Encapsulation of Imatinib in Targeted KIT-5 Nanoparticles for Reducing its Cardiotoxicity and Hepatotoxicity

Nanobiotechnology-based strategies in alleviation of chemotherapy-mediated cardiotoxicity

The cardiovascular diseases have been among the most common malignancies and the first leading cause of death, even higher than cancer. The cardiovascular diseases can be developed as a result of cardiac dysfunction and damages to heart tissue. Exposure to toxic agents and chemicals that induce cardiac dysfunction has been of interest in recent years. The chemotherapy drugs are commonly used for cancer therapy and in these patients, cardiovascular diseases have been widely observed that is due to negative impact of chemotherapy drugs on the heart. These drugs increase oxidative damage and inflammation, and mediate apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction. Hence, nanotechnological approaches have been emerged as new strategies in attenuation of chemotherapy-mediated cardiotoxicity. The first advantage of nanoparticles can be explored in targeted and selective delivery of drugs to reduce their accumulation in heart tissue. Nanostructures can deliver bioactive and therapeutic compounds in reducing cardiotoxicity and alleviation toxic impacts of chemotherapy drugs. The functionalization of nanostructures increases their selectivity against tumor cells and reduces accumulation of drugs in heart tissue. The bioplatforms such as chitosan and alginate nanostructures can also deliver chemotherapy drugs and reduce their cardiotoxicity. The function of nanostructures is versatile in reduction of cardiotoxicity by chemotherapy drugs and new kind of platforms is hydrogels that can mediate sustained release of drug to reduce its toxic impacts on heart tissue. The various kinds of nanoplatforms have been developed for alleviation of cardiotoxicity and their future clinical application depends on their biocompatibility. High concentration level of chitosan nanoparticles can stimulate cardiotoxicity. Therefore, if nanotechnology is going to be deployed for drug delivery and reducing cardiotoxicity, the first pre-requirement is to lack toxicity on normal cells and have high biocompatibility.

Antioxidant-Based Preventive Effect of Phytochemicals on Anticancer Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Significance: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) or hepatotoxicity has been a hot issue to overcome on the safety and physiological function of the liver, since it is known to have biochemical, cellular, immunological, and molecular alterations in the liver mainly induced by alcohol, chemicals, drugs, heavy metals, and genetic factors. Recently efficient therapeutic and preventive strategies by some phytochemicals are of interest, targeting oxidative stress-mediated hepatotoxicity alone or in combination with anticancer drugs. Recent Advances: To assess DILI, the variety of in vitro and in vivo animal models has been developed mainly by using carbon tetrachloride, d-galactosamine, acetaminophen, and lipopolysaccharide. Also, the mechanisms on hepatotoxicity by several drugs and herbs have been explored in detail. Recent studies reveal that antioxidants including vitamins and some phytochemicals were reported to prevent against DILI. Critical Issues: Antioxidant therapy with some phytochemicals is noteworthy, since oxidative stress is critically involved in DILI via production of chemically reactive oxygen species or metabolites, impairment of mitochondrial respiratory chain, and induction of redox cycling. Future Directions: For efficient antioxidant therapy, DILI susceptibility, Human Leukocyte Antigen genetic factors, biomarkers, and pathogenesis implicated in hepatotoxicity should be further explored in association with oxidative stress-mediated signaling, while more randomized preclinical and clinical trials are required with optimal safe doses of drugs and/or phytochemicals alone or in combination for efficient clinical practice along with the development of advanced DILI diagnostic tools.

Nanotechnology-based diagnostics and therapeutics in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a systematic review of preclinical studies

Background: Leukemia is a malignant disease that threatens human health and life. Nano-delivery systems improve drug solubility, bioavailability, and blood circulation time, and release drugs selectively at desired sites using targeting or sensing strategies. As drug carriers, they could improve therapeutic outcomes while reducing systemic toxicity. They have also shown promise in improving leukemia detection and diagnosis. The study aimed to assess the potential of nanotechnology-based diagnostics and therapeutics in preclinical human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (h-ALL). Methods: We performed a systematic search through April 2022. Articles written in English reporting the toxicity, efficacy, and safety of nanotechnology-based drugs (in the aspect of treatment) and specificity, limit of detection (LOD), or sensitivity (in the aspect of the detection field) in preclinical h-ALL were included. The study was performed according to PRISMA instructions. The methodological quality was assessed using the QualSyst tool. Results: A total of 63 original articles evaluating nanotechnology-based therapeutics and 35 original studies evaluating nanotechnology-based diagnostics were included in this review. As therapeutics in ALL, nanomaterials offer controlled release, targeting or sensing ligands, targeted gene therapy, photodynamic therapy and photothermic therapy, and reversal of multidrug-resistant ALL. A narrative synthesis of studies revealed that nanoparticles improve the ratio of efficacy to the toxicity of anti-leukemic drugs. They have also been developed as a vehicle for biomolecules (such as antibodies) that can help detect and monitor leukemic biomarkers. Therefore, nanomaterials can help with early diagnostics and personalized treatment of ALL. Conclusion: This review discussed nanotechnology-based preclinical strategies to achieve ALL diagnosis and therapy advancement. This involves modern drug delivery apparatuses and detection devices for prompt and targeted disease diagnostics. Nonetheless, we are yet in the experimental phase and investigational stage in the field of nanomedicine, with many features remained to be discovered as well as numerous problems to be solved.