A multifunctional nanoplatform delivering carbon monoxide and a cysteine protease inhibitor to mitochondria under NIR light shows enhanced synergistic anticancer efficacy

Photopharmacology of Protease Inhibitors: Current Status and Perspectives

Proteases are involved in many essential biological processes. Dysregulation of their activity underlies a wide variety of human diseases. Photopharmacology, as applied on various classes of proteins, has the potential to assist protease research by enabling spatiotemporal control of protease activity. Moreover, it may be used to decrease side-effects of protease-targeting drugs. In this review, we discuss the current status of the chemical design of photoactivatable proteases inhibitors and their biological application. Additionally, we give insight into future possibilities for further development of this field of research.

A mitochondria-targeted multifunctional nanoplatform combining carbon monoxide delivery with O2-independent free radical burst under 1064 nm light irradiation for efficient hypoxic tumor therapy

In situ mitochondrial oxidative stress amplification is an effective strategy to improve efficacy of cancer treatment. In this work, a tumor and mitochondria dual-targeted multifunctional nanoplatform CMS@AIPH@PDA@COTPP@FA (CAPCTF) was prepared, in which a thermally decomposable radical initiator AIPH was loaded inside the mesoporores of CuxMoySz (CMS) nanoparticles with polydopamine (PDA) covered films that were further covalently functionalized by a mitochondria-targeted CO donor (COTPP) and a directing group of folic acid (FA). The prepared CAPCTF nanoplatform selectively accumulated in cancer cells and further targeted the mitochondrial organelle where carbon monoxide (CO) and O2-independent free radicals (•OH/•R) were in situ generated upon 1064 nm laser irradiation. Furthermore, the CMS nanocarrier was capable of depleting the GSH overexpressed in the tumor microenvironment (TME), thus preventing free radical scavenging. As a result, the CAPCTF nanoplatform exhibited outstanding in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficacy under hypoxic conditions. This provides an innovative strategy that combines O2-independent free radicals (•OH/•R) generation, CO delivery and GSH consumption to amplify intracellular oxidative stresses and induce mitochondrial dysfunction, thus leading to cancer cells eradication, which may have significant implications for personalized hypoxic tumor treatment.

Carbon monoxide therapy: a promising strategy for cancer

Cancer is one of the acute life-threatening diseases endangering the whole of humanity. The treatment modalities for cancer are various. However, in most cases, a single treatment choice provides multiple side effects, poor targeting, and ineffective treatment. In recent years, the physiological regulatory function of carbon monoxide (CO) in the cancer process has been reported gradually, and CO-related nano-drugs have been explored. It shows better application prospects in cancer treatment and provides new ideas for treatment. The present review introduces the pathophysiological role of CO. The recent advances in cancer therapy, such as CO-mediated gas therapy, combined application of CO chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and immunotherapy, are described. Current challenges and future developments in CO-based treatment are also discussed. This review provides comprehensive information on recent advances in CO therapy and also some valuable guidance for promoting the progress of gas therapy nanomedicine.

Near-infrared light triggered in situ release of CO for enhanced therapy of glioblastoma

BACKGROUND

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) features high biocompatibility and high spatiotemporal selectivity, showing a great potential in glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. However, its application was restricted by the poor therapeutic efficacy and side effect.

RESULTS

In this study, a therapeutic nanoplatform (UCNPs@Ce6/3HBQ@CM) with combination of PDT and CO therapy was constructed, in which a photoCORM and a photosensitizer were loaded onto the surface of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) functioning as photon transducer. Benefitting from NIR excitation and multicolor emission of UCNPs, the penetration depth of excitation light is enhanced and meanwhile simultaneous generation of CO and ROS in tumor site can be achieved. The as-prepared nanocomposite possessed an elevated therapeutic efficiency with the assistance of CO through influencing mitochondrial respiration and depleting ATP, accompanying with the reduced inflammatory responses. By wrapping a homologous cell membrane, the nanocomposite can target GBM and accumulate in the tumor site, affording a powerful tool for precise and efficient treatment of GBM.

CONCLUSION

This therapeutic nanoplatform UCNPs@Ce6/3HBQ@CM, which combines PDT and CO therapy enables precise and efficient treatment of refractory glioblastoma.

Newly developed gas-assisted sonodynamic therapy in cancer treatment

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is an emerging noninvasive treatment modality that utilizes low-frequency and low-intensity ultrasound (US) to trigger sensitizers to kill tumor cells with reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although SDT has attracted much attention for its properties including high tumor specificity and deep tissue penetration, its anticancer efficacy is still far from satisfactory. As a result, new strategies such as gas-assisted therapy have been proposed to further promote the effectiveness of SDT. In this review, the mechanisms of SDT and gas-assisted SDT are first summarized. Then, the applications of gas-assisted SDT for cancer therapy are introduced and categorized by gas types. Next, therapeutic systems for SDT that can realize real-time imaging are further presented. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of gas-assisted SDT for future clinical applications are discussed.

A novel technique to overcome fluid flow influence in carbon quantum dots/paper-based analytical devices

Paper-based analytical devices are promising choices for rapid tests and lab-on-chip detection techniques. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), on the other hand, are biocompatible nanomaterials, which are industrially promising, due to their fast and cost-effective gram-scale synthesis techniques, as well as their significantly high and stable photoluminescence (PL) properties, which are durable and reliable over a year. However, there have been limitations in the entrapment of CQDs on cellulose papers in a way that their PL is not influenced by the flowing of the CQDs with the stream of analyte fluid, making the sensors less accurate at very low concentrations of liquid analytes. Therefore, in this investigation, a polyvinyl alcohol/alkaline-based method was systematically generated and developed to entrap CQDs inside a 3D crystalline matrix on paper, in a way that they can be used directly as probes for a simple drop-and-detect method. As a proof of concept, N/P-doped CQD on cellulose paper was used to make fluorescent paper-based analytical devices for identifying traces of Hg²⁺ of around 100 ppb. The designed sensor was tested over several months, to study its durability and functionality over long periods, for potential industrial applications.