Nanosized Prussian blue and its analogs for bioimaging and cancer theranostics

Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles (NPs) and Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) can form metal-organic frameworks through the programmable coordination of ferrous ions with cyanide. PB and PBAs represent a burgeoning class of hybrid functional nano-systems with a wide-ranging application spectrum encompassing biomedicine, cancer diagnosis, and therapy. A comprehensive overview of recent advancements is crucial for gaining insights for future research. In this context, we reviewed the synthesis techniques and surface modification strategies employed to tailor the dimensions, morphology, and attributes of PB NPs. Subsequently, we explored advanced biomedical utilities of PB NPs, encompassing photoacoustic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound (US) imaging, and multimodal imaging. In particular, the application of PB NPs-mediated photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, and chemodynamic therapy to cancer treatment was reviewed. Based on the literature, we envision an evolving trajectory wherein the future of Prussian blue-driven biological applications converge into an integrated theranostic platform, seamlessly amalgamating bioimaging and cancer therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Prussian blue, an FDA-approved coordinative pigment with a centuries-long legacy, has paved the way for Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs), renowned for their remarkable biocompatibility and biosafety. These PB NPs have found their niche in biomedicine, playing crucial roles in both diagnostics and therapeutic applications. The comprehensive review goes beyond PB NP-based cancer therapy. Alongside in-depth coverage of PB NP synthesis and surface modifications, the review delves into their cutting-edge applications in the realm of biomedical imaging, encompassing techniques such as photoacoustic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, and multimodal imaging.

Cypate-loaded hollow mesoporous Prussian blue nanoparticle/hydrogel system for efficient photodynamic therapy/photothermal therapy dual-modal antibacterial therapy

Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms are a significant burden on public health and the economic stability of societies all over the world. The appearance of drug-resistant bacteria has severely blocked the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. Therefore, developing novel antibiotic-free strategies to combat bacteria holds huge potential for maximizing validity and minimizing the risk of enhancing bacterial resistance. Herein, a cypate-loaded hollow mesoporous Prussian blue nanoparticles (Cy-HMPBs) was built to achieve the PDT/PTT synergistic antimicrobial therapy. The carbomer hydrogel (CH) was combined with the Cy-HMPBs to form a nanoparticle/hydrogel therapeutic system (Cy-HMPBs/CH) to reach the goal of local delivery of antimicrobial cargo. The low concentration of Cy-HMPBs/CH receives over 99% of antimicrobial ability against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus upon near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. More importantly, Cy-HMPBs/CH has favorable biocompatibility and can play therapeutic effects only after laser irradiation, indicating the on-demand therapy at the targeted region to avert side effects on healthy tissue. This study provides ideas for the design of an antibiotic-free antimicrobial strategy against infectious diseases.

Luminescence nanothermometry using a trivalent lanthanide co-doped perovskite

This study investigates in detail the laser-mediated upconversion emission and temperature-sensing capability of (Ca_0.99-a Yb_0.01Er _a )TiO₃. Samples were prepared at different concentrations to observe the effect of erbium on upconversion while increasing its concentration and keeping all the other parameters constant. Doping is a widespread technological process which involves incorporating an element called a dopant in a lower ratio to the host lattice to derive hybrid materials with desired properties. The (Ca_0.99-a Yb_0.01Er _a )TiO₃ perovskite nanoparticles were synthesized via a sol-gel technique. The frequency upconversion was performed using a 980 nm laser diode excitation source. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) confirmed that the synthesized samples are crystalline in nature and have an orthorhombic structure. The temperature-sensing ability was examined using the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) algorithm of two emission bands (²H_11/2 → ⁴I_15/2 and ⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2) of the Er³⁺ ion. Temperature-dependent upconversion luminescence is observed over a broad temperature range of 298-623 K. The maximum sensor sensitivity obtained is 6.71 × 10^-3 K^-1 at 110°.

Gold Nanorods: The Most Versatile Plasmonic Nanoparticles

Gold nanorods (NRs), pseudo-one-dimensional rod-shaped nanoparticles (NPs), have become one of the burgeoning materials in the recent years due to their anisotropic shape and adjustable plasmonic properties. With the continuous improvement in synthetic methods, a variety of materials have been attached around Au NRs to achieve unexpected or improved plasmonic properties and explore state-of-the-art technologies. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the latest progress on Au NRs, the most versatile anisotropic plasmonic NPs. We present a representative overview of the advances in the synthetic strategies and outline an extensive catalogue of Au-NR-based heterostructures with tailored architectures and special functionalities. The bottom-up assembly of Au NRs into preprogrammed metastructures is then discussed, as well as the design principles. We also provide a systematic elucidation of the different plasmonic properties associated with the Au-NR-based structures, followed by a discussion of the promising applications of Au NRs in various fields. We finally discuss the future research directions and challenges of Au NRs.

Iridium oxide nanoparticles mediated enhanced photodynamic therapy combined with photothermal therapy in the treatment of breast cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumor has achieved good results, but the treatment efficiency is not high due to the lack of effective photosensitizers and tumor hypoxia. In this study, iridium dioxide nanoparticles (IrO₂ NPs) with excellent photothermal/photodynamic effects and catalase like activity were synthesized by a simple method. The combination of glucose oxidase (GOx) and IrO₂ NPs is formed by hyaluronic acid (HA), which have the activities of glucose oxidase and catalase, can target tumor sites and form in situ amplifiers in tumor microenvironment (IrO₂-GOx@HA NPs). Firstly, GOx convert the high levels of glucose in the tumor to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and then IrO₂ NPs convert H₂O₂ to oxygen (O₂), which can enhance the type II of PDT. IrO₂ NPs also can be used as a thermosensitive agent for photothermal therapy (PTT). In cancer cells, IrO₂-GOx@HA NPs-mediated amplifier enhances the effect of type II of PDT, aggravating the apoptosis of breast cancer (4T1) cells and cooperating with its own PTT to further improve the overall treatment effect. Under simulated hypoxic conditions of tumor tissue, it was found that IrO₂-GOx@HA NPs treatment can effectively relieve hypoxia inside tumor tissue. In addition, the results in vivo further proved that, IrO₂-GOx@HA NPs can enhance the role of II PDT and cooperate with PTT to treat breast cancer effectively. The results highlight the prospect of IrO₂-GOx@HA NPs in controlling and regulating tumor hypoxia to overcome the limitations of current cancer therapy.

Fine synthesis of Prussian-blue analogue coated gold nanoparticles (Au@PBA NPs) for sorting specific cancer cell subtypes

Multiplex surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of markers without background in tumor biosystems has its superiority over other optical methods. Herein, we reported a strategy of quantitative discrimination of two breast cancer cell subtypes. Based on our previous studies, two kinds of Prussian blue analogue coated gold nanoparticles (Au@PBA NPs) were designed and synthesized by the replacement of Fe²⁺ with Pb²⁺ or Cu²⁺. Therefore, two distinct SERS emissions of C≡N bonds at 2122 cm^-1 and 2176 cm^-1 have been acquired. When modified with aptamers of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which are both expressed in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines but in different levels, the SERS nanoprobes simultaneously identified the relative expression of these biomarkers on the cell surface, providing a good example for ratiometric detection in biosystems without any interference. Each surface marker of tumor cells corresponds to a single SERS emission. Thus, each subtype could be described in a molecular profiling way through duplex C≡N bonds-based SERS emission, which is more advanced than traditional flow cytometry method.

Recent advances in nanosized metal organic frameworks for drug delivery and tumor therapy

Metal organic-frameworks (MOFs) are novel materials that have attracted increasing attention for applications in a wide range of research, owing to their unique advantages including their small particle size, porous framework structure and high specific surface area. Because of their adjustable size, nanoscale MOFs (nano-MOFs) can be prepared as carriers of biotherapy drugs, thus enabling biotherapeutic applications. Nano-MOFs' metal ion catalytic activity and organic group functional characteristics can be exploited in biological treatments. Furthermore, the applications of nano-MOFs can be broadened by hybridization with other materials to form composites. This review focuses on the preparation and recent advances in nano-MOFs as drug carriers, therapeutic materials and functionalized materials in drug delivery and tumor therapy based on the single/multiple stimulus response of drug release to achieve the targeted therapy, offering a comprehensive reference for drug carrier design. At the end, the current challenges and prospects are discussed to provide significant insight into the design and applications of nano-MOFs in drug delivery and tumor therapy.

Noninvasive photothermal cancer therapy nanoplatforms via integrating nanomaterials and functional polymers

In the cutting-edge field of cancer therapy, noninvasive photothermal therapy (PTT) has received great attention because it is considered to overcome the drawbacks of conventional surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy of severe body injuries and side effects on the immune system. The construction of PTT therapeutic and theranostic nanoplatforms is the key issue in achieving tumor targeting, imaging and therapy in a synergetic manner. In this review, we focus on the recent advances in constructing PTT therapeutic and theranostic nanoplatforms by integrating nanomaterials and functional polymers. The noninvasive photothermal cancer therapy mechanism and achievement strategies of PTT therapeutic and theranostic nanoplatforms are presented as well as the innovative construction strategies and perspectives for the future. Owing to their high tumor ablation efficiency, biological availability and low- or non-toxicity, PTT therapeutic and theranostic nanoplatforms are promising and emerging in medicine and clinical applications.

In Vitro and In Vivo SERS Biosensing for Disease Diagnosis

For many disease states, positive outcomes are directly linked to early diagnosis, where therapeutic intervention would be most effective. Recently, trends in disease diagnosis have focused on the development of label-free sensing techniques that are sensitive to low analyte concentrations found in the physiological environment. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful vibrational spectroscopy that allows for label-free, highly sensitive, and selective detection of analytes through the amplification of localized electric fields on the surface of a plasmonic material when excited with monochromatic light. This results in enhancement of the Raman scattering signal, which allows for the detection of low concentration analytes, giving rise to the use of SERS as a diagnostic tool for disease. Here, we present a review of recent developments in the field of in vivo and in vitro SERS biosensing for a range of disease states including neurological disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and viral disease.

SERS-fluorescence bimodal nanoprobes for in vitro imaging of fatty acid responsive receptor GPR120

G-protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120), as a member of the rhodopsin family of G-protein-coupled receptors, has been shown to function as a sensor for dietary fat in the gustatory and digestive systems. Its specific role in the chemoreception of fatty acids, which is thought to be crucial in understanding the mechanism surrounding the control of fat intake and, accordingly, in the treatment of obesity, remains unclear. Here we report a novel surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-fluorescence bimodal microscopic technique for detection and imaging of GPR120 in single living cells. CaMoO4:Eu3+@AuNR hybrid nanoparticles are synthesized and characterized as imaging probes. Biocompatibility and imaging capability of the probes are investigated using a model HEK293 cell line with an inducible GPR120 gene transfection. Cellular distribution of GPR120 is visualized by single-cell SERS and fluorescence imaging. A dose-dependent GPR120 response to linoleic acid treatment is revealed by SERS.

Enhancement of upconversion, temperature sensing and cathodoluminescence in the K+/Na+ compensated CaMoO4:Er3+/Yb3+ nanophosphor

Enhancing upconversion, temperature sensing and cathodoluminescence in the CaMoO₄:Er³⁺/Yb³⁺ nanophosphor via K⁺/Na⁺ simultaneous codoping.

Manipulating tumor hypoxia toward enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT)

This mini-review summarizes various methods for overcoming or utilizing hypoxia for enhanced PDT.

Skin-safe photothermal therapy enabled by responsive release of acid-activated membrane-disruptive polymer from polydopamine nanoparticle upon very low laser irradiation

How to ablate tumor without damaging skin is a challenge for photothermal therapy.