Synergistic combination therapy of lung cancer using paclitaxel- and triptolide-coloaded lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles

Lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles against lung cancer and their application as inhalable formulation

Lung cancer is a leading cause of global cancer mortality, often treated with chemotherapeutic agents. However, conventional approaches such as oral or intravenous administration of drugs yield low bioavailability and adverse effects. Nanotechnology has unlocked new gateways for delivering medicine to their target sites. Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) are one of the nano-scaled delivery platforms that have been studied to exploit advantages of liposomes and polymers, enhancing stability, drug loading, biocompatibility and controlled release. Pulmonary administration of drug-loaded LPHNPs enables direct lung deposition, rapid onset of action and heightened efficacy at low doses of drugs. In this manuscript, we will review the potential of LPHNPs in management of lung cancer through pulmonary administration.

Hemocompatible and biocompatible hybrid nanocarriers for enhanced oral bioavailability of paclitaxel: in vivo evaluation

Oral administration of BCS class IV anticancer agents has always remained challenging and frequently results in poor oral bioavailability. The goal of the current study was to develop hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) employing cholesterol and poloxamer-407 to boost paclitaxel's (PTX) oral bioavailability. A series of HNPs with different cholesterol and poloxamer-407 ratios were developed utilizing a single-step nanoprecipitation technique. The PTX loaded HNPs were characterized systematically via particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, surface morphology, in vitro drug release, FTIR, DSC, XRD, acute oral toxicity analysis, hemolysis evaluation, accelerated stability studies, and in vivo pharmacokinetic analysis. The HNPs were found within the range of 106.6±55.60 - 244.5±88.24 nm diameter with the polydispersity index ranging from 0.20±0.03 - 0.51±0.11. SEM confirmed circular, nonporous, and smooth surfaces of HNPs. PTX loaded HNPs exhibited controlled release profile. The compatibility between the components of formulation, thermal stability, and amorphous nature of HNPs were confirmed by FTIR, DSC, and XRD, respectively. Acute oral toxicity analysis revealed that developed system have no deleterious effects on the animals' cellular structures. HNPs demonstrated notable cytotoxic effects and were hemocompatible at relatively higher concentrations. In vivo pharmacokinetic profile (AUC0-∞, AUMC0-∞, t1/2, and MRT0-∞) of the PTX loaded HNPs was improved as compared to pure PTX. It is concluded from our findings that the developed HNPs are hemocompatible, biocompatible and have significantly enhanced the oral bioavailability of PTX.

Engineering a pH-responsive polymeric micelle co-loaded with paclitaxel and triptolide for breast cancer therapy

Breast cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the number one cancer worldwide. Paclitaxel (PTX) is a widely used first-line anti-cancer drug, but it is not very effective in clinical breast cancer therapy. It has been reported that triptolide (TPL) can enhance the anticancer effect of paclitaxel, and better synergistic therapeutic effects are seen with concomitant administration of PTX and TPL. In this study, we developed pH-responsive polymeric micelles for co-delivery of PTX and TPL, which disassembling in acidic tumour microenvironments to target drug release and effectively kill breast cancer cells. Firstly, we synthesized amphiphilic copolymer mPEG2000-PBAE through Michael addition reaction, confirmed by various characterizations. Polymer micelles loaded with TPL and PTX (TPL/PTX-PMs) were prepared by the thin film dispersion method. The average particle size of TPL/PTX-PMs was 97.29 ± 1.63 nm, with PDI of 0.237 ± 0.003 and Zeta potential of 9.57 ± 0.80 mV, LC% was 6.19 ± 0.21%, EE% was 88.67 ± 3.06%. Carrier material biocompatibility and loaded micelle cytotoxicity were assessed using the CCK-8 method, demonstrating excellent biocompatibility. Under the same drug concentration, TPL/PTX-PMs were the most toxic to tumour cells and had the strongest proliferation inhibitory effect. Cellular uptake assays revealed that TPL/PTX-PMs significantly increased intracellular drug concentration and enhanced antitumor activity. Overall, pH-responsive micellar co-delivery of TPL and PTX is a promising approach for breast cancer therapy.

Co-delivery of paclitaxel and curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for improved targeting of lung cancer: In vitro and in vivo investigation

The objective of this study was to develop nanotechnology-mediated paclitaxel (PAC) and curcumin (CUR) co-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (PAC-CUR-SLNs) for the treatment of lung cancer, which is a leading cause of death worldwide. Around 85 % cases of lungs cancer constitute non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PAC-CUR-SLNs were prepared via high pressure homogenization. The in vitro drug release of PAC-CUR-SLNs was checked followed by their in vitro cytotoxic investigation using adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) cell lines. Anticancer effects along with side effects of the synergistic delivery of PAC-CUR-SLNs were studied in vivo, using BALB/c mice. PAC-CUR-SLNs were nano sized (190 nm), homogeneously disseminated particles with %IE of both PAC and CUR above 94 %. PAC-CUR-SLNs released PAC and CUR in a controlled fashion when compared with free drug suspensions. The cytotoxicity of PAC-CUR-SLNs was higher than individual drug-loaded SLNs and pure drugs. Moreover, the co-delivery displayed synergistic effect, indicating potential of PAC-CUR-SLNs in lung cancer treatment. In vivo tumor investigation of PAC-CUR-SLNs exhibited 12-fold reduced tumor volume and almost no change in body weight of BALB/c mice, when compared with the experimental groups including control group. The inhibition of tumor rate on day 28 was 82.7 % in the PAC-CUR-SLNs group, which was significantly higher than the pure drugs and monotherapies. It can be concluded that, encapsulating the co-loaded antitumor drugs like PAC-CUR in SLNs may help in improved targeting of the tumor with enhanced anticancer effect.

Lipid Nanoparticles in Lung Cancer Therapy

This manuscript explores the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in addressing the pivotal challenges of lung cancer treatment, including drug delivery inefficacy and multi-drug resistance. LNPs have significantly advanced targeted therapy by improving the precision and reducing the systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutics such as doxorubicin and paclitaxel. This manuscript details the design and benefits of various LNP systems, including solid lipid-polymer hybrids, which offer controlled release and enhanced drug encapsulation. Despite achievements in reducing tumor size and enhancing survival, challenges such as manufacturing complexity, biocompatibility, and variable clinical outcomes persist. Future directions are aimed at refining targeting capabilities, expanding combinatorial therapies, and integrating advanced manufacturing techniques to tailor treatments to individual patient profiles, thus promising to transform lung cancer therapy through interdisciplinary collaboration and regulatory innovation.

Antitumor mechanisms and future clinical applications of the natural product triptolide

Triptolide (TPL) is a compound sourced from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F., a traditional Chinese medicinal herb recognized for its impressive anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, immunosuppressive, and antitumor qualities. Notwithstanding its favorable attributes, the precise mechanism through which TPL influences tumor cells remains enigmatic. Its toxicity and limited water solubility significantly impede the clinical application of TPL. We offer a comprehensive overview of recent research endeavors aimed at unraveling the antitumor mechanism of TPL in this review. Additionally, we briefly discuss current strategies to effectively manage the challenges associated with TPL in future clinical applications. By compiling this information, we aim to enhance the understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in TPL and identify potential avenues for further advancement in antitumor therapy.

Dendritic Polylysine with Paclitaxel and Triptolide Codelivery for Enhanced Cancer Ferroptosis through the Accumulation of ROS

Recently, paclitaxel (PTX) was reported to increase intracellular lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, triggering cancer cell ferroptosis. Based on this, some efforts had been made to improve PTX treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our previous studies demonstrated that triptolide (TPL) could improve the antitumor effect of PTX. Nevertheless, the poor solubility and side effects often limit the application of chemotherapy drugs. In this paper, we constructed a novel nanodrug delivery system (NDDS) chemosynthesis by PEGylated generation 3 (G3) dendritic polylysine coloaded with PTX and TPL (PTX-TPL-PEG-PLL, PTPP), which was endowed with the ability of tumor targeting and favorable solubility. In addition, we demonstrated that TPL could induce ROS generation by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway to enhance the ferroptosis-induced effect of PTX. Besides, ferroptosis induced by PTPP could improve chemoresistance through inhibiting the level of P-gp, GPX4, and SLC7A11. Furthermore, we determined that ferroptosis may strengthen the immune response by increasing the expression of CD8+ T cells and IFN-γ+ cells while decreasing Treg cells. In general, PTPP may be a potential system for NSCLC treatment.

Lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles: a custom-tailored next-generation approach for cancer therapeutics

Lipid-based polymeric nanoparticles are the highly popular carrier systems for cancer drug therapy. But presently, detailed investigations have revealed their flaws as drug delivery carriers. Lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) are advanced core-shell nanoconstructs with a polymeric core region enclosed by a lipidic layer, presumed to be derived from both liposomes and polymeric nanounits. This unique concept is of utmost importance as a combinable drug delivery platform in oncology due to its dual structured character. To add advantage and restrict one's limitation by other, LPHNPs have been designed so to gain number of advantages such as stability, high loading of cargo, increased biocompatibility, rate-limiting controlled release, and elevated drug half-lives as well as therapeutic effectiveness while minimizing their drawbacks. The outer shell, in particular, can be functionalized in a variety of ways with stimuli-responsive moieties and ligands to provide intelligent holding and for active targeting of antineoplastic medicines, transport of genes, and theragnostic. This review comprehensively provides insight into recent substantial advancements in developing strategies for treating various cancer using LPHNPs. The bioactivity assessment factors have also been highlighted with a discussion of LPHNPs future clinical prospects.

Glycyrrhizic Acid-Lipid Framework Nanovehicle Loading Triptolide for Combined Immunochemotherapy

Despite the acknowledged advantages of combined immunochemotherapy for tumor treatment, the high efficiency of co-delivery of these combined agents into the targeted tumor tissue is still challenging. Herein, based on a "three-birds-with-one-stone" strategy, a facile glycyrrhizic acid (GL)-lipid hybrid nanoplatform loading triptolide (TP/GLLNP) is designed to better address the dilemma. Differing from the traditional liposomes with dual-drug co-delivery NPs, GL with a cholesterol-like structure is primarily employed to construct the lipid membrane skeleton of the GL-based lipid nanoparticle (GLLNP), and then triptolide (TP) is readily loaded in the lipid bilayer of GLLNP. The fabricated GLLNP possessed similar drug loading efficacy, particle size, and storage stability; none of the hemolysis; even higher membrane fluidity; and lower absorbed opsonin proteins compared with the conventional liposomes. Compared to TP-loaded traditional liposomes (TP/Lipo), TP/GLLNP exhibits significantly enhanced cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis of HepG2 cells. In addition, GLLNP could ameliorate tumor immunosuppression by promoting tumor-associated macrophage polarization from M2 to M1 phenotype. Furthermore, enhanced retention and accumulation in the tumor area of GLLNP could be found. As expected, TP/GLLNP displayed synergistic anti-hepatocellular carcinoma efficacy in vivo. In conclusion, this study provides an inspirational strategy to combine the anti-HCC benefits of GL and TP using a novel dual-drug co-delivery nanosystem.

Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanosystems: A Rational Fusion for Advanced Therapeutic Delivery

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are spherical vesicles composed of ionizable lipids that are neutral at physiological pH. Despite their benefits, unmodified LNP drug delivery systems have substantial drawbacks, including a lack of targeted selectivity, a short blood circulation period, and in vivo instability. lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) are the next generation of nanoparticles, having the combined benefits of polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes. LPHNPs are being prepared from both natural and synthetic polymers with various techniques, including one- or two-step methods, emulsification solvent evaporation (ESE) method, and the nanoprecipitation method. Varieties of LPHNPs, including monolithic hybrid nanoparticles, core-shell nanoparticles, hollow core-shell nanoparticles, biomimetic lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles, and polymer-caged liposomes, have been investigated for various drug delivery applications. However, core-shell nanoparticles having a polymeric core surrounded by a highly biocompatible lipid shell are the most commonly explored LPHNPs for the treatment of various diseases. In this review, we will shed light on the composition, methods of preparation, classification, surface functionalization, release mechanism, advantages and disadvantages, patents, and clinical trials of LPHNPs, with an emphasis on core-shell-structured LPHNPs.

Nanomedicine-based adjuvant therapy: a promising solution for lung cancer

Lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide for decades. Despite the increasing understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms, the prognosis still remains poor for many patients. Novel adjuvant therapies have emerged as a promising treatment method to augment conventional methods and boost the therapeutic effects of primary therapies. Adjuvant therapy based on nanomedicine has gained considerable interest for supporting and enhancing traditional therapies, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy, due to the tunable physicochemical features and ease of synthetic design of nanomaterials. In addition, nanomedicine can provide protective effects against other therapies by reducing adverse side effects through precise disease targeting. Therefore, nanomedicine-based adjuvant therapies have been extensively employed in a wide range of preclinical and clinical cancer treatments to overcome the drawbacks of conventional therapies. In this review, we mainly discuss the recent advances in adjuvant nanomedicine for lung cancer treatment and highlight their functions in improving the therapeutic outcome of other therapies, which may inspire new ideas for advanced lung cancer therapies and stimulate research efforts around this topic.

Design strategy and research progress of multifunctional nanoparticles in lung cancer therapy

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer is one of the cancer types with the highest mortality rate, exploring a more effective treatment modality that improves therapeutic efficacy while mitigating side effects is now an urgent requirement. Designing multifunctional nanoparticles can be used to overcome the limitations of drugs and conventional drug delivery systems. Nanotechnology has been widely researched, and through different needs, suitable nanocarriers can be selected to load anti-cancer drugs to improve the therapeutic effect. It is foreseeable that with the rapid development of nanotechnology, more and more lung cancer patients will benefit from nanotechnology. This paper reviews the merits of various multifunctional nanoparticles in the treatment of lung cancer to provide novel ideas for lung cancer treatment.

AREAS COVERED

This review focuses on summarizing various nanoparticles for targeted lung cancer therapy and their advantages and disadvantages, using nanoparticles loaded with anti-cancer drugs, delivered to lung cancer sites, enhancing drug half-life, improving anti-cancer drug efficacy and reducing side effects.

EXPERT OPINION

The delivery mode of nanoparticles with superior pharmacokinetic properties in the in vivo circulation enhances the half-life of the drug, and provides tissue-targeted selectivity and the ability to overcome biological barriers, bringing a revolution in the field of oncology.

Core Shell Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles for Oral Bioavailability Enhancement of Ibrutinib via Lymphatic Uptake

The purpose of this research was to develop ibrutinib (IBR)-loaded lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (IBR-LPHNPs) to improve oral absorption by intestinal lymphatic uptake. IBR-LPHNPs were fabricated by nanoprecipitation method using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), lipoid S 100, and DSPE-MPEG 2000. The IBR-LPHNPs showed particle size of 85.27±3.82 nm, entrapment efficiency of 97.70±3.85%, and zeta potential of -24.9±3.08 mV respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry study revealed compatibility between IBR and excipients. X-ray diffraction study showed the conversion of IBR into amorphous form. High-resolution transmission electron microscopic image displayed spherical-shaped, discrete layered polymeric core and lipid shell structure. The drug release from IBR-LPHNPs exhibited prolong release profile up to 48 h and was best fitted to Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Higher fluorescence intensity at the end of 2 h in the intestinal tissue confirmed the uptake of LPHNPs by Peyer's patches. The oral bioavailability of IBR was improved 22.52-fold with LPHNPs as compared to free IBR. The intestinal lymphatic uptake study in rats pretreated with cycloheximide confirmed the intestinal lymphatic uptake of IBR-LPHNPs. All the results conclusively showed that LPHNPs could be a promising approach to improve oral bioavailability of IBR.

Nanotechnology-empowered lung cancer therapy: From EMT role in cancer metastasis to application of nanoengineered structures for modulating growth and metastasis

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in both males and females, and it is the first causes of cancer-related deaths. Chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy are conventional treatment of lung cancer and recently, immunotherapy has been also appeared as another therapeutic strategy for lung tumor. However, since previous treatments have not been successful in cancer therapy and improving prognosis and survival rate of lung tumor patients, new studies have focused on gene therapy and targeting underlying molecular pathways involved in lung cancer progression. Nanoparticles have been emerged in treatment of lung cancer that can mediate targeted delivery of drugs and genes. Nanoparticles protect drugs and genes against unexpected interactions in blood circulation and improve their circulation time. Nanoparticles can induce phototherapy in lung cancer ablation and mediating cell death. Nanoparticles can induce photothermal and photodynamic therapy in lung cancer. The nanostructures can impair metastasis of lung cancer and suppress EMT in improving drug sensitivity. Metastasis is one of the drawbacks observed in lung cancer that promotes migration of tumor cells and allows them to establish new colony in secondary site. EMT can occur in lung cancer and promotes tumor invasion. EMT is not certain to lung cancer and it can be observed in other human cancers, but since lung cancer has highest incidence rate, understanding EMT function in lung cancer is beneficial in improving prognosis of patients. EMT induction in lung cancer promotes tumor invasion and it can also lead to drug resistance and radio-resistance. Moreover, non-coding RNAs and pharmacological compounds can regulate EMT in lung cancer and EMT-TFs such as Twist and Slug are important modulators of lung cancer invasion that are discussed in current review.

Nano-Enabled Strategies for the Treatment of Lung Cancer: Potential Bottlenecks and Future Perspectives

On a global scale, lung cancer is acknowledged to be the major driver of cancer death attributable to treatment challenges and poor prognosis. Classical cancer treatment regimens, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, can be used to treat lung cancer, but the appended adverse effects limit them. Because of the numerous side effects associated with these treatment modalities, it is crucial to strive to develop novel and better strategies for managing lung cancer. Attributes such as enhanced bioavailability, better in vivo stability, intestinal absorption pattern, solubility, prolonged and targeted distribution, and the superior therapeutic effectiveness of numerous anticancer drugs have all been boosted with the emergence of nano-based therapeutic systems. Lipid-based polymeric and inorganic nano-formulations are now being explored for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics for lung cancer treatment. Nano-based approaches are pioneering the route for primary and metastatic lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. The implementation and development of innovative nanocarriers for drug administration, particularly for developing cancer therapies, is an intriguing and challenging task in the scientific domain. The current article provides an overview of the delivery methods, such as passive and active targeting for chemotherapeutics to treat lung cancer. Combinatorial drug therapy and techniques to overcome drug resistance in lung cancer cells, as potential ways to increase treatment effectiveness, are also discussed. In addition, the clinical studies of the potential therapies at different stages and the associated challenges are also presented. A summary of patent literature has also been included to keep readers aware of the new and innovative nanotechnology-based ways to treat lung cancer.

Nano-Based Drug Delivery of Polyphenolic Compounds for Cancer Treatment: Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges

Polyphenols and their derivates, a kind of natural product distributed in herb plants, vegetables, and fruits, are the most abundant antioxidants in the human diet and have been found to display cancer-preventative effects in several epidemiological studies. The scientific community has also validated the anti-cancer bioactivities and low toxicities of polyphenolic compounds, including flavones, tannins, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins, through in vitro and in vivo studies. However, the low stability, weak targeting ability, poor solubility, and low bioavailability of pure polyphenolic agents have significantly impaired their treatment efficacy. Nowadays, nano-based technology has been applied to surmount these restrictions and maximize the treatment efficacy of polyphenols. In this review, we summarize the advantages and related mechanisms of polyphenols in cancer treatment. Moreover, aiming at the poor solubility and low bioavailability of pure polyphenols in vivo, the advantages of nano-based delivery systems and recent research developments are highlighted. Herein, particular emphasis is mainly placed on the most widely used nanomaterials in the delivery of natural products, including liposomes, micelles, and nanogels. Finally, we present an overview and the challenges of future implementations of nano-based delivery systems of polyphenolic compounds in the cancer therapeutic field.

Natural biomolecules and derivatives as anticancer immunomodulatory agents

Despite advancements in chemotherapy, the issue of resistance and non-responsiveness to many chemotherapeutic drugs that are currently in clinical use still remains. Recently, cancer immunotherapy has gathered attention as a novel treatment against select cancers. Immunomodulation is also emerging as an effective strategy to improve efficacy. Natural phytochemicals, with known anticancer properties, been reported to mediate their effects by modulating both traditional cancer pathways and immunity. The mechanism of phytochemical mediated-immunomodulatory activity may be attributed to the remodeling of the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment and the sensitization of the immune system. This allows for improved recognition and targeting of cancer cells by the immune system and synergy with chemotherapeutics. In this review, we will discuss several well-known plant-derived biomolecules and examine their potential as immunomodulators, and therefore, as novel immunotherapies for cancer treatment.

Anti-lung cancer effect of paclitaxel solid lipid nanoparticles delivery system with curcumin as co-loading partner in vitro and in vivo

The main aim of this study was to improve the therapeutic potential of a paclitaxel (PTX) and curcumin (CU) combination regimen using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). PTX and CU were successfully co-encapsulated at a predetermined ratio in SLNs (PC-SLNs) with high encapsulation efficiency (CU: 97.6%, PTX: 95.8%), appropriate particle size (121.8 ± 1.69 nm), small PDI (0.267 ± 0.023), and negative zeta potential (–30.4 ± 1.25 mV). Compared with PTX or the combination of CU and PTX (CU + PTX), PC-SLNs can greatly reduce the dose of PTX while still achieving the same therapeutic effect on four cancer cell lines, among which the inhibitory effect on A549 lung cancer cells was the strongest. PC-SLNs improved the area under the curve (CU: 1.40-fold; PTX: 2.88-fold), prolonged the residence time (CU: 6.94-fold; PTX: 2.51-fold), and increased the half-life (CU: 5.62-fold; PTX: 6.46-fold), achieving long circulation. PC-SLNs were used to treat lung cancer in a nude mouse xenograft tumor model and the tumor suppression rate reached 78.42%, while those of PTX and (CU + PTX) were 40.53% and 51.56%, respectively. As PC-SLNs can prevent P-glycoprotein efflux, reverse MDR and downregulate the NF-κB pathway. PC-SLNs are a potential antineoplastic agent that is more effective and less toxic in treating lung cancer.

Acute myocardial infarction therapy using calycosin and tanshinone co-loaded; mitochondrion-targeted tetrapeptide and cyclic arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid peptide co-modified lipid-polymer hybrid nano-system: preparation, characterization, and anti myocardial infarction activity assessment

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most common ischemic heart diseases. However, lack of sufficient drug concentration (in the ischemic heart) is the major factor of treatment failure. It is urgent for researchers to engineer novel drug delivery systems to enhance the targeted delivery of cardioprotective agents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-AMI ability of calycosin (CAL) and tanshinone (TAN) co-loaded; mitochondrion-targeted tetrapeptide (MTP) and cyclic arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide co-modified nano-system.: We prepared CAL and TAN combined lipid-polymer hybrid nano-system, and RGD was modified to the system to achieve RGD-CAL/TAN NS. MTP-131 was conjugated with PEG and modified onto the nanoparticles to achieve dual ligands co-modified MTP/RGD-CAL/TAN NS. The physicochemical properties of nano-systems were characterized. The AMI therapy ability of the systems was investigated in AMI rats' model. The size of MTP/RGD-CAL/TAN NS was 170.2 ± 5.6 nm, with a surface charge of -18.9 ± 1.9 mV. The area under the curve (AUC) and blood circulation half-life (T_1/2) of MTP/RGD-CAL/TAN NS was 178.86 ± 6.62 μg·min/mL and 0.47 h, respectively. MTP/RGD-CAL/TAN NS exhibited the most significant infarct size reduction effect of 22.9%. MTP/RGD-CAL/TAN NS exhibited the highest heart accumulation and best infarct size reduction effect, which could be used as a promising system for efficient treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Nano-drug co-delivery system of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment: a review

Chemotherapy drugs have been used for a long time in the treatment of cancer, but serious side effects are caused by the inability of the drug to be solely delivered to the tumor when treating cancer with chemotherapy. Natural products have attracted more and more attention due to the antitumor effect in multiple ways, abundant resources and less side effects. Therefore, the combination of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs may be an effective antitumor strategy, which can inhibit the growth of tumor and multidrug resistance, reduce side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Nano-drug co-delivery system (NDCDS) can play an important role in the combination of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the research status and application prospect of nano-delivery strategies for the combination of natural active ingredients and chemotherapy drugs, aiming to provide a basis for the development of anti-tumor drugs.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen targeted, glutathione-sensitive nanoparticles loaded with docetaxel and enzalutamide for the delivery to prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor in men. Chemotherapy with docetaxel (DTX) and novel hormonal agents such as enzalutamide (EZL) and abiraterone are the preferred first-line therapeutic regimens. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed on the surface of PCa cells. This study aimed to prepare a PSMA targeted (Glutamate-Urea-Lysine, GUL ligand modified), glutathione (GSH)-sensitive (Cystamine, SS), DTX and EZL co-loaded nanoparticles (GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs) to treat PCa. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was conjugated with oleic acid (OA) using a GSH-sensitive ligand: cystamine (PEG-SS-OA). GUL was covalently coupled to PEG-SS-OA to achieve GUL-PEG-SS-OA. GUL-PEG-SS-OA was used to prepare GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs. To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficiency of the system, human prostate cancer cell lines and PCa cells bearing mice were applied. Single drug-loaded nanoparticle and free drugs systems were utilized for the comparison of the anticancer ability. GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs showed a size of 143.7 ± 4.1 nm, with a PDI of 0.162 ± 0.037 and a zeta potential of +29.1 ± 2.4 mV. GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs showed high cancer cell uptake of about 70%, as well as higher cell growth inhibition efficiency (a maximum 79% of cells were inhibited after treatment) than single drug-loaded NPs and free drugs. GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs showed the most prominent tumor inhibition ability and less systemic toxicity. The novel GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs could be used as a promising system for PCa therapy.

A technical note on emerging combination approach involved in the onconanotherapeutics

Cancer is the second cause of mortality worldwide, and the currently available conventional treatment approach is associated with serious side effects and poor clinical outcomes. Based on the outcome of the exploratory preclinical and clinical studies, it was found that therapeutic response increases multiple folds when anticancer drugs are used in combination. However, the conventional combination of anticancer drugs was associated with various limitations such as increased cost of treatment, systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and reduced pharmacokinetic attributes. Hence, attempts were made to formulate nanocarrier fabricated combinatorial drugs (NFCDs) to effectively manage and treat cancer. This approach offers several advantages, such as improved stability, lower drug exposure, targeted drug delivery, low side effects, and improved clinical outcome. Hence, in this review, first time, we have discussed the recent advancement and various types of nano carrier-based combinatorial drug delivery systems in a different type of cancer and highlighted the personalized combinatorial theranostic medicine as a futuristic anticancer treatment approach.

Acute myocardial infarction therapy using calycosin and tanshinone co-loaded mitochondria targeted lipid-polymer hybrid nano-system: Preparation, characterization, and anti myocardial infarction activity assessment

BACKGROUND

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most common ischemic heart diseases. However, lack of sufficient drug concentrations in the ischemic heart may led to treatment failure. It is urgent for researchers to engineer novel drug delivery systems to enhance the targeted delivery of cardioprotective agents.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-AMI ability of calycosin (CAL) and tanshinone (TAN) co-loaded mitochondria targeted lipid-polymer hybrid nano-system.

METHODS

CAL and TAN combined lipid-polymer hybrid nano-systems were prepared and MTP-131 was conjugated with PEG and modified onto the nanoparticles to achieve MTP-CAL/TAN NS. The physicochemical properties of nano-systems were characterized, the AMI therapy ability of the systems was investigated in AMI rats' model.

RESULTS

The size of MTP-CAL/TAN NS was 168.7 ± 5.1 nm, with a surface charge of - 21.3 ± 2.3 mV. The area under the curve (AUC) and blood circulation half-life (T_1/2) of MTP-CAL/TAN NS was 178.86 ± 6.62 μg·min/mL and 0.47 h, respectively. MTP-CAL/TAN NS exhibited the most significant infarct size reduction effect of 23.9 %.

CONCLUSION

MTP-CAL/TAN NS exhibited the highest heart accumulation and best infarct size reduction effect, which could be used as a promising system for efficient treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Folate decorated lipid chitosan hybrid nanoparticles of 5-fluorouracil for enhanced anticancer efficacy against colon cancer

The study aimed to develop folate decorated lipid chitosan hybrid nanoparticles for targeted delivery of 5-fluorouracil in colon cancer by utilizing the overexpressed folate receptors on the surface of HT-29 and HCT 116 cancer cell lines. The developed formulations were prepared by the ionic gelation method with slight modifications. The developed formulations exhibited spherical morphology, smaller particle size (158 to 225 nm), zeta potential (32.24 to 35.95 mV), PDI (0.19 to 0.35), and high encapsulation efficiency (85.3 % to 94.2 %) with optimal physicochemical characteristics. The in vitro release showed a biphasic release pattern with an initial burst release followed by a sustained release for 48 h. Moreover, the in vitro cell line study revealed that FA-CLPN-2 exhibited an enhanced cellular uptake and greater cytotoxic effect in HT-29 and HCT 116 cell lines compared to non-targeted CLPN-2 and free drug solution due to the folate receptor facilitated endocytosis process. The in vivo toxicity study revealed the safety and biocompatibility of the developed formulations in biological systems. The stability study demonstrates the stability of the developed formulations. Overall, these results suggest that the folate decorated lipid chitosan hybrid nanoparticles could be used as a potential delivery system for tumor-targeted therapy with reduced side effects.

Smart active-targeting of lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles for therapeutic applications: Recent advances and challenges

The advances in producing multifunctional lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNs) by combining the biomimetic behavior of liposomes and architectural advantages of polymers have provided great opportunities for selective and efficient therapeutics delivery. The constructed LPHNs exhibit different therapeutic efficacies for special uses based on characteristics of different excipients. However, the high mechanical/structural stability of hybrid nano-systems could be viewed as both a negative property and a positive feature, where the concomitant release of drug molecules in a controllable manner is required. In addition, difficulties in scaling up the LPHNs production, due to involvement of several criteria, limit their application for biomedical fields, especially in monitoring, bioimaging, and drug delivery. To address these challenges bio-modifications have exhibited enormous potential to prepare reproducible LPHNs for site-specific therapeutics delivery, diagnostic and preventative applications. The ever-growing surface bio-functionality has provided continuous vitality to this biotechnology and has also posed desirable biosafety to nanoparticles (NPs). As a proof-of-concept, this manuscript provides a crucial review of coated lipid and polymer NPs displaying excellent surface functionality and architectural advantages. We also provide a description of structural classifications and production methodologies, as well as the biomedical possibilities and translational obstacles in the development of surface modified nanocarrier technology.

Delivery of triptolide: a combination of traditional Chinese medicine and nanomedicine

As a natural product with various biological activities, triptolide (TP) has been reported in anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-autoimmune studies. However, the narrow therapeutic window, poor water solubility, and fast metabolism limit its wide clinical application. To reduce its adverse effects and enhance its efficacy, research and design of targeted drug delivery systems (TDDS) based on nanomaterials is one of the most viable strategies at present. This review summarizes the reports and studies of TDDS combined with TP in recent years, including passive and active targeting of drug delivery systems, and specific delivery system strategies such as polymeric micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, and stimulus-responsive polymer nanoparticles. The reviewed literature presented herein indicates that TDDS is a multifunctional and efficient method for the delivery of TP. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of TDDS are sorted out, aiming to provide reference for the combination of traditional Chinese medicine and advanced nano drug delivery systems (NDDS) in the future.

Modulation of TLR/NF-κB/NLRP Signaling by Bioactive Phytocompounds: A Promising Strategy to Augment Cancer Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

Background

Tumors often progress to a more aggressive phenotype to resist drugs. Multiple dysregulated pathways are behind this tumor behavior which is known as cancer chemoresistance. Thus, there is an emerging need to discover pivotal signaling pathways involved in the resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and cancer immunotherapy. Reports indicate the critical role of the toll-like receptor (TLR)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing (NLRP) pathway in cancer initiation, progression, and development. Therefore, targeting TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling is a promising strategy to augment cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy and to combat chemoresistance. Considering the potential of phytochemicals in the regulation of multiple dysregulated pathways during cancer initiation, promotion, and progression, such compounds could be suitable candidates against cancer chemoresistance.

Objectives

This is the first comprehensive and systematic review regarding the role of phytochemicals in the mitigation of chemoresistance by regulating the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway in chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Methods

A comprehensive and systematic review was designed based on Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane electronic databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to include papers on TLR/NF-κB/NLRP and chemotherapy/immunotherapy/chemoresistance by phytochemicals.

Results

Phytochemicals are promising multi-targeting candidates against the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway and interconnected mediators. Employing phenolic compounds, alkaloids, terpenoids, and sulfur compounds could be a promising strategy for managing cancer chemoresistance through the modulation of the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway. Novel delivery systems of phytochemicals in cancer chemotherapy/immunotherapy are also highlighted.

Conclusion

Targeting TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling with bioactive phytocompounds reverses chemoresistance and improves the outcome for chemotherapy and immunotherapy in both preclinical and clinical stages.

Herbal nanomedicines: Recent advancements, challenges, opportunities and regulatory overview

BACKGROUND

Herbal Nano Medicines (HNMs) are nano-sized medicine containing herbal drugs as extracts, enriched fractions or biomarker constituents. HNMs have certain advantages because of their increased bioavailability and reduced toxicities. There are very few literature reports that address the common challenges of herbal nanoformulations, such as selecting the type/class of nanoformulation for an extract or a phytochemical, selection and optimisation of preparation method and physicochemical parameters. Although researchers have shown more interest in this field in the last decade, there is still an urgent need for systematic analysis of HNMs.

PURPOSE

This review aims to provide the recent advancement in various herbal nanomedicines like polymeric herbal nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, phytosomes, nano-micelles, self-nano emulsifying drug delivery system, nanofibers, liposomes, dendrimers, ethosomes, nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, and carbon nanotube; their evaluation parameters, challenges, and opportunities. Additionally, regulatory aspects and future perspectives of herbal nanomedicines are also being covered to some extent.

METHODS

The scientific data provided in this review article are retrieved by a thorough analysis of numerous research and review articles, textbooks, and patents searched using the electronic search tools like Sci-Finder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, ACS, Medline Plus and Web of Science.

RESULTS

In this review, the authors suggested the suitability of nanoformulation for a particular type of extracts or enriched fraction of phytoconstituents based on their solubility and permeability profile (similar to the BCS class of drugs). This review focuses on different strategies for optimising preparation methods for various HNMs to ensure reproducibility in context with all the physicochemical parameters like particle size, surface area, zeta potential, polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency, drug loading, and drug release, along with the consistent therapeutic index.

CONCLUSION

A combination of herbal medicine with nanotechnology can be an essential tool for the advancement of herbal medicine research with enhanced bioavailability and fewer toxicities. Despite the challenges related to traditional medicine's safe and effective use, there is huge scope for nanotechnology-based herbal medicines. Overall, it is well stabilized that herbal nanomedicines are safer, have higher bioavailability, and have enhanced therapeutic value than conventional herbal and synthetic drugs.

Nanoprecipitation technology to prepare carrier systems of interest in pharmaceutics: An overview of patenting

Nanoprecipitation is a practical method to prepare carriers at the nanometric scale, which attracts attention in pharmaceutics because of its low cost, easy setup, the versatility of the starting materials, possibility to obtain different kinds of carriers, and minimal environmental impact. Since 1986, this technique has been extensively employed in research; therefore, this paper focuses on state of art regarding inventions wherein it is employed. To this end, 133 nanoprecipitation-based patent families are identified in the PatSnap® platform, which allows identifying general trends. Afterwards, a sample of 40 patent families reported as granted (21 families) or patent applications (19 families) during the last decade are studied in depth to establish the research tendencies. Undoubtedly, Chinese universities are positioned as leaders in this field, and cancer treatments are the more claimed use followed far behind for developments targeting neurodegenerative and diabetes diseases. New proposals on targeted and stimuli response particles are also claimed, and development of polymers, prodrugs, and improvements to the technique such as the flash-nanoprecipitation, use of microfluidics, or design of green process are relevant. Interestingly, nanoprecipitation-related patent families have significantly increased during the last decade, being the 71% of the total, which makes alluring the perspectives about its industrial harnessing.

Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery System for Anticancer Active Ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicines: A Review

The variable dosage forms of most traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) could be disadvantaged by low selectivity, poor biological distribution, limited bioavailability with low efficacy, and some adverse effects. These issues limit the control of clinical pharmacodynamics of the antitumor active components. With the progress of science and technology, many new polymer materials and new technologies have emerged, such as nanotechnology, cyclodextrin inclusion, solid dispersion, microcapsule and microsphere technologies. These new technologies provide a good basis for exploring novel TCM dosage forms for overcoming the shortcomings. The increased numbers of new technologies have been used to study TCM dosage forms with remarkable achievements. In this review paper, we will provide a systematic overview of the new dosage forms of nano-formulations and co-medications in relation to nano-delivery systems in an attempt to provide useful references for practical application of active antitumor ingredients from the TCMs.

A pH-sensitive supramolecular nanosystem with chlorin e6 and triptolide co-delivery for chemo-photodynamic combination therapy

The combination of Ce6, an acknowledged photosensitizer, and TPL, a natural anticancer agent, has been demonstrated as a useful strategy to reinforce the tumor growth suppression, as well as decrease the systemic side effects compared with their monotherapy. However, in view of the optimal chemo-photodynamic combination efficiency, there is still short of the feasible nanovehicle to steadily co-deliver Ce6 and TPL, and stimuli-responsively burst release drugs in tumor site. Herein, we described the synergistic antitumor performance of a pH-sensitive supramolecular nanosystem, mediated by the host–guest complexing between β-CD and acid pH-responsive amphiphilic co-polymer mPEG-PBAE-mPEG, showing the shell–core structural micelles with the tight β-CD layer coating. Both Ce6 and TPL were facilely co-loaded into the spherical supramolecular NPs (TPL+Ce6/NPs) by one-step nanoprecipitation method, with an ideal particle size (156.0 nm), acid pH-responsive drug release profile, and enhanced cellular internalization capacity. In view of the combination benefit of photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy, as well as co-encapsulation in the fabricated pH-sensitive supramolecular NPs, TPL+Ce6/NPs exhibited significant efficacy to suppress cellular proliferation, boost ROS level, lower MMP, and promote cellular apoptosis in vitro. Particularly, fluorescence imaging revealed that TPL+Ce6/NPs preferentially accumulated in the tumor tissue area, with higher intensity than that of free Ce6. As expected, upon 650-nm laser irradiation, TPL+Ce6/NPs exhibited a cascade of amplified synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapeutic benefits to suppress tumor progression in both hepatoma H22 tumor-bearing mice and B16 tumor-bearing mice. More importantly, lower systemic toxicity was found in the tumor-bearing mice treated with TPL+Ce6/NPs. Overall, the designed supramolecular TPL+Ce6/NPs provided a promising alternative approach for chemo-photodynamic therapy in tumor treatment.

Emerging nanotechnology based combination therapies of taxanes for multiple drug-resistant cancers

'One drug- one target' to 'multiple drug- multiple targets' paradigm shifted to produce combination therapies, have found great outcomes to overcome multiple drug resistance (MDR). MDR is a significant barrier to the delivery of taxane-based anticancer medicines such as docetaxel, paclitaxel, and cabazitaxel. Due to MDR induced by drug efflux transporters, clinical application of these medications is impeded. To date, nanoformulations such as liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, and gold nanoparticles have been investigated to deliver taxanes alone and in combination to reverse drug resistance. Despite the fact that various groups have already looked into taxane nano formulations in the literature, there isn't much in the way of polypharmacology and advanced nanoformulations with a focus on MDR. In this overview, we briefly covered the insights regarding MDR, difficulties related to current pharmaceutical products of taxanes, combination therapies of taxanes to combat MDR, all of which can be used to delve into cancer treatment.

Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery System: The Magic Bullet for the Treatment of Chronic Pulmonary Diseases

Chronic pulmonary diseases encompass different persistent and lethal diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), cystic fibrosis (CF), asthma, and lung cancers that affect millions of people globally. Traditional pharmacotherapeutic treatment approaches (i.e., bronchodilators, corticosteroids, chemotherapeutics, peptide-based agents, etc.) are not satisfactory to cure or impede diseases. With the advent of nanotechnology, drug delivery to an intended site is still difficult, but the nanoparticle's physicochemical properties can accomplish targeted therapeutic delivery. Based on their surface, size, density, and physical-chemical properties, nanoparticles have demonstrated enhanced pharmacokinetics of actives, achieving the spotlight in the drug delivery research field. In this review, the authors have highlighted different nanoparticle-based therapeutic delivery approaches to treat chronic pulmonary diseases along with the preparation techniques. The authors have remarked the nanosuspension delivery via nebulization and dry powder carrier is further effective in the lung delivery system since the particles released from these systems are innumerable to composite nanoparticles. The authors have also outlined the inhaled particle's toxicity, patented nanoparticle-based pulmonary formulations, and commercial pulmonary drug delivery devices (PDD) in other sections. Recently advanced formulations employing nanoparticles as therapeutic carriers for the efficient treatment of chronic pulmonary diseases are also canvassed.

Combination Therapy of Metastatic Castration-Recurrent Prostate Cancer: Hyaluronic Acid Decorated, Cabazitaxel-Prodrug and Orlistat Co-Loaded Nano-System

Purpose

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men in developed countries. Cabazitaxel (CBZ) is recommended as one of the most active chemotherapy agents for PCa. This study aimed to develop a hyaluronic acid (HA) decorated, cabazitaxel-prodrug (HA-CBZ) and orlistat (ORL) co-loaded nano-system against the prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

Cabazitaxel-prodrug was firstly synthesized by conjugating HA with CBZ through the formation of ester bonds. HA contained ORL and CBZ prodrug co-loaded lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (ORL/HA-CBZ/LPNs) were constructed and characterized in terms of particle size, zeta potential, drug loading capacity and stability. The antitumor efficiency and systemic toxicity of LPNs were evaluated in vitro and in vivo.

Results

The resulting ORL/HA-CBZ/LPNs were 150.9 nm in particle size with narrow distribution and high entrapment efficiency. The minimum combination index of 0.57 was found at a drug ratio of 1:2 (ORL:HA-CBZ, w/w) in the drug co-loaded formulations, indicating the strongest synergism effect. ORL/HA-CBZ/LPNs demonstrated an enhanced in vitro and in vivo antitumor effect compared with single drug loaded LPNs and free drug formulations.

Conclusion

ORL/HA-CBZ/LPNs showed remarkable synergism cytotoxicity and the best tumor inhibition efficiency in mice with negligible systemic toxicity. ORL/HA-CBZ/LPNs can be highly useful for targeted prostate cancer therapy.

Strategies for Preparing Different Types of Lipid Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles in Targeted Tumor Therapy

At present, cancer is one of the most common diseases in the world, causing a large number of deaths and seriously affecting people's health. The traditional treatment of cancer is mainly surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Conventional chemotherapy is still an important treatment, but it has some shortcomings, such as poor cell selectivity, serious side effects, drug resistance and so on. Nanoparticle administration can improve drug stability, reduce toxicity, prolong drug release time, prolong system half-life, and bring broad prospects for tumor therapy. Lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNs), which combine the advantages of polymer core and phospholipid shell to form a single platform, have become multi-functional drug delivery platforms. This review introduces the basic characteristics, structure and preparation methods of LPNs, and discusses targeting strategies of LPNs in tumor therapy in order to overcome the defects of traditional drug therapy.

Pulmonary Delivery of Anticancer Drugs via Lipid-Based Nanocarriers for the Treatment of Lung Cancer: An Update

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, responsible for approximately 18.4% of all cancer mortalities in both sexes combined. The use of systemic therapeutics remains one of the primary treatments for LC. However, the therapeutic efficacy of these agents is limited due to their associated severe adverse effects, systemic toxicity and poor selectivity. In contrast, pulmonary delivery of anticancer drugs can provide many advantages over conventional routes. The inhalation route allows the direct delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to the target LC cells with high local concertation that may enhance the antitumor activity and lead to lower dosing and fewer systemic toxicities. Nevertheless, this route faces by many physiological barriers and technological challenges that may significantly affect the lung deposition, retention, and efficacy of anticancer drugs. The use of lipid-based nanocarriers could potentially overcome these problems owing to their unique characteristics, such as the ability to entrap drugs with various physicochemical properties, and their enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect for passive targeting. Besides, they can be functionalized with different targeting moieties for active targeting. This article highlights the physiological, physicochemical, and technological considerations for efficient inhalable anticancer delivery using lipid-based nanocarriers and their cutting-edge role in LC treatment.

Nanoplatform-based natural products co-delivery system to surmount cancer multidrug-resistant

The emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in malignant tumors is the primary reason for invalid chemotherapy. Antitumor drugs are often adversely affected by the MDR of tumor cells. Treatments using conventional drugs, which have specific drug targets, hardly regulate the complex signaling pathway of MDR cells because of the complex formation mechanism of MDR. However, natural products have positive advantages, such as high efficiency, low toxicity, and ability to target multiple mechanism pathways associated with MDR. Natural products, as MDR reversal agents, synergize with chemotherapeutics and enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutics, and the co-delivery of natural products and antitumor drugs with nanocarriers maximizes the synergistic effects against MDR in tumor cells. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of MDR, the advantages of natural products combined with chemotherapeutics in offsetting complicated MDR mechanisms, and the types and mechanisms of natural products that are potential MDR reversal modulators. Meanwhile, aiming at the low bioavailability of cocktail combined natural products and chemotherapeutic in vivo, the advantages of nanoplatform-based co-delivery system and recent research developments are illustrated on the basis of our previous research. Finally, prospective horizons are analyzed, which are expected to considerably improve the nano-co-delivery of natural products and chemotherapeutic systems for MDR reversal in cancer.

Combination prostate cancer therapy: Prostate-specific membranes antigen targeted, pH-sensitive nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin and tanshinone

Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in the men population. Combination anticancer therapy using doxorubicin (DOX) and another extract of traditional Chinese medicine is one nano-sized drug delivery system promising to generate synergistic anticancer effects, maximize the treatment effect, and overcome multi-drug resistance. The purpose of this study is to construct a drug delivery system for the co-delivery of DOX and tanshinones (TAN). Lipid nanoparticles loaded with DOX and TAN (N-DOX/TAN) were prepared by emulsification and solvent-diffusion method. PSMA targeted nanoparticles loaded with DOX and TAN (P-N-DOX/TAN) were synthesized by conjugating a PSMA targeted ligand to N-DOX/TAN. We evaluate the performance of this system in vitro and in vivo. P-N-DOX/TAN has a size of 139.7 ± 4.1 nm and a zeta potential of 11.2 ± 1.6 mV. The drug release of DOX and TAN from P-N-DOX/TAN was much faster than that of N-DOX/TAN. N-DOX/TAN presented more inhibition effect on tumor growth than N-DOX and N-TAN, which is consistent with the synergistic results and successfully highlighting the advantages of combing the DOX and TAN in one system. P-N-DOX/TAN achieved higher uptake by LNCaP cells (58.9 ± 1.9%), highest tumor tissue distribution, and the most significant tumor inhibition efficiency. The novel nanomedicine offers great promise for the dual drug delivery to prostate cancer cells, showing the potential of synergistic combination therapy for prostate cancer.

Triptolide: pharmacological spectrum, biosynthesis, chemical synthesis and derivatives

Triptolide, an abietane-type diterpenoid isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F., has significant pharmacological activity. Research results show that triptolide has obvious inhibitory effects on many solid tumors. Therefore, triptolide has become one of the lead compounds candidates for being the next "blockbuster" drug, and multiple triptolide derivatives have entered clinical research. An increasing number of researchers have developed triptolide synthesis methods to meet the clinical need. To provide new ideas for researchers in different disciplines and connect different disciplines with researchers aiming to solve scientific problems more efficiently, this article reviews the research progress made with analyzes of triptolide pharmacological activity, biosynthetic pathways, and chemical synthesis pathways and reported in toxicological and clinical studies of derivatives over the past 20 years, which have laid the foundation for subsequent researchers to study triptolide in many ways.

Nanomaterials to Fight Cancer: An Overview on Their Multifunctional Exploitability

In recent years the worldwide research community has highlighted innumerable benefits of nanomaterials in cancer detection and therapy. Nevertheless, the development of cancer nanomedicines and other bionanotechnology requires a huge amount of considerations about the interactions of nanomaterials and biological systems, since long-term effects are not yet fully known. Open issues remain the determination of the nanoparticles distributions patterns and the internalization rate into the tumor while avoiding their accumulation in internal organs or other healthy tissues. The purpose of this work is to provide a standard overview of the most recent advances in nanomaterials to fight cancer and to collect trends and future directions to follow according to some critical aspects still present in this field. Complementary to the very recent review of Wolfram and Ferrari which discusses and classifies successful clinically-approved cancer nanodrugs as well as promising candidates in the pipeline, this work embraces part of their proposed classification system based on the exploitation of multifunctionality and extends the review to peer-reviewed journal articles published in the last 3 years identified through international databases.

Lung cancer chemotherapy using nanoparticles: Enhanced target ability of redox-responsive and pH-sensitive cisplatin prodrug and paclitaxel

Platinum-based combination therapy is more effective and less toxic, but lack of targeting, and is not capable to enrich in the tumor zone. To obstacle these drawbacks, prodrug and nanotechnology strategies have been investigated in this study. GSH-responsive and pH-responsive cisplatin prodrug was synthesized. Cisplatin prodrug and paclitaxel co-loaded nanoparticles: DDP-P/PTX NPs were constructed. The drug release behavior and cytotoxicity of nanoparticles was assessed in vitro. In vivo anticancer efficiency and toxicity were evaluated on lung cancer bearing mice animal model. DDP-P/PTX NPs had a nanoscale size of 112.9 ± 3.5 nm. A reduction and pH triggered drug release with a synergistic tumor cell inhibition ability was observed by DDP-P/PTX NPs. DDP-P/PTX NPs also exhibited high tumor distribution, low systemic toxicity and remarkable antitumor effects in vivo. DDP-P/PTX NPs could be applied as promising anticancer system for the treatment of NSCLC.

Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles in cancer therapy: current overview and future directions

Cancer remains one of the leading cause of death worldwide. Current therapies are still ineffective in completely eradicating the disease. In the last two decades, the use of nanodelivery systems has emerged as an effective way to potentiate the therapeutic properties of anti-cancer drugs by improving their solubility and stability, prolong drug half-lives in plasma, minimize drug’s toxicity by reducing its off-target distribution, and promote drugs’ accumulation at the desired target site. Liposomes and polymer nanoparticles are the most studied and have demonstrated to be the most effective delivery systems for anti-cancer drugs. However, both liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles suffer from limitations, including high instability, rapid drug release, limited drug loading capacity, low biocompatibility and lack of suitability for large-scale production. To overcome these limitations, lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) have been developed to merge the advantages of both lipid- and polymer-based nanocarriers, such as high biocompatibility and stability, improved drug loading and controlled release, as well as increased drug half-lives and therapeutic efficacy. This review provides an overview on the synthesis, properties and application of LPHNPs for cancer therapy.

Development of an albumin decorated lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticle for simultaneous delivery of methotrexate and conferone to cancer cells

Aiming to simultaneous target of methotrexate (MTX), as folate antagonist, and conferone (CON) in various cancer cells, the newly lipid/polymer hybrid nanoparticle containing an albumin targeted succinylchitosan shell and lipoid bilayer core composed of hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol was synthesized. The covalently conjugating albumin to the external surface of chitosan was accomplished using N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and N- hydroxyl succinimide as an activating carboxylic group, and nanoliposomes were fabricated via thin film hydration-sonication method. The molecular structure of MTX@CON-targeted lipid/polymer hybrid nanoparticle (MTX@CON-TLPN) were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The newly nanoparticle with high encapsulation efficiency (85.12%, and 78.4%), acceptable loading capacity (9.8% and 4.6% for MTX and CON) and the stimuli responsiveness drug release behavior in simulated physiologic tumor tissue condition (pH 5.4, 40 °C) was successfully synthetized in the spherical shape with mean average size of approximately 290 nm and ζ-potential of +21 mv. The enhanced efficiency of the targeted nanoparticle was further confirmed using MTT endpoints, cell cycle modulation, apoptosis assessment, and cellular internalization assessments. Collectively, these findings establish the utility of our newly prepared nanoparticle for simultaneous delivery of multiple anti-cancer drugs.

Multiple-Coated PLGA Nanoparticles Loading Triptolide Attenuate Injury of a Cellular Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, which is associated with extracellular deposition of amyloid-β proteins (Aβ). It has been reported that triptolide (TP), an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agent extracted from a Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii, shows potential neuroprotective effects pertinent to AD. However, the clinical use of TP for AD could be hampered due to its high toxicity, instability, poor water solubility, and nonspecific biodistribution after administration. In this paper, we reported a kind of multiple-coated PLGA nanoparticle with the entrapment of TP and surface coated by chitosan hydrochloride, Tween-80, PEG20000, and borneol/mentholum eutectic mixture (MC-PLGA-TP-NP) as a novel nasal brain targeting preparation for the first time. The obtained MC-PLGA-TP-NP was 147.5 ± 20.7 nm with PDI of 0.263 ± 0.075, zeta potential of 14.62 ± 2.47 mV, and the entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency of 93.14% ± 4.75% and 1.17 ± 0.08%, respectively. In comparison of TP, MC-PLGA-TP-NP showed sustained-release profile and better transcellular permeability to Caco-2 cells in vitro. In addition, our data showed that MC-PLGA-TP-NP remarkably reduced the cytotoxicity, attenuated the oxidative stress, and inhibited the increase of the intracellular Ca²⁺ influx in differentiated PC12 cells induced by Aβ_1-42. Therefore, it can be concluded that MC-PLGA-TP-NP is a promising preparation of TP, which exerts a better neuroprotective activity in the AD cellular model.

Polymer-Lipid Pharmaceutical Nanocarriers: Innovations by New Formulations and Production Technologies

Some issues in pharmaceutical therapies such as instability, poor membrane permeability, and bioavailability of drugs can be solved by the design of suitable delivery systems based on the combination of two pillar classes of ingredients: polymers and lipids. At the same time, modern technologies are required to overcome production limitations (low productivity, high energy consumption, expensive setup, long process times) to pass at the industrial level. In this paper, a summary of applications of polymeric and lipid materials combined as nanostructures (hybrid nanocarriers) is reported. Then, recent techniques adopted in the production of hybrid nanoparticles are discussed, highlighting limitations still present that hold back the industrial implementation.