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Omidian H, Mfoafo K. Exploring the Potential of Nanotechnology in Pediatric Healthcare: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1583. [PMID: 37376032 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The utilization of nanotechnology has brought about notable advancements in the field of pediatric medicine, providing novel approaches for drug delivery, disease diagnosis, and tissue engineering. Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of materials at the nanoscale, resulting in improved drug effectiveness and decreased toxicity. Numerous nanosystems, including nanoparticles, nanocapsules, and nanotubes, have been explored for their therapeutic potential in addressing pediatric diseases such as HIV, leukemia, and neuroblastoma. Nanotechnology has also shown promise in enhancing disease diagnosis accuracy, drug availability, and overcoming the blood-brain barrier obstacle in treating medulloblastoma. It is important to acknowledge that while nanotechnology offers significant opportunities, there are inherent risks and limitations associated with the use of nanoparticles. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the existing literature on nanotechnology in pediatric medicine, highlighting its potential to revolutionize pediatric healthcare while also recognizing the challenges and limitations that need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Omidian
- College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Kwadwo Mfoafo
- College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
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The Research Advances of Aptamers in Hematologic Malignancies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15010300. [PMID: 36612296 PMCID: PMC9818631 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, research for hematological malignancies is very intensive, with many breakthroughs. Among them, aptamer-based targeted therapies could be counted. Aptamer is a targeting tool with many unique advantages (easy synthesis, low toxicity, easy modification, low immunogenicity, nano size, long stability, etc.), therefore many experts screened corresponding aptamers in various hematological malignancies for diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we try to summarize and provide the recent progress of aptamer research in the diagnosis and treatment of hematologic malignancies. Until now, 29 aptamer studies were reported in hematologic malignancies, of which 12 aptamers were tested in vivo and the remaining 17 aptamers were only tested in vitro. In this case, 11 aptamers were combined with chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of hematologic malignancies, 4 aptamers were used in combination with nanomaterials for the diagnosis and treatment of hematologic malignancies, and some studies used aptamers for the targeted transportation of siRNA and miRNA for targeted therapeutic effects. Their research provides multiple approaches to achieve more targeted goals. These findings show promising and encouraging future for both hematological malignancies basic and clinical trials research.
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Fresacher-Scheiber K, Ruseska I, Siboni H, Reiser M, Falsone F, Grill L, Zimmer A. Modified Stability of microRNA-Loaded Nanoparticles. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14091829. [PMID: 36145577 PMCID: PMC9504241 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
microRNAs represent promising drugs to treat and prevent several diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. microRNA delivery brings many obstacles to overcome, and one strategy to bypass them is the manufacturing of self-assembled microRNA protein nanoparticles. In this work, a microRNA was combined with the cell-penetrating peptide protamine, forming so-called proticles. Previous studies demonstrated a lack of microRNA dissociation from proticles. Therefore, the goal of this study was to show the success of functionalizing binary proticles with citric acid in order to reduce the binding strength between the microRNA and protamine and further enable sufficient dissociation. Thus, we outline the importance of the present protons provided by the acid in influencing colloidal stability, achieving a constant particle size, and monodispersing the particle size distribution. The use of citric acid also provoked an increase in drug loading. Against all expectations, the AFM investigations demonstrated that our nanoparticles were loose complexes mainly consisting of water, and the addition of citric acid led to a change in shape. Moreover, a successful reduction in binding affinity and nanoparticulate stability are highlighted. Low cellular toxicity and a constant cellular uptake are demonstrated, and as uptake routes, active and passive pathways are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Fresacher-Scheiber
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Ivana Ruseska
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Henrik Siboni
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Institute of Chemistry, Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstraße 28, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Martin Reiser
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Fabio Falsone
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Leonhard Grill
- Institute of Chemistry, Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstraße 28, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Zimmer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-316-380-8881
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Aptamer–Gemcitabine Conjugates with Enzymatically Cleavable Linker for Targeted Delivery and Intracellular Drug Release in Cancer Cells. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15050558. [PMID: 35631384 PMCID: PMC9147807 DOI: 10.3390/ph15050558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gemcitabine is a chemotherapeutic used clinically to treat a variety of cancers. However, because it lacks tumor cell specificity, gemcitabine may cause off-target cytotoxicity and adversely impact patients. To impart cancer cell specificity to gemcitabine and improve its therapeutic efficacy, we synthesized a unique aptamer–drug conjugate that carries a high gemcitabine payload (three molecules) via a dendrimer structure and enzymatically cleavable linkers for controlled intracellular drug release. First, linker–gemcitabinedendrimer–linker–gemcitabine products were produced, which had significantly lower cytotoxicity than an equimolar amount of free drug. Biochemical analysis revealed that lysosomal cathepsin B protease rapidly cleaved the dendritic linkers and released the conjugated gemcitabine as a free drug. Subsequently, the dendrimer–linker–gemcitabine was coupled with a cell-specific aptamer to form aptamer–gemcitabine conjugates. Functional assays confirmed that, under aptamer guidance, aptamer–gemcitabine conjugates were selectively bound to and then internalized by triple-negative breast cancer cells. Cellular therapy studies indicated that the aptamer–gemcitabine conjugates potentiated cytotoxic activity to targeted cancer cells but did not affect off-target control cells. Our study demonstrates a novel approach to aptamer-mediated targeted drug delivery that combines a high drug payload and an enzymatically controlled drug release switch to achieve higher therapeutic efficacy and fewer off-target effects relative to free-drug chemotherapy.
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Critical clinical gaps in cancer precision nanomedicine development. J Control Release 2022; 345:811-818. [PMID: 35378214 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.03.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Active targeting strategy is adopted in nanomedicine for cancer treatment. Personalizing the nanomedicine in accordance with patients' omics, under the precision medicine platform, is met with challenges in targeting ligand and matrix material selection at nanoformulation stage. The past 5-year literatures show that the nanoparticulate targeting ligand and matrix material are not selected based upon the cancer omics profiles of patients. The expression of cancer cellular target receptors and metabolizing enzymes is primarily influenced by age, gender, race/ethnic group and geographical origin of patients. The personalized perspective of a nanomedicine cannot be realised with premature digestion of matrix and targeting ligand by specific metabolizing enzymes that are overexpressed by the patients, and unmatched targeting ligand to the majority of cell surface receptors overexpressed in cancer. Omics analysis of individual metabolizing enzyme and cancer cell surface receptor expressed in cancer facilitates targeting ligand and matrix material selection in nanomedicine development.
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Aptamers with Self-Loading Drug Payload and pH-Controlled Drug Release for Targeted Chemotherapy. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13081221. [PMID: 34452182 PMCID: PMC8398837 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13081221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Doxorubicin (DOX) is a common anti-tumor drug that binds to DNA or RNA via non-covalent intercalation between G-C sequences. As a therapeutic agent, DOX has been used to form aptamer–drug conjugates for targeted cancer therapy in vitro and in vivo. To improve the therapeutic potential of aptamer–DOX conjugates, we synthesized trifurcated Newkome-type monomer (TNM) structures with three DOX molecules bound through pH-sensitive hydrazone bonds to formulate TNM-DOX. The aptamer–TNM–DOX conjugate (Apt–TNM-DOX) was produced through a simple self-loading process. Chemical validation revealed that Apt–TNM-DOX stably carried high drug payloads of 15 DOX molecules per aptamer sequence. Functional characterization showed that DOX payload release from Apt–TNM-DOX was pH-dependent and occurred at pH 5.0, which reflects the microenvironment of tumor cell lysosomes. Further, Apt–TNM-DOX specifically targeted lymphoma cells without affecting off-target control cells. Aptamer-mediated cell binding resulted in the uptake of Apt–TNM-DOX into targeted cells and the release of DOX payload within cell lysosomes to inhibit growth of targeted lymphoma cells. The Apt–TNM-DOX provides a simple, non-toxic approach to develop aptamer-based targeted therapeutics and may reduce the non-specific side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy.
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Wu Z, Pan Y, Wang Z, Ding P, Gao T, Li Q, Hu M, Zhu W, Pei R. A PLGA nanofiber microfluidic device for highly efficient isolation and release of different phenotypic circulating tumor cells based on dual aptamers. J Mater Chem B 2021; 9:2212-2220. [PMID: 33616137 DOI: 10.1039/d0tb02988b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The isolation of specific and sensitive circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is significant for applying them in cancer diagnosis and monitoring. In this work, dual aptamer-modified poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofiber-based microfluidic devices were fabricated to achieve the highly efficient capture and specific release of epithelial and mesenchymal CTCs of ovarian cancer. Dual aptamer targeting epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EpCAM) and N-cadherin proteins to improve the capture sensitivity, bovine serum albumin (BSA) to guarantee the capture purity and the nanofibers to increase the capture efficiency via synchronously and effectively capturing the epithelial and mesenchymal CTCs with good capture specificity and sensitivity from blood samples were used. We used the target cells including the ovarian cancer A2780 cells (N-cadherin-high, EpCAM-low) and OVCAR-3 cells (EpCAM-high, N-cadherin-low) to test the devices, which exhibited good capture efficiency (91% for A2780 cells, 89% for OVCAR-3 cells), release efficiency (95% for A2780 cells, 88% for OVCAR-3 cells), and sensitivity for rare cells (92% for A2780 cells, 88% for OVCAR-3 cells). Finally, the clinical blood samples of ovarian cancer patients were detected by the PLGA nanofiber-based microfluidic device, and 1 to 13 CTCs were successfully confirmed to be captured with the help of immunofluorescence staining identification. The results exhibited that the dual aptamer-modified PLGA nanofiber-based microfluidic device used as a tool for CTC capture has the potential for clinical application to guide the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of ovarian cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeen Wu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China. and CAS Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Yue Pan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China. and CAS Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Zhili Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Pi Ding
- CAS Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Tian Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China.
| | - Mingchao Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Weipei Zhu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China.
| | - Renjun Pei
- CAS Key Laboratory for Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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Jarzebska NT, Mellett M, Frei J, Kündig TM, Pascolo S. Protamine-Based Strategies for RNA Transfection. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13060877. [PMID: 34198550 PMCID: PMC8231816 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13060877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Protamine is a natural cationic peptide mixture mostly known as a drug for the neutralization of heparin and as a compound in formulations of slow-release insulin. Protamine is also used for cellular delivery of nucleic acids due to opposite charge-driven coupling. This year marks 60 years since the first use of Protamine as a transfection enhancement agent. Since then, Protamine has been broadly used as a stabilization agent for RNA delivery. It has also been involved in several compositions for RNA-based vaccinations in clinical development. Protamine stabilization of RNA shows double functionality: it not only protects RNA from degradation within biological systems, but also enhances penetration into cells. A Protamine-based RNA delivery system is a flexible and versatile platform that can be adjusted according to therapeutic goals: fused with targeting antibodies for precise delivery, digested into a cell penetrating peptide for better transfection efficiency or not-covalently mixed with functional polymers. This manuscript gives an overview of the strategies employed in protamine-based RNA delivery, including the optimization of the nucleic acid's stability and translational efficiency, as well as the regulation of its immunostimulatory properties from early studies to recent developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Teresa Jarzebska
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zürich (USZ), University of Zürich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland; (N.T.J.); (M.M.); (J.F.); (T.M.K.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mark Mellett
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zürich (USZ), University of Zürich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland; (N.T.J.); (M.M.); (J.F.); (T.M.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Frei
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zürich (USZ), University of Zürich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland; (N.T.J.); (M.M.); (J.F.); (T.M.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas M. Kündig
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zürich (USZ), University of Zürich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland; (N.T.J.); (M.M.); (J.F.); (T.M.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Steve Pascolo
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zürich (USZ), University of Zürich (UZH), Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland; (N.T.J.); (M.M.); (J.F.); (T.M.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
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Ruseska I, Fresacher K, Petschacher C, Zimmer A. Use of Protamine in Nanopharmaceuticals-A Review. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:1508. [PMID: 34200384 PMCID: PMC8230241 DOI: 10.3390/nano11061508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Macromolecular biomolecules are currently dethroning classical small molecule therapeutics because of their improved targeting and delivery properties. Protamine-a small polycationic peptide-represents a promising candidate. In nature, it binds and protects DNA against degradation during spermatogenesis due to electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged DNA-phosphate backbone and the positively charged protamine. Researchers are mimicking this technique to develop innovative nanopharmaceutical drug delivery systems, incorporating protamine as a carrier for biologically active components such as DNA or RNA. The first part of this review highlights ongoing investigations in the field of protamine-associated nanotechnology, discussing the self-assembling manufacturing process and nanoparticle engineering. Immune-modulating properties of protamine are those that lead to the second key part, which is protamine in novel vaccine technologies. Protamine-based RNA delivery systems in vaccines (some belong to the new class of mRNA-vaccines) against infectious disease and their use in cancer treatment are reviewed, and we provide an update on the current state of latest developments with protamine as pharmaceutical excipient for vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andreas Zimmer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria; (I.R.); (K.F.); (C.P.)
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Yang S, Wallach M, Krishna A, Kurmasheva R, Sridhar S. Recent Developments in Nanomedicine for Pediatric Cancer. J Clin Med 2021; 10:1437. [PMID: 33916177 PMCID: PMC8036287 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10071437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second biggest cause of death in children in the US. With the development of chemotherapy, there has been a substantial increase in the overall survival rate in the last 30 years. However, the overall mortality rate in children with cancer remains 25%, and many survivors experience a decline in overall quality of life and long-term adverse effects caused by treatments. Although cancer cells share common characteristics, pediatric cancers are different from adult cancers in their prevalence, mutation load, and drug response. Therefore, there is an urgent unmet need to develop therapeutic approaches specifically designed for children with cancer. Nanotechnology can potentially overcome the deficiencies of conventional methods of administering chemotherapy and ultimately improve clinical outcomes. The nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems can decrease the toxicity of therapy, provide a sustained or controlled drug release, improve the pharmacokinetic properties of loading contents, and achieve a targeted drug delivery with achievable modifications. Furthermore, therapeutic approaches based on combining nanoformulated drugs with novel immunotherapeutic agents are emerging. In this review, we discussed the recently developed nanotechnology-based strategies for treating blood and solid pediatric cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shicheng Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Mia Wallach
- School of Business, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Apurva Krishna
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Raushan Kurmasheva
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Srinivas Sridhar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Fu Z, Xiang J. Aptamer-Functionalized Nanoparticles in Targeted Delivery and Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239123. [PMID: 33266216 PMCID: PMC7730239 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Using nanoparticles to carry and delivery anticancer drugs holds much promise in cancer therapy, but nanoparticles per se are lacking specificity. Active targeting, that is, using specific ligands to functionalize nanoparticles, is attracting much attention in recent years. Aptamers, with their several favorable features like high specificity and affinity, small size, very low immunogenicity, relatively low cost for production, and easiness to store, are one of the best candidates for the specific ligands of nanoparticle functionalization. This review discusses the benefits and challenges of using aptamers to functionalize nanoparticles for active targeting and especially presents nearly all of the published works that address the topic of using aptamers to functionalize nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoying Fu
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Yanan University, Yanan 716000, China
- Correspondence: (Z.F.); (J.X.)
| | - Jim Xiang
- Division of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4H4, Canada
- Correspondence: (Z.F.); (J.X.)
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Xu X, Li L, Li X, Tao D, Zhang P, Gong J. Aptamer-protamine-siRNA nanoparticles in targeted therapy of ErbB3 positive breast cancer cells. Int J Pharm 2020; 590:119963. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Fu Z, Xiang J. Aptamers, the Nucleic Acid Antibodies, in Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082793. [PMID: 32316469 PMCID: PMC7215806 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The arrival of the monoclonal antibody (mAb) technology in the 1970s brought with it the hope of conquering cancers to the medical community. However, mAbs, on the whole, did not achieve the expected wonder in cancer therapy although they do have demonstrated successfulness in the treatment of a few types of cancers. In 1990, another technology of making biomolecules capable of specific binding appeared. This technique, systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), can make aptamers, single-stranded DNAs or RNAs that bind targets with high specificity and affinity. Aptamers have some advantages over mAbs in therapeutic uses particularly because they have little or no immunogenicity, which means the feasibility of repeated use and fewer side effects. In this review, the general properties of the aptamer, the advantages and limitations of aptamers, the principle and procedure of aptamer production with SELEX, particularly the undergoing studies in aptamers for cancer therapy, and selected anticancer aptamers that have entered clinical trials or are under active investigations are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoying Fu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Yanan University, Yanan 716000, China
- Correspondence: (Z.F.); (J.X.)
| | - Jim Xiang
- Division of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SA S7N 4H4, Canada
- Correspondence: (Z.F.); (J.X.)
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