Nanomedicine for renal cell carcinoma: imaging, treatment and beyond

Innovative lipid nanoparticles: A cutting-edge approach for potential renal cell carcinoma therapeutics

The kidney plays a crucial role in regulating homeostasis within the human body. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer, accounting for nearly 90 % of all renal malignancies. Despite the availability of various therapeutic strategies, RCC remains a challenging disease due to its resistance to conventional treatments. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising field, offering new opportunities in cancer therapeutics. It presents several advantages over traditional methods, enabling diverse biomedical applications, including drug delivery, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), approximately 100 nm in size, are derived from a range of lipids and other biochemical compounds. these particulates are designed to overcome biological barriers, allowing them to selectively accumulate at diseased target sites for effective therapeutic action. Many pharmaceutically important compounds face challenges such as poor solubility in aqueous solutions, chemical and physiological instability, or toxicity. LNP technology stands out as a promising drug delivery system for bioactive organic compounds. This article reviews the applications of LNPs in RCC treatment and explores their potential clinical translation, identifying the most viable LNPs for medical use. With ongoing advancement in LNP-based anticancer strategies, there is a growing potential to improve the management and treatment of renal cancer.

Trends in research on nanomedicine in urologic cancer: a bibliometric and visualized analysis

Increasing research efforts are focused on studying the synthesis and mechanisms of nanomedicine in urologic cancer. We performed a bibliometric study of the literature on nanomedicine in urologic cancer over the last 23 years, focusing on aspects such as researchers, institutions, nations, and keywords. We searched for papers in the Web of Science Core Collection from January 1, 2001, to December 29, 2023. Only reviews and original articles written in English were considered. A total of 2386 papers satisfied the given criteria for inclusion. The publications included in the study originated from 90 nations. The United States had the largest number of published papers, accounting for more than 31.01% of the total. The leading institution in this field is the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with a publishing output of 2.35%. Farokhzad, Omid C., is the most prolific author, with 21 articles, and has garnered the most citations, totaling 6271. The latest phrase to enter the top ten most common lists was "gold nanoparticles." We searched for papers in the Web of Science Core Collection from January 1, 2000, to November 28, 2023. Only reviews and original articles written in English were considered. This is the first bibliometric study of nanomedicine in urologic cancer. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of research on nanomedicine in urologic cancer over the last 23 years. On the basis of this study, future researchers can identify noteworthy publications, journals, and potential collaborators and explore cutting-edge research directions.

Macrophage-Derived Nanosponges Adsorb Cytokines and Modulate Macrophage Polarization for Renal Cell Carcinoma Immunotherapy

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a hot tumor infiltrated by large numbers of CD8+ T cells and is highly sensitive to immunotherapy. However, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), mainly M2 macrophages, tend to undermine the efficacy of immunotherapy and promote the progression of RCC. Here, macrophage-derived nanosponges are fabricated by M2 macrophage membrane-coated poly（lactic-co-glycolic acid）（PLGA）, which could chemotaxis to the CXC and CC chemokine subfamily-enriched RCC microenvironment via corresponding membrane chemokine receptors. Subsequently, the nanosponges act like cytokine decoys to adsorb and neutralize broad-spectrum immunosuppressive cytokines such as colony stimulating factor-1(CSF-1), transforming growth factor-β（TGF-β）, and Lnterleukin-10（IL-10）, thereby reversing the polarization of M2-TAMs toward the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, and enhancing the anti-tumor effect of CD8+ T cells. To further enhance the polarization reprogramming efficiency of TAMs, DSPE-PEG-M2pep is conjugated on the surface of macrophage-derived nanosponges for specific recognition of M2-TAMs, and the toll like receptors 7/8（TLR7/8） agonist, R848, is encapsulated in these nanosponges to induce M1 polarization, which result in significant efficacy against RCC. In addition, these nanosponges exhibit undetectable biotoxicity, making them suitable for clinical applications. In summary, a promising and facile strategy is provided for immunomodulatory therapies, which are expected to be used in the treatment of tumors, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory diseases.

In vivo imaging of prostate tumor-targeted folic acid conjugated quantum dots

Cancer is a major threat to human health; thus, early detection is imperative for successful management. Rapid diagnosis can be achieved by imaging primary (subcutaneous) tumors using fluorophores conjugated with tumor markers. Here, the application of biocompatible, quantum efficient, monodisperse, and photostable polymer-coated quantum dots (PQDs) is demonstrated for targeted prostate tumor imaging in living SCID mice. Briefly, PQDs (blue) are conjugated to folic acid (FA-PQDs) using DCC-NHS chemistry. Initially, in vitro targeted imaging via FA-PQDs is evaluated in LNCaP cells. The confocal microscopic evaluation demonstrates the uptake of FA-PQDs. To understand the dispersion of PQDs in vivo, the biodistribution of PQDs is assessed at different time intervals (1- 180 min) using whole-body fluorescence imaging and computed tomography (CT) scan. PQDs are seen to accumulate in organs like the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, and urinary bladder within 60 min, however, PQDs are not observed at 180 min indicating renal clearance. Further, to target the prostate tumor (~ 200 mm3) in mice, FA-PQDs are injected intravenously, and whole-body fluorescence imaging along with a CT scan is recorded. FA-PQDs are seen at the tumor site as compared to PQDs. The results confirm that the FA-PQDs function as excellent nanoprobes for targeted tumor imaging in vivo.

Progress in the treatment of drug-loaded nanomaterials in renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urinary tract tumor that arises from the highly heterogeneous epithelium of the renal tubules. The incidence of kidney cancer is second only to the incidence of bladder cancer, and has shown an upward trend over time. Although surgery is the preferred treatment for localized RCC, treatment decisions should be customized to individual patients considering their overall health status and the risk of developing or worsening chronic kidney disease postoperatively. Anticancer drugs are preferred to prevent perioperative and long-term postoperative complications; however, resistance to chemotherapy remains a considerable problem during the treatment process. To overcome this challenge, nanocarriers have emerged as a promising strategy for targeted drug delivery for cancer treatment. Nanocarriers can transport anticancer agents, achieving several-fold higher cytotoxic concentrations in tumors and minimizing toxicity to the remaining parts of the body. This article reviews the use of nanomaterials, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, nanocomposites, carbon nanomaterials, nanobubbles, nanomicelles, and mesoporous silica nanoparticles, for RCC treatment, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages.

Theranostic Lipid Nanoparticles for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urological malignancy and represents a leading threat to healthcare. Recent years have seen a series of progresses in the early diagnosis and management of RCC. Theranostic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are increasingly becoming one of the focuses in this field, because of their suitability for tumor targeting and multimodal therapy. LNPs can be precisely fabricated with desirable chemical compositions and biomedical properties, which closely match the physiological characteristics and clinical needs of RCC. Herein, a comprehensive review of theranostic LNPs is presented, emphasizing the generic tool nature of LNPs in developing advanced micro-nano biomaterials. It begins with a brief overview of the compositions and formation mechanism of LNPs, followed with an introduction to kidney-targeting approaches, such as passive, active, and stimulus responsive targeting. With examples provided, a series of modification strategies for enhancing the tumor targeting and functionality of LNPs are discussed. Thereafter, research advances on applications of these LNPs for RCC including bioimaging, liquid biopsy, drug delivery, physical therapy, and gene therapy are summarized and discussed from an interdisciplinary perspective. The final part highlights the milestone achievements of translation medicine, current challenges as well as future development directions of LNPs for the diagnosis and treatment of RCC.