Hyaluronan-CD44 interactions as potential targets for cancer therapy

Nitric Oxide-Releasing Topical Treatments for Cutaneous Melanoma

Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer notorious for high levels of drug resistance. Additionally, current treatments such as immunotherapies are often associated with numerous adverse side effects. The use of nitric oxide (NO) may represent an attractive treatment for melanoma due to NO's various anticancer properties, unlikeliness to foster resistance, and limited toxicity toward healthy tissues. The anticancer effects of chemical NO donors have been explored previously but with limited understanding of the needed characteristics for exerting optimal antimelanoma activity. Herein, the in vitro therapeutic efficacy of three macromolecular NO donor systems (i.e., cyclodextrin, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and hyaluronic acid) with tunable NO-release kinetics was explored by evaluating skin permeation along with toxicity against melanoma and healthy skin cells. Cytotoxicity against melanoma cells was dependent on NO payload and not donor identity or NO-release kinetics. In contrast, cytotoxicity against healthy cells was primarily influenced by the macromolecular NO donor, with cyclodextrin- and hyaluronic acid-based NO donors having the highest therapeutic indices. In vitro skin permeation was influenced by both the size and charge of the NO donor, with smaller, more neutral donors resulting in greater permeation. A Pluronic F127 organogel was optimized for the delivery of a cyclodextrin-based NO donor. Delivery of the NO donor in this manner resulted in increased in vitro skin permeation and reduced tumor growth in an in vivo model.

Naked mole-rat TMEM2 lacks physiological hyaluronan-degrading activity

Mouse transmembrane protein 2 (mTMEM2) has been identified as a hyaluronidase, which has extracellularly G8 and GG domains and PbH1 repeats; however, our previously study showed that human TMEM2 (hTMEM2) is not a catalytic hyaluronidase due to the absence of the critical amino acid residues (His248/Ala303) in the GG domain. Naked mole-rats (NMRs) accumulate abundant high-molecular weight hyaluronan (HA) in their tissues, suggesting decreased HA degradation. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the HA-degrading activity of NMR TMEM2 (nmrTMEM2) and compare it with those of mTMEM2 and hTMEM2. The amino acid residues of nmrTMEM2 (Asn247/Val302) are similar to Asn248/Phe303 of hTMEM2, and nmrTMEM2-expressing HEK293T cells showed negligible activity. We confirmed the significance of these amino acid residues using an inactive chimeric TMEM2 with the human GG domain, which acquired catalytic activity when Asn248/Phe303 was substituted with His248/Ala303. Semi-quantitative comparison of the activities of the membrane-fractions derived from m/h/nmrTMEM2-expressing HEK293T cells revealed that at least 20- and 14-fold higher amounts of nmr/hTMEM2 were required to degrade HA to the same extent as by mTMEM2. Thus, unlike mTMEM2, nmrTMEM2 is not a physiological hyaluronidase. The inability of nmrTMEM2 to degrade HA might partially account for the high-molecular-weight HA accumulation in NMR tissues.

Chitosan- and hyaluronic acid-based nanoarchitectures in phototherapy: Combination cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy

Cancer phototherapy has been introduced as a new potential modality for tumor suppression. However, the efficacy of phototherapy has been limited due to a lack of targeted delivery of photosensitizers. Therefore, the application of biocompatible and multifunctional nanoparticles in phototherapy is appreciated. Chitosan (CS) as a cationic polymer and hyaluronic acid (HA) as a CD44-targeting agent are two widely utilized polymers in nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization. The current review focuses on the application of HA and CS nanostructures in cancer phototherapy. These nanocarriers can be used in phototherapy to induce hyperthermia and singlet oxygen generation for tumor ablation. CS and HA can be used for the synthesis of nanostructures, or they can functionalize other kinds of nanostructures used for phototherapy, such as gold nanorods. The HA and CS nanostructures can combine chemotherapy or immunotherapy with phototherapy to augment tumor suppression. Moreover, the CS nanostructures can be functionalized with HA for specific cancer phototherapy. The CS and HA nanostructures promote the cellular uptake of genes and photosensitizers to facilitate gene therapy and phototherapy. Such nanostructures specifically stimulate phototherapy at the tumor site, with particle toxic impacts on normal cells. Moreover, CS and HA nanostructures demonstrate high biocompatibility for further clinical applications.

Hyaluronic Acid-Coated Silica Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of Nitric Oxide to Cancer Cells

Drug resistance and off-target toxicity are two of the greatest challenges to chemotherapeutic melanoma treatments. Nitric oxide (NO) represents an attractive alternative to conventional therapeutics due to its numerous anticancer properties and low probability of engendering resistance. As NO is highly reactive, macromolecular NO donors are needed for the controlled and targeted delivery of NO for therapeutic applications. Herein, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) coated with hyaluronic acid (HA) were developed as a NO delivery system to facilitate controlled delivery to cancer cells through both passive and active targeting via the enhanced permeation and retention effect and directed binding of HA with CD44 receptors, respectively. The aminosilane modification, HA concentration, and HA molecular weight were systematically evaluated to facilitate the MSN coating and NO loading. The hydrodynamic diameter and dispersity of the nanoparticles increased after HA coating due to the hydrophilic nature of HA, with greater increases observed at higher HA molecular weight. Lower starting concentrations of HA and aminosilanes with longer alkyl chains favored more efficient HA coating. Faster NO-release kinetics and lower NO payloads were observed for the HA-coated MSNs relative to uncoated MSNs. However, the localized delivery of NO to cancer cells through the active targeting conferred by HA increased levels of oxidative stress and induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in melanoma cells. Cytotoxicity was also evaluated against human dermal fibroblasts, with the use of 6 kDa HA-coated MSNs resulting in the greatest therapeutic indices. Enhanced internalization of HA-coated nanoparticles into melanoma cells versus uncoated nanoparticles was visualized with confocal microscopy and quantified by fluorescence spectroscopy. In total, HA-coated MSNs represent a promising NO delivery system for potential use as a chemotherapeutic for skin melanomas.

Hyaluronic acid as a pulpotomy material in primary molars: an up to 30 months retrospective study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the long-term clinical and radiographic success of our previous randomized clinical trial and to compare the success of hyaluronic acid, with the widely used formocresol and ferric sulphate agents.

METHODS

This retrospective study is the extension of the 1-year survey of our randomized clinical trial that had compared the effectiveness of a hyaluronic acid pulpotomy over formocresol and ferric sulphate pulpotomies and included clinical and radiographic evaluations with a follow-up period of over 24 months for 44 children who applied to our clinic between May 2019 and September 2019. Long-term clinical and radiographic data were obtained from the periodic files of our department, wherein each tooth's file was examined to identify any clinical and radiographic findings. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square tests were used to evaluate the data. Statistical significance was considered as p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The clinical and radiographic success rates of the hyaluronic acid, formocresol, and ferric sulphate groups were not statistically different at > 24 months. None of the teeth in the hyaluronic acid group showed any clinical findings at > 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyaluronic acid pulpotomies exhibited comparable success rates to formocresol and ferric sulphate materials spanning over 24 months examinations. Because of convenient accessibility and applicability of hyaluronic acid, it may be recommended as a promising alternative medicament for pulpotomy treatments of primary molars. However, further long-term follow-up human studies are needed to better understand the effect of hyaluronic acid on the dental pulp of human primary molars.

Chondroitin Sulfate-Based Nanocapsules as Nanocarriers for Drugs and Nutraceutical Supplements

Oil-core nanocapsules (NCs, also known as nanoemulsions) are of great interest due to their application as efficient carriers of various lipophilic bioactives, such as drugs. Here, we reported for the first time the preparation and characterization of NCs consisting of chondroitin sulfate (CS)-based shells and liquid oil cores. For this purpose, two amphiphilic CS derivatives (AmCSs) were obtained by grafting the polysaccharide chain with octadecyl or oleyl groups. AmCS-based NCs were prepared by an ultrasound-assisted emulsification of an oil phase consisting of a mixture of triglyceride oil and vitamin E in a dispersion of AmCSs. Dynamic light scattering and cryo-transmission electron microscopy showed that the as-prepared core-shell NCs have typical diameters in the range of 30-250 nm and spherical morphology. Since CS is a strong polyanion, these particles have a very low surface potential, which promotes their stabilization. The cytotoxicity of the CS derivatives and CS-based NCs and their impact on cell proliferation were analyzed using human keratinocytes (HaCaTs) and primary human skin fibroblasts (HSFs). In vitro studies showed that AmCSs dispersed in an aqueous medium, exhibiting mild cytotoxicity against HaCaTs, while for HSFs, the harmful effect was observed only for the CS derivative with octadecyl side groups. However, the nanocapsules coated with AmCSs, especially those filled with vitamin E, show high biocompatibility with human skin cells. Due to their stability under physiological conditions, the high encapsulation efficiency of their hydrophobic compounds, and biocompatibility, AmCS-based NCs are promising carriers for the topical delivery of lipophilic bioactive compounds.

Nicotinamide promotes the differentiation of functional corneal endothelial cells from human embryonic stem cells

Corneal transplantation represents the primary therapeutic approach for managing corneal endothelial dysfunction, but corneal donors remain scarce. Anterior chamber cell injection emerges as a highly promising alternative strategy for corneal transplantation, with pluripotent stem cells (PSC) demonstrating considerable potential as an optimal cell source. Nevertheless, only a few studies have explored the differentiation of functional corneal endothelial-like cells originating from PSC. In this investigation, a chemical-defined protocol was successfully developed for the differentiation of functional corneal endothelial-like cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC). The application of nicotinamide (NAM) exhibited a remarkable capability in suppressing the fibrotic phenotype, leading to the generation of more homogeneous and well-distinctive differentiated cells. Furthermore, NAM effectively suppressed the expression of genes implicated in endothelial cell migration and extracellular matrix synthesis. Notably, NAM also facilitated the upregulation of surface marker genes specific to functional corneal endothelial cells (CEC), including CD26 (-) CD44 (-∼+-) CD105 (-) CD133 (-) CD166 (+) CD200 (-). Moreover, in vitro functional assays were performed, revealing intact barrier properties and Na+/K+-ATP pump functionality in the differentiated cells treated with NAM. Consequently, our findings provide robust evidence supporting the capacity of NAM to enhance the differentiation of functional CEC originating from hESC, offering potential seed cells for therapeutic interventions of corneal endothelial dysfunction.

CD44: A New Prognostic Marker in Colorectal Cancer?

Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a non-kinase cell surface glycoprotein. It is overexpressed in several cell types, including cancer stem cells (CSCs). Cells overexpressing CD44 exhibit several CSC traits, such as self-renewal, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) capability, and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. The role of CD44 in maintaining stemness and the CSC function in tumor progression is accomplished by binding to its main ligand, hyaluronan (HA). The HA-CD44 complex activates several signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion. The CD44 gene regularly undergoes alternative splicing, resulting in the standard (CD44s) and variant (CD44v) isoforms. The different functional roles of CD44s and specific CD44v isoforms still need to be fully understood. The clinicopathological impact of CD44 and its isoforms in promoting tumorigenesis suggests that CD44 could be a molecular target for cancer therapy. Furthermore, the recent association observed between CD44 and KRAS-dependent carcinomas and the potential correlations between CD44 and tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) open new research scenarios for developing new strategies in cancer treatment. This review summarises current research regarding the different CD44 isoform structures, their roles, and functions in supporting tumorigenesis and discusses its therapeutic implications.

A paclitaxel-hyaluronan conjugate (ONCOFID-P-B™) in patients with BCG-unresponsive carcinoma in situ of the bladder: a dynamic assessment of the tumor microenvironment

BACKGROUND

The intravesical instillation of the paclitaxel-hyaluronan conjugate ONCOFID-P-B™ in patients with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive bladder carcinoma in situ (CIS; NCT04798703 phase I study), induced 75 and 40% of complete response (CR) after 12 weeks of intensive phase and 12 months of maintenance phase, respectively. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed description of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of ONCOFID-P-B™-treated BCG-unresponsive bladder CIS patients enrolled in the NCT04798703 phase I study, in order to identify predictive biomarkers of response.

METHODS

The composition and spatial interactions of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and the expression of the most relevant hyaluronic acid (HA) receptors on cancer cells, were analyzed in biopsies from the 20 patients enrolled in the NCT04798703 phase I study collected before starting ONCOFID-P-B™ therapy (baseline), and after the intensive and the maintenance phases. Clinical data were correlated with cell densities, cell distribution and cell interactions. Associations between immune populations or HA receptors expression and outcome were analyzed using univariate Cox regression and log-rank analysis.

RESULTS

In baseline biopsies, patients achieving CR after the intensive phase had a lower density of intra-tumoral CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), but also fewer interactions between CTL and macrophages or T-regulatory cells, as compared to non-responders (NR). NR expressed higher levels of the HA receptors CD44v6, ICAM-1 and RHAMM. The intra-tumoral macrophage density was positively correlated with the expression of the pro-metastatic and aggressive variant CD44v6, and the combined score of intra-tumoral macrophage density and CD44v6 expression had an AUC of 0.85 (95% CI 0.68-1.00) for patient response prediction.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical response to ONCOFID-P-B™ in bladder CIS likely relies on several components of the TME, and the combined evaluation of intra-tumoral macrophages density and CD44v6 expression is a potentially new predictive biomarker for patient response. Overall, our data allow to advance a potential rationale for combinatorial treatments targeting the immune infiltrate such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, to make bladder CIS more responsive to ONCOFID-P-B™ treatment.

Tailoring tumor-recognizable hyaluronic acid-lipid conjugates to enhance anticancer efficacies of surface-engineered natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells have clinical advantages in adoptive cell therapy owing to their inherent anticancer efficacy and their ability to identify and eliminate malignant tumors. However, insufficient cancer-targeting ligands on NK cell surfaces often inhibit their immunotherapeutic performance, especially in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To facilitate tumor recognition and subsequent anticancer function of NK cells, we developed hyaluronic acid (HA, ligands to target CD44 overexpressed onto cancer cells)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, cytoplasmic penetration blocker)-Lipid (molecular anchor for NK cell membrane decoration through hydrophobic interaction) conjugates for biomaterial-mediated ex vivo NK cell surface engineering. Among these major compartments (i.e., Lipid, PEG and HA), optimization of lipid anchors (in terms of chemical structure and intrinsic amphiphilicity) is the most important design parameter to modulate hydrophobic interaction with dynamic NK cell membranes. Here, three different lipid types including 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphati-dylethanolamine (C14:0), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE, C18:0), and cholesterol were evaluated to maximize membrane coating efficacy and associated anticancer performance of surface-engineered NK cells (HALipid-NK cells). Our results demonstrated that NK cells coated with HA-PEG-DSPE conjugates exhibited significantly enhanced anticancer efficacies toward MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells without an off-target effect on human fibroblasts specifically via increased NK cell membrane coating efficacy and prolonged surface duration of HA onto NK cell surfaces, thereby improving HA-CD44 recognition. These results suggest that our HALipid-NK cells with tumor-recognizable HA-PEG-DSPE conjugates could be further utilized in various cancer immunotherapies.

The role of hyaluronic acid in the design and functionalization of nanoparticles for the treatment of colorectal cancer

Despite advances in new approaches for colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy, intravenous chemotherapy remains one of the main treatment options; however, it has limitations associated with off-target toxicity, tumor cell resistance due to molecular complexity and CRC heterogeneity, which lead to tumor recurrence and metastasis. In oncology, nanoparticle-based strategies have been designed to avoid systemic toxicity and increase drug accumulation at tumor sites. Hyaluronic acid (HA) has obtained significant attention thanks to its ability to target nanoparticles (NPs) to CRC cells through binding to cluster-determinant-44 (CD44) and hyaluronan-mediated motility (RHAMM) receptors, along with its efficient biological properties of mucoadhesion. This review proposes to discuss the state of the art in HA-based nanoparticulate systems intended for localized treatment of CRC, highlighting the importance of the mucoadhesion and active targeting provided by this polymer. In addition, an overview of CRC will be provided, emphasizing the importance of CD44 and RHAMM receptors in this type of cancer and the current challenges related to this disease, and important concepts about the physicochemical and biological properties of HA will also be addressed. Finally, this review aims to contribute to the advancement of accuracy treatment of CRC by the design of new platforms based on by HA.

The Hyaluronan/CD44 Axis: A Double-Edged Sword in Cancer

Hyaluronic acid (HA) receptor CD44 is widely used for identifying cancer stem cells and its activation promotes stemness. Recent evidence shows that overexpression of CD44 is associated with poor prognosis in most human cancers and mediates therapy resistance. For these reasons, in recent years, CD44 has become a treatment target in precision oncology, often via HA-conjugated antineoplastic drugs. Importantly, HA molecules of different sizes have a dual effect and, therefore, may enhance or attenuate the CD44-mediated signaling pathways, as they compete with endogenous HA for binding to the receptors. The magnitude of these effects could be crucial for cancer progression, as well as for driving the inflammatory response in the tumor microenvironment. The increasingly common use of HA-conjugated drugs in oncology, as well as HA-based compounds as adjuvants in cancer treatment, adds further complexity to the understanding of the net effect of hyaluronan-CD44 activation in cancers. In this review, I focus on the significance of CD44 in malignancy and discuss the dichotomous function of the hyaluronan/CD44 axis in cancer progression.

Glucose oxidase and metal catalysts combined tumor synergistic therapy: mechanism, advance and nanodelivery system

Cancer has always posed a significant threat to human health, prompting extensive research into new treatment strategies due to the limitations of traditional therapies. Starvation therapy (ST) has garnered considerable attention by targeting the primary energy source, glucose, utilized by cancer cells for proliferation. Glucose oxidase (GOx), a catalyst facilitating glucose consumption, has emerged as a critical therapeutic agent for ST. However, mono ST alone struggles to completely suppress tumor growth, necessitating the development of synergistic therapy approaches. Metal catalysts possess enzyme-like functions and can serve as carriers, capable of combining with GOx to achieve diverse tumor treatments. However, ensuring enzyme activity preservation in normal tissue and activation specifically within tumors presents a crucial challenge. Nanodelivery systems offer the potential to enhance therapy effectiveness by improving the stability of therapeutic agents and enabling controlled release. This review primarily focuses on recent advances in the mechanism of GOx combined with metal catalysts for synergistic tumor therapy. Furthermore, it discusses various nanoparticles (NPs) constructs designed for synergistic therapy in different carrier categories. Finally, this review provides a summary of GOx-metal catalyst-based NPs (G-M) and offers insights into the challenges associated with G-M therapy, delivery design, and oxygen (O2) supply.

Exploring stage‑specific embryonic antigen 3 involvement in oral cancer progression and as a potential target for taxane‑based chemotherapy

Despite significant advancements in therapeutic approaches, oral neoplasms remain formidable and life‑threatening conditions that affect a substantial number of individuals worldwide. Within oral malignancies, a subset of cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a crucial population responsible for tumor initiation and progression. The identification of reliable markers for the detection and characterization of CSCs in solid tumors, particularly in the context of oral cancers, remains an ongoing challenge. Stage‑specific embryonic antigen 3 (SSEA3), previously associated with mesenchymal stem cells and linked to the progression of breast neoplasms and poor prognosis, has yet to be comprehensively elucidated in the context of oral malignancies. The present study aimed to investigate the expression and properties of SSEA3 in 16 distinct subsets of human oral neoplastic cell lines, classified as either CD44 positive (+) or CD44 negative (‑). For the first time, SSEA3 was examined as an indicator of tumorigenicity and resistance to taxane‑derived chemotherapeutic agents. In the majority of oral neoplastic cell lines analyzed, SSEA3 was expressed in a small population of CD44(+) cells. Significantly, SSEA3(+) cells exhibited heightened proliferative activity and upregulated expression of genes associated with stem cells compared with SSEA3(‑) cells. The aforementioned findings suggested that SSEA3 may contribute to the evolution and progression of oral malignancies by fostering tumor growth. Furthermore, SSEA3(+) cells displayed increased sensitivity to taxane‑based pharmaceuticals, indicating the potential for SSEA3 to be a viable target in the treatment schema for oral cavity neoplasms. In conclusion, the present study provides novel insight into the role of SSEA3 in the progression and management of oral neoplasms, potentially paving the way for more effective therapeutic approaches.

Molecular insight of phytocompounds from Indian spices and its hyaluronic acid conjugates to block SARS-CoV-2 viral entry

Human corona viral infection leads to acute breathing disease and death if not diagnosed and treated properly in time. The disease can be treated with the help of simple natural compounds, which we use in day-to-day life. These natural compounds act against several diseases but their drug targeting mechanism needs to be improved for more efficient and promising applications. In the present study five compounds (gingerol, thymol, thymohydroquinone, cyclocurcumin, hydrazinocurcumin) from three Indian medicinal plants (ginger, black cumin, turmeric) and its hyaluronic acid (HA) conjugates were docked against initially deposited spike structural proteins (PDB ID 6WPT) and its mutant variant D-614G (PDB ID 6XS6). Docking study result reveals that all the HA conjugates showed the most effective inhibitor of S-protein of initially deposited and D-614G variant forms of SARS-CoV-2. The compounds like Gingerol, Thymol, Thymohydroquinone, Cyclocurcumin, Hydrazinocurcumin, Hydroxychloroquinone, and hyaluronic acid conjugates inhibit the viral protein of both wild-type and mutated S-protein of SARS-CoV-2. The molecular docking studies of phytocompounds with initial deposited and variant spike protein targets show superior binding affinity than with the commercial repurposed viral entry inhibitor hydroxychloroquine. Further, the docking result was modeled using MD simulation study shows excellent simulation trajectories between spike proteins and HA conjugates spices constituents than its free form. DFT analysis was carried out to affirm the reason behind the highest binding affinity of HA conjugates over its free form towards SARS-CoV-2 spike protein targets. Further HA conjugates synthesis and its evaluation against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro studies are needed to prove our novel idea for an anti-viral drug.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Hyaluronic acid-modified yeast β-glucan particles delivering doxorubicin for treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most threatening cancers that poses a great risk to women's health. The anti-tumor drug doxorubicin (DOX) is one of commonly used drugs in the treatment of breast cancer. However, the cytotoxicity of DOX has always been an urgent challenge to be solved. In this study, we report an alternative drug delivery system delivering DOX for reducing its physiological toxicity by using the yeast β-glucan particle (YGP) with a hollow and porous vesicle structure. Briefly, amino groups were grafted onto the surface of YGP with the silane coupling agent, then the oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA) was attached by Schiff base reaction to get HA-modified YGP (YGP@N=C-HA), finally DOX was encapsulated into YGP@N=C-HA to get DOX-loaded YGP@N=C-HA (YGP@N=C-HA/DOX). In vitro release experiments exhibited the pH-responsive DOX release from YGP@N=C-HA/DOX. Cell experiments displayed that YGP@N=C-HA/DOX had good killing effect on both MCF-7 and 4T1 cells and could be internalized into these cells through CD44 receptors, showing targetability to cancer cells. Furthermore, YGP@N=C-HA/DOX could effectively inhibit tumor growth and reduce the physiological toxicity of DOX. Thus, the YGP-based vesicle provides an alternative strategy for lowering the physiological toxicity of DOX in the medical treatment of breast cancer.

CD44 Modulates Cell Migration and Invasion in Ewing Sarcoma Cells

The chimeric EWSR1::FLI1 transcription factor is the main oncogenic event in Ewing sarcoma. Recently, it has been proposed that EWSR1::FLI1 levels can fluctuate in Ewing sarcoma cells, giving rise to two cell populations. EWSR1::FLI1^low cells present a migratory and invasive phenotype, while EWSR1::FLI1^high cells are more proliferative. In this work, we described how the CD44 standard isoform (CD44s), a transmembrane protein involved in cell adhesion and migration, is overexpressed in the EWSR1::FLI1^low phenotype. The functional characterization of CD44s (proliferation, clonogenicity, migration, and invasion ability) was performed in three doxycycline-inducible Ewing sarcoma cell models (A673, MHH-ES1, and CADO-ES1). As a result, CD44s expression reduced cell proliferation in all the cell lines tested without affecting clonogenicity. Additionally, CD44s increased cell migration in A673 and MHH-ES1, without effects in CADO-ES1. As hyaluronan is the main ligand of CD44s, its effect on migration ability was also assessed, showing that high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMW-HA) blocked cell migration while low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMW-HA) increased it. Invasion ability was correlated with CD44 expression in A673 and MHH-ES1 cell lines. CD44s, upregulated upon EWSR1::FLI1 knockdown, regulates cell migration and invasion in Ewing sarcoma cells.

MET Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition Reduces Interferon-Gamma (IFN-γ)-Stimulated PD-L1 Expression through the STAT3 Pathway in Melanoma Cells

Melanoma is the leading cause of death from cutaneous malignancy. While targeted therapy and immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors have significantly decreased the mortality rate of this disease, advanced melanoma remains a therapeutic challenge. Here, we confirmed that interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-induced PD-L1 expression in melanoma cell lines. This increased expression was down-regulated by the reduction in phosphorylated STAT3 signaling via MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy analysis reveals MET and PD-L1 protein-protein interaction and colocalization on the cell surface membrane of melanoma cells. Together, these findings demonstrate that the IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 expression in melanoma cells is negatively regulated by MET inhibition through the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway and establish the colocalization and interaction between an RTK and a checkpoint protein in melanoma cells.

N-aryltetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives as HA-CD44 interaction inhibitors: Design, synthesis, computational studies, and antitumor effect

Hyaluronic acid (HA) plays a crucial role in tumor growth and invasion through its interaction with cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), a non-kinase transmembrane glycoprotein, among other hyaladherins. CD44 expression is elevated in many solid tumors, and its interaction with HA is associated with cancer and angiogenesis. Despite efforts to inhibit HA-CD44 interaction, there has been limited progress in the development of small molecule inhibitors. As a contribution to this endeavour, we designed and synthesized a series of N-aryltetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives based on existing crystallographic data available for CD44 and HA. Hit 2e was identified within these structures for its antiproliferative effect against two CD44⁺ cancer cell lines, and two new analogs (5 and 6) were then synthesized and evaluated as CD44-HA inhibitors by applying computational and cell-based CD44 binding studies. Compound 2-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-5-ol (5) has an EC₅₀ value of 0.59 μM against MDA-MB-231 cells and is effective to disrupt the integrity of cancer spheroids and reduce the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest lead 5 as a promising candidate for further investigation in cancer treatment.

Recent advances on natural depsidones: sources, biosynthesis, structure-activity relationship, and bioactivities

Depsidones are a class of polyphenolic polyketides that have been proposed to be biosynthesized from oxidative coupling of esters of two polyketidic benzoic acid derivatives. They are principally encountered in fungi and lichens. In addition to their diversified structural features, they revealed varied bioactivities such as antimicrobial, antimalarial, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-Helicobacter pylori, antimycobacterial, antihypertensive, anti-diarrheal, antidiabetic, phytotoxic, anti-HIV, anti-osteoclastogenic, and butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. The current work was targeted to provide an overview on the naturally reported depsidones from various sources in the period from 2018 to the end of 2022 including their structures, biosynthesis, sources, and bioactivities, as well as the reported structure-activity relationship and semisynthetic derivatives. A total of 172 metabolites with 87 references were reviewed. The reported findings unambiguously demonstrated that these derivatives could be promising leads for therapeutic agents. However, further in-vivo evaluation of their potential biological properties and mechanistic investigations are needed.

Sex-Dependent Impairment of Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation in Aorta of Mice with Overexpression of Hyaluronan in Tunica Media

Diabetic macroangiopathy is characterized by increased extracellular matrix deposition, including excessive hyaluronan accumulation, vessel thickening and stiffness, and endothelial dysfunction in large arteries. We hypothesized that the overexpression of hyaluronan in the tunica media also led to endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction. To address this hypothesis, we investigated the following in the aortas of mice with excessive hyaluronan accumulation in the tunica media (HAS-2) and wild-type mice: EC dysfunction via myograph studies, nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability via diaminofluorescence, superoxide formation via dihydroethidium fluorescence, and the distances between ECs via stereological methods. EC dysfunction, characterized by blunted relaxations in response to acetylcholine and decreased NO bioavailability, was found in the aortas of male HAS-2 mice, while it was unaltered in the aortas of female HAS-2 mice. Superoxide levels increased and extracellular superoxide dismutase (ecSOD) expression decreased in the aortas of male and female HAS-2 mice. The EC-EC distances and LDL receptor expression were markedly increased in the HAS-2 aortas of male mice. Our findings suggest hyaluronan increases oxidative stress in the vascular wall and that together with increased EC distance, it is associated with a sex-specific decrease in NO levels and endothelial dysfunction in the aorta of male HAS-2 transgenic mice.

CD44 in Bone Metastasis Development: A Key Player in the Fate Decisions of the Invading Cells?

A participant in key developmental processes, the adhesion glycoprotein CD44 is also expressed in several types of malignancies and can promote metastasis. In addition, the expression of CD44 isoforms in different types of cancer such as prostate and breast cancers may facilitate bone metastases by enhancing tumorigenicity, osteomimicry, cell migration, homing to bone, and anchorage within the bone specialized domains. Moreover, there is evidence that the CD44-ICD fragments in breast cancer cells may promote the cells' osteolytic nature. Yet the mechanisms by which CD44 and its downstream effectors promote the establishment of these cells within the bone are not fully elucidated. In this review, we summarize the current data on the roles played by CD44 in cancer progression and bone metastasis and the possible effects of its interaction with the different components of the bone marrow milieu.

The Extracellular Matrix: Its Composition, Function, Remodeling, and Role in Tumorigenesis

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a ubiquitous member of the body and is key to the maintenance of tissue and organ integrity. Initially thought to be a bystander in many cellular processes, the extracellular matrix has been shown to have diverse components that regulate and activate many cellular processes and ultimately influence cell phenotype. Importantly, the ECM's composition, architecture, and stiffness/elasticity influence cellular phenotypes. Under normal conditions and during development, the synthesized ECM constantly undergoes degradation and remodeling processes via the action of matrix proteases that maintain tissue homeostasis. In many pathological conditions including fibrosis and cancer, ECM synthesis, remodeling, and degradation is dysregulated, causing its integrity to be altered. Both physical and chemical cues from the ECM are sensed via receptors including integrins and play key roles in driving cellular proliferation and differentiation and in the progression of various diseases such as cancers. Advances in 'omics' technologies have seen an increase in studies focusing on bidirectional cell-matrix interactions, and here, we highlight the emerging knowledge on the role played by the ECM during normal development and in pathological conditions. This review summarizes current ECM-targeted therapies that can modify ECM tumors to overcome drug resistance and better cancer treatment.

Recent advances in MOF-bio-interface: a review

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a class of promising material with adjustable function and controllable structure, have been widely used in the food industry, chemical industry, biological medicine, and sensors. Biomacromolecules and living systems play a critical role in the world. However, the insufficiency in stability, recyclability, and efficiency, significantly impedes their further utilization in slightly harsh conditions. MOF-bio-interface engineering effectively address the above-mentioned shortages of biomacromolecules and living systems, and thereby attracting considerable attentions. Herein, we systematically review the achievements in the area of MOF-bio-interface. In particular, we summarize the interface between MOFs and proteins (enzymes and non-enzymatic proteins), polysaccharides, DNA, cells, microbes, and viruses. Meanwhile, we discuss the limitations of this approach and propose future research directions. We expect that this review could provide new insights and inspire new research efforts towards life science and material science.

Phosphorylation of IGFBP-3 by Casein Kinase 2 Blocks Its Interaction with Hyaluronan, Enabling HA-CD44 Signaling Leading to Increased NSCLC Cell Survival and Cisplatin Resistance

Cisplatin is a platinum agent used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Much remains unknown regarding the basic operative mechanisms underlying cisplatin resistance in NSCLC. In this study, we found that phosphorylation of IGFBP-3 by CK2 (P-IGFBP-3) decreased its binding to hyaluronan (HA) but not to IGF-1 and rendered the protein less effective at reducing cell viability or increasing apoptosis than the non-phosphorylated protein with or without cisplatin in the human NSCLC cell lines, A549 and H1299. Our data suggest that blocking CD44 signaling augmented the effects of cisplatin and that IGFBP-3 was more effective at inhibiting HA-CD44 signaling than P-IGFBP-3. Blocking CK2 activity and HA-CD44 signaling increased cisplatin sensitivity and more effectively blocked the PI3K and AKT activities and the phospho/total NFκB ratio and led to increased p53 activation in A549 cells. Increased cell sensitivity to cisplatin was observed upon co-treatment with inhibitors targeted against PI3K, AKT, and NFκB while blocking p53 activity decreased A549 cell sensitivity to cisplatin. Our findings shed light on a novel mechanism employed by CK2 in phosphorylating IGFBP-3 and increasing cisplatin resistance in NSCLC. Blocking phosphorylation of IGFBP-3 by CK2 may be an effective strategy to increase NSCLC sensitivity to cisplatin.

Hyaluronic acid/serotonin-decorated cerium dioxide nanomedicine for targeted treatment of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease often characterized by rapid progression and frequent comorbidities that make its treatment challenging. In colonic ulcers of UC patients, myeloperoxidase (MPO) is highly expressed, which results in an abundance of macrophages and reactive oxygen species. This study developed an active MPO-targeting hyaluronic acid/serotonin ceria nanoenzyme (HA-5-HT@CeO₂) using the electrostatic interaction between CeO₂ nanoparticles, 5-hydroxyserotonin-cerium oxide and hyaluronic acid. Based on the dual targeting effects of MPO and the macrophage CD44+ receptor in locating the inflammatory site in conjunction with the inflammatory area of the colon through electrostatic action, CeO₂ nanoparticles along with multiple similar enzymes were used to eliminate O₂, H₂O₂ and ˙OH and other reactive oxygen species, achieving targeted repair of the intestinal epithelial barrier through the elimination of inflammatory factors. In studies involving pharmacodynamics in vitro and DSS-induced animal models of acute colitis in vivo, HA-5-HT@CeO₂ has been shown to reduce inflammation further and treat ulcerative colitis compared to traditional drugs. Additionally, active targeting of MPO inflammation can lead to accurate drug delivery to the site and can minimize the side effects associated with the drug. HA-5-HT@CeO₂ is a promising novel drug for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. In addition to illustrating the benefits of this novel nanodrug delivery in treating ulcerative colitis compared to traditional medications, this study provides theoretical and experimental support for its application to any targeted therapy for ulcerative colitis.

Recent advances in label-free optical, electrochemical, and electronic biosensors for glioma biomarkers

Gliomas are the most commonly occurring primary brain tumor with poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Currently, the diagnostic and monitoring options for glioma mainly revolve around imaging techniques, which often provide limited information and require supervisory expertise. Liquid biopsy is a great alternative or complementary monitoring protocol that can be implemented along with other standard diagnosis protocols. However, standard detection schemes for sampling and monitoring biomarkers in different biological fluids lack the necessary sensitivity and ability for real-time analysis. Lately, biosensor-based diagnostic and monitoring technology has attracted significant attention due to several advantageous features, including high sensitivity and specificity, high-throughput analysis, minimally invasive, and multiplexing ability. In this review article, we have focused our attention on glioma and presented a literature survey summarizing the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers associated with glioma. Further, we discussed different biosensory approaches reported to date for the detection of specific glioma biomarkers. Current biosensors demonstrate high sensitivity and specificity, which can be used for point-of-care devices or liquid biopsies. However, for real clinical applications, these biosensors lack high-throughput and multiplexed analysis, which can be achieved via integration with microfluidic systems. We shared our perspective on the current state-of-the-art different biosensor-based diagnostic and monitoring technologies reported and the future research scopes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review focusing on biosensors for glioma detection, and it is anticipated that the review will offer a new pathway for the development of such biosensors and related diagnostic platforms.

Setting the stage for universal pharmacological targeting of the glycocalyx

All cells in the human body are covered by a complex meshwork of sugars as well as proteins and lipids to which these sugars are attached, collectively termed the glycocalyx. Over the past few decades, the glycocalyx has been implicated in a range of vital cellular processes in health and disease. Therefore, it has attracted considerable interest as a therapeutic target. Considering its omnipresence and its relevance for various areas of cell biology, the glycocalyx should be a versatile platform for therapeutic intervention, however, the full potential of the glycocalyx as therapeutic target is yet to unfold. This might be attributable to the fact that glycocalyx alterations are currently discussed mainly in the context of specific diseases. In this perspective review, we shift the attention away from a disease-centered view of the glycocalyx, focusing on changes in glycocalyx state. Furthermore, we survey important glycocalyx-targeted drugs currently available and finally discuss future steps. We hope that this approach will inspire a unified, holistic view of the glycocalyx in disease, helping to stimulate novel glycocalyx-targeted therapy strategies.

Hyaluronic Acid as a Modern Approach in Anticancer Therapy-Review

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear polysaccharide and crucial component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), maintaining tissue hydration and tension. Moreover, HA contributes to embryonic development, healing, inflammation, and cancerogenesis. This review summarizes new research on the metabolism and interactions of HA with its binding proteins, known as hyaladherins (CD44, RHAMM), revealing the molecular basis for its distinct biological function in the development of cancer. The presence of HA on the surface of tumor cells is a sign of an adverse prognosis. The involvement of HA in malignancy has been extensively investigated using cancer-free naked mole rats as a model. The HA metabolic components are examined for their potential impact on promoting or inhibiting tumor formation, proliferation, invasion, and metastatic spread. High molecular weight HA is associated with homeostasis and protective action due to its ability to preserve tissue integrity. In contrast, low molecular weight HA indicates a pathological condition in the tissue and plays a role in pro-oncogenic activity. A systematic approach might uncover processes related to cancer growth, establish novel prognostic indicators, and identify potential targets for treatment action.

The most promising microneedle device: present and future of hyaluronic acid microneedle patch

Microneedle patch (MNP) is an alternative to the oral route and subcutaneous injection with unique advantages such as painless administration, good compliance, and fewer side effects. Herein, we report MNP as a prominent strategy for drug delivery to treat local or systemic disease. Hyaluronic acid (HA) has advantageous properties, such as human autologous source, strong water absorption, biocompatibility, and viscoelasticity. Therefore, the Hyaluronic acid microneedle patch (HA MNP) occupies a large part of the MNP market. HA MNP is beneficial for wound healing, targeted therapy of certain specific diseases, extraction of interstitial skin fluid (ISF), and preservation of drugs. In this review, we summarize the benefits of HA and cross-linked HA (x-HA) as an MNP matrix. Then, we introduce the types of HA MNP, delivered substances, and drug distribution. Finally, we focus on the biomedical application of HA MNP as an excellent drug carrier in some specific diseases and the extraction and analysis of biomarkers. We also discuss the future development prospect of HA MNP in transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS).

Inhibition of NADPH Oxidase-ROS Signal using Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles for Overcoming Radioresistance in Cancer Therapy

Upregulation of NADPH oxidases (NOXs) in cancer cells leads to chronic increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and adaptation to a high ROS level for cell survival and, thereby, low sensitivity to radiotherapy. To overcome resistance to radiotherapy, we have developed a bioactive and CD44 targeted hyaluronic acid nanoparticle encapsulated with an NOX inhibitor, GKT831 (HANP/GKT831). We found that HANP/GKT831 had stronger inhibitory effects on ROS generation and cell proliferation than that of GKT831 alone in cancer cells. Systemic delivery of HANP/GKT831 led to the targeted accumulation in breast cancer patient derived xenograft (PDX) tumors in nude mice. Importantly, the combination of systemic delivery of HANP/GKT831 with a low dose of local radiotherapy significantly enhanced tumor growth inhibition in breast cancer PDX models. Our results showed that HANP/GKT831 primed tumor cells to radiation-induced DNA damage and cell death by downregulation of DNA repair function and oncogenic signal pathways.

Opposing Roles of IGFBP-3 and Heparanase in Regulating A549 Lung Cancer Cell Survival

In this study, we examined the roles of heparanase and IGFBP-3 in regulating A549 and H1299 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survival. We found that H1299 cells, known to be p53-null with no expression of IGFBP-3, had higher heparanase levels and activity and higher levels of heparan sulfate (HS) in the media compared to the media of A549 cells. Inhibiting heparanase activity or its expression using siRNA had no effect on the levels of IGFBP-3 in the media of A549 cells, reduced the levels of soluble HS fragments, and led to decreased interactions between IGFBP-3 and HS in the media. HS competed with HA for binding to IGFBP-3 or IGFBP-3 peptide (²¹⁵-KKGFYKKKQCRPSKGRKR-²³²) but not the mutant peptide (K228AR230A). HS abolished the cytotoxic effects of IGFBP-3 but not upon blocking HA-CD44 signaling with the anti-CD44 antibody (5F12). Blocking HA-CD44 signaling decreased the levels of heparanase in the media of both A549 and H1299 cell lines and increased p53 activity and the levels of IGFBP-3 in A549 cell media. Knockdown of p53 led to increased heparanase levels and reduced IGFBP-3 levels in A549 cell media while knockdown of IGFBP-3 in A549 cells blocked p53 activity and increased heparanase levels in the media.

Glycoconjugates: Synthesis, Functional Studies, and Therapeutic Developments

Glycoconjugates are major constituents of mammalian cells that are formed via covalent conjugation of carbohydrates to other biomolecules like proteins and lipids and often expressed on the cell surfaces. Among the three major classes of glycoconjugates, proteoglycans and glycoproteins contain glycans linked to the protein backbone via amino acid residues such as Asn for N-linked glycans and Ser/Thr for O-linked glycans. In glycolipids, glycans are linked to a lipid component such as glycerol, polyisoprenyl pyrophosphate, fatty acid ester, or sphingolipid. Recently, glycoconjugates have become better structurally defined and biosynthetically understood, especially those associated with human diseases, and are accessible to new drug, diagnostic, and therapeutic developments. This review describes the status and new advances in the biological study and therapeutic applications of natural and synthetic glycoconjugates, including proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. The scope, limitations, and novel methodologies in the synthesis and clinical development of glycoconjugates including vaccines, glyco-remodeled antibodies, glycan-based adjuvants, glycan-specific receptor-mediated drug delivery platforms, etc., and their future prospectus are discussed.

Redox-responsive hyaluronan-conjugated polypyrrole nanoparticles targeting chemo-photothermal therapy for breast cancer

The combination of chemo-photothermal therapy has a wide application prospect in the intensive treatment of cancer. In this study, we developed a complex nanoparticle consist of polypyrrole, cystine dihydrochloride and hyaluronan. The polypyrrole nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel exhibited good photothermal effects, and the drug release can be triggered by combined response of temperature and redox. In vitro biological studies indicated the nanoparticles could effectively induced apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells involved in the potential mechanism of inhibition of biological expression of heat shock proteins and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. In addition, the nanoparticles have a significant inhibitory effect on cancer growth in breast tumor-bearing mice model, indicating that they have great potential for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy.

TRAIL in the Treatment of Cancer: From Soluble Cytokine to Nanosystems

The death ligand tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the TNF cytokine superfamily, has long been recognized for its potential as a cancer therapeutic due to its low toxicity against normal cells. However, its translation into a therapeutic molecule has not been successful to date, due to its short in vivo half-life associated with insufficient tumor accumulation and resistance of tumor cells to TRAIL-induced killing. Nanotechnology has the capacity to offer solutions to these limitations. This review provides a perspective and a critical assessment of the most promising approaches to realize TRAIL's potential as an anticancer therapeutic, including the development of fusion constructs, encapsulation, nanoparticle functionalization and tumor-targeting, and discusses the current challenges and future perspectives.

Hyaluronic Acid-Based Nanomaterials Applied to Cancer: Where Are We Now?

Cancer cells normally develop the ability to rewire or reprogram themselves to become resistant to treatments that were previously effective. Despite progress in understanding drug resistance, knowledge gaps remain regarding the underlying biological causes of drug resistance and the design of cancer treatments to overcome it. So, resistance acquisition remains a major problem in cancer treatment. Targeted therapeutics are considered the next generation of cancer therapy because they overcome many limitations of traditional treatments. Numerous tumor cells overexpress several receptors that have a high binding affinity for hyaluronic acid (HA), while they are poorly expressed in normal body cells. HA and its derivatives have the advantage of being biocompatible and biodegradable and may be conjugated with a variety of drugs and drug carriers for developing various formulations as anticancer therapies such as micelles, nanogels, and inorganic nanoparticles. Due to their stability in blood circulation and predictable delivery patterns, enhanced tumor-selective drug accumulation, and decreased toxicity to normal tissues, tumor-targeting nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems have been shown to represent an efficacious approach for the treatment of cancer. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of some in vitro and in vivo studies related to the potential of HA as a ligand to develop targeted nanovehicles for future biomedical applications in cancer treatment.

Combinatorial approaches of nanotherapeutics for inflammatory pathway targeted therapy of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most prevalent male urogenital cancer worldwide. PC patients presenting an advanced or metastatic cancer succumb to the disease, even after therapeutic interventions including radiotherapy, surgery, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), and chemotherapy. One of the hallmarks of PC is evading immune surveillance and chronic inflammation, which is a major challenge towards designing effective therapeutic formulations against PC. Chronic inflammation in PC is often characterized by tumor microenvironment alterations, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix modifications. The inflammatory events are modulated by reactive nitrogen and oxygen species, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Major signaling pathways in PC includes androgen receptor, PI3K and NF-κB pathways and targeting these inter-linked pathways poses a major therapeutic challenge. Notably, many conventional treatments are clinically unsuccessful, due to lack of targetability and poor bioavailability of the therapeutics, untoward toxicity and multidrug resistance. The past decade witnessed an advancement of nanotechnology as an excellent therapeutic paradigm for PC therapy. Modern nanovectorization strategies such as stimuli-responsive and active PC targeting carriers offer controlled release patterns and superior anti-cancer effects. The current review initially describes the classification, inflammatory triggers and major inflammatory pathways of PC, various PC treatment strategies and their limitations. Subsequently, recent advancement in combinatorial nanotherapeutic approaches, which target PC inflammatory pathways, and the mechanism of action are discussed. Besides, the current clinical status and prospects of PC homing nanovectorization, and major challenges to be addressed towards the advancement PC therapy are also addressed.

Steviol glycosides affect functional properties and macromolecular expression of breast cancer cells

Steviol glycosides, the active sweet components of stevia plant, have been recently found to possess a number of therapeutic properties, including some recorded anticancer ones against various cancer cell types (breast, ovarian, cervical, pancreatic, and colon cancer). Our aim was to investigate this anticancer potential on the two most commonly used breast cancer cell lines which differ in the phenotype and estrogen receptor (ER) status: the low metastatic, ERα+ MCF-7 and the highly metastatic, ERα-/ERβ+ MDA-MB-231. Specifically, glycosides' effect was studied on cancer cells': (a) viability, (b) functionality (proliferation, migration, and adhesion), and (c) gene expression (mRNA level) of crucial molecules implicated in cancer's pathophysiology. Results showed that steviol glycosides induced cell death in both cell lines, in the first 24 hr, which was in line with the antiapoptotic BCL2 decrease. However, cells that managed to survive showcased diametrically opposite behavior. The low metastatic ERα+ MCF-7 cells acquired an aggressive phenotype, depicted by the upregulation of all receptors and co-receptors (ESR, PGR, AR, GPER1, EGFR, IGF1R, CD44, SDC2, and SDC4), as well as VIM and MMP14. On the contrary, the highly metastatic ERα-/ERβ+ MDA-MB-231 cells became less aggressive as pointed out by the respective downregulation of EGFR, IGF1R, CD44, and SDC2. Changes observed in gene expression were compatible with altered cell functions. Glycosides increased MCF-7 cells migration and adhesion, but reduced MDA-MB-231 cells migratory and metastatic potential. In conclusion, the above data clearly demonstrate that steviol glycosides have different effects on breast cancer cells according to their ER status, suggesting that steviol glycosides might be examined for their potential anticancer activity against breast cancer, especially triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Hyaluronic acid-based nano drug delivery systems for breast cancer treatment: Recent advances

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among females worldwide, and high resistance to drugs and metastasis rates are the leading causes of death in BC patients. Releasing anti-cancer drugs precisely to the tumor site can improve the efficacy and reduce the side effects on the body. Natural polymers are attracting extensive interest as drug carriers in treating breast cancer. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural polysaccharide with excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-immunogenicity and is a significant component of the extracellular matrix. The CD44 receptor of HA is overexpressed in breast cancer cells and can be targeted to breast tumors. Therefore, many researchers have developed nano drug delivery systems (NDDS) based on the CD44 receptor tumor-targeting properties of HA. This review examines the application of HA in NDDSs for breast cancer in recent years. Based on the structural composition of NDDSs, they are divided into HA NDDSs, Modified HA NDDSs, and HA hybrid NDDSs.

Interplay Between Chemotherapy-Activated Cancer Associated Fibroblasts and Cancer Initiating Cells Expressing CD44v6 Promotes Colon Cancer Resistance

Cancer-initiating cells (CICs) drive colorectal tumor growth by their supportive niches where CICs interact with multiple cell types within the microenvironment, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). We investigated the interplay between the CICs and the clinically relevant chemotherapeutic FOLFOX that creates the persistent tumorigenic properties of colorectal CICs, and stimulates the microenvironmental factors derived from the CAFs. We found that the CICs expressing an immunophenotype (CD44v6[+]) promote FOLFOX-resistance and that the CIC-immunophenotype was enhanced by factors secreted by CAFs after FOLFOX treatment These secreted factors included periostin, IL17A and WNT3A, which induced CD44v6 expression by activating WNT3A/β-catenin signaling. Blocking the interaction between CICs with any of these CAF-derived factors through tissue-specific conditional silencing of CD44v6 significantly reduced colorectal tumorigenic potential. To achieve this, we generated two unique vectors (floxed-pSico-CD44v6 shRNA plus Fabpl-Cre) that were encapsulated into transferrin coated PEG-PEI/(nanoparticles), which when introduced in vivo reduced tumor growth more effectively than using CD44v6-blocking antibodies. Notably, this tissue-specific conditional silencing of CD44v6 resulted in long lasting effects on self-renewal and tumor growth associated with a positive feedback loop linking WNT3A signaling and alternative-splicing of CD44. These findings have crucial clinical implications suggesting that therapeutic approaches for modulating tumor growth that currently focus on cell-autonomous mechanisms may be too limited and need to be broadened to include mechanisms that recognize the interplay between the stromal factors and the subsequent CIC-immunophenotype enrichment. Thus, more specific therapeutic approaches may be required to block a chemotherapy induced remodeling of a microenvironment that acts as a paracrine regulator to enrich CD44v6 (+) in colorectal CICs.

Nanoparticles in Endodontics Disinfection: State of the Art

Endodontic-related diseases constitute the fourth most expensive pathologies in industrialized countries. Specifically, endodontics is the part of dentistry focused on treating disorders of the dental pulp and its consequences. In order to treat these problems, especially endodontic infections, dental barriers and complex root canal anatomy should be overcome. This constitutes an unmet medical need since the rate of successful disinfection with the currently marketed drugs is around 85%. Therefore, nanoparticles constitute a suitable alternative in order to deliver active compounds effectively to the target site, increasing their therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, in the present review, an overview of dental anatomy and the barriers that should be overcome for effective disinfection will be summarized. In addition, the versatility of nanoparticles for drug delivery and their specific uses in dentistry are comprehensively discussed. Finally, the latest findings, potential applications and state of the art nanoparticles with special emphasis on biodegradable nanoparticles used for endodontic disinfection are also reviewed.

Hyaluronic acid-coated ultrasmall BiOI nanoparticles as a potentially targeted contrast agent for X-ray computed tomography

Commercial X-ray computed tomography (CT) contrast agents (CAs) are not appropriate for multicolor CT imaging and are limited due to a lack of tumor targeting. In this contribution, to favor the combination of high Z elements like bismuth and iodine for a broad range of X-ray photon energy, BiOI nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized with hyaluronic acid (HA) coating to target the tumor cells with CD44 overexpression. The crystal structure of BiOI NPs is determined by X-ray powder diffraction, and the size of NPs is determined by a transmission electron microscope at about 14 ± 3 nm. The dynamic diameter of the NPs (DLS) in PBS buffer was measured at about 100 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis confirm the coating of BiOI NPs with HA. The stability of the NPs was also investigated via UV-vis spectroscopy. The immunocytochemistry process is performed to investigate the targeting ability of synthesized NPs on the human colon cancer cells with CD44 antigen. Finally, the X-ray attenuation of prepared HA-coated BiOI NPs is higher than Iohexol as the commercially available iodinated contrasting agent at the same concentrations, which can be administrated at much lower doses to achieve similar contrast to Iohexol.

Multiscale biomechanics and mechanotransduction from liver fibrosis to cancer

A growing body of multiscale biomechanical studies has been proposed to highlight the mechanical cues in the development of hepatic fibrosis and cancer. At the cellular level, changes in mechanical microenvironment induce phenotypic and functional alterations of hepatic cells, initiating a positive feedback loop that promotes liver fibrogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis. Tumor mechanical microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma facilitates tumor cell growth and metastasis, and hinders the drug delivery and immunotherapy. At the molecular level, mechanical forces are sensed and transmitted into hepatic cells via allosteric activation of mechanoreceptors on the cell membrane, leading to the activation of various mechanotransduction pathways including integrin and YAP signaling and then regulating cell function. Thus, the application of mechanomedicine concept in the treatment of liver diseases is promising for rational design and cell-specific delivery of therapeutic drugs. This review mainly discusses the correlation between biomechanical cues and liver diseases from the viewpoint of mechanobiology.

Advanced iron oxide nanotheranostics for multimodal and precision treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Despite current advances in new approaches for cancer detection and treatment, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancer types. Difficult to detect early, aggressive tumor biology, and resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy result in a poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients with a 5-year survival of 10%. With advances in cancer nanotechnology, new imaging and drug delivery approaches that allow the development of multifunctional nanotheranostic agents offer opportunities for improving pancreatic cancer treatment using precision oncology. In this review, we will introduce potential applications of innovative theranostic strategies to address major challenges in the treatment of pancreatic cancer at different disease stages. Several important issues concerning targeted delivery of theranostic nanoparticles and tumor stromal barriers are discussed. We then focus on the development of a magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle platform for multimodal therapy of pancreatic cancer, including MRI monitoring targeted nanoparticle/drug delivery, therapeutic response, and tumor re-staging, activation of tumor immune response by immunoactivating nanoparticle and magnetic hyperthermia therapy, and intraoperative interventions for improving the outcome of targeted therapy. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging.

CD44 In Sarcomas: A Comprehensive Review and Future Perspectives

It is widely accepted that the tumor microenvironment, particularly the extracellular matrix, plays an essential role in the development of tumors through the interaction with specific protein-membrane receptors. One of the most relevant proteins in this context is the transmembrane protein CD44. The role of CD44 in tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis has been well established in many cancers, although a comprehensive review concerning its role in sarcomas has not been published. CD44 is overexpressed in most sarcomas and several in vitro and in vivo experiments have shown a direct effect on tumor progression, dissemination, and drug resistance. Moreover, CD44 has been revealed as a useful marker for prognostic and diagnostic (CD44v6 isoform) in osteosarcoma. Besides, some innovative treatments such as HA-functionalized liposomes therapy have become an excellent CD44-mediated intracellular delivery system for osteosarcoma. Unfortunately, the reduced number of studies deciphering the prognostic/diagnostic value of CD44 in other sarcoma subgroups, neither than osteosarcoma, in addition to the low number of patients involved in those studies, have produced inconclusive results. In this review, we have gone through the information available on the role of CD44 in the development, maintenance, and progression of sarcomas, analyzing their implications at the prognostic, therapeutic, and mechanistic levels. Moreover, we illustrate how research involving the specific role of CD44 in the different sarcoma subgroups could suppose a chance to advance towards a more innovative perspective for novel therapies and future clinical trials.

Recent Progress of Rare Earth Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles: Luminescence Properties, Synthesis and Biomedical Applications

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAP NPs) are host materials and can be modified with various substrates and dopants. Among them, rare earth (RE) ions doped HAP NPs have gathered attention due to their unique physicochemical and imaging properties. Compared to other fluorescence probes, RE-doped HAP NPs display advantages in high brightness, high contrast, photostability, nonblinking, and narrow emission bands. Meanwhile, their intrinsic features (composition, morphology, size, crystallinity, and luminescence intensity) can be adjusted by changing the dopant ratio, synthesizing temperature, reaction time, and techniques. And they have been used in various biomedical applications, including imaging probe, drug delivery, bone tissue engineering, and antibacterial studies. This review surveys the luminescent properties, fluorescence enhancement, synthetic methods, and biocompatibility of various RE-doped HAP NPs consolidated from different research works, for their employments in biomedical applications. For this literature review, an electronic search was conducted in the Pubmed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus and SciFinder databases, using the keywords: hydroxyapatite, rare earth, lanthanide, fluorescence, and imaging. Literature searches of English-language publications from 1979 with updates through April, 2022, and a total of 472 potential papers were identified. In addition, a few references were located by noting their citation in other studies reviewed. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAP NPs) have a broad range of promising biological applications. Although prospective biomedical applications are not limited to rare earth-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (RE-doped HAP NPs), some cases do make use of the distinctive features of RE-elements to achieve the expected functions for HAP families. This review surveys the luminescent properties, synthetic methods, and biocompatibility of various RE-doped HAP NPs consolidated from different research works, for their employments in biomedical applications, including imaging probe, drug delivery, bone tissue repair and tracking, and anti-bacteria. Overall, we expect to shed some light on broadening the research and application of RE-doped HAP NPs in biomedical field.

Polysaccharide-Based Transdermal Drug Delivery

Materials derived from natural plants and animals have great potential for transdermal drug delivery. Polysaccharides are widely derived from marine, herbal, and microbial sources. Compared with synthetic polymers, polysaccharides have the advantages of non-toxicity and biodegradability, ease of modification, biocompatibility, targeting, and antibacterial properties. Currently, polysaccharide-based transdermal drug delivery vehicles, such as hydrogel, film, microneedle (MN), and tissue scaffolds are being developed. The addition of polysaccharides allows these vehicles to exhibit better-swelling properties, mechanical strength, tensile strength, etc. Due to the stratum corneum’s resistance, the transdermal drug delivery system cannot deliver drugs as efficiently as desired. The charge and hydration of polysaccharides allow them to react with the skin and promote drug penetration. In addition, polysaccharide-based nanotechnology enhances drug utilization efficiency. Various diseases are currently treated by polysaccharide-based transdermal drug delivery devices and exhibit promising futures. The most current knowledge on these excellent materials will be thoroughly discussed by reviewing polysaccharide-based transdermal drug delivery strategies.

Sulfated Hyaluronan Binds to Heparanase and Blocks Its Enzymatic and Cellular Actions in Carcinoma Cells

We examined whether sulfated hyaluronan exerts inhibitory effects on enzymatic and biological actions of heparanase, a sole endo-beta-glucuronidase implicated in cancer malignancy and inflammation. Degradation of heparan sulfate by human and mouse heparanase was inhibited by sulfated hyaluronan. In particular, high-sulfated hyaluronan modified with approximately 2.5 sulfate groups per disaccharide unit effectively inhibited the enzymatic activity at a lower concentration than heparin. Human and mouse heparanase bound to immobilized sulfated hyaluronan. Invasion of heparanase-positive colon-26 cells and 4T1 cells under 3D culture conditions was significantly suppressed in the presence of high-sulfated hyaluronan. Heparanase-induced release of CCL2 from colon-26 cells was suppressed in the presence of sulfated hyaluronan via blocking of cell surface binding and subsequent intracellular NF-κB-dependent signaling. The inhibitory effect of sulfated hyaluronan is likely due to competitive binding to the heparanase molecule, which antagonizes the heparanase-substrate interaction. Fragment molecular orbital calculation revealed a strong binding of sulfated hyaluronan tetrasaccharide to the heparanase molecule based on electrostatic interactions, particularly characterized by interactions of (−1)- and (−2)-positioned sulfated sugar residues with basic amino acid residues composing the heparin-binding domain-1 of heparanase. These results propose a relevance for sulfated hyaluronan in the blocking of heparanase-mediated enzymatic and cellular actions.

Chitosan-Hyaluronan Nanoparticles for Vinblastine Sulfate Delivery: Characterization and Internalization Studies on K-562 Cells

In the present study, we developed chitosan/hyaluronan nanoparticles (CS/HY NPs) for tumor targeting with vinblastine sulfate (VBL), that can be directed to the CD44 transmembrane receptor, over-expressed in cancer cells. NPs were prepared by coating with HY-preformed chitosan/tripolyphosphate (CS/TPP) NPs, or by polyelectrolyte complexation of CS with HY. NPs with a mean hydrodynamic radius (R_H) of 110 nm, 12% polydispersity index and negative zeta potential values were obtained by a direct complexation process. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images showed spherical NPs with a non-homogeneous matrix, probably due to a random localization of CS and HY interacting chains. The intermolecular interactions occurring between CS and HY upon NPs formation were experimentally evidenced by micro-Raman (µ-Raman) spectroscopy, through the analysis of the spectral changes of characteristic vibrational bands of HY during NP formation, in order to reveal the involvement of specific chemical groups in the process. Optimized NP formulation efficiently encapsulated VBL, producing a drug sustained release for 20 h. In vitro studies demonstrated a fast internalization of labeled CS/HY NPs (within 6 h) on K-562 human myeloid leukemia cells. Pre-saturation of CD44 by free HY produced a slowing-down of NP uptake over 24 h, demonstrating the need of CD44 for the internalization of HY-based NPs.