodelivery therapy strategy that reverses BCSCs multidrug resistance (MDR) and demonstrates that it did so by interfering with cancer cell energy metabolism. Therefore, the co-delivery strategy of ATRA and SchB provides a new option for the treatment of breast cancer.

Ligand Phase Separation-Promoted, "Squeezing-Out" Mode Explaining the Mechanism and Implications of Neutral Nanoparticles That Escaped from Lysosomes

Neutral nanomaterials functionalized with PEG or similar molecules have been popularly employed as nanomedicines. Compared to positive counterparts that are capable of harnessing the well-known proton sponge effect to facilitate their escape from lysosomes, it is yet unclear how neutral substances got their entry into the cytosol. In this study, by taking PEGylated, neutral Au nanospheres as an example, we systematically investigated their time-dependent translocation postuptake. Specifically, we harnessed dissipative particle dynamics simulations to uncover how nanospheres bypass lysosomal entrapment, wherein a mechanism termed as "squeezing-out" mode was discovered. We next conducted a comprehensive investigation on how nanomaterials implicate lysosomes in terms of integrity and functionality. By using single-molecule imaging, specific preservation of PEG-terminated with targeting moieties in lysosomes supports the "squeezing-out" mode as the mechanism underlying the lysosomal escape of nanomaterials. All evidence points out that such a process is benign to lysosomes, wherein the escape of nanomaterials proceeds at the expense of targeting moieties loss. Furthermore, we proved that by fine-tuning of the efficacy of nanomaterials escaping from lysosomes, modulation of distinct pathways and metabolic machinery can be achieved readily, thereby offering us a simple and robust tool to implicate cells.

Folate-modified carboxymethyl chitosan-based drug delivery system for breast cancer specific combination therapy via regulating mitochondrial calcium concentration

Although various drug delivery systems that regulated Ca2+ concentration has been developed for tumor therapy, their application still presented significant challenges due to the complex preparation and introduction of a large number of inorganic molecules that might cause serious toxic effects. To solve these problems, a folate-functionalized carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)/calcium phosphate hybrid nanoparticle (CF/CaP) with Ca2+ production was designed to treat breast cancer combined with the Ca2+ inhibitory effect of encapsulated curcumin (Cur). It was demonstrated that the optimal CF/CaP nanoparticles loaded with Cur (C@CF/CaP) were spherical nanoparticles, which exhibited a smaller size at about 179 nm than non-targeted nanoparticles with size at about 234 nm. C@CF/CaP had good biocompatibility, high stability and acid responsive drug release. Compared with the neutral environment, the cumulative release of Cur was >70 % after culture for 36 h at pH 5.0. Compared with non-targeted nanoparticles, C@CF/CaP could specifically target tumor tissues and then enter tumor cells through folate receptor-mediated endocytosis. C@CF/CaP could cause mitochondrial Ca2+ overload, trigger the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, destroy the mitochondrial structure and finally have good anti-tumor efficiency. The results proved that Ca2+ nanomodulators based on CMCS might provide a potential organelle targeting strategy for cancer therapy.

pH-Responsive Plasmon-Enhanced Persistent Luminescent ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ Nanopomegranate for Tumor Imaging

Noble metal compositing is a promising method to enhance radiance intensity of persistent luminescent (PersL) nanoparticles (NPs) via surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for better tumor imaging, but it rarely unites with the pH-response strategy due to the challenge of realizing rigorous pH-responsive spatial distance control as a "button switch" of SPR. Here, ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ (ZGC) NPs as "pomegranate seeds" are cladded with sodium alginate to form nanoclusters (ZGC-SA), subsequently coated with carboxyl-rich polymers to acquire "pomegranate rind" (ZSPB) and finally decorated with 10 nm gold NPs (AuNPs) on the surface to obtain nanopomegranate structure (ZSPB@AuNPs). Though without deliberate distance control, there are plenty of "seeds" inside ZSPB@AuNPs fortunately at appropriate positions, which could be plasmon-enhanced by AuNPs. Furthermore, triggered by carboxyl protonation in subacid tumor, ZSPB@AuNPs aggregate and subsequently facilitate such plasmon enhancement effect, resulting in 4.4-fold PersL promotion at pH 5.5 (tumor microenvironment, TME) over pH 7.4 and in a maximum "tumor to normal tissue ratio" of PersL imaging signals of 125.9. Under surgical navigation of ZSPB@AuNPs, intramuscular tumors of mice could be resected without residue signals left. This nanopomegranate achieves TME pH-responsive plasmon-enhanced PersL for the first time and broadens the way for designing plasmon-enhanced PersL nanosystems.

Artificially reprogrammed stem cells deliver transcytosable nanocomplexes for improved spinal cord repair

Stem cell transplantation holds great promise for restoring function after spinal cord injury (SCI), but its therapeutic efficacy heavily depends on the innate capabilities of the cells and the microenvironment at the lesion site. Herein, a potent cell therapeutic (NCs@SCs) is engineered by artificially reprogramming bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) with oxidation-responsive transcytosable gene-delivery nanocomplexes (NCs), which endows cells with robust oxidative stress resistance and improved cytokine secretion. NCs@SCs can accumulate in the injured spinal cord after intravenous administration via chemotaxis and boost successive transcytosis to deliver NCs to neurons, augmenting ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) production in both BMSCs and neurons in response to elevated ROS levels. Furthermore, NCs@SCs can actively sense and eliminate ROS and re-educate recruited M1-like macrophages into the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype via a paracrine pathway, ultimately reshaping the inflammatory microenvironment. Synergistically, NCs@SCs exhibit durable survival and provide neuroprotection against secondary damage, enabling significant locomotor function recovery in SCI rats. Transcriptome analysis reveals that regulation of the ROS/MAPK signaling pathway is involved in SCI therapy by NCs@SCs. This study presents a nanomaterial-mediated cell-reprogramming approach for developing live cell therapeutics, showing significant potential in the treatment of SCI and other neuro-injury disorders.

Engineering Diselenide-IR780 Homodimeric Nanoassemblies with Enhanced Photodynamic and Immunotherapeutic Effects for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an efficient approach for non-invasive cancer treatment. However, organic small-molecule photosensitizers are often associated with defects in hydrophobicity, poor photostability, and aggregation-caused quenching, which limit their application. Usually, the carrier-assisted drug delivery system is a common strategy to solve the above obstacles, but additional carrier material could increase the risk of potential biological toxicity. The carrier-free drug delivery system with easy preparation and high drug-loading capability is proposed subsequently as a potential strategy to develop the clinical use of hydrophobic drugs. Herein, we rationally designed three IR780-based carrier-free nanosystems formed by carbon/disulfide/diselenide bond conjugated IR780-based homodimers. The IR780-based homodimers could self-assemble to form nanoparticles (DC-NP, DS-NP, DSe-NP) and exhibited higher reactive oxygen species generation capability and photostability than free IR780, in which DSe-NP with 808 nm laser irradiation performed best and resulted in the strongest cytotoxicity to 4T1 cells. Meanwhile, the glutathione consumption ability of DSe-NP boosted its PDT effect and then induced excessive oxidative stress of 4T1 cells, increasing antitumor efficacy by enhancing immunogenic cell death further. In tumor-bearing mice, DSe-NP displayed obvious tumor site accumulation, which obviously inhibited tumor growth and metastasis, and enhanced the immunological effect by effectively inducing dendritic cells to mature and activating T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. In summary, our study presented an IR780-based carrier-free nanodelivery system for a combination of PDT and immunity therapy and established expanding the application of organic small-molecule photosensitizers by an approach of carrier-free drug delivery system.

Synthesis, supramolecular aggregation, and NIR-II phosphorescence of isocyanorhodium(i) zwitterions

Development of new second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) luminophores is highly desirable, and d8 square-planar metal complexes with NIR-II phosphorescence have been rarely reported. Herein, we explore an asymmetric coordination paradigm to achieve the first creation of NIR-II phosphorescent isocyanorhodium(i) zwitterions. They show a strong tendency for aggregation in solution, arising from close Rh(i)⋯Rh(i) contacts that are further intensified by π-π stacking interactions and the hydrophilic-hydrophobic effect. Based on such supramolecular aggregation, zwitterions 2 and 5 are found to yield NIR-II phosphorescence emissions centered at 1005 and 1120 (1210, shoulder) nm in methanol-water mixed solvents, respectively. These two bands show red shifts to 1070 and 1130 (1230, shoulder) nm in the corresponding polymer nanoparticles in water. The resulting polymer nanoparticles can brighten in vivo tumor issues in the NIR-II region with a long-circulating time. In view of the synthetic diversity established by the asymmetric coordination paradigm, this work provides an extraordinary opportunity to explore NIR-II luminophores.

M2 Macrophage Hybrid Membrane-Camouflaged Targeted Biomimetic Nanosomes to Reprogram Inflammatory Microenvironment for Enhanced Enzyme-Thermo-Immunotherapy

Excessive inflammatory reactions caused by uric acid deposition are the key factor leading to gout. However, clinical medications cannot simultaneously remove uric acid and eliminate inflammation. An M2 macrophage-erythrocyte hybrid membrane-camouflaged biomimetic nanosized liposome (USM[H]L) is engineered to deliver targeted self-cascading bienzymes and immunomodulators to reprogram the inflammatory microenvironment in gouty rats. The cell-membrane-coating endow nanosomes with good immune escape and lysosomal escape to achieve long circulation time and intracellular retention times. After being uptaken by inflammatory cells, synergistic enzyme-thermo-immunotherapies are achieved: uricase and nanozyme degraded uric acid and hydrogen peroxide, respectively; bienzymes improved the catalytic abilities of each other; nanozyme produced photothermal effects; and methotrexate has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. The uric acid levels markedly decrease, and ankle swelling and claw curling are effectively alleviated. The levels of inflammatory cytokines and ROS decrease, while the anti-inflammatory cytokine levels increase. Proinflammatory M1 macrophages are reprogrammed to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Notably, the IgG and IgM levels in USM[H]L-treated rats decrease substantially, while uricase-treated rats show high immunogenicity. Proteomic analysis show that there are 898 downregulated and 725 upregulated differentially expressed proteins in USM[H]L-treated rats. The protein-protein interaction network indicates that the signaling pathways include the spliceosome, ribosome, purine metabolism, etc.

Vinblastine resets tumor-associated macrophages toward M1 phenotype and promotes antitumor immune response

BACKGROUND

Massive tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration is observed in many tumors, which usually display the immune-suppressive M2-like phenotype but can also be converted to an M1-like antitumor phenotype due to their high degree of plasticity. The macrophage polarization state is associated with changes in cell shape, macrophage morphology is associated with activation status. M1 macrophages appeared large and rounded, while M2 macrophages were stretched and elongated cells. Manipulating cell morphology has been shown to affect the polarization state of macrophages. The shape of the cell is largely dependent on cytoskeletal proteins, especially, microtubules. As a microtubule-targetting drug, vinblastine (VBL) has been used in chemotherapy. However, no study to date has explored the effect of VBL on TAM shape changes and its role in tumor immune response.

METHOD

We used fluorescent staining of the cytoskeleton and quantitative analysis to reveal the morphological differences between M0, M1, M2, TAM and VBL-treated TAM. Flow cytometry was used to confirm the polarization states of these macrophages using a cell surface marker-based classification. In vivo antibody depletion experiments in tumor mouse models were performed to test whether macrophages and CD8+ T cell populations were required for the antitumor effect of VBL. VBL and anti-PD-1 combination therapy was then investigated in comparison with monotherapy. RNA-seq of TAM of treated and untreated with VBL was performed to explore the changes in pathway activities. siRNA mediated knockdown experiments were performed to verify the target pathway that was affected by VBL treatment.

RESULTS

Here, we showed that VBL, an antineoplastic agent that destabilizes microtubule, drove macrophage polarization into the M1-like phenotype both in vitro and in tumor models. The antitumor effect of VBL was attenuated in the absence of macrophages or CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, VBL induces the activation of NF-κB and Cyba-dependent reactive oxygen species generation, thus polarizing TAMs to the M1 phenotype. In parallel, VBL promotes the nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB, inducing lysosome biogenesis and a dramatic increase in phagocytic activity in macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

This study explored whether manipulating cellular morphology affects macrophage polarization and consequently induces an antitumor response. Our data reveal a previously unrecognized antitumor mechanism of VBL and suggest a drug repurposing strategy combining VBL with immune checkpoint inhibitors to improve malignant tumor immunotherapy.

High-Performance Multi-Dynamic Bond Cross-Linked Hydrogel with Spatiotemporal siRNA Delivery for Gene-Cell Combination Therapy of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Chronic inflammatory diseases, such as intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), which affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people, still lack effective and precise treatments. In this study, a novel hydrogel system with many extraordinary properties is developed for gene-cell combination therapy of IVDD. Phenylboronic acid-modified G5 PAMAM (G5-PBA) is first synthesized, and therapeutic siRNA silencing the expression of P65 mixed with G5-PBA (siRNA@G5-PBA) is then embedded into the hydrogel (siRNA@G5-PBA@Gel) based on multi-dynamic bonds including acyl hydrazone bonds, imine linkage, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonding interactions. Local and acidic inflammatory microenvironment-responsive gene-drug release can achieve spatiotemporal regulation of gene expression. In addition, gene-drug release from the hydrogel can be sustained for more than 28 days in vitro and in vivo, greatly inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors and the subsequent degeneration of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Through prolonged inhibition of the P65/NLRP3 signaling pathway, the siRNA@G5-PBA@Gel is verified to relieve inflammatory storms, which can significantly enhance the regeneration of IVD when combined with cell therapy. Overall, this study proposes an innovative system for gene-cell combination therapy and a precise and minimally invasive treatment method for IVD regeneration.

A cyclic brush zwitterionic polymer based pH-responsive nanocarrier-mediated dual drug delivery system with lubrication maintenance for osteoarthritis treatment

Enhanced joint synergistic lubrication combined with anti-inflammatory therapy is an effective strategy to delay the progression of early osteoarthritis (OA) but has been rarely reported. The hydration lubrication of zwitterions and inherent super-lubrication properties of the cyclic brush, as well as the enhancement of the steric stability of the cyclic topology, can effectively improve the drug loading and utilization; herein we report a pH-responsive cyclic brush zwitterionic polymer (CB) with SBMA and DMAEMA as brushes and a cyclic polymer (c-P(HEMA)) as the core template, possessing a low coefficient of friction (0.017). After loading with hydrophobic curcumin and hydrophilic loxoprofen sodium it demonstrates high drug-loading efficiency. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed the triple function of the CB on superlubrication, sequence controlled release and anti-inflammatory effects demonstrated by Micro CT, histological analysis and qRT-PCR. Overall, the CB is a promising long-acting lubricating therapeutic agent, with potential for OA treatment or other diseases.

Artificial nano-red blood cells nanoplatform with lysosomal escape capability for ultrasound imaging-guided on-demand pain management

Postoperative pain management would benefit significantly from an anesthetic that could take effect in an on-demand manner. An ultrasound would be an appropriate tool for such nanoplatform because it is widely used in clinical settings for ultrasound-guided anesthesia. Herein, we report a nanoplatform for postoperative on-demand pain management that can effectively enhance their analgesic time while providing ultrasonic imaging. Levobupivacaine and perfluoropentane were put into dendritic mesoporous silica and covered with red blood cell membranes to make the pain relief last longer in living organisms. The generated nanoplatform with gas-producing capability is ultrasonic responsive and can finely escape from the lysosomal in cells under ultrasound irradiation, maximizing the anesthetic effect with minimal toxicity. Using an incision pain model in vivo, levobupivacaine's sustained and controlled release gives pain reduction for approximately 3 days straight. The duration of pain relief is over 20 times greater than with a single injection of free levobupivacaine. Effective pain management was reached in vivo, and the pain reduction was enhanced by repeated ultrasonic irradiation. There was no detectable systemic or tissue injury under either of the treatments. Thus, our results suggest that nanoplatform with lysosomal escape capability can provide a practical ultrasound imaging-guided on-demand pain management strategy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: On-demand pain management is essential to postoperative patients. However, the traditional on-demand pain management strategy is hampered by the limited tissue penetration depth of near-infrared stimuli and the lack of proper imaging guidance. The proposed research is significant because it provides a nanoplatform for deep penetrated ultrasound controlled pain management under clinical applicable ultrasound imaging guidance. Moreover, the nanoplatform with prolonged retention time and lysosomal escape capability can provide long-term pain alleviation. Therefore, our results suggest that nanoplatform with lysosomal escape capability can provide an effective strategy for ultrasound imaging-guided on-demand pain management.

Recent progress and applications of poly(beta amino esters)-based biomaterials

Poly(beta-amino esters, PBAEs) are a promising class of cationic polymers synthesized from diacrylates and amines via Michael addition. Recently, PBAEs have been widely developed for drug delivery, immunotherapy, gene therapy, antibacterial, tissue engineering and other applications due to their convenient synthesis, good bio-compatibility and degradation properties. Herein, we mainly summarize the recent progress in the PBAEs synthesis and their applications. The amine groups of PBAEs could be protonated in low pH environment, exhibiting proton sponge and pH-sensitive abilities. Furthermore, the positive PBAEs can interact with negative genes via electrostatic interactions for efficient delivery of nucleic acids. Moreover, positive PBAEs could also directly kill bacteria by disrupting their membranes at high doses. Finally, PBAEs can augment the immune responses, and improve the bioactivity of hydrogels in tissue engineering.

Fluorination Effects on the Drug Delivery Property of Cylindrical Polymer Brushes

Fluorination has been widely applied to improving the properties of small-molecule drugs. However, relatively little is known about the effects of fluorination on the drug delivery property of nanomaterials. In this paper, we synthesized a fluoroalkane-modified cylindrical polymer brush (CPB) BCPB-F and an alkane-modified analogue BCPB-H. Doxorubicin (DOX) was used as a model drug and was loaded onto the CPBs through a pH-responsive acylhydrazone linkage. High drug loading and good water solubility were achieved. The in vitro and in vivo experiments suggested that fluorination played an important role in improving the cellular uptake, blood circulation, tissue permeability, and tumor targeting ability of CPBs. Due to these superiorities, the DOX-loaded BCPB-F exhibited excellent antitumor efficacy and eradicated the tumors of mice after five-dose treatments. The well-defined structures of the drug-free and drug-loaded CPBs guaranteed the accuracy of the results. This work demonstrates that fluorination is a promising strategy to improve the overall properties of nanomedicines.

A hypoxia-dissociable siRNA nanoplatform for synergistically enhanced chemo-radiotherapy of glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM), as the most aggressive adult brain tumor, seriously threatened people's lives with a low survival time. Standard postoperative treatment, chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy (RT), was the major therapeutic strategy for GBM. However, this therapeutic efficacy was hindered by chemoradiotherapy resistance of GBM. Herein, to sensitize temozolomide (TMZ)-based chemotherapy and RT, a hypoxia-radiosensitive nanoparticle for co-delivering TMZ and siMGMT (RDPP(Met)/TMZ/siMGMT) was synthesized in this study. Our nanoparticle could effectively release the encapsulated alkylating agent (TMZ) and small interfering O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase RNA (siMGMT) in the hypoxic GBM. DNA-damage repair was effectively inhibited by down-regulating MGMT expression and activating cell apoptosis, which obviously enhanced the sensitivity of TMZ as well as RT. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that RDPP(Met)/TMZ/siMGMT could efficiently penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), accurately target GBM cells and effectively inhibit GBM proliferation. Compared with traditional TMZ combined with RT, RDPP(Met)/TMZ/siMGMT remarkably improved the survival time of orthotopic GBM-bearing mice, which demonstrated that our nanoplatform was an efficient combinatorial GBM therapy.

Novel Cocktail Therapy Based on a Nanocarrier with an Efficient Transcytosis Property Reverses the Dynamically Deteriorating Tumor Microenvironment for Enhanced Immunotherapy

The immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) faces a low response rate in clinical cancer treatment. Chemotherapy could enhance the response rate of the ICB, but patients would suffer from side effects. The off-target toxicity could be reduced by loading the chemotherapeutic agent through nanocarriers. Therefore, we developed a polymeric carrier for doxorubicin (DOX) loading to form DOX nanoparticles (DOX NPs), which were spatiotemporally responsive to the tumor microenvironment (TME). DOX NPs had an efficient transcytosis property for deep tumor infiltration and sustained drug release ability. Unfortunately, a binary therapy of DOX NPs and ICB induces tumor adaptive resistance and causes dynamic deterioration of the TME. We propose for the first time that TGF-β1 is a major cause of tumor adaptive resistance and developed an immune cocktail therapy containing DOX NPs, ICB, and TGF-β1 gene silencing nanoparticles. This therapy successfully overcame tumor adaptive resistance by reversing the immunosuppressive TME and achieved enhanced tumor treatment efficiency.

Delivery process and effective design of vectors for cancer therapy

In recent years, the efficacy of nano-drugs has not been significantly better than that of the drugs themselves, mainly because nano-drugs enter the tumor vasculature, stay near the blood vessels, and cannot enter the tumor tissues or tumor cells to complete the drug delivery process. Although intratumor injection can significantly decrease this risk, the side effects are strong. The advent of drug delivery carrier materials offers an opportunity to avoid the side effects of systemic drug delivery and the damage caused by tumor resection, holding great promise for the future of cancer therapy. Here, we systematically review recent research advances in the classification of drug delivery carrier materials and the delivery process in drug delivery systems. This review is divided into several main sections, first, we summarize the classification of tumor drug carrier materials, including drug delivery vectors and gene delivery vectors, etc., which are introduced in detail, respectively. Then we describe the carrier materials to deliver the drug cascade and the transition pathways for drug delivery, including stabilization transitions, charge inversions, and size changes. Finally, we discuss the current design strategies and research progress of drug vectors and provide a summary and outlook. This review aims to summarize different drug delivery vehicles and delivery processes to provide ideas for effective cancer therapy.

Indocyanine green potentiated paclitaxel nanoprodrugs for imaging and chemotherapy

Self-assembled prodrug nanoparticles with tumor-responsive capacity have great potential in tumor visualization and treatment. However, the nanoparticle formulas usually contain multiple components, especially polymeric materials, which result in various potential issues. Herein, we report an indocyanine green (ICG)-driven assembly of paclitaxel prodrugs integrating near-infrared fluorescence imaging and tumor-specific chemotherapy. By feat of the hydrophilic merit of ICG, paclitaxel dimer could form more uniformly monodispersed nanoparticles. This two-in-one strategy reinforces the complementary advantages, resulting in superior assembly behavior, robust colloidal stability, enhanced tumor accumulation as well as desirable near-infrared imaging and in vivo feedback of chemotherapy. The in vivo experiments validated the prodrug activation at tumor sites as evidenced by enhanced fluorescence intensity, potent tumor growth suppression, and reduced systemic toxicity compared with commercial Taxol. The universality of ICG potentiated strategy toward photosensitizers and fluorescence dyes was confirmed. This presentation provides deep insight into the feasibility of constructing clinical-close alternatives for improving antitumor efficacy.

Mitochondria-Targeted Delivery of Camptothecin Based on HPMA Copolymer for Metastasis Suppression

Poor anti-metastasis effects and side-effects remain a challenge for the clinical application of camptothecin (CPT). Mitochondria can be a promising target for the treatment of metastatic tumors due to their vital roles in providing energy supply, upregulating pro-metastatic factors, and controlling cell-death signaling. Thus, selectively delivering CPT to mitochondria appears to be a feasible way of improving the anti-metastasis effect and reducing adverse effects. Here, we established a 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DEA)-modified N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer–CPT conjugate (P-DEA-CPT) to mediate the mitochondrial accumulation of CPT. The mitochondria-targeted P-DEA-CPT could overcome multiple barriers by quickly internalizing into 4T1 cells, then escaping from lysosome, and sufficiently accumulating in mitochondria. Subsequently, P-DEA-CPT greatly damaged mitochondrial function, leading to the reactive oxide species (ROS) elevation, energy depletion, apoptosis amplification, and tumor metastasis suppression. Consequently, P-DEA-CPT successfully inhibited both primary tumor growth and distant metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, our studies revealed that the mechanism underlying the anti-metastasis capacity of P-DEA-CPT was partially via downregulation of various pro-metastatic proteins, such as hypoxia induction factor-1α (HIF-1α), matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This study provided the proof of concept that escorting CPT to mitochondria via a mitochondrial targeting strategy could be a promising approach for anti-metastasis treatment.

Ambient synthesis of an iminium-linked covalent organic framework for synergetic RNA interference and metabolic therapy of fibrosarcoma

Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated gene silencing is a promising therapeutic approach. Herein, we report the ambient synthesis of a positively charged iminium-linked covalent organic framework by a three-component one-pot reaction. Through anion exchange and siRNA adsorption, the resulting multifunctional siRNA@ABMBP-COF, which possesses both the HK2 inhibitor 3-bromopyruvate and SLC7A11 siRNA, exhibits powerful synergistic antitumor activity against fibrosarcoma via the ferroptosis and apoptosis pathways.

An Orthogonal Protection Strategy for Synthesizing Scaffold-Modifiable Dendrons and Their Application in Drug Delivery

Dendrons have well-defined dendritic structures. However, it is a great challenge to preserve their high structural definition after multiple functionalization because the site-selective conjugation of different functional molecules is quite difficult. Scaffold-modifiable dendrons that have orthogonal reactive groups at the scaffold and periphery are ideal for achieving the site-specific bifunctionalization. In this paper, we present a new strategy for synthesizing scaffold-modifiable dendrons via orthogonal amino protection and a solid-phase synthesis method. This strategy renders the reactive sites at the scaffold and periphery of the dendrons a super selectivity, high reactivity, and wide applicability to various reaction types. The fourth-generation dendrons can be facilely synthesized within 2 days without structural defects as demonstrated by mass spectrometry. We conjugated doxorubicin (DOX) and phenylboronic acid (PBA) groups to the scaffold and periphery, respectively. Thanks to the PBA-enhanced lysosome escape, tumor targeting ability, and tumor permeability as well as the high drug loading content larger than 30%, the dendron-based prodrug exhibited extraordinary antitumor efficacy and could eradicate the tumors established in mice by multiple intravenous administration. This work provides a practical strategy for synthesizing scaffold-modifiable dendrons that can be a promising nanoplatform to achieve function integration in a precisely controlled manner.