Drug Delivery Systems Using Surface Markers for Targeting Cancer Stem Cells

Cancer stem cells: advances in knowledge and implications for cancer therapy

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small subset of cells in tumors that are characterized by self-renewal and continuous proliferation, lead to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and maintain tumor heterogeneity. Cancer continues to be a significant global disease burden. In the past, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were the main cancer treatments. The technology of cancer treatments continues to develop and advance, and the emergence of targeted therapy, and immunotherapy provides more options for patients to a certain extent. However, the limitations of efficacy and treatment resistance are still inevitable. Our review begins with a brief introduction of the historical discoveries, original hypotheses, and pathways that regulate CSCs, such as WNT/β-Catenin, hedgehog, Notch, NF-κB, JAK/STAT, TGF-β, PI3K/AKT, PPAR pathway, and their crosstalk. We focus on the role of CSCs in various therapeutic outcomes and resistance, including how the treatments affect the content of CSCs and the alteration of related molecules, CSCs-mediated therapeutic resistance, and the clinical value of targeting CSCs in patients with refractory, progressed or advanced tumors. In summary, CSCs affect therapeutic efficacy, and the treatment method of targeting CSCs is still difficult to determine. Clarifying regulatory mechanisms and targeting biomarkers of CSCs is currently the mainstream idea.

Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Systems for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Reproductive Disorders

Over the past decade, nanotechnology has seen extensive integration into biomedical applications, playing a crucial role in biodetection, drug delivery, and diagnostic imaging. This is especially important in reproductive health care, which has become an emerging and significant area of research. Global concerns have intensified around disorders such as infertility, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, erectile dysfunction, benign prostate hyperplasia, sexually transmitted infections, and reproductive cancers. Nanotechnology presents promising solutions to address these concerns by introducing innovative tools and techniques, facilitating early detection, targeted drug delivery, and improved imaging capabilities. Through the utilization of nanoscale materials and devices, researchers can craft treatments that are not only more precise but also more effective, significantly enhancing outcomes in reproductive healthcare. Looking forward, the future of nanotechnology in reproductive medicine holds immense potential for reshaping diagnostics, personalized therapies, and fertility preservation. The utilization of nanotechnology-driven drug delivery systems is anticipated to elevate treatment effectiveness, minimize side effects, and offer patients therapies that are not only more precise but also more efficient. This review aims to delve into the various types, properties, and preparation techniques of nanocarriers specifically designed for drug delivery in the context of reproductive disorders, shedding light on the current landscape and potential future directions in this dynamic field.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM): An overview of current therapies and mechanisms of resistance

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a WHO grade IV glioma and the most common malignant, primary brain tumor with a 5-year survival of 7.2%. Its highly infiltrative nature, genetic heterogeneity, and protection by the blood brain barrier (BBB) have posed great treatment challenges. The standard treatment for GBMs is surgical resection followed by chemoradiotherapy. The robust DNA repair and self-renewing capabilities of glioblastoma cells and glioma initiating cells (GICs), respectively, promote resistance against all current treatment modalities. Thus, durable GBM management will require the invention of innovative treatment strategies. In this review, we will describe biological and molecular targets for GBM therapy, the current status of pharmacologic therapy, prominent mechanisms of resistance, and new treatment approaches. To date, medical imaging is primarily used to determine the location, size and macroscopic morphology of GBM before, during, and after therapy. In the future, molecular and cellular imaging approaches will more dynamically monitor the expression of molecular targets and/or immune responses in the tumor, thereby enabling more immediate adaptation of tumor-tailored, targeted therapies.

Putative N-glycoprotein markers of MCF-7/ADR cancer stem cells from N-glycoproteomics characterization of the whole cell lysate

Breast cancer is one of the most malignant diseases among females. N-glycoproteomics studies have shown that N-glycosylation alteration of tumor cells is the key player of cancer progression, multidrug resistance (MDR) and high mortality. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have the remarkable potential of self-renewing and differentiation which leads to drug resistance and metastasis. To investigate the differentially expressed N-glycosylation in adriamycin-resistant breast cancer stem cells MCF-7/ADR CSCs (relative to MCF-7 CSCs) and find the putative biomarkers, 1:1 paired ZIC-HILIC-enriched and stable isotopic diethyl labelled (SIDE) intact N-glycopeptides from MCF-7/ADR CSCs and MCF-7 CSCs were analyzed with C18-RPLC-ESI-MS/MS (HCD with stepped NCE); differentially expressed intact N-glycopeptides (DEGPs) were identified and quantified via search engine GPSeeker. With control of spectrum-level FDR≤1%, 5515 intact N-glycopeptides were identified (1737 N-glycosites, 1705 peptide backbones and 1516 intact N-glycoproteins; 181 putative N-glycan linkages and 68 monosaccharide compositions). Among 5515 intact N-glycopeptide IDs, 3864 were identified with glycoform score≥1, i.e., one or more structure-diagnostic fragment ions were observed to distinguish sequence isomers. With the three technical replicates and the criteria of fold change≥1.5 and p value<0.05, 380 DEGPs (corresponding to 153 intact N-glycoproteins) were found along with 293 down-regulated and 87 up-regulated. For these 153 intact N-glycoproteins, the molecular functions and biological processes of were comprehensively discussed, and side-to-side comparison of differential expression results with other method were also made.