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Resina L, Garrudo FFF, Alemán C, Esteves T, Ferreira FC. Wireless electrostimulation for cancer treatment: An integrated nanoparticle/coaxial fiber mesh platform. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2024; 160:213830. [PMID: 38552500 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.213830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Cancer, namely breast and prostate cancers, is the leading cause of death in many developed countries. Controlled drug delivery systems are key for the development of new cancer treatment strategies, to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy and tackle off-target effects. In here, we developed a biomaterials-based wireless electrostimulation system with the potential for controlled and on-demand release of anti-cancer drugs. The system is composed of curcumin-loaded poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanoparticles (CUR/PEDOT NPs), encapsulated inside coaxial poly(glycerol sebacate)/poly(caprolactone) (PGS/PCL) electrospun fibers. First, we show that the PGS/PCL nanofibers are biodegradable, which allows the delivery of NPs closer to the tumoral region, and have good mechanical properties, allowing the prolonged storage of the PEDOT NPs before their gradual release. Next, we demonstrate PEDOT/CUR nanoparticles can release CUR on-demand (65 % of release after applying a potential of -1.5 V for 180 s). Finally, a wireless electrostimulation platform using this NP/fiber system was set up to promote in vitro human prostate cancer cell death. We found a decrease of 67 % decrease in cancer cell viability. Overall, our results show the developed NP/fiber system has the potential to effectively deliver CUR in a highly controlled way to breast and prostate cancer in vitro models. We also show the potential of using wireless electrostimulation of drug-loaded NPs for cancer treatment, while using safe voltages for the human body. We believe our work is a stepping stone for the design and development of biomaterial-based future smarter and more effective delivery systems for anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonor Resina
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico - Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Department of Chemical Engineering, Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Eduard Maristany 10-14, Edif. I2, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fábio F F Garrudo
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico - Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Telecomunicações and Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico - Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos Alemán
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Barcelona Research Center for Multiscale Science and Engineering, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Eduard Maristany 10-14, Edif. I2, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Esteves
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico - Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Frederico Castelo Ferreira
- iBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico - Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Wang S, Aljirafi FO, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Excite the unexcitable: engineering cells and redox signaling for targeted bioelectronic control. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 85:103052. [PMID: 38150921 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.103052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
The ever-growing influence of technology in our lives has led to an increasing interest in the development of smart electronic devices to interrogate and control biological systems. Recently, redox-mediated electrogenetics introduced a novel avenue that enables direct bioelectronic control at the genetic level. In this review, we discuss recent advances in methodologies for bioelectronic control, ranging from electrical stimulation to engineering efforts that allow traditionally unexcitable cells to be electrically 'programmable.' Alongside ion-transport signaling, we suggest redox as a route for rational engineering because it is a native form of electronic communication in biology. Using redox as a common language allows the interfacing of electronics and biology. This newfound connection opens a gateway of possibilities for next-generation bioelectronic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA; Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Futoon O Aljirafi
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA; Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA; Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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Jain A, Gosling J, Liu S, Wang H, Stone EM, Chakraborty S, Jayaraman PS, Smith S, Amabilino DB, Fromhold M, Long YT, Pérez-García L, Turyanska L, Rahman R, Rawson FJ. Wireless electrical-molecular quantum signalling for cancer cell apoptosis. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 19:106-114. [PMID: 37709951 PMCID: PMC10796273 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01496-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Quantum biological tunnelling for electron transfer is involved in controlling essential functions for life such as cellular respiration and homoeostasis. Understanding and controlling the quantum effects in biology has the potential to modulate biological functions. Here we merge wireless nano-electrochemical tools with cancer cells for control over electron transfer to trigger cancer cell death. Gold bipolar nanoelectrodes functionalized with redox-active cytochrome c and a redox mediator zinc porphyrin are developed as electric-field-stimulating bio-actuators, termed bio-nanoantennae. We show that a remote electrical input regulates electron transport between these redox molecules, which results in quantum biological tunnelling for electron transfer to trigger apoptosis in patient-derived cancer cells in a selective manner. Transcriptomics data show that the electric-field-induced bio-nanoantenna targets the cancer cells in a unique manner, representing electrically induced control of molecular signalling. The work shows the potential of quantum-based medical diagnostics and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhil Jain
- Bioelectronics Laboratory, Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jonathan Gosling
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Shaochuang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haowei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Eloise M Stone
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Sajib Chakraborty
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Stuart Smith
- Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, School of Medicine, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
| | - David B Amabilino
- Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus Universitari de Cerdanyola, Barcelona, Spain
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Mark Fromhold
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Yi-Tao Long
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lluïsa Pérez-García
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Departament de Farmacologia, Toxicologia i Química Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia, Universitat de Barcelona (IN2UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ruman Rahman
- Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, School of Medicine, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Frankie J Rawson
- Bioelectronics Laboratory, Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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Gimondi S, Vieira de Castro J, Reis RL, Ferreira H, Neves NM. On the size-dependent internalization of sub-hundred polymeric nanoparticles. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 225:113245. [PMID: 36905835 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
The understanding of the interaction between nanoparticles (NPs) and cells is crucial to design nanocarriers with high therapeutic relevance. In this study, we exploited a microfluidics device to synthesize homogeneous suspensions of NPs with ≈ 30, 50, and 70 nm of size. Afterward, we investigated their level and mechanism of internalization when exposed to different types of cells (endothelial cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts). Our results show that all NPs were cytocompatible and internalized by the different cell types. However, NPs uptake was size-dependent, being the maximum uptake efficiency observed for the 30 nm NPs. Moreover, we demonstrate that size can lead to distinct interactions with different cells. For instance, 30 nm NPs were internalized with an increasing trend over time by endothelial cells, while a steady and a decreasing trend were observed when incubated with LPS-stimulated macrophages and fibroblasts, respectively. Finally, the use of different chemical inhibitors (chlorpromazine, cytochalasin-D, and nystatin), and low temperature (4 °C) indicated that phagocytosis/micropinocytosis are the main internalization mechanism for all NPs sizes. However, different endocytic pathways were initiated in the presence of particular NP sizes. In endothelial cells, for example, caveolin-mediated endocytosis occurs primarily in the presence of 50 nm NPs, whereas clathrin-mediated endocytosis substantially promotes the internalization of 70 nm NPs. This evidence demonstrates the importance of size in the NPs design for mediating interaction with specific cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gimondi
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Vieira de Castro
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Helena Ferreira
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno M Neves
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
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