Nanomaterials-based advanced systems for photothermal / photodynamic therapy of oral cancer

The traditional clinical approaches for oral cancer consist of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and so on. However, these treatments often induce side effects and exhibit limited efficacy. Photothermal therapy (PTT) emerges as a promising adjuvant treatment, utilizing photothermal agents (PTAs) to convert light energy into heat for tumor ablation. Another innovative approach, photodynamic therapy (PDT), leverages photosensitizers (PSs) and specific wavelength laser irradiation to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), offering an effective and non-toxic alternative. The relevant combination therapies have been reported in the field of oral cancer. Simultaneously, the advancement of nanomaterials has propelled the clinical application of PTT and PDT. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of PTT and PDT is required for better application in oral cancer treatment. Here, we review the use of PTT and PDT in oral cancer, including noble metal materials (e.g., Au nanoparticles), carbon materials (e.g., graphene oxide), organic dye molecules (e.g., indocyanine green), organic molecule-based agents (e.g., porphyrin-analog phthalocyanine) and other inorganic materials (e.g., MXenes), exemplify the advantages and disadvantages of common PTAs and PSs, and summarize the combination therapies of PTT with PDT, PTT/PDT with chemotherapy, PTT with radiotherapy, PTT/PDT with immunotherapy, and PTT/PDT with gene therapy in the treatment of oral cancer. The challenges related to the PTT/PDT combination therapy and potential solutions are also discussed.

Membrane-Cloaked Nanoparticles for RNA Interference of β-Catenin in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

There is an outstanding need for targeted therapies for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive breast cancer subtype. Since TNBC's rapid growth and metastasis are driven by hyperactive Wnt signaling, suppressing the key-pathway mediator β-catenin through RNA interference may improve patient outcomes. However, small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) molecules require a carrier to elicit targeted gene silencing. Here, we show that 4T1 cancer cell membrane wrapped poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) can deliver siRNA into TNBC cells, silence β-catenin expression, and reduce the cells' tumorigenic qualities. Compared to unwrapped and nontargeted NPs, the cancer cell membrane wrapped nanoparticles (CCNPs) exhibit dramatically improved uptake by TNBC cells versus breast epithelial cells and greater gene silencing at mRNA and protein levels. Congruently, β-catenin siRNA-loaded CCNPs significantly activate senescence in 2D cultured TNBC cells and reduce proliferation in 3D spheroids. This work advances the development of nucleic acid carriers for targeted RNA interference therapy.

Promising applications of nanotechnology in inhibiting chemo-resistance in solid tumors by targeting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)

The resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy, also known as chemo-resistance, poses a significant obstacle to cancer treatment and can ultimately result in patient mortality. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the many factors and processes responsible for chemo-resistance. Studies have shown that targeting EMT can help overcome chemo-resistance, and nanotechnology and nanomedicine have emerged as promising approaches to achieve this goal. This article discusses the potential of nanotechnology in inhibiting EMT and proposes a viable strategy to combat chemo-resistance in various solid tumors, including breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. While nanotechnology has shown promising results in targeting EMT, further research is necessary to explore its full potential in overcoming chemo-resistance and discovering more effective methods in the future.

Nano-Drug Delivery Systems in Oral Cancer Therapy: Recent Developments and Prospective

Oral cancer (OC), characterized by malignant tumors in the mouth, is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide. Chemotherapy is a commonly used treatment for OC; however, it often leads to severe side effects on human bodies. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising solution for managing OC using nanomaterials and nanoparticles (NPs). Nano-drug delivery systems (nano-DDSs) that employ various NPs as nanocarriers have been extensively developed to enhance current OC therapies by achieving controlled drug release and targeted drug delivery. Through searching and analyzing relevant research literature, it was found that certain nano-DDSs can improve the therapeutic effect of drugs by enhancing drug accumulation in tumor tissues. Furthermore, they can achieve targeted delivery and controlled release of drugs through adjustments in particle size, surface functionalization, and drug encapsulation technology of nano-DDSs. The application of nano-DDSs provides a new tool and strategy for OC therapy, offering personalized treatment options for OC patients by enhancing drug delivery, reducing toxic side effects, and improving therapeutic outcomes. However, the use of nano-DDSs in OC therapy still faces challenges such as toxicity, precise targeting, biodegradability, and satisfying drug-release kinetics. Overall, this review evaluates the potential and limitations of different nano-DDSs in OC therapy, focusing on their components, mechanisms of action, and laboratory therapeutic effects, aiming to provide insights into understanding, designing, and developing more effective and safer nano-DDSs. Future studies should focus on addressing these issues to further advance the application and development of nano-DDSs in OC therapy.

MiRNA-21a, miRNA-145, and miRNA-221 Expression and Their Correlations with WNT Proteins in Patients with Obstructive and Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

MicroRNAs and the WNT signaling cascade regulate the pathogenetic mechanisms of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) development.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the expression of microRNAs (miR-21a, miR-145, and miR-221) and the role of the WNT signaling cascade (WNT1, WNT3a, WNT4, and WNT5a) in obstructive CAD and ischemia with no obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA).

METHOD

The cross-sectional observational study comprised 94 subjects. The expression of miR-21a, miR-145, miR-221 (RT-PCR) and the protein levels of WNT1, WNT3a, WNT4, WNT5a, LRP6, and SIRT1 (ELISA) were estimated in the plasma of 20 patients with INOCA (66.5 [62.8; 71.2] years; 25% men), 44 patients with obstructive CAD (64.0 [56.5; 71,0] years; 63.6% men), and 30 healthy volunteers without risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

RESULTS

Higher levels of WNT1 (0.189 [0.184; 0.193] ng/mL vs. 0.15 [0.15-0.16] ng/mL, p < 0.001) and WNT3a (0.227 [0.181; 0.252] vs. 0.115 [0.07; 0.16] p < 0.001) were found in plasma samples from patients with obstructive CAD, whereas the INOCA group was characterized by higher concentrations of WNT4 (0.345 [0.278; 0.492] ng/mL vs. 0.203 [0.112; 0.378] ng/mL, p = 0.025) and WNT5a (0.17 [0.16; 0.17] ng/mL vs. 0.01 [0.007; 0.018] ng/mL, p < 0.001). MiR-221 expression level was higher in all CAD groups compared to the control group (p < 0.001), whereas miR-21a was more highly expressed in the control group than in the obstructive (p = 0.012) and INOCA (p = 0.003) groups. Correlation analysis revealed associations of miR-21a expression with WNT1 (r = -0.32; p = 0.028) and SIRT1 (r = 0.399; p = 0.005) protein levels in all CAD groups. A positive correlation between miR-145 expression and the WNT4 protein level was observed in patients with obstructive CAD (r = 0.436; p = 0.016). Based on multivariate regression analysis, a mathematical model was constructed that predicts the type of coronary lesion. WNT3a and LRP6 were the independent predictors of INOCA (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Activation of the canonical cascade of WNT-β-catenin prevailed in patients with obstructive CAD, whereas in the INOCA and control groups, the activity of the non-canonical pathway was higher. It can be assumed that miR-21a has a negative effect on the formation of atherosclerotic CAD. Alternatively, miR-145 could be involved in the development of coronary artery obstruction, presumably through the regulation of the WNT4 protein. A mathematical model with WNT3a and LRP6 as predictors allows for the prediction of the type of coronary artery lesion.

Decoding the role of miRNAs in oral cancer pathogenesis: A focus on signaling pathways

Oral cancer (OC) is the predominant type originating in the head and neck region. The incidence of OC is mostly associated with behavioral risk factors, including tobacco smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Additionally, there is a lower but still significant association with viral infections such as human papillomaviruses and Epstein-Barr viruses. Furthermore, it has been observed that heritable genetic variables are linked to the risk of OC, in addition to the previously mentioned acquired risk factors. The current absence of biomarkers for OC diagnosis contributes to the frequent occurrence of advanced-stage diagnoses among patients. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, have been observed to exert a significant effect on the transcriptional control of target genes involved in cancer, either through direct or indirect mechanisms. miRNAs are a class of short ncRNAs that play a role in regulating gene expression by enabling mRNA degradation or translational repression at the post-transcriptional phase. miRNAs are known to play a fundamental role in the development of cancer and the regulation of oncogenic cell processes. Notch signaling, PTEN/Akt/mTOR axis, KRAS mutation, JAK/STAT signaling, P53, EGFR, and the VEGFs have all been linked to OC, and miRNAs have been shown to have a role in all of these. The dysregulation of miRNA has been identified in cases of OC and is linked with prognosis.

Nanocarriers for photodynamic-gene therapy

The use of nanotechnology in medicine has important potential applications, including in anticancer strategies. Nanomedicine has made it possible to overcome the limitations of conventional monotherapies, in addition to improving therapeutic results by means of synergistic or cumulative effects. A highlight is the combination of gene therapy (GT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), which are alternative anticancer approaches that have attracted attention in the last decade. In this review, strategies involving the combination of PDT and GT will be discussed, together with the role of nanocarriers (nonviral vectors) in this synergistic therapeutic approach, including aspects related to the design of nanomaterials, responsiveness, the interaction of the nanomaterial with the biological environment, and anticancer performance in studies in vitro and in vivo.

Nanoplatforms: The future of oral cancer treatment

Background and Aims

Cytotoxicity is a key disadvantage of using chemotherapeutic drugs to treat cancer. This can be overcome by encapsulating chemotherapeutic drugs in suitable carriers for targeted delivery, allowing them to be released only at the cancerous sites. Herein, we aim to review the recent scientific developments in the utilization of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for treating oral malignancies that can lead to further improvements in clinical practice.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and other notable databases to identify recent peer-reviewed clinical trials, reviews, and research articles related to nanoplatforms and their applications in oral cancer treatment.

Results

Nanoplatforms offer a revolutionary strategy to overcome the challenges associated with conventional oral cancer treatments, such as poor drug solubility, non-specific targeting, and systemic toxicity. These nanoscale drug delivery systems encompass various formulations, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and hydrogels, which facilitate controlled release and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to oral cancer sites. By exploiting the enhanced permeability and retention effect, Nanoplatforms accumulate preferentially in the tumor microenvironment, increasing drug concentration and minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Additionally, nanoplatforms can be engineered to carry multiple drugs or a combination of drugs and diagnostic agents, enabling personalized and precise treatment approaches.

Conclusion

The utilization of nanoplatforms in oral cancer treatment holds significant promise in revolutionizing therapeutic strategies. Despite the promising results in preclinical studies, further research is required to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and long-term effects of nanoformulations in clinical settings. If successfully translated into clinical practice, nanoplatform-based therapies have the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce side effects, and pave the way for more personalized and effective oral cancer treatments.

Supramolecular Chemotherapy with Cucurbit[n]urils as Encapsulating Hosts

The cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n]) belong to the field of relatively young supramolecules which act as containers for a large variety of guests and are being explored extensively for their numerous biomedical applications. This includes drug formulation and delivery, controlled drug release, photodynamic therapy, sensing for bioanalytical purposes, etc. These supramolecular host-guest systems have distinctive recognition properties and have successfully been shown to enhance the in vitro and in vivo utility of various chemotherapeutic agents. The CB[n]s are tailored to optimize their application in payload delivery and diagnostics and in lowering the toxicity of existing drugs. This review has listed the recent studies on working mechanisms and host-guest complexation of the biologically vital molecules with CB[n] and highlighted their implementation in anticancer therapeutics. Various modifications in CB-drug inclusion compounds like CB supramolecular nanoarchitectures along with application in photodynamic therapy, which has shown potential as targeted drug delivery vehicles in cancer chemotherapy, have also been discussed.

The paradigm of miRNA and siRNA influence in Oral-biome

Short nucleotide sequences like miRNA and siRNA have attracted a lot of interest in Oral-biome investigations. miRNA is a small class of non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression to provide effective regulation of post-transcription. On contrary, siRNA is 21-25 nucleotide dsRNA impairing gene function post-transcriptionally through inhibition of mRNA for homologous dependent gene silencing. This review highlights the application of miRNA in oral biome including oral cancer, dental implants, periodontal diseases, gingival fibroblasts, oral submucous fibrosis, radiation-induced oral mucositis, dental Pulp, and oral lichenoid disease. Moreover, we have also discussed the application of siRNA against the aforementioned disease along with the impact of miRNA and siRNA to the various pathways and molecular effectors pertaining to the dental diseases. The influence of upregulation and downregulation of molecular effector post-treatment with miRNA and siRNA and their impact on the clinical setting has been elucidated. Thus, the mentioned details on application of miRNA and siRNA will provide a novel gateway to the scholars to not only mitigate the long-lasting issue in dentistry but also develop new theragnostic approaches.

Inhibition of WNT signaling by conjugated microRNA nano-carriers: A new therapeutic approach for treating triple-negative breast cancer a perspective review

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer is the most aggressive form and accounts the 15%-25% of all breast cancer. Receptors are absent in triple-negative breast cancer, which makes them unresponsive to the current hormonal therapies. The patients with TNBC are left with the option of cytotoxic chemotherapy. The Wnt pathways are connected to cancer, and when activated, they result in mammary hyperplasia and tumors. The tumor suppressor microRNAs can block tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, lead to cancer cell death, and are also known to down-regulate the WNT signaling. Nanoparticles with microRNA have been seen to be more effective when compared with their single release. In this review, we have tried to understand how Wnt signaling plays a crucial role in TNBC, EMT, metastasis, anti-drug resistance, and regulation of Wnt by microRNA. The role of nano-carriers in delivering micro-RNA. The clinical biomarkers, including the present state-of-the-art, involve novel pathways of Wnt.

Development of novel polymeric nanoagents and their potential in cancer diagnosis and therapy runing title: Polymeric nanoagents for cancer theranostics

Cancer has been one of the leading factors of death around the world. Cancer patients usually have low 5-year survival rates and poor life quality requiring substantial improvement. In clinic, the presenting diagnostic strategies lack sensitivity with only a small proportion of patients can be accurately identified. For diagnosed patients, most of them are at the advanced stages thus being delayed to receive treatment. Therefore, it is eager to investigate and develop highly effective and accurate techniques for cancer early diagnosis and individualized therapy. Various nanoplatforms are emerging as imaging agents and drug carriers for cancer theranostics recently. Novel polymeric nanoagents, as a potent exemplar, have extraordinary merits, such as good stability, high biosafety and high drug loading efficacy, showing the great prospect for cancer early diagnosis and precise treatment. Herein, we review the recent advances in novel polymeric nanoagents and elucidate their synthesis procedures. We further introduce the applications of novel polymeric nanoagents in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and theranostics, as well as associated challenges and prospects in this field.

Increasing cancer permeability by photodynamic priming: from microenvironment to mechanotransduction signaling

The dense cancer microenvironment is a significant barrier that limits the penetration of anticancer agents, thereby restraining the efficacy of molecular and nanoscale cancer therapeutics. Developing new strategies to enhance the permeability of cancer tissues is of major interest to overcome treatment resistance. Nonetheless, early strategies based on small molecule inhibitors or matrix-degrading enzymes have led to disappointing clinical outcomes by causing increased chemotherapy toxicity and promoting disease progression. In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a novel approach to increase the permeability of cancer tissues. By producing excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species selectively in the cancer microenvironment, PDT increases the accumulation, penetration depth, and efficacy of chemotherapeutics. Importantly, the increased cancer permeability has not been associated to increased metastasis formation. In this review, we provide novel insights into the mechanisms by which this effect, called photodynamic priming, can increase cancer permeability without promoting cell migration and dissemination. This review demonstrates that PDT oxidizes and degrades extracellular matrix proteins, reduces the capacity of cancer cells to adhere to the altered matrix, and interferes with mechanotransduction pathways that promote cancer cell migration and differentiation. Significant knowledge gaps are identified regarding the involvement of critical signaling pathways, and to which extent these events are influenced by the complicated PDT dosimetry. Addressing these knowledge gaps will be vital to further develop PDT as an adjuvant approach to improve cancer permeability, demonstrate the safety and efficacy of this priming approach, and render more cancer patients eligible to receive life-extending treatments.

Advanced Polymeric Nanoagents for Oral Cancer Theranostics: A Mini Review

Oral cancer is one of the most common tumours in the world threatening human life and health. The 5-years survival rate of patients with oral cancer has not been improved significantly for many years. The existing clinical diagnostic methods rarely achieve early diagnosis due to deficiencies such as lack of sensitivity. Most of the patients have progressed to the advanced stages when oral cancer is detected. Unfortunately, the traditional treatment methods are usually ineffective at this stage. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more effective and precise techniques for early diagnosis and effective treatment of oral cancer. In recent decades, nanomedicine has been a novel diagnostic and therapeutic platform for various diseases, especially cancer. The synthesis and application of various nanoagents have emerged at the right moment. Among them, polymer nanoagents have unique advantages, such as good stability, high biosafety and high drug loading, showing great potential in the early accurate diagnosis and treatment of tumours. In this review, we focus on the application of advanced polymeric nanoagents in both the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer. Then, the future therapy strategies and trends for polymeric nanoagents applied to oral cancer are discussed, with the hope that more advanced nanomedical technology will be applied to oral cancer research and promote the development of stomatology.

Current trends of targeted therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant disease in the world which has a profound effect on human health and life quality. According to tumor stage and pathological diagnosis, OSCC is mainly treated by combinations of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, traditional treatment methods suffer from some limitations, such as systemic toxicity, limited therapeutic effect and drug resistance. With the rapid development of nanotechnology, nanodrug delivery systems (DDSs) and intelligent DDSs have been widely used in targeted therapy for OSCC. Meanwhile, the newly developed therapeutic techniques such as immunotherapy, gene therapy and bionic technology provide the possibility to realize the active targeted therapy. Here, the latest advances of target therapy for OSCC are reviewed, and their therapeutic remarks, current limits and future prospects are also systematically interpreted. It is believed that active and passive targeted therapies have great potentials for clinical transformation and application of OSCC, which will greatly improve human quality of life.

Stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems for head and neck cancer therapy

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is among the most common malignancy that has a profound impact on human health and life quality. The treatment for HNC, especially for the advanced cancer is stage-dependent and in need of combined therapies. Various forms of adjuvant treatments such as chemotherapy, phototherapy, hyperthermia, gene therapy have been included in the HNC therapy. However, there are still restrictions with traditional administration such as limited in situ therapeutic effect, systemic toxicity, drug resistance, etc. In recent years, stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems (DDSs) have attracted the great attention in HNC therapy. These intelligent DDSs could respond to unique tumor microenvironment, external triggers or dual/multi stimulus with more specific drug delivery and release, leading to enhanced treatment efficiency and less reduced side effects. In this article, recent studies on stimuli-responsive DDSs for HNC therapy were summarized, which could respond to endogenous and exogenous triggers including pH, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), reactive oxygen species (ROS), redox condition, light, magnetic field and multi stimuli. Their therapeutic remarks, current limits and future prospect for these intelligent DDSs were discussed. Furthermore, multifunctional stimuli-responsive DDSs have also been reviewed. With the modification of drug carriers or co-loading with therapeutic agents. Those intelligent DDSs showed more biofunctions such as combined therapeutic effects or integration of diagnosis and treatment for HNC. It is believed that stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems showed great potential for future clinic translation and application for the treatment of HNC.

Progress in Nanocarriers Codelivery System to Enhance the Anticancer Effect of Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising anticancer noninvasive method and has great potential for clinical applications. Unfortunately, PDT still has many limitations, such as metastatic tumor at unknown sites, inadequate light delivery and a lack of sufficient oxygen. Recent studies have demonstrated that photodynamic therapy in combination with other therapies can enhance anticancer effects. The development of new nanomaterials provides a platform for the codelivery of two or more therapeutic drugs, which is a promising cancer treatment method. The use of multifunctional nanocarriers for the codelivery of two or more drugs can improve physical and chemical properties, increase tumor site aggregation, and enhance the antitumor effect through synergistic actions, which is worthy of further study. This review focuses on the latest research progress on the synergistic enhancement of PDT by simultaneous multidrug administration using codelivery nanocarriers. We introduce the design of codelivery nanocarriers and discuss the mechanism of PDT combined with other antitumor methods. The combination of PDT and chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photothermal therapy, hyperthermia, radiotherapy, sonodynamic therapy and even multidrug therapy are discussed to provide a comprehensive understanding.

CIRP promotes the progression of non-small cell lung cancer through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling via CTNNB1

BACKGROUND

Cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP) is a newly discovered proto-oncogene. In this study, we investigated the role of CIRP in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using patient tissue samples, cultured cell lines and animal lung cancer models.

METHODS

Tissue arrays, IHC and HE staining, immunoblotting, and qRT-PCR were used to detect the indicated gene expression; plasmid and siRNA transfections as well as viral infection were used to manipulate gene expression; cell proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis, cell migration and invasion analysis, soft agar colony formation assay, tail intravenous injection and subcutaneous inoculation of animal models were performed to study the role of CIRP in NSCLC cells; Gene expression microarray was used to select the underlying pathways; and RNA immunoprecipitation assay, biotin pull-down assay, immunopurification assay, mRNA decay analyses and luciferase reporter assay were performed to elucidate the mechanisms. The log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test, independent sample T-test, nonparametric Mann-Whitney test, Spearman rank test and two-tailed independent sample T-test were used accordingly in our study.

RESULTS

Our data showed that CIRP was highly expressed in NSCLC tissue, and its level was negatively correlated with the prognosis of NSCLC patients. By manipulating CIRP expression in A549, H460, H1299, and H1650 cell lines, we demonstrated that CIRP overexpression promoted the transition of G1/G0 phase to S phase and the formation of an enhanced malignant phenotype of NSCLC, reflected by increased proliferation, enhanced invasion/metastasis and greater tumorigenic capabilities both in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptome sequencing further demonstrated that CIRP acted on the cell cycle, DNA replication and Wnt signaling pathway to exert its pro-oncogenic action. Mechanistically, CIRP directly bound to the 3'- and 5'-UTRs of CTNNB1 mRNA, leading to enhanced stability and translation of CTNNB1 mRNA and promoting IRES-mediated protein synthesis, respectively. Eventually, the increased CTNNB1 protein levels mediated excessive activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its downstream targets C-myc, COX-2, CCND1, MMP7, VEGFA and CD44.

CONCLUSION

Our results support CIRP as a candidate oncogene in NSCLC and a potential target for NSCLC therapy.

Nanoparticles for Oral Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

Oral cancer is the sixth most common malignant cancer, affecting the health of people with an unacceptably high mortality rate. Despite numerous clinical methods in the diagnosis and therapy of oral cancer (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, surgery, and chemoradiotherapy), they still remain far from optimal. Therefore, an urgent need exists for effective and practical techniques of early diagnosis and effective therapy of oral cancer. Currently, various types of nanoparticles have aroused wide public concern, representing a promising tool for diagnostic probes and therapeutic devices. Their inherent physicochemical features, including ultrasmall size, high reactivity, and tunable surface modification, enable them to overcome some of the limitations and achieve the expected diagnostic and therapeutic effect. In this review, we introduce different types of nanoparticles that emerged for the diagnosis and therapy of oral cancers. Then, the challenges and future perspectives for nanoparticles applied in oral cancer diagnosis and therapy are presented. The objective of this review is to help researchers better understand the effect of nanoparticles on oral cancer diagnosis and therapy and may accelerate breakthroughs in this field.

Drug Delivery (Nano)Platforms for Oral and Dental Applications: Tissue Regeneration, Infection Control, and Cancer Management

The oral cavity and oropharynx are complex environments that are susceptible to physical, chemical, and microbiological insults. They are also common sites for pathological and cancerous changes. The effectiveness of conventional locally-administered medications against diseases affecting these oral milieus may be compromised by constant salivary flow. For systemically-administered medications, drug resistance and adverse side-effects are issues that need to be resolved. New strategies for drug delivery have been investigated over the last decade to overcome these obstacles. Synthesis of nanoparticle-containing agents that promote healing represents a quantum leap in ensuring safe, efficient drug delivery to the affected tissues. Micro/nanoencapsulants with unique structures and properties function as more favorable drug-release platforms than conventional treatment approaches. The present review provides an overview of newly-developed nanocarriers and discusses their potential applications and limitations in various fields of dentistry and oral medicine.

Exosome-mediated delivery of functionally active miRNA-375-3p mimic regulate epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of colon cancer cells

AIMS

EMT is the process by which a polarized epithelial cell undergoes several changes leading to highly invasive and fibroblast-like morphology. It has been described that miR-375 is inversely associated with EMT in cancerous patients and can effectively inhibit invasion and migration of tumor cells. Here, we investigate whether miR-375 mimic delivered by tumor-derived exosomes could reverse EMT process.

MAIN METHODS

The exosomes were isolated from HT-29 and SW480. Subsequently, exosomes were loaded with miR-375-3p mimic applying modified calcium chloride method. Quantitative real-time PCR was used for evaluation of the loading efficiency of miR-375 mimic in the exosomes. The effects of miR-375 loaded tumor exosomes (TEXomiR) on EMT process investigated using flow cytometry, cell morphology, and invasion and migration assay.

KEY FINDINGS

The in vitro results showed that the tumor derived exosomes can efficiently deliver miR-375 mimic to reduce the expression of β-catenin, vimentin, ZEB1, and snail. In contrast, TEXomiR significantly increased the expression of E- cadherin in EMT process. Furthermore, the migration and invasion abilities of HT-29 and SW480 cells were inhibited by TEXomiR. The expression of CD44 and CD133 are increased in EMT process. Flow cytometry evaluation demonstrated that treatment with TEXomiR significantly decreased the expression of CD44 and CD133 in SW480 cell line.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our results imply that colon cancer cells-derived exosomes could be used as an effective nonvehicle to deliver miR-375-3p mimic. Moreover, TEXomiR may be a potent therapeutic agent for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Nanoparticles for Manipulation of the Developmental Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch Signaling Pathways in Cancer

The Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch signaling pathways play a crucial role in early development and the maintenance of adult tissues. When dysregulated, these developmental signaling pathways can drive the formation and progression of cancer by facilitating cell survival, proliferation, and stem-like behavior. While this makes these pathways promising targets for therapeutic intervention, their pharmacological inhibition has been challenging due to the substantial complexity that exists within each pathway and the complicated crosstalk that occurs between the pathways. Recently, several small molecule inhibitors, ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules, and antagonistic antibodies have been developed that can suppress these signaling pathways in vitro, but many of them face systemic delivery challenges. Nanoparticle-based delivery vehicles can overcome these challenges to enhance the performance and anti-cancer effects of these therapeutic molecules. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which the Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch signaling pathways contribute to cancer growth, and discusses various nanoparticle formulations that have been developed to deliver small molecules, RNAs, and antibodies to cancer cells to inhibit these signaling pathways and halt tumor progression. This review also outlines some of the challenges that these nanocarriers must overcome to achieve therapeutic efficacy and clinical translation.

Enhanced anti-tumor efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid-gold nanoparticles-mediated photodynamic therapy in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the conjugation of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) to 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) could enhance the anti-tumor efficiency of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in epidermoid carcinoma cells. The mRNA and protein expression levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. Cell viability, apoptosis, invasion, and migration were determined by MTT assay, flow cytometry, transwell invasion assay, and migration assay, respectively. Singlet oxygen generation was detected by the singlet oxygen sensor green reagent assay. Our results showed that PDT with 5-ALA and GNPs-conjugated 5-ALA (5-ALA-GNPs) significantly suppressed cell viability, increased cell apoptosis and singlet oxygen generation in both HaCat and A431 cells, and PDT with 5-ALA and 5-ALA-GNPs had more profound effects in A431 cells than that in HaCat cells. More importantly, 5-ALA-GNPs treatment potentiated the effects of PDT on cell viability, cell apoptosis, and singlet oxygen generation in A431 cells compared to 5-ALA treatment. Further in vitro assays showed that PDT with 5-ALA-GNPs significantly decreased expression of STAT3 and Bcl-2 and increased expression of Bax in A431 cells compared with PDT with 5-ALA. In addition, 5-ALA-GNPs treatment enhanced the inhibitory effects of PDT on cell invasion and migration and Wnt/β-catenin signaling activities in A431 cells compared to 5-ALA treatment. In conclusion, our results suggested that GNPs conjugated to 5-ALA significantly enhanced the anti-tumor efficacy of PDT in A431 cells, which may represent a better strategy to improve the outcomes of patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

The Significance of the Dysregulation of Canonical Wnt Signaling in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

The knowledge about the molecular alterations which are found in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) has much increased in recent years. However, we are still awaiting the translation of this knowledge to new diagnostic and therapeutic options. Among the many molecular changes that are detected in head and neck cancer, the abnormalities in several signaling pathways, which regulate cell proliferation, cell death and stemness, seem to be especially promising with regard to the development of targeted therapies. Canonical Wnt signaling is a pathway engaged in the formation of head and neck tissues, however it is not active in adult somatic mucosal cells. The aim of this review paper is to bring together significant data related to the current knowledge on the mechanisms and functional significance of the dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in head and neck tumors. Research evidence related to the role of Wnt signaling activation in the stimulation of cell proliferation, migration and inhibition of apoptosis in HNSCC is presented. Moreover, its role in promoting stemness traits in head and neck cancer stem-like cells is described. Evidence corroborating the hypothesis that the Wnt signaling pathway is a very promising target of novel therapeutic interventions in HNSCC is also discussed.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based drug delivery systems for enhanced photodynamic therapy

In this Review, recent advances in fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based drug delivery systems for enhanced photodynamic therapy are described, and the current challenges and perspectives in this emerging field are also discussed.

H2O2-responsive nano-prodrug for podophyllotoxin delivery

The tumor microenvironment is different from that of normal tissue; therefore, the development of a prodrug that retains its efficacy in the tumor microenvironment can be useful in enhancing the anticancer properties of podophyllotoxin. An innovative podophyllotoxin prodrug (POD-PEG) was designed by linking podophyllotoxin to poly(ethylene glycol)(n) monomethacrylate with a H2O2-responsive oxalate ester bond. POD-PEG can self-assemble into stable nanoparticles (POD-PEG NPs). In vitro experiments demonstrated that the POD-PEG NPs can be activated by hydrogen peroxide resulting in podophyllotoxin release and are highly toxic against colon carcinoma CT26 cells. In vivo biodistribution studies demonstrate that PEGylated POD-PEG NPs are capable of prolonging blood circulation. Intravenous injection of POD-PEG NPs into CT26 tumor-bearing Balb/c mice resulted in a significantly enhanced therapeutic efficacy against tumors, with no significant systemic toxicity. Therefore, this H2O2-responsive prodrug delivery system exhibits good biosafety and provides a novel strategy for the development of drug delivery systems.

Nanomaterials as Inhibitors of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer Treatment

Abstract: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has emerged as a key regulator of cell invasion and metastasis in cancers. Besides the acquisition of migratory/invasive abilities, the EMT process is tightly connected with the generation of cancer stem cells (CSCs), thus contributing to chemoresistance. However, although EMT represents a relevant therapeutic target for cancer treatment, its application in the clinic is still limited due to various reasons, including tumor-stage heterogeneity, molecular-cellular target specificity, and appropriate drug delivery. Concerning this last point, different nanomaterials may be used to counteract EMT induction, providing novel therapeutic tools against many different cancers. In this review, (1) we discuss the application of various nanomaterials for EMT-based therapies in cancer, (2) we summarize the therapeutic relevance of some of the proposed EMT targets, and (3) we review the potential benefits and weaknesses of each approach.

Efficient Delivery of Therapeutic siRNA by Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles into Oral Cancer Cells

The incidence of oral cancer is increasing due to smoking, drinking, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, while the current treatments are not satisfactory. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapy has brought hope, but an efficient delivery system is still needed. Here, polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared for the delivery of therapeutic siRNAs targeting B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) and Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing 5 (BIRC5) into Ca9-22 oral cancer cells. The cationic nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). By gel retardation assay, the nanoparticles were found to block siRNA in a concentration-dependent manner. The cellular uptake of the nanoparticle/siRNA complexes under a magnetic field was visualized by Perl's Prussian blue staining and FAM labeling. High gene silencing efficiencies were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting. Furthermore, the nanoparticle-delivered siRNAs targeting BCL2 and BIRC5 were found to remarkably inhibit the viability and migration of Ca9-22 cells, by cell counting kit-8 assay and transwell assay. In this study, we have developed a novel siRNA-based therapeutic strategy targeting BCL2 and BIRC5 for oral cancer.

Facile synthesis and functionalization of color-tunable Ln3+-doped KGdF4 nanoparticles on a microfluidic platform

Hyaluronic acid (HA)-functionalized lanthanide-doped KGdF₄ nanoparticles were synthesized through two steps on a microfluidic platform. This microfluidic synthesis method allows better control of experimental conditions with lower labor and energy input than traditional beaker synthesis methods for large-scale production of nanoparticles with higher uniformity. First, Ln³⁺-doped KGdF₄ nanoparticles were ultrafast (in minutes) and continuously synthesized using a four-inlets microfluidic chip at room temperature. Then, HA is continuously functionalized on the surface of Ln³⁺-doped KGdF₄ nanoparticles using a T-shape chip through electrostatic adsorption. The synthesized nanoparticles show good uniformity, high biocompatibility, targeted cellular uptake, photoluminescence (PL) and magnetic resonance (MR) properties. This work highlights the potential of microfluidic platform for the development of multifunctional nanoparticles in biomedicine.

Functionalized gold nanostructures: promising gene delivery vehicles in cancer treatment

Surface-modified gold nanoparticles are recognized as promising gene delivery vehicles in the treatment of cancer owing to their excellent biocompatibility with biomolecules (like DNA or RNA) and their unique optical and structural properties. In this context, this review article focuses on the diverse transfection abilities of the gene to the targeted cell on the basis of different shapes and sizes of gold nanoparticles in order to promote its effective expression for cancer treatment. In addition, recent trends in gold nanoparticle mediated gene silencing, gene delivery, detection and combinatory therapies are highlighted considering their cytotoxic effects on healthy human cells.

Various functions of gold nanoparticles in conjugation with nucleic acids.

Photo-responsive hollow silica nanoparticles for light-triggered genetic and photodynamic synergistic therapy

The development of multifunctional carriers incorporating genetic and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for synergistic antitumor treatment has attracted intensive interests very recently. However, most of the currently reported systems employ passive gene release strategies depending on tumor microenvironment, which are negatively affected by the heterogeneity of cancer cells, thus resulting in limited controllability in therapeutic progress. Herein, a novel photo-responsive hollow silica nanoparticle (HNP)-based gene and photosensitizer (PS) co-delivery nanovehicle is designed for dual-wavelength light-triggered synergistic gene and PDT therapy. The resultant HNP conjugated with PDMAEMA polycation through a 405-nm light-cleavable Cou-linker, namely, HNP-Cou-PD, exhibits excellent gene condensation capacity, good biocompatibility, outstanding PS loading ability, and light-triggered gene release properties. HNP-Cou-PD with Chlorin e6 (Ce6) loaded inside the silica cavity and a plasmid encoding caspase-8 gene (CSP8) attached to the PDMAEMA outside layer (Ce6-HNP-Cou-PD/CSP8) has been proven to possess better antitumor effects under the irradiation of pre-405-nm and post-670-nm light both in vitro and in vivo because of the light-triggered intracellular gene release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Therefore, HNP-Cou-PD designed as a gene and PS co-delivery carrier might have promising applications in the future to precisely treat various types of cancers.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Multifunctional carriers incorporating genetic and photodynamic therapy (PDT) have drawn intense attention very recently, ascribing to their enhanced anticancer effects. However, in the present gene and PDT synergistic system, gene release strategies passively relying on tumor microenvironment often result in no or poor controllability compared with PDT (a spatial and temporal therapeutic modal), which may hinder their synergistic efficacy, especially in an on-demand manner. To resolve this problem, we designed a hollow silica nanoparticle-based dual-wavelength light-responsive gene and photosensitizer (PS) co-delivery platform to achieve photo-triggered gene and PDT synergistic therapy. We believe that our work may have extensive application prospects in precise treatment of various cancers and be of interest to the readership.

Gold nanorod-assembled ZnGa2O4:Cr nanofibers for LED-amplified gene silencing in cancer cells

Nanoparticles are now commonly used as non-viral gene vectors for RNA interference (RNAi) in cancer therapy but suffer from low targeting efficiency in situ. Meanwhile, localized drug delivery systems do not offer the effective capability for intracellular gene transportation. We describe here the design and synthesis of a localized therapeutic system, consisting of gold nanorods (Au NRs) loaded with hTERT siRNA assembled on the surface of ZnGa2O4:Cr (ZGOC) nanofibers. This composite system offers the potential for a LED-induced mild photothermal effect which enhances the phagocytosis of Au NRs carrying siRNA and the subsequent release of siRNA in the cytoplasm. Both phenomena amplify the gene silencing effect and consequently offer the potential for a superior therapeutic outcome.

RNA interference: new mechanistic and biochemical insights with application in oral cancer therapy

Over the last few decades, the incidence of oral cancer has gradually increased, due to the negative influence of environmental factors and also abnormalities within the genome. The main issues in oral cancer treatment consist in surpassing resistance and recurrence. However, continuous discovery of altered signaling pathways in these tumors provides valuable information for the identification of novel gene candidates targeted in personalized therapy. RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism that involves small interfering RNA (siRNA); this can be exploited in biomedical research by using natural or synthetic constructs for activation of the mechanism. Synthetic siRNA transcripts were developed as a versatile class of molecular tools that have a diverse range of programmable roles, being involved in the regulation of several biological processes, thereby providing the perspective of an alternative option to classical treatment. In this review, we summarize the latest information related to the application of siRNA in oral malignancy together with molecular aspects of the technology and also the perspective upon the delivery system. Also, the emergence of newer technologies such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 or transcription activator-like effector nucleases in comparison with the RNAi approach is discussed in this paper.

Targeted delivery of HES5-siRNA with novel polypeptide-modified nanoparticles for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

For actively targeted delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to solid tumors, we fabricated functionalized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) decorated with the polypeptide RGDfC. Herein, RGDfC was used as tumor-targeted moiety and installed onto the surface of SeNPs to enhance the cellular uptake. RGDfC-SeNPs@siRNA were internalized into the HepG2 cell mainly through clathrin-mediated endocytosis. The active efficacy of the RGDfC-SeNPs@siRNA was confirmed via gene silencing assay, MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. Owing to the tumor-targeting effect of RGDfC, RGDfC-SeNPs@siRNA achieved an obvious improvement in gene silencing ability, which led to significant growth inhibition of HepG2 cells. Furthermore, treatment with RGDfC-SeNPs@siRNA resulted in greater antitumor efficacy than lipofectamine 2000@siRNA in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the RGDfC-SeNPs@siRNA was almost non-toxic to the key organs of mice. In sum, these findings provide an alternative therapeutic route for targeted cancer treatments.

A novel polypeptide RGDfC-modified selenium nanoparticle was fabricated to selectively deliver HES5-siRNA to tumors for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy.

Future trends and emerging issues for nanodelivery systems in oral and oropharyngeal cancer

Oral cancer is a prevalent cancer type on a global scale, whose traditional treatment strategies have several drawbacks that could in the near future be overcome through the development of novel therapeutic and prognostic strategies. Nanotechnology provides an alternative to traditional therapy that leads to enhanced efficiency and less toxicity. Various nanosystems have been developed for the treatment of oral cancer, including polymeric, metallic, and lipid-based formulations that incorporate chemotherapeutics, natural compounds, siRNA, or other molecules. This review summarizes the main benefits of using these nanosystems, in parallel with a particular focus on the issues encountered in medical practice. These novel strategies have provided encouraging results in both in vitro and in vivo studies, but few have entered clinical trials. The use of nanosystems in oral cancer has the potential of becoming a valid therapeutic option for patients suffering from this malignancy, considering that clinical trials have already been completed and others are currently being developed.

A fluorescent light-up aggregation-induced emission probe for screening gefitinib-sensitive non-small cell lung carcinoma

Rapid screening of EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung carcinoma cells was achieved using a novel chemical probe based on aggregation-induced emission.