Metal Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy: A Potential Treatment for Breast Cancer

Photodynamic Therapy for Atherosclerosis: Past, Present, and Future

This review paper examines the evolution of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a novel, minimally invasive strategy for treating atherosclerosis, a leading global health concern. Atherosclerosis is characterized by the accumulation of lipids and inflammation within arterial walls, leading to significant morbidity and mortality through cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Traditional therapeutic approaches have primarily focused on modulating risk factors such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, with emerging evidence highlighting the pivotal role of inflammation. PDT, leveraging a photosensitizer, specific-wavelength light, and oxygen, offers targeted treatment by inducing cell death in diseased tissues while sparing healthy ones. This specificity, combined with advancements in nanoparticle technology for improved delivery, positions PDT as a promising alternative to traditional interventions. The review explores the mechanistic basis of PDT, its efficacy in preclinical studies, and the potential for enhancing plaque stability and reducing macrophage density within plaques. It also addresses the need for further research to optimize treatment parameters, mitigate adverse effects, and validate long-term outcomes. By detailing past developments, current progress, and future directions, this paper aims to highlight PDT's potential in revolutionizing atherosclerosis treatment, bridging the gap from experimental research to clinical application.

Methylene blue@silver nanoprisms conjugates as a strategy against Candida albicans isolated from balanoposthitis using photodynamic inactivation

Balanoposthitis can affect men in immunocompromised situations, such as HIV infection and diabetes. The main associated microorganism is Candida albicans, which can cause local lesions, such as the development of skin cracks associated with itching. As an alternative to conventional treatment, there is a growing interest in the photodynamic inactivation (PDI). It has been shown that the association of photosensitizers with metallic nanoparticles may improve the effectiveness of PDI via plasmonic effect. We have recently shown that the association of methylene blue (MB), a very known photosensitizer, with silver prismatic nanoplatelets (AgNPrs) improved PDI of a resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus. To further investigate the experimental conditions involved in PDI improvement, in the present study, we studied the effect of MB concentration associated with AgNPrs exploring spectral analysis, zeta potential measurements, and biological assays, testing the conjugated system against C. albicans isolated from a resistant strain of balanoposthitis. The AgNPrs were synthesized through silver anisotropic seed growth induced by the anionic stabilizing agent poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) and showed a plasmon band fully overlapping the MB absorption band. MB and AgNPrs were conjugated through electrostatic association and three different MB concentrations were tested in the nanosystems. Inactivation using red LED light (660 nm) showed a dose dependency in respect to the MB concentration in the conjugates. Using the highest MB concentration (100 µmol⋅L-1) with AgNPr, it was possible to completely inactivate the microorganisms upon a 2 min irradiation exposure. Analyzing optical changes in the conjugates we suggest that these results indicate that AgNPrs are enhancers of MB photodynamic action probably by a combined mechanism of plasmonic effect and reduction of MB dimerization. Therefore, MBAgNPrs can be considered a suitable choice to be applied in PDI of resistant microorganisms.

Evaluation of Advanced Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Cancer is a persistent global disease and a threat to the human species, with numerous cases reported every year. Over recent decades, a steady but slowly increasing mortality rate has been observed. While many attempts have been made using conventional methods alone as a theragnostic strategy, they have yielded very little success. Most of the shortcomings of such conventional methods can be attributed to the high demands of industrial growth and ever-increasing environmental pollution. This requires some high-tech biomedical interventions and other solutions. Thus, researchers have been compelled to explore alternative methods. This has brought much attention to nanotechnology applications, specifically magnetic nanomaterials, as the sole or conjugated theragnostic methods. The exponential growth of nanomaterials with overlapping applications in various fields is due to their potential properties, which depend on the type of synthesis route used. Either top-down or bottom-up strategies synthesize various types of NPs. The top-down only branches out to one method, i.e., physical, and the bottom-up has two methods, chemical and biological syntheses. This review highlights some synthesis techniques, the types of nanoparticle properties each technique produces, and their potential use in the biomedical field, more specifically for cancer. Despite the evident drawbacks, the success achieved in furthering nanoparticle applications to more complex cancer stages and locations is unmatched.

PLGA nanomedical consignation: A novel approach for the management of prostate cancer

The malignancy of the prostate is a complicated ailment which impacts millions of male populations around the globe. Despite the multitude of endeavour accomplished within this domain, modalities that are involved in the ameliorative management of predisposed infirmity are still relent upon non-specific and invasive procedures, thus imposing a detrimental mark on the living standard of the individual. Also, the orchestrated therapeutic interventions are still incompetent in substantiating a robust and unabridged therapeutic end point owing to their inadequate solubility, low bioavailability, limited cell assimilation, and swift deterioration, thereby muffling the clinical application of these existing treatment modalities. Nanotechnology has been employed in an array of modalities for the medical management of malignancies. Among the assortment of available nano-scaffolds, nanocarriers composed of a bio-decomposable and hybrid polymeric material like PLGA hold an opportunity to advance as standard chemotherapeutic modalities. PLGA-based nanocarriers have the prospect to address the drawbacks associated with conventional cancer interventions, owing to their versatility, durability, nontoxic nature, and their ability to facilitate prolonged drug release. This review intends to describe the plethora of evidence-based studies performed to validate the applicability of PLGA nanosystem in the amelioration of prostate malignancies, in conjunction with PLGA focused nano-scaffold in the clinical management of prostate carcinoma. This review seeks to explore numerous evidence-based studies confirming the applicability of PLGA nanosystems in ameliorating prostate malignancies. It also delves into the role of PLGA-focused nano-scaffolds in the clinical management of prostate carcinoma, aiming to provide a comprehensive perspective on these advancements.

Targeted cancer treatment using folate-conjugated sponge-like ZIF-8 nanoparticles: a review

ZIF-8 (zeolitic imidazolate framework-8) is a potential drug delivery system because of its unique properties, which include a large surface area, a large pore capacity, a large loading capacity, and outstanding stability under physiological conditions. ZIF-8 nanoparticles may be readily functionalized with targeting ligands for the identification and absorption of particular cancer cells, enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic medicines and reducing adverse effects. ZIF-8 is also pH-responsive, allowing medication release in the acidic milieu of cancer cells. Because of its tunable structure, it can be easily functionalized to design cancer-specific targeted medicines. The delivery of ZIF-8 to cancer cells can be facilitated by folic acid-conjugation. Hence, it can bind to overexpressed folate receptors on the surface of cancer cells, which holds the promise of reducing unwanted deliveries. As a result of its importance in cancer treatment, the folate-conjugated ZIF-8 was the major focus of this review.

Biomimetic Nano-Drug Delivery System: An Emerging Platform for Promoting Tumor Treatment

With the development of nanotechnology, nanoparticles (NPs) have shown broad prospects as drug delivery vehicles. However, they exhibit certain limitations, including low biocompatibility, poor physiological stability, rapid clearance from the body, and nonspecific targeting, which have hampered their clinical application. Therefore, the development of novel drug delivery systems with improved biocompatibility and high target specificity remains a major challenge. In recent years, biofilm mediated biomimetic nano-drug delivery system (BNDDS) has become a research hotspot focus in the field of life sciences. This new biomimetic platform uses bio-nanotechnology to encapsulate synthetic NPswithin biomimetic membrane, organically integrating the low immunogenicity, low toxicity, high tumor targeting, good biocompatibility of the biofilm with the adjustability and versatility of the nanocarrier, and shows promising applications in the field of precision tumor therapy. In this review, we systematically summarize the new progress in BNDDS used for optimizing drug delivery, providing a theoretical reference for optimizing drug delivery and designing safe and efficient treatment strategies to improve tumor treatment outcomes.

Metal-based nanoparticles in cancer therapy: Exploring photodynamic therapy and its interplay with regulated cell death pathways

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a non-invasive treatment strategy currently utilized in the clinical management of selected cancers and infections. This technique is predicated on the administration of a photosensitizer (PS) and subsequent irradiation with light of specific wavelengths, thereby generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) within targeted cells. The cellular effects of PDT are dependent on both the localization of the PS and the severity of ROS challenge, potentially leading to the stimulation of various cell death modalities. For many years, the concept of regulated cell death (RCD) triggered by photodynamic reactions predominantly encompassed apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. However, in recent decades, further explorations have unveiled additional cell death modalities, such as necroptosis, ferroptosis, cuproptosis, pyroptosis, parthanatos, and immunogenic cell death (ICD), which helps to achieve tumor cell elimination. Recently, nanoparticles (NPs) have demonstrated substantial advantages over traditional PSs and become important components of PDT, due to their improved physicochemical properties, such as enhanced solubility and superior specificity for targeted cells. This review aims to summarize recent advancements in the applications of different metal-based NPs as PSs or delivery systems for optimized PDT in cancer treatment. Furthermore, it mechanistically highlights the contribution of RCD pathways during PDT with metal NPs and how these forms of cell death can improve specific PDT regimens in cancer therapy.

Nano-phototherapy: Favorable prospects for cancer treatment

Nanotechnology-based phototherapies have drawn interest in the fight against cancer because of its noninvasiveness, high flexibility, and precision in terms of cancer targeting and drug delivery based on its surface properties and size. Phototherapy has made remarkable development in recent decades. Approaches to phototherapy, which utilize nanomaterials or nanotechnology have emerged to contribute to advances around nanotechnologies in medicine, particularly for cancers. A brief overviews of the development of photodynamic therapy as well as its mechanism in cancer treatment is provided. We emphasize the design of novel nanoparticles utilized in photodynamic therapy while summarizing the representative progress during the recent years. Finally, to forecast important future research in this area, we examine the viability and promise of photodynamic therapy systems based on nanoparticles in clinical anticancer treatment applications and briefly make mention of the elimination of all reactive metabolites pertaining to nano formulations inside living organisms providing insight into clinical mechanistic processes. Future developments and therapeutic prospects for photodynamic treatments are anticipated. Our viewpoints might encourage scientists to create more potent phototherapy-based cancer therapeutic modalities. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.

Dual-wavelength responsive CuS@COF nanosheets for high-performance photothermal/photodynamic combination treatments

Photothermal therapy (PTT) makes it difficult to achieve good performance on tumor treatments due to insufficient photothermal conversion efficiency, etc. Combining PTT with photodynamic therapy (PDT) and other therapeutic tools can significantly enhance the tumor-killing ability and has been widely used in the development of therapeutic platforms. Copper sulfide nanoparticle (CuS NP) photothermal reagents have the advantages of low toxicity and simple synthesis; therefore, combining CuS NPs with PDT photosensitizers is an effective strategy to construct a PTT/PDT combination therapeutic platform. However, PDT photosensitizers and photothermal agents generally assembled through hydrophobic interaction, suffer from low coating efficiency or the risk of drug leakage, thus seriously restricting their applications. To address these challenges, CuS NPs with excellent photothermal conversion performance were selected as the core material to prepare CuS@COF nanosheets through a dual-ligand assistant strategy with 4,7-bis(4-aminophenyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD) and 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzene-1,3,5-tricarbaldehyde (TP). As a PTT/PDT combination therapeutic platform, CuS@COF nanosheets possess a porous TP-BDT-based COF shell, and it can sufficiently contact oxygen to provide high singlet oxygen (1O2) yield under 505 nm laser irradiation. Upon illumination with a 1064 nm laser, CuS@COF nanosheets can effectively convert the photon energy into thermal energy with a photothermal conversion efficiency of 63.4%. The results of the CCK8 experiment showed that the phototoxicity of the PTT/PDT combination treatment reached 85.1%, which was much higher than the effect of a single treatment. It was also confirmed in vivo that the tumor inhibition effect of the PDT/PTT combination treatment group was much greater than that of the single treatment group.

The energetic and physical concept of gold nanorod-dependent fluorescence in cancer treatment and development of new photonic compounds|review

The optical features of gold nanorods (GNR) may be precisely controlled by manipulating their size, shape, and aspect ratio. This review explores the impact of these parameters on the optical tuning of (GNR). By altering the experimental conditions, like the addition of silver ions during the seed-mediated growth process, the aspect ratio of (GNR) may be regulated. The shape is trans from spherical to rod-like structures resulting in noticeable changes in the nanoparticles surface plasmons resonance (SPR) bands. The longitudinal SPR band, associated with electron oscillations along the long axis, exhibits a pronounced red shift into the (NIR) region as the aspect ratio increases. In contrast, the transverse SPR band remains relate unchanged. Using computational methods like the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) allows for analyzing absorption, scattering, and total extinction features of gold (G) nanoparticles. Studies have shown that increasing the aspect ratio enhances the scattering efficiency, indicating a higher scattering quantum yield (QY). These findings highlight the importance of size, shape, and aspect ratio in controlling the optical features of (GNR) providing valuable insights for various uses in nanophotonics and plasmonic-dependent fluorescence in cancer treatment and developing new photonic compound NRs.

Targeted therapy of breast tumor by PLGA-based nanostructures: The versatile function in doxorubicin delivery

Breast carcinoma is a molecularly diverse illness, and it is among the most prominent and often reported malignancies in female across the globe. Surgical intervention, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and endocrine treatment are among the currently viable treatment options for the carcinoma of breast. Chemotherapy is among the most prevalent cancer management strategy. Doxorubicin (DOX) widely employed as a cytostatic medication for the treatment of a variety of malignancies. Despite its widespread acceptance and excellent efficacy against an extensive line up of neoplasia, it has a variety of shortcomings that limit its therapeutic potential in the previously mentioned indications. Employment of nanoparticulate systems has come up as a unique chemo medication delivery strategy and are being considerably explored for the amelioration of breast carcinoma. Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-based nano systems are being utilized in a number of areas within the medical research and medication delivery constitutes one of the primary functions for PLGA given their inherent physiochemical attributes, including their aqueous solubility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, versatility in formulation, and limited toxicity. Herein along with the different application of PLGA-based nano formulations in cancer therapy, the present review intends to describe the various research investigations that have been conducted to enumerate the effectiveness of DOX-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles (DOX-PLGA NPs) as a feasible treatment option for breast cancer.

The Efficacy of Zinc Phthalocyanine Nanoconjugate on Melanoma Cells Grown as Three-Dimensional Multicellular Tumour Spheroids

Melanoma remains a major public health concern that is highly resistant to standard therapeutic approaches. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an underutilised cancer therapy with an increased potency and negligible side effects, and it is non-invasive compared to traditional treatment modalities. Three-dimensional multicellular tumour spheroids (MCTS) closely resemble in vivo avascular tumour features, allowing for the more efficient and precise screening of novel anticancer agents with various treatment combinations. In this study, we utilised A375 human melanoma spheroids to screen the phototoxic effect of zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (ZnPcS4) conjugated to gold nanoparticles (AuNP). The nanoconjugate was synthesised and characterised using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential (ZP). The phototoxicity of the nanoconjugate was tested on the A375 MCTS using PDT at a fluency of 10 J/cm2. After 24 h, the cellular responses were evaluated via microscopy, an MTT viability assay, an ATP luminescence assay, and cell death induction using annexin propidium iodide. The MTT viability assay demonstrated that the photoactivated ZnPcS4, at a concentration of 12.73 µM, caused an approximately 50% reduction in the cell viability of the spheroids. When conjugated to AuNPs, the latter significantly increased the cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in the melanoma spheroids via the induction of apoptosis. This novel Zinc Phthalocyanine Nanoconjugate shows promise as a more effective PDT treatment modality.

Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Therapy and Enhancing Photodynamic Therapy

Different conventional therapeutic procedures are utilized globally to manage cancer cases, yet the mortality rate in patients with cancer remains considerably high. Developments in the field of nanotechnology have included novel therapeutic strategies to deal with cancer. Biogenic (green) metallic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) obtained using plant-mediated protocols are attractive to researchers exploring cancer treatment. Biogenic AgNPs present advantages, since they are cost-effective, easy to obtain, energy efficient, and less toxic compared to chemically and physically obtained AgNPs. Also, they present excellent anticancer abilities thanks to their unique sizes, shapes, and optical properties. This review provides recent advancements in exploring biogenic AgNPs as a drug or agent for cancer treatment. Thus, great attention was paid to the anticancer efficacy of biogenic AgNPs, their anticancer mechanisms, their efficacy in cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT), their efficacy in targeted cancer therapy, and their toxicity.

Exploring Nanocarriers as Treatment Modalities for Skin Cancer

Cancer is a progressive disease of multi-factorial origin that has risen worldwide, probably due to changes in lifestyle, food intake, and environmental changes as some of the reasons. Skin cancer can be classified into melanomas from melanocytes and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) from the epidermally-derived cell. Together it constitutes about 95% of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are creditworthy of 99% of NMSC due to the limited accessibility of conventional formulations in skin cancer cells of having multiple obstacles in treatment reply to this therapeutic regime. Despite this, it often encounters erratic bioavailability and absorption to the target. Nanoparticles developed through nanotechnology platforms could be the better topical skin cancer therapy option. To improve the topical delivery, the nano-sized delivery system is appropriate as it fuses with the cutaneous layer and fluidized membrane; thus, the deeper penetration of therapeutics could be possible to reach the target spot. This review briefly outlooks the various nanoparticle preparations, i.e., liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, transethosomes, nanoemulsions, and nanoparticles technologies tested into skin cancer and impede their progress tend to concentrate in the skin layers. Nanocarriers have proved that they can considerably boost medication bioavailability, lowering the frequency of dosage and reducing the toxicity associated with high doses of the medication.

Combinations of Photodynamic Therapy with Other Minimally Invasive Therapeutic Technologies against Cancer and Microbial Infections

The rapid rise in research and development following the discovery of photodynamic therapy to establish novel photosensitizers and overcome the limitations of the technology soon after its clinical translation has given rise to a few significant milestones. These include several novel generations of photosensitizers, the widening of the scope of applications, leveraging of the offerings of nanotechnology for greater efficacy, selectivity for the disease over host tissue and cells, the advent of combination therapies with other similarly minimally invasive therapeutic technologies, the use of stimulus-responsive delivery and disease targeting, and greater penetration depth of the activation energy. Brought together, all these milestones have contributed to the significant enhancement of what is still arguably a novel technology. Yet the major applications of photodynamic therapy still remain firmly located in neoplasms, from where most of the new innovations appear to launch to other areas, such as microbial, fungal, viral, acne, wet age-related macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, environmental sanitization, pest control, and dermatology. Three main value propositions of combinations of photodynamic therapy include the synergistic and additive enhancement of efficacy, the relatively low emergence of resistance and its rapid development as a targeted and high-precision therapy. Combinations with established methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy and demonstrated applications in mop-up surgery promise to enhance these top three clinical tools. From published in vitro and preclinical studies, clinical trials and applications, and postclinical case studies, seven combinations with photodynamic therapy have become prominent research interests because they are potentially easily applied, showing enhanced efficacy, and are rapidly translating to the clinic. These include combinations with chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, magnetic hyperthermia, cold plasma therapy, sonodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. Photochemical internalization is a critical mechanism for some combinations.

Hyaluronic Acid Modified Metal Nanoparticles and Their Derived Substituents for Cancer Therapy: A Review

The use of metal nanoparticles (M-NPs) in cancer therapy has gained significant consideration owing to their exceptional physical and chemical features. However, due to the limitations, such as specificity and toxicity towards healthy cells, their application in clinical translations has been restricted. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide, has been extensively used as a targeting moiety, due to its ability to selectively bind to the CD44 receptors overexpressed on cancer cells. The HA-modified M-NPs have demonstrated promising results in improving specificity and efficacy in cancer therapy. This review discusses the significance of nanotechnology, the state of cancers, and the functions of HA-modified M-NPs, and other substituents in cancer therapy applications. Additionally, the role of various types of selected noble and non-noble M-NPs used in cancer therapy are described, along with the mechanisms involved in cancer targeting. Additionally, the purpose of HA, its sources and production processes, as well as its chemical and biological properties are described. In-depth explanations are provided about the contemporary applications of HA-modified noble and non-noble M-NPs and other substituents in cancer therapy. Furthermore, potential obstacles in optimizing HA-modified M-NPs, in terms of clinical translations, are discussed, followed by a conclusion and future prospects.

Cell membrane-coated nanomaterials for cancer therapy

With the development of nanotechnology, nanoparticles have emerged as a delivery carrier for tumor drug therapy, which can improve the therapeutic effect by increasing the stability and solubility and prolonging the half-life of drugs. However, nanoparticles are foreign substances for humans, are easily cleared by the immune system, are less targeted to tumors, and may even be toxic to the body. As a natural biological material, cell membranes have unique biological properties, such as good biocompatibility, strong targeting ability, the ability to evade immune surveillance, and high drug-carrying capacity. In this article, we review cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (CMNPs) and their applications to tumor therapy. First, we briefly describe CMNP characteristics and applications. Second, we present the characteristics and advantages of different cell membranes as well as nanoparticles, provide a brief description of the process of CMNPs, discuss the current status of their application to tumor therapy, summarize their shortcomings for use in cancer therapy, and propose future research directions. This review summarizes the research progress on CMNPs in cancer therapy in recent years and assesses remaining problems, providing scholars with new ideas for future research on CMNPs in tumor therapy.

Visible Pulsed Laser-Assisted Selective Killing of Cancer Cells with PVP-Capped Plasmonic Gold Nanostars

A new generation of nanoscale photosensitizer agents has improved photothermal capabilities, which has increased the impact of photothermal treatments (PTTs) in cancer therapy. Gold nanostars (GNS) are promising for more efficient and less invasive PTTs than gold nanoparticles. However, the combination of GNS and visible pulsed lasers remains unexplored. This article reports the use of a 532 nm nanosecond pulse laser and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-capped GNS to kill cancer cells with location-specific exposure. Biocompatible GNS were synthesized via a simple method and were characterized under FESEM, UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD analysis, and particle size analysis. GNS were incubated over a layer of cancer cells that were grown in a glass Petri dish. A nanosecond pulsed laser was irradiated on the cell layer, and cell death was verified via propidium iodide (PI) staining. We assessed the effectiveness of single-pulse spot irradiation and multiple-pulse laser scanning irradiation in inducing cell death. Since the site of cell killing can be accurately chosen with a nanosecond pulse laser, this technique will help minimize damage to the cells around the target cells.

Nanobiotechnological approaches in osteosarcoma therapy: Versatile (nano)platforms for theranostic applications

Constructive achievements in the field of nanobiotechnology and their translation into clinical course have led to increasing attention towards evaluation of their use for treatment of diseases, especially cancer. Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the primary bone malignancies that affects both males and females in childhood and adolescence. Like other types of cancers, genetic and epigenetic mutations account for OS progression and several conventional therapies including chemotherapy and surgery are employed. However, survival rate of OS patients remains low and new therapies in this field are limited. The purpose of the current review is to provide a summary of nanostructures used in OS treatment. Drug and gene delivery by nanoplatforms have resulted in an accumulation of therapeutic agents for tumor cell suppression. Furthermore, co-delivery of genes and drugs by nanostructures are utilized in OS suppression to boost immunotherapy. Since tumor cells have distinct features such as acidic pH, stimuli-responsive nanoparticles have been developed to appropriately target OS. Besides, nanoplatforms can be used for biosensing and providing phototherapy to suppress OS. Furthermore, surface modification of nanoparticles with ligands can increase their specificity and selectivity towards OS cells. Clinical translation of current findings suggests that nanoplatforms have been effective in retarding tumor growth and improving survival of OS patients.

Fabrication of Sustained Release Curcumin-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (Cur-SLNs) as a Potential Drug Delivery System for the Treatment of Lung Cancer: Optimization of Formulation and In Vitro Biological Evaluation

The goal of current research was to develop a new form of effective drug, curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (Cur-SLNs) and test its efficacy in the treatment of lung cancer. Different batches of SLNs were prepared by the emulsification-ultrasonication method. For the optimization of formulation, each batch was evaluated for particle size, polydispersity index (PI), zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL). The formulation components and process parameters largely affected the quality of SLNs. The SLNs obtained with particle size, 114.9 ± 1.36 nm; PI, 0.112 ± 0.005; ZP, -32.3 ± 0.30 mV; EE, 69.74 ± 2.03%, and DL, 0.81 ± 0.04% was designated as an optimized formulation. The formulation was freeze-dried to remove excess water to improve the physical stability. Freeze-dried Cur-SLNs showed 99.32% of drug release and demonstrated a burst effect trailed by sustained release up to 120 h periods. The erythrocyte toxicity study of Cur-SLNs and its components demonstrated moderate hemolytic potential towards red blood cells (RBCs). The cytotoxic potential of the formulation and plain curcumin was estimated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against A549 cell line. After 48 h of incubation, Cur-SLNs demonstrated more cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ = 26.12 ± 1.24 µM) than plain curcumin (IC₅₀ = 35.12 ± 2.33 µM). Moreover, the cellular uptake of curcumin was found to be significantly higher from Cur-SLNs (682.08 ± 6.33 ng/µg) compared to plain curcumin (162.4 ± 4.2 ng/µg). Additionally, the optimized formulation was found to be stable over the period of 90 days of storage. Hence, curcumin-loaded SLNs can be prepared using the proposed cost effective method, and can be utilized as an effective drug delivery system for the treatment of lung cancer, provided in vivo studies warrant a similar outcome.

Effect of Solubilizing Group on the Antibacterial Activity of Heptamethine Cyanine Photosensitizers

Antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria dictates the development of novel treatment modalities such as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) utilizing organic dyes termed photosensitizers that exhibit a high cytotoxicity upon light irradiation. Most of the clinically approved photosensitizers are porphyrins that are poorly excitable in the therapeutic near-IR spectral range. In contrast, cyanine dyes function well in the near-IR region, but their phototoxicity, in general, is very low. The introduction of iodine atoms in the cyanine molecules was recently demonstrated to greatly increase their phototoxicity. Herein, we synthesized a series of the new iodinated heptamethine cyanine dyes (ICy7) containing various solubilizing moieties, i.e., negatively charged carboxylic (ICy7COOH) and sulfonic (ICy7SO₃H) groups, positively charged triphenylphosphonium (ICy7PPh₃), triethylammonium (ICy7NEt₃) and amino (ICy7NH₂) groups, and neutral amide (ICy7CONHPr) group. The effect of these substituents on the photodynamic eradication of Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli and P. aeruginosa) pathogens was studied. Cyanine dyes containing the amide and triphenylphosphonium groups were found to be the most efficient for eradication of the investigated bacteria. These dyes are effective at low concentrations of 0.05 µM (33 J/cm²) for S. aureus, 50 µM (200 J/cm²) for E. coli, and 5 µM (100 J/cm²) for P. aeruginosa and considered, therefore, promising photosensitizers for APDT applications. The innovation of the new photosensitizers consisted of a combination of the heavy-atom effect that increases singlet oxygen generation with the solubilizing group's effect improving cell uptake, and with effective near-IR excitation. Such a combination helped to noticeably increase the APDT efficacy and should pave the way for the development of more advanced photosensitizers for clinical use.

Defined metal atom aggregates precisely incorporated into metal-organic frameworks

Nanosized metal aggregates (MAs), including metal nanoparticles (NPs) and nanoclusters (NCs), are often the active species in numerous applications. In order to maintain the active form of MAs in "use", they need to be anchored and stabilised, preventing agglomeration. In this context, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which exhibit a unique combination of properties, are of particular interest as a tunable and porous matrix to host MAs. A high degree of control in the synthesis towards atom-efficient and application-oriented MA@MOF composites is required to derive specific structure-property relationships and in turn to enable design of functions on the molecular level. Due to the versatility of MA@MOF (derived) materials, their applications are not limited to the obvious field of catalysis, but increasingly include 'out of the box' applications, for example medical diagnostics and theranostics, as well as specialised (bio-)sensoring techniques. This review focuses on recent advances in the controlled synthesis of MA@MOF materials en route to atom-precise MAs. The main synthetic strategies, namely 'ship-in-bottle', 'bottle-around-ship', and approaches to achieve novel hierarchical MA@MOF structures are highlighted and discussed while identifying their potential as well as their limitations. Hereby, an overview of standard characterisation methods that enable a systematic analysis procedure and state-of-art techniques that localise MA within MOF cavities are provided. While the perspectives of MA@MOF materials in general have been reviewed various times in the recent past, few atom-precise MAs inside MOFs have been reported so far, opening opportunities for future investigation.

Photodynamic therapy in breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is a serious public problem in modern society. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is increasingly used in modern medicine. Currently, PDT is an innovative method of treating breast cancer. Irreversible damage to neoplastic tissues is associated with the use of physicochemical processes. Generating cytotoxic reactive oxygen species [singlet oxygen (1O2)] is leading to tumor cell death. At the same time, valuable information can be extracted from breast cancer cells. Photogenerated 1O2 is the major factor responsible for cell necrosis during PDT. 1O2 can react rapidly intracellularly with all organic substances. The use of photodynamic therapy on tissues in vitro creates conditions for testing various types of solutions and implementing them in in vivo treatment. This article is a review of recent advances in PDT for treatment of breast cancer. PDT is a novel cancer diagnostic and cancer treatment therapy. Therefore, an understanding of the possibility to generate a toxic form of 1O2 is necessary. The knowledge gained from the basics of PDT in vitro can be useful in biomedical applications in vivo. The current literature mentions PDT in the treatment of cancers located very deep within the human body. Therefore, the development of agents used to deliver 1O2 to the deep cancerous tissue is a new challenge which can have an efficient impact on this discipline. This review covers the literature between 2000-2022.

Fundamentals and applications of metal nanoparticle- enhanced singlet oxygen generation for improved cancer photodynamic therapy

The introduction of nanotechnology in the field of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has proven to have great potential to overcome some of the challenges associated with traditional organic photosensitizers (PS) with respect to their solubility, drug delivery, distribution and site-specific targeting. Other focused areas in PDT involve high singlet oxygen production capability and excitability of PS by deep tissue penetrating light wavelengths. Owing to their very promising optical and surface plasmon resonance properties, combination of traditional PSs with plasmonic metallic nanoparticles like gold and silver nanoparticles results in remarkably high singlet oxygen production and extended excitation property from visible and near-infrared lights. This review summarizes the importance, fundamentals and applications of on plasmonic metallic nanoparticles in PDT. Lastly, we highlight the future prospects of these plasmonic nanoengineering strategies with or without PS combination, to have a significant impact in improving the therapeutic efficacy of cancer PDT.

Eutectic Gallium-Indium Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer

Developing a cancer theranostic nanoplatform with diagnosis and treatment capabilities to effectively treat tumors and reduce side effects is of great significance. Herein, we present a drug delivery strategy for photosensitizers based on a new liquid metal nanoplatform that leverages the tumor microenvironment to achieve photodynamic therapeutic effects in pancreatic cancer. Eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) nanoparticles were successfully conjugated with a water-soluble cancer targeting ligand, hyaluronic acid, and a photosensitizer, benzoporphyrin derivative, creating EGaIn nanoparticles (EGaPs) via a simple green sonication method. The prepared sphere-shaped EGaPs, with a core-shell structure, presented high biocompatibility and stability. EGaPs had greater cellular uptake, manifested targeting competence, and generated significantly higher intracellular ROS. Further, near-infrared light activation of EGaPs demonstrated their potential to effectively eliminate cancer cells due to their single oxygen generation capability. Finally, from in vivo studies, EGaPs caused tumor regression and resulted in 2.3-fold higher necrosis than the control, therefore making a good vehicle for photodynamic therapy. The overall results highlight that EGaPs provide a new way to assemble liquid metal nanomaterials with different ligands for enhanced cancer therapy.

Novel Tumor-Targeting Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment—A Review

Being one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, cancer represents an ongoing interdisciplinary challenge for the scientific community. As currently used treatments may face limitations in terms of both efficiency and adverse effects, continuous research has been directed towards overcoming existing challenges and finding safer specific alternatives. In particular, increasing interest has been gathered around integrating nanotechnology in cancer management and subsequentially developing various tumor-targeting nanoparticles for cancer applications. In this respect, the present paper briefly describes the most used cancer treatments in clinical practice to set a reference framework for recent research findings, further focusing on the novel developments in the field. More specifically, this review elaborates on the top recent studies concerning various nanomaterials (i.e., carbon-based, metal-based, liposomes, cubosomes, lipid-based, polymer-based, micelles, virus-based, exosomes, and cell membrane-coated nanomaterials) that show promising potential in different cancer applications.

The Employment of Genera Vaccinium, Citrus, Olea, and Cynara Polyphenols for the Reduction of Selected Anti-Cancer Drug Side Effects

Cancer is one of the most widespread diseases globally and one of the leading causes of death. Known cancer treatments are chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, targeted hormonal therapy, or a combination of these methods. Antitumor drugs, with different mechanisms, interfere with cancer growth by destroying cancer cells. However, anticancer drugs are dangerous, as they significantly affect both cancer cells and healthy cells. In addition, there may be the onset of systemic side effects perceived and mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and further carcinogenicity. Many polyphenolic extracts, taken on top of common anti-tumor drugs, can participate in the anti-proliferative effect of drugs and significantly reduce the side effects developed. This review aims to discuss the current scientific knowledge of the protective effects of polyphenols of the genera Vaccinium, Citrus, Olea, and Cynara on the side effects induced by four known chemotherapy, Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Tamoxifen, and Paclitaxel. In particular, the summarized data will help to understand whether polyphenols can be used as adjuvants in cancer therapy, although further clinical trials will provide crucial information.

Recent Developments in Metallic Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy, Diagnosing and Imaging Applications

Cancer continues to represent a global health concern, imposing an ongoing need to research for better treatment alternatives. In this context, nanomedicine seems to be the solution to existing problems, bringing unprecedented results in various biomedical applications, including cancer therapy, diagnosing, and imaging. As numerous studies have uncovered the advantageous properties of various nanoscale metals, this review aims to present metal-based nanoparticles that are most frequently employed for cancer applications. This paper follows the description of relevant nanoparticles made of metals, metal derivatives, hybrids, and alloys, further discussing in more detail their potential applications in cancer management, ranging from the delivery of chemotherapeutics, vaccines, and genes to ablative hyperthermia therapies and theranostic platforms.