Redox-responsive nano-carriers as tumor-targeted drug delivery systems

With ever increasing scientific knowledge and awareness, research is underway around the globe to design new types of stimuli (external/internal) responsive nano-carriers for biotechnological applications at large and biomedical/pharmaceutical in particular. Based on literature evidence, stimuli-responsive carriers have been classified into four major categories, i.e. (1) physical, (2) chemical, (3) biological, and (4) dual (combination of any of the first three classes). Among various types, redox-responsive nano-carriers are of supreme interests and discussed here in this review. The difference in redox potential in tumor and normal tissue is considered as a potential target for tumor targeting leading to the development of redox-responsive drug delivery systems (DDS). In this regard, a high concentration of glutathione in tumor/intracellular environment has extensively been exploited. Disulfide bonds were found as a promising tool for designing redox-responsive which tend to cleave in a reductive environment forming sulfhydryl groups. Many nano-carriers have been explored widely to control tumor growth. These systems were used against the tumor xenograft animal model and showed improved tumor targeting with tumor growth inhibition. Herein, an effort has been made to summarize various aspects from design to development of numerous types of redox-responsive DDS including liposomes, micelles, nanoparticles, nanogel and prodrug based nanomedicines. An emphasis is also given on various types of nano-carriers with special reference to the tumor-targeted drug delivery applications. Also, dual responsive nano-carriers (in addition to redox-responsive) have also been briefly discussed. Towards the end of the chapter, the information is also given on their future perspectives.

A ZnII-MOF Assembled by Triazine-Based Polycarboxylate and 4,4′-Bipy: Structure, Fluorescent Properties, and Water Vapour Adsorption

A new flexible triazine-based polycarboxylate metal–organic framework, {[Zn4(TTHA)(4, 4′-bipy)2(OH)2(H2O)]·H2O}n (1), H6TTHA = 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine hexaacetic acid, has been synthesised under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Structural studies indicate that 1 exhibits a 3D network with a 4,6-connected topology, formed by the interconnection of tetranuclear units and the ligands. The fluorescence emission properties of 1 and the free ligands were investigated in the solid state at room temperature. Moreover, the fluorescence lifetime (τ) and quantum yield (Φf) were obtained to further characterise the fluorescence properties. In addition, the water vapour adsorption of 1 was first studied for H6TTHA based complexes, which shows a general water adsorption capacity.

A series of pyridyl-amide-based ZnII/CdII coordination polymers and their polypyrrole-functionalized composite materials for tuning their photocatalytic properties

Six pyridyl-amide-based Zn^II/Cd^II coordination polymers have been solvothermally synthesized and decorated by polypyrrole for tuning their photocatalytic properties under visible irradiation.