How Did Conventional Nanoparticle-Mediated Photothermal Therapy Become "Hot" in Combination with Cancer Immunotherapy?

Versatile Thermo-Sensitive liposomes with HSP inhibition and Anti-Inflammation for synergistic Chemo-Photothermal to inhibit breast cancer metastasis

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a prospective therapeutic method for breast cancer. However, excess inflammatory response induced by PTT may aggravate tumor metastasis. Meanwhile, the overexpressed heat shock proteins (HSPs) by cancer cells can protect them from hyperthermia during PTT. Therefore, to attenuate the PTT-induced inflammation and inhibit tumor metastasis, a folate receptor-targeted thermo-sensitive liposome (BI-FA-LP) co-loading Berberine (BBR) and Indocyanine green (ICG) was developed. BI-FA-LP utilized enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and FA receptor-mediated endocytosis to selectively accumulate at tumor, reducing off-target toxicity during the treatment. After targeting to the tumor site, BBR and ICG were released from BI-FA-LP upon laser irradiation, and ICG showed good photothermal performance, while BBR inhibited HSP70 and HSP90 expression during PTT, exerting chemo-photothermal synergetic anti-tumor effect. Moreover, BBR could suppress the PTT induced inflammation, thus inhibiting tumor metastasis and ameliorating tissue injury. Thus, this versatile liposome provided a new strategy to enhance PTT and anti-inflammatory effects for breast cancer treatment.

Inspiring a convergent engineering approach to measure and model the tissue microenvironment

Understanding the molecular and physical complexity of the tissue microenvironment (TiME) in the context of its spatiotemporal organization has remained an enduring challenge. Recent advances in engineering and data science are now promising the ability to study the structure, functions, and dynamics of the TiME in unprecedented detail; however, many advances still occur in silos that rarely integrate information to study the TiME in its full detail. This review provides an integrative overview of the engineering principles underlying chemical, optical, electrical, mechanical, and computational science to probe, sense, model, and fabricate the TiME. In individual sections, we first summarize the underlying principles, capabilities, and scope of emerging technologies, the breakthrough discoveries enabled by each technology and recent, promising innovations. We provide perspectives on the potential of these advances in answering critical questions about the TiME and its role in various disease and developmental processes. Finally, we present an integrative view that appreciates the major scientific and educational aspects in the study of the TiME.

Targeted nanotherapy platform mediated tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cell immune function effects for collaborative anti-tumor photothermal immunotherapy for cervical cancer

Photothermal immunotherapy is an innovative approach to cancer treatment. It combines immunomodulators and photothermal agents, both targeted to the tumor site. This therapy harnesses the heat generated by photothermal conversion to damage tumor cells while simultaneously releasing tumor-associated antigens. This process enhances the anti-tumor immune response of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Photothermal immunotherapy is gaining prominence as a new method for cancer treatment. It is a current focal point in research due to its targeted efficacy, minimal systemic side effects, and reduced risk of treatment resistance. This study employed a thin-film dispersion method to fabricate liposomes (LIPO) as composite drug carriers. Indocyanine green (ICG) for clinical use was utilized as a photothermal agent (PTA), and folate (FA) was employed as a targeting agent for the nano-composite material. We encapsulated the immunoadjuvant CpG ODN within the FA@LIPO@ICG nano-system, resulting in the formation of targeted nanoparticles (NPs) for photothermal immunotherapy (FA@LIPO@ICG@CpG), and assessed the drug encapsulation rate. FA@LIPO@ICG@CpG NPs demonstrated excellent water solubility with an average size ranging from 100 to 200 nm. Furthermore, we investigated the photothermal properties of FA@LIPO@ICG@CpG NPs. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, the photothermal conversion efficiency of FA@LIPO@ICG@CpG NPs reached 39.05%. Subsequently, under 808 nm laser excitation, we conducted an analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations and their functional changes in U14 tumor-bearing mice by using flow cytometry. This treatment approach demonstrated remarkable anti-tumor efficacy. Consequently, FA@LIPO@ICG@CpG NPs hold substantial promise as a novel and promising strategy in cancer therapy.

Mechanism and potentialities of photothermal and photodynamic therapy of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) against cancer

The ultimate goal of nanoparticle-based phototherapy is to suppress tumor growth. Photothermal therapy (PTT) and photothermal photodynamic therapy (PDT) are two types of physicochemical therapy that use light radiation with multiple wavelength ranges in the near-infrared to treat cancer. When a laser is pointed at tissue, photons are taken in the intercellular and intracellular regions, converting photon energy to heat. It has attracted much interest and research in recent years. The advent of transition materials dichalcogenides (TMDCs) is a revolutionary step in PDT/PTT-based cancer therapy. The TMDCs is a multilayer 2D nano-composite. TMDCs contain three atomic layers in which two chalcogens squash in the transition metal. The chalcogen atoms are highly reactive, and the surface characteristics of TMDCs help them to target deep cancer cells. They absorb Near Infrared (NIR), which kills deep cancer cells. In this review, we have discussed the history and mechanism of PDT/PTT and the use of TMDCs and nanoparticle-based systems, which have been practiced for theranostics purposes. We have also discussed PDT/PTT combined with immunotherapy, in which the cancer cell apoptosis is done by activating the immune cells, such as CD8+.

Carbon-coated selenium nanoparticles for photothermal therapy in choriocarcinoma cells

Choriocarcinoma can be cured by chemotherapy, but this causes resistance and severe side effects that bring about physical and psychological consequences for patients. Therefore, there is still an urgent need to find other alternative minimally invasive therapies to halt the progression of choriocarcinoma. Novel carbon-coated selenium nanoparticles (C-Se) were successfully synthesized for choriocarcinoma photothermal therapy. C-Se combined with near-infrared laser irradiation can inhibit the proliferation of human choriocarcinoma (JEG-3) cells and induce cell apoptosis. C-Se killed cells and produced ROS under near-infrared laser irradiation. Finally, the therapeutic mechanism of C-Se + laser was explored showing that C-Se + laser influenced numerous biological processes. Taken together, C-Se exhibited significant potential for choriocarcinoma photothermal therapy.

Laser-induced vapor nanobubbles for B16-F10 melanoma cell killing and intracellular delivery of chemotherapeutics

The most lethal form of skin cancer is cutaneous melanoma, a tumor that develops in the melanocytes, which are found in the epidermis. The treatment strategy of melanoma is dependent on the stage of the disease and often requires combined local and systemic treatment. Over the years, systemic treatment of melanoma has been revolutionized and shifted toward immunotherapeutic approaches. Phototherapies like photothermal therapy (PTT) have gained considerable attention in the field, mainly because of their straightforward applicability in melanoma skin cancer, combined with the fact that these strategies are able to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), linked with a specific antitumor immune response. However, PTT comes with the risk of uncontrolled heating of the surrounding healthy tissue due to heat dissipation. Here, we used pulsed laser irradiation of endogenous melanin-containing melanosomes to induce cell killing of B16-F10 murine melanoma cells in a non-thermal manner. Pulsed laser irradiation of the B16-F10 cells resulted in the formation of water vapor nanobubbles (VNBs) around endogenous melanin-containing melanosomes, causing mechanical cell damage. We demonstrated that laser-induced VNBs are able to kill B16-F10 cells with high spatial resolution. When looking more deeply into the cell death mechanism, we found that a large part of the B16-F10 cells succumbed rapidly after pulsed laser irradiation, reaching maximum cell death already after 4 h. Practically all necrotic cells demonstrated exposure of phosphatidylserine on the plasma membrane and caspase-3/7 activity, indicative of regulated cell death. Furthermore, calreticulin, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), three key damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) in ICD, were found to be exposed from B16-F10 cells upon pulsed laser irradiation to an extent that exceeded or was comparable to the bona fide ICD-inducer, doxorubicin. Finally, we could demonstrate that VNB formation from melanosomes induced plasma membrane permeabilization. This allowed for enhanced intracellular delivery of bleomycin, an ICD-inducing chemotherapeutic, which further boosted cell death with the potential to improve the systemic antitumor immune response.

Recent Advances in Biomimetic Nanocarrier-Based Photothermal Therapy for Cancer Treatment

Nanomedicine presents innovative solutions for cancer treatment, including photothermal therapy (PTT). PTT centers on the design of photoactivatable nanoparticles capable of absorbing non-toxic near-infrared light, generating heat within target cells to induce cell death. The successful transition from benchside to bedside application of PTT critically depends on the core properties of nanoparticles responsible for converting light into heat and the surface properties for precise cell-specific targeting. Precisely targeting the intended cells remains a primary challenge in PTT. In recent years, a groundbreaking approach has emerged to address this challenge by functionalizing nanocarriers and enhancing cell targeting. This strategy involves the creation of biomimetic nanoparticles that combine desired biocompatibility properties with the immune evasion mechanisms of natural materials. This review comprehensively outlines various strategies for designing biomimetic photoactivatable nanocarriers for PTT, with a primary focus on its application in cancer therapy. Additionally, we shed light on the hurdles involved in translating PTT from research to clinical practice, along with an overview of current clinical applications.

Advancements in the Application of the Fenton Reaction in the Cancer Microenvironment

Cancer is a complex and multifaceted disease that continues to be a global health challenge. It exerts a tremendous burden on individuals, families, healthcare systems, and society as a whole. To mitigate the impact of cancer, concerted efforts and collaboration on a global scale are essential. This includes strengthening preventive measures, promoting early detection, and advancing effective treatment strategies. In the field of cancer treatment, researchers and clinicians are constantly seeking new approaches and technologies to improve therapeutic outcomes and minimize adverse effects. One promising avenue of investigation is the utilization of the Fenton reaction, a chemical process that involves the generation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (·OH) through the interaction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with ferrous ions (Fe2+). The generated ·OH radicals possess strong oxidative properties, which can lead to the selective destruction of cancer cells. In recent years, researchers have successfully introduced the Fenton reaction into the cancer microenvironment through the application of nanotechnology, such as polymer nanoparticles and light-responsive nanoparticles. This article reviews the progress of the application of the Fenton reaction, catalyzed by polymer nanoparticles and light-responsive nanoparticles, in the cancer microenvironment, as well as the potential applications and future development directions of the Fenton reaction in the field of tumor treatment.

Programmed-stimuli responsive carrier-free multidrug delivery system for highly efficient trimodal combination therapy

Programmed response, carrier-free, and multimodal therapy drug delivery systems (DDS) are promising solutions to multidirectional cytotoxic effects, inefficient antitumor, and severe side effects for cancer therapy. Here, three widely used clinical drugs, interferon α1b (IFNα1b), indocyanine green (ICG), and doxorubicin (DOX), were prepared into carrier-free DDS IFNα1b-ICG-DOX (IID) by a simple one-step method without additional any reagents. IID can achieve smart and programmed DDS by combining low pH and near-infrared (NIR) light stimuli-responsive controlled release. In pH = 7.4 environments, our IID is about 380 nm in size with negative charge rounded particles; while they enter into the acid environment (pH < 7), hydrogen ions (H⁺) trigger DOX release, their size becomes larger and the surface charge turns positive. These larger particles are rapidly disintegrated after exposure to NIR light and then the remaining DOX, IFNα1b, and ICG are released. In vivo, the IID with larger size and positive charge resulting from low pH is is easy to accumulate in tumor tissue. Tumors can be exposed to NIR light when needed to control the release of these three drugs. Hence, DOX, ICG, and IFNα1b can be enriched in the tumor to the high efficiency of combined chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and immunotherapy.

Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials-Based Recent Approaches in Upgraded Targeting and Management of Cancer: A Review

Along with the extensive improvement in tumor biology research and different therapeutic developments, cancer remains a dominant and deadly disease. Tumor heterogeneity, systemic toxicities, and drug resistance are major hurdles in cancer therapy. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, phototherapy, and surgical therapy are some prominent areas of cancer treatment. During chemotherapy for cancer, chemotherapeutic agents are distributed all over the body and also damage normal cells. With advancements in nanotechnology, nanoparticles utilized in all major areas of cancer therapy offer the probability to advance drug solubility, and stability, extend drug half-lives in plasma, reduce off-target effects, and quintessence drugs at a target site. The present review compiles the use of different types of nanoparticles in frequently and recently applied therapeutics of cancer therapy. A recent area of cancer treatment includes cancer stem cell therapy, DNA/RNA-based immunomodulation therapy, alteration of the microenvironment, and cell membrane-mediated biomimetic approach. Biocompatibility and bioaccumulation of nanoparticles is the major impediment in nano-based therapy. More research is required to develop the next generation of nanotherapeutics with the incorporation of new molecular entities, such as kinase inhibitors, siRNA, mRNA, and gene editing. We assume that nanotherapeutics will dramatically improve patient survival, move the model of cancer treatment, and develop certainty in the foreseeable future.

Nanoparticles-based phototherapy systems for cancer treatment: Current status and clinical potential

Remarkable progress in phototherapy has been made in recent decades, due to its non-invasiveness and instant therapeutic efficacy. In addition, with the rapid development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, phototherapy systems based on nanoparticles or nanocomposites also evolved as an emerging hotspot in nanomedicine research, especially in cancer. In this review, first we briefly introduce the history of phototherapy, and the mechanisms of phototherapy in cancer treatment. Then, we summarize the representative development over the past three to five years in nanoparticle-based phototherapy and highlight the design of the innovative nanoparticles thereof. Finally, we discuss the feasibility and the potential of the nanoparticle-based phototherapy systems in clinical anticancer therapeutic applications, aiming to predict future research directions in this field. Our review is a tutorial work, aiming at providing useful insights to researchers in the field of nanotechnology, nanoscience and cancer.

Nano-drug delivery system for pancreatic cancer: A visualization and bibliometric analysis

Background: Nano drug delivery system (NDDS) can significantly improve the delivery and efficacy of drugs against pancreatic cancer (PC) in many ways. The purpose of this study is to explore the related research fields of NDDS for PC from the perspective of bibliometrics.

Methods: Articles and reviews on NDDS for PC published between 2003 and 2022 were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R-bibliometrix, and Microsoft Excel were comprehensively used for bibliometric and visual analysis.

Results: A total of 1329 papers on NDDS for PC were included. The number of papers showed an upward trend over the past 20 years. The United States contributed the most papers, followed by China, and India. Also, the United States had the highest number of total citations and H-index. The institution with the most papers was Chinese Acad Sci, which was also the most important in international institutional cooperation. Professors Couvreur P and Kazuoka K made great achievements in this field. JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE published the most papers and was cited the most. The topics related to the tumor microenvironment such as “tumor microenvironment”, “tumor penetration”, “hypoxia”, “exosome”, and “autophagy”, PC treatment-related topics such as “immunotherapy”, “combination therapy”, “alternating magnetic field/magnetic hyperthermia”, and “ultrasound”, and gene therapy dominated by “siRNA” and “miRNA” were the research hotspots in the field of NDDS for PC.

Conclusion: This study systematically uncovered a holistic picture of the performance of NDDS for PC-related literature over the past 20 years. We provided scholars to understand key information in this field with the perspective of bibliometrics, which we believe may greatly facilitate future research in this field.

Gold Nanorod-Assisted Photothermal Therapy and Improvement Strategies

Noble metal nanoparticles have been sought after in cancer nanomedicine during the past two decades, owing to the unique localized surface plasmon resonance that induces strong absorption and scattering properties of the nanoparticles. A popular application of noble metal nanoparticles is photothermal therapy, which destroys cancer cells by heat generated by laser irradiation of the nanoparticles. Gold nanorods have stood out as one of the major types of noble metal nanoparticles for photothermal therapy due to the facile tuning of their optical properties in the tissue penetrative near infrared region, strong photothermal conversion efficiency, and long blood circulation half-life after surface modification with stealthy polymers. In this review, we will summarize the optical properties of gold nanorods and their applications in photothermal therapy. We will also discuss the recent strategies to improve gold nanorod-assisted photothermal therapy through combination with chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy.