Albumin-assisted exfoliated ultrathin rhenium disulfide nanosheets as a tumor targeting and dual-stimuli-responsive drug delivery system for a combination chemo-photothermal treatment

The therapeutic efficacy of silver loaded rhenium disulfide nanoparticles as a photothermal agent for cancer eradication

Cancer is a life-threatening disease when it is diagnosed at a late stage or treatment procedures fail. Inhibiting cancer cells in the tumor environment is a significant challenge for anticancer therapy. The photothermal effects of nanomaterials are being studied as a new cancer treatment. In this work, rhenium disulfide (ReS2) nanosheets were made by liquid exfoliation with gum arabic (GA) and coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to produce reactive oxygen species that destroy cancer cells. The synthesized AgNP-GA-ReS2 NPs were characterized using UV, DLS, SEM, TEM, and photothermal studies. According to the DLS findings, the NPs were about 216 nm in size and had a zeta potential of 76 mV. The TEM and SEM analyses revealed that the GA-ReS2 formed single-layered nanosheets on which the AgNPs were distributed. The photothermal effects of the AgNP-GA-ReS2 NPs at 50 μg/mL were tested with an 808 nm laser at 1.2 W cm-2, and they reached 55.8 °C after 5 min of laser irradiation. MBA-MB-231 cells were used to test the cytotoxicity of the newly designed AgNP-GA-ReS2 NPs with and without laser irradiation for 5 min. At 50 μg/mL, the AgNP-GA-ReS2 showed cytotoxicity, which was confirmed with calcein and EtBr staining. The DCFH-DA and flow cytometry analyses demonstrated that AgNP-GA-ReS2 nanosheets under NIR irradiation generated ROS with high anticancer activity, in addition to the photothermal effects.

Synthesis of novel liquid phase exfoliation of chitosan/Bi2Se3 hybrid nanocomposites for in-vitro wound healing

Numerous studies have recently established the potential of chitosan (Chi) to enhance wound healing. Chi is a carbohydrate biopolymer that is biocompatible, low-cost, toxic-free, and has excellent antibacterial properties. In this study, we synthesized Chi/Bi2Se3 hybrid nanocomposites (NCs) using a liquid exfoliation approach. The physicochemical characterization of the hybrid NCs was investigated using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared, Thermogravimetric, Scanning electron microscope, and Transmission electron microscope. The antibacterial ability has been investigated versus two pathogens, S. aureus and E. coli. In comparison to bare materials, the hybrid NCs demonstrated better antibacterial activity against both bacterial strains. As a result, the electrostatic attraction of positively charged Chi can easily attract the negatively charged surface of the bacteria cell membrane and NCs generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). This ROS can attack bacteria's intracellular components and eventually kill bacteria. The biocompatibility of the Chi/Bi2Se3 NCs was evaluated against L929 mice fibroblast cells, and there was no evident cytotoxicity. Furthermore, an in-vitro wound scratch test was carried out on L929 mouse fibroblast cells and the Chi/Bi2Se3 hybrid NCs promote wound healing and cell proliferation. These findings suggest that the Chi/Bi2Se3 hybrid NCs as a promising future material for bacteria-infected in-vivo wound healing.

Prospective applications of two-dimensional materials beyond laboratory frontiers: A review

The development of nanotechnology has been advancing for decades and gained acceleration in the 21st century. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are widely available, giving them a wide range of material platforms for technological study and the advancement of atomic-level applications. The design and application of 2D materials are discussed in this review. In order to evaluate the performance of 2D materials, which might lead to greater applications benefiting the electrical and electronics sectors as well as society, the future paradigm of 2D materials needs to be visualized. The development of 2D hybrid materials with better characteristics that will help industry and society at large is anticipated to result from intensive research in 2D materials. This enhanced evaluation might open new opportunities for the synthesis of 2D materials and the creation of devices that are more effective than traditional ones in various sectors of application.

Recent Development of Rhenium-Based Materials in the Application of Diagnosis and Tumor Therapy

Rhenium (Re) is widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer due to its unique physical and chemical properties. Re has more valence electrons in its outer shell, allowing it to exist in a variety of oxidation states and to form different geometric configurations with many different ligands. The luminescence properties, lipophilicity, and cytotoxicity of complexes can be adjusted by changing the ligand of Re. This article mainly reviews the development of radionuclide 188Re in radiotherapy and some innovative applications of Re as well as the different therapeutic approaches and imaging techniques used in cancer therapy. In addition, the current application and future challenges and opportunities of Re are also discussed.

Advances in smart delivery of food bioactive compounds using stimuli-responsive carriers: Responsive mechanism, contemporary challenges, and prospects

Many important food bioactive compounds are plant secondary metabolites that have traditional applications for health promotion and disease prevention. However, the chemical instability and poor bioavailability of these compounds represent major challenges to researchers. In the last decade, therefore, major impetus has been given for the research and development of advanced carrier systems for the delivery of natural bioactive molecules. Among them, stimuli-responsive carriers hold great promise for simultaneously improving stability, bioavailability, and more importantly delivery and on-demand release of intact bioactive phytochemicals to target sites in response to certain stimuli or combination of them (e.g., pH, temperature, oxidant, enzyme, and irradiation) that would eventually enhance therapeutic outcomes and reduce side effects. Hybrid formulations (e.g., inorganic-organic complexes) and multi-stimuli-responsive formulations have demonstrated great potential for future studies. Therefore, this review systematically compiles and assesses the recent advances on the smart delivery of food bioactive compounds, particularly quercetin, curcumin, and resveratrol through stimuli-responsive carriers, and critically reviews their functionality, underlying triggered-release mechanism, and therapeutic potential. Finally, major limitations, contemporary challenges, and possible solutions/future research directions are highlighted. Much more research is needed to optimize the processing parameters of existing formulations and to develop novel ones for lead food bioactive compounds to facilitate their food and nutraceutical applications.

Resveratrol-loaded nanomedicines for cancer applications

BACKGROUND

Resveratrol (3, 5, 4' -trihydroxystilbene), a natural polyphenol and phytoalexin, has drawn considerable attention in the past decade due to its wide variety of therapeutic activities such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. However, its poor water solubility, low chemical stability, and short biological half-life limit its clinical utility.

RECENT FINDINGS

Nanoparticles overcome the limitations associated with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, such as limited availability of drugs to the tumor tissues, high systemic exposures, and consequent toxicity to healthy tissues. This review focuses on the physicochemical properties of resveratrol, the therapeutic potential of resveratrol nano-formulations, and the anticancer activity of resveratrol encapsulated nanoparticles on various malignancies such as skin, breast, prostate, colon, liver, ovarian, and lung cancers (focusing on both in vitro and in vivo studies).

CONCLUSIONS

Nanotechnology approaches have been extensively utilized to achieve higher solubility, improved oral bioavailability, enhanced stability, and controlled release of resveratrol. The resveratrol nanoparticles have markedly enhanced its anticancer activity both in vitro and in vivo, thus considering it as a potential strategy to fight various cancers.

Paclitaxel/IR1061-Co-Loaded Protein Nanoparticle for Tumor-Targeted and pH/NIR-II-Triggered Synergistic Photothermal-Chemotherapy

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to develop an "all-in-one" nanoplatform that integrates at the second near-infrared (NIR-II) region dye IR1061 and anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) into an apoferritin (AFN) nanocage (IR-AFN@PTX). Simultaneously, folic acid (FA), tumor target molecule,  was conjugated onto IR-AFN@PTX to be IR-AFN@PTX-FA for tumor-targeted and pH/NIR-II-triggered synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy.

METHODS

IR1061 was firstly reacted with PEG and then conjugated with AFN to be IR-AFN. Then, FA was conjugated onto the surface of IR-AFN to be IR-AFN-FA. At last, PTX was incorporated into IR-AFN-FA to fabricate a nanoplatform IR-AFN@PTX-FA. The NIR-II photothermal properties and pH/NIR-II triggered drug release were evaluated. The ability of IR-AFN@PTX-FA to target tumors was estimated using optical bioluminescence. In vitro and in vivo synergistic therapeutic effects of pH/NIR-II-triggered and tumor-targeted photothermal-chemotherapy were investigated in 4T1 tumor model.

RESULTS

IR-AFN@PTX-FA showed excellent water solubility and physiological stability, which significantly enhanced the solubility of both IR1061 and PTX. After 5 min of laser irradiation at 1064 nm, IR-AFN@PTX-FA exhibited an effective photothermal effect compared with laser irradiation at 808 nm, even when blocked with 0.6 cm thick chicken breast. Cellular uptake experiments showed IR-AFN@PTX-FA utilized clathrin-mediated and caveolae-mediated endocytosis pathways to enter 4T1 cells, and was then delivered by the endosome to the lysosome. NIR-II laser irradiation and pH could synergistically trigger PTX release, inducing significant tumor inhibition in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSION

As a novel "all-in-one" nanoplatform, IR-AFN@PTX-FA was found to selectively target tumors and showed very efficient NIR-II photothermal effects and pH/NIR-II triggered drug release effects, showing a remarkable, synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy effect.

pH- and acoustic-responsive platforms based on perfluoropentane-loaded protein nanoparticles for ovarian tumor-targeted ultrasound imaging and therapy

In this study, we developed a multifunctional ultrasound (US) therapeutic agent that encapsulates perfluoropentane (PFP) into ferritin (FRT) and conjugates the tumor-targeting molecule folic acid (FA) (FA-FRT-PFP). The prepared FA-FRT-PFP had an average particle diameter of 42.8 ± 2.5 nm, a zeta potential of - 41.1 ± 1.7 mV and shows good stability in physiological solution and temperatures. FRT is a pH-sensitive cage protein that, at pH 5.0, disassembles to form pores that can load PFP. The adjustment to neutral pH closes the pores and encapsulates the PFP inside the FRT to form nanoparticles. At pH 5.0, 3 min of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU, 2 W/cm2) significantly enhanced the US signal of FA-FRT-PFP through the acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) effect. Under identical conditions, 4 min of LIFU irradiation caused the bubbles generated by FA-FRT-PFP to break. FA-FRT-PFP could be efficiently targeted into ovarian cancer cells and significantly enhanced the US contrast of FA-FRT-PFP after 3 min of LIFU irradiation. After 4 min of LIFU irradiation, cell viability significantly decreased due to necrosis, likely due to the FA-FRT-PFP mediated release of PFP in the acidic environment of lysosomes after entering the tumor cells. PFP is then transformed into bubbles that burst under LIFU irradiation, forming physical shock waves that lead to the destruction of the cell structure and necrosis, achieving tumor treatment. Taken together, this demonstrates that FA-FRT-PFP is both a novel and promising US theranostics agent for future clinic application.

Design of Rhenium Compounds in Targeted Anticancer Therapeutics

Background:

Many rhenium (Re) complexes with potential anticancer properties have been synthesized in the recent years with the aim to overcome the clinical limitations of platinum agents. Re(I) tricarbonyl complexes are the most common but Re compounds with higher oxidation states have also been investigated, as well as hetero-metallic complexes and Re-loaded self-assembling devices. Many of these compounds display promising cytotoxic and phototoxic properties against malignant cells but all Re compounds are still at the stage of preclinical studies.

Methods:

The present review focused on the rhenium based cancer drugs that were in preclinical and clinical trials were examined critically. The detailed targeted interactions and experimental evidences of Re compounds reported by the patentable and non-patentable research findings used to write this review.

Results:

In the present review, we described the most recent and promising rhenium compounds focusing on their potential mechanism of action including, phototoxicity, DNA binding, mitochondrial effects, oxidative stress regulation or enzyme inhibition. Many ligands have been described that modulating the lipophilicity, the luminescent properties, the cellular uptake, the biodistribution, and the cytotoxicity, the pharmacological and toxicological profile.

Conclusion:

Re-based anticancer drugs can also be used in targeted therapies by coupling to a variety of biologically relevant targeting molecules. On the other hand, combination with conventional cytotoxic molecules, such as doxorubicin, allowed to take into profit the targeting properties of Re for example toward mitochondria. Through the example of the diseleno-Re complex, we showed that the main target could be the oxidative status, with a down-stream regulation of signaling pathways, and further on selective cell death of cancer cells versus normal cells.

Mitochondria-Targeted and Resveratrol-Loaded Dual-Function Titanium Disulfide Nanosheets for Photothermal-Triggered Tumor Chemotherapy

A subcellular organelle-targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs is a promising strategy to maximize the anti-cancer effects and minimize the adverse effects. Herein, we prepared a mitochondria-targeted drug delivery nanoplatform based on IR780 iodide (IR780) and titanium disulfide (TiS2) nanosheets. Due to the large specific surface area of TiS2 nanosheets, the nanoplatform could highly load anti-cancer drug resveratrol (RV). The as-prepared nanocomposite (IR780-TiS2/RV) was used for an efficacious photothermal-triggered tumor chemotherapy. IR780-TiS2/RV showed satisfactory stability and biocompatibility, and the loading ratio of RV and IR780 was about 112% and 56%, respectively. Upon the near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, the heat generated by IR780-TiS2/RV could trigger the RV release. Due to the conjugation with the mitochondria-specific IR780, IR780-TiS2/RV could target and accumulate in mitochondria and release RV when triggered by NIR to decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential, rapidly induce the upregulation of key intrinsic apoptotic factors such as cytochrome c, and initiate the caspase cascade, thereby achieving the chemotherapeutic effect. The IR780-TiS2/RV nanocomposite was demonstrated to have a high anti-tumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo as well as no remarkable tissue toxicity. We believe our study demonstrates that the NIR-triggered IR780-TiS2/RV nanoplatform could be a promising chemotherapeutic agent in clinical practice.

Recent advances of stimuli-responsive systems based on transition metal dichalcogenides for smart cancer therapy

A comprehensive overview of the development of stimuli-responsive TMDC-based nanoplatforms for “smart” cancer therapy is presented to demonstrate a more intelligent and better controllable therapeutic strategy.

Artesunate-Loaded and Near-Infrared Dye-Conjugated Albumin Nanoparticles as High-Efficiency Tumor-Targeted Photo-Chemo Theranostic Agent

Herein, a tumor-targeted multifunctional theranostic agent was synthetized using a facile method, combining four clinically approved materials: artesunate (Arte), human serum albumin (HSA), folic acid (FA), and indocyanine green (ICG). The obtained nanocomposites (FA-IHA NPs) showed an excellent photo- and physiological stability. The ICG in the FA-IHA NPs was used not only for near infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging, but also for photothermal and photodynamic (PTT-PDT) therapy under a single NIR irradiation. In addition, the NIR irradiation (808 nm, 1 W/cm2) could trigger Arte release that showed enhanced chemotherapeutic effect. Through fluorescence imaging, the cell uptake and tumor accumulation of FA-IHA NPs were observed in vitro and in vivo, analyzed by confocal microscopy and NIR fluorescence imaging in tumor xenograft mice. Based on the diagnostic results, FA-IHA NPs at 24 h post injection and combined with NIR irradiation (808 nm, 1 W/cm2) could efficiently suppress tumor growth through a photo-chemo combination therapy, with no tumor recurrence in vitro and in vivo. The obtained results suggested that FA-IHA NPs are promising photo-chemo theranostic agents for future clinical translation.

Recent advances in the field of transition metal dichalcogenides for biomedical applications

Nanosheets of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDs), the graphene-like two-dimensional (2D) materials, exhibit a unique combination of properties and have attracted enormous research interest for a wide range of applications including catalysis, functional electronics, solid lubrication, photovoltaics, energy materials and most recently in biomedical applications. Their potential for use in biosensors, drug delivery, multimodal imaging, antimicrobial agents and tissue engineering is being actively studied. However, the commercial translation of exfoliated TMDs has been limited due to the low aqueous solubility, non-uniformity, lack of control over the layer thickness, and the long-term colloidal stability of the exfoliated material. There is wide interest in the synthesis and exfoliation of TMDs resulting in the reporting of increasing numbers of new methods and their biomedical applications. The unique physicochemical characteristics of the TMD nanosheets have been exploited to tether them with biological payload to achieve selective localized delivery in vivo. The large surface-to-volume ratio, good cytocompatibility, ease of surface modification, tunable bandgap, strong spin-orbit coupling, and high optical and thermal conversion efficiency of TMD nanosheets make them favorable over traditional nanomaterials for biomedical research. Moreover, the presence of abundant active edge sites on the 2D TMDs makes them suitable for catalytic activities, while the large surface area and the interspace between layers are particularly conducive to ion or small molecule intercalation, making them useful for energy storage applications with rapid redox reaction capabilities. One of the major limitations of the exfoliated TMDs has been their limited colloidal stability in aqueous media. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the exfoliation and synthesis of single-layered TMDs, their biomedical efficacy in terms of cytotoxicity, combinatorial therapy and diagnostic imaging, as well as antimicrobial activity. We highlight the current challenges in the field and propose strategies for the future.