Drug and gene co-delivery systems for cancer treatment

Recent advancements of hydrogels in immunotherapy: Breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in this population. Recent advances in Immunotherapy, or combined immunotherapy, offering a more targeted and less toxic approach, expand the survival rate of patients more than conventional treatment. Notably, hydrogels, a versatile platform provided promising avenues to combat breast cancer in preclinical studies and extended to clinical practices. With advantages such as the alternation of tumor microenvironment, immunomodulation, targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, and their sustained release at specific sites of interest, hydrogels can potentially be used for the treatment of breast cancer. This review highlights the advantages, mechanisms of action, stimuli-responsiveness properties, and recent advancements of hydrogels for treating breast cancer immunotherapy. Moreover, post-treatment and its clinical translations are discussed in this review. The integration of hydrogels in immunotherapy strategies may pave the way for more effective, personalized, and patient-friendly approaches to combat breast cancer, ultimately contributing to a brighter future for breast cancer patients.

Supramolecular 3 in 1: A Lubrication and Co-Delivery System for Synergistic Advanced Osteoarthritis Therapy

The complexity, heterogeneity, and drug resistance of diseases necessitate a shift in therapeutic paradigms from monotherapy to combination therapy, which could augment treatment efficiency. Effective treatment of advanced osteoarthritis (OA) requires addressing three key factors contributing to its deterioration: chronic joint inflammation, lubrication dysfunction, and cartilage-tissue degradation. Herein, we present a supramolecular nanomedicine of multifunctionality via molecular recognition and self-assembly. The employed macrocyclic carrier, zwitterion-modified cavitand (CV-2), not only accurately loads various drugs but also functions as a therapeutic agent with lubricating properties for the treatment of OA. Kartogenin (KGN), a drug for articular cartilage regeneration and protection, and flurbiprofen (FP), an anti-inflammatory agent, were coloaded onto CV-2 assembly, forming a supramolecular nanomedicine KGN&FP@CV-2. The three-in-one combination therapy of KGN&FP@CV-2 addresses the three pathological features for treating OA collectively, and thus provides long-term therapeutic benefits for OA through sustained drug release and intrinsic lubrication in vivo. The multifunctional integration of macrocyclic delivery and therapeutics provides a simple, flexible, and universal platform for the synergistic treatment of diseases involving multiple drugs.

Harnessing exosomes in theranostic applications: advancements and insights in gastrointestinal cancer research

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles (30-150 nm) that are formed by endocytosis containing complex RNA as well as protein structures and are vital in intercellular communication and can be used in gene therapy and drug delivery. According to the cell sources of origin and the environmental conditions they are exposed to, these nanovesicles are very heterogeneous and dynamic in terms of content (cargo), size and membrane composition. Exosomes are released under physiological and pathological conditions and influence the pathogenesis of cancers through various mechanisms, including angiogenesis, metastasis, immune dysregulation, drug resistance, and tumor growth/development. Gastrointestinal cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer in humans and can involve organs e.g., the esophagus and stomach, or others such as the liver, pancreas, small intestine, and colon. Early diagnosis is very important in this field because the overall survival of patients is low due to diagnosis in late stages and recurrence. Also, various therapeutic strategies have failed and there is an unmet need for the new therapeutic agents. Exosomes can become promising candidates in gastrointestinal cancers as biomarkers and therapeutic agents due to their lower immunity and passing the main physiological barriers. In this work, we provide a general overview of exosomes, their biogenesis and biological functions. In addition, we discuss the potential of exosomes to serve as biomarkers, agents in cancer treatment, drug delivery systems, and effective vaccines in immunotherapy, with an emphasis on gastrointestinal cancers.

Neuropilin-1-Targeted Nanomedicine for Spatiotemporal Tumor Suppression through Photodynamic Vascular Damage and Antiangiogenesis

Antiangiogenic therapy is an effective way to disrupt nutrient supply and starve tumors, but it is restricted by poor efficacy and negative feedback-induced tumor relapse. In this study, a neuropilin-1 (NRP-1)-targeted nanomedicine (designated as FPPT@Axi) is reported for spatiotemporal tumor suppression by combining photodynamic therapy (PDT) with antiangiogenesis. In brief, FPPT@Axi is prepared by utilizing an NRP-1-targeting chimeric peptide (Fmoc-K(PpIX)-PEG8-TKPRR) to encapsulate the antiangiogenic drug Axitinib (Axi). Importantly, the NRP-1-mediated targeting property enables FPPT@Axi to selectively concentrate at vascular endothelial and breast cancer cells, facilitating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in situ for specific vascular disruption and enhanced cell apoptosis under light stimulation. Moreover, the codelivered Axi can further inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) to impair the negative feedback of PDT-induced tumor neovascularization. Consequently, FPPT@Axi spatiotemporally restrains the tumor growth through blocking angiogenesis, destroying tumor vessels, and inducing tumor apoptosis. Such an NRP-1-mediated targeting codelivery system sheds light on constructing an appealing candidate with translational potential by using clinically approved PDT and chemotherapy.

Emergence of Nanoscale Drug Carriers through Supramolecular Self-Assembly of RNA with Calixarene

Supramolecular self-assembly is a powerful tool for the development of polymolecular assemblies that can form the basis of useful nanomaterials. Given the increasing popularity of RNA therapy, the extension of this concept of self-assembly to RNA is limited. Herein, a simple method for the creation of nanosized particles through the supramolecular self-assembly of RNA with a three-dimensional macrocycle from the calixarene family was reported for the first time. This self-assembly into nanoparticles was realized using cooperative supramolecular interactions under mild conditions. The obtained nanoparticles are able to bind various hydrophobic (quercetin, oleic acid) and hydrophilic (doxorubicin) drugs, as a result of which their cytotoxic properties are enhanced. This work demonstrates that intermolecular interactions between flexible RNA and rigid calixarene is a promising route to bottom-up assembly of novel supramolecular soft matter, expanding the design possibilities of nanoscale drug carriers.

Natural Compounds: Co-Delivery Strategies with Chemotherapeutic Agents or Nucleic Acids Using Lipid-Based Nanocarriers

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, and latest predictions indicate that cancer- related deaths will increase over the next few decades. Despite significant advances in conventional therapies, treatments remain far from ideal due to limitations such as lack of selectivity, non-specific distribution, and multidrug resistance. Current research is focusing on the development of several strategies to improve the efficiency of chemotherapeutic agents and, as a result, overcome the challenges associated with conventional therapies. In this regard, combined therapy with natural compounds and other therapeutic agents, such as chemotherapeutics or nucleic acids, has recently emerged as a new strategy for tackling the drawbacks of conventional therapies. Taking this strategy into consideration, the co-delivery of the above-mentioned agents in lipid-based nanocarriers provides some advantages by improving the potential of the therapeutic agents carried. In this review, we present an analysis of the synergistic anticancer outcomes resulting from the combination of natural compounds and chemotherapeutics or nucleic acids. We also emphasize the importance of these co-delivery strategies when reducing multidrug resistance and adverse toxic effects. Furthermore, the review delves into the challenges and opportunities surrounding the application of these co-delivery strategies towards tangible clinical translation for cancer treatment.

Stimuli-Responsive Gene Delivery Nanocarriers for Cancer Therapy

Gene therapy provides a promising approach in treating cancers with high efficacy and selectivity and few adverse effects. Currently, the development of functional vectors with safety and effectiveness is the intense focus for improving the delivery of nucleic acid drugs for gene therapy. For this purpose, stimuli-responsive nanocarriers displayed strong potential in improving the overall efficiencies of gene therapy and reducing adverse effects via effective protection, prolonged blood circulation, specific tumor accumulation, and controlled release profile of nucleic acid drugs. Besides, synergistic therapy could be achieved when combined with other therapeutic regimens. This review summarizes recent advances in various stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for gene delivery. Particularly, the nanocarriers responding to endogenous stimuli including pH, reactive oxygen species, glutathione, and enzyme, etc., and exogenous stimuli including light, thermo, ultrasound, magnetic field, etc., are introduced. Finally, the future challenges and prospects of stimuli-responsive gene delivery nanocarriers toward potential clinical translation are well discussed. The major objective of this review is to present the biomedical potential of stimuli-responsive gene delivery nanocarriers for cancer therapy and provide guidance for developing novel nanoplatforms that are clinically applicable.

Co-Encapsulation of Drugs for Topical Application-A Review

Achieving the best possible outcome for the therapy is the main goal of a medicine. Therefore, nanocarriers and co-delivery strategies were invented to meet this need, as they can benefit many diseases. This approach was applied specifically for cancer treatment, with some success. However, these strategies may benefit many other clinical issues. Skin is the largest and most exposed organ of the human body, with physiological and psychological properties. Due to its exposition and importance, it is not difficult to understand how many skin diseases may impact on patients' lives, representing an important burden for society. Thus, this review aims to summarize the state of the art in research concerning nanocarriers and co-delivery strategies for topical agents' applications targeting skin diseases. The challenge for the medicine of the future is to deliver the drug with spatial and temporal control. Therefore, the co-encapsulation of drugs and the appropriate form of administration for them are so important and remain as unmet needs.

Bibliometric analysis on exploitation of biogenic gold and silver nanoparticles in breast, ovarian and cervical cancer therapy

Multifunctional nanoparticles are being formulated to overcome the side effects associated with anticancer drugs as well as conventional drug delivery systems. Cancer therapy has gained the advancement due to various pragmatic approaches with better treatment outcomes. The metal nanostructures such as gold and silver nanoparticles accessible via eco-friendly method provide amazing characteristics in the field of diagnosis and therapy towards cancer diseases. The environmental friendly approach has been proposed as a substitute to minimize the use of hazardous compounds associated in chemical synthesis of nanoparticles. In this attempt, researchers have used various microbes, and plant-based agents as reducing agents. In the last 2 decades various papers have been published emphasizing the benefits of the eco-friendly approach and advantages over the traditional method in the cancer therapy. Despite of various reports and published research papers, eco-based nanoparticles do not seem to find a way to clinical translation for cancer treatment. Present review enumerates the bibliometric data on biogenic silver and gold nanoparticles from Clarivate Analytics Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus for the duration 2010 to 2022 for cancer treatment with a special emphasis on breast, ovarian and cervical cancer. Furthermore, this review covers the recent advances in this area of research and also highlights the obstacles in the journey of biogenic nanodrug from clinic to market.

Enhancement of Anti-Tumoral Properties of Paclitaxel Nano-Crystals by Conjugation of Folic Acid to Pluronic F127: Formulation Optimization, In Vitro and In Vivo Study

A brand-new nano-crystal (NC) version of the hydrophobic drug Paclitaxel (PT) were formulated for cancer treatment. A stable NC formulation for the administration of PT was created using the triblock co-polymer Pluronic F127. To achieve maximum entrapment effectiveness and minimal particle size, the formulation was improved using the central composite design by considering agitation speed and vacuum pressure at five levels (coded as +1.414, +1, 0, -1, and -1.414). According to the Design Expert software's predictions, 13 runs were created and evaluated for the chosen responses. The formulation prepared with an agitation speed of 1260 RPM and a vacuum pressure of 77.53 mbar can meet the requirements of the ideal formulation in order to achieve 142.56 nm of PS and 75.18% EE, according to the level of desirability (D = 0.959). Folic acid was conjugated to Pluronic F127 to create folate receptor-targeted NC. The drug release profile of the nano-crystals in vitro demonstrated sustained release over an extended period. Folate receptor (FR)-targeted NC (O-PT-NC-Folate) has also been prepared by conjugating folic acid to Pluronic F127. MTT test is used to validate the targeting efficacy on the FR-positive human oral cancer cell line (KB). At pharmacologically relevant concentrations, the PT nano-crystal formulation did not cause hemolysis. Compared to non-targeted NC of PT, the O-PT-NC-Folate showed a comparable but more sustained anti-cancer effect, according to an in vivo anti-tumor investigation in NCI/ADR-RES cell lines. The remarkable anti-tumor effectiveness, minimal toxicity, and simplicity of scale-up manufacturing of the NC formulations indicate their potential for clinical development. Other hydrophobic medications that are formulated into nano-systems for improved therapy may benefit from the formulation approach.

Combinations of chemo-, immuno-, and gene therapies using nanocarriers as a multifunctional drug platform

INTRODUCTION

Cancer immunotherapies have created a new generation of therapeutics to employ the immune system to attack cancer cells. However, these therapies are typically based on biologics that are nonspecific and often exhibit poor tumor penetration and dose-limiting toxicities. Nanocarriers allow the opportunity to overcome these barriers as they have the capabilities to direct immunomodulating drugs to tumor sites via passive and active targeting, decreasing potential adverse effects from nonspecific targeting. In addition, nanocarriers can be multifunctionalized to deliver multiple cancer therapeutics in a single drug platform, offering synergistic potential from co-delivery approaches.

AREAS COVERED

This review focuses on the delivery of cancer therapeutics using emerging nanocarriers to achieve synergistic results via co-delivery of immune-modulating components (i.e. chemotherapeutics, monoclonal antibodies, and genes).

EXPERT OPINION

Nanocarrier-mediated delivery of combinatorial immunotherapy creates the opportunity to fine-tune drug release while achieving superior tumor targeting and tumor cell death, compared to free drug counterparts. As these nanoplatforms are constantly improved upon, combinatorial immunotherapy will afford the greatest benefit to treat an array of tumor types while inhibiting cancer evasion pathways.

Recent Advances in Nanoparticle-Based Co-Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy

Cancer therapies have advanced tremendously throughout the last decade, yet multiple factors still hinder the success of the different cancer therapeutics. The traditional therapeutic approach has been proven insufficient and lacking in the suppression of tumor growth. The simultaneous delivery of multiple small-molecule chemotherapeutic drugs and genes improves the effectiveness of each treatment, thus optimizing efficacy and improving synergistic effects. Nanomedicines integrating inorganic, lipid, and polymeric-based nanoparticles have been designed to regulate the spatiotemporal release of the encapsulated drugs. Multidrug-loaded nanocarriers are a potential strategy to fight cancer and the incorporation of co-delivery systems as a feasible treatment method has projected synergistic benefits and limited undesirable effects. Moreover, the development of co-delivery systems for maximum therapeutic impact necessitates better knowledge of the appropriate therapeutic agent ratio as well as the inherent heterogeneity of the cancer cells. Co-delivery systems can simplify clinical processes and increase patient quality of life, even though such systems are more difficult to prepare than single drug delivery systems. This review highlights the progress attained in the development and design of nano carrier-based co-delivery systems and discusses the limitations, challenges, and future perspectives in the design and fabrication of co-delivery systems.

Glucose Metabolism Intervention-Facilitated Nanomedicine Therapy

Ordinarily, cancer cells possess features of abnormally increased nutrient intake and metabolic pathways. The disorder of glucose metabolism is the most important among them. Therefore, starvation therapy targeting glucose metabolism specifically, which results in metabolic disorders, restricted synthesis, and inhibition of tumor growth, has been developed for cancer therapy. However, issues such as inadequate targeting effectiveness and drug tolerance impede their clinical transformation. In recent years, nanomaterial-assisted starvation treatment has made significant progress in addressing these challenges, whether as a monotherapy or in combination with other medications. Herein, representative researches on the construction of nanosystems conducting starvation therapy are introduced. Elaborate designs and interactions between different treatment mechanisms are meticulously mentioned. Not only are traditional treatments based on glucose oxidase involved, but also newly sprung small molecule agents targeting glucose metabolism. The obstacles and potential for advancing these anticancer therapies were also highlighted in this review.

Dual drug delivery collagen vehicles for modulation of skin fibrosisin vitro

Single molecule drug delivery systems have failed to yield functional therapeutic outcomes, triggering investigations into multi-molecular drug delivery vehicles. In the context of skin fibrosis, although multi-drug systems have been assessed, no system has assessed molecular combinations that directly and specifically reduce cell proliferation, collagen synthesis and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) expression. Herein, a core-shell collagen type I hydrogel system was developed for the dual delivery of a TGFβ trap, a soluble recombinant protein that inhibits TGFβ signalling, and Trichostatin A (TSA), a small molecule inhibitor of histone deacetylases. The antifibrotic potential of the dual delivery system was assessed in an in vitro skin fibrosis model induced by macromolecular crowding (MMC) and TGFβ1. SDS-PAGE and HPLC analyses revealed that ~ 50 % of the TGFβ trap and ~ 30 % of the TSA were released from the core and shell compartments, respectively, of the hydrogel system after 10 days (longest time point assessed) in culture. As a direct consequence of this slow release, the core (TGFβ trap) / shell (TSA) hydrogel system induced significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the control group (MMC and TGFβ1) collagen type I deposition (assessed via SDS-PAGE and immunocytochemistry), α smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression (assessed via immunocytochemistry) and cellular proliferation (assessed via DNA quantification) and viability (assessed via calcein AM and ethidium homodimer-I staining) after 10 days in culture. On the other hand, direct TSA-TGFβ supplementation induced the lowest (p < 0.05) collagen type I deposition, αSMA expression and cellular proliferation and viability after 10 days in culture. Our results illustrate the potential of core-shell collagen hydrogel systems for sustained delivery of antifibrotic molecules.

Polymer grafted magnetic graphene oxide as a potential nanocarrier for pH-responsive delivery of sparingly soluble quercetin against breast cancer cells

In this work, polymer grafted magnetic graphene oxide (GO–PVP–Fe₃O₄) was successfully synthesized for efficient delivery of anticancer drug. Firstly, GO was functionalized with the hydrophilic and biocompatible polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and then grafted with magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) through an easy and effective chemical co-precipitation method. Quercetin (QSR) as an anticancer drug was loaded onto the surface of GO–PVP–Fe₃O₄via non-covalent interactions. The drug loading capacity was as high as 1.69 mg mg⁻¹ and the synthesized magnetic nanocarrier shows pH-responsive controlled release of QSR. The cellular cytotoxicity of the synthesized nanocarrier with and without drugs was investigated in human breast cancer MDA MB 231 cells and their effects compared on non-tumorigenic epithelial HEK 293T cells. These results reveal that the drug loaded GO–PVP–Fe₃O₄ nanohybrid was found to be more toxic than the free drug towards MDA MB 231 cells and exhibits biocompatibility towards HEK 293T cells. Overall, a smart drug delivery system including polymer grafted magnetic graphene oxide as a pH-responsive potential nanocarrier could be beneficial for targeted drug delivery, controlled by an external magnetic field as an advancement in chemotherapy against cancer.

Polymer grafted magnetic graphene oxide (GO–PVP–Fe₃O₄) as an efficient nanocarrier for the delivery of anticancer drug quercetin.

Stimulus-responsive drug/gene delivery system based on polyethylenimine cyclodextrin nanoparticles for potential cancer therapy

Combination therapy through simultaneous delivery of anti-cancer drugs and genes with nano-assembled structure has been proved to be a simple and effective approach for treating breast cancer. In this study, redox-sensitive folate-appended-polyethylenimine-β-cyclodextrin (roFPC) host-guest supramolecular nanoparticles (HGSNPs) were developed as a targeted co-delivery system of doxorubicin (Dox) and Human telomerase reverse transcriptase-small interfering RNA) hTERT siRNA) for potential cancer therapy. The nanotherapeutic system was prepared by loading adamantane-conjugated doxorubicin (Ad-Dox) into roFPC through the supramolecular assembly, followed by electrostatically-driven self-assembly between hTERT siRNA and roFPC/Ad-Dox. The roFPC' host-guest structures allow pH-dependent intracellular drug release in a sustained manner, as well as simultaneous and effective gene transfection. This co-delivery vector displayed combined anti-tumor properties of the Dox-enhanced gene transfection, good water-solubility, and biocompatibility, possesses considerably enhanced hemocompatibility, and especially targets folate receptor-positive cells only at low N/P levels to prompt effective cell apoptosis for cancer treatment.

Hybrid polymer/lipid vesicle synthesis: Association between cationic liposomes and lipoplexes with chondroitin sulfate

The association of cationic carriers with different anionic mucoadhesive biopolymers has been widely explored as an alternative to improve their delivery routes and specific targeting. This work presents a complete analysis of the association between chondroitin sulfate (CS) and cationic liposomes (CLs)/lipoplex (CL-pDNA). In this study, plasmid DNA (pDNA) was used as a genetic cargo for association with carriers. Firstly, we measured the stoichiometry of pseudo complexes and evaluated their colloidal properties, structural and morphological characteristics. Optimized CL-pDNA lipoplexes (positive z-potential) and CL-CS / CL-pDNA-CS (negative z-potential with CS mass ratio of 9% (w/w)) were further studied in detail. Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis and cryo-transmission electron microscopy micrographs revealed that the electrostatic interaction between CS and CL / CL-pDNA easily reorganized the lipid bilayers resulting in nanoscale uni/multilamellar vesicles. A high CS mass ratio (9% (w/w)) led to the reassembly of liposomal structure, wherein the pDNA was easily exchanged for CS chains, forming more than 50% of dense multilamellar vesicles. This data evidenced that the association between CS and CLs is not a conventional coating process since it generates complex and hybrid structures. We believe that these obtained colloidal data may be used in the future to investigate polymer-tailored nanocarriers and their production process. In brief, the colloidal study of hybrid structures may open interesting perspectives for developing novel carriers for drug and gene delivery applications.

Near-Infrared Light-Triggered Polyprodrug/siRNA Loaded Upconversion Nanoparticles for Multi-Modality Imaging and Synergistic Cancer Therapy

Stimuli-responsive nanosystems have been widely applied as effective modalities for drug/gene co-delivery in cancer treatment. However, precise spatiotemporal manipulations of drug/gene co-delivery, as well as multi-modality imaging-guided cancer therapy, still remain a daunting challenge. Here, multifunctional polyprodrug/siRNA loaded upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are reported that combine computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), and upconversion luminescence (UCL) tri-modality imaging and near-infrared (NIR) light-activated drug/gene on-demand delivery. The photoactivatable platinum(IV) (Pt(IV))-backbone polymers (PPt) and the siRNA targeting polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) are loaded on the surface of polyethyleneimine (PEI)-coated UCNPs (PUCNP) to obtain the multifunctional polyprodrug/siRNA loaded UCNPs (PUCNP@Pt@siPlk1). The PUCNP@Pt@siPlk1 can be served as a "nanotransducer" to convert NIR light (980 nm) into local ultraviolet (UV) to visible light for the cleavage of photosensitive PPt, resulting in the simultaneous on-demand release of high toxic platinum(II) (Pt(II)) and siPlk1. Meanwhile, the PUCNP@Pt@siPlk1 has CT, T₁ -weighted MR, and UCL tri-modality imaging abilities. Based on these merits, PUCNP@Pt@siPlk1 displayed excellent synergistic therapeutic efficacy via image-guided and NIR light-activated platinum-based chemotherapy and RNA interfering in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this developed nanosystem with NIR light-controlled drug/gene delivery and multi-modality imaging abilities, will display great potential in combining chemotherapy and gene therapy.

Recent advances in co-delivery nanosystems for synergistic action in cancer treatment

Nanocarrier delivery systems have been widely studied to carry unique or dual chemical drugs. The major challenge of chemotherapies is to overcome the multidrug-resistance (MDR) of cells to antineoplastic medicines. In this context, nano-scale technology has allowed researchers to develop biocompatible nano-delivery systems to overcome the limitation of chemical agents. The development of nano-vehicles may also be directed to co-deliver different agents such as drugs and genetic materials. The delivery of nucleic acids targeting specific cells is based on gene therapy principles to replace the defective gene, correct genome errors or knock-down a particular gene. Co-delivery systems are attractive strategies due to the possibility of achieving synergistic therapeutic effects, which are more effective in overcoming the MDR of cancer cells. These combined therapies can provide better outcomes than separate delivery approaches carrying either siRNA, miRNA, pDNA, or drugs. This article reviews the main design features that need to be associated with nano-vehicles to co-deliver drugs, genes, and gene-drug combinations with efficacy. The advantages and disadvantages of co-administration approaches are also overviewed and compared with individual nanocarrier systems. Herein, future trends and perspectives in designing novel nano-scale platforms to co-deliver therapeutic agents are also discussed.

Nucleolin-Targeting AS1411 Aptamer-Modified Micelle for the Co-Delivery of Doxorubicin and miR-519c to Improve the Therapeutic Efficacy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment

BACKGROUND

Multidrug resistance (MDR) has emerged to be a major hindrance in cancer therapy, which contributes to the reduced sensitivity of cancer cells toward chemotherapeutic drugs mainly owing to the over-expression of drug efflux transporters. The combination of gene therapy and chemotherapy has been considered as a potential approach to improve the anti-cancer efficacy by reversing the MDR effect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The AS1411 aptamer-functionalized micelles were constructed through an emulsion/solvent evaporation strategy for the simultaneous co-delivery of doxorubicin and miR-519c. The therapeutic efficacy and related mechanism of micelles were explored based on the in vitro and in vivo active targeting ability and the suppression of MDR, using hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 as a model.

RESULTS

The micelle was demonstrated to possess favorable cellular uptake and tumor penetration ability by specifically recognizing the nucleolin in an AS1411 aptamer-dependent manner. Further, the intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin was significantly improved due to the suppression of ABCG2-mediated drug efflux by miR-519c, resulting in the efficient inhibition of tumor growth.

CONCLUSION

The micelle-mediated co-delivery of doxorubicin and miR-519c provided a promising strategy to obtain ideal anti-cancer efficacy through the active targeting function and the reversion of MDR.

Photoactivated polyprodrug nanoparticles for effective light-controlled Pt(iv) and siRNA codelivery to achieve synergistic cancer therapy

Endo/lysosomal escape and the subsequent controllable/precise release of drugs and genes are key challenges for efficient synergistic cancer therapy. Herein, we report a photoactivated polyprodrug nanoparticle system (PPNPsiRNA) centered on effective light-controlled codelivery of Pt(iv) prodrug and siRNA for synergistic cancer therapy. Under green-light irradiation, PPNPsiRNA can sustainedly generate oxygen-independent azidyl radicals to facilitate endo/lysosomal escape through the photochemical internalization (PCI) mechanism. Besides, concurrent Pt(ii) release and siRNA unpacking could occur in a controllable manner after the decomposition of Pt(iv), main chain shattering of photoactivated polyprodrug and the PPNPsiRNA disassociation. Based on these innovative features, excellent synergistic therapeutic efficacy of chemo- and RNAi therapies of PPNPsiBcl-2 could be achieved on ovarian cancer cells under light irradiation. The facile synthesized and prepared photoactivatable polyprodrug nanoparticle system provides a new strategy for effective gene/drug codelivery, where controllable endo/lysosomal escape and the subsequent drug/gene release/unpacking play vital roles, which could be adopted as a versatile codelivery nanoplatform for the treatment of various cancers.

Co-Delivery of Paclitaxel and siRNA with pH-Responsive Polymeric Micelles for Synergistic Cancer Therapy

Due to the complex physiological characteristics of tumors, chemotherapy or gene therapy alone cannot completely kill tumor cells. Therefore, combining chemotherapy with gene therapy for combination therapy is the key to solving this problem. However, there are still significant challenges in how to simultaneously deliver and rapidly release the drugs and siRNA into cancer cells. In this work, a triblock copolymer was synthesized to co-deliver siRNA and paclitaxel to tumor cells. This system has an acid-sensitive subsurface layer, which can not only load siRNA to prevent premature drug release but also has good controlled release performance. In vitro experiments showed that polymeric vectors can efficiently deliver siRNA and paclitaxel simultaneously into tumor cells for rapid release within the tumor cells. This study reveals that this novel polymeric micelle is a suitable vector for the codelivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and siRNA to cancer cells, representing an important advance in nanotechnology, nanomedicine, drug delivery, and cancer therapy.

Multiple local therapeutics based on nano-hydrogel composites in breast cancer treatment

The locoregional recurrence of breast cancer after tumor resection represents several clinical challenges, and conventional post-surgical adjuvant therapeutics always bring about significant systemic side effects. Thus, the local therapy strategy has received considerable interest in breast cancer treatment, and hydrogels can function as ideal platforms due to their remarkable properties such as good biocompatibility, biodegradability, flexibility, and multifunctionality. The nano-hydrogel composites can further incorporate the advantages of nanomaterials into the hydrogel system, to fabricate hierarchical structures for stimulating controlled multi-stage release of different therapeutic agents and improving the synergistic effects of combination therapy. In this review, the problems of clinical treatments of breast cancer and properties of hydrogels in current biomedical applications are briefly overviewed. The focus is on recent advances in local therapy based on nano-hydrogel composites for both monotherapy (chemotherapy, photothermal and photodynamic therapy) and combination therapy (dual chemotherapy, photothermal chemotherapy, photothermal immunotherapy, radio-chemotherapy). Moreover, the challenges and perspectives in the development of advanced nano-hydrogel systems are also discussed.

Realizing Cancer Precision Medicine by Integrating Systems Biology and Nanomaterial Engineering

Many clinical trials for cancer precision medicine have yielded unsatisfactory results due to challenges such as drug resistance and low efficacy. Drug resistance is often caused by the complex compensatory regulation within the biomolecular network in a cancer cell. Recently, systems biological studies have modeled and simulated such complex networks to unravel the hidden mechanisms of drug resistance and identify promising new drug targets or combinatorial or sequential treatments for overcoming resistance to anticancer drugs. However, many of the identified targets or treatments present major difficulties for drug development and clinical application. Nanocarriers represent a path forward for developing therapies with these "undruggable" targets or those that require precise combinatorial or sequential application, for which conventional drug delivery mechanisms are unsuitable. Conversely, a challenge in nanomedicine has been low efficacy due to heterogeneity of cancers in patients. This problem can also be resolved through systems biological approaches by identifying personalized targets for individual patients or promoting the drug responses. Therefore, integration of systems biology and nanomaterial engineering will enable the clinical application of cancer precision medicine to overcome both drug resistance of conventional treatments and low efficacy of nanomedicine due to patient heterogeneity.

Magnetic nanoparticles double wrapped into cross-linked salep/PEGylated carboxymethyl cellulose; a biocompatible nanocarrier for pH-triggered release of doxorubicin

A magnetic nanocarrier was synthesized in which Fe3O4 nanoparticles were encapsulated into double layers of polysaccharide shells. The first shell, which was composed of cross-linked salep polysaccharide, contained multiple nitrogen atoms in its structure and provided numerous sites for multiple functionalization. A fluorescence dye and doxorubicin, as widely used chemotherapy agent, were easily attached to the first shell and then a second shell of PEGylated carboxymethyl cellulose enveloped the drug loaded carrier to enhance its biocompatibility and regulates the drug release behavior. The results of drug loading and release behavior showed that the resulting nanocarrier can carry large amounts of drug molecules and a remarkable pH-sensitive release was observed in vitro. The hemolysis and coagulation assays proved the biocompatibility of nanocarrier toward red blood cells and the MTT experiments confirmed that the drug loaded nanocarrier is highly toxic for MCF-7 cancer cells while the unloaded nanocarrier was almost nontoxic. Further flow cytometry experiments and confocal microscopy demonstrated that the double layered magnetic nanocarrier can penetrate into the cells and efficiently release the drug molecules into the cell nucleus. Moreover, the results of MRI experiments performed on the nanocarrier showed that it can be serve as a negative MRI contrast agent.

Injectable pH and redox dual responsive hydrogels based on self-assembled peptides for anti-tumor drug delivery

Dual responsive and injectable peptide hydrogels that form gels in vitro control the release of antitumor drugs in vivo.

Development And In Vitro Characterization Of Bladder Tumor Cell Targeted Lipid-Coated Polyplex For Dual Delivery Of Plasmids And Small Molecules

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and eleventh most common in women. Combination therapy using a gene and chemotherapeutic drug is a potentially useful strategy for treating bladder cancer in cases where a synergistic benefit can be achieved successfully. This approach relies on developing drug combinations using carrier systems that can load both hydrophilic genes and hydrophobic drugs. Ideally, the formulation for carrier system should be free of traditional high shear techniques such as sonication and extrusion to reduce shear-induced nucleic acid strand breakage. Moreover, the system should be able to protect the nucleic acid from enzymatic attack and deliver it specifically to the tumor site.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A dual payload carrier system that was formulated using a simple flow mixing technique to complex anionic plasmid (EGFP-NLS) using a cationic polymer (CD-PEI2.5kD) followed by coating of the polyplex using lipid membranes. The resulting lipid-coated polyplex (LCP) formulations are targeted to bladder cancer cells by employing a bacterial adhesive peptide sequence, RWFV, that targets the LCP to the tumor stroma for efficiently delivering reporter plasmid, EGFP-NLS and a model small molecule drug, pyrene, to the cancer cells.

RESULTS

Encapsulation efficiency of the peptide targeted carrier for the plasmid was 50% ± 0.4% and for pyrene it was 16% ± 0.4%. The ability of the targeted LCP to transfect murine bladder cancer cells was 4-fold higher than LCP bearing a scrambled peptide sequence. Fluorescence of cells due to pyrene delivery was highest after 4 hrs using targeted LCP. Finally, we loaded the peptide targeted LCP with anti-cancer agent, curcumin. The targeted formulation of curcumin resulted in only 45% viable cancer cells at a concentration of 5 µg/mL, whereas the empty and non-targeted formulations did not result any significant cell death.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate the specificity of the targeting peptide sequence in engaging tumor cells and the utility of the developed carrier platform to deliver a dual payload to bladder tumor cells.

Injectable Hydrogels for Cancer Therapy over the Last Decade

The interest in injectable hydrogels for cancer treatment has been significantly growing over the last decade, due to the availability of a wide range of starting polymer structures with tailored features and high chemical versatility. Many research groups are working on the development of highly engineered injectable delivery vehicle systems suitable for combined chemo-and radio-therapy, as well as thermal and photo-thermal ablation, with the aim of finding out effective solutions to overcome the current obstacles of conventional therapeutic protocols. Within this work, we have reviewed and discussed the most recent injectable hydrogel systems, focusing on the structure and properties of the starting polymers, which are mainly classified into natural or synthetic sources. Moreover, mapping the research landscape of the fabrication strategies, the main outcome of each system is discussed in light of possible clinical applications.

Synergistic MicroRNA Therapy in Liver Fibrotic Rat Using MRI-Visible Nanocarrier Targeting Hepatic Stellate Cells

Liver fibrosis, as one of the leading causes of liver-related morbidity and mortality, has no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved antifibrotic therapy yet. Although microRNA-29b (miRNA-29b) and microRNA-122 (miRNA-122) have great potential in treating liver fibrosis via regulating profibrotic genes in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), it is still a challenge to achieve a HSC-targeted and meanwhile noninvasively trackable delivery of miRNAs in vivo. Herein, a pH-sensitive and vitamin A (VA)-conjugated copolymer VA-polyethylene glycol-polyethyleneimine-poly(N-(N',N'-diisopropylaminoethyl)-co-benzylamino) aspartamide (T-PBP) is synthesized and assembled into superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-decorated cationic micelle for miRNA delivery. The T-PBP micelle efficiently transports the miRNA-29b and miRNA-122 to HSC in a magnetic resonance imaging-visible manner, resulting in a synergistic antifibrosis effect via downregulating the expression of fibrosis-related genes, including collagen type I alpha 1, α-smooth muscle actin, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1. Consequently, the HSC-targeted combination therapy with miRNA-29b and miRNA-122 demonstrates a prominent antifibrotic efficacy in terms of improving liver function and relieving hepatic fibrosis.

A PEG-b-poly(disulfide-l-lysine) based redox-responsive cationic polymer for efficient gene transfection

Gene therapy is concerned with the transfer of complement genes to functionally defective cells in a safe and directed manner for the treatment of the most challenging diseases. But safety issues and low transfection efficiency of the gene vectors are the major challenges, which need to be overcome. Recently, redox-responsive bioreducible polymers containing disulfide linkages have been considered as efficient gene vectors, owing to the selective degradation of the disulfide bond in the reducing environment of the cells. This enables spatiotemporal release of pDNA with no or minimum toxicity. Herein, we reported a bioreducible poly(ethyleneglycol)-b-poly(disulfide-l-lysine) cationic polymer (denoted as PEG-SSL) via a Michael addition reaction of poly(ethyleneglycol)tetraacrylate PEG(Ac)₄ and the terminal amine group of poly(disulfide-l-lysine). PEG-SSL efficiently condensed the plasmid ZNF580 gene (pZNF580) forming nano-sized polyplexes (155 ± 4 to 285 ± 3 nm) with zeta potentials of 1.9 ± 0.1 to 26.7 ± 0.4 mV. PEG-SSL successfully retarded pZNF580 at a small polymer/pDNA weight ratio of 10/1 and higher. When exposed to a reducing environment of 5 mM DTT, it rapidly released genes even at higher weight ratios of the PEG-SSL polymer in the PEG-SSL/pDNA complexes. The PEG-SSL/pZNF580 complexes exhibited good stability when exposed to DNase I and efficiently protected pDNA from degradation. In vitro transfection and cytotoxicity were investigated in EA.hy926 cells. The results showed that PEG-SSL successfully delivered pZNF580 into the cells with less cytotoxicity compared to PEI25kDa. The flow cytometry and confocal scanning laser microscopy results indicated that PEG-SSL polyplexes exhibited good cellular uptake and nuclear co-localization rates. All these results implied that PEG-SSL had the potential as a non-viral vector for gene transfection.

Multistage rocket: integrational design of a prodrug-based siRNA delivery system with sequential release for enhanced antitumor efficacy

An integrated peptide-camptothecin prodrug (RSC) system was designed as a nano-sized multistage rocket for the efficient complexation and controlled sequential release of siRNA and anticancer drug under tumor-relevant reductive and esterase-enriched conditions, which facilitated the avoidance of negative interactions and maximized the synergistic effect.

Composition design and medical application of liposomes

Liposomes, which possess the properties of nano-scale, biofilm similar structure, excellent biocompatibility, become more and more useful in the drug development as the delivery system. Liposomes are relatively stable, their aqueous phase could contain the hydrophilic drugs and their phospholipid bilayer should localize the lipophilic drugs. Moreover, their surface-modifiable characteristics have really extended the liposomes' application to targeting and environmental sensitive delivery system. In order to make the common liposome more fit the human and animal body's complex environment, the structural variation strategy in the head, tail and bond of lipid molecules have been employed to develop the different functionalized liposomes-based drug delivery system for the localizable relieve and organ/tissue targeting relieve. In this paper, we would like to summarize the recent development on the design and optimization of liposomes, including Long-circulation liposomes, Specific active targeting liposomes, Environmental sensitive liposomes, Multifunctional liposomes, and so on. And the liposome content selection and current status of clinical application are systematically discussed.

Co-Delivery Nanosystems for Cancer Treatment: A Review

Massive data available on cancer therapy more than ever lead our mind to the general concept that there is no perfect treatment for cancer. Indeed, the biological complexity of this disease is too excessive to be treated by a single therapeutic approach. Current delivery systems containing a specific drug or gene have their particular opportunities and restrictions. It is worth noting that a considerable number of studies suggest that single- drug delivery systems result in insufficient suppression of cancer growth. Therefore, one of the main ideas of co-delivery system designing is to enhance the intended response or to achieve the synergistic/combined effect compared to the single drug strategy. This review focuses on various strategies for co-delivery of therapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer. The primary approaches within the script are categorized into co-delivery of conventional chemotherapeutics, gene-based molecules, and plant-derived materials. Each one is explained in examples with the recent researches. In the end, a brief summary is provided to conclude the gist of the review.

Polycations for Gene Delivery: Dilemmas and Solutions

Gene therapy has been a promising strategy for treating numerous gene-associated human diseases by altering specific gene expressions in pathological cells. Application of nonviral gene delivery is hindered by various dilemmas encountered in systemic gene therapy. Therefore, solutions must be established to address the unique requirements of gene-based treatment of diseases. This review will particularly highlight the dilemmas in polycation-based gene therapy by systemic treatment. Several promising strategies, which are expected to overcome these challenges, will be briefly reviewed. This review will also explore the development of polycation-based gene delivery systems for clinical applications.

Triple function nanocomposites of porous silica-CoFe2O4-MWCNTs as a carrier for pH-sensitive anti-cancer drug controlled delivery

Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles loaded on multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) magnetic hybrids have been demonstrated to be promising magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents and drug carriers. However, the hydrophobic, less biocompatible characteristics and low loading capacity for the drug hamper their wide biological applications. To solve the above problem, an alternative strategy is to coat the MWCNTs@CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles with a mesoporous silica (mSiO₂) shell. Herein, the reasonable fabrication process results in successful coating mSiO₂ on the as-obtained MWCNTs@CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles, forming well-defined core-shell-structured MWCNTs@CoFe₂O₄@mSiO₂ nanocomposites. The as-synthesized mesoporous nanocarrier possesses a high surface area and large pore volume for the loading of the drug, and has a superparamagnetic feature for drug targeting. Moreover, the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded MWCNTs@CoFe₂O₄@mSiO₂ nanoplatforms show an excellent pH-responsive drug release character within 48 h. Therefore, a novel nanocarrier based on MWCNTs@CoFe₂O₄@mSiO₂ was proposed, and its potential application for targeted cancer therapy was highlighted.

Evaluation of Efficiency of Modified Polypropylenimine (PPI) with Alkyl Chains as Non-viral Vectors Used in Co-delivery of Doxorubicin and TRAIL Plasmid

In this study, co-delivery system was achieved via plasmid encoding TNF related apoptosis inducing ligand (pTRAIL) and doxorubicin (DOX) using carrier based on polypropylenimine (PPI) modified with 10-bromodecanoic acid. Incorporation of alkylcarboxylate chain to PPIs (G4 and G5) could improve transfection efficiency via overcoming the plasma membrane barrier of the cells and decrease cytotoxicity of PPI. Characterization of fabricated NPs revealed that PPI G5 in which 30% of primary amines were substituted by alkyl carboxylate chain (PPI G5-Alkyl 30%) has higher drug loading as compared to the other formulations. PPI G5-Alkyl 30% indicated a decreased drug release may be due to alkyl chains on the surface of PPI, which serve as an additional hindrance for drug diffusion. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments demonstrated that co-delivery system induced apoptosis of tumor cells more efficiently than each of delivery system alone. Furthermore, these results revealed that our combined delivery platform of pTRAIL and DOX using Alkyl-modified PPI G5 can significantly improve the anti-tumor activity and this strategy might develop a new therapeutic window for cancer treatment.