Fluorescence resonance energy transfer monitoring of pH-responsive doxorubicin release from carbon dots/aptamer functionalized magnetic mesoporous silica

Facile one-pot synthesis of the mesoporous chitosan-coated cobalt ferrite nanozyme as an antibacterial and MRI contrast agent

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe) nanoparticles (NPs) with appropriate physicochemical and biological properties have attracted great attention for biomedical applications. In the present study, chitosan-coated mesoporous CoFe (CoFeCH) NPs were synthesized using a facile one-step hydrothermal method and fully characterized using FE-SEM, EDS, BET, FTIR spectroscopy, DLS, TGA, XRD, and VSM. The spherical, highly colloidal, and monodispersed CoFeCH NPs with an average hydrodynamic size of 177.9 nm, PDI of 0.238 and zeta potential value of -33 represented a high saturation magnetization value of 59.37 emu g-1. N2 adsorption-desorption analysis confirmed the mesoporous structure of CoFeCH NPs with a type IV isotherm, calculated specific surface area of 89.583 m2 g-1 and total pore volume of 0.3668 cm3 g-1. CoFeCH NPs exhibited high antibacterial effects on S. aureus and E. coli, comparable with standard antibiotics, while CH-coating led to higher biocompatibility of CoFe NPs on human cells in vitro. CoFeCH NPs also showed significant peroxidase activity with a Km value of 14.37 and specific activity of 0.632 mmol min-1. CoFeCH NPs were successfully used as a MRI contrast agent with an R2 value of 91.3 mM-1 s-1. The overall results indicated the high potential of synthesized CoFeCH NPs by the present method for biomedical applications, especially as an antibacterial and MRI contrast agent.

Multifunctional Carbon Dots for Biomedical Applications: Diagnosis, Therapy, and Theranostic

Designing suitable nanomaterials is an ideal strategy to enable early diagnosis and effective treatment of diseases. Carbon dots (CDs) are luminescent carbonaceous nanoparticles that have attracted considerable attention. Through facile synthesis, they process properties including tunable light emission, low toxicity, and light energy transformation, leading to diverse applications as optically functional materials in biomedical fields. Recently, their potentials have been further explored, such as enzyme-like activity and ability to promote osteogenic differentiation. Through refined synthesizing strategies carbon dots, a rich treasure trove for new discoveries, stand a chance to guide significant development in biomedical applications. In this review, the authors start with a brief introduction to CDs. By presenting mechanisms and examples, the authors focus on how they can be used in diagnosing and treating diseases, including bioimaging failure of tissues and cells, biosensing various pathogenic factors and biomarkers, tissue defect repair, anti-inflammation, antibacterial and antiviral, and novel oncology treatment. The introduction of the application of integrated diagnosis and treatment follows closely behind. Furthermore, the challenges and future directions of CDs are discussed. The authors hope this review will provide critical perspectives to inspire new discoveries on CDs and prompt their advances in biomedical applications.

Carbon dot incorporated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy and fluorescence imaging†

A new and efficient theranostic nanoplatform was developed via a green approach for targeted cancer therapy and fluorescence imaging, without the use of any anticancer chemotherapeutic drugs. Toward this aim, monodisperse and spherical mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) of approximately 50 nm diameter were first synthesized using the sol–gel method and loaded with hydrothermally synthesized anticancer carbon dots (CDs). The resulting MSNs-CDs were then functionalized with chitosan and targeted by an anti-MUC1 aptamer, using the glutaraldehyde cross-linker, and fully characterized by TEM, FE-SEM, EDS, FTIR, TGA, XRD, and BET analysis. Potent and selective anticancer activity was obtained against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells with the maximum cell mortalities of 66.2 ± 1.97 and 71.8 ± 3%, respectively, after 48 h exposure with 100 μg mL⁻¹ of the functionalized MSNs-CDs. The maximum mortality of 40.66 ± 1.3% of normal HUVEC cells was obtained under the same conditions. Based on the results of flowcytometry analysis, the apoptotic mediated cell death was recognized as the main anticancer mechanism of the MSNs-CDs. The fluorescence imaging of MCF-7 cancer cells was also studied after exposure with MSNs-CDs. The overall results indicated the high potential of the developed nanoplatform for targeted cancer theranostics.

Efficient cancer therapy and fluorescence imaging was obtained by aptamer targeted mesoporous silica nanoparticles incorporating carbon dots.

Real-time drug release monitoring from pH-responsive CuS-encapsulated metal-organic frameworks

Real-time monitoring of drug release behaviors over extended periods of time is critical in understanding the dynamics of drug progression for personalized chemotherapeutic treatment. In this work, we report a metal–organic framework (MOF)-based nanotheranostic system encapsulated with photothermal agents (CuS) and therapeutic drug (DOX) to achieve the capabilities of real-time drug release monitoring and combined chemo-photothermal therapy. Meanwhile, folic acid-conjugated polyethylene glycol (FA-PEG) antennas were connected to the MOF through coordination interactions, endowing the MOF with an enhanced active targeting effect toward cancer cells. It is anticipated that such a theranostic agent, simultaneously possessing tumor-targeting, real-time drug monitoring and effective treatment, will potentially enhance the performance in cancer therapy.

A metal–organic framework-based nanotheranostic system was fabricated to achieve the capabilities of tumor-targeting, real-time monitoring of pH-responsive drug release and combined chemo-photothermal therapy.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle-Based Combination of Niclosamide and Doxorubicin: Effect of Treatment Regimens on Breast Cancer Subtypes

Overexpressed Wnt/β-catenin signaling acts as a major cancer driver and plays an important role in the development of resistance against cancer chemotherapy. Therefore, the combinatorial approach of downregulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling along with using a chemotherapeutic agent may improve cancer therapy. However, systemic administration of free anticancer agents is nonspecific and poses serious side effects. Hence, the present study aimed at developing mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-based targeted combination therapy of a Wnt signaling inhibitor, niclosamide (Nic), and a conventional anticancer agent, doxorubicin (Dox). The results demonstrated the reproducible synthesis of highly stable and monodispersed sub-100 nm spherical shaped NPs. In vitro cytotoxicity studies demonstrated that the individual drug formulations caused concentration-dependent cytotoxicity to all of the three breast cancer subtypes, with higher concentrations being more cytotoxic. Further, sequential and concurrent combination of Nic-loaded MSNs with Dox-loaded MSNs was synergistic and caused significantly enhanced death in all breast cancer subtypes. Quantification of the combinatorial efficacy suggested that multiple combinatorial pairs were synergistic in all of the breast cancer types for both (sequential and concurrent) treatment regimens. However, the extent of synergism varied between the two treatment regimens in different clinical subtypes of breast cancer. Overall, the combination of Nic-loaded MSNs with Dox-loaded MSNs holds promise to be developed as an efficient therapeutic option for breast cancer irrespective of the clinical subtype in both sequential and concurrent treatment regimens.

Recent Advances in Nanomaterials Development for Nanomedicine and Cancer

Cancer is considered one of the leading causes of death, with a growing number of cases worldwide. However, the early diagnosis and efficient therapy of cancer have remained a critical challenge. The emergence of nanomedicine has opened up a promising window to address the drawbacks of cancer detection and treatment. A wide range of engineered nanomaterials and nanoplatforms with different shapes, sizes, and composition has been developed for various biomedical applications. Nanomaterials have been increasingly used in various applications in bioimaging, diagnosis, and therapy of cancers. Recently, numerous multifunctional and smart nanoparticles with the ability of simultaneous diagnosis and targeted cancer therapy have been reported. The multidisciplinary attempts led to the development of several exciting clinically approved nanotherapeutics. The nanobased materials and devices have also been used extensively to develop point-of-care and highly sensitive methods of cancer detection. In this review article, the most significant achievements and latest advances in the nanomaterials development for cancer nanomedicine are critically discussed. In addition, the future perspectives of this field are evaluated.