Nanotechnology in Bladder Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment

Polypyrrole/iron-glycol chitosan nanozymes mediate M1 macrophages to enhance the X-ray-triggered photodynamic therapy for bladder cancer by promoting antitumor immunity

X-ray Photodynamic Therapy (XPDT) is an emerging, deeply penetrating, and non-invasive tumor treatment that stimulates robust antitumor immune responses. However, its efficacy is often limited by low therapeutic delivery and immunosuppressant within the tumor microenvironment. This challenge can potentially be addressed by utilizing X-ray responsive polypyrrole‑iron-glycol chitosan nanozymes (GCS-I-PPy NZs), which activate M1 macrophages. These nanozymes increase tumor infiltration and enhance the macrophages' intrinsic immune response and their ability to stimulate adaptive immunity. Authors have designed biocompatible, photosensitizer-containing GCS-I-PPy NZs using oxidation/reduction reactions. These nanozymes were internalized by M1 macrophages to form RAW-GCS-I-PPy NZs. Authors' results demonstrated that these engineered macrophages effectively delivered the nanozymes with high tumor accumulation. Within the tumor microenvironment, the accumulated GCS-I-PPy NZs underwent X-ray irradiation, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). This ROS augmentation significantly enhanced the therapeutic effect of XPDT and synergistically promoted T cell infiltration into the tumor. These findings suggest that nano-engineered M1 macrophages can effectively boost the immune effects of XPDT, providing a promising strategy for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. The ability of GCS-I-PPy NZs to mediate M1 macrophage activation and increase tumor infiltration highlights their potential in overcoming the limitations of current XPDT approaches and improving therapeutic outcomes in melanoma and other cancers.

Potential bladder cancer therapeutic delivery systems: a recent update

INTRODUCTION

Bladder Cancer is one of the most expensive cancers to treat due to its high cost of therapy as well as the surveillance expenses incurred to prevent disease recurrence and progression. Thus, there is a strong need to develop safe, efficacious drug formulations with controlled drug release profiles and tumor-targeting potential, for improved therapeutic outcomes of bladder cancer patients.

AREAS COVERED

This review aims to provide an overview of drug formulations that have been studied for potential bladder cancer treatment in the last decade; highlight recent trends in bladder cancer treatment; mention ongoing clinical trials on bladder cancer chemotherapy; detail recently FDA-approved drug products for bladder cancer treatment and identify constraints that have prevented the translation of promising drug formulations from the research laboratory to the clinics.

EXPERT OPINION

This work revealed that surface functionalization of particulate drug delivery systems and incorporating the nanoparticles into in situ gelling systems could facilitate controlled drug release for extended periods, and improve the prognosis of bladder cancer treatment. Future research directions could incorporate multiple drugs into the drug delivery systems to treat advanced stages of the disease. In addition, smart nanomaterials, including photothermal therapies, could be exploited to improve the therapeutic outcomes of bladder cancer patients.

Advances in Multifunctional Electronic Catheters for Precise and Intelligent Diagnosis and Therapy in Minimally Invasive Surgery

The advent of catheter-based minimally invasive surgical instruments has provided an effective means of diagnosing and treating human disease. However, conventional medical catheter devices are limited in functionalities, hindering their ability to gather tissue information or perform precise treatment during surgery. Recently, electronic catheters have integrated various sensing and therapeutic technologies through micro/nanoelectronics, expanding their capabilities. As micro/nanoelectronic devices become more miniaturized, flexible, and stable, electronic surgical catheters are evolving from simple tools to multiplexed sensing and theranostics for surgical applications. The review on multifunctional electronic surgical catheters is lacking and thus is not conducive to the reader's comprehensive understanding of the development trend in this field. This review covers the advances in multifunctional electronic catheters for precise and intelligent diagnosis and therapy in minimally invasive surgery. It starts with the summary of clinical minimally invasive surgical instruments, followed by the background of current clinical catheter devices for sensing and therapeutic applications. Next, intelligent electronic catheters with integrated electronic components are reviewed in terms of electronic catheters for diagnosis, therapy, and multifunctional applications. It highlights the present status and development potential of catheter-based minimally invasive surgical devices, while also illustrating several significant challenges that remain to be overcome.

Advances in preclinical approaches for intravesical therapy of bladder cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to explore new strategies to treat bladder cancer. This article addresses challenges and opportunities in intravesical therapy of bladder cancer.

RECENT FINDINGS

The review examines the latest advances in the development of preclinical approaches for intravesical therapy of bladder cancer. It discusses strategies to improve drug delivery efficiency by using synthesized diverse carriers. Immunotherapy with protein aggregate magnesium-ammonium phospholinoleate-palmitoleate anhydride has been shown to be more effective than intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. Novel drug delivery systems such the urinary drug-disposing strategy and intravesical nanoparticle formulations improve the drug delivery efficiency while minimizing adverse reactions. Innovative imaging techniques using near-infrared fluorescence probes and multifunctional nano-transformers enable real-time detection and targeted therapy in bladder cancer treatment.

SUMMARY

Treatment of bladder cancer is clinically challenging. However, recent progress in drug delivery technologies shows promise. Optimizing these technologies helps improve patient outcomes, and facilitates clinical translation of different treatment modalities.

Exosomes: Toward a potential application in bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment

Bladder cancer (BC) is a prevalent malignant tumor of the urinary system, known for its rapid progression and high likelihood of recurrence. Despite ongoing efforts, clinical diagnosis and treatment of BC remain limited. As such, there is an urgent need to investigate potential mechanisms underlying this disease. Exosomes, which contain a variety of bioactive molecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, are regarded as extracellular messengers because they are implicated in facilitating intercellular communication in various diseases and are pivotal in tumor advancement, serving as a promising avenue for such researches. Nevertheless, the heterogeneous nature of BC necessitates further exploration of the potential involvement of exosomes in disease progression. This review comprehensively outlines the biological attributes of exosomes and their critical roles in tumorigenesis, while also discussing their potential applications in regulating the progression of BC involving clinical diagnosis, prognostication and treatment.

UPP1 enhances bladder cancer progression and gemcitabine resistance through AKT

UPP1, a crucial pyrimidine metabolism-related enzyme, catalyzes the reversible phosphorylation of uridine to uracil and ribose-1-phosphate. However, the effects of UPP1 in bladder cancer (BLCA) have not been elucidated. AKT, which is activated mainly through dual phosphorylation (Thr308 and Ser473), promotes tumorigenesis by phosphorylating downstream substrates. This study demonstrated that UPP1 promotes BLCA cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and gemcitabine resistance by activating the AKT signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, UPP1 promoted AKT activation by facilitating the binding of AKT to PDK1 and PDK2 and the recruitment of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate to AKT. Moreover, the beneficial effects of UPP1 on BLCA tumorigenesis were mitigated upon UPP1 mutation with Arg94 or MK2206 treatment (AKT-specific inhibitor). AKT overexpression or SC79 (AKT-specific activator) treatment restored tumor malignancy and drug resistance. Thus, this study revealed that UPP1 is a crucial oncogene and a potential therapeutic target for BLCA and that UPP1 activates the AKT signaling pathway and enhances tumorigenesis and drug resistance to gemcitabine.

Identification of clinical prognostic factors and analysis of ferroptosis-related gene signatures in the bladder cancer immune microenvironment

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a prevalent malignancy affecting the urinary system and poses a significant burden in terms of both incidence and mortality rates on a global scale. Among all BLCA cases, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer constitutes approximately 75% of the total. In recent years, the concept of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death marked by the accumulation of lipid peroxides, has captured the attention of researchers worldwide. Nevertheless, the precise involvement of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in the anti-BLCA response remains inadequately elucidated.

METHODS

The integration of BLCA samples from the TCGA and GEO datasets facilitated the quantitative evaluation of FRGs, offering potential insights into their predictive capabilities. Leveraging the wealth of information encompassing mRNAsi, gene mutations, CNV, TMB, and clinical features within these datasets further enriched the analysis, augmenting its robustness and reliability. Through the utilization of Lasso regression, a prediction model was developed, enabling accurate prognostic assessments within the context of BLCA. Additionally, co-expression analysis shed light on the complex relationship between gene expression patterns and FRGs, unraveling their functional relevance and potential implications in BLCA.

RESULTS

FRGs exhibited increased expression levels in the high-risk cohort of BLCA patients, even in the absence of other clinical indicators, suggesting their potential as prognostic markers. GSEA revealed enrichment of immunological and tumor-related pathways specifically in the high-risk group. Furthermore, notable differences were observed in immune function and m6a gene expression between the low- and high-risk groups. Several genes, including MYBPH, SOST, SPRR2A, and CRNN, were found to potentially participate in the oncogenic processes underlying BLCA. Additionally, CYP4F8, PDZD3, CRTAC1, and LRTM1 were identified as potential tumor suppressor genes. Significant discrepancies in immunological function and m6a gene expression were observed between the two risk groups, further highlighting the distinct molecular characteristics associated with different prognostic outcomes. Notably, strong correlations were observed among the prognostic model, CNVs, SNPs, and drug sensitivity profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

FRGs are associated with the onset and progression of BLCA. A FRGs signature offers a viable alternative to predict BLCA, and these FRGs show a prospective research area for BLCA targeted treatment in the future.

Comparison of the differentiation of ovine fetal bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells towards osteocytes on chitosan/alginate/CuO-NPs and chitosan/alginate/FeO-NPs scaffolds

In the current study, the creation of a chitosan/alginate scaffold hydrogel with and without FeO-NPs or CuO-NPs was studied. From fetal ovine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) were isolated and cultivated. Their differentiation into osteocyte and adipose cells was investigated. Also, on the scaffolds, cytotoxicity and apoptosis were studied. To investigate the differentiation, treatment groups include: (1) BM-MSCs were plated in DMEM culture medium with high glucose containing 10% FBS and antibiotics (negative control); (2) BM-MSCs were plated in osteogenic differentiation medium (positive control); (3) positive control group + FeO-NPs, (4) positive control group + CuO-NPs; (5) BM-MSCs were plated in osteogenic differentiation medium on chitosan/alginate scaffold; (6) BM-MSCs were plated in osteogenic differentiation medium on chitosan/alginate/FeO-NPs scaffold; and (7) BM-MSCs were plated in osteogenic differentiation medium on chitosan/alginate/CuO-NPs scaffold. Alkaline phosphatase enzyme concentrations, mineralization rate using a calcium kit, and mineralization measurement by alizarin staining quantification were evaluated after 21 days of culture. In addition, qRT-PCR was used to assess the expression of the ALP, ColA, and Runx2 genes. When compared to other treatment groups, the addition of CuO-NPs in the chitosan/alginate hydrogel significantly increased the expression of the ColA and Runx2 genes (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the chitosan/alginate hydrogel groups containing FeO-NPs and CuO-NPs in the expression of the ALP gene. It appears that the addition of nanoparticles, in particular CuO-NPs, has made the chitosan/alginate scaffold more effective in supporting osteocyte differentiation.

DOK7, a target of miR-299-5p, suppresses the progression of bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is the 6th most common malignancy in males. microRNA (miRNAs) can function as tumor suppressors or oncogenic factors, which are of significance in the progression of BLCA. This study explored the mechanisms by which miR-299-5p modulates DOK7 (Docking Protein 7) expression and the functional role of DOK7 in the progression of BLCA.

METHODS

The expression of the DOK7 in BLCA patient samples was examined by RT-qPCR (Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction), Western blotting and Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The malignant phenotype of BLCA cells upon DOK7 overexpression or silencing was assessed by functional assays including cell count kit-9 (CCK8), colony formation and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (Edu) staining assays, as well as Transwell migration and invasion assays. The miRNA regulators of DOK7 were identified through bioinformatics prediction, and the biological role of miR-299-5p/DOK7 axis was validated by functional assays. The impact of miR-299-5p/DOK7 axis on Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway was further examined by Western blotting.

RESULTS

DOX7 was significantly downregulated in BLCA tumor tissues compared with normal tissues. Ectopic DOK7 expression suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of BLCA cells. DOK7 overexpression also attenuated the tumorigenesis of BLCA cells in nude mice. miR-299-5p was a negative regulator of DOK7 expression in BLCA cells. miR-299-5p/DOK7 axis impaired the malignancy of BLCA cells through regulating the JAK signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that miR-299-5p/DOK7 axis suppresses BLCA progression possibly by regulating the JAK signaling pathway.

Development and validation of prognostic index based on purine metabolism genes in patients with bladder cancer

Background

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a prevalent malignancy affecting the urinary system and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Dysregulation of tumor metabolic pathways is closely linked to the initiation and proliferation of BLCA. Tumor cells exhibit distinct metabolic activities compared to normal cells, and the purine metabolism pathway, responsible for providing essential components for DNA and RNA synthesis, is believed to play a crucial role. However, the precise involvement of Purine Metabolism Genes (PMGs) in the defense mechanism against BLCA remains elusive.

Methods

The integration of BLCA samples from the TCGA and GEO datasets facilitated the quantitative evaluation of PMGs, offering potential insights into their predictive capabilities. Leveraging the wealth of information encompassing mRNAsi, gene mutations, CNV, TMB, and clinical features within these datasets further enriched the analysis, augmenting its robustness and reliability. Through the utilization of Lasso regression, a prediction model was developed, enabling accurate prognostic assessments within the context of BLCA. Additionally, co-expression analysis shed light on the complex relationship between gene expression patterns and PMGs, unraveling their functional relevance and potential implications in BLCA.

Results

PMGs exhibited increased expression levels in the high-risk cohort of BLCA patients, even in the absence of other clinical indicators, suggesting their potential as prognostic markers. GSEA revealed enrichment of immunological and tumor-related pathways specifically in the high-risk group. Furthermore, notable differences were observed in immune function and m6a gene expression between the low- and high-risk groups. Several genes, including CLDN6, CES1, SOST, SPRR2A, MYBPH, CGB5, and KRT1, were found to potentially participate in the oncogenic processes underlying BLCA. Additionally, CRTAC1 was identified as potential tumor suppressor genes. Significant discrepancies in immunological function and m6a gene expression were observed between the two risk groups, further highlighting the distinct molecular characteristics associated with different prognostic outcomes. Notably, strong correlations were observed among the prognostic model, CNVs, SNPs, and drug sensitivity profiles.

Conclusion

PMGs have been implicated in the etiology and progression of bladder cancer (BLCA). Prognostic models corresponding to this malignancy aid in the accurate prediction of patient outcomes. Notably, exploring the potential therapeutic targets within the tumor microenvironment (TME) such as PMGs and immune cell infiltration holds promise for effective BLCA management, albeit necessitating further research. Moreover, the identification of a gene signature associated with purine Metabolism presents a credible and alternative approach for predicting BLCA, signifying a burgeoning avenue for targeted therapeutic investigations in the field of BLCA.

Pyrimidine metabolism regulator-mediated molecular subtypes display tumor microenvironmental hallmarks and assist precision treatment in bladder cancer

Background

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a common urinary system malignancy with a significant morbidity and death rate worldwide. Non-muscle invasive BLCA accounts for over 75% of all BLCA cases. The imbalance of tumor metabolic pathways is associated with tumor formation and proliferation. Pyrimidine metabolism (PyM) is a complex enzyme network that incorporates nucleoside salvage, de novo nucleotide synthesis, and catalytic pyrimidine degradation. Metabolic reprogramming is linked to clinical prognosis in several types of cancer. However, the role of pyrimidine metabolism Genes (PyMGs) in the BLCA-fighting process remains poorly understood.

Methods

Predictive PyMGs were quantified in BLCA samples from the TCGA and GEO datasets. TCGA and GEO provided information on stemness indices (mRNAsi), gene mutations, CNV, TMB, and corresponding clinical features. The prediction model was built using Lasso regression. Co-expression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between gene expression and PyM.

Results

PyMGs were overexpressed in the high-risk sample in the absence of other clinical symptoms, demonstrating their predictive potential for BLCA outcome. Immunological and tumor-related pathways were identified in the high-risk group by GSWA. Immune function and m6a gene expression varied significantly between the risk groups. In BLCA patients, DSG1, C6orf15, SOST, SPRR2A, SERPINB7, MYBPH, and KRT1 may participate in the oncology process. Immunological function and m6a gene expression differed significantly between the two groups. The prognostic model, CNVs, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and drug sensitivity all showed significant gene connections.

Conclusions

BLCA-associated PyMGs are available to provide guidance in the prognostic and immunological setting and give evidence for the formulation of PyM-related molecularly targeted treatments. PyMGs and their interactions with immune cells in BLCA may serve as therapeutic targets.

Self-polymerized platinum (II)-Polydopamine nanomedicines for photo-chemotherapy of bladder Cancer favoring antitumor immune responses

Systemic administration of platinum-based drugs has obvious limitations in the treatment of advanced bladder cancer (BC) owing to lower tumor accumulation and uncontrolled release of chemotherapeutics. There is an urgent need for advanced strategies to overcome the current limitations of platinum-based chemotherapy, to achieve maximal therapeutic outcomes with reduced side effects. In this study, self-polymerized platinum (II)-polydopamine nanocomplexes (PtPDs) were tailored for efficient chemo-photoimmunotherapy of BC. PtPDs with high Pt loading content (11.3%) were degradable under the combination of a reductive tumor microenvironment and near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, thus controlling the release of Pt ions to achieve efficient chemotherapy. In addition, polydopamine promoted stronger photothermal effects to supplement platinum-based chemotherapy. Consequently, PtPDs provided effective chemo-photothermal therapy of MB49 BC in vitro and in vivo, strengthening the immunogenic cell death (ICD) effect and robust anti-tumoral immunity response. When combined with a PD-1 checkpoint blockade, PtPD-based photochemotherapy evoked systemic immune responses that completely suppressed primary and distant tumor growth without inducing systemic toxicities. Our work provides a highly versatile approach through metal-dopamine self-polymerization for the precise delivery of metal-based chemotherapeutic drugs, and may serve as a promising nanomedicine for efficient and safe platinum-based chemotherapy for BC.

Development and validation of cancer-associated fibroblasts-related gene landscape in prognosis and immune microenvironment of bladder cancer

Backgrounds

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the most prevalent cancers of the genitourinary system, the clinical outcomes of patients with BLCA are bad, and the morbidity rate is high. One of the key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) which are critically involved in BLCA tumorigenesis. Previous studies have shown the involvement of CAFs in tumor growth, cancer progression, immune evasion, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance in several cancers such as breast, colon, pancreatic, ovarian, and prostate cancers. However, only a few studies have shown the role of CAFs in the occurrence and development of BLCA.

Methods

We have retrieved and merged the data on RNA-sequencing of patients with BLCA from databases including "the Cancer Genome Atlas" and "Gene Expression Omnibus." Next, we compared the differences in CAFs-related genes (CRGs) expression between normal and BLCA tissues. Based on CRGs expression, we randomly divided patients into two groups. Next, we determined the correlation between CAFs subtypes and differentially expressed CRGs (DECRGs) between the two subtypes. Furthermore, the "Gene Ontology" and "Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway" enrichment analyses were conducted to determine the functional characteristics between the DECRGs and clinicopathology.

Results

We identified five genes (POF1B, ARMCX1, ALDOC, C19orf33, and KRT13) using multivariate COX regression and "Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) COX regression analysis" for developing a prognostic model and calculating the CRGs-risk score. The TME, mutation, CSC index, and drug sensitivity were also analyzed.

Conclusion

We constructed a novel five- CRGs prognostic model, which sheds light on the roles of CAFs in BLCA.

Potential use of bio functionalized nanoparticles to attenuate triple negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231 cells)

This study showed that bio-functional silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were synthesized in aqueous extracts of Gymnema sylvestre leaves and tested for toxicity assessment against triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC). Biofunctional nanoparticle (NPs) samples were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The results showed that the phytofabrication of AgNPs resulted in a dark brown, UV-vis maximum absorbance peak at 413 nm. The AgNPs were crystalline and spherical, with sizes ranging from 20 to 60 nm, as confirmed by the XRD pattern and TEM images. Another phytofabrication of ZnONPs exhibited a white precipitate corresponding to a UV-Vis maximum absorption peak at 377 nm and a fine micro flower morphology with a particle-sized tribution between 100 and 200 nm. In addition, FT-IR spectra showed that bioorganic compounds are associated with NPs that respond to reduced Ag⁺ ions and AgNPs tabilizers. Invitro cytotoxicity studies revealed the potent anti-cancer effects of phytofabricated AgNPs and ZnONPs on TNBC cells. Furthermore, the AO/EB double staining assay results proved that apoptotic cells are distinguished by greenish-yellow fluorescence of the cell nuclei with IC₅₀ concentrations of 44 ± 0.8 µg/mL for AgNPs and 26.2 ± 0.5 µg/mL for ZnONPs, respectively. Based on our results, we expect that the anticancer function of the biofunctional NPs is due to the apoptotic activation of TNBC cells by increased ROS. Therefore, the presented study demonstrated that biofunctional AgNPs and ZnONPs have excellent prospects for the anti-cancer activity that can be used in pharmaceutical and medical fields.

Noncoding RNAs as a potential biomarker for the prognosis of bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between noncoding RNAs and the prognosis of bladder cancer (BC) is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between noncoding RNAs and prognosis by meta-analysis.

METHODS

Comprehensive retrieval of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, CNKI, and WanFang databases is related to the correlation between noncoding RNAs and the prognosis of BC. Data were extracted, and the literature quality was evaluated. STATA16.0 served for the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

1. CircRNAs: High circ-ZFR expression led to poor overall survival (OS) of BC. 2. LncRNAs: Low lnc-GAS5 expression predicted poor OS of BC, high lnc-TUG1 expression predicted poor OS of BC. 3. MiRNAs: High miR-21 expression predicted poor OS of BC, high miR-222 expression led to poor OS of BC, high miR-155 expression predicted poor progression-free survival (PFS) of BC, high miR-143 expression caused poor PFS of BC, low miR-214 expression could result in poor recurrence-free survival (RFS) of BC.

CONCLUSIONS

High circ-ZFR, lnc-TUG1, miR-222, and miR-21 expressions were correlated with poor OS of BC; high miR-155 and miR-143 expression predicted poor PFS of BC; low lnc-GAS5 expression predicted poor OS of BC; low miR-214 expression predicted poor RFS of BC.

Nanoparticle-Based Techniques for Bladder Cancer Imaging: A Review

Bladder cancer is very common in humans and is often characterized by recurrences, compromising the patient's quality of life with a substantial social and economic impact. Both the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer are problematic due to the exceptionally impermeable barrier formed by the urothelium lining the bladder; this hinders the penetration of molecules via intravesical instillation while making it difficult to precisely label the tumor tissue for surgical resection or pharmacologic treatment. Nanotechnology has been envisaged as an opportunity to improve both the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for bladder cancer since the nanoconstructs can cross the urothelial barrier and may be functionalized for active targeting, loaded with therapeutic agents, and visualized by different imaging techniques. In this article, we offer a selection of recent experimental applications of nanoparticle-based imaging techniques, with the aim of providing an easy and rapid technical guide for the development of nanoconstructs to specifically detect bladder cancer cells. Most of these applications are based on the well-established fluorescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging currently used in the medical field and gave positive results on bladder cancer models in vivo, thus opening promising perspectives for the translation of preclinical results to the clinical practice.

Designing Intelligent Nanomaterials to Achieve Highly Sensitive Diagnoses and Multimodality Therapy of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is among the most common malignant tumors of the genitourinary system worldwide. In recent years, the rate of BC incidence has increased, and the recurrence rate is high, resulting in poor quality of life for patients. Therefore, how to develop an effective method to achieve synchronous precise diagnoses and BC therapies is a difficult problem to solve clinically. Previous reports usually focus on the role of nanomaterials as drug delivery carriers, while a summary of the functional design and application of nanomaterials is lacking. Summarizing the application of functional nanomaterials in high-sensitivity diagnosis and multimodality therapy of BC is urgently needed. This review summarizes the application of nanotechnology in BC diagnosis, including the application of nanotechnology in the sensoring of BC biomarkers and their role in monitoring BC. In addition, conventional and combination therapies strategy in potential BC therapy are analyzed. Moreover, different kinds of nanomaterials in BC multimodal therapy according to pathological features of BC are also outlined. The goal of this review is to present an overview of the application of nanomaterials in the theranostics of BC to provide guidance for the application of functional nanomaterials to precisely diagnose and treat BC.

Recent Progress in Nanomaterial-Based Biosensors and Theranostic Nanomedicine for Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most expensive and common malignancies in the urinary system due to its high progression and recurrence rate. Although there are various methods, including cystoscopy, biopsy, and cytology, that have become the standard diagnosis methods for BCa, their intrinsic invasive and inaccurate properties need to be overcome. The novel urine cancer biomarkers are assisted by nanomaterials-based biosensors, such as field-effect transistors (FETs) with high sensitivity and specificity, which may provide solutions to these problems. In addition, nanomaterials can be applied for the advancement of next-generation optical imaging techniques and the contrast agents of conventional techniques; for example, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of BCa. Regarding BCa therapy, nanocarriers, including mucoadhesive nanoparticles and other polymeric nanoparticles, successfully overcome the disadvantages of conventional intravesical instillation and improve the efficacy and safety of intravesical chemotherapy for BCa. Aside from chemotherapy, nanomedicine-based novel therapies, including photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), and combination therapy, have afforded us new ways to provide BC therapy and hope, which can be translated into the clinic. In addition, nanomotors and the nanomaterials-based solid tumor disassociation strategy provide new ideas for future research. Here, the advances in BCa diagnosis and therapy mentioned above are reviewed in this paper.

(Nano)platforms in bladder cancer therapy: Challenges and opportunities

Urological cancers are among the most common malignancies around the world. In particular, bladder cancer severely threatens human health due to its aggressive and heterogeneous nature. Various therapeutic modalities have been considered for the treatment of bladder cancer although its prognosis remains unfavorable. It is perceived that treatment of bladder cancer depends on an interdisciplinary approach combining biology and engineering. The nanotechnological approaches have been introduced in the treatment of various cancers, especially bladder cancer. The current review aims to emphasize and highlight possible applications of nanomedicine in eradication of bladder tumor. Nanoparticles can improve efficacy of drugs in bladder cancer therapy through elevating their bioavailability. The potential of genetic tools such as siRNA and miRNA in gene expression regulation can be boosted using nanostructures by facilitating their internalization and accumulation at tumor sites and cells. Nanoparticles can provide photodynamic and photothermal therapy for ROS overgeneration and hyperthermia, respectively, in the suppression of bladder cancer. Furthermore, remodeling of tumor microenvironment and infiltration of immune cells for the purpose of immunotherapy are achieved through cargo-loaded nanocarriers. Nanocarriers are mainly internalized in bladder tumor cells by endocytosis, and proper design of smart nanoparticles such as pH-, redox-, and light-responsive nanocarriers is of importance for targeted tumor therapy. Bladder cancer biomarkers can be detected using nanoparticles for timely diagnosis of patients. Based on their accumulation at the tumor site, they can be employed for tumor imaging. The clinical translation and challenges are also covered in current review.

Application of synthetic biology in bladder cancer

ABSTRACT

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor of the genitourinary system. The age of individuals diagnosed with BC tends to decrease in recent years. A variety of standard therapeutic options are available for the clinical management of BC, but limitations exist. It is difficult to surgically eliminate small lesions, while radiation and chemotherapy damage normal tissues, leading to severe side effects. Therefore, new approaches are required to improve the efficacy and specificity of BC treatment. Synthetic biology is a field emerging in the last decade that refers to biological elements, devices, and materials that are artificially synthesized according to users' needs. In this review, we discuss how to utilize genetic elements to regulate BC-related gene expression periodically and quantitatively to inhibit the initiation and progression of BC. In addition, the design and construction of gene circuits to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells to kill the former but spare the latter are elaborated. Then, we introduce the development of genetically modified T cells for targeted attacks on BC. Finally, synthetic nanomaterials specializing in detecting and killing BC cells are detailed. This review aims to describe the innovative details of the clinical diagnosis and treatment of BC from the perspective of synthetic biology.

Nanotechnology: A Promising Approach for Cancer Diagnosis, Therapeutics and Theragnosis

Cancer remains the most devastating disease and the major cause of mortality worldwide. Although early diagnosis and treatment are the key approach in fighting against cancer, the available conventional diagnostic and therapeutic methods are not efficient. Besides, ineffective cancer cell selectivity and toxicity of traditional chemotherapy remain the most significant challenge. These limitations entail the need for the development of both safe and effective cancer diagnosis and treatment options. Due to its robust application, nanotechnology could be a promising method for in-vivo imaging and detection of cancer cells and cancer biomarkers. Nanotechnology could provide a quick, safe, cost-effective, and efficient method for cancer management. It also provides simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of cancer using nano-theragnostic particles that facilitate early detection and selective destruction of cancer cells. Updated and recent discussions are important for selecting the best cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management options, and new insights on designing effective protocols are utmost important. This review discusses the application of nanotechnology in cancer diagnosis, therapeutics, and theragnosis and provides future perspectives in the field.

Supercritical Fluids and Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy

Nanoparticles are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry due to their high surface-to-volume ratio. Among the many techniques used to obtain nanoparticles, those based on supercritical fluids ensure reduced dimensions, narrow particle size distributions, and a very low or zero solvent residue in the powders. This review focuses on using supercritical carbon dioxide-based processes to obtain the nanoparticles of compounds used for the treatment or prevention of cancer. The scientific literature papers have been classified into two groups: nanoparticles consisting of a single active principle ingredient (API) and carrier/API nanopowders. Various supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) based techniques for obtaining the nanoparticles were considered, along with the operating conditions and advantages and disadvantages of each process.

Robust pyroptosis risk score guides the treatment options and predicts the prognosis of bladder carcinoma

Background

Bladder carcinoma (BLCA) is a heterogeneous disease that makes it difficult to achieve proper individual treatment and predict prognosis. This study aimed to develop a risk score from a new perspective of pyroptosis and guide accurate treatment and prognosis prediction for BLCA.

Methods

The TCGA-BLCA cohort data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Two external validation cohorts were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Another independent validation cohort (the Xiangya cohort) was recruited from our hospital. The least absolute shrinkage and selector operation (LASSO) algorithm and Cox regression models were used to establish the pyroptosis risk score. Thereafter, we correlated the pyroptosis risk score with prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME) immune hallmarks, and multiple treatments, including anticancer immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Results

The pyroptosis risk score was an independent prognostic predictor of BLCA. We found that the activities of multiple steps of the anticancer immune response cycle, such as the release of cancer cell antigens, CD8 T cell recruitment, and NK cell recruitment, were significantly higher in the high-risk score group than in the low-risk score group. In addition, the infiltration levels of the corresponding tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), such as CD8 T cells and NK cells, were positively correlated with the pyroptosis risk score. Thus, BLCA with a high-risk score may be associated with inflamed phenotypes. Simultaneously, the expression of multiple immune checkpoints (such as PD-L1, CTLA-4, and PD-1) and enrichment scores of gene signatures positively correlated with immunotherapy response were positively correlated with the pyroptosis risk score. Therefore, patients with a high pyroptosis risk score may be more sensitive to immunotherapy. In addition, patients with high pyroptosis risk scores may be more sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cisplatin, docetaxel, and paclitaxel. In addition, the pyroptosis risk score accurately predicted the molecular subtypes of BLCA, which were cross-validated in several independent systems.

Conclusions

This study developed and validated a robust pyroptosis risk score that can predict the clinical outcomes and TME immune phenotypes of BLCA. In summary, the pyroptosis risk score helps drive precision therapy in patients with BLCA.

Advanced Peptide Nanomedicines for Bladder Cancer Theranostics

Cancer is still a global public health problem. Although remarkable success has been achieved in cancer diagnosis and treatment, the high recurrence and mortality rates remain severely threatening to human lives and health. In recent years, peptide nanomedicines with precise selectivity and high biocompatibility have attracted intense attention in biomedical applications. In particular, there has been a significant increase in the exploration of peptides and their derivatives for malignant tumor therapy and diagnosis. Herein, we review the applications of peptides and their derivatives in the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer, providing new insights for the design and development of novel peptide nanomedicines for the treatment of bladder cancer in the future.

Expression and prognostic value of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX) in bladder urothelial carcinoma

Objective

To investigate the expression intensity of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX) in bladder urothelial carcinoma and its predictive value for the recurrence after transurethral resection of bladder tumor.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was made of 194 specimens who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors in our hospital from January 2014 to January 2016 and completed follow-up. The expression intensity of CA-IX and the clinical data of the patients were analyzed, and the subjects were divided into positive group and negative group according to the expression intensity of CA-IX. The age, gender, T stage, degree of differentiation, tumor number, tumor diameter, recurrence of each group was analyzed. Logistic univariate and multivariate analysis was used successively to find independent influencing factors for predicting the recurrence of bladder urothelial carcinoma after resection. The Kaplan–Meier survival curve was drawn according to the relationship between CA-IX expression intensity and postoperative recurrence.

Results

The positive expression rates of CA-IX in bladder urothelial carcinomas were 68.1% (132/194). The positive expression of CA-IX had no statistical significance with age, gender and tumor diameter (P > 0.05), while the positive expression of CA-IX had statistical significance with tumor T stage, tumor differentiation, tumor number and recurrence (P < 0.05); Logistic regression analysis showed that clinical T stage, tumor differentiation, tumor number, and CA-IX expression intensities were independent risk factors for predicting recurrence of bladder urothelial carcinoma after resection (P < 0.05); There were 59 cases of recurrence in the positive expression of CA-IX group, with a recurrence rate of 44.69% (59/132), and 17 cases of recurrence in the negative expression group, with a recurrence rate of 27.41% (17/62). The mean recurrence time of CA-IX positive group was 29.93 ± 9.86 (months), and the mean recurrence time of CA-IX negative group was 34.02 ± 12.44 (months). The Kaplan–Meier survival curve showed that the recurrence rate and recurrence time of patients with positive expression of CA-IX in bladder urothelial carcinomas were significantly higher than those of patients with negative expression of CA-IX.

Conclusion

CA-IX is highly expressed in bladder urothelial carcinoma, is a good tumor marker, and can be used as a good indicator for predicting the recurrence of bladder urothelial carcinoma after transurethral resection of bladder tumor.

Nanomaterials in Bone Regeneration

Nanomaterials are promising in the development of innovative therapeutic options that include tissue and organ replacement, as well as bone repair and regeneration. The expansion of new nanoscaled biomaterials is based on progress in the field of nanotechnologies, material sciences, and biomedicine. In recent decades, nanomaterial systems have bridged the line between the synthetic and natural worlds, leading to the emergence of a new science called nanomaterial design for biological applications. Nanomaterials replicating bone properties and providing unique functions help in bone tissue engineering. This review article is focused on nanomaterials utilized in or being explored for the purpose of bone repair and regeneration. After a brief overview of bone biology, including a description of bone cells, matrix, and development, nanostructured materials and different types of nanoparticles are discussed in detail.

Fabrication of α-Fe2O3 Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterization, and Their Promising Application in the Treatment of Carcinoma A549 Lung Cancer Cells

In the present work, iron nanoparticles were synthesized in the α-Fe₂O₃ phase with the reduction of potassium hexachloroferrate(III) by using l-ascorbic acid as a reducing agent in the presence of an amphiphilic non-ionic polyethylene glycol surfactant in an aqueous solution. The synthesized α-Fe₂O₃ NPs were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis result confirmed the formation of α-Fe₂O₃ NPs, and the average crystallite size was found to be 45 nm. The other morphological studies suggested that α-Fe₂O₃ NPs were predominantly spherical in shape with a diameter ranges from 40 to 60 nm. The dynamic light scattering analysis revealed the zeta potential of α-Fe₂O₃ NPs as -28 ± 18 mV at maximum stability. The ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry analysis shows an absorption peak at 394 nm, which is attributed to their surface plasmon vibration. The cytotoxicity test of synthesized α-Fe₂O₃ NPs was investigated against human carcinoma A549 lung cancer cells, and the biological adaptability exhibited by α-Fe₂O₃ NPs has opened a pathway to biomedical applications in the drug delivery system. Our investigation confirmed that l-ascorbic acid-coated α-Fe₂O₃ NPs with calculated IC₅₀ ≤ 30 μg/mL are the best suited as an anticancer agent, showing the promising application in the treatment of carcinoma A549 lung cancer cells.

Combinatorial Delivery of Gallium (III) Nitrate and Curcumin Complex-Loaded Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Treatment

The main aims in the development of a novel drug delivery vehicle is to efficiently carry therapeutic drugs in the body's circulatory system and successfully deliver them to the targeted site as needed to safely achieve the desired therapeutic effect. In the present study, a passive targeted functionalised nanocarrier was fabricated or wrapped the hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) to prepare APTES-coated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNAP). A nitrogen sorption analysis confirmed that the shape of hysteresis loops is altered, and subsequently the pore volume and pore diameters of GaC-HMSNAP was reduced by around 56 and 37%, respectively, when compared with HMSNAP. The physico-chemical characterisation studies of fabricated HMSNAP, Ga-HMSNAP and GaC-HMSNAP have confirmed their stability. The drug release capacity of the fabricated Ga-HMSNAP and GaC-HMSNAP for delivery of gallium and curcumin was evaluated in the phosphate buffered saline (pH 3.0, 6.0 and 7.4). In an in silico molecular docking study of the gallium-curcumin complex in PDI, calnexin, HSP60, PDK, caspase 9, Akt1 and PTEN were found to be strong binding. In vitro antitumor activity of both Ga-HMSNAP and GaC-HMSNAP treated MCF-7 cells was investigated in a dose and time-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ values of GaC-HMSNAP (25 µM) were significantly reduced when compared with free gallium concentration (40 µM). The mechanism of gallium-mediated apoptosis was analyzed through western blotting and GaC-HMSNAP has increased caspases 9, 6, cleaved caspase 6, PARP, and GSK 3β(S9) in MCF-7 cells. Similarly, GaC-HMSNAP is reduced mitochondrial proteins such as prohibitin1, HSP60, and SOD1. The phosphorylation of oncogenic proteins such as Akt (S473), c-Raf (S249) PDK1 (S241) and induced cell death in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the findings revealed that Ga-HMSNAP and GaC-HMSNAP provide a controlled release of loaded gallium, curcumin and their complex. Altogether, our results depicted that GaC-HMNSAP induced cell death through the mitochondrial intrinsic cell death pathway, which could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for breast adenocarcinoma therapy.

Chitosan derivatives functionalized dual ROS-responsive nanocarriers to enhance synergistic oxidation-chemotherapy

The efficient triggering of prodrug release has become a challengeable task for stimuli-responsive nanomedicine utilized in cancer therapy due to the subtle differences between normal and tumor tissues and heterogeneity. In this work, a dual ROS-responsive nanocarriers with the ability to self-regulate the ROS level was constructed, which could gradually respond to the endogenous ROS to achieve effective, hierarchical and specific drug release in cancer cells. In brief, DOX was conjugated with MSNs via thioketal bonds and loaded with β-Lapachone. TPP modified chitosan was then coated to fabricate nanocarriers for mitochondria-specific delivery. The resultant nanocarriers respond to the endogenous ROS and release Lap specifically in cancer cells. Subsequently, the released Lap self-regulated the ROS level, resulting in the specific DOX release and mitochondrial damage in situ, enhancing synergistic oxidation-chemotherapy. The tumor inhibition Ratio was achieved to 78.49%. The multi-functional platform provides a novel remote drug delivery system in vivo.

Long non-coding RNA long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1232 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion in bladder cancer via modulating miR-370-5p/PIM3 axis

Increasing evidences have suggested that long non-coding RNAs are critical regulators in the progression of tumor growth. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1232 (LINC01232) was verified as an oncogene in multiple cancers. Nevertheless, its function in bladder cancer (BC) remains to be uncovered. In the current study, we detected LINC01232 expression utilizing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and discovered that LINC01232 was overexpressed in BC cell lines versus normal cell line. Besides, the effect of LINC01232 on BC cell behaviors was measured by colony formation, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell, TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling and caspase-3/8 activity assays. Functionally, LINC01232 deficiency suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Next, miR-370-5p was proved to bind with LINC01232 by RNA pull down, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase reporter assays. Furthermore, PIM3 expression was negatively modulated by miR-370-5p and markedly increased in BC cell lines. Moreover, PIM3 silence repressed proliferation, migration and invasion but triggered apoptosis of BC cells. The rescue assays validated that upregulation of PIM3 recovered the effects of LINC01232 silence on the growth of BC cells. To summarize, our study manifested that LINC01232 accelerates BC progression by targeting miR-370-5p/PIM3 axis. Targeting LINC01232 might offer novel insight into BC treatment.

Emerging molecular mechanisms and genetic targets for developing novel therapeutic strategies for treating bladder diseases

Bladder diseases affect millions of patients worldwide and compromise their quality of life with a substantial economic impact. The not fully understood aetiologies of bladder diseases limit the current diagnosis and therapeutic options to primarily symptomatic treatment. In addition, bladder targeted drug delivery is challenging due to its unique anatomical features and its natural physiological function of urine storage and frequent voiding. Therefore, current treatment options often fail to provide a highly effective, precisely targeted and long-lasting treatment. With the growing maturity of gene therapy, comprehensive studies are needed to provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning bladder diseases and help to identify novel gene therapeutic targets and biomarkers for treating bladder diseases. In this review, molecular mechanisms involved in pathology of bladder cancer, interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder syndrome are reviewed, with focus on establishing potential novel treatment options. Proposed novel therapies, including gene therapy combined with nanotechnology, localised drug delivery by nanoparticles, and probiotics, are discussed in regard to their safety profiles, efficacy, treatment lenght, precise targeting, and in comparison to conventional treatment methods.

Intraperitoneal administration of nanoparticles containing tocopheryl succinate prevents peritoneal dissemination

Intraperitoneal administration of anticancer nanoparticles is a rational strategy for preventing peritoneal dissemination of colon cancer owing to the prolonged retention of nanoparticles in the abdominal cavity. However, instability of nanoparticles in body fluids causes inefficient retention, reducing its anticancer effects. We have previously developed anticancer nanoparticles containing tocopheryl succinate, which showed high in vivo stability and multifunctional anticancer effects. In the present study, we have demonstrated that peritoneal dissemination derived from colon cancer was prevented by intraperitoneal administration of tocopheryl succinate nanoparticles. The biodistribution of tocopheryl succinate nanoparticles was evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy and imaging analysis in mice administered quantum dot encapsulated tocopheryl succinate nanoparticles. Intraperitoneal administration of tocopheryl succinate nanoparticles showed longer retention in the abdominal cavity than by its intravenous administration. Moreover, due to effective biodistribution, tumor growth was prevented by intraperitoneal administration of tocopheryl succinate nanoparticles. Furthermore, the anticancer effect was attributed to the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and improvement of the intraperitoneal microenvironment, such as decrease in the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A, interleukin 10, and M2-like phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages. Collectively, intraperitoneal administration of tocopheryl succinate nanoparticles is expected to have multifaceted antitumor effects against colon cancer with peritoneal dissemination.

Research Progress in Alpha-Fetoprotein-Induced Immunosuppression of Liver Cancer

Abstract:

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors, with limited treatment and 8.2% high mortality. Liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths, which seriously endangers human life and health. Approximately 70% of liver cancer patients show increased serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels. AFP is the main diagnostic and prognostic indicator of liver cancer. AFP, a key marker of liver cancer, plays a crucial role in regulating the proliferation of tumor cells, apoptosis, and induction of cellular immune escape. High levels of AFP during embryonic development protect the embryos from maternal immune attack. AFP also promotes immune escape of liver cancer cells by inhibiting tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), natural killer cells (NK), dendritic cells (DC), and macrophages; thus, it is also used as a target antigen in immunotherapy for liver cancer. AFP is highly expressed in liver cancer cells. In addition to being used in the diagnosis of liver cancer, it has become a target of immunotherapy for liver cancer as a tumor-associated antigen. In immunotherapy, it was also confirmed that early AFP response was positively correlated with the efficacy of immunotherapy. Early AFP responders had longer PFS and OS than non-responders. At present, the methods of immunotherapy for liver cancer mainly include Adoptive Cell Transfer Therapy (ACT), tumor vaccine therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy and so on. A large number of studies have shown that AFP mainly plays a role in ACT and liver cancer vaccines. This review presents the research progress of AFP and immunosuppression of liver cancer.

A novel uric acid biosensor based on regular Prussian blue nanocrystal/ upright graphene oxide array nanocomposites

Objective:

Regular Prussian blue nanocrystals (RPB) were grown upright on graphene oxide flakes (GO), which were on the surface of a custom screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE), using a spray method assisted by a constant magnetic field (CMF).

Method:

After immobilizing uricase, the uric acid biosensor Uricase/RPB/CMF-GO/SPCE was obtained. The detection range of the sensor response to UA was 0.005~2.525 mM, and the detection limit was as low as 3.6 μM. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed that compared to amorphous electrodeposited Prussian blue (EDPB), RPB more favorably accelerated electron transport.

Result:

This novel uric acid biosensor exhibits high sensitivity over, a wide concentration range, strong anti- interference ability, and good stability and reproducibility.

Conclusion:

Thus, it has good application prospects for determining uric acid in physiological samples

Nanotechnology-based approaches for effective detection of tumor markers: A comprehensive state-of-the-art review

As well-appreciated biomarkers, tumor markers have been spotlighted as reliable tools for predicting the behavior of different tumors and helping clinicians ascertain the type of molecular mechanism of tumorigenesis. The sensitivity and specificity of these markers have made them an object of even broader interest for sensitive detection and staging of various cancers. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fluorescence-based, mass-based, and electrochemical-based detections are current techniques for sensing tumor markers. Although some of these techniques provide good selectivity, certain obstacles, including a low sample concentration or difficulty carrying out the measurement, limit their application. With the advent of nanotechnology, many studies have been carried out to synthesize and employ nanomaterials (NMs) in sensing techniques to determine these tumor markers at low concentrations. The fabrication, sensitivity, design, and multiplexing of sensing techniques have been uplifted due to the attractive features of NMs. Various NMs, such as magnetic and metal nanoparticles, up-conversion NPs, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon-based NMs, quantum dots (QDs), and graphene-based nanosensors, hyperbranched polymers, optical nanosensors, piezoelectric biosensors, paper-based biosensors, microfluidic-based lab-on-chip sensors, and hybrid NMs have proven effective in detecting tumor markers with great sensitivity and selectivity. This review summarizes various categories of NMs for detecting these valuable markers, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), cancer antigen 125 (CA125), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3, MUC1), and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and highlights recent nanotechnology-based advancements in detection of these prognostic biomarkers.

Smart Nanocarriers as an Emerging Platform for Cancer Therapy: A Review

Cancer is a group of disorders characterized by uncontrolled cell growth that affects around 11 million people each year globally. Nanocarrier-based systems are extensively used in cancer imaging, diagnostics as well as therapeutics; owing to their promising features and potential to augment therapeutic efficacy. The focal point of research remains to develop new-fangled smart nanocarriers that can selectively respond to cancer-specific conditions and deliver medications to target cells efficiently. Nanocarriers deliver loaded therapeutic cargos to the tumour site either in a passive or active mode, with the least drug elimination from the drug delivery systems. This review chiefly focuses on current advances allied to smart nanocarriers such as dendrimers, liposomes, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, quantum dots, micelles, superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, to list a few. Exhaustive discussion on crucial topics like drug targeting, surface decorated smart-nanocarriers and stimuli-responsive cancer nanotherapeutics responding to temperature, enzyme, pH and redox stimuli have been covered.

New Insights into the Importance of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Lung Cancer: Future Clinical Approaches

In mammals, a large part of the gene expression products come from the non-coding ribonucleotide sequences of the protein. These short and long sequences are within the range of tens to hundreds of nucleotides, encompassing more than 200 RNA molecules, and their function is known as the molecular structure of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). LncRNA molecules are unique nucleotides that have a substantial role in epigenetic regulation, transcription, and post-transcriptional modifications in different ways. According to the results of recent studies, lncRNAs have been shown to assume various roles, including tumor suppression or oncogenic functions in common types of cancer such as lung and breast cancer. These non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a pivotal role in activating transcription factors, managing the ribonucleoproteins, the framework for collecting co-proteins, intermittent processing regulations, chromatin status alterations, and maintaining the control within the cell. Cutting-edge technologies have been introduced to disclose several types of lncRNAs within the nucleus and the cytoplasm, which have accomplished important achievements that are applicable in medicine. Due to these efforts, various data centers have been created to facilitate and modify scientific information related to these molecules, including detection, classification, biological evolution, gene status, spatial structure, status, and location of these small molecules. In the present study, we attempt to present the impacts of these ncRNAs on lung cancer with an emphasis on their mechanisms and functions.

Electrochemical DNA biosensor based on platinum-gold bimetal decorated graphene modified electrode for the detection of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus specific tlh gene sequence

Background:

By using bimetal nanocomposite modified electrode, the electrochemical DNA biosensor showed the advantages of high sensitivity, low cost, rapid response and convenient operation, which was applied for disease diagnosis, food safety, and biological monitoring.

Objective:

A nanocomposite consisting of platinum (Pt)-gold (Au) bimetal and two-dimensional graphene (GR) was synthesized by hydrothermal method, which was modified on the surface of carbon ionic liquid electrode and further used for the immobilization of probe ssDNA related to Vibrio Parahaemolyticus tlh gene to construct an electrochemical DNA sensor.

Method:

Potassium ferricyanide was selected as electrochemical indicator, cyclic voltammetry was used to study the electrochemical behaviours of different modified electrodes and differential pulse voltammetry was employed to test the analytical performance of this biosensor for the detection of target gene sequence.

Results:

This electrochemical DNA biosensor could detect the Vibrio Parahaemolyticus tlh gene sequence as the linear concentration in the range from 1.0×10-13 mol L-1 to 1.0×10-6 mol L-1 with the detection limit as 2.91×10-14 mol L-1 (3σ).

Conclusion:

This proposed electrochemical DNA biosensor could be used to identify the special gene sequence with good selectivity, low detection limit and wide detection range.

Review on the Use of Heavy Metal Deposits from Water Treatment Waste towards Catalytic Chemical Syntheses

The toxicity and persistence of heavy metals has become a serious problem for humans. These heavy metals accumulate mainly in wastewater from various industries' discharged effluents. The recent trends in research are now focused not only on the removal efficiency of toxic metal particles, but also on their effective reuse as catalysts. This review discusses the types of heavy metals obtained from wastewater and their recovery through commonly practiced physico-chemical pathways. In addition, it covers the advantages of the new system for capturing heavy metals from wastewater, as compared to older conventional technologies. The discussion also includes the various structural aspects of trapping systems and their hypothesized mechanistic approaches to immobilization and further rejuvenation of catalysts. Finally, it concludes with the challenges and future prospects of this research to help protect the ecosystem.

Application of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common malignancy in the genitourinary system and the current theranostic approaches are unsatisfactory. Sensitivity and specificity of current diagnosis methods are not ideal and high recurrence and progression rates after initial treatment indicate the urgent need for management improvements in clinic. Nanotechnology has been proposed as an effective method to improve theranosis efficiency for both non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). For example, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been developed for simple, fast and sensitive urinary sample test for bladder cancer diagnosis. Nanoparticles targeting bladder cancers can facilitate to distinguish the normal and abnormal bladder tissues during cystoscopy and thus help with the complete removal of malignant lesions. Both intravenous and intravesical agents can be modified by nanotechnology for targeted delivery, high anti-tumor efficiency and excellent tolerability, exhibiting encouraging potential in bladder cancer treatment. Photosensitizers and biological agents can also be delivered by nanotechnology, intermediating phototherapy and targeted therapy. The management of bladder cancer remained almost unchanged for decades with unsatisfactory effect. However, it is likely to change with the fast-developed nanotechnology. Herein we summarized the current utility of nanotechnology in bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment, providing insights for the future designing and discovering novel nanoparticles for bladder cancer management.

The FOXM1/RNF26/p57 axis regulates the cell cycle to promote the aggressiveness of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is one of the most lethal cancers in the world. Despite the continuous development of medical technologies and therapeutic strategies, the overall survival rate of bladder cancer has not changed significantly. Targeted therapy is a new promising method for bladder cancer treatment. Thus, an in-depth study of the molecular mechanism of the occurrence and development of bladder cancer is urgently needed to identify novel therapeutic candidates for bladder cancer. Here, bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that RNF26 was one of the risk factors for bladder cancer. Then, we showed that RNF26 is abnormally upregulated in bladder cancer cells and tissues and that higher RNF26 expression is an unfavorable prognostic factor for bladder cancer. Moreover, we found that RNF26 promotes bladder cancer progression. In addition, we showed that RNF26 expression is promoted by FOXM1 at the transcriptional level through MuvB complex. The upregulated RNF26 in turn degrades p57 (CDKN1C) to regulate the cell cycle process. Collectively, we uncovered a novel FOXM1/RNF26/p57 axis that modulates the cell cycle process and enhances the progression of bladder cancer. Thus, the FOXM1/RNF26/p57 signaling axis could be a candidate target for the treatment of bladder cancer.

Cytotoxicity properties of plant-mediated synthesized K-doped ZnO nanostructures

In this study, potassium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (K-doped ZnO NPs) were green-synthesized using pine pollen extracts based on bioethics principles. The synthesized NPs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The cytotoxicity of these nanoparticles (NPs) on normal macrophage cells and cancer cell lines was evaluated. In the same concentrations of K-doped ZnO and pure ZnO NPs, K-doped ZnO NPs demonstrated higher toxicity. The results confirmed that the doped potassium could increase cytotoxicity. The IC₅₀ of K-doped ZnO NPs, pure ZnO NPs, and the examined control drug were 497 ± 15, 769 ± 12, and 606 ± 19 µg/mL, respectively. Considering the obtained IC₅₀ of K-doped ZnO NPs, they were more toxic to the cancer cell lines and had less cytotoxicity on normal macrophage cells.

PLAUR as a Potential Biomarker Associated with Immune Infiltration in Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma

Background

Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is one of the most lethal and aggressive malignancies of genitourinary system that affects human health. The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (PLAUR) plays essential roles in tumorigenesis and immune modulation, and its aberrant expression is closely correlated with cancer progression. However, whether PLAUR has the potential to be one promising biomarker or immunotherapy target for BLCA is unknown.

Methodology

Various online databases were applied to assess the expression profile and prognostic value of PLAUR, as well as its correlation with immune infiltration in BLCA, including Oncomine, PrognoScan, TCGA, cBioPortal, TIMER, TISIDB, UALCAN, and MethSurv. The expression of PLAUR in BLCA was confirmed with ELISA assay for serum samples and immunohistochemistry for tissue samples.

Results

The results showed that the expression of PLAUR was elevated in BLCA, which was further confirmed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Patients with higher PLAUR level were predicted to have lower overall survival and disease specific survival rates, which were not impacted by the genetic alterations of PLAUR. In addition, the expression of PLAUR was positively associated with immune infiltration, and also the expression levels of gene markers of various immune cells. The negative correlation between PLAUR expression and PLAUR methylation level was observed, among which PLAUR expression was positively correlated with the abundance of 28 kinds of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, while PLAUR methylation level was negatively correlated with the abundance of 11 types of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Moreover, the methylation level of PLAUR was closely correlated with patients’ clinicopathological features, and hypomethylation of PLAUR was associated with better outcomes of BLCA patients.

Conclusion

These findings suggested that PLAUR had the potential to serve as a valuable detection and prognostic biomarker or immunotherapeutic target for BLCA.