Insight into Cellular Uptake and Intracellular Trafficking of Nanoparticles

Optimizing anthocyanin Oral delivery: Effects of food biomacromolecule types on Nanocarrier performance for enhanced bioavailability

Wall material types influence the efficacy of nanocarriers in oral delivery systems. We utilized three food biomacromolecules (whey protein isolate, oxidized starch, lipids) to prepare three types of nanocarriers. Our aim was to investigate their performance in digestion, cellular absorption, mucus penetration, intestinal retention, and bioavailability of the encapsulated anthocyanins (Ant). The release rate of protein nanocarriers (Pro-NCs) was twice that of starch nanocarriers (Sta-NCs) and four times that of lipid nanocarriers (Lip-NCs) in simulated gastrointestinal fluid. Additionally, Pro-NCs demonstrated superior transmembrane transport capacity and over three times cellular internalization efficiency than Sta-NCs and Lip-NCs. Sta-NCs exhibited the highest mucus-penetrating capacity, while Pro-NCs displayed the strongest mucoadhesion, resulting in extended gastrointestinal retention time for Pro-NCs. Sta-NCs significantly enhanced the in vivo bioavailability of Ant, nearly twice that of free Ant. Our results demonstrate the critical role of wall material types in optimizing nanocarriers for the specific delivery of bioactive compounds.

Hazard assessment of nanoplastics is driven by their surface-functionalization. Effects in human-derived primary endothelial cells

During plastic waste degradation into micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs) their physicochemical characteristics including surface properties (charge, functionalization, biocorona, etc.) can change, potentially affecting their biological effects. This paper focuses on the surface functionalization of MNPLs to determine if it has a direct impact on the toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic interactions in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), at different exposure times. Pristine polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPLs), as well as their carboxylated (PS-C-NPLs) and aminated (PS-A-NPLs) forms, all around 50 nm, were used in a wide battery of toxicological assays. These assays encompassed evaluations on cell viability, cell internalization, induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (iROS), and genotoxicity. The experiments were conducted at a concentration of 100 μg/mL, chosen to ensure a high internalization rate across all treatments while maintaining a sub-toxic concentration. Our results show that all PS-NPLs are internalized by HUVECs, but the internalization dynamic depends on the particle's functionalization. PS-NPLs and PS-C-NPLs internalization modify the morphology of the cell increasing its inner complexity/granularity. Regarding cell toxicity, only PS-A-NPLs reduced cell viability. Intracellular ROS was induced by the three different PS-NPLs but at different time points. Genotoxic damage was induced by the three PS-NPLs at short exposures (2 h), but not for PS-C-NPLs at 24 h. Overall, this study suggests that the toxicological effects of PSNPLs on HUVEC cells are surface-dependent, highlighting the relevance of using human-derived primary cells as a target.

Supramolecularly-Cross-Linked Nanogel Assemblies for On-Demand, Ultrasound-Triggered Chemotherapy

Stimulating the release of small nanoparticles (NPs) from a larger NP via the application of an exogenous stimulus offers the potential to address the different size requirements for circulation versus penetration that hinder chemotherapeutic drug delivery. Herein, we report a size-switching nanoassembly-based drug delivery system comprised of ultrasmall starch nanoparticles (SNPs, ∼20-50 nm major size fraction) encapsulated in a poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) nanogel (POEGMA, ∼150 nm major size fraction) cross-linked via supramolecular PEG/α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) interactions. Upon heating the nanogel using a non-invasive, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) trigger, the thermoresponsive POEGMA-CD nanoassemblies are locally de-cross-linked, inducing in situ release of the highly penetrative drug-loaded SNPs. HIFU triggering increased the release of nanoassembly-loaded DOX from 17 to 37% after 3 h, a result correlated with significantly more effective tumor killing relative to nanoassemblies in the absence of HIFU or drug alone. Furthermore, 1.5× more total fluorescence was observed inside a tumor spheroid when nanoassemblies prepared with fluorophore-labeled SNPs were triggered with HIFU relative to the absence of HIFU. We anticipate this strategy holds promise for delivering tunable doses of chemotherapeutic drugs both at and within a tumor site using a non-invasive triggering approach.

Advances in engineered nanosystems: immunomodulatory interactions for therapeutic applications

Advances in nanotechnology have led to significant progress in the design and fabrication of nanoparticles (NPs) with improved therapeutic properties. NPs have been explored for modulating the immune system, serving as carriers for drug delivery or vaccine adjuvants, or acting as therapeutics themselves against a wide range of deadly diseases. The combination of NPs with immune system-targeting moieties has facilitated the development of improved targeted immune therapies. Targeted delivery of therapeutic agents using NPs specifically to the disease-affected cells, distinguishing them from other host cells, offers the major advantage of concentrating the therapeutic effect and reducing systemic side effects. Furthermore, the properties of NPs, including size, shape, surface charge, and surface modifications, influence their interactions with the targeted biological components. This review aims to provide insights into these diverse emerging and innovative approaches that are being developed and utilized for modulating the immune system using NPs. We reviewed various types of NPs composed of different materials and their specific application for modulating the immune system. Furthermore, we focused on the mechanistic effects of these therapeutic NPs on primary immune components, including T cells, B cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and complement systems. Additionally, a recent overview of clinically approved immunomodulatory nanomedicines and potential future perspectives, offering new paradigms of this field, is also highlighted.

Unignored intracellular journey and biomedical applications of extracellular vesicles

The intracellular journey of extracellular vesicles (EVs) cannot be ignored in various biological pathological processes. In this review, the biogenesis, biological functions, uptake pathways, intracellular trafficking routes, and biomedical applications of EVs were highlighted. Endosomal escape is a unique mode of EVs release. When vesicles escape from endosomes, they avoid the fate of fusing with lysosomes and being degraded, thus having the opportunity to directly enter the cytoplasm or other organelles. This escape mechanism is crucial for EVs to deliver specific signals or substances. The intracellular trafficking of EVs after endosomal escape is a complex and significant biological process that involves the coordinated work of various cellular structures and molecules. Through the in-depth study of this process, the function and regulatory mechanism of EVs are fully understood, providing new dimensions for future biomedical diagnosis and treatment.

Simultaneous Second Harmonic Generation and Multiphoton Excited Photoluminescence in Samarium-Doped BaTiO3 Nanoparticles Functionalized with Poly(ethylene glycol)

In this work, samarium-doped BaTiO3 (BT:Sm) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and coated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to investigate their optical characteristics and compatibility with biological systems. The structure, particle morphology, optical properties, and biological compatibility of the NPs were assessed. The results demonstrated the formation of BT:Sm and [(BT:Sm)-PEG]. The relative intensities and positions of peaks in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) are consistent with an average crystallite size of ∼75 nm. The Raman spectra showed that Sm doping produced the typical tetragonal peaks at around 306 and 715 cm-1, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the PEGylation process was effective. Also, our investigation demonstrates the potential of these NPs as very temperature-sensitive nanosensors with a resolution exceeding 0.5 °C, which is achievable through optical excitation. We also analyze their emission properties. Finally, we present a study related with the mitochondrial activity of naked and PEG-coated NPs. The results indicate that neither naked nor PEG-coated NPs exhibit changes in mitochondrial metabolism, as indicated by quantitative cell viability and morphological visualization. The PEG-coated NPs prevented the formation of aggregates in cell culture compared to naked NPs, demonstrating the significance of PEG as a stabilizing agent.

Pharmacokinetics and antioxidant activity of dihydrocaffeic acid grafted chitosan nanomicelles loaded with chicoric acid in broilers

Chicoric acid (CA) is a natural nutrient found in plants, showcasing diverse biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Despite its valuable properties, CA faces limitations in bioavailability and susceptibility to oxidative breakdown during utilization. Previous research introduced synthesized dihydrocaffeic acid grafted chitosan self-assembled nanomicelles (DA-g-CS), demonstrating its potential to enhance CA absorption. This study aims to investigate the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and antioxidant activity of both CA and DA-g-CS loaded CA (DA-g-CS/CA) in broilers. An IPEC-J2 cell model was established and evaluated to delve deeper into the transport mechanism and antioxidant potential. The in vivo pharmacokinetic analysis in broilers highlighted a substantial difference: the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of DA-g-CS/CA exceeded CA by 2.6-fold, yielding a notable increased relative bioavailability to 214%. This evidence underscores the significant enhancement in CA's oral absorption, facilitated by DA-g-CS. The collective evaluation outcomes affirm the successful development of the cell model, indicating its suitability for drug transporter experiments. The findings from the intestinal transit analysis revealed that both CA and DA-g-CS/CA underwent passive entry into IPEC-J2 cells. Notably, the cellular uptake rate of DA-g-CS loaded with CA was significantly amplified, reaching 2.1 times higher than that of CA alone. Intracellular transport mechanisms involved microtubules, lysosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum, with an additional pathway involving the endoplasmic reticulum observed specifically for DA-g-CS/CA, distinguishing it from CA. Moreover, the results from both in vivo and in vitro antioxidant assessments highlight the potent antioxidant activity of DA-g-CS/CA, showcasing its efficacy in preventing and treating cellular damage induced by oxidative stress. In summary, these findings underscore the significant enhancement of CA's efficacy facilitated by DA-g-CS, establishing a robust theoretical foundation for the prospective application of CA within livestock and poultry farming.

On the Structure, Stability, and Cell Uptake of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Drug Delivery

The efficacy of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for drug delivery strongly depends on their stability and cell uptake. Both properties are governed by their compositions and internal structure. To test the effect of the lipid composition of NLC on cell uptake and stability, three kinds of liquid lipids with different degrees of unsaturation are employed. After ensuring homogeneous size distributions, the thermodynamic characteristics, stability, and mixing properties of NLC are characterized. Then the rates and predominant pathways of cell uptake are determined. Although the same surfactant is used in all cases, different uptake rates are observed. This finding contradicts the view that the surface properties of NLC are dominated by the surfactant. Instead, the uptake rates are explained by the structure of the nanocarrier. Depending on the mixing properties, some liquid lipids remain inside the nanocarrier, while other liquid lipids are present on the surface. Nanocarriers with liquid lipids on the surface are taken up more readily by the cells. This shows that the engineering of efficient lipid nanocarriers requires a delicate balance of interactions between all components of the nanocarrier on the molecular level.

Impact of mechanical cues on key cell functions and cell-nanoparticle interactions

In recent years, it has been recognized that mechanical forces play an important regulative role in living organisms and possess a direct impact on crucial cell functions, ranging from cell growth to maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Advancements in mechanobiology have revealed the profound impact of mechanical signals on diverse cellular responses that are cell type specific. Notably, numerous studies have elucidated the pivotal role of different mechanical cues as regulatory factors influencing various cellular processes, including cell spreading, locomotion, differentiation, and proliferation. Given these insights, it is unsurprising that the responses of cells regulated by physical forces are intricately linked to the modulation of nanoparticle uptake kinetics and processing. This complex interplay underscores the significance of understanding the mechanical microenvironment in shaping cellular behaviors and, consequently, influencing how cells interact with and process nanoparticles. Nevertheless, our knowledge on how localized physical forces affect the internalization and processing of nanoparticles by cells remains rather limited. A significant gap exists in the literature concerning a systematic analysis of how mechanical cues might bias the interactions between nanoparticles and cells. Hence, our aim in this review is to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of the existing knowledge regarding the influence of mechanical cues on the complicated dynamics of cell-nanoparticle interactions. By addressing this gap, we would like to contribute to a detailed understanding of the role that mechanical forces play in shaping the complex interplay between cells and nanoparticles.

Advances in biodistribution of gold nanoparticles: the influence of size, surface charge, and route of administration

To improve the translational and clinical applications of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in medicine there is a need for better understanding of physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles in relation to the systemic parameters andin-vivoperformance. This review presents the influence of physicochemical properties (surface charges and size) and route of administration on the biodistribution of GNPs. The role of protein corona (PC) (a unique biological identifier) as a barrier to biodistribution of GNPs, and the advances in engineered GNPs towards improving biodistribution are presented. Proteins can easily adsorb on charged (anionic and cationic) functionalized GNPs in circulation and shape the dynamics of their biodistribution. Non-ionic coatings such as PEG experience accelerated blood clearance (ABC) due to immunogenic response. While zwitterionic coatings provide stealth effects to formation of PC on the GNPs. GNPs with sizes less than 50 nm were found to circulate to several organs while the route of administration of the GNPs determines the serum protein that adsorbs on the nanoparticles.

Unveiling Nanoparticles: Recent Approaches in Studying the Internalization Pattern of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Mono- and Multicellular Biological Structures

Nanoparticle (NP)-based solutions for oncotherapy promise an improved efficiency of the anticancer response, as well as higher comfort for the patient. The current advancements in cancer treatment based on nanotechnology exploit the ability of these systems to pass biological barriers to target the tumor cell, as well as tumor cell organelles. In particular, iron oxide NPs are being clinically employed in oncological management due to this ability. When designing an efficient anti-cancer therapy based on NPs, it is important to know and to modulate the phenomena which take place during the interaction of the NPs with the tumor cells, as well as the normal tissues. In this regard, our review is focused on highlighting different approaches to studying the internalization patterns of iron oxide NPs in simple and complex 2D and 3D in vitro cell models, as well as in living tissues, in order to investigate the functionality of an NP-based treatment.

Arsenic Nanoparticles Trigger Apoptosis via Anoikis Induction in OECM-1 Cells

Arsenic compounds have been used as therapeutic alternatives for several diseases including cancer. In the following work, we obtained arsenic nanoparticles (AsNPs) produced by an anaerobic bacterium from the Salar de Ascotán, in northern Chile, and evaluated their effects on the human oral squamous carcinoma cell line OECM-1. Resazurin reduction assays were carried out on these cells using 1-100 µM of AsNPs, finding a concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability that was not observed for the non-tumoral gastric mucosa-derived cell line GES-1. To establish if these effects were associated with apoptosis induction, markers like Bcl2, Bax, and cleaved caspase 3 were analyzed via Western blot, executor caspases 3/7 via luminometry, and DNA fragmentation was analyzed by TUNEL assay, using 100 µM cisplatin as a positive control. OECM-1 cells treated with AsNPs showed an induction of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways, which can be explained by a significant decrease in P-Akt/Akt and P-ERK/ERK relative protein ratios, and an increase in both PTEN and p53 mRNA levels and Bit-1 relative protein levels. These results suggest a prospective mechanism of action for AsNPs that involves a potential interaction with extracellular matrix (ECM) components that reduces cell attachment and subsequently triggers anoikis, an anchorage-dependent type of apoptosis.

The Nurr1 ligand indole acetic acid hydrazide loaded onto ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles suppresses proinflammatory gene expressions in SimA9 microglial cells

The nuclear receptor-related factor 1 (Nurr1), an orphan nuclear receptor in microglia, has been recognized as a major player in attenuating the transcription of the pro-inflammatory genes to maintain CNS homeostasis. In this study, we investigate Nurr1 trans-repression activity by targeting this receptor with one of the indole derivatives 3-Indole acetic acid hydrazide (IAAH) loaded onto zinc iron oxide (ZnFe2O4) NPs coated with PEG. XRD, SEM, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and DLS were used to characterize the synthesized IAAH-NPs. The anti-inflammatory properties of IAAH-NPs on LPS-stimulated SimA9 microglia were assayed by measuring pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expressions and protein levels using RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. As a result, IAAH-NPs showed an ability to suppress pro-inflammatory genes, including IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated SimA9 via targeting Nurr1. The current study suggests that ZnFe2O4 NPs as a delivery system can increase the efficiency of cellular uptake and enhance the IAAH ability to inhibit the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Collectively, we demonstrate that IAAH-NPs is a potential modulator of Nurr1 that combines nanotechnology as a delivery system to suppress neuroinflammation in CNS which opens a window for possible ambitious neuroprotective therapeutic approaches to neuro disorders.

Visible and Red Light-Triggered Anticancer Profile of a Ferrocene-Re(I)-Tricarbonyl Conjugate: Experimental and Theoretical Studies

We have red-shifted the light absorbance property of a Re(I)-tricarbonyl complex via distant conjugation of a ferrocene moiety and developed a novel complex ReFctp, [Re(Fctp)(CO)3Cl], where Fctp = 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine. ReFctp showed green to red light absorption ability and blue emission, indicating its potential for photodynamic therapy (PDT) application. The conjugation of ferrocene introduced ferrocene-based transitions, which lie at a higher wavelength within the PDT therapeutic window. The time-dependent density functional theory and excited state calculations revealed an efficient intersystem crossing for ReFctp, which is helpful for PDT. ReFctp elicited both PDT type I and type II pathways for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and facilitated NADH (1,4-dihydro-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) oxidation upon exposure to visible light. Importantly, ReFctp showed effective penetration through the layers of clinically relevant 3D multicellular tumor spheroids and localized primarily in mitochondria (Pearson's correlation coefficient, PCC = 0.65) of A549 cancer cells. ReFctp produced more than 20 times higher phototoxicity (IC50 ∼1.5 μM) by inducing ROS generation and altering mitochondrial membrane potential in A549 cancer cells than the nonferrocene analogue Retp, [Re(CO)3(tp)Cl], where tp = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine. ReFctp induced apoptotic mode of cell death with a notable photocytotoxicity index (PI, PI = IC50dark/IC50light) and selectivity index (SI, SI = normal cell's IC50dark/cancer cell's IC50light) in the range of 25-33.

Evaluation of the synergistic effects of curcumin-resveratrol co-loaded biogenic silica on colorectal cancer cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health concern, being the third most diagnosed cancer in men and the second most diagnosed cancer in women, with alarming mortality rates. Natural phytochemicals have gained prominence among various therapeutic avenues explored due to their diverse biological properties. Curcumin, extracted from turmeric, and resveratrol, a polyphenol found in several plants, have exhibited remarkable anticancer activities. However, their limited solubility and bioavailability hinder their therapeutic efficacy. To enhance the bioavailability of these compounds, nanomaterials work as effective carriers with biogenic silica (BS) attracting major attention owing to their exceptional biocompatibility and high specific surface area. In this study, we developed Curcumin-resveratrol-loaded BS (Cur-Res-BS) and investigated their effects on colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and Caco-2). Our results demonstrated significant concentration-dependent inhibition of cell viability in HCT-116 cells and revealed a complex interplay of crucial proto-onco or tumor suppressor genes, such as TP53, Bax, Wnt-1, and CTNNB1, which are commonly dysregulated in colorectal cancer. Notably, Cur-Res-BS exhibited a synergistic impact on key signaling pathways related to colorectal carcinogenesis. While these findings are promising, further investigations are essential to comprehensively understand the mechanisms and optimize the therapeutic strategy. Moreover, rigorous safety assessments and in vitro studies mimicking the in vivo environment are imperative before advancing to in vivo experiments, ensuring the potential of Cur-Res-BS as an efficient treatment for CRC.

Pathways for macrophage uptake of cell-free circular RNAs

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable RNAs present in cell-free RNA, which may comprise cellular debris and pathogen genomes. Here, we investigate the phenomenon and mechanism of cellular uptake and intracellular fate of exogenous circRNAs. Human myeloid cells and B cells selectively internalize extracellular circRNAs. Macrophage uptake of circRNA is rapid, energy dependent, and saturable. CircRNA uptake can lead to translation of encoded sequences and antigen presentation. The route of internalization influences immune activation after circRNA uptake, with distinct gene expression programs depending on the route of RNA delivery. Genome-scale CRISPR screens and chemical inhibitor studies nominate macrophage scavenger receptor MSR1, Toll-like receptors, and mTOR signaling as key regulators of receptor-mediated phagocytosis of circRNAs, a dominant pathway to internalize circRNAs in parallel to macropinocytosis. These results suggest that cell-free circRNA serves as an "eat me" signal and danger-associated molecular pattern, indicating orderly pathways of recognition and disposal.

Impact of physicochemical properties on biological effects of lipid nanoparticles: Are they completely safe

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are promising materials and human-use approved excipients, with manifold applications in biomedicine. Researchers have tended to focus on improving the pharmacological efficiency and organ targeting of LNPs, while paid relatively less attention to the negative aspects created by their specific physicochemical properties. Here, we discuss the impacts of LNPs' physicochemical properties (size, surface hydrophobicity, surface charge, surface modification and lipid composition) on the adsorption-transportation-distribution-clearance processes and bio-nano interactions. In addition, since there is a lack of review emphasizing on toxicological profiles of LNPs, this review outlined immunogenicity, inflammation, hemolytic toxicity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by LNPs and the underlying mechanisms, with the aim to understand the properties that underlie the biological effects of these materials. This provides a basic strategy that increased efficacy of medical application with minimized side-effects can be achieved by modulating the physicochemical properties of LNPs. Therefore, addressing the effects of physicochemical properties on toxicity induced by LNPs is critical for understanding their environmental and health risks and will help clear the way for LNPs-based drugs to eventually fulfill their promise as a highly effective therapeutic agents for diverse diseases in clinic.

Exploring the potential of black cumin derived nanovesicles for miRNA drug delivery

Liposomes is a non-viral vector drug delivery system. Nevertheless, the existing commercial liposomes are quite expensive and not always affordable, particularly in developing countries. To address this challenge, plant-derived nanoparticles offer a cost-effective alternative while maintaining similar drug delivery capabilities. Hence, this study aimed to explore the potential of nanovesicles derived from black cumin (Nigella sativa) as a miRNA delivery system. Gradient sucrose-centrifugation was utilized to separate the nanovesicles derived from black cumin. Subsequently, these isolated nanovesicles, originating from black cumin, underwent centrifugation at a speed of 11,000 rpm. The miRNAs were encapsulated within these nanovesicles through the ethanol injection method. Morphological examinations of the nanovesicles derived from black cumin and DOTAP, as the positive control, were conducted using TEM and SEM. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the nanovesicles derived from black cumin was evaluated through the MTT assay on the MCF-7 cell line. Lastly, the process of internalization for both the black cumin-derived nanovesicles and DOTAP was visualized using a confocal microscope. Results demonstrated the successful isolation of nanovesicles from black cumin using the sucrose gradient method. These particles exhibited a spherical shape with diameters ranging from 100 nm to 200 nm, featuring a negative surface charge. When MCF-7 cells were exposed to black cumin-derived nanovesicles at a concentration of 12 mg/mL, cell viability reached 89.8 %, showing no significant difference compared to the positive control (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the MCF-7 cell line effectively internalized the black cumin-derived nanovesicles after a 45-minute incubation period. Notably, the encapsulation of miRNA within these nanovesicles demonstrated an impressive entrapment efficiency of 76.4 %. Subsequent transfection of miRNA-loaded black cumin-derived nanovesicles resulted in a substantial inhibition of MCF-7 cell viability, reducing it to 67 % after 48 h of treatment. These findings underscore the potential of black cumin-derived nanovesicles as potential nanovectors for the encapsulation and delivery of miRNA within drug delivery systems, offering a cost-effective and accessible solution for advanced drug delivery technologies, particularly in developing country.

Liposome nanoparticle conjugation and cell penetrating peptide sequences (CPPs) enhance the cellular delivery of the tau aggregation inhibitor RI-AG03

Given the pathological role of Tau aggregation in Alzheimer's disease (AD), our laboratory previously developed the novel Tau aggregation inhibitor peptide, RI-AG03. As Tau aggregates accumulate intracellularly, it is essential that the peptide can traverse the cell membrane. Here we examine the cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking of RI-AG03, in both a free and liposome-conjugated form. We also characterize the impact of adding the cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) sequences, polyarginine (polyR) or transactivator of transcription (TAT), to RI-AG03. Our data show that liposome conjugation of CPP containing RI-AG03 peptides, with either the polyR or TAT sequence, increased cellular liposome association three-fold. Inhibition of macropinocytosis modestly reduced the uptake of unconjugated and RI-AG03-polyR-linked liposomes, while having no effect on RI-AG03-TAT-conjugated liposome uptake. Further supporting macropinocytosis-mediated internalization, a 'fair' co-localisation of the free and liposome-conjugated RI-AG03-polyR peptide with macropinosomes and lysosomes was observed. Interestingly, we also demonstrate that RI-AG03-polyR detaches from liposomes following cellular uptake, thereby largely evading organellar entrapment. Collectively, our data indicate that direct membrane penetration and macropinocytosis are key routes for the internalization of liposomes conjugated with CPP containing RI-AG03. Our study also demonstrates that peptide-liposomes are suitable nanocarriers for the cellular delivery of RI-AG03, furthering their potential use in targeting Tau pathology in AD.

Nano-enabled delivery of diosgenin and emodin ameliorates respirable silica dust-induced pulmonary fibrosis silicosis in rats

Oxidative stress and inflammation play a fundamental role in the beginning and advancement of silicosis. Hence, questing active phytocompounds (APCs) with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties such as diosgenin (DG) and emodin (ED) can be a therapeutic intervention targeting silica-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Hydrophobicity and low bioavailability are the barriers that restrict the therapeutic efficacy of DG and ED against pulmonary defects. Encapsulating these APCs in polymeric nanoparticles can overcome this limitation. The present study has thus explored the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) individually loaded with DG (DGn) or ED (EDn) and in combine DG+ED [(DG+ED)n] in respirable silica dust (RSD)-induced pulmonary fibrosis silicosis rat model. Our study found that individual and combined NPs revealed physiochemical characteristics appropriate for IV administration with sustained-drug release purposes. Physiological evaluations of RSD-induced silicosis rats suggested that no treatment could improve the body weight. Still, they reduced the lung coefficient by maintaining lung moisture. Only (DG+ED)n significantly cleared free lung silica. All interventions were found to attribute the increased per cent cell viability in BALF, reduce cytotoxicity via minimizing LDH levels, and balance the oxidant-antioxidant status in silicotic rats. The expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, and TGF-β1) were efficiently down-regulated with NPs interventions compared to pure (DG+ED) treatment. All drug treatments significantly declined, the 8-HdG and HYP productions indicate that RSD-induced oxidative DNA damage and collagen deposition were successfully repaired. Moreover, histopathological investigations proposed that individual or combined drugs NPs interventions could decrease the fibrosis and alveolitis grades in RSD-induced silicosis rats. However, (DG+ED)n intervention significantly inhibited pulmonary fibrosis and alveolitis compared to pure (DG+ED) treatment. In conclusion, the RSD can induce oxidative stress and inflammation in rats, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cytotoxicity to pulmonary cells and leading to silicosis development. The IV administration of combined NP suppressed lung inflammation and collagen formation by maintaining oxidant-antioxidant status and effectively interrupting the fibrosis-silicosis progression. These results may be attributed to the improved bioavailability of DG and ED through their combined nano-encapsulation-mediated targeted drug delivery.

Cysteine-independent CRISPR-Associated Protein Labeling for Presentation and Co-delivery of Molecules Toward Genetic and Epigenetic Regulations

Labeling of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) associated proteins (Cas) remains an immense challenge for their genome engineering applications. To date, cysteine-mediated bioconjugation is the most efficient strategy for labeling Cas proteins. However, introducing a cysteine residue in the protein at the right place might be challenging without perturbing the enzymatic activity. We report a method that does not require cysteine residues for small molecule presentation on the CRISPR-associated protein SpCas9 for in vitro protein detection, probing cellular protein expression, and nuclear co-delivery of molecules in mammalian cells. We repurposed a simple protein purification tag His6 peptide for non-covalent labeling of molecules on the CRISPR enzyme SpCas9. The small molecule labeling enabled us to rapidly detect SpCas9 in a biochemical assay. We demonstrate that small molecule labeling can be utilized for probing bacterial protein expression in realtime. Furthermore, we coupled SpCas9's nuclear-targeting ability in co-delivering the presenting small molecules to the mammalian cell nucleus for prospective genome engineering applications. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the method can be generalized to label oligonucleotides for multiplexing CRISPR-based genome editing and template-mediated DNA repair applications. This work paves the way for genomic loci-specific bioactive small molecule and oligonucleotide co-delivery toward genetic and epigenetic regulations.

Nanoparticle Anisotropy Increases Targeting Interactions on Live-Cell Membranes

This paper describes how branch lengths of anisotropic nanoparticles can affect interactions between grafted ligands and cell-membrane receptors. Using live-cell, single-particle tracking, we found that DNA aptamer-gold nanostar nanoconstructs with longer branches showed improved binding efficacy to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) on cancer cell membranes. Inhibiting nanoconstruct-HER2 binding promoted nonspecific interactions, which increased the rotational speed of long-branched nanoconstructs but did not affect that of short-branched constructs. Bivariate analysis of the rotational and translational dynamics showed that longer branch lengths increased the ratio of targeting to nontargeting interactions. We also found that longer branches increased the nanoconstruct-cell interaction times before internalization and decreased intracellular trafficking velocities. Differences in binding efficacy revealed by single-particle dynamics can be attributed to the distinct protein corona distributions on short- and long-branched nanoconstructs, as validated by transmission electron microscopy. Minimal protein adsorption at the high positive curvature tips of long-branched nanoconstructs facilitated binding of DNA aptamer ligands to HER2. Our study reveals the significance of nanoparticle branch length in regulating local chemical environment and interactions with live cells at the single-particle level.

Gentamicin loaded niosomes against intracellular uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial infections and uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the main etiological agent of UTIs. UPEC can persist in bladder cells protected by immunological defenses and antibiotics and intracellular behavior leads to difficulty in eradicating the infection. The aim of this paper is to design, prepare and characterize surfactant-based nanocarriers (niosomes) able to entrap antimicrobial drug and potentially to delivery and release antibiotics into UPEC-infected cells. In order to validate the proposed drug delivery system, gentamicin, was chosen as "active model drug" due to its poor cellular penetration. The niosomes physical-chemical characterization was performed combining different techniques: Dynamic Light Scattering Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy. Empty and loaded niosomes were characterized in terms of size, ζ-potential, bilayer features and stability. Moreover, Gentamicin entrapped amount was evaluated, and the release study was also carried out. In addition, the effect of empty and loaded niosomes was studied on the invasion ability of UPEC strains in T24 bladder cell monolayers by Gentamicin Protection Assay and Confocal Microscopy. The observed decrease in UPEC invasion rate leads us to hypothesize a release of antibiotic from niosomes inside the cells. The optimization of the proposed drug delivery system could represent a promising strategy to significatively enhance the internalization of antimicrobial drugs.

Influence of metallic particles and TNF on the transcriptional regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated genes in human osteoblasts

Introduction

The release of mature interleukin (IL-) 1β from osteoblasts in response to danger signals is tightly regulated by the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. These danger signals include wear products resulting from aseptic loosening of joint arthroplasty. However, inflammasome activation requires two different signals: a nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-activating priming signal and an actual inflammasome-activating signal. Since human osteoblasts react to wear particles via Toll-like receptors (TLR), particles may represent an inflammasome activator that can induce both signals.

Methods

Temporal gene expression profiles of TLRs and associated intracellular signaling pathways were determined to investigate the period when human osteoblasts take up metallic wear particles after initial contact and initiate a molecular response. For this purpose, human osteoblasts were treated with metallic particles derived from cobalt-chromium alloy (CoCr), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) alone or in combination for incubation times ranging from one hour to three days. Shortly after adding the particles, their uptake was observed by the change in cell morphology and spectral data.

Results

Exposure of osteoblasts to particles alone increased NLRP3 inflammasome-associated genes. The response was not significantly enhanced when cells were treated with CoCr + LPS or CoCr + TNF, whereas inflammation markers were induced. Despite an increase in genes related to the NLRP3 inflammasome, the release of IL-1β was unaffected after contact with CoCr particles.

Discussion

Although CoCr particles affect the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated genes, a single stimulus was not sufficient to prime and activate the inflammasome. TNF was able to prime the NLRP3 inflammasome of human osteoblasts.

Critical evaluation of the potential of ICP-MS-based systems in toxicological studies of metallic nanoparticles

The extensive application of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) in several fields has significantly impacted our daily lives. Nonetheless, uncertainties persist regarding the toxicity and potential risks associated with the vast number of NPs entering the environment and human bodies, so the performance of toxicological studies are highly demanded. While traditional assays focus primarily on the effects, the comprehension of the underlying processes requires innovative analytical approaches that can detect, characterize, and quantify NPs in complex biological matrices. Among the available alternatives to achieve this information, mass spectrometry, and more concretely, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), has emerged as an appealing option. This work critically reviews the valuable contribution of ICP-MS-based techniques to investigate NP toxicity and their transformations during in vitro and in vivo toxicological assays. Various ICP-MS modalities, such as total elemental analysis, single particle or single-cell modes, and coupling with separation techniques, as well as the potential of laser ablation as a spatially resolved sample introduction approach, are explored and discussed. Moreover, this review addresses limitations, novel trends, and perspectives in the field of nanotoxicology, particularly concerning NP internalization and pathways. These processes encompass cellular uptake and quantification, localization, translocation to other cell compartments, and biological transformations. By leveraging the capabilities of ICP-MS, researchers can gain deeper insights into the behaviour and effects of NPs, which can pave the way for safer and more responsible use of these materials.

Facile Synthesis of Novel Ti2C Nano Bipyramids for Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer

Photo-responsive synergetic therapeutics achieved significant attraction in cancer theranostic due to the versatile characteristics of nanomaterials. There have been substantial efforts in developing the simplest nano-design with exceptional synergistic properties and multifunctionalities. In this work, biocompatible Ti2C MXene nano bipyramids (MNBPs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method with dual functionalities of photothermal and photodynamic therapies. The MNBPs shape was obtained from two-dimensional (2D) Ti2C nanosheets by controlling the temperature of the reaction mixture. The structure of these Ti2C MNBPs was characterized by a high-resolution transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The Ti2C NBPs have shown exceptional photothermal properties with increased temperature to 72.3 °C under 808 nm laser irradiation. The designed nano bipyramids demonstrated excellent cellular uptake and biocompatibility. The Ti2C NBP has established a remarkable photothermal therapy (PTT) effect against 4T1 breast cancer cells. Moreover, Ti2C NBPs showed a profound response to UV light (6 mW/cm2) and produced reactive oxygen species, making them useful for photodynamic therapy (PDT). These in-vitro studies pave a new path to tune the properties of photo-responsive MXene nanosheets, indicating a potential use in biomedical applications.

Internalization and toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics on inmortalized human neural stem cells

Global plastic production has increased exponentially in recent decades, and a significant part of it persists in the environment, where it degrades into microplastics and nanoplastics (MPs and NPs). These can enter in humans by ingestion, inhalation, and dermal routes, and there is scientific evidence that they are able to reach the systemic circulation and penetrate and accumulate in various tissues and organs. Neurodevelopmental toxicity of NPs is one of the most worrying effects, as they can cross the blood-brain barrier. In the following study, we analyzed, by transmission electron microscopy, the in vitro uptake of 30-nm polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) into human neural stem cells (NSCs), their accumulation and subcellular localization within the cell. Furthermore, we studied the effects of different concentrations of PS-NPs on cell death, proliferation, and cell differentiation using immunocytochemistry and quantitative real time PCR for specific markers. This study demonstrated that PS-NPs were able to enter the cell, probably by endocytosis, accumulate, and aggregated in human NSCs, without being detected in the nucleus, causing cell death by apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation. This study provides new insights into the interaction and effects of PS-NPs in human NSC and supports the scientific evidence for the involvement of nanoplastic in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Cytotoxicity of Quantum Dots in Receptor-Mediated Endocytic and Pinocytic Pathways in Yeast

Despite the promising applications of the use of quantum dots (QDs) in the biomedical field, the long-lasting effects of QDs on the cell remain poorly understood. To comprehend the mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of QDs in yeast, we characterized defects associated with receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) as well as pinocytosis using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model in the presence of cadmium selenide/zinc sulfide (CdSe/ZnS) QDs. Our findings revealed that QDs led to an inefficient RME at the early, intermediate, and late stages of endocytic patch maturation at the endocytic site, with the prolonged lifespan of GFP fused yeast fimbrin (Sac6-GFP), a late marker of endocytosis. The transit of FM1-43, a lipophilic dye from the plasma membrane to the vacuole, was severely retarded in the presence of QDs. Finally, QDs caused an accumulation of monomeric red fluorescent protein fused carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (mRFP-Cps1), a vacuolar lumen marker in the vacuole. In summary, the present study provides novel insights into the possible impact of CdSe/ZnS QDs on the endocytic machinery, enabling a deeper comprehension of QD toxicity.

Biotinylated Photocleavable Semiconductor Colloidal Quantum Dot Supraparticle Microlaser

Luminescent supraparticles of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals can act as microscopic lasers and are hugely attractive for biosensing, imaging, and drug delivery. However, biointerfacing these to increase functionality while retaining their main optical properties remains an unresolved challenge. Here, we propose and demonstrate red-emitting, silica-coated CdSxSe1-x/ZnS colloidal quantum dot supraparticles functionalized with a biotinylated photocleavable ligand. The success of each step of the synthesis is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ζ-potential, and optical pumping measurements. The capture and release functionality of the supraparticle system is proven by binding to a neutravidin functionalized glass slide and subsequently cleaving off after UV-A irradiation. The biotinylated supraparticles still function as microlasers; e.g., a 9 μm diameter supraparticle has oscillating modes around 625 nm at a threshold of 58 mJ/cm2. This work is a first step toward using supraparticle lasers as enhanced labels for bionano applications.

Encapsulation of short-chain bioactive peptides (BAPs) for gastrointestinal delivery: a review

The majority of known peptides with high bioactivity (BAPs) such as antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actions, are short-chain sequences of less than ten amino acids. These short-chain BAPs of varying natural and synthetic origin must be bioaccessible to be capable of being adsorbed systemically upon oral administration to show their full range of bioactivity. However, in general, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that gastrointestinal digestion reduces BAPs bioactivity unless they are protected from degradation by encapsulation. This review gives a critical analysis of short-chain BAP encapsulation and performance with regard to the oral delivery route. In particular, it focuses on short-chain BAPs with antihypertensive and antidiabetic activity and encapsulation methods via nanoparticles and microparticles. Also addressed are the different wall materials used to form these particles and their associated payloads and release kinetics, along with the current challenges and a perspective of the future applications of these systems.

Macrophages as carriers of boron carbide nanoparticles dedicated to boron neutron capture therapy

BACKGROUND

The use of cells as carriers for the delivery of nanoparticles is a promising approach in anticancer therapy, mainly due to their natural properties, such as biocompatibility and non-immunogenicity. Cellular carriers prevent the rapid degradation of nanoparticles, improve their distribution, reduce cytotoxicity and ensure selective delivery to the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, we propose the use of phagocytic cells as boron carbide nanoparticle carriers for boron delivery to the tumor microenvironment in boron neutron capture therapy.

RESULTS

Macrophages originating from cell lines and bone marrow showed a greater ability to interact with boron carbide (B4C) than dendritic cells, especially the preparation containing larger nanoparticles (B4C 2). Consequently, B4C 2 caused greater toxicity and induced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by these cells. However, migration assays demonstrated that macrophages loaded with B4C 1 migrated more efficiently than with B4C 2. Therefore, smaller nanoparticles (B4C 1) with lower toxicity but similar ability to activate macrophages proved to be more attractive.

CONCLUSIONS

Macrophages could be promising cellular carriers for boron carbide nanoparticle delivery, especially B4C 1 to the tumor microenvironment and thus prospective use in boron neutron capture therapy.

Mannosylated polyethylenimine-cholesterol-based nanoparticles for targeted delivery of minicircle DNA vaccine against COVID-19 to antigen-presenting cells

DNA vaccines can be a potential solution to protect global health, triggering both humoral and cellular immune responses. DNA vaccines are valuable in preventing intracellular pathogen infections, and therefore can be explored against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This work explored different systems based on polyethylenimine (PEI), functionalized for the first time with both cholesterol (CHOL) and mannose (MAN) to deliver parental plasmid (PP) and minicircle DNA (mcDNA) vectors encoding the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 to antigen-presenting cells (APCs). For comparative purposes, three different systems were evaluated: PEI, PEI-CHOL and PEI-CHOL-MAN. The systems were prepared at various nitrogen-to-phosphate group (N/P) ratios and characterized in terms of encapsulation efficiency, surface charge, size, polydispersity index (PDI), morphology, and stability over time. Moreover, in vitro transfection studies of dendritic cells (JAWS II) and human fibroblast cells were performed. Viability studies assured the biocompatibility of all nanocarriers. Confocal microscopy studies confirmed intracellular localization of systems, resulting in enhanced cellular uptake using PEI-CHOL and PEI-CHOL-MAN systems when compared with the PEI system. Regarding the RBD expression, PEI-CHOL-MAN was the system that led to the highest levels of transcripts and protein expression in JAWS II cells. Furthermore, the nanosystems significantly stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokines production and dendritic cell maturation in vitro. Overall, mannosylated systems can be considered a valuable tool in the delivery of plasmid DNA or mcDNA vaccines to APCs.

Empowering Naringin's Anti-Inflammatory Effects through Nanoencapsulation

Abundant in citrus fruits, naringin (NAR) is a flavonoid that has a wide spectrum of beneficial health effects, including its anti-inflammatory activity. However, its use in the clinic is limited due to extensive phase I and II first-pass metabolism, which limits its bioavailability. Thus, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) were used to protect and concentrate NAR in inflamed issues, to enhance its anti-inflammatory effects. To target LNPs to the CD44 receptor, overexpressed in activated macrophages, functionalization with hyaluronic acid (HA) was performed. The formulation with NAR and HA on the surface (NAR@NPsHA) has a size below 200 nm, a polydispersity around 0.245, a loading capacity of nearly 10%, and a zeta potential of about 10 mV. In vitro studies show the controlled release of NAR along the gastrointestinal tract, high cytocompatibility (L929 and THP-1 cell lines), and low hemolytic activity. It was also shown that the developed LNPs can regulate inflammatory mediators. In fact, NAR@NPsHA were able to decrease TNF-α and CCL-3 markers expression by 80 and 90% and manage to inhibit the effects of LPS by around 66% for IL-1β and around 45% for IL-6. Overall, the developed LNPs may represent an efficient drug delivery system with an enhanced anti-inflammatory effect.

Nanocarrier-based gene delivery for immune cell engineering

Clinical advances in genetically modified immune cell therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies, have raised hope for cancer treatment. The majority of these biotechnologies are based on viral methods for ex vivo genetic modification of the immune cells, while the non-viral methods are still in the developmental phase. Nanocarriers have been emerging as materials of choice for gene delivery to immune cells. This is due to their versatile physicochemical properties such as large surface area and size that can be optimized to overcome several practical barriers to successful gene delivery. The in vivo nanocarrier-based gene delivery can revolutionize cell-based cancer immunotherapies by replacing the current expensive autologous cell manufacturing with an off-the-shelf biomaterial-based platform. The aim of this research is to review current advances and strategies to overcome the challenges in nanoparticle-based gene delivery and their impact on the efficiency, safety, and specificity of the process. The main focus is on polymeric and lipid-based nanocarriers, and their recent preclinical applications for cancer immunotherapy.

Microneedle Delivery Platform Integrated with Codelivery Nanoliposomes for Effective and Safe Androgenetic Alopecia Treatment

Although topical application of minoxidil is a widely used, FDA-approved therapy for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) treatment, it suffers from low bioavailability, the requirement for frequent long-term use, and side effects. With a similar structure as minoxidil, kopexil and kopyrrol are less toxic and have been commercialized, but show an inferior hair regeneration effect compared to minoxidil. Herein, we developed a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based dissolvable microneedles (MNs) delivery platform integrated with kopexil and kopyrrol coencapsulated nanoliposomes (KK-NLPs) to effectively and safely treat AGA. Facilitated by nanoliposomes and MNs, the encapsulated KK-NLPs performed efficient skin penetration and enhanced cellular internalization into human dermal papilla cells. Furthermore, within the target cells, the codelivered kopexil and kopyrrol show synergistic effects by orchestrating an upregulation in the expression of Ki67, β-catenin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD31. These molecular responses collectively foster cell proliferation, migration, and antioxidative effects, thereby facilitating the expedited progression of hair follicles (HFs) into the anagen phase and promoting peripheral angiogenesis. Notably, the KK-NLPs-integrated MNs treatment group exhibits noteworthy enhanced hair regeneration in vivo, with identical or superior therapeutic effects at a much lower dosage than that of minoxidil. These results suggest the great potential of this kopexil and kopyrrol codelivery nanoliposomes-integrated MNs platform for AGA treatment in a safe and efficient way.

CARBON DOTS: Bioimaging and Anticancer Drug Delivery

Cancer, responsible for approximately 10 million lives annually, urgently requires innovative treatments, as well as solutions to mitigate the limitations of traditional chemotherapy, such as long-term adverse side effects and multidrug resistance. This review focuses on Carbon Dots (CDs), an emergent class of nanoparticles (NPs) with remarkable physicochemical and biological properties, and their burgeoning applications in bioimaging and as nanocarriers in drug delivery systems for cancer treatment. The review initiates with an overview of NPs as nanocarriers, followed by an in-depth look into the biological barriers that could affect their distribution, from barriers to administration, to intracellular trafficking. It further explores CDs' synthesis, including both bottom-up and top-down approaches, and their notable biocompatibility, supported by a selection of in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo studies. Special attention is given to CDs' role in bioimaging, highlighting their optical properties. The discussion extends to their emerging significance as drug carriers, particularly in the delivery of doxorubicin and other anticancer agents, underscoring recent advancements and challenges in this field. Finally, we showcase examples of other promising bioapplications of CDs, emergent owing to the NPs flexible design. As research on CDs evolves, we envisage key challenges, as well as the potential of CD-based systems in bioimaging and cancer therapy.

In vitro evaluation of physicochemical-dependent effects of polymeric nanoparticles on their cellular uptake and co-localization using pulmonary calu-3 cell lines

OBJECTIVE

The study evaluated physicochemical properties of eight different polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) and their interaction with lung barrier and their suitability for pulmonary drug delivery.

METHODS

Eight physiochemically different NPs were fabricated from Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA, PL) and Poly glycerol adipate-co-ω-pentadecalactone (PGA-co-PDL, PG) via emulsification-solvent evaporation. Pulmonary barrier integrity was investigated in vitro using Calu-3 under air-liquid interface. NPs internalization was investigated using a group of pharmacological inhibitors with subsequent microscopic visual confirmation.

RESULTS

Eight NPs were successfully formulated from two polymers using emulsion-solvent evaporation; 200, 500 and 800 nm, negatively-charged and positively-charged. All different NPs did not alter tight junctions and PG NPs showed similar behavior to PL NPs, indicating its suitability for pulmonary drug delivery. Active endocytosis uptake mechanisms with physicochemical dependent manner were observed. In addition, NPs internalization and co-localization with lysosomes were visually confirmed indicating their vesicular transport.

CONCLUSION

PG and PL NPs had shown no or low harmful effects on the barrier integrity, and with effective internalization and vesicular transport, thus, prospectively can be designed for pulmonary delivery applications.

Carbon monoxide release from ultrasound-sensitive microbubbles improves endothelial cell growth

Carbon monoxide is a gasotransmitter that may be beneficial for vascular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies because it can promote endothelial cell (EC) proliferation and migration by binding to heme-containing compounds within cells. For example, CO may be beneficial for vascular cognitive impairment and dementia because many patients' disrupted blood-brain barriers do not heal naturally. However, control of the CO dose is critical, and new controlled delivery methods need to be developed. This study developed ultrasound-sensitive microbubbles with a carefully controlled precipitation technique, loaded them with CO, and assessed their ability to promote EC proliferation and function. Microbubbles fabricated with perfluoropentane exhibited good stability at room temperature, but they could still be ruptured and release CO in culture with application of ultrasound. Microbubbles synthesized from the higher boiling point compound, perfluorohexane, were too stable at physiological temperature. The lower-boiling point perfluoropentane microbubbles had good biocompatibility and appeared to improve VE-cadherin expression when CO was loaded in the bubbles. Finally, tissue phantoms were used to show that an imaging ultrasound probe can efficiently rupture the microbubbles and that the CO-loaded microbubbles can improve EC spreading and proliferation compared to control conditions without microbubbles as well as microbubbles without application of ultrasound. Overall, this study demonstrated the potential for use of these ultrasound-sensitive microbubbles for improving blood vessel endothelialization.

Lauric acid-based thermosensitive delivery system for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Traditional treatments for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, often have severe side effects. Local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents can be a promising approach to minimise systemic toxicity and improve efficacy. Lauric acid (LA), was explored as a novel injectable thermosensitive drug reservoir as a depot for sustained release of anticancer drugs to treat HNSCC. LA was characterised in terms of melting temperature and gelation time. The efficacy of LA-based drug formulations was tested in vitro in a HNSCC cell line and in vivo in a mouse model of HNSCC. LA was modified to have a melting point of 38.5 °C and a gelation time of 40 s at 37.5 °C, rendering it suitable for injection at body temperature. LA- based doxorubicin (DOXO) formulation showed slow release with a maximum of 18% release after 3 days. The in vitro study showed that LA enhanced the cytotoxic effect of DOXO. LA combined with DOXO prevented tumour progression and LA alone significantly reduced the original tumour volume compared to the untreated control group. These findings confirmed that LA can function as practical carrier for the local delivery of chemotherapeutics and provides a safe and simple strategy for the delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs and warrant further testing in clinical trials.

Dumbbell-shaped bimetallic AuPd nanoenzymes for NIR-II cascade catalysis-photothermal synergistic therapy

The noble metal NPs that are currently applied to photothermal therapy (PTT) have their photoexcitation location mainly in the NIR-I range, and the low tissue penetration limits their therapeutic effect. The complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) makes it difficult to inhibit tumor growth completely with a single therapy. Although TME has a high level of H2O2, the intratumor H2O2 content is still insufficient to catalyze the generation of sufficient hydroxide radicals (‧OH) to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects. The AuPd-GOx-HA (APGH) was obtained from AuPd bimetallic nanodumbbells modified by glucose oxidase (GOx) and hyaluronic acid (HA) for photothermal enhancement of tumor starvation and cascade catalytic therapy in the NIR-II region. The CAT-like activity of AuPd alleviates tumor hypoxia by catalyzing the decomposition of H2O2 into O2. The GOx-mediated intratumoral glucose oxidation on the one hand can block the supply of energy and nutrients essential for tumor growth, leading to tumor starvation. On the other hand, the generated H2O2 can continuously supply local O2, which also exacerbates glucose depletion. The peroxidase-like activity of bimetallic AuPd can catalyze the production of toxic ‧OH radicals from H2O2, enabling cascade catalytic therapy. In addition, the high photothermal conversion efficiency (η = 50.7 %) of APGH nanosystems offers the possibility of photothermal imaging-guided photothermal therapy. The results of cell and animal experiments verified that APGH has good biosafety, tumor targeting, and anticancer effects, and is a precious metal nanotherapeutic system integrating glucose starvation therapy, nano enzyme cascade catalytic therapy, and PTT therapy. This study provides a strategy for photothermal-cascade catalytic synergistic therapy combining both exogenous and endogenous processes. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: AuPd-GOx-HA cascade nanoenzymes were prepared as a potent cascade catalytic therapeutic agent, which enhanced glucose depletion, exacerbated tumor starvation and promoted cancer cell apoptosis by increasing ROS production through APGH-like POD activity. The designed system has promising photothermal conversion ability in the NIR-II region, simultaneously realizing photothermal-enhanced catalysis, PTT, and catalysis/PTT synergistic therapy both in vitro and in vivo. The present work provides an approach for designing and developing catalytic-photothermal therapies based on bimetallic nanoenzymatic cascades.

Cell-particles interaction - selective uptake and transport of microdiamonds

Diamond particles have recently emerged as novel agents in cellular studies because of their superb biocompatibility. Their unique characteristics, including small size and the presence of fluorescent color centers, stimulate many important applications. However, the mechanism of interaction between cells and diamond particles-uptake, transport, and final localization within cells-is not yet fully understood. Herein, we show a novel, to the best of our knowledge, cell behavior wherein cells actively target and uptake diamond particles rather than latex beads from their surroundings, followed by their active transport within cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that myosin-X is involved in cell-particle interaction, while myosin-II does not participate in particle uptake and transport. These results can have important implications for drug delivery and improve sensing methods that use diamond particles.

Design, optimization, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of metformin-loaded liposomes for triple negative breast cancer treatment

Recently, metformin (Met) has shown to have antineoplastic properties in cancer treatment by improving hypoxic tumor conditions, and causing reduction in the synthesis of biomolecules, which are vital for cancer growth. However, as an orally administered drug, Met has low bioavailability and rapid renal clearance. Thus, the goal of this study was to vectorize Met inside liposomes in the context of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), which currently lacks treatment options when compared to other types of breast cancer. Vectorization of Met inside liposomes was done using Bangham method by implementing double design of experiment methodology to increase Met drug loading (minimum-run resolution V characterization design and Box-Behnken design), as it is generally extremely low for hydrophilic molecules. Optimization of Met-loaded liposome synthesis was successfully achieved with drug loading of 190 mg/g (19% w/w). The optimal Met-liposomes were 170 nm in diameter with low PdI (< 0.1) and negative surface charge (-20 mV), exhibiting sustained Met release at pH 7.4. The liposomal Met delivery system was stable over several months, and successfully reduced TNBC cell proliferation due to the encapsulated drug. This study is one the first reports addressing liposome formulation through thin-film hydration using two design of experiment methods aiming to increase drug loading of Met.

siRNA Delivery from Cationic Nanocarriers Prepared by Diffusion-assisted Loading in the Presence and Absence of Electrostatic Interactions

In this study, we use modified cationic nanocarriers as vehicles for the intracellular delivery of therapeutic siRNA. After developing nanocarrier formulations with appropriate pKa, size, swellability, and cytocompatibility, we investigated the importance of siRNA loading methods by studying the impact of the pH and time over which siRNA is loaded into the nanocarriers. We concentrate on diffusion-based loading in the presence and absence of electrostatic interactions. siRNA release kinetics were studied using samples prepared from nanocarriers loaded by both mechanisms. In addition, siRNA delivery was evaluated for two formulations. While previous studies were conducted with samples prepared by siRNA loading at low pH values, this research provides evidence that loading conditions of siRNA affect the release behavior. This study concludes that this concept could prove advantageous for eliciting prolonged intracellular release of nucleic acids and negatively charged molecules, effectively decreasing dose frequency and contributing to more effective therapies and improved patient outcomes. In addition, our findings could be leveraged for enhanced control over siRNA release kinetics, providing novel methods for the continued optimization of cationic nanoparticles in a wide array of RNA interference-based applications.

Using imaging modalities to predict nanoparticle distribution and treatment efficacy in solid tumors: The growing role of ultrasound

Nanomedicine in oncology has not had the success in clinical impact that was anticipated in the early stages of the field's development. Ideally, nanomedicines selectively accumulate in tumor tissue and reduce systemic side effects compared to traditional chemotherapeutics. However, this has been more successful in preclinical animal models than in humans. The causes of this failure to translate may be related to the intra- and inter-patient heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment. Predicting whether a patient will respond positively to treatment prior to its initiation, through evaluation of characteristics like nanoparticle extravasation and retention potential in the tumor, may be a way to improve nanomedicine success rate. While there are many potential strategies to accomplish this, prediction and patient stratification via noninvasive medical imaging may be the most efficient and specific strategy. There have been some preclinical and clinical advances in this area using MRI, CT, PET, and other modalities. An alternative approach that has not been studied as extensively is biomedical ultrasound, including techniques such as multiparametric contrast-enhanced ultrasound (mpCEUS), doppler, elastography, and super-resolution processing. Ultrasound is safe, inexpensive, noninvasive, and capable of imaging the entire tumor with high temporal and spatial resolution. In this work, we summarize the in vivo imaging tools that have been used to predict nanoparticle distribution and treatment efficacy in oncology. We emphasize ultrasound imaging and the recent developments in the field concerning CEUS. The successful implementation of an imaging strategy for prediction of nanoparticle accumulation in tumors could lead to increased clinical translation of nanomedicines, and subsequently, improved patient outcomes. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery Emerging Technologies.

Suppression of SOCS3 expression in macrophage cells: Potential application in diabetic wound healing

Impaired polarization of M1 to M2 macrophages has been reported in diabetic wounds. We aimed to improve this polarization by down-regulation of expression of the "Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3" (SOCS3) gene in macrophages. Two oligodeoxynucleotide (ASO) sequences were designed against SOC3 mRNA and were loaded to mannosylated-polyethyleneimine (Man-PEI). The optimum N/P ratio for Man-PEI-ASO was determined to be 8 based on loading efficiency, particle size, zeta potential, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity assay. pH stability of ASO in Man-PEI-ASO and its protection from DNase I was confirmed. After in vitro treatment of macrophages with Man-PEI-ASO, SOCS3 was downregulated, SOCS1 upregulated, and SOCS1/SOCS3 ratio increased. Also, expressions of macrophage markers of M2 (IL-10, Arg1, CD206) increased and those of M1 (IL-1β, NOS2, CD68) decreased, and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) decreased while that of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 increased. All suggested a polarization into M2 phenotype. Finally, the Man-PEI-ASO was loaded in hydrogel and applied to a diabetic wound model in mice. It improved the healing to the level observed in non-diabetic wounds. We show that using antisense sequences against SOC3 mRNA, macrophage polarization could be directed into the M2 phenotype and healing of diabetic wound could be highly improved.

Combustion conditions influence toxicity of flame-generated soot to ocular (ARPE-19) cells

Soot is a prevalent aerosol found both indoors and outdoors that has several sources, such as natural (e.g., wildfires), civilian (e.g., cooking), or military (e.g., burn pit operation). Additionally, within the sources, factors that influence the physicochemical properties of the soot include combustion temperature, oxygen availability, and fuel type. Being able to reproduce soot in the laboratory and systematically assess its toxicity is important in the pursuit of elucidating pathologies associated with its exposure. Of the organs of interest, we targeted the eye given the scant attention received. Yet, air pollution constituents such as soot have been linked to diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. We developed a bench-scale system to synthesize different types of soot, that is, soot with a systematically varied physical attributes or chemical composition. We used common analytical techniques to probe such properties, and used statistical analyses to correlate them with toxicity in vitro using ARPE-19 cells. Within the range of flame conditions studied, we find that soot toxicity increases with increasing oxygen concentration in fuel-rich premixed flames, and weakly increases with decreasing flame temperature. Additionally, soot particles produced in premixed flames are generally smaller in size, exhibit a lesser fractal structure, and are considerably more toxic to ARPE-19 cells than soot particles produced in non-premixed flames.

An olsalazine nanoneedle-embedded inulin hydrogel reshapes intestinal homeostasis in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and refractory condition characterized by disrupted epithelial barrier, dysregulated immune balance, and altered gut microbiota. Nano-enabled interventions for restoring gut homeostasis have the potential to alleviate inflammation in IBD. Herein, we developed a combination of olsalazine (Olsa)-based nanoneedles and microbiota-regulating inulin gel to reshape intestinal homeostasis and relieve inflammation. The Olsa-derived nanoneedles exhibited reactive oxygen species scavenging ability and anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide-simulated macrophages. The composite of nanoneedles and inulin gel (Cu2(Olsa)/Gel) displayed a macroporous structure, improved bio-adhesion, and enhanced colon retention after oral administration. Mechanistically, the composite effectively downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and promoted epithelial barrier repair through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapies, resulting in significant alleviation of colitis in three animal models of IBD. Furthermore, analysis of gut microbiota revealed that Cu2(Olsa)/Gel treatment increased the diversity of intestinal microflora and decreased the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Proteobacteria. Overall, this study provides a self-delivering nanodrug and dietary fiber hydrogel composite for IBD therapy, offering an efficient approach to restore intestinal homeostasis.

Surface Chemistry of Biologically Active Reducible Oxide Nanozymes

Reducible metal oxide nanozymes (rNZs) are a subject of intense recent interest due to their catalytic nature, ease of synthesis, and complex surface character. Such materials contain surface sites which facilitate enzyme-mimetic reactions via substrate coordination and redox cycling. Further, these surface reactive sites are shown to be highly sensitive to stresses within the nanomaterial lattice, the physicochemical environment, and to processing conditions occurring as part of their syntheses. When administered in vivo, a complex protein corona binds to the surface, redefining its biological identity and subsequent interactions within the biological system. Catalytic activities of rNZs each deliver a differing impact on protein corona formation, its composition, and in turn, their recognition, and internalization by host cells. Improving the understanding of the precise principles that dominate rNZ surface-biomolecule adsorption raises the question of whether designer rNZs can be engineered to prevent corona formation, or indeed to produce "custom" protein coronas applied either in vitro, and preadministration, or formed immediately upon their exposure to body fluids. Here, fundamental surface chemistry processes and their implications in rNZ material performance are considered. In particular, material structures which inform component adsorption from the application environment, including substrates for enzyme-mimetic reactions are discussed.

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks: A Global Approach to Enhancing the Cytotoxicity of Drug-Loaded, Non-responsive Micelles Using Oligoelectrolytes

Polymeric micelles have been extensively studied as vectors for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs for the treatment of cancers and other diseases. Despite intensive research, few formulations provide significant benefits, and even fewer have been clinically approved. While many traditional non-responsive micelles have excellent safety profiles, they lack the ability to respond to the intracellular environment and release their cargo in a spatiotemporally defined manner to effectively deliver large doses of cytotoxic drugs into the cytosol of cells that overwhelm efflux pumps. As a novel and adaptable strategy, we hypothesized that well-established non-responsive polymeric micelles could be augmented with a pH-trigger via the co-encapsulation of cytocompatible oligoelectrolytes, which would allow rapid cargo release in the endosome, leading to increased cytotoxicity. Herein, we demonstrate how this strategy can be applied to render non-responsive micelles pH-responsive, resulting in abrupt cargo release at specific and tunable pH values compatible with endosomal delivery, which significantly increased their cytotoxicity up to 3-fold in an ovarian adenocarcinoma (SKOV-3) cell line compared to non-responsive micelles. In comparison, the oligoelectrolyte-loaded micelles were significantly less toxic to healthy 3T3 fibroblasts, indicating a selective cargo release in cancer cell lines. Oligoelectrolytes can be co-encapsulated in the micelles along with drugs at high encapsulation efficiency percentages, which are both ejected from the micelle core upon oligoelectrolyte ionization. Mechanistically, the increase in cytotoxicity appears to also result from the accelerated endosomal escape of the cargo caused by disruption of the endosomal membrane by the simultaneous release of the oligoelectrolytes from the micelles. Furthermore, we show how this approach is broadly applicable to non-responsive micelles regardless of their composition and various classes of hydrophobic chemotherapeutics. The preliminary studies presented here reveal the versatility and wide scope of oligoelectrolyte-mediated, pH-triggered drug release as a compelling and powerful strategy to enhance the cytotoxicity of non-responsive polymeric micelles.

Effect of Different Karyophilic Peptides on Physical Characteristics and In Vitro Transfection Efficiency of Chitosan-Plasmid Nanoparticles as Nonviral Gene Delivery Systems

A strategy to increase the transfection efficiency of chitosan-based nanoparticles for gene therapy is by adding nuclear localization signals through karyophilic peptides. Here, the effect of the length and sequence of these peptides and their interaction with different plasmids on the physical characteristics and biological functionality of nanoparticles is reported. The karyophilic peptides (P1 or P2) were used to assemble nanoparticles by complex coacervation with pEGFP-N1, pQBI25 or pSelect-Zeo-HSV1-tk plasmids, and chitosan. Size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and morphology, as well as in vitro nucleus internalization and transfection capability of nanoparticles were determined. The P2 nanoparticles resulted smaller compared to the ones without peptides or P1 for the three plasmids. In general, the addition of either P1 or P2 did not have a significant impact on the polydispersity index and the zeta potential. P1 and P2 nanoparticles were localized in the nucleus after 30 min of exposure to HeLa cells. Nevertheless, the presence of P2 in pEGFP-N1 and pQBI25 nanoparticles raised their capability to transfect and express the green fluorescent protein. Thus, karyophilic peptides are an efficient tool for the optimization of nonviral vectors for gene delivery; however, the sequence and length of peptides have an impact on characteristics and functionality of nanoparticles.