Nanographene oxide-methylene blue as phototherapies platform for breast tumor ablation and metastasis prevention in a syngeneic orthotopic murine model

Graphene-Based Photodynamic Therapy and Overcoming Cancer Resistance Mechanisms: A Comprehensive Review

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive therapy that has made significant progress in treating different diseases, including cancer, by utilizing new nanotechnology products such as graphene and its derivatives. Graphene-based materials have large surface area and photothermal effects thereby making them suitable candidates for PDT or photo-active drug carriers. The remarkable photophysical properties of graphene derivates facilitate the efficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light irradiation, which destroys cancer cells. Surface functionalization of graphene and its materials can also enhance their biocompatibility and anticancer activity. The paper delves into the distinct roles played by graphene-based materials in PDT such as photosensitizers (PS) and drug carriers while at the same time considers how these materials could be used to circumvent cancer resistance. This will provide readers with an extensive discussion of various pathways contributing to PDT inefficiency. Consequently, this comprehensive review underscores the vital roles that graphene and its derivatives may play in emerging PDT strategies for cancer treatment and other medical purposes. With a better comprehension of the current state of research and the existing challenges, the integration of graphene-based materials in PDT holds great promise for developing targeted, effective, and personalized cancer treatments.

Orthotopic and metastatic tumour models in preclinical cancer research

Mouse models of disease play a pivotal role at all stages of cancer drug development. Cell-line derived subcutaneous tumour models are predominant in early drug discovery, but there is growing recognition of the importance of the more complex orthotopic and metastatic tumour models for understanding both target biology in the correct tissue context, and the impact of the tumour microenvironment and the immune system in responses to treatment. The aim of this review is to highlight the value that orthotopic and metastatic models bring to the study of tumour biology and drug development while pointing out those models that are most likely to be encountered in the literature. Important developments in orthotopic models, such as the increasing use of early passage patient material (PDXs, organoids) and humanised mouse models are discussed, as these approaches have the potential to increase the predictive value of preclinical studies, and ultimately improve the success rate of anticancer drugs in clinical trials.

Modelling the quenching effect of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine and graphene oxide interactions: implications for phototherapeutic applications

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) are promising candidates for cancer treatment and their efficiency can be further enhanced by using a combination of both. While chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (AlClPc) has been studied extensively as a photosensitizer in PDT, nanographene oxide (nGO) has shown promise in PTT due to its high absorption of near-infrared radiation. In this work, we investigate the energy transport between AlClPc and nGO for their combined use in phototherapies. We use density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT to analyze the electronic structure of AlClPc and its interaction with nGO. Based on experimental parameters, we model the system's morphology and implement it in Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations to investigate the energy transfer mechanism between the compounds. Our KMC calculations show that the experimentally observed fluorescence quenching requires modeling both the energy transfer from dyes to nGO and a molecular aggregation model. Our results provide insights into the underlying mechanisms responsible for the fluorescence quenching observed in AlClPc/nGO aggregates, which could impact the efficacy of photodynamic therapy.

Polymeric graphene oxide nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin for combined photothermal and chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer

Combining photothermal and chemotherapy is an emerging strategy for tumor irradiation in a minimally invasive manner, utilizing photothermal transduction agents and anticancer drugs. The present work developed a 2D carbon nanomaterial graphene oxide (GO)-based nanoplatform that converted to 3D colloidal spherical structures upon functionalization with an amphiphilic polymer mPEG-PLA (1, 0.5/1/2) and entrapped doxorubicin (Dox) physically. The Dox@GO(mPP) (1/0.5) NPs displayed the least particle size (161 nm), the highest stability with no aggregation, the highest Dox loading (6.3 %) and encapsulation efficiency (70 %). The therapeutic efficacy was determined in vitro and in vivo using murine (4 T1) and human triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), and 4 T1-Luc-tumor bearing mouse models. The results demonstrated that the Dox@GO(mPP) (1/0.5) NPs treatment with laser (+L) (808 nm) was highly efficient in inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest (G2/M) phase, significant cytotoxicity, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, ROS generation, and photothermal effect leading to a higher proportion of cell death than free Dox, and Dox@GO(mPP) (1/0.5) NPs (-L). The anticancer studies in mice harboring the 4 T1-Luc tumor showed that combination of Dox@GO(mPP) (1/0.5) NPs (+L) effectively reduced tumor development and decreased lung metastasis. The developed nanoplatform could be a promising combination chemo-photothermal treatment option for triple-negative breast cancer.

Methylene blue in anticancer photodynamic therapy: systematic review of preclinical studies

Background: Methylene blue has a long history of clinical application. Thanks to phenothiazine chromophore, it has potential in photodynamic anticancer therapy. In spite of the growing body of literature that has evaluated the action of this dye on different types of cancer, the systematic understanding of this problem is still lacking. Therefore, this systematic review was performed to study the efficacy of methylene blue in photodynamic anticancer therapy. Methods: This systematic review was carried out in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, and the study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022368738). Articles for the systematic review were identified through the PubMed database. SYRCLE's risk of bias tool was used to assess the studies. The results of systematic analysis are presented as narrative synthesis. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria and these full texts were reviewed. In the selected articles, the dosage of dye infusion ranged from 0.04 to 24.12 mg/kg. The effectiveness of photodynamic therapy with methylene blue against different types of cancer was confirmed by a decrease in tumor sizes in seven articles. Conclusion: The results of the systematic review support the suggestions that photodynamic therapy with methylene blue helps against different types of cancer, including colorectal tumor, carcinoma, and melanoma. In cases of nanopharmaceutics use, a considerable increase of anticancer therapy effectiveness was observed. The further research into methylene blue in photodynamic anticancer therapy is needed. Systematic Review Registration: (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=368738), identifier (CRD42022368738).

Two-dimensional layered nanomaterials for tumor diagnosis and treatment

With the evolution of nanomedicine, the past decades witnessed diversified nanomaterials as marvelous anti-tumor tools ushering in a new era of tumor diagnosis and treatment. Among them, two-dimensional layered nanomaterial as an emerging class of nanomaterials has one dimension less than 100 nm, showing a high specific area and the thinnest sheet-like structure (Liu S, Pan X, Liu H. Twodimensional nanomaterials for photothermal therapy. Angew Chem Int Ed 2020;59:5890-900). The discovery of graphene drove the exploration of various new two-dimensional layered nanomaterials for tumor diagnosis and treatment including graphene-based nanomaterials, black phosphorus (BP), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), and bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX, X=F, Cl, Br, I) (Ma H, Xue MQ. Recent advances in the photothermal applications of two-dimensional nanomaterial: photothermal therapy and beyond. J Mater Chem 2021;9:17569). On the one hand, they exhibit strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption and the capacity of optimizing corresponding properties by adjusting the crystal structure. On the other hand, they own unique strengths such as fantastic physicochemical properties (graphene-based nanomaterials), high loading capacity (BP), distinct phase-dependent optical properties (TMDs), a specific chemical response to the tumor microenvironment (LDHs), and large X-ray attenuation coefficient (BiOX). Herein, we briefly introduce three typical two-dimensional layered nanomaterials, their prospects and future research priorities in tumor diagnosis and treatment are concluded.

Carbonaceous Nanomaterials for Phototherapy of Cancer

Carbonaceous nanomaterials (CNMs) have drawn tremendous biomedical research interest because of their unique structural features. Recently, CNMs, namely carbon dots, fullerenes, graphene, etc, have been successful in establishing them as considerable nanotherapeutics for phototherapy applications due to their electrical, thermal, and surface properties. This review aims to crosstalk the current understanding of CNMs as multimodal compounds in photothermal and photodynamic therapies as an integrated approach to treating cancer. It also expounds on phototherapy's biomechanics and illustrates its relation to cancer biomodulation. Critical considerations related to the structural properties, fabrication approaches, surface functionalization strategies, and biosafety profiles of CNMs have been explained. This article provides an overview of the most recent developments in the study of CNMs used in phototherapy, emphasizing their usage as nanocarriers. To conquer the current challenges of CNMs, we can raise the standard of cancer therapy for patients. The review will be of interest to the researchers working in the area of photothermal and photodynamic therapies and aiming to explore CNMs and their conjugates in cancer therapy.

In vitro evaluation of the intensifying photodynamic effect due to the presence of plasmonic hollow gold nanoshells loaded with methylene blue on breast and melanoma cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Hypoxia is one of the most important limiting factors in photodynamic therapy that can reduce the effectiveness of this treatment. By designing a nanocomplex of plasmonic nanoparticles and photosensitizers with similar optical properties, the rate of free oxygen radical production can be increased and the efficiency of photodynamic therapy can be improved. in this study, we tried to use the outstanding capacities of hollow gold nanoshells (HGNSs) as a plasmonic nanocarrier of methylene blue (MB) to improve the performance of photodynamic therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

After synthesis and optimization of hollow gold nanoshells loaded with Methylene blue (HGNSs-PEG-MB), the characteristics of MB, HGNSs, HGNSs-PEG, HGNSs-PEG-MB, and their toxicity at different concentrations on the cell lines was determined. After determining of optimum concentration of nano agents, irradiation of cell was performed with non-coherent of light source with 670 nm wavelength and an intensity of 14.9 mW/cm². Twenty-four hours after irradiation, an MTT assay was used to determine cell survival percentage. To compare the results, we defined different indexes such as treatment efficiency (TE), synergism ratio (SYN), and the amount of exposure required for 50% cell death (ED50). All the tests were repeated at least four times on the DFW and MCF-7 cancer cell lines.

RESULTS

For combination therapies with Lumacare irradiated HGNSs-PEG-MB, the UC index was less than one for all concentrations (P < 0.05). Also, the IC50 index for this nanostructure in non-irradiated conditions and less than 9 min irradiation time was lower than other treatment groups (P < 0.05). ED50 amounts for HGNSs-PEG-MB in all concentrations were greater than the other groups. TE Index was also reported to be greater than 1 in all irradiation conditions and concentrations.

CONCLUSION

In this study, HGNSs-PEG in the role of nanocarriers for methylene Blue was used. The results showed that irradiated HGNSs-PEG-MB by 670 nm light severely induced cell death and greatly improved the efficiency of photodynamic therapy in melanoma and breast cancer cells.

Tumor vascular heterogeneity and the impact of subtumoral nanoemulsion biodistribution

Aim: Investigate the heterogeneous tumor tissue organization and examine how this condition can interfere with the passive delivery of a lipid nanoemulsion in two breast cancer preclinical models (4T1 and Ehrlich). Materials & methods: The authors used in vivo image techniques to follow the nanoemulsion biodistribution and microtomography, as well as traditional histopathology and electron microscopy to evaluate the tumor structural characteristics. Results & conclusion: Lipid nanoemulsion was delivered to the tumor, vascular organization depends upon the subtumoral localization and this heterogeneous organization promotes a nanoemulsion biodistribution to the highly vascular peripherical region. Also, the results are presented with a comprehensive mathematical model, describing the differential biodistribution in two different breast cancer models, the 4T1 and Ehrlich models.

Nanomaterials-based photosensitizers and delivery systems for photodynamic cancer therapy

The increasing cancer morbidity and mortality requires the development of high-efficiency and low-toxicity anticancer approaches. In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted much attention in cancer therapy due to its non-invasive features and low side effects. Photosensitizer (PS) is one of the key factors of PDT, and its successful delivery largely determines the outcome of PDT. Although a few PS molecules have been approved for clinical use, PDT is still limited by the low stability and poor tumor targeting capacity of PSs. Various nanomaterial systems have shown great potentials in improving PDT, such as metal nanoparticles, graphene-based nanomaterials, liposomes, ROS-sensitive nanocarriers and supramolecular nanomaterials. The small molecular PSs can be loaded in functional nanomaterials to enhance the PS stability and tumor targeted delivery, and some functionalized nanomaterials themselves can be directly used as PSs. Herein, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of PDT, and summarize the recent progress of nanomaterials-based PSs and delivery systems in anticancer PDT. In addition, the concerns of nanomaterials-based PDT including low tumor targeting capacity, limited light penetration, hypoxia and nonspecific protein corona formation are discussed. The possible solutions to these concerns are also discussed.

PLGA-coated methylene blue nanoparticles for photoacoustic imaging and photodynamic/photothermal cascaded precisely synergistic therapy of tumor

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) are synergetic treatment strategies in antitumor treatment to achieve the best anticancer efficacy. Although traditional photosensitizer materials such as methylene blue (MB) have been widely studied for PDT, the photothermal effect is rarely reported. Herein, mono-component nanoparticles lactic-co-glycolic acid-coated methylene blue (MBNPs) based on methylene blue (MB) and lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) were prepared by a facile solution-based emulsification method at room temperature. The resulting nanoparticles possess high photothermal conversion efficiency and excellent photodynamic effect. For the first time, the in vitro and in vivo tests indicated an enhanced antitumor efficacy for MBNPs with combined PDT and PTT. This study provides an efficient approach to fabricate nano-MB and also demonstrates the great potential of lactic-co-glycolic acid-coated MB for biomedical applications. Most importantly, the strong tumor growth inhibition by synergistic PTT and PDT demonstrates an excellent cascaded synergistic effect of MBNPs for the tumor therapy.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of ZrC Nanoparticle in Combined Photothermal and Radiation Therapy for Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Because of the difficulty in treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the search for treatments has never stopped. Treatment opinions remain limited for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The current treatment approach of using photothermal therapy (PTT) is often imprecise and has limited penetration below the surface of the skin. On the other hand, radiation therapy (RT) has its unavoidable disadvantages, such as side effects or ineffectiveness against hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). In this study, we proposed the use of ZrC nanoparticles in conjunction with RT/PTT to enhance antitumor and antimetastatic effect. We modified the ZrC nanoparticle with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and folic acid (FA), sizing desirable about 100nm. The photothermal conversion efficiency was calculated to be 40.51% and sensitizer enhancement ration (SER) was 1.8. With addition of ZrC NPs, more DNA were damaged in γ-H2AX and more ROS were detected with immunofluorescence. In vitro and vivo, the combined therapy with ZrC NPS showed the best effect of tumor cell inhibition and safety. Our results provide evidence that the combination of ZrC NPs, PT, and RT is effective in of TNBC, making it a great potential application for cancer therapy in clinic.

Progress in Nanocarriers Codelivery System to Enhance the Anticancer Effect of Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising anticancer noninvasive method and has great potential for clinical applications. Unfortunately, PDT still has many limitations, such as metastatic tumor at unknown sites, inadequate light delivery and a lack of sufficient oxygen. Recent studies have demonstrated that photodynamic therapy in combination with other therapies can enhance anticancer effects. The development of new nanomaterials provides a platform for the codelivery of two or more therapeutic drugs, which is a promising cancer treatment method. The use of multifunctional nanocarriers for the codelivery of two or more drugs can improve physical and chemical properties, increase tumor site aggregation, and enhance the antitumor effect through synergistic actions, which is worthy of further study. This review focuses on the latest research progress on the synergistic enhancement of PDT by simultaneous multidrug administration using codelivery nanocarriers. We introduce the design of codelivery nanocarriers and discuss the mechanism of PDT combined with other antitumor methods. The combination of PDT and chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photothermal therapy, hyperthermia, radiotherapy, sonodynamic therapy and even multidrug therapy are discussed to provide a comprehensive understanding.

Antineoplastics Encapsulated in Nanostructured Lipid Carriers

Ideally, antineoplastic treatment aims to selectively eradicate cancer cells without causing systemic toxicity. A great number of antineoplastic agents (AAs) are available nowadays, with well-defined therapeutic protocols. The poor bioavailability, non-selective action, high systemic toxicity, and lack of effectiveness of most AAs have stimulated the search for novel chemotherapy protocols, including technological approaches that provide drug delivery systems (DDS) for gold standard medicines. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) are DDS that contain a core of solid and lipid liquids stabilised by surfactants. NLC have high upload capacity for lipophilic drugs, such as the majority of AAs. These nanoparticles can be prepared with a diversity of biocompatible (synthetic or natural) lipid blends, administered by different routes and functionalised for targeting purposes. This review focused on the research carried out from 2000 to now, regarding NLC formulations for AAs (antimetabolites, antimitotics, alkylating agents, and antibiotics) encapsulation, with special emphasis on studies carried out in vivo. NLC systems for codelivery of AAs were also considered, as well as those for non-classical drugs and therapies (natural products and photosensitisers). NLC have emerged as powerful DDS to improve the bioavailability, targeting and efficacy of antineoplastics, while decreasing their toxic effect in the treatment of different types of cancer.

Methylene Blue-Based Nano and Microparticles: Fabrication and Applications in Photodynamic Therapy

Methylene blue (MB) has been used in the textile industry since it was first extracted by the German chemist Heinrich Caro. Its pharmacological properties have also been applied toward the treatment of certain diseases such as methemoglobinemia, ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy, and thyroid conditions requiring surgery. Recently, the utilization of MB as a safe photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy (PDT) has received attention. Recent findings demonstrate that photoactivated MB exhibits not only anticancer activity but also antibacterial activity both in vitro and in vivo. However, due to the hydrophilic nature of MB, it is difficult to create MB-embedded nano- or microparticles capable of increasing the clinical efficacy of the PDT. This review aims to summarize fabrication techniques for MB-embedded nano and microparticles and to provide both in vitro and in vivo examples of MB-mediated PDT, thereby offering a future perspective on improving this promising clinical treatment modality. We also address examples of MB-mediated PDT in both cancer and infection treatments. Both in-vitro and in-vivo studies are summarized here to document recent trends in utilizing MB as an effective photosensitizer in PDT. Lastly, we discuss how developing efficient MB-carrying nano- and microparticle platforms would be able to increase the benefits of PDT.

The role of photodynamic therapy in breast cancer - A review of in vitro research

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women and the incidence of occurrence is increasing. Currently, there are many methods of detecting and treating breast cancer. Some treatments have a number of side effects. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive method of treatment which uses monochromatic light of low to medium energy to excite previously applied photosensitizers (PS) for ROS production. The purpose of this article is to present a general overview of the use of PDT in in vitro studies of various cancer cell lines. A literature search for articles corresponding to the topic of this review was performed using the PubMed and Scopus databases using the following keywords: 'photodynamic therapy', 'breast cancer', and 'photosensitizer(s).' Much of the reviewed literature is based on evaluations of the cytotoxic potential of various PSs, particularly against the MCF-7 cell line, and enhancement of PDT potential with nanotechnology. Research on photodynamic effects in vitro may be helpful in the pre-clinical search for optimal methods for in vivo clinical treatment.

Surface Design for Antibacterial Materials: From Fundamentals to Advanced Strategies

Healthcare-acquired infections as well as increasing antimicrobial resistance have become an urgent global challenge, thus smart alternative solutions are needed to tackle bacterial infections. Antibacterial materials in biomedical applications and hospital hygiene have attracted great interest, in particular, the emergence of surface design strategies offer an effective alternative to antibiotics, thereby preventing the possible development of bacterial resistance. In this review, recent progress on advanced surface modifications to prevent bacterial infections are addressed comprehensively, starting with the key factors against bacterial adhesion, followed by varying strategies that can inhibit biofilm formation effectively. Furthermore, "super antibacterial systems" through pre-treatment defense and targeted bactericidal system, are proposed with increasing evidence of clinical potential. Finally, the advantages and future challenges of surface strategies to resist healthcare-associated infections are discussed, with promising prospects of developing novel antimicrobial materials.

Docetaxel and Lidocaine Co-Loaded (NLC-in-Hydrogel) Hybrid System Designed for the Treatment of Melanoma

Melanoma is the most aggressive skin carcinoma and nanotechnology can bring new options for its pharmacological treatment. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) are ideal drug-delivery carriers for hydrophobic drugs, such as the antineoplastic docetaxel (DTX), and hybrid (NLC-in-hydrogel) systems are suitable for topical application. This work describes a formulation of NLC_DTX in xanthan-chitosan hydrogel containing lidocaine (LDC) with anticancer and analgesia effects. The optimized nanoparticles encapsulated 96% DTX and rheological analysis revealed inherent viscoelastic properties of the hydrogel. In vitro assays over murine fibroblasts (NIH/3T3) and melanoma cells (B16-F10), human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and melanoma cells (SK-MEL-103) showed reduction of docetaxel cytotoxicity after encapsulation in NLC_DTX and HGel-NLC_DTX. Addition of LDC to the hybrid system (HGel-NLC_DTX-LDC) increased cell death in tumor and normal cells. In vivo tests on C57BL/6J mice with B16-F10-induced melanoma indicated that LDC, NLC_DTX, HGel-NLC_DTX-LDC and NLC_DTX + HGel-LDC significantly inhibited tumor growth while microPET/SPECT/CT data suggest better prognosis with the hybrid treatment. No adverse effects were observed in cell survival, weight/feed-consumption or serum biochemical markers (ALT, AST, creatinine, urea) of animals treated with NLC_DTX or the hybrid system. These results confirm the adjuvant antitumor effect of lidocaine and endorse HGel-NLC_DTX-LDC as a promising formulation for the topical treatment of melanoma.

Nanocarriers Used in Drug Delivery to Enhance Immune System in Cancer Therapy

Cancer, a group of diseases responsible for the second largest cause of global death, is considered one of the main public health problems today. Despite the advances, there are still difficulties in the development of more efficient cancer therapies and fewer adverse effects for the patients. In this context, nanobiotechnology, a materials science on a nanometric scale specified for biology, has been developing and acquiring prominence for the synthesis of nanocarriers that provide a wide surface area in relation to volume, better drug delivery, and a maximization of therapeutic efficiency. Among these carriers, the ones that stand out are those focused on the activation of the immune system. The literature demonstrates the importance of this system for anticancer therapy, given that the best treatment for this disease also activates the immune system to recognize, track, and destroy all remaining tumor cells.

Combination of an engineered Lactococcus lactis expressing CXCL12 with light-emitting diode yellow light as a treatment for scalded skin in mice

Impaired wound closure is an increasingly crucial clinical challenge. Recently, wound healing has shifted towards innovative treatments that exploit nanotechnology, biomaterials, biologics and phototherapy. Here, we constructed an engineered MG1363-pMG36e-mCXCL12 strain with pMG36e plasmid encoding stromal cell-derived factor 1α (named CXCL12) and evaluated the synergistic effects of light-emitting diode (LED) yellow light and MG1363-pMG36e-mCXCL12 on scald wounds in mice. The results indicated that the combined treatment with LED yellow light with mCXCL12 delivering strain accelerated wound closure, tissue remodelling, re-epithelialization and hair follicle regeneration and inhibited over-inflammation oppositely in the central and surrounding wounds by macroscopic, histopathologic and immunohistochemistry parameters. Furthermore, combination therapy increased the epidermal growth factor and Ki67-positive cells and upregulated beta-catenin (β-catenin), cellular-myelocytomatosis (c-Myc), wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 1 (Wnt1), Jagged 1, neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1 (Notch 1) and hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes 1) protein levels of the Wnt and Notch signalling pathways. It also facilitated collagen fibrogenesis and deposition and improved the activities of hydroxyproline, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in scalded granulation tissue, in addition to reducing the inflammatory factors interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The combined treatment effectively reduced skin pathogens Ralstonia and Acinetobacter to further reduce the risk of infection. Overall, combination of LED yellow light and MG1363-pMG36e-mCXCL12 represents a potential strategy for the treatment of cutaneous wounds.

Functionalization of Graphene Oxide with Porphyrins: Synthetic Routes and Biological Applications

Among the available carbon nanomaterials, graphene oxide (GO) has been widely studied because of the possibility of anchoring different chemical species for a large number of applications, including those requiring water-compatible systems. This Review summarizes the state-of-the-art of synthetic routes used to functionalize GO, such as those involving multiple covalent and non-covalent bonds to organic molecules, functionalization with nanoparticles and doping. As a recent development in this field, special focus is given to the formation of nanocomposites comprising GO and porphyrins, and their characterization through spectroscopic techniques (such as UV-Vis, fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy), among others. The potential of such hybrid systems in targeted biological applications is also discussed, namely for cancer therapies relying on photodynamic and photothermal therapies and for the inhibition of telomerase enzyme. Lastly, some promising alternative materials to GO are presented to overcome current challenges of GO-based research and to inspire future research directions in this field.

Methylene blue associated with maghemite nanoparticles has antitumor activity in breast and ovarian carcinoma cell lines

Background

Cancer constitutes group of diseases responsible for the second largest cause of global death, and it is currently considered one of the main public health concerns nowadays. Early diagnosis associated with the best choice of therapeutic strategy, is essential to achieve success in cancer treatment. In women, breast cancer is the second most common type, whereas ovarian cancer has the highest lethality when compared to other neoplasms of the female genital system. The present work, therefore, proposes the association of methylene blue with citrate-coated maghemite nanoparticles (MAGCIT–MB) as a nanocomplex for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer.

Results

In vitro studies showed that T-47D and A2780 cancer cell lines underwent a significant reduction in cell viability after treatment with MAGCIT–MB, an event not observed in non-tumor (HNTMC and HUVEC) cells and MDA-MB-231, a triple-negative breast cancer cell line. Flow cytometry experiments suggest that the main mechanism of endocytosis involved in the interiorization of MAGCIT–MB is the clathrin pathway, whereas both late apoptosis and necrosis are the main types of cell death caused by the nanocomplex. Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy reveal significant changes in the cell morphology. Quantification of reactive oxygen species confirmed the MAGCIT–MB cytotoxic mechanism and its importance for the treatment of tumor cells. The lower cytotoxicity of individual solution of maghemite nanoparticles with citrate (MAGCIT) and free methylene blue (MB) shows that their association in the nanocomplex is responsible for its enhanced therapeutic potential in the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer in vitro.

Conclusions

Treatment with MAGCIT–MB induces the death of cancer cells but not normal cells. These results highlight the importance of the maghemite core for drug delivery and for increasing methylene blue activity, aiming at the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer.

Graphic Abstract

A New Approach to Obtaining Nano-Sized Graphene Oxide for Biomedical Applications

Graphene oxide (GO) is one of the most exciting and widely used materials. A new method of nanographene oxide (n-GO) formation is presented. The described unique sequence of ultrasonication in dimethyl sulfoxide solution allows us to obtain different sizes of n-GO sheets by controlling the timing of the cutting and re-aggregation processes. The obtained n-GO exhibits only minor spectral changes, mainly due to the formation of S-containing surface groups; thus, it can be concluded that the material is not reduced during the process. Maintaining the initial oxygen functionalities together with the required nano-size (down to 200 nm) and high homogeneity are beneficial for extensive applications of n-GO. Moreover, we prove that the obtained material is evidently biocompatible. The calculated half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) increases by 5-fold, i.e., from 50 to 250 µg/mL, when GO is converted to n-GO. As a consequence, the new n-GO neither disturbs blood flow even in the narrowest capillaries nor triggers a toxic influence in surrounding cells. Thus, it can be a serious candidate for drugs and biomolecule carriers administered systemically.

Adsorption of Methylene Blue Dye by Calix[6]Arene-Modified Lead Sulphide (Pbs): Optimisation Using Response Surface Methodology

Lead sulphide (PbS) modified with calix[6]arene was synthesised as an alternative and regenerative adsorbent for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye. The prepared calix[6]arene-modified PbS was characterised via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD) was employed to identify the most significant factors, such as the initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH, and temperature, and to optimise the effects of the factors on the adsorptive efficiency as its response. The optimised initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH, and temperature were 20.00 mg/L initial concentration, 44.00 mg calix[6]arene-modified PbS, pH 6, and a temperature of 31.00 °C. A good correlation between the values and well-fitted model was observed. The adsorption performance was evaluated based on the percentage removal of MB dye from the water system. The adsorption isotherm best fit the Langmuir isotherm model, and the adsorption rate was followed by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, a single layer chemical adsorption with a maximum adsorption capacity (q_max) of 5.495 mg/g.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Toxicity Assessment of Pluronic F127-Functionalized Graphene Oxide on the Embryonic Development of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

BACKGROUND

In the current literature, there are ongoing debates on the toxicity of graphene oxide (GO) that demonstrate contradictory findings regarding its toxicity profile. As a potential drug carrier, these findings are very concerning due to the safety concerns in humans, as well as the dramatic rise of GO being excreted into the environment. Therefore, there is an imperative need to mitigate the potential toxicity of GO to allow for a safer application in the future.

PURPOSE

The present study aims to address this issue by functionalizing GO with Pluronic F127 (PF) as a means to mitigate toxicity and resolve the biocompatibility of GO. Although results from previous studies generally indicated that Pluronic functionalized GO exhibits relatively low toxicity to living organisms, reports that emphasize on its toxicity, particularly during embryonic developmental stage, are still scarce.

METHODS

In the present study, two different sizes of native GO samples, GO and NanoGO, as well as PF-functionalized GO, GO-PF and NanoGO-PF, were prepared and characterized using DLS, UV-Vis, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and FESEM analyses. Toxicological assessment of all GO samples (0-100 µg/mL) on zebrafish embryonic developmental stages (survival, hatching and heart rates, and morphological changes) was recorded daily for up to 96 hours post-fertilization (hpf).

RESULTS

The toxicity effects of each GO sample were observed to be higher at increasing concentrations and upon prolonged exposure. NanoGO demonstrated lower toxicity effects compared to GO. GO-PF and NanoGO-PF were also found to have lower toxicity effects compared to native GO samples. GO-PF showed the lowest toxicity response on zebrafish embryo.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight that toxicity is dependent on the concentration, size, and exposure period of GO. Functionalization of GO with PF through surface coating could potentially mitigate the toxicity effects of GO in embryonic developmental stages, but further investigation is warranted for broader future applications.

Doxorubicin-loaded pH-responsive nanoparticles coated with chlorin e6 for drug delivery and synergetic chemo-photodynamic therapy

The integration of chemotherapy drugs and photosensitizers to form versatile nanoplatforms for achieving chemo-photodynamic synergetic therapy has shown great superiority in tumor theranostic applications. We constructed pH-responsive nanoparticles (DOX/PB NPs) encapsulating the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) into the cores of PLGA NPs coated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) via a water-in-oil (W/O/W) emulsion method. A simple and efficient chemo-photodynamic synergetic nanoplatform (DOX/PB@Ce6 NPs) was obtained by the adsorption of photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) onto the surface of the DOX/PB NPs. With optimal size, pH-responsive drug release behavior and excellent singlet oxygen production, the DOX/PB@Ce6 NPs have the potential to enhance anti-tumor efficiency. The cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, chemo-photodynamic synergetic effect and biocompatibility of the NPs were evaluated based on HeLa cells via in vitro experiments. The in vitro chemo-photodynamic synergetic experiments indicated that the DOX/PB@Ce6 NPs had remarkable cancer cell killing efficiency under laser irradiation. Notably, by hemolysis assay, all the NPs displayed excellent blood compatibility and were expected to be applicable for intravenous injection. In summary, the designed DOX/PB@Ce6 NPs multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform had excellent reactive oxygen species generation and would be a potential therapeutic platform for chemo-photodynamic synergetic therapy.

Tumor cell death in orthotopic breast cancer model by NanoALA: a novel perspective on photodynamic therapy in oncology

Aim: Nano-5-aminolevulic acid (NanoALA)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT), an oil-in-water polymeric nanoemulsion of ALA, was evaluated in a murine model of breast cancer. Materials & methods: Analysis of ALA-derived protoporphyrin IX production and acute toxicity test, biocompatibility and treatment efficacy, and long-term effect of NanoALA-PDT on tumor progression were performed. Results: The nanoformulation favored the prodrug uptake by tumor cells in a shorter time (1.5 h). As a result, the adverse effects were negligible and the response rates for primary mammary tumor control were significantly improved. Tumor progression was slower after NanoALA-PDT treatment, providing longer survival. Conclusion: NanoALA is a good proactive drug candidate for PDT against cancer potentially applied as adjuvant/neoadjuvant intervention strategy for breast cancer.

Cancer Chemoprevention Using Nanotechnology-Based Approaches

Cancer research in pursuit of better diagnostic and treatment modalities has seen great advances in recent years. However, the incidence rate of cancer is still very high. Almost 40% of women and men are diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Such high incidence has not only resulted in high mortality but also severely compromised patient lifestyles, and added a great socioeconomic burden. In view of this, chemoprevention has gained wide attention as a method to reduce cancer incidence and its relapse after treatment. Among various stems of chemoprevention research, nanotechnology-based chemoprevention approaches have established their potential to offer better efficacy and safety. This review summarizes recent advances in nanotechnology-based chemoprevention strategies for various cancers with emphasis on lung and bronchial cancer, colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer and highlights the unmet needs in this developing field towards successful clinical translation.

Applications of Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials in Breast Cancer Theranostics

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women. Early stage diagnosis and treatment of this cancer are crucial to patients' survival. In addition, it is important to avoid severe side effects during the process of conventional treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and targeted therapy) and increase the patients' quality of life. Over the past decade, nanomaterials of all kinds have shown excellent prospects in different aspects of oncology. Among them, two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials are unique due to their physical and chemical properties. The functional variability of 2D nanomaterials stems from their large specific surface area as well as the diversity of composition, electronic configurations, interlayer forces, surface functionalities, and charges. In this review, the current status of 2D nanomaterials in breast cancer diagnosis and therapy is reviewed. In this respect, sensing of the tumor biomarkers, imaging, therapy, and theranostics are discussed. The ever-growing 2D nanomaterials are building blocks for the development of a myriad of nanotheranostics. Accordingly, there is the possibility to explore yet novel properties, biological effects, and oncological applications.

Graphene family nanomaterials for application in cancer combination photothermal therapy

Combining hyperthermia with other therapies holds a great potential for improving cancer treatment. In this approach, the increase in the body temperature can exert a therapeutic effect on cells and/or enhance the effectiveness of anticancer agents. However, the conventional methodologies available to induce hyperthermia cannot confine a high temperature increase to the tumor-site while maintaining healthy tissues unexposed and ensuring minimal invasiveness. To overcome these limitations, combination photothermal therapy (PTT) mediated by graphene family nanomaterials (GFN) has been showing promising results. Such is owed to the ability of GFN to accumulate at the tumor site and convert near infrared light into heat, enabling a hyperthermia with a high spatial-temporal resolution. Furthermore, GFN can also incorporate different therapeutic agents on their structure for delivery purposes to cancer cells. In this way, the combination PTT mediated by GFN can result in an improved therapeutic effect. In this review, the combination of GFN mediated PTT with chemo-, photodynamic-, gene-, radio-, and immuno-therapies is examined. Furthermore, the main parameters that influence these types of combination approaches are also analyzed, with emphasis on the photothermal potential of GFN and on the vascular and cellular effects produced by the temperature increase mediated by GFN.

Development of hydrophobic reduced graphene oxide as a new efficient approach for photochemotherapy

Nowadays, chemotherapy is one of the crucial and common therapies in the world. So far, it has been revealed to be highly promising, yet patients suffer from the consequences of severe negative medical dosages. In order to overcome these issues, the enhancement of photothermal chemotherapy with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a photothermal agent (PTA) is widely utilised in current medical technologies. This is due to its high near-infrared region (NIR) response, in vitro or in vivo organism biocompatibility, low risk of side effects, and effective positive results. Moreover, rGO not only has the ability to ensure that selective cancer cells have a higher mortality rate but can also improve the growth rate of recovering tissues that are untouched by necrosis and apoptosis. These two pathways are specific diverse modalities of cell death that are distinguished by cell membrane disruption and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) disintegration of the membrane via phosphatidylserine exposure in the absence of cell membrane damage. Therefore, this review aimed to demonstrate the recent achievements in the modification of rGO nanoparticles as a PTA as well as present a new approach for performing photochemotherapy in the clinical setting.

rGO of QD-rGO nanocomposite could absorb and convert into heat when harvested under NIR radiation, resulting cell death with reduction of fluorescence.

Modulation of release mechanisms of methylene blue (MB) monomers and dimers from silica-MB@shellac synthesized by antisolvent crystallization

Release behaviors of drugs from drug deliveries are crucial for the enhancement of therapy efficiency, reduction of toxicity and patient compliance. Herein, antisolvent crystallization is employed to coat methlyene blue (MB)-loaded silica by shellac precipitation (silica-MB@shellac), which is simultaneously induced by outward diffusion of H⁺ ions from particular silica-MB. The encapsulation of shellac shell on silica-MB modulates the aggregation state of MB, which endows silica-MB@shellac a decreased MB's thermal stability, enhanced photoluminescence intensity, improved stability against in vitro reduction by ascorbic acid and retained photodynamic therapy activity. From the absorbance of MB supernatant obtained during incubation, the concentrations of MB monomers and dimers are determined via a non-linear regression analysis to investigate the influence of shellac coating on MB's release mechanisms from silica-MB@shellac. According to the simulated models, small diffusion constants of MB are caused by limited diffusion through shellac shells with high compaction degrees. These are observed for samples synthesized under high supersaturation degree during antisolvent crystallization. High degree of supersaturation is achieved through increasing shellac concentration, additive amount and dropping rate of antisolvent, as well as decreasing pH values of aqueous buffers as antisolvent. Furthermore, a combined mechanism of Fickian diffusion and Case-IΙ relaxation is proposed to describe the release behaviors of MB monomer and dimers from silica-MB@shellac. Therefore, this work may shed light on the encapsulation method of polymer on drug-loaded powders and the control of aggregation states of photosensitizers to promote the photoluminescence intensity, photodynamic therapy efficiency and controlled release behaviors.

Interaction of Immune Cells and Tumor Cells in Gold Nanorod-Gelatin Composite Porous Scaffolds

Composite porous scaffolds prepared by immobilization of photothermal nano-agents into porous scaffold have been used for both cancer therapy and tissue regeneration. However, it is not clear how the host immune cells and ablated tumor cells interact and stimulate each other in the composite scaffolds. In this research, a gold nanorod-incorporated gelatin composite scaffold with controlled spherical large pores and well interconnected small pores was fabricated by using ice particulates as a porogen. The composite porous scaffold was used for investigating the interaction between dendritic cells and photothermally ablated breast tumor cells. The composite scaffold demonstrated excellent photothermal property and the temperature change value could be adjusted by irradiation time and laser power density. The composite scaffold showed excellent photothermal ablation ability towards breast tumor cells. The photothermally ablated tumor cells induced activation of dendritic cells when immature dendritic cells were co-cultured in the composite scaffold. Consequently, the gold nanorod-incorporated gelatin composite porous scaffold should provide a useful platform for simultaneous photothermal-immune ablation of breast tumor.

Biomedical Applications of Hyaluronic Acid-Based Nanomaterials in Hyperthermic Cancer Therapy

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a non-sulfated polysaccharide polymer with the properties of biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity. Additionally, HA specifically binds to certain receptors that are over-expressed in cancer cells. To maximize the effect of drug delivery and cancer treatment, diverse types of nanomaterials have been developed. HA-based nanomaterials, including micelles, polymersomes, hydrogels, and nanoparticles, play a critical role in efficient drug delivery and cancer treatment. Hyperthermic cancer treatment using HA-based nanomaterials has attracted attention as an efficient cancer treatment approach. In this paper, the biomedical applications of HA-based nanomaterials in hyperthermic cancer treatment and combined therapies are summarized. HA-based nanomaterials may become a representative platform in hyperthermic cancer treatment.

Multi-wavelength photo-acoustic microscopy in the frequency domain for simultaneous excitation and detection of dyes

An optical-resolution photoacoustic microscope with modulated CW laser diodes allowing multi-channel imaging is presented that can be used for both imaging biological tissues and for targeted photo-dynamic therapy (PDT) varying the optical power and exposure time. The effects of this therapy are immediately monitored in order to optimize the time of irradiation. After the description of the experimental setup, in vitro and in vivo applications are presented on a synthetic sample and on the mouse ear using hemoglobin as endogenous and methylene blue as exogenous dye for imaging and PDT, respectively.

Comprehensive Application of Graphene: Emphasis on Biomedical Concerns

Graphene, sp² hybridized carbon framework of one atom thickness, is reputed as the strongest material to date. It has marked its impact in manifold applications including electronics, sensors, composites, and catalysis. Current state-of-the-art graphene research revolves around its biomedical applications. The two-dimensional (2D) planar structure of graphene provides a large surface area for loading drugs/biomolecules and the possibility of conjugating fluorescent dyes for bioimaging. The high near-infrared absorbance makes graphene ideal for photothermal therapy. Henceforth, graphene turns out to be a reliable multifunctional material for use in diagnosis and treatment. It exhibits antibacterial property by directly interacting with the cell membrane. Potential application of graphene as a scaffold for the attachment and proliferation of stem cells and neuronal cells is captivating in a tissue regeneration scenario. Fabrication of 2D graphene into a 3D structure is made possible with the help of 3D printing, a revolutionary technology having promising applications in tissue and organ engineering. However, apart from its advantageous application scope, use of graphene raises toxicity concerns. Several reports have confirmed the potential toxicity of graphene and its derivatives, and the inconsistency may be due to the lack of standardized consensus protocols. The present review focuses on the hidden facts of graphene and its biomedical application, with special emphasis on drug delivery, biosensing, bioimaging, antibacterial, tissue engineering, and 3D printing applications.

Graphene and Graphene-Based Materials in Biomedical Applications

:

Nanobiotechnology has huge potential in the field of regenerative medicine. One of the main drivers has been the development of novel nanomaterials. One developing class of materials is graphene and its derivatives recognized for their novel properties present on the nanoscale. In particular, graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials have been shown to have excellent electrical, mechanical, optical and thermal properties. Due to these unique properties coupled with the ability to tune their biocompatibility, these nanomaterials have been propelled for various applications. Most recently, these two-dimensional nanomaterials have been widely recognized for their utility in biomedical research. In this review, a brief overview of the strategies to synthesize graphene and its derivatives are discussed. Next, the biocompatibility profile of these nanomaterials as a precursor to their biomedical application is reviewed. Finally, recent applications of graphene-based nanomaterials in various biomedical fields including tissue engineering, drug and gene delivery, biosensing and bioimaging as well as other biorelated studies are highlighted.

Methylene-Blue-Encapsulated Liposomes as Photodynamic Therapy Nano Agents for Breast Cancer Cells

Methylene blue (MB) is a widely used dye and photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent that can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) after light exposure, triggering apoptosis. However, it is hard for the dye to penetrate through the cell membrane, leading to poor cellular uptake; thus, drug carriers, which could enhance the cellular uptake, are a suitable solution. In addition, the defective vessels resulting from fast vessel outgrowth leads to an enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, which gives nanoscale drug carriers a promising potential. In this study, we applied poly(12-(methacryloyloxy)dodecyl phosphorylcholine), a zwitterionic polymer-lipid, to self-assemble into liposomes and encapsulate MB (MB-liposome). Its properties of high stability and fast intracellular uptake were confirmed, and the higher in vitro ROS generation ability of MB-liposomes than that of free MB was also verified. For in vivo tests, we examined the toxicity in mice via tail vein injection. With the features found, MB-liposome has the potential of being an effective PDT nano agent for cancer therapy.

Quenching Effects of Graphene Oxides on the Fluorescence Emission and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation of Chloroaluminum Phthalocyanine

The photophysical behavior and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (AlClPc) are evaluated by steady state absorption/emission, transient emission, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies in the presence of graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and carboxylated nanographene oxide (NGO). AlClPc and graphene oxides form a supramolecular structure stabilized by π-π interactions, which quantitatively quenches fluorescence emission and suppresses ROS generation. These effects occur even when graphenes are previously functionalized with Pluronic F-127. A small part of quenching is due to an inner filter effect, in which graphene oxides compete with AlClPc for light absorption. Nonetheless, most of the (static) quenching arises on the formation of a nonemissive ground state complex between AlClPc and graphene oxides. The efficiency of graphene oxides on the fluorescence quenching and ROS generation suppression follows the order: GO < NGO < RGO.

Photo-modulation of zinc phthalocyanine-treated breast cancer cell line ZR-75-1 inhibited the normal tumor activity in vitro

Regarding post-complication of convenient therapies against breast cancer, the emergence of effective approaches is essential. Photodynamic therapy is touted as a novel invasive therapeutic approach by the application of a photosensitizer promoted by laser irradiation. This study aimed to investigate the combined regime of low-level laser irradiation with zinc phthalocyanine in human breast cancer ZR-75-1 cell line. Cells were treated with 0.01 and 5 μg/ml of ZnPc for 24 h and exposed to radiation (70 mW) for 60 s. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT and flow cytometry. Cell migration capacity was monitored by scratch test, Transwell migration insert, and gelatin zymography. The function of MDR in treated cells was examined by Rhodamine 123 exclusion test. The level of GALNT11 was measured by ELISA. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes was evaluated by real-time PCR. Laser irradiation and zinc phthalocyanine induced cell cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis showed the induction of apoptotic and necrotic changes in treated cells. We found a reduction in migration rate and MMP-9 activity in cells undergoing the experimental procedure (p < 0.05). Immunofluorescence imaging revealed the intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123 coincided with a reduction in the level of GALNT11 in treated cells, showing the reduction of MDR activity and tumor cell resistance. Similar to flow cytometry assay, the reduction of Bcl-2 (approximately twofold) and upregulation of Bax genes were found in treated cells. Photodynamic therapy could be as an effective and alternative method for the treatment of breast cancer in a human.