Enhanced breast cancer therapy using multifunctional lipid-coated nanoparticles combining curcumin chemotherapy and nitric oxide gas delivery

The limitations associated with conventional cancer treatment modalities, particularly for breast cancer, underscore the imperative for developing safer and more productive drug delivery systems. A promising strategy that has emerged is the combination of chemotherapy with gas therapy. We synthesized curcumin-loaded amorphous calcium carbonate nanoparticles (Cur-CaCO3) via a gas diffusion reaction in the present study. Subsequently, a "one-step" ethanol injection method was employed to fabricate lipid-coated calcium carbonate nanoparticles (Cur-CaCO3@LA-Lip) loaded with L-arginine, aimed at harnessing the synergistic effects of chemotherapy and nitric oxide to enhance antitumor efficacy. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that Cur-CaCO3@LA-Lip nanoparticles were subspherical with a distinct lipid layer encapsulating the periphery. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry results confirmed the successful synthesis of Cur-CaCO3@LA-Lip. The nanoparticles exhibited significant drug loading capacities of 8.89% for curcumin and 3.1% for L-arginine. In vitro and in vivo assessments demonstrated that Cur-CaCO3@LA-Lip nanoparticles facilitated sustained release of curcumin and exhibited high cellular uptake, substantial tumor accumulation, and excellent biocompatibility. Additionally, the nanoparticles showed robust cytotoxicity and potent antitumor efficacy, suggesting their potential as a formidable candidate for breast cancer therapy.

Functionalized Calcium Carbonate-Based Microparticles as a Versatile Tool for Targeted Drug Delivery and Cancer Treatment

Nano- and microparticles are increasingly widely used in biomedical research and applications, particularly as specific labels and targeted delivery vehicles. Silica has long been considered the best material for such vehicles, but it has some disadvantages limiting its potential, such as the proneness of silica-based carriers to spontaneous drug release. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is an emerging alternative, being an easily available, cost-effective, and biocompatible material with high porosity and surface reactivity, which makes it an attractive choice for targeted drug delivery. CaCO3 particles are used in this field in the form of either bare CaCO3 microbeads or core/shell microparticles representing polymer-coated CaCO3 cores. In addition, they serve as removable templates for obtaining hollow polymer microcapsules. Each of these types of particles has its specific advantages in terms of biomedical applications. CaCO3 microbeads are primarily used due to their capacity for carrying pharmaceutics, whereas core/shell systems ensure better protection of the drug-loaded core from the environment. Hollow polymer capsules are particularly attractive because they can encapsulate large amounts of pharmaceutical agents and can be so designed as to release their contents in the target site in response to specific stimuli. This review focuses first on the chemistry of the CaCO3 cores, core/shell microbeads, and polymer microcapsules. Then, systems using these structures for the delivery of therapeutic agents, including drugs, proteins, and DNA, are outlined. The results of the systematic analysis of available data are presented. They show that the encapsulation of various therapeutic agents in CaCO3-based microbeads or polymer microcapsules is a promising technique of drug delivery, especially in cancer therapy, enhancing drug bioavailability and specific targeting of cancer cells while reducing side effects. To date, research in CaCO3-based microparticles and polymer microcapsules assembled on CaCO3 templates has mainly dealt with their properties in vitro, whereas their in vivo behavior still remains poorly studied. However, the enormous potential of these highly biocompatible carriers for in vivo applications is undoubted. This last issue is addressed in depth in the Conclusions and Outlook sections of the review.

Size and phase preservation of amorphous calcium carbonate nanoparticles in aqueous media using different types of lignin for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging

HYPOTHESIS

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles could have great potential for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging (CEUS) due to their gas-generating properties and sensitivity to physiological conditions. However, the use of nano CaCO3 for biomedical applications requires the assistance of stabilizers to control the size and avoid the fast dissolution/recrystallization of the particles when exposed to aqueous conditions.

EXPERIMENTS

Herein, we report the stabilization of nano CaCO3 using lignin, and synthesized core-shell amorphous CaCO3-lignin nanoparticles (LigCC NPs) with a diameter below 100 nm. We have then investigated the echogenicity of the LigCC NPs by monitoring the consequent generation of contrast in vitro for 90 min in linear and non-linear B-mode imaging.

FINDINGS

This research explores how lignin type and structure affect stabilization efficiency, lignin structuration around CaCO3 cores, and particle echogenicity. Interestingly, by employing lignin as the stabilizer, it becomes possible to maintain the echogenic properties of CaCO3, whereas the use of lipid coatings prevents the production of signal generation in ultrasound imaging. This work opens new avenue for CEUS imaging of the vascular and extravascular space using CaCO3, as it highlights the potential to generate contrast for extended durations at physiological pH by utilizing the amorphous phase of CaCO3.

Unlocking the potential of amorphous calcium carbonate: A star ascending in the realm of biomedical application

Calcium-based biomaterials have been intensively studied in the field of drug delivery owing to their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. Calcium-based materials can also deliver contrast agents, which can enhance real-time imaging and exert a Ca2+-interfering therapeutic effect. Based on these characteristics, amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), as a brunch of calcium-based biomaterials, has the potential to become a widely used biomaterial. Highly functional ACC can be either discovered in natural organisms or obtained by chemical synthesis However, the standalone presence of ACC is unstable in vivo. Additives are required to be used as stabilizers or core-shell structures formed by permeable layers or lipids with modified molecules constructed to maintain the stability of ACC until the ACC carrier reaches its destination. ACC has high chemical instability and can produce biocompatible products when exposed to an acidic condition in vivo, such as Ca2+ with an immune-regulating ability and CO2 with an imaging-enhancing ability. Owing to these characteristics, ACC has been studied for self-sacrificing templates of carrier construction, targeted delivery of oncology drugs, immunomodulation, tumor imaging, tissue engineering, and calcium supplementation. Emphasis in this paper has been placed on the origin, structural features, and multiple applications of ACC. Meanwhile, ACC faces many challenges in clinical translation, and long-term basic research is required to overcome these challenges. We hope that this study will contribute to future innovative research on ACC.

Nanocrystalline and Amorphous Calcium Carbonate from Waste Seashells by Ball Milling Mechanochemistry Processes

Nanocrystalline calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and amorphous CaCO3 (ACC) are materials of increasing technological interest. Nowadays, they are mainly synthetically produced by wet reactions using CaCO3 reagents in the presence of stabilizers. However, it has recently been discovered that ACC can be produced by ball milling calcite. Calcite and/or aragonite are the mineral phases of mollusk shells, which are formed from ACC precursors. Here, we investigated the possibility to convert, on a potentially industrial scale, the biogenic CaCO3 (bCC) from waste mollusk seashells into nanocrystalline CaCO3 and ACC. Waste seashells from the aquaculture species, namely oysters (Crassostrea gigas, low-Mg calcite), scallops (Pecten jacobaeus, medium-Mg calcite), and clams (Chamelea gallina, aragonite) were used. The ball milling process was carried out by using different dispersing solvents and potential ACC stabilizers. Structural, morphological, and spectroscopic characterization techniques were used. The results showed that the mechanochemical process produced a reduction of the crystalline domain sizes and formation of ACC domains, which coexisted in microsized aggregates. Interestingly, bCC behaved differently from the geogenic CaCO3 (gCC), and upon long milling times (24 h), the ACC reconverted into crystalline phases. The aging in diverse environments of mechanochemically treated bCC produced a mixture of calcite and aragonite in a species-specific mass ratio, while the ACC from gCC converted only into calcite. In conclusion, this research showed that bCC can produce nanocrystalline CaCO3 and ACC composites or mixtures having species-specific features. These materials can enlarge the already wide fields of applications of CaCO3, which span from medical to material science.

One pot preparation of muti-mode nanoplatform to combat ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers with high mortality rate. The battle against ovarian cancer usually impaired by the evolved multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype as well as metastasis in cancers, which urgently call for the development of multi-mode strategies to overcome the MDR and reduce metastasis. Considering the good benefits of ferroptosis and photothermal therapy (PTT) in cancer management, we herein proposed a facile way to construct nanoparticle platform (Fe-Dox/PVP) composed of ferric chloride, doxorubicin (Dox) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) for the multi-mode therapy of ovarian cancer using chemotherapy, ferroptosis and mild hypothermia PTT. Our results demonstrated that Fe-Dox/PVP with mild hypothermia was shown to have improved endosomal escape/drug delivery, enhanced ferroptosis induction and good tumor targeting effects. Most importantly, the integration of all three effects into one platform provided increased anti-metastasis effect and promising in vitro/in vivo anticancer performance with high biocompatibility. In this study, we offer a facile and robust way to prepare a multi-mode nanoplatform to combat ovarian cancer, which can be further extended for the management of many other cancers.

Multifunctional Nanoparticles Codelivering Doxorubicin and Amorphous Calcium Carbonate Preloaded with Indocyanine Green for Enhanced Chemo-Photothermal Cancer Therapy

Background

Multifunctional stimuli-responsive nanoparticles with photothermal-chemotherapy provided a powerful tool for improving the accuracy and efficiency in the treatment of malignant tumors.

Methods

Herein, photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded amorphous calcium-carbonate (ICG@) nanoparticle was prepared by a gas diffusion reaction. Doxorubicin (DOX) and ICG@ were simultaneously encapsulated into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-ss-chondroitin sulfate A (PSC) nanoparticles by a film hydration method. The obtained PSC/ICG@+DOX hybrid nanoparticles were characterized and evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of PSC/ICG@+DOX nanoparticles were analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and MTT assay in 4T1 cells. In vivo antitumor activity of the nanoparticles was evaluated in 4T1-bearing Balb/c mice.

Results

PSC/ICG@+DOX nanoparticles were nearly spherical in shape by TEM observation, and the diameter was 407 nm determined by DLS. Owing to calcium carbonate and disulfide bond linked copolymer, PSC/ICG@+DOX nanoparticles exhibited pH and reduction-sensitive drug release. Further, PSC/ICG@+DOX nanoparticles showed an effective photothermal effect under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, and improved cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in breast cancer 4T1 cells. Importantly, PSC/ICG@+DOX nanoparticles demonstrated the most effective suppression of tumor growth in orthotopic 4T1-bearing mice among the treatment groups. In contrast with single chemotherapy or photothermal therapy, chemo-photothermal treatment by PSC/ICG@+DOX nanoparticles synergistically inhibited the growth of 4T1 cells.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that PSC/ICG@+DOX nanoparticles with active targeting and stimuli-sensitivity would be a promising strategy to enhance chemo-photothermal cancer therapy.

Enhancing Doxorubicin Delivery in Solid Tumor by Superhydrophobic Amorphous Calcium Carbonate-Doxorubicin Silica Nanoparticles with Focused Ultrasound

The current approach of delivering chemotherapy via pH-sensitive amorphous calcium carbonate-doxorubicin silica nanoparticles (ADS NPs) faces the challenge of insufficient drug dose due to drug instability within the bloodstream and poor tumor penetration. To overcome these long-standing obstacles, we proposed a superhydrophobic coating on the surface of the ADS NPs that could be easily modified via fluorination (ADSF NPs). The surface of fluorinated ADS NPs was further modified with a phospholipid layer to reduce aggregation and improve biocompatibility (ADSFL NPs). The contact angle and mean size of ADSFL NPs were 30.2 ± 4.4° and 353.1 ± 54.2 nm, respectively. The superhydrophobic layer generated interfacial nanobubbles on the outer shell of the NPs that reduced water-induced leakage of doxorubicin (DOX) sevenfold compared with the uncoated group and induced a cavitation effect upon ultrasound (US) sonication. Moreover, release of DOX from the ADSFL NPs could be triggered by US, and this release was further improved 1.6-fold in acidic aqueous conditions, indicating that the ADSFL NPs retained pH responsiveness. Enhanced sonography contrast and histological examination demonstrated that US could trigger cavitation activities from ADSFL NPs in vivo to induce vessel disruption and enhance the fluorescence intensity of DOX within the tumor region threefold under US imaging guidance compared with the ADSFL NPs-only group.

Calcium carbonate: controlled synthesis, surface functionalization, and nanostructured materials

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is an important inorganic mineral in biological and geological systems. Traditionally, it is widely used in plastics, papermaking, ink, building materials, textiles, cosmetics, and food. Over the last decade, there has been rapid development in the controlled synthesis and surface modification of CaCO₃, the stabilization of amorphous CaCO₃ (ACC), and CaCO₃-based nanostructured materials. In this review, the controlled synthesis of CaCO₃ is first examined, including Ca²⁺-CO₃^2- systems, solid-liquid-gas carbonation, water-in-oil reverse emulsions, and biomineralization. Advancing insights into the nucleation and crystallization of CaCO₃ have led to the development of efficient routes towards the controlled synthesis of CaCO₃ with specific sizes, morphologies, and polymorphs. Recently-developed surface modification methods of CaCO₃ include organic and inorganic modifications, as well as intensified surface reactions. The resultant CaCO₃ can then be further engineered via template-induced biomineralization and layer-by-layer assembly into porous, hollow, or core-shell organic-inorganic nanocomposites. The introduction of CaCO₃ into nanostructured materials has led to a significant improvement in the mechanical, optical, magnetic, and catalytic properties of such materials, with the resultant CaCO₃-based nanostructured materials showing great potential for use in biomaterials and biomedicine, environmental remediation, and energy production and storage. The influences that the preparation conditions and additives have on ACC preparation and stabilization are also discussed. Studies indicate that ACC can be used to construct environmentally-friendly hybrid films, supramolecular hydrogels, and drug vehicles. Finally, the existing challenges and future directions of the controlled synthesis and functionalization of CaCO₃ and its expanding applications are highlighted.

Incorporation of nanogels within calcite single crystals for the storage, protection and controlled release of active compounds

Nanocarriers have tremendous potential for the encapsulation, storage and delivery of active compounds. However, current formulations often employ open structures that achieve efficient loading of active agents, but that suffer undesired leakage and instability of the payloads over time. Here, a straightforward strategy that overcomes these issues is presented, in which protein nanogels are encapsulated within single crystals of calcite (CaCO3). Demonstrating our approach with bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanogels loaded with (bio)active compounds, including doxorubicin (a chemotherapeutic drug) and lysozyme (an antibacterial enzyme), we show that these nanogels can be occluded within calcite host crystals at levels of up to 45 vol%. Encapsulated within the dense mineral, the active compounds are stable against harsh conditions such as high temperature and pH, and controlled release can be triggered by a simple reduction of the pH. Comparisons with analogous systems - amorphous calcium carbonate, mesoporous vaterite (CaCO3) polycrystals, and calcite crystals containing polymer vesicles - demonstrate the superior encapsulation performance of the nanogel/calcite system. This opens the door to encapsulating a broad range of existing nanocarrier systems within single crystal hosts for the efficient storage, transport and controlled release of various active guest species.

Preparation and characterization of sodium alginate/phosphate-stabilized amorphous calcium carbonate nanocarriers and their application in the release of curcumin

Phosphate-stabilized amorphous calcium carbonate (ACCP) has excellent biocompatibility, bioactivity, and biodegradability, and can be easily synthesized and stored. However, unmodified ACCP, as a controlled drug release carrier, decomposes rapidly in an acidic environment and highly depends on the system's pH value, which can not meet the need for long-term release of active substances, thus limiting its application scope. To realize the specific pH responsiveness of ACCP nanoparticles, we designed and synthesized monodisperse sodium alginate/ACCP (Alginate/ACCP) composite nanoparticles in this paper. After ultrasonic treatment, nanoparticles with an average particle size less than 200 nm could form stable water dispersion that could be dispersed for up to 10 d. Based on the specific pH sensitivity of sodium alginate, the drug-controlled release performance of composite nanoparticles and the therapeutic effect of drug-loaded nanoparticles on A549 cancer cells were studied. The results indicated that under the same pH condition, the curcumin (Cur) release rate of composite nanoparticles gradually decreased with sodium alginate addition. When the dosage of sodium alginate was 1.0 mg ml^-1, the cumulative drug release rate of nanoparticles in 40 h was only about 35%. Besides, the drug-loaded nanoparticles showed the excellent killing ability of cancer cells, and the survival rate of cancer cells decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, through reasonable optimization design, we can synthesize composite nanoparticles with excellent sustained-release properties to provide a new strategy for cancer cells' long-term treatment.

Dual-Channel Theranostic System for Quantitative Self-Indication and Low-Temperature Synergistic Therapy of Cancer

A conventional theranostic system usually employs a single fluorescence channel to show the pharmacokinetic events, which usually fails to quantitatively reveal the true cumulative drug release and with low accuracy. Herein, indocyanine green (ICG) and chlorins e6 (Ce6) are selected not only as conventional photothermal/photodynamic agents, but also to offer two independent fluorescence channels to cross validate the authenticity of pharmacokinetic events and to quantitatively reveal cumulative drug release in tumor tissues in a "turn on" manner. Employing the Ca²⁺ of amorphous calcium carbonate as a reversible linker, the photosensitivity and fluorescence of Ce6 are physically quenched by ICG during circulation to reduce the side effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) while being readily restored in tumor tissue to reveal the quantitative drug release. Most importantly, the combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and PDT allows low-temperature synergistic therapy of cancer through the controlled expression of heat shock protein in cells and mild hyperthermia enhanced reactive oxygen species diffusion/penetration among cells. This work not only develops a facile approach to fabricate a dual-channel theranostic system to precisely indicate the accumulation and quantitative drug release in tumor tissue, but also presents a unique low-temperature synergistic strategy to destroy tumor in an effective and minimally invasive manner.

Prospect of Metal Ceramic (Titanium-Wollastonite) Composite as Permanent Bone Implants: A Narrative Review

This literature review discusses the influence of titanium ceramic composites as a biomaterial towards the fabrication of implants for orthopedic applications. The concept of applying metal-ceramic composites enable many novel combinations in the design and fabrication of complex materials which enhances functionality to improve cell and tissue matrix interactions particularly in the formation of bone. Specific focus is placed on its plethora of materials selected from the metals and ceramic group and identifying the optimal combination that matches them. The prospect of wollastonite as the ceramic counterpart is also highlighted. In this review, we have highlighted the different fabrication methods for such metal-ceramic materials as well as the role that these hybrids play in an in vitro and in vivo environment. Its economic potential as a bone implant material is also discussed.

Water/pH dual responsive in situ calcium supplement collaborates simvastatin for osteoblast promotion mediated osteoporosis therapy via oral medication

Calcium supplement is the most commonly adopted treatment for osteoporosis but usually requires high dose and frequency. The modality of calcium supplement is therefore overlooked by current nanomedicine-based osteoporosis therapies without proper oral formulations. Herein, we proposed a tetracycline (Tc) modified and monostearin (MS) coated amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) platform (TMA) as oral bone targeted and osteoporosis microenvironment (water/pH) responsive carrier for in situ calcium supplement. Moreover, current osteoporosis therapies also fall short of finding suitable molecular target and effective therapeutic regimen to further increase the therapeutic efficacy over available treatment means. As a result, the simvastatin (Sim) was loaded into TMA to construct drug delivery system (TMA/Sim) capable of synergistically activating the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)-Smad pathway to provide a novel therapeutic regimen for osteoblast promotion mediated osteoporosis therapy. Our results revealed that optimized TMA showed high accessibility and oral availability with targeted drug delivery to bone tissue. Most importantly, benefit from the effective in situ calcium supplement and targeted Sim delivery, this therapeutic regime (TMA/Sim) achieved better synergetic effects than conventional combination strategies with promising osteoporosis reversion performance under low calcium dosage (1/10 of commercial calcium carbonate tablet) and significantly attenuated side effects.

Synergism of cisplatin-oleanolic acid co-loaded hybrid nanoparticles on gastric carcinoma cells for enhanced apoptosis and reversed multidrug resistance

Combined administration of different drugs is a widely acknowledged approach for effective cancer therapy. However, the limited targeting, as well as inferior drug loading capacities of current drug delivery systems (DDS), are still the bottleneck for better performance in cancer treatment. Herein, we successfully developed a cancer cell membrane (CM) decorated calcium carbonate (CC) hybrid nanoparticles (HN) for the co-delivery of cisplatin (CDDP) and oleanolic acid (OA). The physicochemical property of HN/CDDP/OA was evaluated, which revealed that the as-prepared DDS was core-shell structured and well-dispersed nanoparticles with size around 100 nm. The HN/CDDP/OA showed high stability and biocompatibility with pH-responsive drug release. Moreover, the CM modification in HN also demonstrated highly elevated tumor-homing nature than bare CC. Finally, the feasibility of HN/CDDP/OA in the treatment of gastric cancer (MGC-803 cell line) was assessed. HN/CDDP/OA showed better performance than mono systems with enhanced apoptosis and capable of reversing multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells.

Cetuximab-Coated Thermo-Sensitive Liposomes Loaded with Magnetic Nanoparticles and Doxorubicin for Targeted EGFR-Expressing Breast Cancer Combined Therapy

Background

One major limitation of cancer chemotherapy is a failure to specifically target a tumor, potentially leading to side effects such as systemic cytotoxicity. In this case, we have generated a cancer cell-targeting nanoparticle-liposome drug delivery system that can be activated by near-infrared laser light to enable local photo-thermal therapy and the release of chemotherapeutic agents, which could achieve combined therapeutic efficiency.

Methods

To exploit the magnetic potential of iron oxide, we prepared and characterized citric acid-coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (CMNPs) and encapsulated them into thermo-sensitive liposomes (TSLs). The chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin (DOX), was then loaded into the CMNP-TSLs, which were coated with an antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cetuximab (CET), to target EGFR-expressing breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo studies in mouse model.

Results

The resulting CET-DOX-CMNP–TSLs were stable with an average diameter of approximately 120 nm. First, the uptake of TSLs into breast cancer cells increased by the addition of the CET coating. Next, the viability of breast cancer cells treated with CET-CMNP-TSLs and CET-DOX-CMNP-TSLs was reduced by the addition of photo-thermal therapy using near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. What is more, the viability of breast cancer cells treated with CMNP-TSLs plus NIR was reduced by the addition of DOX to the CMNP-TSLs. Finally, photo-thermal therapy studies on tumor-bearing mice subjected to NIR laser irradiation showed that treatment with CMNP-TSLs or CET-CMNP-TSLs led to an increase in tumor surface temperature to 44.7°C and 48.7°C, respectively, compared with saline-treated mice body temperature ie, 35.2°C. Further, the hemolysis study shows that these nanocarriers are safe for systemic delivery.

Conclusion

Our studies revealed that a combined therapy of photo-thermal therapy and targeted chemotherapy in thermo-sensitive nano-carriers represents a promising therapeutic strategy against breast cancer.

A cell membrane vehicle co-delivering sorafenib and doxorubicin remodel the tumor microenvironment and enhance immunotherapy by inducing immunogenic cell death in lung cancer cells

Cancer immunotherapy is a promising approach for cancer therapy but is usually hindered by the inhibition of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we developed a cell membrane vehicle (CV) to co-deliver doxorubicin (Dox) and sorafenib (Sfn) as a drug delivery system (CV/D-S) to regulate the TME and sensitize the immunogenic cell death (ICD)-induced immune response against tumors. The CV/D-S showed high stability, acid-responsive drug release, high biocompatibility with tumor-specific cellular uptake, and target-ability that preferably resulted in the in vitro and in vivo anticancer performance. Most importantly, the Dox in the DDS can induce significant ICD while Sfn was able to remodel the TME, downregulate Treg, activate effector T cells and relieve programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) expression. As a result, the synergistic effect of Dox and Sfn achieved strong immune response in CV/D-S treated mice, which is believed to open a new window for the design and development of future platforms for the more effective immunotherapy of cancer.

Size-Controlled Preparation and Behavior Study of Phospholipid-Calcium Carbonate Hybrid Nanoparticles

Background

Calcium carbonate (CC) nanoparticles have broad biomedical utilizations, owing to their multiple intrinsic merits. However, bare CC nanoparticles do not allow for the development of multifunctional devices suitable for advanced drug delivery in cancer therapy.

Methods

Phospholipid-modified phospholipid–CC hybrid nanoparticles were prepared in our study using a combination of vapor-diffusion and solvent-diffusion methods to offer optimized pharmaceutical capabilities.

Results

Considering that particle size is a critical parameter that plays an important role in both in vitro and in vivo behaviors of nanoparticles, we here for the first time a present detailed protocol for the size-controlled preparation of hybrid nanoparticles, as well as analysis of the in vitro/in vivo behaviors of differently sized hybrid nanoparticles.

Conclusion

Our results might significantly advance the application of this promising material in more varied fields.

Folic acid decorated metal-organic frameworks loaded with doxorubicin for tumor-targeted chemotherapy of osteosarcoma

Effective cancer therapy usually requires the assistance of well-designed drug carriers. In order to increase the drug accumulation to tumor tissue as well as to reduce the side effects of drug carriers, the hybrid drug delivery system (DDS) was developed by integrating folic acid (FA) and a metal-organic framework (MOF). The anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was preloaded into the MOF nanoparticles during the synthesis process of the MOF nanoparticles. After surface modification with FA, the resulting FA/MOF/DOX nanoparticles were capable of serving as a biocompatible osteosarcoma targeting a DDS to enhance the chemotherapy of osteosarcoma. The dynamic light scattering method revealed that the obtained FA/MOF/DOX nanoparticles were particles with a size around 100 nm. Moreover, FA/MOF/DOX nanoparticles could enhance the delivery efficacy of DOX into MG63 (human osteosarcoma) cells as compared to FA free nanoparticles (MOF/DOX), in which a folate receptor (FR) might be involved. It was worth mentioning that in vitro [methylthio tetrazole (MTT) study in the MG63 cells] and in vivo (anticancer study in the MG63 xenograft model) assays both revealed that FA/MOF/DOX nanoparticles possessed stronger anticancer capability than free DOX or MOF/DOX nanoparticles.

Dendritic cell vaccine for the effective immunotherapy of breast cancer

Cancer vaccine is widely considered as a powerful tool in immunotherapy. In particular, the effective antigen processing and presentation natures of dendritic cell (DC) have made it a promising target for the development of therapeutic vaccine for cancer treatment. Here in our study, a versatile cancer cell membrane (CCM) coated calcium carbonate (CC) nanoparticles (MC) that capable of generating in situ tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) for DC vaccination is developed. Low-dose doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox) could be encapsulated in the CC core of MC to trigger immunogenic cell death (ICD) while chlorins e6 (Ce6), a commonly adopted photosensitizer, was loaded in the CCM of MC for effective photodynamic therapy (PDT) through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to finally construct the vaccine (MC/Dox/Ce6). Most importantly, our in-depth study revealed the treatment of MC/Dox/Ce6 was able to elicit TAAs population and DC recruitment, triggering the following immune response cascade. In particular, the recruited DC cells could be stimulated in situ for effective vaccinations. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments suggested the capability of this all-in-one DDS to enhance DCs maturation to finally result in effective inhibition of both primary and distant growth of breast cancer upon single administration of low dose Dox and Ce6.

Ca2+ signaling modulation using cancer cell membrane coated chitosan nanoparticles to combat multidrug resistance of cancer

Off-target drug delivery, together with multidrug resistance (MDR), are two keys obstacles that account for the disappointing outcome in clinical chemotherapy of cancer. To solve these dilemmas, Herein, we constructed cancer cell membrane (CCM) modified silica (CS) nanoparticles (CCM/CS) to co-deliver Ca²⁺ channel siRNA with doxorubicin (DOX) to construct a platform (CCM/CS/R-D) for the efficient therapy of cervical cancer. It was demonstrated that the optimal CCM/CS/R-D was spherical nanoparticles with size at 122.39 ± 4.69 nm and the surface charge of -27.76 ± 3.12 mV. In addition, the CCM/CS/R-D showed acid responsive drug release while high stability under physiological conditions with negligible hemolysis. The CCM/CS/R-D showed CCM mediated cellular uptake and efficient endosomal escape as well as siRNA transfection potential (comparable to that of PEI 25 K) on MDR cervical cancer cells (HeLa/DOX). Most importantly, the MDR of cancer cells was conquered through modulation of T-type Ca²⁺ (Cav) channels. It was observed that the Cav channel siRNA could negatively regulate the level of cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration which triggered G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and elevated intracellular drug retention in HeLa/DOX cells without significantly affect the expression of P-glycolprotein (P-gp). The in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that CCM/CS/R-D exerted greatly enhanced tumor targetability and therapeutic effect on HeLa/DOX, which was superior than CS/R-D or mono delivery system (CCM/CS/R or CCM/CS/D).

Cancer Cell Membrane-Decorated Zeolitic-Imidazolate Frameworks Codelivering Cisplatin and Oleanolic Acid Induce Apoptosis and Reversed Multidrug Resistance on Bladder Carcinoma Cells

Combination therapy is emerging as a preferable approach in cancer therapy with minimized side effects and elevated performance. Nevertheless, the poor targeting and drug loading of currently available drug delivery systems (DDSs) are the main difficulties to realize preferable combination therapy of cancer. As a result, a cancer cell membrane-decorated zeolitic-imidazolate framework hybrid nanoparticle (HP) was successfully constructed in our study to codeliver cisplatin (DDP) and oleanolic acid (OLA). Our results showed positive results of the platform (HP/DDP/OLA) for the treatment of bladder cancer (SW780). In detail, HP/DDP/OLA could enhance apoptosis while reverse multidrug resistance in SW780 cells than free drugs alone or monodelivery systems, which might be a suitable DDS for codelivery of different drugs with great promise.

Dual delivery nanoscale device for miR-451 and adriamycin co-delivery to combat multidrug resistant in bladder cancer

The outcome of current cancer therapy is usually impeded by complicated extracellular and intracellular barriers. Most importantly, untargeted distribution and multidrug resistance (MDR) are considered as two important difficulties responsible for the poor performance of many currently available drug delivery systems (DDS). As a result, in our study, we developed a cancer cell membrane (CM) coated calcium carbonate (CC) nanoparticles to co-delivery miR-451 with adriamycin (Adr) to address the dilemma occurred in the therapy of bladder cancer (MCC/R-A). The homologous CCM from MDR bladder cancer cells (BIU-87/Adr) was employed to increase targeted retention of DDS within the tumor tissue and to bypass the extracellular barriers. Moreover, the MDR of cancer cells was conquered through downregulation of P-gp expression using miR-451 since it was confirmed by previous reports that miR-451 could significantly downregulate the level of P-gp in MDR cells, which in turn elevated the cellular drug retention in BIU-87/Adr. Our in vitro and in vivo experiments have revealed that MCC/R-A showed a greatly enhanced therapeutic effect on BIU-87/Adr, which was superior than applying miR-451 or Adr alone. The preferable effect of MCC/R-A on conquering the MDR in bladder cancer provides a novel alternative for effective chemotherapy of MDR cancers.

Cetuximab-modified silica nanoparticle loaded with ICG for tumor-targeted combinational therapy of breast cancer

Combinational therapy is usually considered as a preferable approach for effective cancer therapy. Especially, combinational chemo and photothermal therapy is of particular interest due to its high flexibility as well as efficiency. In this article, we the silica nanoparticles (SLN) were surface conjugated with Cetuximab (Cet-SLN) to target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a common receptor that usually observed to overexpress in multiple breast cancers. Moreover, the high drug loading capacity of Cet-SLN was employed to encapsulate photothermal agent indocyanine green (ICG) to finally fabricate a versatile drug delivery system (DDS) able to co-deliver Cet and ICG (Cet-SLN/ICG) for combinational chemo-photothermal therapy of breast cancer. The obtained results clearly demonstrated that Cet-SLN/ICG was well-dispersed nanoparticles with preferable stability under physiological condition. Furthermore, due to the conjugation of Cet, Cet-SLN/ICG could target EGFR which overexpress in MCF-7 cells. Most importantly, both in vitro and in vivo results suggested that compared with Cet or ICG alone, the Cet-SLN/ICG showed superior anticancer efficacy. In conclusion, Cet-SLN/ICG could be a potential platform for effective combinational chemo-photothermal therapy for breast cancer.

Remodeling the tumor microenvironment to improve drug permeation and antitumor effects by co-delivering quercetin and doxorubicin

The tumor microenvironment (TM) plays a critical role in the progress of tumors. However, the TM remodeling effects of currently available therapies remain largely unexplored in many previous reports. In our study, a hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) was successfully fabricated (HA/ZIF) and employed to load doxorubicin (Dox) and quercetin (Que) simultaneously for cancer therapy. The Que and Dox co-loaded HA/ZIF (HA/ZIF/DQ) showed preferable stability under physiological conditions, pH-responsive drug release in an acidic environment and preferential homing capacity to the CD44 receptor-overexpressed HepG2/ADR cells. More importantly, our results revealed that enhanced anticancer efficacy was achieved through the combination of Que and Dox via the tumor microenvironment remodeling effect of Que to potentiate drug penetration into deep tumor tissues.

Cancer Cell Membrane Decorated Silica Nanoparticle Loaded with miR495 and Doxorubicin to Overcome Drug Resistance for Effective Lung Cancer Therapy

Current cancer therapy usually succumbs to many extracellular and intracellular barriers, among which untargeted distribution and multidrug resistance (MDR) are two important difficulties responsible for poor outcome of many drug delivery systems (DDS). Here, in our study, the dilemma was addressed by developing a cancer cell membrane (CCM)-coated silica (SLI) nanoparticles to co-deliver miR495 with doxorubicin (DOX) for effective therapy of lung cancer (CCM/SLI/R-D). The homologous CCM from MDR lung cancer cells (A549/DOX) was supposed to increase the tumor-homing property of the DDS to bypass the extracellular barriers. Moreover, the MDR of cancer cells were conquered through downregulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression using miR495. It was proved that miR495 could significantly decrease the expression of P-gp which elevated intracellular drug accumulation in A549/DOX. The in vitro and in vivo results exhibited that CCM/SLI/R-D showed a greatly enhanced therapeutic effect on A549/DOX, which was superior than applying miR495 or DOX alone. The preferable effect of CCM/SLI/R-D on conquering the MDR in lung cancer provides a novel alternative for effective chemotherapy of MDR cancers.

Cancer-Specific Therapy by Artificial Modulation of Intracellular Calcium Concentration

Calcium (Ca²⁺ ) hemeostasis is crucial for the normal function of cellular biochemistry. The abnormal frequency of Ca²⁺ signaling in cancer cells makes them more vulnerable to Ca²⁺ modulation than normal cells. Here in this study, a novel cancer-specific therapy by artificially triggering Ca²⁺ overload in cancer cells is proposed. The feasibility of this therapy is illustrated by successful coupling of selective extrusion (Ca²⁺ ) inhibition effect of Curcumin (Cur) and the effective Ca²⁺ generating capability of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) into a facilely prepared water responsive phospholipid (PL)-ACC hybrid platform (PL/ACC-Cur). The obtained results demonstrate that PL/ACC-Cur can specifically boost the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration to cause Ca²⁺ overload and to trigger mitochondria-related apoptosis in MCF-7 cells while sparing normal hepatocyte (L02), which might be a promising approach for effective cancer therapy.

Artificial Cell-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy Enhanced Anticancer Efficacy through Combination of Tumor Disruption and Immune Response Stimulation

Recent studies have identified photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a promising approach for cancer treatment. Here, in this study, we have constructed cancer cell membrane (CCM)-coated silica nanoparticles (SIL) as an artificial cell carrier (CCM/SIL) to effectively deliver chlorin e6 (Ce6), a commonly adopted photodynamic reagent (CCM/SIL/Ce6), to achieve enhanced PDT of cancer. In addition, apart from the generally recognized cytotoxicity induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), our study also revealed that ROS could further potentiate the loss of intercellular junctions and integrity disruption as a result of down-regulation of VE-cadherin and CD31. Consequently, dendritic cells (DCs) were more readily accumulated to the tumor tissue and became maturated, which secreted tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-12 (IL-12) to trigger the following immune responses. Our work not only explored the anticancer feasibility of a new system but also demonstrated the underlining mechanisms responsible for PDT-induced anticancer effects, which offers a new perspective to employ and improve the efficacy of PDT and related systems.

Phase-specific bioactivity and altered Ostwald ripening pathways of calcium carbonate polymorphs in simulated body fluid

Calcium carbonate is an abundant biomineral, and already archeological records demonstrate its bioactivity and applicability for osseo-integrative implants. Its solubility, which is generally higher than those of calcium phosphates, depends on its polymorph turning calcium carbonate into a promising biomaterial with tunable bioresorption rate. However, the phase-dependent bioactivity of calcium carbonate, i.e., its osteoconductivity, is still insufficiently characterized. In this study, we address this issue by monitoring the behavior of the four most important calcium carbonate phases, i.e., calcite, aragonite, vaterite, and amorphous calcium carbonate, in simulated body fluid solution at 37 °C. Our results demonstrate that the thermodynamically stable calcite phase is essentially inert. In contrast, the metastable phases aragonite and vaterite are bioactive, thus promoting the formation of calcium phosphate. Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) shows prominent bioactivity accompanied by pronounced redissolution processes. Mg-stabilized ACC was additionally tested since its increased stability eases formulation and handling in future applications. It is highly bioactive and, moreover, the additional release of Mg promotes cell viability. Overall, our results demonstrate that bioactivity of calcium carbonate is phase-dependent, allowing tailored response and bioactivity of future calcareous biomaterials. Our results also reveal that phosphate ions strongly interfere with Ostwald-Lussac step ripening of calcium carbonate, kinetically stabilizing metastable polymorphs such as vaterite and aragonite; this is a distinctive feature of the calcium carbonate mineral system which clearly has to be considered in future applications of calcium carbonate as a bioceramic.

Polymer-Functionalised Nanograins of Mg-Doped Amorphous Calcium Carbonate via a Flow-Chemistry Approach

Calcareous biominerals typically feature a hybrid nanogranular structure consisting of calcium carbonate nanograins coated with organic matrices. This nanogranular organisation has a beneficial effect on the functionality of these bioceramics. In this feasibility study, we successfully employed a flow-chemistry approach to precipitate Mg-doped amorphous calcium carbonate particles functionalized by negatively charged polyelectrolytes-either polyacrylates (PAA) or polystyrene sulfonate (PSS). We demonstrate that the rate of Mg incorporation and, thus, the ratio of the Mg dopant to calcium in the precipitated amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), is flow rate dependent. In the case of the PAA-functionalized Mg-doped ACC, we further observed a weak flow rate dependence concerning the hydration state of the precipitate, which we attribute to incorporated PAA acting as a water sorbent; a behaviour which is not present in experiments with PSS and without a polymer. Thus, polymer-dependent phenomena can affect flow-chemistry approaches, that is, in syntheses of functionally graded materials by layer-deposition processes.

Water-Responsive Hybrid Nanoparticles Codelivering ICG and DOX Effectively Treat Breast Cancer via Hyperthermia-aided DOX Functionality and Drug Penetration

Tumor growth and metastasis are the major causes of high mortality in breast cancer. In this study, a water-responsive phospholipid-calcium-carbonate hybrid nanoparticle (PL/ACC-DOX&ICG) surface modified with a phospholipid shell is designed and covered with a shielding polymer polyethylene glycol; this development is loaded with the photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) and the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) for near-infrared (NIR) imaging and chemophotothermal combination therapy against breast cancer. PL/ACC-DOX&ICG exhibits satisfactory stability against various aqueous environments with minimal drug leakage and can readily decompose to facilitate quick drug release into cancer cells. In vivo biodistribution studies, PL/ACC-DOX&ICG demonstrated strong tumor-homing properties. Interestingly, the in vitro cellular uptake and intratumoral penetration depth of PL/ACC-DOX&ICG are significantly enhanced under NIR laser irradiation, owing to ICG-induced hyperthermia, which not only enhances cell permeability and fluidity but also disrupts the dense tumor extracellular matrix. Compared to chemotherapy or photothermal therapy alone, chemophotothermal combination therapy synergistically induces apoptosis and death in 4T1 cells. Moreover, compared with the phosphate buffer saline group, the combined treatment suppress primary tumor growth at a rate of approximately 94.88% and decrease the number of metastatic nodules by about 93.6%. Therefore, PL/ACC-DOX&ICG may be a promising nanoplatform for breast cancer treatment.

DOX Loaded Aggregation-induced Emission Active Polymeric Nanoparticles as a Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Traceable Drug Delivery System for Self-indicating Cancer Therapy

In this study, an AIE-active polymer (FTP) was successfully prepared and employed to load anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) for self-indicating cancer therapy via dual FRET process. Our results demonstrated that the FTP polymer could self-assemble into nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous solutions to give strong fluorescence emission via intramolecular FRET process. The DOX loaded FTP NPs (drug loading content: 21.77%) were homogeneous particles with size around 50 nm and neutral surface charge, which showed preferable colloidal stability, hemolysis and selective drug release with comparable in vivo antitumor effects to DOX·HCl. In particular, the FRET process between FTP (donor) and DOX (acceptor) could serve as indicator for monitoring the in vitro and in vivo drug release profile, which might be a promising platform to realize real-time monitoring of drug localization and release during the delivery process. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: 1. An amphiphilic polymer containing aggregation-induced emission segments and polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains (FTP) was firstly synthesized, which is capable of exerting strong fluorescence via intramolecular Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) in the aggregate state. 2. The FTP polymer could self-assembled into homogeneous nanoparticles in aqueous environment with decent DOX loading capacity. 3. The DOX loaded FTP nanoparticles can afford FRET-traceable monitoring of the drug release both in vitro and in vivo.

Low-density lipoprotein decorated silica nanoparticles co-delivering sorafenib and doxorubicin for effective treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Combinational therapy is usually considered as a preferable approach for effective cancer therapy. Especially, combinational chemotherapies targeting different molecular targets are of particular interest due to its high flexibility as well as efficiency. In our study, the surface of silica nanoparticles (SLN) was modified with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to construct platform (LDL-SLN) capable of specifically targeting low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLRs) that overexpressing in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, the versatile drug loading capacity of LDL-SLN was employed to fabricate a preferable drug delivery system to co-deliver sorafenib (Sor) and doxorubicin (Dox) for combinational chemotherapy of HCC. Our results revealed that the LDL-SLN/Sor/Dox nanoparticles with size around 100 nm showed preferable stability in physiological environments. Moreover, the LDL-SLN/Sor/Dox could target LDLR overexpressed HepG2 cells. More importantly, both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the LDL-SLN/Sor/Dox exerted elevated antitumor efficacy compared to Sor or Dox alone, which indicated that LDL-SLN/Sor/Dox could be a powerful tool for effective combinational chemotherapy of HCC.

An "all-in-one" antitumor and anti-recurrence/metastasis nanomedicine with multi-drug co-loading and burst drug release for multi-modality therapy

Drug-loading often suffers from tedious procedures, limited loading efficiency, slow release, and therefore a low curative effect. Cancer easily recurs and metastasizes even after a solid tumor is removed. Herein, we report a simple strategy with multi-drug co-loading and burst drug release for a high curative effect and anti-recurrence/metastasis. CuS nanoparticles, protoporphyrin IX, and doxorubicin were added to the precursors of ZIF-8 with one-pot co-loading during the formation of ZIF-8 for chemo-, photothermal-, and photodynamic-therapy to eliminate solid tumors. Negative CpG, as a kind of immune adjuvant, was adsorbed on the positive surface of ZIF-8 to inhibit the recurrence and metastasis of tumors with its long-term immune response. Precision treatment with one-pot multi-drug co-loading, controllable drug delivery, and multi-modality therapy may be anticipated by this versatile strategy.

Porous Inorganic Carriers Based on Silica, Calcium Carbonate and Calcium Phosphate for Controlled/Modulated Drug Delivery: Fresh Outlook and Future Perspectives

Porous inorganic nanostructured materials are widely used nowadays as drug delivery carriers due to their adventurous features: suitable architecture, large surface area and stability in the biological fluids. Among the different types of inorganic porous materials, silica, calcium carbonate, and calcium phosphate have received significant attention in the last decade. The use of porous inorganic materials as drug carriers for cancer therapy, gene delivery etc. has the potential to improve the life expectancy of the patients affected by the disease. The main goal of this review is to provide general information on the current state of the art of synthesis of the inorganic porous particles based on silica, calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. Special focus is dedicated to the loading capacity, controllable release of drugs under internal biological stimuli (e.g., pH, redox, enzymes) and external noninvasive stimuli (e.g., light, magnetic field, and ultrasound). Moreover, the diverse compounds to deliver with silica, calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate particles, ranging from the commercial drugs to genetic materials are also discussed.

Amorphous Calcium Carbonate Constructed from Nanoparticle Aggregates with Unprecedented Surface Area and Mesoporosity

Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), with the highest reported specific surface area of all current forms of calcium carbonate (over 350 m² g^-1), was synthesized using a surfactant-free, one-pot method. Electron microscopy, helium pycnometry, and nitrogen sorption analysis revealed that this highly mesoporous ACC, with a pore volume of ∼0.86 cm³ g^-1 and a pore-size distribution centered at 8-9 nm, is constructed from aggregated ACC nanoparticles with an estimated average diameter of 7.3 nm. The porous ACC remained amorphous and retained its high porosity for over 3 weeks under semi-air-tight storage conditions. Powder X-ray diffraction, large-angle X-ray scattering, infrared spectroscopy, and electron diffraction exposed that the porous ACC did not resemble any of the known CaCO₃ structures. The atomic order of porous ACC diminished at interatomic distances over 8 Å. Porous ACC was evaluated as a potential drug carrier of poorly soluble substances in vitro. Itraconazole and celecoxib remained stable in their amorphous forms within the pores of the material. Drug release rates were significantly enhanced for both drugs (up to 65 times the dissolution rates for the crystalline forms), and supersaturation release of celecoxib was also demonstrated. Citric acid was used to enhance the stability of the ACC nanoparticles within the aggregates, which increased the surface area of the material to over 600 m² g^-1. This porous ACC has potential for use in various applications where surface area is important, including adsorption, catalysis, medication, and bone regeneration.

Preparation and characterization of calcium carbonate microspheres and their potential application as drug carriers

The influence of lecithin from egg yolk (LE) on calcium carbonate (CaCO3) biomineralization was investigated. In the present study, spherical CaCO3 particles were synthesized via coprecipitation in the presence of LE. LE multilamellar liposomes were first tuned by sonication to provide better control over the nucleation of CaCO3. Subsequently, monodisperse microspheres ~2 µm in size were generated by controlling the aggregation and growth of CaCO3 under appropriate concentrations of LE. In contrast to unstable vaterite, the microspheres generated in aqueous solution remained stable for at least 10 days without transforming into calcite, due to the strong interaction between the LE and calcium ions. The microspheres as drug carriers of doxorubicin (DOX) were assessed and were observed to have a good encapsulation efficiency, sustained drug release without a burst release and notable pH sensitivity. In addition, in vivo tumor inhibition examination demonstrated that DOX‑loaded CaCO3 microspheres formulation had more superior efficacy to significantly restrain tumor growth. These novel LE/CaCO3 hybrids may provide novel options for various biomedical applications.

Low density lipoprotein modified silica nanoparticles loaded with docetaxel and thalidomide for effective chemotherapy of liver cancer

In the present study, we successfully developed a docetaxel (DTX) and thalidomide (TDD) co-delivery system based on low density lipoprotein (LDL) modified silica nanoparticles (LDL/SLN/DTX/TDD). By employing the tumor homing property of LDL and the drug-loading capability of silica nanoparticles, the prepared LDL/SLN/DTX/TDD was expected to locate and specifically deliver the loaded drugs (DTX and TDD) to achieve effective chemotherapy of liver cancer. In vitro analysis revealed that nano-sized LDL/SLN/DTX/TDD with decent drug loading capabilities was able to increase the delivery efficiency by targeting the low density lipoprotein receptors, which were overexpressed on HepG2 human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line, which exerted better cytotoxicity than unmodified silica nanoparticles and free drugs. In vivo imaging and anti-cancer assays also confirmed the preferable tumor-homing and synergetic anti-cancer effects of LDL/SLN/DTX/TDD.

Primary tumor and pre-metastatic niches co-targeting “peptides-lego” hybrid hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for metastatic breast cancer treatment

Hybrid hydroxyapatite nanoparticles orchestrating tumor metastasis resisting therapy (TMRT) and tumor metastasis targeting therapy (TMTT).

Facile preparation of phospholipid–amorphous calcium carbonate hybrid nanoparticles: toward controllable burst drug release and enhanced tumor penetration

A hybrid system able to specifically realize water-responsive burst drug release and potentiate drug penetration into deep tumor tissues has been developed.

Anti-EGFR antibody conjugated silica nanoparticles as probes for lung cancer detection

A well-designed nanosystem [anti-epidermal growth factor receptor-MB-encapsulated thiol-terminated silica nanoparticles (EGFR/MB-SHSi) complexes] containing silica nanoparticles and near-infrared fluorescence dye (NIRF) methylene blue (MB) was established as a tumor-targeted probe for potential lung cancer detection. The anti-EGFR/MB-SHSi complexes exhibited desirable and homogenous particle size, high bovine serum albumin stability, low hemolytic activity, neutral surface charges and negligible cytotoxicity in vitro. Furthermore, the results of confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry confirmed that the EGFR-targeted function induced high and specific cellular uptake of anti-EGFR/MB-SHSi complexes. In vivo investigation of nude mice bearing A549 tumor xenografts revealed that anti-EGFR/MB-SHSi complexes possessed strong tumor target ability. These observations indicated that anti-EGFR/MB-SHSi complexes may be a safe and tumor-targeting probe for the detection of cancer.

Silica nanoparticle-based dual-responsive nanoprodrug system for liver cancer therapy

A thiol-terminated polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-paclitaxel (PTX) conjugate was synthesized and utilized to construct a novel drug delivery system with thiol-functionalized silica nanoparticles (SLNs) to improve the overall performance of PTX in liver cancer therapy. Drug loading was performed by coating the PTX conjugate on the surface of SLNs. The PTX-PEG/SLNs showed a binary responsive drug release behavior to esterase as well as high concentrations of glutathione. The synergic effects of these cancer cell-specific factors on the release characteristics of PTX-PEG/SLNs resulted in a significantly (P<0.01) elevated anti-cancer efficiency. This included prolonged circulation and passive tumor-targeting properties in vivo due to surface modification of PEG and targeted release of PTX inside tumor cells, which resulted in increased anti-cancer efficiency. Improving the in vitro properties of PTX-PEG/SLNs not only significantly (P<0.01) enhanced its therapeutic efficacy in a murine liver cancer model, but rendered these drug-conjugated SLNs a promising nanoprodrug system for potential use as clinical cancer therapeutics.

Tumor-targeting templated silica nanoparticles as a dual-drug delivery system for anti-angiogenic ovarian cancer therapy

The present study indicated the successful construction of a silica nanoparticle (SLN)-based drug delivery system (DDS) for the tumor-targeted co-delivery of two anti-angiogenic drugs, candesartan (CD) and trastuzumab (Tra), for ovarian cancer therapy via different anti-angiogenic mechanisms using hyaluronic acid (HA)/Tra/CD/SLNs. In vitro and in vivo anti-angiogenic assays indicated that CD and Tra exert beneficial functions on suppressing cancer angiogenesis, and exhibited significantly enhanced effects compared with the angiotensin stimulated group (P<0.01). CD and Tra co-delivery also significantly increased the anti-angiogenic effect compared with applying either drug alone (P<0.01). Furthermore, HA on the surface of the DDS was demonstrated to reduce the cytotoxicity of the DDS and also endowed the particles with an advanced tumor-homing property in vitro and in vivo. The present results revealed that HA/Tra/CD/SLNs may be a preferable formulation for anti-angiogenic ovarian cancer therapy.

Tumor targeted nanostructured lipid carrier co-delivering paclitaxel and indocyanine green for laser triggered synergetic therapy of cancer

NLC co-delivering PTX and ICG for synergetic cancer therapy.