Combination therapy based on dual-target biomimetic nano-delivery system for overcoming cisplatin resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Erythrocyte membrane vesicles as drug delivery systems: A systematic review of preclinical studies on biodistribution and pharmacokinetics

This systematic review aims to summarize the development of erythrocyte membrane vesicles (EMVs) as drug delivery carriers, with a focus on elucidating their fate in terms of biodistribution and pharmacokinetics in preclinical studies. The PubMed database was systematically reviewed to search for original peer-reviewed published studies on the use of EMVs for drug delivery to summarize the preclinical findings, following the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 142 articles matched the selection criteria and were included in the review. For each study, the following parameters were extracted: type of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) encapsulated into EMVs, EMVs-API formulation method and final particle size, EMVs surface modifications for active targeting, cell lines and animal models used in the study, crucial treatment data, biodistribution data and finally, where applicable, data about the EMVs circulation time and blood half-life. EMVs size did not vary significantly among the different formulation methods. A complete list of cell lines and animal models used is provided. Circulation times and data for blood half-life were grouped per animal type. For the most commonly used animal type, BALB/c mice, the average half-life of EMV-API was calculated to be 10.4 h, and in all cases, up to a 10-fold increase was observed compared with that of free API. Surface modifications did not drastically change the circulation time but did improve target tissue accumulation. The most critical weaknesses in the analysed studies were identified. Key points for future studies are provided to fill the current knowledge gaps and improve the quality of publications.

Multifunctional DNA nano-sponge system for targeted sensitization of ovarian cancer chemotherapy via metabolic reprogramming and ferroptosis induction

The inefficacy of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer, hindered by poor targeting and multiple drug resistance, is intricately linked to the tumor micro-environment and abnormal metabolic patterns. Here, we present ZnOov@DS-DOX, an innovative nanomaterial that integrates small-sized ZnO nanoparticles with oxygen vacancies, embedded within 2D-ZnMOF and encapsulated in a DNA nanosponge, to enhance doxorubicin delivery. This system targets ovarian cancer cells specifically through the MUC1 aptamer and remodels metabolic signaling within the tumor microenvironment. ZnOov alleviates hypoxia and reduces chemoresistance by catalyzing H2O2, while Zn2+ release activates DNAzymes to target HIF-1a mRNA. The system reduces the efflux of chemotherapy drugs and inhibits cellular glycolysis. Disrupting the Warburg effect enhances mitochondrial respiration, increases ROS levels, disrupts the redox system, and induces ferroptosis, thereby significantly improving therapeutic efficacy. The uptake rate of ovarian cancer cells for the system was nearly 15 times higher than that of normal cells. Following treatment, the IC50 value of ovarian cancer cells decreased by approximately 72.7 %. Our in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that ZnOov@DS-DOX effectively modulates tumor metabolic pathways, mitigates drug resistance, and enhances treatment outcomes, representing a significant advancement in nanomedicine and cancer therapy.

Current landscape of metal-organic framework-mediated nucleic acid delivery and therapeutics

Nucleic acid drugs utilize DNA or RNA molecules to modulate abnormal gene expression or protein translation in cells, enabling precise treatment for specific conditions. In recent years, nucleic acid drugs have demonstrated tremendous potential in vaccine development and treating genetic disorders. Currently, the primary carriers for clinically approved nucleic acid therapies include lipid nanoparticles and viral vectors. Beyond that, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly ordered, porous nanomaterials formed through the self-assembly of metal ions and organic ligands via coordination bonds. Their porosity structure offers great loading efficiency, stability, tunability, and biocompatibility, making them an attractive option for nucleic acid delivery. Given the research on MOFs as nucleic acid carriers has garnered significant attention in recent years, this review provides an overview of the therapeutic strategies and advancements in MOF-mediated nucleic acid delivery. The unique properties of various MOF carriers are introduced, and different approaches for nucleic acid loading are parallelly compared. Moreover, a systematic classification based on the type of nucleic acid cargo loaded in MOFs and corresponding applications is thoroughly described. This summary outlines the unique mechanisms through MOFs enhance nucleic acid delivery and emphasizes their substantial impact on therapeutic efficacy. In addition, the utilization of MOF-mediated nucleic acid treatment in combination with other therapies against malignant tumors is discussed in particular. Finally, an outlook on the challenges and potential opportunities of this technology in future translational production and clinical implementation is presented and explored.

Advances in controlled release drug delivery systems based on nanomaterials in lung cancer therapy: A review

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors, with the highest morbidity and mortality rates. Currently, significant progress has been made in the treatment of lung cancer, which has effectively improved the overall prognosis of patients, but there are still many problems, such as tumor recurrence, drug resistance, and serious complications. With the rapid development of nanotechnology in the field of medicine, it breaks through the inherent limitations of traditional cancer treatments and shows great potential in tumor treatment. To address the drawbacks of traditional therapeutic means, nanodrug delivery systems can release drugs under specific conditions, thus realizing tumor-targeted drug delivery, which improves the antitumor effect of drugs. In this paper, we review the current treatments for lung cancer and further discuss the advantages and common carriers of nanodrug delivery systems. We also summarize the latest research progress of nanotargeted drug delivery systems in the field of lung cancer therapy, discuss the problems faced in their clinical translation, and look forward to future development opportunities and directions.

Exploration of ANKRD27 as an immune-related prognostic factor in pan-cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma

Introduction

Ankyrin repeat domain 27 (ANKRD27) has been found to be associated with certain cancers. However, its clinical potential in pan-cancer remains unclear.

Methods

Public datasets (TCGA and GTEx) were applied to analyze ANKRD27 expression in multiple cancer types and its correlations with immune scores, immune checkpoint genes, and immune modulatory genes. We also examined ANKRD27 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients using TCGA and GSE14520 datasets. The upregulation of ANKRD27 was verified via qRT-PCR in vitro. Based on TCGA-HCC, external, and GSE14520 cohorts, the associations between ANKRD27 expression and survival outcome were explored via the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. The effects of ANKRD27 reduction on HCC cell growth, movement, and invasion were evaluated by CCK-8, Wound healing, and Transwell assays.

Results

ANKRD27 exhibited aberrant expression in multiple cancers and was correlated with immune traits, including immune infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, and immune modulatory genes. Elevated expression of ANKRD27 was found in TCGA-HCC and GSE14520 cohorts and was confirmed in HCC cell lines. HCC patients with high ANKRD27 expression had poorer prognosis. In vitro, reducing ANKRD27 decreased the capability of proliferation, migration, and invasion in HCC cells. High ANKRD27 expression was associated with sensitivity to certain drugs.

Conclusion

ANKRD27 displays abnormal levels of expression in different cancer types and is linked to immune status in cancer. Furthermore, ANKRD27 may serve as a prognostic predictor for HCC.

Application of nanotechnology in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the predominant histologic variant of hepatic malignancy and has become a major challenge to global health. The increasing incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma has created an urgent need for effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. This is despite the impressive results of multiple treatments in the clinic. However, the unique tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma increases the difficulty of treatment and immune tolerance. In recent years, the application of nanoparticles in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma has brought new hope for tumor patients. Nano agents target tumor-associated fibroblasts, regulatory T cells, myeloid suppressor cells, tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated neutrophils, and immature dendritic cells, reversed the immunosuppressive microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, he purpose of this review is to summarize the advantages of nanotechnology in guiding surgical excision, local ablation, TACE, standard chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, application of nano-vaccines has also continuously enriched the treatment of liver cancer. This study aims to investigate the potential applications of nanotechnology in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma, with the ultimate goal of enhancing therapeutic outcomes and improving the prognosis for patients affected by this malignancy.

Nanozymes: a promising solution for dental antibacterial applications

Dental diseases pose significant public health challenges globally, affecting millions with conditions exacerbated by microbial-induced inflammation. Traditional natural enzymes, despite their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory capabilities, are limited by operational stability and environmental sensitivity. This review explores the revolutionary realm of nanozyme-artificial enzymes made from nanomaterials-which offer enhanced stability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of modification. We discuss the advent of nanozymes since their first recognition in 2007, emphasizing their enzyme-mimicking capabilities and applications in dental medicine, particularly for dental caries, pulpitis, periodontitis and peri-implantitis. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of nanozymes' classification, mechanisms, and emerging applications, shedding light on their potential to revolutionize dental antibacterial treatments and addressing current challenges and future perspectives in their development.

Biomimetic Nanosensitizer Potentiates Efficient Glioblastoma Gene-Radiotherapy through Synergistic Hypoxia Mitigation and PLK1 Silencing

Postoperative radiotherapy currently stands as the cornerstone of glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. Nevertheless, low-dose radiotherapy has been proven ineffective for GBM, due to hypoxia in the GBM microenvironment, which renders the resistance to radiation-induced cell death. Moreover, the overexpression of the PLK1 gene in glioma cells enhances GBM proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to radiation. This study introduced a hybrid membrane-camouflaged biomimetic lipid nanosensitizer (CNL@miPA), which efficiently encapsulated gold nanoclusters (PA) and miR-593-5p by a chimeric membrane derived from lipids, cancer cells, and natural killer cells. CNL@miPA exhibited exceptional blood-brain barrier and tumor tissue penetration, effectively ameliorating hypoxia and synergizing with radiotherapy. By enabling prolonged miRNA circulation in the bloodstream and achieving high enrichment at the tumor site, CNL@miPA significantly suppressed tumor growth in combination treatment, thereby significantly extending the survival period of treated mice. Overall, the developed biomimetic nanosensitizer represented an efficient and multifunctional targeted delivery system, offering a novel strategy for gene-radiotherapy of GBM.

Research progress of sorafenib drug delivery system in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: An update

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors in the contemporary era, representing a significant global health concern. Early HCC patients have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, which promotes the onset and progression of the disease. Moreover, advanced HCC is insensitive to chemotherapy, making traditional clinical treatment unable to block cancer development. Sorafenib (SFB) is a first-line targeted drug for advanced HCC patients with anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumor cell proliferation effects. However, the efficacy of SFB is constrained by its off-target distribution, rapid metabolism, and multi-drug resistance. In recent years, nanoparticles based on a variety of materials have been demonstrated to enhance the targeting and therapeutic efficacy of SFB against HCC. Concurrently, the advent of joint drug delivery systems has furnished crucial empirical evidence for reversing SFB resistance. This review will summarize the application of nanotechnology in the field of HCC treatment over the past five years. It will focus on the research progress of SFB delivery systems combined with multiple therapeutic modalities in HCC treatment.

Advances in hepatocellular carcinoma drug resistance models

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer. Surgery has been the major treatment method for HCC owing to HCC's poor sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, its effectiveness is limited by postoperative tumour recurrence and metastasis. Systemic therapy is applied to eliminate postoperative residual tumour cells and improve the survival of patients with advanced HCC. Recently, the emergence of various novel targeted and immunotherapeutic drugs has significantly improved the prognosis of advanced HCC. However, targeted and immunological therapies may not always produce complete and long-lasting anti-tumour responses because of tumour heterogeneity and drug resistance. Traditional and patient-derived cell lines or animal models are used to investigate the drug resistance mechanisms of HCC and identify drugs that could reverse the resistance. This study comprehensively reviewed the established methods and applications of in-vivo and in-vitro HCC drug resistance models to further understand the resistance mechanisms in HCC treatment and provide a model basis for possible individualised therapy.

Advances in biomimetic nanomaterial delivery systems: harnessing nature's inspiration for targeted drug delivery

The properties of nanomaterials make them promising and advantageous for use in drug delivery systems, but challenges arise from the immune system's recognition of exogenous nanoparticles, leading to their clearance and reduced targeting efficiency. Drawing inspiration from nature, this paper explores biomimetic strategies to transform recognizable nanomaterials into a "camouflaged state." The focal point of this paper is the exploration of bionic nanoparticles, with a focus on cell membrane-coated nanoparticles. These biomimetic structures, particularly those mimicking red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, and cancer cells, demonstrate enhanced drug delivery efficiency and prolonged circulation. This article underscores the versatility of these biomimetic structures across diverse diseases and explores the use of hybrid cell membrane-coated nanoparticles as a contemporary trend. This review also investigated exosomes and protein bionic nanoparticles, emphasizing their potential for specific targeting, immune evasion, and improved therapeutic outcomes. We expect that this continued development based on biomimetic nanomaterials will contribute to the efficiency and safety of disease treatment.

Boosting Checkpoint Immunotherapy with Biomimetic Nanodrug Delivery Systems

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has achieved unprecedented progress in tumor immunotherapy by blocking specific immune checkpoint molecules. However, the high biodistribution of the drug prevents it from specifically targeting tumor tissues, leading to immune-related adverse events. Biomimetic nanodrug delivery systems (BNDSs) readily applicable to ICB therapy have been widely developed at the preclinical stage to avoid immune-related adverse events. By exploiting or mimicking complex biological structures, the constructed BNDS as a novel drug delivery system has good biocompatibility and certain tumor-targeting properties. Herein, the latest findings regarding the aforementioned therapies associated with ICB therapy are highlighted. Simultaneously, prospective bioinspired engineering strategies can be designed to overcome the four-level barriers to drug entry into lesion sites. In future clinical translation, BNDS-based ICB combination therapy represents a promising avenue for cancer treatment.

Glycyrrhetinic Acid as a Hepatocyte Targeting Ligand-Functionalized Platinum(IV) Complexes for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy and Overcoming Multidrug Resistance

Promising targeted therapy options to overcome drug resistance and side effects caused by platinum(II) drugs for treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma are urgently needed. Herein, six novel multifunctional platinum(IV) complexes through linking platinum(II) agents and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) were designed and synthesized. Among them, complex 20 showed superior antitumor activity against tested cancer cells including cisplatin resistance cells than cisplatin and simultaneously displayed good liver-targeting ability. Moreover, complex 20 can significantly cause DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction, promote reactive oxygen species generation, activate endoplasmic reticulum stress, and eventually induce apoptosis. Additionally, complex 20 can effectively inhibit cell migration and invasion and trigger autophagy and ferroptosis in HepG-2 cells. More importantly, complex 20 demonstrated stronger tumor inhibition ability than cisplatin or the combo of cisplatin/GA with almost no systemic toxicity in HepG-2 or A549 xenograft models. Collectively, complex 20 could be developed as a potential anti-HCC agent for cancer treatment.

Homologous-magnetic dual-targeted metal-organic framework to improve the Anti-hepatocellular carcinoma efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor

The insufficient abundance and weak activity of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are two important reasons for the poor efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. The combined administration of tanshinone IIA (TSA) and astragaloside IV (As) can up-regulate the abundance and activity of TILs by normalising tumour blood vessels and reducing the levels of immunosuppressive factors respectively. For enhancing the efficacy of PD-1 antibody, a magnetic metal-organic framework (MOF) with a homologous tumour cell membrane (Hm) coating (Hm@TSA/As-MOF) is established to co-deliver TSA&As into the HCC microenvironment. Hm@TSA/As-MOF is a spherical nanoparticle and has a high total drug-loading capacity of 16.13 wt%. The Hm coating and magnetic responsiveness of Hm@TSA/As-MOF provide a homologous-magnetic dual-targeting, which enable Hm@TSA/As-MOF to counteract the interference posed by ascites tumour cells and enhance the precision of targeting solid tumours. Hm coating also enable Hm@TSA/As-MOF to evade immune clearance by macrophages. The release of TSA&As from Hm@TSA/As-MOF can be accelerated by HCC microenvironment, thereby up-regulating the abundance and activity of TILs to synergistic PD-1 antibody against HCC. This study presents a nanoplatform to improve the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in HCC, providing a novel approach for anti-tumour immunotherapy in clinical practice.

Chondroitin sulfate-modified antiangiogenic peptide conjugate induces cell apoptosis via the mitochondria-mediated pathway to perform antitumor activity

Tumor growth and metastasis heavily rely on angiogenesis, crucial for solid tumor development. Inhibiting angiogenesis associated with tumors emerges as a potent therapeutic approach. Our previous work synthesized the chondroitin sulfate-modified antiangiogenic peptide CS-ES2-AF (CS-EA), which exhibited better antiangiogenic activity, longer half-life, and more robust targeting. In this work, we further evaluated the stability in vitro, cellular uptake mechanism, cell apoptosis mechanism, antitumor activity in vivo, and safety of CS-EA. The stability of CS-EA was consistently superior to that of EA at different temperatures and in different pH ranges. Furthermore, CS-EA mainly entered EAhy926 cells through the clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathway. CS-EA inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, and induced cell apoptosis through downregulating the Bcl-2, reducing mitochondria membrane potential, upregulating cytochrome c, Caspase 3, and reactive oxygen species levels. CS-EA showed better antitumor activity in the B16 xenografted tumor model, with a tumor inhibition rate 1.92 times higher than EA. Simultaneously, it was observed that CS-EA did not cause any harmful effects on the vital organs of the mice. These findings indicate that CS-EA holds significant promise for the treatment of tumors.

Advances and prospects of tumor immunotherapy mediated by immune cell-derived biomimetic metal-organic frameworks

The clinical translational success of nanomedicine and immunotherapy has already proved the immense potential in the field of nanotechnology and immunization. However, the development of nanomedicine is confronted with challenges such as potential toxicity and unclear nano-bio interactions. The efficacy of immunotherapy is limited to only a few groups. Combining immunotherapy with nanomedicine for multi-modal treatment effectively compensates for the limitations of the above single therapy. Immune cell membrane camouflaged metal-organic frameworks (ICM-MOFs) have emerged as a simple yet promising multimodal treatment strategy that possess multifunctional nanoscale properties and exhibit immune cell-like behaviors of stealth, targeting and immunomodulation. Here, we comprehensively discuss the latest advancements in ICM-MOFs, with a focus on the challenges of mono-immunotherapy, the superiority of biomimetic coating for MOF functionalization, preparation methods, related action mechanisms and biomedical applications. Finally, we address the challenges and prospects for clinical translation.

The improving strategies and applications of nanotechnology-based drugs in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of tumor-related death worldwide. Conventional treatments for HCC include drugs, radiation, and surgery. Despite the unremitting efforts of researchers, the curative effect of HCC has been greatly improved, but because HCC is often found in the middle and late stages, the curative effect is still not satisfactory, and the 5-year survival rate is still low. Nanomedicine is a potential subject, which has been applied to the treatment of HCC and has achieved promising results. Here, we summarized the factors affecting the efficacy of drugs in HCC treatment and the strategies for improving the efficacy of nanotechnology-based drugs in HCC, reviewed the recent applications' progress on nanotechnology-based drugs in HCC treatment, and discussed the future perspectives and challenges of nanotechnology-based drugs in HCC treatment.