Photothermal Therapy via NIR II Light Irradiation Enhances DNA Damage and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress for Efficient Chemotherapy

Strategies, Challenges, and Prospects of Nanoparticles in Gynecological Malignancies

Gynecologic cancers are a significant health issue for women globally. Early detection and successful treatment of these tumors are crucial for the survival of female patients. Conventional therapies are often ineffective and harsh, particularly in advanced stages, necessitating the exploration of new therapy options. Nanotechnology offers a novel approach to biomedicine. A novel biosensor utilizing bionanotechnology can be employed for early tumor identification and therapy due to the distinctive physical and chemical characteristics of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have been rapidly applied in the field of gynecologic malignancies, leading to significant advancements in recent years. This study highlights the significance of nanoparticles in treating gynecological cancers. It focuses on using nanoparticles for precise diagnosis and continuous monitoring of the disease, innovative imaging, and analytic methods, as well as multifunctional drug delivery systems and targeted therapies. This review examines several nanocarrier systems, such as dendrimers, liposomes, nanocapsules, and nanomicelles, for gynecological malignancies. The review also examines the enhanced therapeutic potential and targeted delivery of ligand-functionalized nanoformulations for gynecological cancers compared to nonfunctionalized anoformulations. In conclusion, the text also discusses the constraints and future exploration prospects of nanoparticles in chemotherapeutics. Nanotechnology will offer precise methods for diagnosing and treating gynecological cancers.

Development of Polymethine Dyes for NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging and Therapy

Fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II) is burgeoning because of its higher imaging fidelity in monitoring physiological and pathological processes than clinical visible/the second near-infrared window fluorescence imaging. Notably, the imaging fidelity is heavily dependent on fluorescence agents. So far, indocyanine green, one of the polymethine dyes, with good biocompatibility and renal clearance is the only dye approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but it shows relatively low NIR-II brightness. Importantly, tremendous efforts are devoted to synthesizing polymethine dyes for imaging preclinically and clinically. They have shown feasibility in the customization of structure and properties to fulfill various needs in imaging and therapy. Herein, a timely update on NIR-II polymethine dyes, with a special focus on molecular design strategies for fluorescent, photoacoustic, and multimodal imaging, is offered. Furthermore, the progress of polymethine dyes in sensing pathological biomarkers and even reporting drug release is illustrated. Moreover, the NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided therapies with polymethine dyes are summarized regarding chemo-, photothermal, photodynamic, and multimodal approaches. In addition, artificial intelligence is pointed out for its potential to expedite dye development. This comprehensive review will inspire interest among a wide audience and offer a handbook for people with an interest in NIR-II polymethine dyes.

Emerging platinum(IV) prodrug nanotherapeutics: A new epoch for platinum-based cancer therapy

Owing to the unique DNA damaging cytotoxicity, platinum (Pt)-based chemotherapy has long been the first-line choice for clinical oncology. Unfortunately, Pt drugs are restricted by the severe dose-dependent toxicity and drug resistance. Correspondingly, Pt(IV) prodrugs are developed with the aim to improve the antitumor performance of Pt drugs. However, as "free" molecules, Pt(IV) prodrugs are still subject to unsatisfactory in vivo destiny and antitumor efficacy. Recently, Pt(IV) prodrug nanotherapeutics, inheriting both the merits of Pt(IV) prodrugs and nanotherapeutics, have emerged and demonstrated the promise to address the underexploited dilemma of Pt-based cancer therapy. Herein, we summarize the latest fronts of emerging Pt(IV) prodrug nanotherapeutics. First, the basic outlines of Pt(IV) prodrug nanotherapeutics are overviewed. Afterwards, how versatile Pt(IV) prodrug nanotherapeutics overcome the multiple biological barriers of antitumor drug delivery is introduced in detail. Moreover, advanced combination therapies based on multimodal Pt(IV) prodrug nanotherapeutics are discussed with special emphasis on the synergistic mechanisms. Finally, prospects and challenges of Pt(IV) prodrug nanotherapeutics for future clinical translation are spotlighted.

Chitosan Thermosensitive Hydrogel Based on DNA Damage Repair Inhibition and Mild Photothermal Therapy for Enhanced Antitumor Treatment

The DNA damage repair of tumor cells limits the effect of photothermal therapy (PTT), and high temperatures induced by PTT can damage adjacent normal tissues. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel composite hydrogel (OLA-Au-Gel) based on chitosan (CS) and β-glycerophosphate (β-GP), which encapsulated olaparib-liposomes (OLA-lips) and CS-capped gold nanoparticles (CS-AuNPs). OLA-Au-Gel achieved the combination of mild PTT (mPTT) by CS-AuNPs and tumor DNA damage repair inhibition by OLA. The hydrogel showed good biocompatibility, injectability, and photothermal response. Under near-infrared laser irradiation, OLA-Au-Gel inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells, induced the generation of reactive oxygen species in vitro, and effectively inhibited the growth of breast tumors in vivo. OLA-Au-Gel shows a promising application prospect for inhibiting tumor development and improving the antitumor effect. Collectively, we propose a novel strategy for enhanced antitumor therapy based on the combination of mPTT and DNA damage repair inhibition.

Interrelation between Programmed Cell Death and Immunogenic Cell Death: Take Antitumor Nanodrug as an Example

Programmed cell death (PCD, mainly including apoptosis, necrosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy) and immunogenic cell death (ICD), as important cell death mechanisms, are widely reported in cancer therapy, and understanding the relationship between the two is significant for clinical tumor treatments. Considering that vast nanodrugs are developed to induce tumor PCD and ICD simultaneously, in this review, the interrelationship between PCD and ICD is described using nanomedicines as examples. First, an overview of PCD patterns and focus on the morphological differences and interconnections among them are provided. Then the interrelationship between apoptosis and ICD in terms of endoplasmic reticulum stress is described by introducing various cancer treatments and the recent developments of nanomedicines with inducible immunogenicity. Next, the crosstalk between non-apoptotic (including necrosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy) signaling pathways and ICD is introduced and their relationship through various nanomedicines as examples is further illustrated. Finally, the relationship between PCD and ICD and its application prospects in the development of new ICD nanomaterials are summarized. This review is believed to deepen the understanding of the relationship between PCD and ICD, extend the biomedical applications of various nanodrugs, and promote the progress of clinical tumor therapy.

UBA1 inhibition contributes radiosensitization of glioblastoma cells via blocking DNA damage repair

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a brain tumor with high mortality and recurrence rate. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery are the main treatment options available for GBM. However, patients with glioblastoma have a grave prognosis. The major reason is that most GBM patients are resistant to radiotherapy. UBA1 is considered an attractive potential anti-tumor therapeutic target and a key regulator of DNA double-strand break repair and genome replication in human cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that TAK-243, the first-in-class UBA1 inhibitor, might increase GBM sensitivity to radiation. The combined effect of TAK-243 and ionizing radiation on GBM cell proliferation, and colony formation ability was detected using CCK-8, colony formation, and EdU assays. The efficacy of TAK-243 combined with ionizing radiation for GBM was further evaluated in vivo, and the mechanism of TAK-243 sensitizing radiotherapy was preliminarily discussed. The results showed that TAK-243, in combination with ionizing radiation, significantly inhibited GBM cell proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, and increased the proportion of apoptosis. In addition, UBA1 inhibition by TAK-243 substantially increased the radiation-induced γ-H2AX expression and impaired the recruitment of the downstream effector molecule 53BP1. Therefore, TAK-243 inhibited the radiation-induced DNA double-strand break repair and thus inhibited the growth of GBM cells. Our results provided a new therapeutic strategy for improving the radiation sensitivity of GBM and laid a theoretical foundation and experimental basis for further clinical trials.

Terminalia chebula Polyphenol and Near-Infrared Dye-Loaded Poly(lactic acid) Nanoparticles for Imaging and Photothermal Therapy of Cancer Cells

Photothermal/photodynamic therapies (PTT/PDT) are multimodal approaches employing near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive photosensitizers for cancer treatment. In the current study, IR-775, a hydrophobic photosensitizer, was used in combination with a polyphenols (p)-rich ethyl acetate extract from Terminalia chebula to treat cancer. IR-775 dye and polyphenols were encapsulated in a poly(lactic acid) polymeric nanosystem (PpIR NPs) to increase the cell bioavailability. The hydrodynamic diameter of PpIR NPs is 142.6 ± 2 nm and exhibited physical stability. The nanosystem showed enhanced cellular uptake in a lung cancer cell line (A549). Cell cytotoxicity results indicate that PpIR NPs showed more than 82.46 ± 3% cell death upon NIR light treatment compared to the control groups. Both PDT and PTT generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause hyperthermia, thereby enhancing cancer cell death. Qualitative and quantitative analyses have depicted that PpIR NPs with NIR light irradiation have decreased protein expression of HSP70 and PARP, and increased γ-H2AX, which collectively lead to cell death. After NIR light irradiation, the relative gene expression patterns of HSP70 and CDK2Na were also downregulated. Further, PpIR NPs uptake has been studied in 3D cells and in ovo bioimaging in zebrafish models. In conclusion, the PpIR NPs show good cancer cell cytotoxicity and present a potential nanosystem for bioimaging.

The role of Platinum(IV)-based antitumor drugs and the anticancer immune response in medicinal inorganic chemistry. A systematic review from 2017 to 2022

Platinum-based antitumor drugs have been used in many types of tumors due to its broad antitumor spectrum in clinic. Encouraged by the cisplatin's (CDDP) worldwide success in cancer chemotherapy, the research in platinum-based antitumor drugs has evolved from traditional platinum drug to multi-ligand and multifunctional platinum prodrugs over half a century. With the rapid development of metal drugs and the anticancer immune response, challenges and opportunities in platinum drug research have been shifted from traditional platinum-based drugs to platinum-based hybrids and the direction of development is tending toward photodynamic therapy, nano-delivery therapy, drug combination, targeted therapy, diagnostic therapy, immune-combination therapy and tumor stem cell therapy. In this review, we first exhaustively overviewed the role of platinum-based antitumor prodrugs and the anticancer immune response in medicinal inorganic chemistry based on the special nanomaterials, the modification of specific ligands, and the multiple functions obtained that are beneficial for tumor therapy in the last five years. We also categorized them according to drug potency and function. There hasn't been a comprehensive evaluation of precursor platinum drugs in prior articles. And a multifarious approach to distinguish and detail the variety of alterations of platinum-based precursors in various valence states also hasn't been summarized. In addition, this review points out the main problems at the interface of chemistry, biology, and medicine from their action mechanisms for current platinum drug development, and provides up-to-date potential strategies from drug design perspectives to circumvent those drawbacks. And a promising idea is also enlightened for researchers in the development and discovery of platinum prodrugs.

Breast Cancer Cell Membrane Camouflaged Lipid Nanoparticles for Tumor-Targeted NIR-II Phototheranostics

Photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy that employ organic dye in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II) became an attractive theranostical strategy for eliminating solid tumors, in which IR1048 was previously reported to be a good candidate. However, the further biomedical application of IR1048 was blocked by its poor water-solubility and lack of tumor-targeting. To solve this problem, liposome camouflaged with 4T1 cell membrane fragments was employed to encapsulate IR1048 (thereafter called MLI), and its application for photoacoustic and thermo-imaging and photothermal therapy were explored in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that MLI exhibited spherical morphology around 92.55 ± 5.41 nm coated by monolayer adventitial fragments, and uniformly dispersed in PBS with high loading efficiency and encapsulation efficiency to IR1048. In addition, both free IR1048 and MLI presented strong absorption in NIR-II, and upon 1064 nm laser irradiation the MLI showed awesome photothermal performance that could rapidly elevate the temperature to 50.9 °C in 6 min. Simultaneously, phantom assay proved that MLI could dramatically enhance the photoacoustic amplitudes by a linear concentration-dependent way. Moreover, either flow cytometry or confocal analysis evidenced that MLI was the most uptaked by 4T1 cells among other melanoma B16 cells and Hek293 cells and coexist of IR1048 and 1064 nm laser irradiation were indispensable for the photothermal cytotoxicity of MLI that specifically killed 96.16% of 4T1 cells far outweigh the B16 cells while hardly toxic to the Hek293 normal cells. Furthermore, PA imaging figured out that 4 h post tail-vein injection of MLI was the best time to give 1064 nm irradiation to conduct the photothermal therapy when the average tumor-accumulation of MLI achieved the highest. In the NIR-II photothermal therapy, MLI could significantly inhibit the tumor growth and almost ablated the tumors with slight body weight variation and the highest average life span over the therapy episode and caused no damage to the normal organs. Hence, MLI could pave the way for further biomedical applications of IR-1048 by homologous tumor-targeting and dual-modal imaging directed NIR-II accurate photothermal therapy with high efficacy and fine biosafety.

Targeting Cancer Stem Cells by Dietary Agents: An Important Therapeutic Strategy against Human Malignancies

As a multifactorial disease, treatment of cancer depends on understanding unique mechanisms involved in its progression. The cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for tumor stemness and by enhancing colony formation, proliferation as well as metastasis, and these cells can also mediate resistance to therapy. Furthermore, the presence of CSCs leads to cancer recurrence and therefore their complete eradication can have immense therapeutic benefits. The present review focuses on targeting CSCs by natural products in cancer therapy. The growth and colony formation capacities of CSCs have been reported can be attenuated by the dietary agents. These compounds can induce apoptosis in CSCs and reduce tumor migration and invasion via EMT inhibition. A variety of molecular pathways including STAT3, Wnt/β-catenin, Sonic Hedgehog, Gli1 and NF-κB undergo down-regulation by dietary agents in suppressing CSC features. Upon exposure to natural agents, a significant decrease occurs in levels of CSC markers including CD44, CD133, ALDH1, Oct4 and Nanog to impair cancer stemness. Furthermore, CSC suppression by dietary agents can enhance sensitivity of tumors to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In addition to in vitro studies, as well as experiments on the different preclinical models have shown capacity of natural products in suppressing cancer stemness. Furthermore, use of nanostructures for improving therapeutic impact of dietary agents is recommended to rapidly translate preclinical findings for clinical use.