Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Systems for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Reproductive Disorders

Over the past decade, nanotechnology has seen extensive integration into biomedical applications, playing a crucial role in biodetection, drug delivery, and diagnostic imaging. This is especially important in reproductive health care, which has become an emerging and significant area of research. Global concerns have intensified around disorders such as infertility, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, erectile dysfunction, benign prostate hyperplasia, sexually transmitted infections, and reproductive cancers. Nanotechnology presents promising solutions to address these concerns by introducing innovative tools and techniques, facilitating early detection, targeted drug delivery, and improved imaging capabilities. Through the utilization of nanoscale materials and devices, researchers can craft treatments that are not only more precise but also more effective, significantly enhancing outcomes in reproductive healthcare. Looking forward, the future of nanotechnology in reproductive medicine holds immense potential for reshaping diagnostics, personalized therapies, and fertility preservation. The utilization of nanotechnology-driven drug delivery systems is anticipated to elevate treatment effectiveness, minimize side effects, and offer patients therapies that are not only more precise but also more efficient. This review aims to delve into the various types, properties, and preparation techniques of nanocarriers specifically designed for drug delivery in the context of reproductive disorders, shedding light on the current landscape and potential future directions in this dynamic field.

Morphological study of chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) normal modeling dose of T2 peptide in mice

OBJECTIVES

However, the pathogenesis and etiology of CP/CPPS are still poorly understood. Therefore, there is a need for further research through the Image J software to develop models capable of imitating the pathogenesis and etiology of CP/CPPS with different doses of the pathogenesis and the etiology of CP/CPPS is still poorly understood. The aim was to determine the area of the prostatic interstitium, the localization of the inflammation, and the impact of different doses on the group model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 30 male ICR mice were randomly grouped into 5 (n = 6): 45 μg group = 6, 60  μg group = 6, 90  μg group = 6, 120  μg group = 6, 120  μg group = 6, control group = 6. With the exception of the control group, all the groups were immunized by injecting 0.2 mL of T2 peptide emulsion and immune adjuvant CFA to induce non-bacterial chronic prostatitis on days 0 and 14 of the mice and finally executed on day 28. All injections were administered subcutaneously. HE staining was used to evaluate changes in prostate pathology. Image J was used to calculate the area of the prostate interstitium, which represents the degree of prostate edema. To compare statistical differences between groups, the ANOVA test was used.

RESULTS

From the perspective of pathological scoring, the 60 μg, 90  μg, and 120  μg groups had the highest scores using Image J to treat inflammatory cells. In addition, in the prostate interstitium area treated, it was found that the 90  μg group attained the largest prostate interstitial area as well as the highest degree of swelling.

CONCLUSIONS

From the results, Image J software is an effective tool in the calculating the surface of the prostatic interstitium and the specific localization of the inflammation.

Immunomodulatory and immunoregulatory nanomedicines for autoimmunity

Autoimmune diseases, caused by cellularly and molecularly complex immune responses against self-antigens, are largely treated with broad-acting, non-disease-specific anti-inflammatory drugs. These compounds can attenuate autoimmune inflammation, but tend to impair normal immunity against infection and cancer, cannot restore normal immune homeostasis and are not curative. Nanoparticle (NP)- and microparticle (MP)-based delivery of immunotherapeutic agents affords a unique opportunity to not only increase the specificity and potency of broad-acting immunomodulators, but also to elicit the formation of organ-specific immunoregulatory cell networks capable of inducing bystander immunoregulation. Here, we review the various NP/MP-based strategies that have so far been tested in models of experimental and/or spontaneous autoimmunity, with a focus on mechanisms of action.

Therapeutic Applications of Functional Nanomaterials for Prostatitis

Prostatitis is a common disease in adult males, with characteristics of a poor treatment response and easy recurrence, which seriously affects the patient's quality of life. The prostate is located deep in the pelvic cavity, and thus a traditional infusion or other treatment methods are unable to easily act directly on the prostate, leading to poor therapeutic effects. Therefore, the development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies has become a research hotspot in the field of prostatitis treatment. In recent years, nanomaterials have been widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of various infectious diseases. Nanotechnology is a promising tool for 1) the accurate diagnosis of diseases; 2) improving the targeting of drug delivery systems; 3) intelligent, controlled drug release; and 4) multimode collaborative treatment, which is expected to be applied in the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis. Nanotechnology is attracting attention in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of prostatitis. However, as a new research area, systematic reviews on the application of nanomaterials in the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis are still lacking. In this mini-review, we will highlight the treatment approaches for and challenges associated with prostatitis and describe the advantages of functional nanoparticles in improving treatment effectiveness and overcoming side effects.

Therapeutic Applications of Functional Nanomaterials for Prostatitis

Prostatitis is a common disease in adult males, with characteristics of a poor treatment response and easy recurrence, which seriously affects the patient’s quality of life. The prostate is located deep in the pelvic cavity, and thus a traditional infusion or other treatment methods are unable to easily act directly on the prostate, leading to poor therapeutic effects. Therefore, the development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies has become a research hotspot in the field of prostatitis treatment. In recent years, nanomaterials have been widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of various infectious diseases. Nanotechnology is a promising tool for 1) the accurate diagnosis of diseases; 2) improving the targeting of drug delivery systems; 3) intelligent, controlled drug release; and 4) multimode collaborative treatment, which is expected to be applied in the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis. Nanotechnology is attracting attention in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of prostatitis. However, as a new research area, systematic reviews on the application of nanomaterials in the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis are still lacking. In this mini-review, we will highlight the treatment approaches for and challenges associated with prostatitis and describe the advantages of functional nanoparticles in improving treatment effectiveness and overcoming side effects.

Experimental autoimmune prostatitis: different antigens induction and antigen-specific therapy

PURPOSE

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) has uncertain etiology and lacks effective treatment. Autoimmunity is an important pathogeny, and experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) models have long been used for studying CP/CPPS. This review presents the detailed current knowledge of EAP models based on evaluation criteria aspects to provide a tool for model selection in pathogenesis studies and therapeutic drug screening.

METHODS

We extensively searched the published literature on CP/CPPS and different antigen-induced EAP models focusing on the histopathology, clinical-related phenotypes, and biochemical indicators. We also cover the changes in the prostate function and other organs in EAP. Finally, we try to get some insights about antigen-based therapeutic approaches for CP/CPPS.

RESULTS

Several inciting autoantigens were reported in EAP, including male accessory gland extracts, prostate extracts (PE), prostatic steroid-binding protein, prostatic spermine-binding protein (p25), prostatic acid phosphatase, seminal vesicle secretory protein 2, and T2 peptide. All of these models mimicked histological prostatitis, however only p25- and T2-induced models developed both pelvic pain and voiding behaviors. PE immunization is the most widely used method. Diminished fertility and mental health disorders can be found in PE model. Oral and intravenous T2 peptide have been studied for antigen-specific therapy and achieved preliminary progress in EAP models.

CONCLUSIONS

PE-induced model is the most commonly used, while T2- or p25-model could serve as a promising CP/CPPS model. Antigen-specific therapy in CP/CPPS deserves further study.

Nanotechnology in reproductive medicine: Opportunities for clinical translation

In recent years, nanotechnology has revolutionized global healthcare and has been predicted to exert a remarkable effect on clinical medicine. In this context, the clinical use of nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis, fertility preservation, and the management of infertility and other pathologies linked to pubertal development, menopause, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) has substantial promise to fill the existing lacunae in reproductive healthcare. Of late, a number of clinical trials involving the use of nanoparticles for the early detection of reproductive tract infections and cancers, targeted drug delivery, and cellular therapeutics have been conducted. However, most of these trials of nanoengineering are still at a nascent stage, and better synergy between pharmaceutics, chemistry, and cutting-edge molecular sciences is needed for effective translation of these interventions from bench to bedside. To bridge the gap between translational outcome and product development, strategic partnerships with the insight and ability to anticipate challenges, as well as an in-depth understanding of the molecular pathways involved, are highly essential. Such amalgamations would overcome the regulatory gauntlet and technical hurdles, thereby facilitating the effective clinical translation of these nano-based tools and technologies. The present review comprehensively focuses on emerging applications of nanotechnology, which holds enormous promise for improved therapeutics and early diagnosis of various human reproductive tract diseases and conditions.

T2 Peptide Represents a Major Autoantigen Epitope in Experimental Autoimmune Prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndromes (CP/CPPS) is a clinical tricky problem due to its enigmatic etiology, low cure rate, and high recurrence rate. The research on its pathogenesis has never stopped. In this experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) model, male C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneously immunized with prostate extracts in an adequate adjuvant. For mice in the antibody intervention group, anti-T2 polyclonal antibodies were intraperitoneally injected during the induction of EAP. Animals were periodically monitored for pelvic pain. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to assess prostate inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in serum were measured by ELISA kits. The immunized animals developed prostatitis as a consequence of the immune response against prostate antigens. Pelvic pain thresholds were gradually decreased and TNF-α expression significantly increased. T2 plays an important role in the disease since polyclonal antibodies to T2 greatly ameliorated symptoms in animals induced for EAP. T2 peptide may represent the major autoantigen epitope in EAP, which could serve for a better understanding of the etiology of CP/CPPS.

MicroRNA-155 deficiency attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress in experimental autoimmune prostatitis in a TLR4-dependent manner

To explore the mechanism of microRNA-155 (miR-155) deficiency, protecting against experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) in a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-dependent manner. After wild-type (WT) and miR-155^-/- mice were injected with complete Freund's adjuvant and prostate antigen to establish EAP model, half were randomly selected for injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, a TLR4 ligand). The following experiments were then performed: von Frey filaments, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). And the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the level of Malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by corresponding kits.miR-155^-/- mice with prostatitis exhibited the attenuated pelvic tactile allodynia/hyperalgesia and the suppressed TLR4/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway as compared with the WT mice with prostatitis. In addition, LPS enhanced the upregulation of miR-155 and the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in the prostatic tissues of WT mice with EAP. Furthermore, prostatitis mice had aggravated inflammation scores accompanying the increased interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, interferon-γ, IL-12, and MDA in prostatic tissues with the decreased IL-10, SOD and GSH-Px, and the unaltered IL-4. Compared with the mice from the WT + EAP group and the miR-155^-/- + EAP + LPS group, mice from the miR-155^-/- + EAP group had decreased inflammation and oxidative stress. miR-155 deficiency ameliorated pelvic tactile allodynia/hyperalgesia in EAP mice and improved inflammation and oxidative stress in prostatic tissues in a TLR4-dependent manner involving NF-κB activation, thereby exerting a therapeutic effect in chronic prostatitis treatment.

Interventions to chronic prostatitis/Chronic pelvic pain syndrome treatment. Where are we standing and what's next?

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a frustrating syndrome. The pathogenesis and state of the art treatment of CP/CPPS are not known. A wide variety of therapies including anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, alpha-blockers, neuropathic pain modulators, and 5α-reductase inhibitors are in practice. These treatment strategies focus on alleviating symptoms in specific domains without treating root-cause and therapeutic outcome is far from satisfactory. We review the literature on current pharmacological treatments for CP/CPPS in detail and suggest future perspectives to modify the treatment strategies. We suggest that introducing novel treatment strategies such as gene editing, and T_regs expressing chimeric receptors may improve the treatment outcomes by inducing immune tolerance and controlling expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.