'Mito-Bomb': a novel mitochondria-targeting nanosystem for ferroptosis-boosted sonodynamic antitumor therapy

Ferroptosis resistance in cancer cells: nanoparticles for combination therapy as a solution

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death (RCD) characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis is currently proposed as one of the most promising means of combating tumor resistance. Nevertheless, the problem of ferroptosis resistance in certain cancer cells has been identified. This review first, investigates the mechanisms of ferroptosis induction in cancer cells. Next, the problem of cancer cell resistance to ferroptosis, as well as the underlying mechanisms is discussed. Recently discovered ferroptosis-suppressing biomarkers have been described. The various types of nanoparticles that can induce ferroptosis are also discussed. Given the ability of nanoparticles to combine multiple agents, this review proposes nanoparticle-based ferroptosis cell death as a viable method of circumventing this resistance. This review suggests combining ferroptosis with other forms of cell death, such as apoptosis, cuproptosis and autophagy. It also suggests combining ferroptosis with immunotherapy.

Nanodrug Delivery Systems for Myasthenia Gravis: Advances and Perspectives

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare chronic autoimmune disease caused by the production of autoantibodies against the postsynaptic membrane receptors present at the neuromuscular junction. This condition is characterized by fatigue and muscle weakness, including diplopia, ptosis, and systemic impairment. Emerging evidence suggests that in addition to immune dysregulation, the pathogenesis of MG may involve mitochondrial damage and ferroptosis. Mitochondria are the primary site of energy production, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated due to mitochondrial dysfunction can induce ferroptosis. Nanomedicines have been extensively employed to treat various disorders due to their modifiability and good biocompatibility, but their application in MG management has been rather limited. Nevertheless, nanodrug delivery systems that carry immunomodulatory agents, anti-oxidants, or ferroptosis inhibitors could be effective for the treatment of MG. Therefore, this review focuses on various nanoplatforms aimed at attenuating immune dysregulation, restoring mitochondrial function, and inhibiting ferroptosis that could potentially serve as promising agents for targeted MG therapy.

Near-Infrared Light-Driven Nanoparticles for Cancer Photoimmunotherapy by Synergizing Immune Cell Death and Epigenetic Regulation

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a class of epigenetic enzymes that are closely related to tumorigenesis and suppress the expression of tumor suppressor genes. Whereas the HDACs inhibitors can release DNA into the cytoplasm and trigger innate immunity. However, the high density of chromatin limits DNA damage and release. In this study, suitable nanosized CycNHOH NPs (150 nm) and CypNHOH NPs (85 nm) efficiently accumulate at the tumor site due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. In addition, robust single-linear oxygen generation and good photothermal conversion efficiency under NIR laser irradiation accelerated the DNA damage process. By effectively initiating immune cell death, CypNHOH NPs activated both innate and adaptive immunity by maturing dendritic cells, infiltrating tumors with natural killer cells, and activating cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which offer a fresh perspective for the development of photo-immunotherapy.

Nanotechnology-enabled sonodynamic therapy against malignant tumors

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is an emerging approach for malignant tumor treatment, offering high precision, deep tissue penetration, and minimal side effects. The rapid advancements in nanotechnology, particularly in cancer treatment, have enhanced the efficacy and targeting specificity of SDT. Combining sonodynamic therapy with nanotechnology offers a promising direction for future cancer treatments. In this review, we first systematically discussed the anti-tumor mechanism of SDT and then summarized the common nanotechnology-related sonosensitizers and their recent applications. Subsequently, nanotechnology-related therapies derived using the SDT mechanism were elaborated. Finally, the role of nanomaterials in SDT combined therapy was also introduced.

Advances in Ferroptosis-Inducing Agents by Targeted Delivery System in Cancer Therapy

Currently, cancer remains one of the most significant threats to human health. Treatment of most cancers remains challenging, despite the implementation of diverse therapies in clinical practice. In recent years, research on the mechanism of ferroptosis has presented novel perspectives for cancer treatment. Ferroptosis is a regulated cell death process caused by lipid peroxidation of membrane unsaturated fatty acids catalyzed by iron ions. The rapid development of bio-nanotechnology has generated considerable interest in exploiting iron-induced cell death as a new therapeutic target against cancer. This article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements at the intersection of iron-induced cell death and bionanotechnology. In this respect, the mechanism of iron-induced cell death and its relation to cancer are summarized. Furthermore, the feasibility of a nano-drug delivery system based on iron-induced cell death for cancer treatment is introduced and analyzed. Secondly, strategies for inducing iron-induced cell death using nanodrug delivery technology are discussed, including promoting Fenton reactions, inhibiting glutathione peroxidase 4, reducing low glutathione levels, and inhibiting system Xc-. Additionally, the article explores the potential of combined treatment strategies involving iron-induced cell death and bionanotechnology. Finally, the application prospects and challenges of iron-induced nanoagents for cancer treatment are discussed.

Mitochondria targeted biomimetic platform for chemo/photodynamic combination therapy against osteosarcoma

Clinical treatment for osteosarcoma (OS) is still lacking effective means, and no significant progress in OS treatment have been made in recent years. Single chemotherapy has serious side effects and can produce drug resistance easily, resulting poor therapeutic effect. As a modern and non-invasive treatment form, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is widely used to treat diverse cancers. Chemotherapy in combination with PDT is a particularly efficient antitumor method that could overcome the defects of monotherapies. Since mitochondria is a key subcellular organelle involved in cell apoptosis regulation, targeting tumor cells mitochondria for drug delivery has become an important entry point for anti-tumor therapy. Herein, we rationally designed a core-shell structured biomimetic nanoplatform, i.e., D@SLNP@OSM-IR780, to achieve tumor homologous targeting and mitochondria targeted drug release for chemotherapy combined with PDT against OS. Upon 808 nm laser irradiation, D@SLNP@OSM-IR780 exhibited excellent photo-cytotoxicity in vitro. The excellent targeting effect of D@SLNP@OSM-IR780 in tumor tissues produced a tumor inhibition rate of 98.9% in vivo. We further indicated that synergistic chemo-photodynamic effect induced by D@SLNP@OSM-IR780 could activate mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway, along with host immune response and potential photothermal effect. On the whole, D@SLNP@OSM-IR780 is revealed to be a promising platform for OS targeted combination therapeutics.

Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic applications of huaier in breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is one of the most common female malignant tumors today and represents a serious health risk for women. Although the survival rate and quality of life of patients with breast cancer are improving with the continuous development of medical technology, metastasis, recurrence, and drug resistance of breast cancer remain a significant problem. Huaier, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) fungus, is a type of Sophora embolism fungus growing on old Sophora stems. The polysaccharides of Trametes robiniophila Murr (PS-T) are the main active ingredient of Huaier. There is increasing evidence that Huaier has great potential in breast cancer treatment, and its anti-cancer mechanism may be related to a variety of biological activities, such as the inhibition of cell proliferation, metastasis, tumor angiogenesis, the promotion of cancer cell death, and regulation of tumor-specific immunity. There is growing evidence that Huaier may be effective in the clinical treatment of breast cancer. This review systematically summarizes the basic and clinical studies on the use of Huaier in the treatment of breast cancer, providing useful information to guide the clinical application of Huaier and future clinical studies.

Enhancing anti-cancer potential by delivering synergistic drug combinations via phenylboronic acid modified PLGA nanoparticles through ferroptosis-based therapy

In this study, we investigated the potential of the sorafenib (SOR) and simvastatin (SIM) combination to induce ferroptosis-mediated cancer therapy. To enhance targeted drug delivery, we encapsulated the SOR + SIM combination within 4-carboxy phenylboronic acid (CPBA) modified PLGA nanoparticles (CPBA-PLGA(SOR + SIM)-NPs). The developed CPBA-PLGA(SOR + SIM)-NPs exhibited a spherical shape with a size of 213.1 ± 10.9 nm, a PDI of 0.22 ± 0.03, and a Z-potential of -22.9 ± 3.2 mV. Notably, these nanoparticles displayed faster drug release at acidic pH compared to physiological pH. In cellular experiments, CPBA-PLGA(SOR + SIM)-NPs demonstrated remarkable improvements, leading to a 2.51, 2.69, and 2.61-fold decrease in IC50 compared to SOR alone, and a 7.50, 16.71, and 5.11-fold decrease in IC50 compared to SIM alone in MDA-MB-231, A549, and HeLa cells, respectively. Furthermore, CPBA-PLGA(SOR + SIM)-NPs triggered a reduction in glutathione (GSH) levels, an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and mitochondrial membrane depolarization in all three cell lines. Pharmacokinetic evaluation revealed a 2.50- and 2.63-fold increase in AUC0-∞, as well as a 1.53- and 2.46-fold increase in mean residence time (MRT) for SOR and SIM, respectively, compared to the free drug groups. Notably, the CPBA-PLGA(SOR + SIM)-NPs group exhibited significant reduction in tumor volume, approximately 9.17, 2.45, and 1.63-fold lower than the control, SOR + SIM, and PLGA(SOR + SIM)-NPs groups, respectively. Histological examination and biomarker analysis showed no significant differences compared to the control group, suggesting the biocompatibility of the developed particles for in-vivo applications. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that CPBA-PLGA(SOR + SIM)-NPs hold tremendous potential as an efficient drug delivery system for inducing ferroptosis, providing a promising therapeutic option for cancer treatment.

Nanomaterials-based precision sonodynamic therapy enhancing immune checkpoint blockade: A promising strategy targeting solid tumor

Burgeoning is an evolution from conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT). Thus, sonodynamic therapy (SDT) regulated by nanoparticles (NPs) possesses multiple advantages, including stronger penetration ability, better biological safety, and not reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent tumor-killing effect. However, the limitation to tumor inhibition instead of shrinkage and the incapability of eliminating metastatic tumors hinder the clinical potential for SDT. Fortunately, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) can revive immunological function and induce a long-term immune memory against tumor rechallenges. Hence, synergizing NPs-based SDT with ICB can provide a promising therapeutic outcome for solid tumors. Herein, we briefly reviewed the progress in NPs-based SDT and ICB therapy. We highlighted the synergistic anti-tumor mechanisms and summarized the representative preclinical trials on SDT-assisted immunotherapy. Compared to other reviews, we provided comprehensive and unique perspectives on the innovative sonosensitizers in each trial. Moreover, we also discussed the current challenges and future corresponding solutions.

Laser-activated nanoparticles for ultrasound/photoacoustic imaging-guided prostate cancer treatment

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor in men. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is overexpressed on the surface of Prostate cancer cells, may serve as a potential therapeutic target. Recently, image-guided and targeted therapy for prostate cancers has attracted much attention by using Prostate-specific membrane antigen targeting nanoparticle. In this study, we produced PSMA-targeted light-responsive nanosystems. These nanosystems of liquid perfluorocarbon cores and polymer shells were loaded with the photosensitizer IR780 and therapeutic drugs paclitaxel. The liquid perfluorocarbon (PFP) in nanoparticles can perform ultrasound-enhanced imaging by liquid-gas transition and promote the deliver and release of paclitaxel. IR780 can perform photothermal therapy (PTT) guided by photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Combination treatment with photothermal therapy and chemotherapy exhibited excellent inhibition of cell proliferation in vitro and a significant therapeutic effect in vivo. In conclusion, we successfully formulated PSMA-targeted nanosystems with precision targeting and ultrasound/PA dual-modality imaging for anti-tumor effects.