Nanocarriers in topical photodynamic therapy

Advances in nanotechnology for targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts: A review of multi-strategy drug delivery and preclinical insights

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role in the tumor microenvironment by promoting tumor growth, immune evasion, and metastasis. Recently, drug delivery systems targeting CAFs have emerged as a promising long-term and effective approach to cancer treatment. Advances in nanotechnology, in particular, have led to the development of nanomedicine delivery systems designed specifically to target CAFs, offering new possibilities for precise and personalized cancer therapies. This article reviews recent progress in drug delivery using nanocarriers that target CAFs. Additionally, we explore the potential of combining multiple therapies, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, with nanocarriers to enhance efficacy and overcome drug resistance. Although many preclinical studies show promise, the clinical application of nanomedicine still faces considerable challenges, especially in terms of drug penetration and large-scale production. Therefore, this review aims to provide a fresh perspective on CAF-targeted drug delivery systems and highlight potential future research directions and clinical applications.

Near-IR nanolignin sensitizers based on pyrene-conjugated chlorin and bacteriochlorin for ROS generation, DNA intercalation and bioimaging

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent agents are extensively used for biomedical imaging due to their ability for deep tissue penetration. Tetrapyrrole-based photosensitizers are promising candidates in this regard. Further, the extended conjugation of such macromolecules with chromophores can enhance their fluorescence efficiency and DNA intercalation ability. Herein, pyrene-conjugated NIR photosensitizers, such as chlorin (PyChl) and bacteriochlorin (PyBac), were synthesized from the corresponding pyrene-porphyrin (PyP). The correlation between the theoretical and experimental optical properties (absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy results) was determined using the DFT/TD-DFT computational approach. Next, studies on the photophysical properties, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and DNA binding were conducted on these macrocycles to study the effect of pyrene conjugation on the pyrrolic ring. Furthermore, each photosensitizer was loaded into lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) using the solvent-antisolvent method to accomplish fluorescence-guided imaging. The developed near-IR chlorin- and bacteriochlorin-doped lignin nanocarriers (PyChl-LNCs and PyBac-LNCs) exhibited significant in vitro singlet oxygen generation upon red LED light exposure. Moreover, these macrocycle-loaded nanolignin sensitizers showed good fluorescence-guided bioimaging with fungal cells (Candida albicans). Further, the nanoprobes exhibited pH-dependent release profiles for biological applications. These nanolignin sensitizers demonstrated promising potential to be utilized in near-IR image-guided photodynamic therapy.

Management of hypertension addressing hyperuricaemia: introduction of nano-based approaches

Uric acid (UA) levels in blood serum have been associated with hypertension, indicating a potential causal relationship between high serum UA levels and the progression of hypertension. Therefore, the reduction of serum UA level is considered a potential strategy for lowering and mitigating blood pressure. If an individual is at risk of developing or already manifesting elevated blood pressure, this intervention could be an integral part of a comprehensive treatment plan. By addressing hyperuricaemia, practitioners may subsidize the optimization of blood pressure regulation, which illustrates the importance of addressing UA levels as a valuable strategy within the broader context of hypertension management. In this analysis, we outlined the operational principles of effective xanthine oxidase inhibitors for the treatment of hyperuricaemia and hypertension, along with an exploration of the contribution of nanotechnology to this field.

Topical Delivery of Dual Loaded Nano-Transfersomes Mediated Chemo-Photodynamic Therapy against Melanoma via Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis

Melanoma is a malignant skin cancer associated with high mortality rates and drug resistance, posing a significant threat to human health. The combination of chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a promising strategy to enhance antitumor efficacy through synergistic anti-cancer effects. Topical delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and photosensitizers (PS) offers a non-invasive and safe way to treat melanoma. However, the effectiveness of these treatments is often hindered by challenges such as limited skin permeability and instability of the PS. In this study, transfersomes (TFS) were designed to facilitate transdermal delivery of the chemotherapeutic drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and the PS Imperatorin (IMP) for combined chemo-photodynamic therapy for melanoma. The cytotoxic and phototoxic effects of TFS-mediated PDT (TFS-UVA) were investigated in A375 cells and nude mice. The study also demonstrated that TFS-UVA generated intracellular ROS, induced G2/ M phase cell cycle arrest, and promoted cell apoptosis. In conclusion, this study indicated that 5-FU/ IMP-TFS serves as an effective transdermal therapeutic strategy for chemo-PDT in treating melanoma.

Bioactive Properties and In Vitro Digestive Release of Cannabidiol (CBD) from Tailored Composites Based on Carbon Materials

The use of carriers to improve cannabidiol (CBD) bioavailability during digestion is at the forefront of research. The main objective of this research was to evaluate CBD bioactivity and develop CBD composites based on tailored carbon support to improve availability under digestive conditions. The antioxidant capacity of CBD was evaluated using spectrophotometric methods, and anti-proliferative assays were carried out using human colon carcinoma cells (SW480). Twenty-four composites of CBD + carbon supports were developed, and CBD desorption tests were carried out under simulated digestive conditions. The antioxidant capacity of CBD was comparable to and superior to Butylhydrox-ytoluene (BHT), a commercial antioxidant. CBD reflected an IC-50 of 10,000 mg/L against SW480 cancer cells. CBD in biological systems can increase the shelf life of lipid and protein foods by 7 and 470 days, respectively. Finally, acid carbons showed major CBD adsorption related to electrostatic interactions, but basic carbons showed better delivery properties related to electrostatic repulsion. A tailored composite was achieved with a CBD load of 27 mg/g with the capacity to deliver 1.1 mg, 21.8 mg, and 4 mg to the mouth, stomach, and duodenum during 18 h, respectively. This is a pioneering study since the carriers were intelligently developed to improve CBD release.