Inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis by a self-therapeutic nanoparticle

Drug-Free Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Enable Suppression of Cancer Metastasis and Confer Survival Advantages to Mice with Tumor Xenografts

Despite advancements in nanomedicine for drug delivery, many drug-loaded nanoparticles reduce tumor sizes but often fail to prevent metastasis. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have attracted attention as promising nanocarriers. Here, we demonstrated that MSN-PEG/TA 25, with proper surface modifications, exhibited unique antimetastatic properties. In vivo studies showed that overall tumor metastasis decreased in 4T1 xenografts mice treated with MSN-PEG/TA 25 with a notable reduction in lung tumor metastasis. In vitro assays, including wound-healing, Boyden chamber, tube-formation, and real-time cell analyses, showed that MSN-PEG/TA 25 could modulate cell migration of 4T1 breast cancer cells and interrupt tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), key factors in suppressing cancer metastasis. The synergistic effect of MSN-PEG/TA 25 combined with liposomal-encapsulated doxorubicin (Lipo-Dox) significantly boosted mouse survival rates, outperforming Lipo-Dox monotherapy. We attributed the improved survival to the antimetastatic capabilities of MSN-PEG/TA 25. Moreover, Dox-loaded MSN-PEG/TA 25 suppressed primary tumors while retaining the antimetastatic effect, thereby enhancing therapeutic outcomes and overall survival. Western blot and qPCR analyses revealed that MSN-PEG/TA 25 interfered with the phosphorylation of ERK, FAK, and paxillin, thus impacting focal adhesion turnover and inhibiting cell motility. Our findings suggest that drug-free MSN-PEG/TA 25 is highly efficient for cancer treatment via suppressing metastatic activity and angiogenesis.

Anticarcinogenic Effects of Gold Nanoparticles and Metformin Against MCF-7 and A549 Cells

Metformin is commonly prescribed to people with diabetes. Metformin has been shown in previous studies to be able to prevent the growth of cancer cells. This study aims to investigate the effects of metformin and gold nanoparticles in MCF7 breast cancer and A549 lung cell lines. The effects of metformin and gold nanoparticles on MCF7 breast cancer and A549 lung cells were determined on cells grown in 24 h cell culture. MCF-7 and A549 cells were incubated for 24 h with the treatment of escalating molar concentrations of ifosfamide. The MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of metformin toward MCF7 and A549 cell lines. The expression of Bax, BCL2, PI3K, Akt3, mTOR, Hsp60, Hsp70, and TNF-α was measured by RT-PCR. Metformin and gold nanoparticles inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 and A549 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 5 µM and 10 µg/mL. RT-PCR assays showed ifosfamide + metformin + gold nanoparticles significantly reduced the expression of BCL2, PI3K, Akt3, mTOR, Hsp60 and Hsp70 and increased the expression of TNF-α and Bax. The findings obtained in this study suggest that further studies should be conducted, and metformin and gold nanoparticles can be used in breast cancer and lung cancer treatments.

Enhancement of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer-Specific Induction of Cell Death by Silver Nanoparticles by Combined Treatment with Proteotoxic Stress Response Inhibitors

Metal nanoparticles have been tested for therapeutic and imaging applications in pre-clinical models of cancer, but fears of toxicity have limited their translation. An emerging concept in nanomedicine is to exploit the inherent drug-like properties of unmodified nanomaterials for cancer therapy. To be useful clinically, there must be a window between the toxicity of the nanomaterial to cancer and toxicity to normal cells. This necessitates identification of specific vulnerabilities in cancers that can be targeted using nanomaterials without inducing off-target toxicity. Previous studies point to proteotoxic stress as a driver of silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) toxicity. Two key cell stress responses involved in mitigating proteotoxicity are the heat shock response (HSR) and the integrated stress response (ISR). Here, we examine the role that these stress responses play in AgNP-induced cytotoxicity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and immortalized mammary epithelial cells. Furthermore, we investigate HSR and ISR inhibitors as potential drug partners to increase the anti-cancer efficacy of AgNPs without increasing off-target toxicity. We showed that AgNPs did not strongly induce the HSR at a transcriptional level, but instead decreased expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) at the protein level, possibly due to degradation in AgNP-treated TNBC cells. We further showed that the HSR inhibitor, KRIBB11, synergized with AgNPs in TNBC cells, but also increased off-target toxicity in immortalized mammary epithelial cells. In contrast, we found that salubrinal, a drug that can sustain pro-death ISR signaling, enhanced AgNP-induced cell death in TNBC cells without increasing toxicity in immortalized mammary epithelial cells. Subsequent co-culture studies demonstrated that AgNPs in combination with salubrinal selectively eliminated TNBCs without affecting immortalized mammary epithelial cells grown in the same well. Our findings provide additional support for proteotoxic stress as a mechanism by which AgNPs selectively kill TNBCs and will help guide future efforts to identify drug partners that would be beneficial for use with AgNPs for cancer therapy.

Application of mesenchymal stem cells exosomes as nanovesicles delivery system in the treatment of breast cancer

As people's living standards continue to improve and human life span expectancy increases, the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer are continuously rising. Early detection of breast cancer and targeted therapy for different breast cancer subtypes can significantly reduce the mortality rate and alleviate the suffering of patients. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by various cells in the body. They participate in physiological and pathological responses by releasing active substances and play an important role in regulating intercellular communication. In recent years, research on exosomes has gradually expanded, and their special membrane structure and targetable characteristics are being increasingly applied in various clinical studies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived exosomes play an important role in regulating the progression of breast cancer. In this review, we summarize the current treatment methods for breast cancer, the connection between MSCs, exosomes, and breast cancer, as well as the application of exosomes derived from MSCs from different sources in cancer treatment. We highlight how the rational design of modified MSCs-derived exosomes (MSCs-Exos) delivery systems can overcome the uncertainties of stem cell therapy and overcome the clinical translation challenges of nanomaterials. This work aims to promote future research on the application of MSCs-Exos in breast cancer treatment.

The application of nanomaterials in tumor therapy based on the regulation of mechanical properties

Mechanical properties, as crucial physical properties, have a significant impact on the occurrence, development, and metastasis of tumors. Regulating the mechanical properties of tumors to enhance their sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy has become an important strategy in the field of cancer treatment. Over the past few decades, nanomaterials have made remarkable progress in cancer therapy, either based on their intrinsic properties or as drug delivery carriers. However, the investigation of nanomaterials of mechanical regulation in tumor therapy is currently in its initial stages. The mechanical properties of nanomaterials themselves, drug carrier targeting, and regulation of the mechanical environment of tumor tissue have far-reaching effects on the efficient uptake of drugs and clinical tumor treatment. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively summarize the applications and research progress of nanomaterials in tumor therapy based on the regulation of mechanical properties, in order to provide strong support for further research and the development of treatment strategies in this field.

The new era of pancreatic cancer treatment: Application of nanotechnology breaking through bottlenecks

Since the advent of nanomedicine, physicians have harnessed these approaches for the prophylaxis, detection, and therapy of life-threatening diseases, particularly cancer. Nanoparticles have demonstrated notable efficacy in cancer therapy, showcasing the primary application of nanotechnology in targeted drug delivery. Pancreatic cancer stands out as the most lethal solid tumour in humans. The low survival rate is attributed to its highly aggressive nature, intrinsic resistance to chemotherapeutics, and the lack of successful therapies, compounded by delayed diagnosis due to nonspecific symptoms and the absence of rapid diagnostic strategies. Despite these challenges, nanotechnology-based carrier methods have been successfully employed in imaging and therapy approaches. Overcoming drug resistance in pancreatic cancer necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the microenvironment associated with the disease, paving the way for innovative nanocarriers. Hindered chemotherapy infiltration, attributed to inadequate vascularization and a dense tumour stroma, is a major hurdle that nanotechnology addresses. Intelligent delivery techniques, based on the Enhanced Permeability and Retention effect, form the basis of recently developed anticancer nanocarriers. These advancements aim to enhance drug accumulation in tumour locations, offering a potential solution to the treatment-resistant nature of cancer. Addressing the challenges in pancreatic cancer treatment demands innovative therapies, and the emergence of active nanocarriers presents a promising avenue for enhancing outcomes. This review specifically delves into the latest advancements in nanotechnology for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Role of ESCCAL-1 in regulating exocytosis of AuNPs in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells

Exocytosis is a critical factor for designing efficient nanocarriers and determining cytotoxicity. However, the research on the exocytosis mechanism of nanoparticles, especially the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), has not been reported. In this study, the exocytosis of AuNPs in the KYSE70 cells and the involved molecular pathways of exocytosis are analyzed. It demonstrates that nanoparticles underwent time-dependent release from the cells by exocytosis, and the release of β-hexosaminidase confirms that AuNPs are excreted through lysosomes. Mechanistic studies reveal that lncRNA ESCCAL-1 plays a vital role in controlling the exocytosis of AuNPs through activation of the MAPK pathway, including the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. The study implies that the ESCCAL-1-mediated pathway plays an important role in the exocytosis of AuNPs in KYSE70 cells. This finding has implications for the role of ESCCAL-1 on the drug resistance of esophagus cancer by controlling lysosome-mediated exocytosis.

Mechanisms and Barriers in Nanomedicine: Progress in the Field and Future Directions

In recent years, steady progress has been made in synthesizing and characterizing engineered nanoparticles, resulting in several approved drugs and multiple promising candidates in clinical trials. Regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency released important guidance documents facilitating nanoparticle-based drug product development, particularly in the context of liposomes and lipid-based carriers. Even with the progress achieved, it is clear that many barriers must still be overcome to accelerate translation into the clinic. At the recent conference workshop "Mechanisms and Barriers in Nanomedicine" in May 2023 in Colorado, U.S.A., leading experts discussed the formulation, physiological, immunological, regulatory, clinical, and educational barriers. This position paper invites open, unrestricted, nonproprietary discussion among senior faculty, young investigators, and students to trigger ideas and concepts to move the field forward.

Antibody and siRNA Nanocarriers to Suppress Wnt Signaling, Tumor Growth, and Lung Metastasis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

The paucity of targeted therapies for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) causes patients with this aggressive disease to suffer a poor clinical prognosis. A promising target for therapeutic intervention is the Wnt signaling pathway, which is activated in TNBC cells when extracellular Wnt ligands bind overexpressed Frizzled7 (FZD7) transmembrane receptors. This stabilizes intracellular β-catenin proteins that in turn promote transcription of oncogenes that drive tumor growth and metastasis. To suppress Wnt signaling in TNBC cells, we developed therapeutic nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with FZD7 antibodies and β-catenin small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The antibodies enable TNBC cell-specific binding and inhibit Wnt signaling by locking FZD7 receptors in a ligand unresponsive state, while the siRNAs suppress β-catenin through RNA interference. Compared to NPs coated with antibodies or siRNAs individually, NPs coated with both agents more potently reduce the expression of several Wnt related genes in TNBC cells, leading to greater inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and spheroid formation. In two murine models of metastatic TNBC, the dual antibody/siRNA nanocarriers outperformed controls in terms of inhibiting tumor growth, metastasis, and recurrence. These findings demonstrate suppressing Wnt signaling at both the receptor and mRNA levels via antibody/siRNA nanocarriers is a promising approach to combat TNBC.

Green biologically synthesized metal nanoparticles: biological applications, optimizations and future prospects

In green biological synthesis, metal nanoparticles are produced by plants or microorganisms. Since it is ecologically friendly, economically viable and sustainable, this method is preferable to other traditional ones. For their continuous groundbreaking advancements and myriad physiochemical and biological benefits, nanotechnologies have influenced various aspects of scientific fields. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) are the field anchor for their outstanding optical, electrical and chemical capabilities that outperform their regular-sized counterparts. This review discusses the most current biosynthesized metal nanoparticles synthesized by various organisms and their biological applications along with the key elements involved in MNP green synthesis. The review is displayed in a manner that will impart assertiveness, help the researchers to open questions, and highlight many points for conducting future research.

Nano-hydroxyapatite promotes cell apoptosis by co-activating endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondria damage to inhibit glioma growth

Despite a growing body of studies demonstrating the specific anti-tumor effect of nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA), the underlying mechanism remained unclear. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria are two key players in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and both require Ca2+ to participate. Moreover, the ER-mitochondria interplay coordinates the maintenance of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis to prevent any negative consequences from excess of Ca2+, hence there needs in-depth study of n-HA effect on them. In this study, we fabricated needle-like n-HA to investigate the anti-tumor effectiveness as well as the underlying mechanisms from cellular and molecular perspectives. Data from in vitro experiments indicated that the growth and invasion of glioma cells were obviously reduced with the aid of n-HA. It is interesting to note that the expression of ER stress biomarkers (GRP78, p-IRE1, p-PERK, PERK, and ATF6) were all upregulated after n-HA treatment, along with the activation of the pro-apoptotic transcription factor CHOP, showing that ER stress produced by n-HA triggered cell apoptosis. Moreover, the increased expression level of intracellular reactive oxygen species and the mitochondrial membrane depolarization, as well as the downstream cell apoptotic signaling activation, further demonstrated the pro-apoptotic roles of n-HA induced Ca2+ overload through inducing mitochondria damage. The in vivo data provided additional evidence that n-HA caused ER stress and mitochondria damage in cells and effectively restrain the growth of glioma tumors. Collectively, the work showed that n-HA co-activated intracellular ER stress and mitochondria damage are critical triggers for cancer cells apoptosis, offering fresh perspectives on ER-mitochondria targeted anti-tumor therapy.

Synergistic therapeutic strategies and engineered nanoparticles for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in cancer

Angiogenesis is one of the defining characteristics of cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is crucial for the development of angiogenesis. A growing interest in cancer therapy is being caused by the widespread use of antiangiogenic drugs in treating several types of human cancer. However, this therapeutic approach can worsen resistance, invasion, and overall survival. As we proceed, refining combination strategies and addressing the constraint of targeted treatments are paramount. Therefore, major challenges in using novel combinations of antiangiogenic agents with cytotoxic treatments are currently focused on illustrating the potential of synergistic therapeutic strategies, alongside advancements in nanomedicine and gene therapy, present opportunities for more precise interference with angiogenesis pathways and tumor environments. Nanoparticles have the potential to regulate several crucial activities and improve several drug limitations such as lack of selectivity, non-targeted cytotoxicity, insufficient drug delivery at tumor sites, and multi-drug resistance based on their unique features. The goal of this updated review is to illustrate the enormous potential of novel synergistic therapeutic strategies and the targeted nanoparticles as an alternate strategy for t treating a variety of tumors employing antiangiogenic 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.

Kinetic modelling of ultrasound-triggered chemotherapeutic drug release from the surface of gold nanoparticles

Therapeutic ultrasound can be used to trigger the on-demand release of chemotherapeutic drugs from gold nanoparticles (GNPs). In the previous work, our group achieved doxorubicin (DOX) release from the surface of GNPS under low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) exposure. However, the specific release kinetics of ultrasound-triggered DOX release from GNPs is not known. Here, we present a release kinetics study of DOX from GNPs under ultrasound exposure for the first time. A novel dialysis membrane setup was designed to quantify DOX release from LIPUS-activated GNPs at 37.0 °C and 43.4 °C (hyperthermia temperature range). Contributions of thermal and non-thermal mechanisms of LIPUS-triggered DOX release were also quantified. Non-thermal mechanisms accounted for 40 ± 7% and 34 ± 5% of DOX release for 37.0 °C and 43.4 °C trials, respectively. DOX release under LIPUS exposure was found to follow Korsmeyer-Peppas (K-P) kinetics, suggesting a shift from a Fickian (static) to a non-Fickian (dynamic) release profile with the addition of non-thermal interactions. DOX release was attributed to an anomalous diffusion release mechanism from the GNP surface. A finite element model was also developed to quantify the acoustic radiation force, believed to be the driving force of non-thermal DOX release inside the dialysis bag.

The binding of a c-MYC promoter G-quadruplex to neurotransmitters: An analysis of G-quadruplex stabilization using DNA melting, fluorescence spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman scattering and molecular docking

The interactions of several neurotransmitter and neural hormone molecules with the c-MYC G-quadruplex DNA sequence were analyzed using a combination of spectroscopic and computational techniques. The interactions between indole, catecholamine, and amino acid neurotransmitters and DNA sequences could potentially add to the understanding of the role of G-quadruplex structures play in various diseases. Also, the interaction of the DNA sequence derived from the nuclear hypersensitivity element (NHE) III1 region of c-MYC oncogene (Pu22), 5'-TGAGGGTGGGTAGGGTGGGTAA-3', has added significance in that these molecules may promote or inhibit the formation of G-quadruplex DNA which could lead to the development of promising drugs for anticancer therapy. The results showed that these molecules did not disrupt G-quadruplex formation even in the absence of quadruplex-stabilizing cations. There was also evidence of concentration-dependent binding and high binding affinities based on the Stern-Volmer model, and thermodynamically favorable interactions in the form of hydrogen-bonding and interactions involving the π system of the aromatic neurotransmitters.

Inorganic Nanoparticles as Radiosensitizers for Cancer Treatment

Nanotechnology has expanded what can be achieved in our approach to cancer treatment. The ability to produce and engineer functional nanoparticle formulations to elicit higher incidences of tumor cell radiolysis has resulted in substantial improvements in cancer cell eradication while also permitting multi-modal biomedical functionalities. These radiosensitive nanomaterials utilize material characteristics, such as radio-blocking/absorbing high-Z atomic number elements, to mediate localized effects from therapeutic irradiation. These materials thereby allow subsequent scattered or emitted radiation to produce direct (e.g., damage to genetic materials) or indirect (e.g., protein oxidation, reactive oxygen species formation) damage to tumor cells. Using nanomaterials that activate under certain physiologic conditions, such as the tumor microenvironment, can selectively target tumor cells. These characteristics, combined with biological interactions that can target the tumor environment, allow for localized radio-sensitization while mitigating damage to healthy cells. This review explores the various nanomaterial formulations utilized in cancer radiosensitivity research. Emphasis on inorganic nanomaterials showcases the specific material characteristics that enable higher incidences of radiation while ensuring localized cancer targeting based on tumor microenvironment activation. The aim of this review is to guide future research in cancer radiosensitization using nanomaterial formulations and to detail common approaches to its treatment, as well as their relations to commonly implemented radiotherapy techniques.

A sub-10-nm, folic acid-conjugated gold nanoparticle as self-therapeutic treatment of tubulointerstitial fibrosis

Nanomedicines for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) are on the horizon, yet their delivery to renal tubules where tubulointerstitial fibrosis occurs remains inefficient. We report a folic acid-conjugated gold nanoparticle that can transport into renal tubules and treat tubulointerstitial fibrosis in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction. The 3-nm gold core allows for the dissection of bio-nano interactions in the fibrotic kidney, ensures the overall nanoparticle (~7 nm) to be small enough for glomerular filtration, and naturally inhibits the p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase in the absence of chemical or biological drugs. The folic acids support binding to selected tubule cells with overexpression of folate receptors and promote retention in the fibrotic kidney. Upon intravenous injection, this nanoparticle can selectively accumulate in the fibrotic kidney over the nonfibrotic contralateral kidney at ~3.6% of the injected dose. Delivery to the fibrotic kidney depends on nanoparticle size and disease stage. Notably, a single injection of this self-therapeutic nanoparticle reduces tissue degeneration, inhibits genes related to the extracellular matrix, and treats fibrosis more effectively than standard Captopril therapy. Our data underscore the importance of constructing CKD nanomedicines based on renal pathophysiology.

Transition metals in angiogenesis - A narrative review

The aim of this paper is to offer a narrative review of the literature regarding the influence of transition metals on angiogenesis, excluding lanthanides and actinides. To our knowledge there are not any reviews up to date offering such a summary, which inclined us to write this paper. Angiogenesis describes the process of blood vessel formation, which is an essential requirement for human growth and development. When the complex interplay between pro- and antiangiogenic mediators falls out of balance, angiogenesis can quickly become harmful. As it is so fundamental, both its inhibition and enhancement take part in various diseases, making it a target for therapeutic treatments. Current methods come with limitations, therefore, novel agents are constantly being researched, with metal agents offering promising results. Various transition metals have already been investigated in-depth, with studies indicating both pro- and antiangiogenic properties, respectively. The transition metals are being applied in various formulations, such as nanoparticles, complexes, or scaffold materials. Albeit the increasing attention this field is receiving, there remain many unanswered questions, mostly regarding the molecular mechanisms behind the observed effects. Notably, approximately half of all the transition metals have not yet been investigated regarding potential angiogenic effects. Considering the promising results which have already been established, it should be of great interest to begin investigating the remaining elements whilst also further analyzing the established effects.

Theranostic imaging and multimodal photodynamic therapy and immunotherapy using the mTOR signaling pathway

Tumor metastases are considered the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. While clinically applied drugs have demonstrated to efficiently remove the primary tumor, metastases remain poorly accessible. To overcome this limitation, herein, the development of a theranostic nanomaterial by incorporating a chromophore for imaging and a photosensitizer for treatment of metastatic tumor sites is presented. The mechanism of action reveals that the nanoparticles are able to intervene by local generation of cellular damage through photodynamic therapy as well as by systemic induction of an immune response by immunotherapy upon inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway which is of crucial importance for tumor onset, progression and metastatic spreading. The nanomaterial is able to strongly reduce the volume of the primary tumor as well as eradicates tumor metastases in a metastatic breast cancer and a multi-drug resistant patient-derived hepatocellular carcinoma models in female mice.

Progress on the pathological tissue microenvironment barrier-modulated nanomedicine

Imbalance in the tissue microenvironment is the main obstacle to drug delivery and distribution in the human body. Before penetrating the pathological tissue microenvironment to the target site, therapeutic agents are usually accompanied by three consumption steps: the first step is tissue physical barriers for prevention of their penetration, the second step is inactivation of them by biological molecules, and the third step is a cytoprotective mechanism for preventing them from functioning on specific subcellular organelles. However, recent studies in drug-hindering mainly focus on normal physiological rather than pathological microenvironment, and the repair of damaged physiological barriers is also rarely discussed. Actually, both the modulation of pathological barriers and the repair of damaged physiological barriers are essential in the disease treatment and the homeostasis maintenance. In this review, we present an overview describing the latest advances in the generality of these pathological barriers and barrier-modulated nanomedicine. Overall, this review holds considerable significance for guiding the design of nanomedicine to increase drug efficacy in the future.

Gold nanoparticles combat enveloped RNA virus by affecting organelle dynamics

Enveloped RNA viruses are a group of viruses with an outer membrane derived from a host cell and a genome consisting of ribonucleic acid (RNA). These viruses rely on host cell machinery and organelles to replicate and assemble new virus particles. However, the interaction between viruses and host organelles may be disrupted by nanomaterials, such as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with unique physical and chemical properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of AuNPs with different surface charge properties on the subcellular structure and function of mammalian cells, and their effects on two representative enveloped RNA viruses: lentivirus and human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV- OC43) antiviral potential. By comparing the subcellular effects of AuNPs with different surface charge properties, we found that treatment with AuNPs with positive surface charges induced more significant disruption of subcellular structures than neutrally charged AuNPs and negatively charged AuNPs, mainly manifested in lysosomes and Cytoskeletal disorders. The antiviral effect of the surface positively charged AuNPs was further evaluated using lentivirus and HCoV-OC43. The results showed that AuNPs had a significant inhibitory effect on both lentivirus and HCoV-OC43 without obvious side effects. In conclusion, our study provides insights into the mechanism of action and biocompatibility of AuNP in biological systems, while supporting the potential of targeting organelle dynamics against enveloped RNA viruses.

Gold Nanoparticles Inhibit Macropinocytosis by Decreasing KRAS Activation

The RAS-transformed cells utilize macropinocytosis to acquire amino acids to support their uncontrolled growth. However, targeting RAS to inhibit macropinocytosis remains a challenge. Here, we report that gold nanoparticles (GNP) inhibit macropinocytosis by decreasing KRAS activation. Using surface-modified and unmodified GNP, we showed that unmodified GNP specifically sequestered both wild-type and mutant KRAS and inhibited its activation, irrespective of growth factor stimulation, while surface-passivated GNP had no effect. Alteration of KRAS activation is reflected on downstream signaling cascades, macropinocytosis and tumor cell growth in vitro, and two independent preclinical human xenograft models of pancreatic cancer in vivo. The current study demonstrates NP-mediated inhibition of macropinocytosis and KRAS activation and provides translational opportunities to inhibit tumor growth in a number of cancers where activation of KRAS plays a major role.

Green Nanoformulations of Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Capped Metal Nanoparticles: A Study at the Hybrid Interface with Biomimetic Cell Membranes and In Vitro Cell Models

Noble metal nanoparticles (NP) with intrinsic antiangiogenic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties have great potential as potent chemotherapeutics, due to their unique features, including plasmonic properties for application in photothermal therapy, and their capability to slow down the migration/invasion speed of cancer cells and then suppress metastasis. In this work, gold (Au), silver (Ag), and palladium (Pd) NP were synthesized by a green redox chemistry method with the reduction of the metal salt precursor with glucose in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as stabilizing and capping agent. The physicochemical properties of the PVP-capped NP were investigated by UV-visible (UV-vis) and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopies, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), to scrutinize the optical features and the interface between the metal surface and the capping polymer, the hydrodynamic size, and the morphology, respectively. Biophysical studies with model cell membranes were carried out by using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSM) with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques. To this purpose, artificial cell membranes of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) made with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (POPC) dye-labeled with 7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl (NBD, FRET donor) and/or lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl (Rh, FRET acceptor) were prepared. Proof-of-work in vitro cellular experiments were carried out with prostate cancer cells (PC-3 line) in terms of cytotoxicity, cell migration (wound scratch assay), NP cellular uptake, and cytoskeleton actin perturbation.

A Quantitative Study of Thermal and Non-thermal Mechanisms in Ultrasound-Induced Nano-drug Delivery

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to quantify the contributions to drug release for thermal and non-thermal mechanisms in ultrasound-induced release from gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for the first time.

METHODS

We studied doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin release from the surface of GNPs using two different methods to induce drug release in an ex vivo tissue model: (i) localized tissue heating with a water bath and (ii) low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) exposure. Both methods have similar temperature profiles and can induce the release of both hydrophobic (curcumin) and hydrophilic (DOX) drugs from the surface of GNPs. Quantitative drug release in both cases was compared via fluorescence measurements.

DISCUSSION

The water bath heating method induced drug release using thermal effects only, whereas LIPUS exposure induced drug release used a combination of thermal and non-thermal mechanisms. It was found that there were increases of 70 ± 16% (curcumin) and 127 ± 20% (DOX) in drug release when LIPUS was used to induce drug release (both thermal and non-thermal mechanisms) as compared with the water bath (thermal mechanisms only) mediated release.

CONCLUSION

We determined that non-thermal mechanisms account for 41 ± 3% of curcumin release and 56 ± 4% of DOX release. It was concluded that in our ex vivo tissue model, the non-thermal mechanisms play a significant role in LIPUS-induced drug release from GNP drug carriers and that the contributions of non-thermal mechanisms to drug release depend on the type of anticancer drug loaded on the GNP surface.

Current Understanding of Flavonoids in Cancer Therapy and Prevention

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, with multiple pathophysiological manifestations. In particular, genetic abnormalities, inflammation, bad eating habits, radiation exposure, work stress, and toxin consumption have been linked to cancer disease development and progression. Recently, natural bioactive chemicals known as polyphenols found in plants were shown to have anticancer capabilities, destroying altered or malignant cells without harming normal cells. Flavonoids have demonstrated antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. Flavonoid type, bioavailability, and possible method of action determine these biological actions. These low-cost pharmaceutical components have significant biological activities and are beneficial for several chronic disorders, including cancer. Recent research has focused primarily on isolating, synthesizing, and studying the effects of flavonoids on human health. Here we have attempted to summarize our current knowledge of flavonoids, focusing on their mode of action to better understand their effects on cancer.

Gold nanoparticles as antiangiogenic and antimetastatic agents

Angiogenesis and metastasis are two interdependent cancer hallmarks, the latter of which is the key cause of treatment failure. Thus, establishing effective antiangiogenesis/antimetastasis agents is the final frontier in cancer research. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) may provide disruptive advancements in this regard due to their intrinsic physical and physiological features. Here, we comprehensively discuss recent potential therapeutical strategies to treat angiogenesis and metastasis and present a critical review on the state-of-the-art in vitro and in vivo evaluations of the antiangiogenic/antimetastatic activity of GNPs. Finally, we provide perspectives on the contribution of GNPs to the advancement of cancer management.

An Overview on Gold Nanorods as Versatile Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy

Gold nanorods (GNRs/AuNRs) are a group of gold nanoparticles which their simple surface chemistry allows for various surface modifications, providing the possibility of using them in the fabrication of biocompatible and functional nano-agents for cancer therapy. AuNRs, moreover, exhibit a maximum absorption of longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the near-infrared (NIR) region which overlaps with NIR bio-tissue 'window' suggesting that they are proper tools for thermal ablation of cancer cells. AuNRs can be used for induction of mono or combination therapies by administering various therapeutic approaches such as photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemotherapy (CT), radiotherapy (RT), and gene therapy (GT). In this review, anticancer therapeutic capacities of AuNRs along with different surface modifications are summarized comprehensively. The roles of AuNRs in fabrication of various nano-constructs are also discussed.

Recent Approaches for Downplaying Antibiotic Resistance: Molecular Mechanisms

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a ubiquitous public health menace. AMR emergence causes complications in treating infections contributing to an upsurge in the mortality rate. The epidemic of AMR in sync with a high utilization rate of antimicrobial drugs signifies an alarming situation for the fleet recovery of both animals and humans. The emergence of resistant species calls for new treatments and therapeutics. Current records propose that health drug dependency, veterinary medicine, agricultural application, and vaccination reluctance are the primary etymology of AMR gene emergence and spread. Recently, several encouraging avenues have been presented to contest resistance, such as antivirulent therapy, passive immunization, antimicrobial peptides, vaccines, phage therapy, and botanical and liposomal nanoparticles. Most of these therapies are used as cutting-edge methodologies to downplay antibacterial drugs to subdue the resistance pressure, which is a featured motive of discussion in this review article. AMR can fade away through the potential use of current cutting-edge therapeutics, advancement in antimicrobial susceptibility testing, new diagnostic testing, prompt clinical response, and probing of new pharmacodynamic properties of antimicrobials. It also needs to promote future research on contemporary methods to maintain host homeostasis after infections caused by AMR. Referable to the microbial ability to break resistance, there is a great ultimatum for using not only appropriate and advanced antimicrobial drugs but also other neoteric diverse cutting-edge therapeutics.

Self-Therapeutic Nanomaterials: Applications in Biology and Medicine

Over past decades, nanotechnology has contributed to the biomedical field in areas including detection, diagnosis, and drug delivery via opto-electronic properties or enhancement of biological effects. Though generally considered inert delivery vehicles, a plethora of past and present evidence demonstrates that nanomaterials also exude unique intrinsic biological activity based on composition, shape, and surface functionalization. These intrinsic biological activities, termed self-therapeutic properties, take several forms, including mediation of cell-cell interactions, modulation of interactions between biomolecules, catalytic amplification of biochemical reactions, and alteration of biological signal transduction events. Moreover, study of biomolecule-nanomaterial interactions offers a promising avenue for uncovering the molecular mechanisms of biology and the evolution of disease. In this review, we observe the historical development, synthesis, and characterization of self-therapeutic nanomaterials. Next, we discuss nanomaterial interactions with biological systems, starting with administration and concluding with elimination. Finally, we apply this materials perspective to advances in intrinsic nanotherapies across the biomedical field, from cancer therapy to treatment of microbial infections and tissue regeneration. We conclude with a description of self-therapeutic nanomaterials in clinical trials and share our perspective on the direction of the field in upcoming years.

An Overview of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition in Canine Tumors: How Far Have We Come?

Historically, pre-clinical and clinical studies in human medicine have provided new insights, pushing forward the contemporary knowledge. The new results represented a motivation for investigators in specific fields of veterinary medicine, who addressed the same research topics from different perspectives in studies based on experimental and spontaneous animal disease models. The study of different pheno-genotypic contexts contributes to the confirmation of translational models of pathologic mechanisms. This review provides an overview of EMT and MET processes in both human and canine species. While human medicine rapidly advances, having a large amount of information available, veterinary medicine is not at the same level. This situation should provide motivation for the veterinary medicine research field, to apply the knowledge on humans to research in pets. By merging the knowledge of these two disciplines, better and faster results can be achieved, thus improving human and canine health.

Preventing Metastasis Using Gold Nanorod-Assisted Plasmonic Photothermal Therapy in Xenograft Mice

Despite significant research regarding metastasis, there has been limited success in preventing it. However, gold nanoparticle (AuNP) technology has shown the potential to inhibit metastasis. Our earlier studies of gold nanorod-assisted plasmonic photothermal therapy (AuNRs-PPTT), where gold nanorods (AuNRs) were irradiated with near-infrared (NIR) light to induce heat, were utilized in slowing cancer cell migration in vitro. Herein, we have expanded the in vitro studies of the AuNRs-PPTT to xenograft mice to inhibit metastasis of mammary gland tumors. The study duration was 32 days from 4T1 cancer cell injections in four treatment groups: control (PBS), NIR Only, AuNRs, and AuNRs + NIR. Multiple AuNRs-PPTT treatment sessions with intratumoral AuNRs injections were conducted every 7 days on average on the mice. Photoacoustic spectroscopy has been utilized to study the distribution and aggregation of AuNRs within the tumors and the drainage of particles to the sentinel right subiliac lymph node. The photoacoustic results revealed that the AuNRs' shapes are still stable regardless of their heterogeneous distributions inside the mammalian tumor and lymph nodes. Bioluminescence imaging was used to monitor metastasis using luciferin labeling techniques and has shown that AuNRs-PPTT inhibited metastasis completely within the first 21 days. Moreover, proteomics was run to determine the most pivotal inhibitory pathways: NETosis, cell growth, cell proliferation, inflammation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. These five mechanisms are interdependent within related networks, which synergistically explains the molecular mechanism of metastasis inhibition by AuNRs-PPTT. The current in vivo data ensures the viability of PPTT applications in inhibiting metastasis in humans.

Effective treatment of intractable diseases using nanoparticles to interfere with vascular supply and angiogenic process

Angiogenesis is a vital biological process involving blood vessels forming from pre-existing vascular systems. This process contributes to various physiological activities, including embryonic development, hair growth, ovulation, menstruation, and the repair and regeneration of damaged tissue. On the other hand, it is essential in treating a wide range of pathological diseases, such as cardiovascular and ischemic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, malignancies, ophthalmic and retinal diseases, and other chronic conditions. These diseases and disorders are frequently treated by regulating angiogenesis by utilizing a variety of pro-angiogenic or anti-angiogenic agents or molecules by stimulating or suppressing this complicated process, respectively. Nevertheless, many traditional angiogenic therapy techniques suffer from a lack of ability to achieve the intended therapeutic impact because of various constraints. These disadvantages include limited bioavailability, drug resistance, fast elimination, increased price, nonspecificity, and adverse effects. As a result, it is an excellent time for developing various pro- and anti-angiogenic substances that might circumvent the abovementioned restrictions, followed by their efficient use in treating disorders associated with angiogenesis. In recent years, significant progress has been made in different fields of medicine and biology, including therapeutic angiogenesis. Around the world, a multitude of research groups investigated several inorganic or organic nanoparticles (NPs) that had the potential to effectively modify the angiogenesis processes by either enhancing or suppressing the process. Many studies into the processes behind NP-mediated angiogenesis are well described. In this article, we also cover the application of NPs to encourage tissue vascularization as well as their angiogenic and anti-angiogenic effects in the treatment of several disorders, including bone regeneration, peripheral vascular disease, diabetic retinopathy, ischemic stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, post-ischemic cardiovascular injury, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, gene delivery-based angiogenic therapy, protein delivery-based angiogenic therapy, stem cell angiogenic therapy, and diabetic retinopathy, cancer that may benefit from the behavior of the nanostructures in the vascular system throughout the body. In addition, the accompanying difficulties and potential future applications of NPs in treating angiogenesis-related diseases and antiangiogenic therapies are discussed.

Gold Nanoparticles Disrupt the IGFBP2/mTOR/PTEN Axis to Inhibit Ovarian Cancer Growth

By exploiting the self-therapeutic properties of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) a molecular axis that promotes the growth of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), one of the deadliest gynecologic malignancies with poorly understood underlying molecular mechanisms, has been identified. The biodistribution and toxicity of GNPs administered by intravenous or intraperitoneal injection, both as a single dose or by repeated dosing over two weeks are first assessed; no biochemical or histological toxicity to vital organs is found. Using an orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model of HGSOC, the authors then show that GNP treatment robustly inhibits tumor growth. Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the GNP efficacy reveals that GNPs downregulate insulin growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) by disrupting its autoregulation via the IGFBP2/mTOR/PTEN axis. This mechanism is validated by treating a cell line-based human xenograft tumor with GNPs and an mTOR dual-kinase inhibitor (PI-103), either individually or in combination with GNPs; GNP and PI-103 combination therapy inhibit ovarian tumor growth similarly to GNPs alone. This report illustrates how the self-therapeutic properties of GNPs can be exploited as a discovery tool to identify a critical signaling axis responsible for poor prognosis in ovarian cancer and provides an opportunity to interrogate the axis to improve patient outcomes.

Microbes-mediated synthesis strategies of metal nanoparticles and their potential role in cancer therapeutics

Past few years have seen a paradigm shift towards ecofriendly, green and biological fabrication of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) for diverse nanomedicinal applications especially in cancer nanotheranostics. Besides, the well-known green synthesis methods of plant materials, the potential of the microbial world (bacteria, fungi, alga, etc.) in biofabrication is equally realized. Biomolecules and enzymes in the microbial cells are capable of catalyzing the biosynthesis process. These microbial derived inorganic nanoparticles have been frequently evaluated as potential agents in cancer therapies revealing exciting results. Through, cellular and molecular pathways, these microbial derived nanoparticles are capable of killing the cancer cells. Considering the recent developments in the anticancer applications of microbial derived inorganic MNPs, a dire need was felt to bring the available information to a single document. This manuscript reviews not only the mechanistic aspects of the microbial derived MNPs but also include the diverse mechanisms that governs their anticancer potential. Besides, an updated literature review is presented that includes studies of 2019-onwards.

90Y-Labeled Gold Nanoparticle Depot (NPD) Combined with Anti-PD-L1 Antibodies Strongly Inhibits the Growth of 4T1 Tumors in Immunocompetent Mice and Induces an Abscopal Effect on a Distant Non-Irradiated Tumor

The effectiveness and normal tissue toxicity of a novel nanoparticle depot (NPD) brachytherapy seed incorporating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) labeled with β-particle emitting, ⁹⁰Y (termed a "radiation nanomedicine"), were studied for the treatment of 4T1 triple-negative murine mammary carcinoma tumors in Balb/c mice and for inducing an abscopal effect on a distant non-irradiated tumor alone or combined with anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint antibodies. Balb/c mice with two subcutaneous 4T1 tumors─a primary tumor and a distant secondary tumor were implanted intratumorally (i.t.) in the primary tumor with NPD incorporating 3.5 MBq of ⁹⁰Y-AuNPs (1 × 10¹⁴ AuNPs) or unlabeled AuNPs, alone or combined with systemically administered anti-PD-L1 antibodies (200 μg i.p. three times/week for 2 weeks) or received anti-PD-L1 antibodies alone or no treatment. The primary tumor was strongly growth-inhibited over 14 d by NPD incorporating ⁹⁰Y-AuNPs but only very modestly inhibited by NPD incorporating unlabeled AuNPs. Anti-PD-L1 antibodies alone were ineffective, and combining anti-PD-L1 antibodies with NPD incorporating ⁹⁰Y-AuNPs did not further inhibit the growth of the primary tumor. Secondary tumor growth was inhibited by treatment of the primary tumor with NPD incorporating ⁹⁰Y-AuNPs, and growth inhibition was enhanced by anti-PD-L1 antibodies. Treatment of the primary tumor with NPD incorporating unlabeled AuNPs or anti-PD-L1 antibodies alone had no effect on secondary tumor growth. Biodistribution studies showed high uptake of ⁹⁰Y in the primary tumor [516-810% implanted dose/g (%ID/g)] but very low uptake in the secondary tumor (0.033-0.16% ID/g) and in normal tissues (<0.5% ID/g) except for kidneys (5-8% ID/g). Very high radiation absorbed doses were estimated for the primary tumor (472 Gy) but very low doses in the secondary tumor (0.13 Gy). There was highdose-heterogeneity in the primary tumor with doses as high as 9964 Gy in close proximity to the NPD, decreasing rapidly with distance from the NPD. Normal organ doses were low (<1 Gy) except for kidneys (4 Gy). No normal tissue toxicity was observed, but white blood cell counts (WBC) decreased in tumor-bearing mice treated with NPD incorporating ⁹⁰Y-AuNPs. Decreased WBC counts were interpreted as tumor response and not toxicity since these were higher than that in healthy non-tumor-bearing mice, and there was a direct association between WBC counts and 4T1 tumor burden. We conclude that implantation of NPD incorporating ⁹⁰Y-AuNPs into a primary 4T1 tumor in Balb/c mice strongly inhibited tumor growth and combined with anti-PD-L1 antibodies induced an abscopal effect on a distant secondary tumor. This radiation nanomedicine is promising for the local treatment of triple-negative breast cancer tumors in patients, and these therapeutic effects may extend to non-irradiated lesions, especially when combined with checkpoint immunotherapy.

Targeted non AR mediated smart delivery of abiraterone to the prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the second-deadliest tumor in men all over the world. Different types of drugs with various delivery systems and pathways were developed, but no one showed prominent results against cancer. Meanwhile, nanoparticles have shown good results against cancer. Therefore, in the given study, citrate mediated synthesized gold nanoparticles (CtGNPs) with immobilized survivin antibodies (SvGNPs) were bioconjugated to the substantially potent drug abiraterone (AbSvGNPs) to develop as a combinatorial therapeutic against prostate cancer. The AbSvGNPs are made up of CtGNPs, survivin antibodies, and abiraterone. The selected drug abiraterone (Abira) possesses exceptionally good activity against prostate cancer, but cancer cells develop resistance against this drug and it also poses several severe side effects. Meanwhile, survivin antibodies were used to deliver AbSvGNPs specifically into cancer cells by considering survivin, an anti-apoptotic overexpressed protein in cancer cells, as a marker. The survivin antibodies have also been used to inhibit cancer cells as an immunotherapeutic agent. Similarly, CtGNPs were discovered to inhibit cancer cell proliferation via several transduction pathways. The given bioconjugated nanoparticles (AbSvGNPs) were found to be substantially effective against prostate cancer with an IC50 of 11.8 and 7.3 μM against DU145 and PC-3 cells, respectively. However, it was found safe against NRK and showed less than 25% cytotoxicity up to 20μM concentration. The as-synthesized nanoparticles CtGNPs, SvGNPs, and AbSvGNPs were characterized by several physical techniques to confirm their synthesis, whereas the immobilization of survivin antibodies and bioconjugation of Abira was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy, DLS, TEM, FTIR, and zeta-potential. The anticancer potential of AbSvGNPs was determined by MTT, DAPI, ROS, MITO, TUNEL ASSAY, and caspase-3 activity against DU145 and PC3 cells.

Biomimetic material degradation for synergistic enhanced therapy by regulating endogenous energy metabolism imaging under hypothermia

Inefficient tumour treatment approaches often cause fatal tumour metastases. Here, we report a biomimetic multifunctional nanoplatform explicitly engineered with a Co-based metal organic framework polydopamine heterostructure (MOF-PDA), anethole trithione (ADT), and a macrophage membrane. Co-MOF degradation in the tumour microenvironment releases Co²⁺, which results in the downregulation of HSP90 expression and the inhibition of cellular heat resistance, thereby improving the photothermal therapy effect of PDA. H₂S secretion after the enzymatic hydrolysis of ADT leads to high-concentration gas therapy. Moreover, ADT changes the balance between nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide/flavin adenine dinucleotide (NADH/FAD) during tumour glycolysis. ATP synthesis is limited by NADH consumption, which triggers a certain degree of tumour growth inhibition and results in starvation therapy. Potentiated 2D/3D autofluorescence imaging of NADH/FAD is also achieved in liquid nitrogen and employed to efficiently monitor tumour therapy. The developed biomimetic nanoplatform provides an approach to treat orthotopic tumours and inhibit metastasis.

Metal organic frameworks (MOF) coated with mammalian cell membranes have good biocompatibility. Here, the authors develop a cobalt based hydrogen sulphide producing MOF cloaked with a macrophage membrane and show that the subsequent system can reduce tumour growth in mice.

Gold Nanoparticles Contact with Cancer Cell: A Brief Update

The fine-tuning of the physicochemical properties of gold nanoparticles has facilitated the rapid development of multifunctional gold-based nanomaterials with diagnostic, therapeutic, and therapeutic applications. Work on gold nanoparticles is increasingly focusing on their cancer application. This review provides a summary of the main biological effects exerted by gold nanoparticles on cancer cells and highlights some critical factors involved in the interaction process (protein corona, tumor microenvironment, surface functionalization). The review also contains a brief discussion of the application of gold nanoparticles in target discovery.

Disabling partners in crime: Gold nanoparticles disrupt multicellular communications within the tumor microenvironment to inhibit ovarian tumor aggressiveness

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in the poor prognosis of many cancers. However, there is a knowledge gap concerning how multicellular communication among the critical players within the TME contributes to such poor outcomes. Using epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) as a model, we show how crosstalk among cancer cells (CC), cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), and endothelial cells (EC) promotes EOC growth. We demonstrate here that co-culturing CC with CAF and EC promotes CC proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and that co-implantation of the three cell types facilitates tumor growth in vivo. We further demonstrate that disruption of this multicellular crosstalk using a gold nanoparticle (GNP) inhibits these pro-tumorigenic phenotypes in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, GNP treatment reduces expression of several tumor-promoting cytokines and growth factors, resulting in inhibition of MAPK and PI3K-AKT activation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition - three key oncogenic signaling pathways responsible for the aggressiveness of EOC. The current work highlights the importance of multicellular crosstalk within the TME and its role for the aggressive nature of EOC, and demonstrates the disruption of these multicellular communications by self-therapeutic GNP, thus providing new avenues to interrogate the crosstalk and identify key perpetrators responsible for poor prognosis of this intractable malignancy.

Chorioallantoic membrane tumor models highlight the effects of cisplatin compounds in oral carcinoma treatment

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) suggests the use of chemotherapy as neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and concomitant to surgery and radiotherapy for the treatment of oral carcinoma by depending on the cancer stage. The usual drug of choice belongs to the platinum compounds. In this context, the evaluation of the cancer behavior associated with the administration of standard or emerging cisplatin compounds supports the establishment of optimal cancer management. Here, we have assessed and compared the performance of cisplatin alone and contained in biodegradable nanocapsules on standardized chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) tumor models. The vascularized environment and optimized grafting procedure allowed the establishment of solid tumors. The treatments showed antitumor and anti-angiogenic activities together with deregulation of pivotal genes responsible of treatment resistance and tumor aggressiveness. This study further supports the significance of CAM tumor models in oncological research for the comprehension of the molecular mechanisms involved in tumor treatment response.

Gold Nanorods Exhibit Intrinsic Therapeutic Activity via Controlling N6-Methyladenosine-Based Epitranscriptomics in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Reprograming the N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) landscape is a promising therapeutic strategy against recalcitrant leukemia. In this study, we synthesized gold nanorods (GNRs) of different aspect ratios using a binary surfactant mixture of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium oleate. Following surface functionalization with chitosan and a 12-mer peptide, GNRa-CSP12 measuring 130 × 21 nm² was selectively taken up by leukemia cells via targeted endocytosis. Low doses of GNRa-CSP12 inhibited the growth of leukemia cells by disrupting the redox balance and inducing ferroptosis. Mechanistically, GNRa-CSP12 abrogated endogenous Fe²⁺-dependent m⁶A demethylase activity, which led to global m⁶A hypomethylation and post-transcriptional regulation of downstream genes that are involved in glycolysis, hypoxia, and immune checkpoint pathways. In addition, combination treatment with GNRa-CSP12 and tyrosine kinases inhibitors (TKIs) synergistically obviated the m⁶A-mediated TKI resistance phenotype. Finally, GNRa-CSP12 as a potential immunotherapeutic agent could enhance immunotherapy outcome in leukemia. Our preclinical findings provide the proof-of-concept for targeting m⁶A-methylation-based epitranscriptomics using nanoparticle as an "epigenetic drug" for cancer therapy.

Targeting cancer cell adhesion molecule, CD146, with low-dose gold nanorods and mild hyperthermia disrupts actin cytoskeleton and cancer cell migration

Cluster of differentiation 146 (CD146), a cancer cell adhesion molecule, is over-expressed on the surfaces of melanoma, breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer cells, and its high expression indicates the migration tendency of these cancer cells and poor patient prognosis. Here, we hypothesize that targeting the CD146 with low-dose gold nanorods combined with mild hyperthermia can stop the migration of these cancer cells. Two metastatic cancer cells including a melanoma and a breast cancer cell line are selected as the model systems. Cell migration assays show that the migration of both cell lines can be completely stopped by the treatment. Atomic force microscopy and super resolution fluorescence microscopy reveal the alterations of actin cytoskeleton and cell morphology correspond to the inhibited cell migration. Further mechanistic analysis indicates the treatment disrupts the actin cytoskeleton by a synergistic mechanism including depleting membrane CD146 and interfering ezrin-radixin-moesin phosphorylation. As a result, we believe targeting CD146 with low-dose gold nanorods and mild hyperthermia could be a versatile, effective, and safe approach for stopping cancer metastasis. More broadly, the concept of targeting cancer cell surface markers that connect the underlying actin cytoskeleton, offers enormous potential in treating cancer metastasis, which accounts for more than 90% of cancer-associated mortality.

The ancillary effects of nanoparticles and their implications for nanomedicine

Nanoparticles are often engineered as a scaffolding system to combine targeting, imaging and/or therapeutic moieties into a unitary agent. However, mostly overlooked, the nanomaterial itself interacts with biological systems exclusive of application-specific particle functionalization. This nanoparticle biointerface has been found to elicit specific biological effects, which we term 'ancillary effects'. In this Review, we describe the current state of knowledge of nanobiology gleaned from existing studies of ancillary effects with the objectives to describe the potential of nanoparticles to modulate biological effects independently of any engineered function; evaluate how these effects might be relevant for nanomedicine design and functional considerations, particularly how they might be useful to inform clinical decision-making; identify potential clinical harm that arises from adverse nanoparticle interactions with biology; and, finally, highlight the current lack of knowledge in this area as both a barrier and an incentive to the further development of nanomedicine.

Alkyl-Terminated Gold Nanoparticles as a Self-Therapeutic Treatment for Psoriasis

We present a self-therapeutic nanoparticle for topical delivery to epidermal keratinocytes to prevent and treat psoriasis. Devoid of known chemical or biological antipsoriatic drugs, this sub-15 nm nanoparticle contains a 3 nm gold core and a shell of 1000 Da polyethylene glycol strands modified with 30% octadecyl chains. When it is applied to imiquimod-induced psoriasis mice without an excipient, the nanoparticle can cross the stratum corneum and preferentially enter keratinocytes. Applying the nanoparticles concurrently with imiquimod prevents psoriasis and downregulates genes that are enriched in the downstream of the interleukin-17 signaling pathway and linked to epidermis hyperproliferation and inflammation. Applying the nanoparticles after psoriasis is established treats the psoriatic skin as effectively as standard steroid and vitamin D analog-based therapy but without hair loss and skin wrinkling. The nanoparticles do not accumulate in major organs or induce long-term toxicity. Our nanoparticle offers a simple, safe, and effective alternative for treating psoriasis.

Rapid and label-free cancer theranostics via in situ bio-self-assembled DNA-gold nanostructures loaded exosomes

Chemically engineered nanomaterials have been extensively used in early tumor detection and cancer therapy. Despite the promise shown, their chemical or exogenous nature hinders their application due to their unknown adverse effects. Herein, using a cancer cell environment, fluorescent DNA-gold nanostructures were bio-self-assembled through simple incubation of DNA and Au solutions with cancer cells. In situ, ex vivo, bio-responsive self-assembly of ring-shaped DNA-Au nanostructures is reported for the first time. Subsequently, the exosomes released by the above-mentioned cancer cells were found to carry the self-assembled DNA-Au nanostructures, exhibiting strong in vivo dual fluorescence properties. Interestingly, these exosomes could be immediately taken up in vitro by their parent cells, reaching the nucleus within 10 min after incubation. Taking advantage of the unique endogenous properties of exosomes, and their advanced cargo delivery capacity, we further exploited the DNA-Au nanostructure loaded exosomes with mitoxantrone for accurate cancer theranostics. The in vitro and in vivo results showed that the exosomes could effectively deliver the drug cargo to cancerous cells, hence, displaying an enhanced targeting effect towards parent cancer cells, and a synergistic tumor inhibition effect, while showing great biocompatibility towards normal cells and vital organs. Hence, exosomes carrying the in situ bio-self-assembled DNA-Au nanostructures could be an outstanding delivery system for dye-free targeted cancer detection and therapy.

N-acetylaspartate release by glutaminolytic ovarian cancer cells sustains protumoral macrophages

Glutaminolysis is known to correlate with ovarian cancer aggressiveness and invasion. However, how this affects the tumor microenvironment is elusive. Here, we show that ovarian cancer cells become addicted to extracellular glutamine when silenced for glutamine synthetase (GS), similar to naturally occurring GS-low, glutaminolysis-high ovarian cancer cells. Glutamine addiction elicits a crosstalk mechanism whereby cancer cells release N-acetylaspartate (NAA) which, through the inhibition of the NMDA receptor, and synergistically with IL-10, enforces GS expression in macrophages. In turn, GS-high macrophages acquire M2-like, tumorigenic features. Supporting this in␣vitro model, in silico data and the analysis of ascitic fluid isolated from ovarian cancer patients prove that an M2-like macrophage phenotype, IL-10 release, and NAA levels positively correlate with disease stage. Our study uncovers the unprecedented role of glutamine metabolism in modulating macrophage polarization in highly invasive ovarian cancer and highlights the anti-inflammatory, protumoral function of NAA.

Low Doses of Silver Nanoparticles Selectively Induce Lipid Peroxidation and Proteotoxic Stress in Mesenchymal Subtypes of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Molecular profiling of tumors shows that triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) can be stratified into mesenchymal (claudin-low breast cancer; CLBC) and epithelial subtypes (basal-like breast cancer; BLBC). Subtypes differ in underlying genetics and in response to therapeutics. Several reports indicate that therapeutic strategies that induce lipid peroxidation or proteotoxicity may be particularly effective for various cancers with a mesenchymal phenotype such as CLBC, for which no specific treatment regimens exist and outcomes are poor. We hypothesized that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can induce proteotoxic stress and cause lipid peroxidation to a greater extent in CLBC than in BLBC. We found that AgNPs were lethal to CLBCs at doses that had little effect on BLBCs and were non-toxic to normal breast epithelial cells. Analysis of mRNA profiles indicated that sensitivity to AgNPs correlated with expression of multiple CLBC-associated genes. There was no correlation between sensitivity to AgNPs and sensitivity to silver cations, uptake of AgNPs, or proliferation rate, indicating that there are other molecular factors driving sensitivity to AgNPs. Mechanistically, we found that the differences in sensitivity of CLBC and BLBC cells to AgNPs were driven by peroxidation of lipids, protein oxidation and aggregation, and subsequent proteotoxic stress and apoptotic signaling, which were induced in AgNP-treated CLBC cells, but not in BLBC cells. This study shows AgNPs are a specific treatment for CLBC and indicates that stratification of TNBC subtypes may lead to improved outcomes for other therapeutics with similar mechanisms of action.

Emerging nanomedicine-based therapeutics for hematogenous metastatic cascade inhibition: Interfering with the crosstalk between "seed and soil"

Despite considerable progresses in cancer treatment, tumor metastasis is still a thorny issue, which leads to majority of cancer-related deaths. In hematogenous metastasis, the concept of “seed and soil” suggests that the crosstalk between cancer cells (seeds) and premetastatic niche (soil) facilitates tumor metastasis. Considerable efforts have been dedicated to inhibit the tumor metastatic cascade, which is a highly complicated process involving various pathways and biological events. Nonetheless, satisfactory therapeutic outcomes are rarely observed, since it is a great challenge to thwart this multi-phase process. Recent advances in nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have shown great potential in the field of anti-metastasis, especially compared with conventional treatment methods, which are limited by serious side effects and poor efficacy. In this review, we summarized various factors involved in each phase of the metastatic cascade ranging from the metastasis initiation to colonization. Then we reviewed current approaches of targeting these factors to stifle the metastatic cascade, including modulating primary tumor microenvironment, targeting circulating tumor cells, regulating premetastatic niche and eliminating established metastasis. Additionally, we highlighted the multi-phase targeted drug delivery systems, which hold a better chance to inhibit metastasis. Besides, we demonstrated the limitation and future perspectives of nanomedicine-based anti-metastasis strategies.

Sono-Biosynthesis and Characterization of AuNPs from Danube Delta Nymphaea alba Root Extracts and Their Biological Properties

Root extracts from Danube Delta Nymphaea alba were used to prepare gold nanoparticles (AuNPRn) by reducing HAuCl4 at different pHs (6.4-8.4) using ultrasonic irradiation: an easy, cheap, eco-friendly and green approach. Their antibacterial and anticancer activities were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and A2780 ovarian cancer cells, respectively. The AuNPRn were characterized concerning their phytoconstituents (polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins) and gold content. All of the nanoparticles were negatively charged. AuNPRn exhibited a hydrodynamic size distribution ranging from 32 nm to 280 nm, with the larger nanoparticles being obtained with an Au/root extract ratio of 0.56, pH 7 and 10 min of sonication (AuNPR1), whereas the smallest were obtained with an Au/root extract ratio of 0.24, pH 7.8 and 40 min of sonication (AuNPR4). The TEM/SEM images showed that the AuNPRn had different shapes. The ATR-FTIR indicated that AuNPRn interact mainly with hydroxyl groups present in the polyphenol compounds, which also confirm their high antioxidant capacity, except for AuNPR2 obtained at pH 6.4. Among the AuNPRn, the smallest ones exhibited enhanced antimicrobial and anticancer activities.