Graphene Oxide/ZnS:Mn Nanocomposite Functionalized with Folic Acid as a Nontoxic and Effective Theranostic Platform for Breast Cancer Treatment

Exploration of inorganic nanoparticles for revolutionary drug delivery applications: a critical review

The nanosystems for delivering drugs which have evolved with time, are being designed for greater drug efficiency and lesser side-effects, and are also complemented by the advancement of numerous innovative materials. In comparison to the organic nanoparticles, the inorganic nanoparticles are stable, have a wide range of physicochemical, mechanical, magnetic, and optical characteristics, and also have the capability to get modified using some ligands to enrich their attraction towards the molecules at the target site, which makes them appealing for bio-imaging and drug delivery applications. One of the strong benefits of using the inorganic nanoparticles-drug conjugate is the possibility of delivering the drugs to the affected cells locally, thus reducing the side-effects like cytotoxicity, and facilitating a higher efficacy of the therapeutic drug. This review features the direct and indirect effects of such inorganic nanoparticles like gold, silver, graphene-based, hydroxyapatite, iron oxide, ZnO, and CeO2 nanoparticles in developing effective drug carrier systems. This article has remarked the peculiarities of these nanoparticle-based systems in pulmonary, ocular, wound healing, and antibacterial drug deliveries as well as in delivering drugs across Blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB) and acting as agents for cancer theranostics. Additionally, the article sheds light on the plausible modifications that can be carried out on the inorganic nanoparticles, from a researcher's perspective, which could open a new pathway.

Stage-specific treatment of colorectal cancer: A microRNA-nanocomposite approach

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the leading causes of cancer mortality. The lifetime risk of developing CRC is about 5% in adult males and females. CRC is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, and at this point therapy has a limited impact on cure rates and long-term survival. Novel and/or improved CRC therapeutic options are needed. The involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer development has been reported, and their regulation in many oncogenic pathways suggests their potent tumor suppressor action. Although miRNAs provide a promising therapeutic approach for cancer, challenges such as biodegradation, specificity, stability and toxicity, impede their progression into clinical trials. Nanotechnology strategies offer diverse advantages for the use of miRNAs for CRC-targeted delivery and therapy. The merits of using nanocarriers for targeted delivery of miRNA-formulations are presented herein to highlight the role they can play in miRNA-based CRC therapy by targeting different stages of the disease.

Research progress of nanomaterial drug delivery in tumor targeted therapy

Cancer is one of the most lethal diseases in human society, and its incidence is gradually increasing. However, the current tumor treatment often meets the problem of poor efficacy and big side effects. The unique physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials can target the delivery of drugs to tumors, which can improve the therapeutic effect while reducing the damage of drugs to normal cells. This makes nanomaterials become a hot topic in the field of biomedicine. This review summarizes the recent progress of nanomaterials in tumor targeted therapy.

Recent Advances in Nanomaterials of Group XIV Elements of Periodic Table in Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. The elements of group XIV in the periodic table exhibit a wide range of chemical manners. Recently, there have been remarkable developments in the field of nanobiomedical research, especially in the application of engineered nanomaterials in biomedical applications. In this review, we concentrate on the recent investigations on the antiproliferative effects of nanomaterials of the elements of group XIV in the periodic table on breast cancer cells. In this review, the data available on nanomaterials of group XIV for breast cancer treatment has been documented, providing a useful insight into tumor biology and nano-bio interactions to develop more effective nanotherapeutics for cancer patients.

Characteristics of Graphene Oxide for Gene Transfection and Controlled Release in Breast Cancer Cells

Functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles are being increasingly employed for designing modern drug delivery systems because of their high degree of functionalization, high surface area with exceptional loading capacity, and tunable dimensions. With intelligent controlled release and gene silencing capability, GO is an effective nanocarrier that permits the targeted delivery of small drug molecules, antibodies, nucleic acids, and peptides to the liquid or solid tumor sites. However, the toxicity and biocompatibility of GO-based formulations should be evaluated, as these nanomaterials may introduce aggregations or may accumulate in normal tissues while targeting tumors or malignant cells. These side effects may potentially be impacted by the dosage, exposure time, flake size, shape, functional groups, and surface charges. In this review, the strategies to deliver the nucleic acid via the functionalization of GO flakes are summarized to describe the specific targeting of liquid and solid breast tumors. In addition, we describe the current approaches aimed at optimizing the controlled release towards a reduction in GO accumulation in non-specific tissues in terms of the cytotoxicity while maximizing the drug efficacy. Finally, the challenges and future research perspectives are briefly discussed.

Doxorubicin-loaded graphene oxide nanocomposites in cancer medicine: Stimuli-responsive carriers, co-delivery and suppressing resistance

INTRODUCTION

The application of doxorubicin (DOX) in cancer therapy has been limited due to its drug resistance and poor internalization. Graphene oxide (GO) nanostructures have the capacity for DOX delivery while promoting its cytotoxicity in cancer.

AREAS COVERED

The favorable characteristics of GO nanocomposites, preparation method, and application in cancer therapy are described. Then, DOX resistance in cancer is discussed. The GO-mediated photothermal therapy and DOX delivery for cancer suppression are described. Preparation of stimuli-responsive GO nanocomposites, surface functionalization, hybrid nanoparticles, and theranostic applications are emphasized in DOX chemotherapy.

EXPERT OPINION

Graphene oxide nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy maximizes the anti-cancer activity of DOX against cancer cells. Apart from DOX delivery, GO nanomaterials are capable of loading anti-cancer agents and genetic tools to minimize drug resistance and enhance the cytolytic impact of DOX in cancer eradication. To enhance DOX accumulation in cancer cells, stimuli-responsive (redox-, light-, enzyme- and pH-sensitive) GO nanoparticles have been developed for DOX delivery. Further development of targeted delivery of DOX-loaded GO nanomaterials against cancer cells may be achieved by surface modification of polymers such as polyethylene glycol, hyaluronic acid, and chitosan. Doxorubicin-loaded GO nanoparticles have demonstrated theranostic potential for simultaneous diagnosis and therapy. Hybridization of GO with other nanocarriers such as silica and gold nanoparticles further broadens their potential anti-cancer therapy applications.

Drug Release Kinetics of DOX-Loaded Graphene-Based Nanocarriers for Ovarian and Breast Cancer Therapeutics

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide despite extensive efforts at developing curative treatments. Chemotherapy, one of the most common forms of treatment, lacks specificity and can induce collateral damages to healthy surrounding tissues/cells and elicit off-target toxic side effects. The carbon-based nanomaterial graphene, can load aromatic drugs with high efficiency, has good biocompatibility, and can be easily functionalised with targeting ligands, antibodies, and biomolecules to increase the accuracy of targeting specific areas; graphene has therefore been explored as a nanocarrier for classical chemotherapy drugs. In this work, seventeen publications that report the release of doxorubicin (DOX) from 2D graphene-based nanohybrids (graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide) for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancers have been identified based on a range of inclusion and exclusion criteria. To aid in the clinical translation of proof-of-concept studies, this work identifies the pre-clinical experimental protocols and analyses the release kinetics of these publications. Fifteen of the papers utilised a change in pH as the stimulus for drug release, and two utilised either near infrared (NIR) or ultrasound as the stimulus. The extracted drug release data from these publications were fit to four known kinetic models. It was found that the majority of these data best fit the Weibull kinetic model. The agreement between the kinetic data in previously published literature provides a predictable estimation of DOX release from graphene-based nanocarriers. This study demonstrates the potential conjugation of graphene and DOX in drug delivery applications, and this knowledge can help improve to the design and formulation of future graphene-based nanocarriers. In addition, the use of further experimental testing and the standardisation of experimental protocols will be beneficial for future work. The incorporation of computational modelling prior to pre-clinical testing will also aid in the development of controlled and sustained DOX release systems that offer efficient and efficacious results.

Magnetic Characterization by Scanning Microscopy of Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

This study aimed to systematically understand the magnetic properties of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles functionalized with different Pluronic F-127 surfactant concentrations (Fe₃O₄@Pluronic F-127) obtained by using an improved magnetic characterization method based on three-dimensional magnetic maps generated by scanning magnetic microscopy. Additionally, these Fe₃O₄ and Fe₃O₄@Pluronic F-127 nanoparticles, as promising systems for biomedical applications, were prepared by a wet chemical reaction. The magnetization curve was obtained through these three-dimensional maps, confirming that both Fe₃O₄ and Fe₃O₄@Pluronic F-127 nanoparticles have a superparamagnetic behavior. The as-prepared samples, stored at approximately 20 °C, showed no change in the magnetization curve even months after their generation, resulting in no nanoparticles free from oxidation, as Raman measurements have confirmed. Furthermore, by applying this magnetic technique, it was possible to estimate that the nanoparticles' magnetic core diameter was about 5 nm. Our results were confirmed by comparison with other techniques, namely as transmission electron microscopy imaging and diffraction together with Raman spectroscopy. Finally, these results, in addition to validating scanning magnetic microscopy, also highlight its potential for a detailed magnetic characterization of nanoparticles.

Graphene-based nanomaterials for breast cancer treatment: promising therapeutic strategies

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, and its incidence increases annually. Traditional therapies have several side effects, leading to the urgent need to explore new smart drug-delivery systems and find new therapeutic strategies. Graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) are potential drug carriers due to their target selectivity, easy functionalization, chemosensitization and high drug-loading capacity. Previous studies have revealed that GBNs play an important role in fighting breast cancer. Here, we have summarized the superior properties of GBNs and modifications to shape GBNs for improved function. Then, we focus on the applications of GBNs in breast cancer treatment, including drug delivery, gene therapy, phototherapy, and magnetothermal therapy (MTT), and as a platform to combine multiple therapies. Their advantages in enhancing therapeutic effects, reducing the toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs, overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR) and inhibiting tumor metastasis are highlighted. This review aims to help evaluate GBNs as therapeutic strategies and provide additional novel ideas for their application in breast cancer therapy.

Magnetic Control of the Manganese Photoluminescence in Fe3O4/l-Cys ZnS:Mn Nanocomposites

We investigated the magnetic control of the Mn photoluminescence (PL) in iron oxide/l-cysteine-capped zinc sulfide (Fe3O4/l-cys ZnS:Mn) nanocomposites via temperature- and field-dependent PL intensity studies. Fe3O4/l-cys ZnS:Mn was synthesized following a wet chemical deposition route and then its physicochemical, morphological, and magnetic properties were characterized. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates the formation of a semiconducting composite material with coexisting phases with high crystalline quality and purity. Electron microscopy reveals that the surfaces of the nanoparticles are clean and smooth, sized between 15 and 30 nm, without any sheathed amorphous phase. Vibrating sample magnetometry and UV light excitation show a clear superparamagnetic behavior and an optical response of Fe3O4/l-cys ZnS:Mn, which revealed its bifunctional nature. Magnetoluminescent coupling at 1.0 T is seen in the form of PL suppression in Fe3O4/l-cys ZnS:Mn from low temperature (10 K) to room temperature, with a PL intensity drop of ∼5% at 10 K and a maximum drop of 10% at room temperature. This observation can be explained by restriction of the energy transfer to Mn orbitals through magnetic ordering and Jahn-Teller distortions. Fe3O4/l-cys ZnS:Mn shows promise as a bifunctional biocompatible compound that can be applied as a theranostic agent and a quantum computational element. A deeper understanding behind the magnetic control of the optical response in bifunctional materials brings forth new arenas in diagnostics and drug delivery.

Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Versatile Tool for Cancer Therapy

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in human history with extremely poor prognosis. Although many traditional therapeutic modalities-such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy-have proved to be successful in inhibiting the growth of tumor cells, their side effects may vastly limited the actual benefits and patient acceptance. In this context, a nanomedicine approach for cancer therapy using functionalized nanomaterial has been gaining ground recently. Considering the ability to carry various anticancer drugs and to act as a photothermal agent, the use of carbon-based nanomaterials for cancer therapy has advanced rapidly. Within those nanomaterials, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), a graphene family 2D carbon nanomaterial, emerged as a good candidate for cancer photothermal therapy due to its excellent photothermal conversion in the near infrared range, large specific surface area for drug loading, as well as functional groups for functionalization with molecules such as photosensitizers, siRNA, ligands, etc. By unique design, multifunctional nanosystems could be designed based on rGO, which are endowed with promising temperature/pH-dependent drug/gene delivery abilities for multimodal cancer therapy. This could be further augmented by additional advantages offered by functionalized rGO, such as high biocompatibility, targeted delivery, and enhanced photothermal effects. Herewith, we first provide an overview of the most effective reducing agents for rGO synthesis via chemical reduction. This was followed by in-depth review of application of functionalized rGO in different cancer treatment modalities such as chemotherapy, photothermal therapy and/or photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, chemotherapy/phototherapy, and photothermal/immunotherapy.

Inorganic-inorganic nanohybrids for drug delivery, imaging and photo-therapy: recent developments and future scope

Advanced nanotechnology has been emerging rapidly in terms of novel hybrid nanomaterials that have found various applications in day-to-day life for the betterment of the public. Specifically, gold, iron, silica, hydroxy apatite, and layered double hydroxide based nanohybrids have shown tremendous progress in biomedical applications, including bio-imaging, therapeutic delivery and photothermal/dynamic therapy. Moreover, recent progress in up-conversion nanohybrid materials is also notable because they have excellent NIR imaging capability along with therapeutic benefits which would be useful for treating deep-rooted tumor tissues. Our present review highlights recent developments in inorganic-inorganic nanohybrids, and their applications in bio-imaging, drug delivery, and photo-therapy. In addition, their future scope is also discussed in detail.

Near-Infrared Light-Triggered Thermo-responsive Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide)-Pyrrole Nanocomposites for Chemo-photothermal Cancer Therapy

The combination therapy based on multifunctional nanocomposites has been considered as a promising approach to improve cancer therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we report targeted multi-functional poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-based nanocomposites for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy toward breast cancer cells. To increase the transition temperature, acrylic acid (AAc) was added in synthetic process of PNIPAM, showing that the intrinsic lower critical solution temperature was changed to 42 °C . To generate the photothermal effect under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation (808 nm), polypyrrole (ppy) nanoparticles were uniformly decorated in PNIPAM-AAc. Folic acid (FA), as a cancer targeting ligand, was successfully conjugated on the surplus carboxyl groups in PNIPAM network. The drug release of PNIPAM-ppy-FA nanocomposites was efficiently triggered in response to the temperature change by NIR laser irradiation. We also confirmed that PNIPAM-ppy-FA was internalized to MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by folate-receptor-mediated endocytosis and significantly enhanced cancer therapeutic efficacy with combination treatment of chemo-photothermal effects. Therefore, our work encourages further exploration of multi-functional nanocarrier agents for synergistic therapeutic approaches to different types of cancer cells.

Functionalization and optimization-strategy of graphene oxide-based nanomaterials for gene and drug delivery

Graphene-family nanomaterials (GFNs) have been widely used in cancer therapy, tissue engineering, antibacterial and biological imaging due to their optical, thermal, and drug absorption properties. When used as drug and gene nanocarrier, the major limitations are aggregation, biocompatibility, and inappropriate release of drugs or genes. To overcome these problems, researchers have developed a variety of functionalization processes. In this review, we grouped the functionalization according to the decoration molecules, putting particular emphasis on the gene delivery. Organic and inorganic materials resulted as the major sets to introduce functional sections onto graphene oxide (GO). We also classified the target molecules used in the GO delivery system, as well as introduced other strategies to increase the delivery efficacy such as controlled release and magnetic targeting.

Graphene and other 2D materials: a multidisciplinary analysis to uncover the hidden potential as cancer theranostics

Cancer represents one of the main causes of death in the world; hence the development of more specific approaches for its diagnosis and treatment is urgently needed in clinical practice. Here we aim at providing a comprehensive review on the use of 2-dimensional materials (2DMs) in cancer theranostics. In particular, we focus on graphene-related materials (GRMs), graphene hybrids, and graphdiyne (GDY), as well as other emerging 2DMs, such as MXene, tungsten disulfide (WS2), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), black phosphorus (BP), silicene, antimonene (AM), germanene, biotite (black mica), metal organic frameworks (MOFs), and others. The results reported in the scientific literature in the last ten years (>200 papers) are dissected here with respect to the wide variety of combinations of imaging methodologies and therapeutic approaches, including drug/gene delivery, photothermal/photodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy. We provide a unique multidisciplinary approach in discussing the literature, which also includes a detailed section on the characterization methods used to analyze the material properties, highlighting the merits and limitations of the different approaches. The aim of this review is to show the strong potential of 2DMs for use as cancer theranostics, as well as to highlight issues that prevent the clinical translation of these materials. Overall, we hope to shed light on the hidden potential of the vast panorama of new and emerging 2DMs as clinical cancer theranostics.

rGO nanomaterial-mediated cancer targeting and photothermal therapy in a microfluidic co-culture platform

We developed the microfluidic co-culture platform to study photothermal therapy applications. We conjugated folic acid (FA) to target breast cancer cells using reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based functional nanomaterials. To characterize the structure of rGO-based nanomaterials, we analyzed the molecular spectrum using UV-visible and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). We demonstrated the effect of rGO-FA-based nanomaterials on photothermal therapy of breast cancer cells in the microfluidic co-culture platform. From the microfluidic co-culture platform with breast cancer cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we observed that the viability of breast cancer cells treated with rGO-FA-based functional nanomaterials was significantly decreased after near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. Therefore, this microfluidic co-culture platform could be a potentially powerful tool for studying cancer cell targeting and photothermal therapy.

Dual-targeting liposome modified by glutamic hexapeptide and folic acid for bone metastatic breast cancer

Bone is the most common organ affected by metastatic breast cancer. Targeting delivery of drugs to bone may not only enhance the treatment efficacy, but also reduce the quantity of drug administered. In order to increase the distribution of paclitaxel (PTX) in bone, herein, a novel bone metastasis-targeted glutamic hexapeptide-folic acid (Glu₆-FA) derivative was designed and synthesized as liposome ligand to deliver PTX to bone metastasis effectively. The liposomes were prepared by thin film hydration method and its particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, release profile, stability, hemolysis were also characterized. What's more, the anti-tumor effects of PTX-Glu₆-FA-Lip were confirmed by the detection of cell cycle, migration, and further measurement of microtubule stabilization. In addition, the PTX-Glu₆-FA-Lip showed superior targeting ability in vitro and in vivo evaluation as compared to naked PTX, non-coated, singly-modified and co-modified by physical blending liposomes. All the results suggested that Glu₆-FA-modified liposome showed excellent targeting activity to metastatic bone cancer. These findings suggested that Glu₆-FA-Lip was a promising bone metastasis-targeting carrier for the delivery of PTX. This study may therefore be conducive to the field of bone-targeting drugs delivery.

A Review on Targeting Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer

Chemotherapeutic agents have been used extensively in breast cancer remedy. However, most anticancer drugs cannot differentiate between cancer cells and normal cells, leading to toxic side effects. Also, the resulted drug resistance during chemotherapy reduces treatment efficacy. The development of targeted drug delivery offers great promise in breast cancer treatment both in clinical applications and in pharmaceutical research. Conjugation of nanocarriers with targeting ligands is an effective therapeutic strategy to treat cancer diseases. In this review, we focus on active targeting methods for breast cancer cells through the use of chemical ligands such as antibodies, peptides, aptamers, vitamins, hormones, and carbohydrates. Also, this review covers all information related to these targeting ligands, such as their subtypes, advantages, disadvantages, chemical modification methods with nanoparticles and recent published studies (from 2015 to present). We have discussed 28 different targeting methods utilized for targeted drug delivery to breast cancer cells with different nanocarriers delivering anticancer drugs to the tumors. These different targeting methods give researchers in the field of drug delivery all the information and techniques they need to develop modern drug delivery systems.

Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity and Oxidative Stress Response of CeO2-RGO Nanocomposites in Human Lung Epithelial A549 Cells

Graphene-based nanocomposites have attracted enormous interest in nanomedicine and environmental remediation, owing to their unique characteristics. The increased production and widespread application of these nanocomposites might raise concern about their adverse health effects. In this study, for the first time, we examine the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress response of a relatively new nanocomposite of cerium oxide-reduced graphene oxide (CeO₂-RGO) in human lung epithelial (A549) cells. CeO₂-RGO nanocomposites and RGO were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by relevant analytical techniques. Cytotoxicity data have shown that RGO significantly induces toxicity in A549 cells, evident by cell viability reduction, membrane damage, cell cycle arrest, and mitochondrial membrane potential loss. However, CeO₂-RGO nanocomposites did not cause statistically significant toxicity as compared to a control. We further observed that RGO significantly induces reactive oxygen species generation and reduces glutathione levels. However, CeO₂-RGO nanocomposites did not induce oxidative stress in A549 cells. Interestingly, we observed that CeO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) alone significantly increase glutathione (GSH) levels in A549 cells as compared to a control. The GSH replenishing potential of CeO₂ nanoparticles could be one of the possible reasons for the biocompatible nature of CeO₂-RGO nanocomposites. Our data warrant further and more advanced research to explore the biocompatibility/safety mechanisms of CeO₂-RGO nanocomposites in different cell lines and animal models.

Interaction of Immune Cells and Tumor Cells in Gold Nanorod-Gelatin Composite Porous Scaffolds

Composite porous scaffolds prepared by immobilization of photothermal nano-agents into porous scaffold have been used for both cancer therapy and tissue regeneration. However, it is not clear how the host immune cells and ablated tumor cells interact and stimulate each other in the composite scaffolds. In this research, a gold nanorod-incorporated gelatin composite scaffold with controlled spherical large pores and well interconnected small pores was fabricated by using ice particulates as a porogen. The composite porous scaffold was used for investigating the interaction between dendritic cells and photothermally ablated breast tumor cells. The composite scaffold demonstrated excellent photothermal property and the temperature change value could be adjusted by irradiation time and laser power density. The composite scaffold showed excellent photothermal ablation ability towards breast tumor cells. The photothermally ablated tumor cells induced activation of dendritic cells when immature dendritic cells were co-cultured in the composite scaffold. Consequently, the gold nanorod-incorporated gelatin composite porous scaffold should provide a useful platform for simultaneous photothermal-immune ablation of breast tumor.

Graphene Oxide⁻Platinum Nanoparticle Nanocomposites: A Suitable Biocompatible Therapeutic Agent for Prostate Cancer

Metal nanoparticles and the combination of metal nanoparticles with graphene oxide are widely used in environmental, agriculture, textile, and therapeutic applications. The effect of graphene oxide-green platinum nanoparticles (GO-PtNPs) on human prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize a nanocomposite of GO-PtNPs and evaluate their effect on prostate cancer cells. Herein, we synthesized GO-PtNPs using vanillin and characterized GO-PtNPs. GO-PtNP cytotoxicity in LNCaP cells was demonstrated by measuring cell viability and proliferation. Both decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared to that by GO or PtNPs alone. GO-PtNP cytotoxicity was confirmed by increased lactate dehydrogenase release and membrane integrity loss. Oxidative stress induced by GO-PtNPs increased malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and protein carbonyl contents. The effective reactive oxygen species generation impaired the cellular redox balance and eventually impaired mitochondria by decreasing the membrane potential and ATP level. The cytotoxicity to LNCaP cells was correlated with increased expression of proapoptotic genes (p53, p21, Bax, Bak, caspase 9, and caspase 3) and decreased levels of antiapoptotic genes (Bcl2 and Bcl-xl). Activation of the key regulators p53 and p21 inhibited the cyclin-dependent kinases Cdk2 and Cdk4, suggesting that p53 and p21 activation in GO-PtNP-treated cells caused genotoxic stress and apoptosis. The increased expression of genes involved in cell cycle arrest and DNA damage and repair, and increased levels of 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine and 8-oxoguanine suggested that GO-PtNPs potentially induce oxidative damage to DNA. Thus, GO-PtNPs are both cytotoxic and genotoxic. LNCaP cells appear to be more susceptible to GO-PtNPs than to GO or PtNPs. Therefore, GO-PtNPs have potential as an alternate and effective cancer therapeutic agent. Finally, this work shows that the combination of graphene oxide with platinum nanoparticles opens new perspectives in cancer therapy. However further detailed mechanistic studies are required to elucidate the molecular mechanism of GO-PtNPs induced cytotoxicity in prostate cancer.

Controlling the transverse proton relaxivity of magnetic graphene oxide

The engineering of materials with controlled magnetic properties by means other than a magnetic field is of great interest in nanotechnology. In this study, we report engineered magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) in the nanocomposite form of iron oxide nanoparticles (IO)-graphene oxide (GO) with tunable core magnetism and magnetic resonance transverse relaxivity (r₂). These tunable properties are obtained by varying the IO content on GO. The MGO series exhibits r₂ values analogous to those observed in conventional single core and cluster forms of IO in different size regimes-motional averaging regime (MAR), static dephasing regime (SDR), and echo-limiting regime (ELR) or slow motion regime (SMR). The maximum r₂ of 162 ± 5.703 mM^-1s^-1 is attained for MGO with 28 weight percent (wt%) content of IO on GO and hydrodynamic diameter of 414 nm, which is associated with the SDR. These findings demonstrate the clear potential of magnetic graphene oxide for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications.

Advances in Therapeutic Implications of Inorganic Drug Delivery Nano-Platforms for Cancer

Numerous nanoparticles drug delivery systems for therapeutic implications in cancer treatment are in preclinical development as conventional chemotherapy has several drawbacks. A chemotherapeutic approach requires high doses of chemotherapeutic agents with low bioavailability, non-specific targeting, and above all, development of multiple drug resistance. In recent years, inorganic nano-drug delivery platforms (NDDPs; with a metal core) have emerged as potential chemotherapeutic systems in oncology. One of the major goals of developing inorganic NDDPs is to effectively address the targeted anti-cancer drug(s) delivery related problems by carrying the therapeutic agents to desired tumors sites. In this current review, we delve into summarizing the recent developments in targeted release of anti-cancer drugs loaded in inorganic NDDPs such as mesoporous silica nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, layered double hydroxides, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and calcium phosphate nanoparticles together with highlighting their therapeutic performance at tumor sites.

Diameter- and Length-controlled Synthesis of Ultrathin ZnS Nanowires and Their Size-Dependent UV Absorption Properties, Photocatalytical Activities and Band-Edge Energy Levels

Benefiting from their ultra-small diameters and highly structural anisotropies, ultrathin semiconductor nanowires (USNWs) are well-known for their fascinating physical/chemical properties, as well as their promising applications in various fields. However, until now, it remains a challenge to synthesize high-quality USNWs with well-controlled diameters and lengths, let alone the exploration of their size-dependent properties and applications. To solve such a challenge, we report herein a ligand-induced low-temperature precursor thermolysis route for the controlled preparation of ultrathin ZnS nanowires, which is based on the oriented assembly of the in-situ formed ZnS clusters/tiny particles. Optimized synthetic conditions allowed the synthesis of ZnS nanowires with a diameter down to 1.0 nm and a length approaching 330 nm. The as-prepared ultrathin ZnS nanowires were then intensively examined by morphological, spectroscopic and electrochemical analytical means to explore their size-dependent optical absorption properties, photocatalytic activities and band-edge energy levels, as well as their underlying growth mechanism. Notably, these USNWs, especially for the thinnest nanowires, were identified to possess an excellent performance in both the selective absorption of ultraviolet (UV) light and photocatalytic degradation of dyes, thus enabling them to serve as longpass ultraviolet filters and high-efficiency photocatalysts, respectively. For the ultrathin ZnS nanowires with a diameter of 1.0 nm, it was also interesting to observe that their exciton absorption peak positions were kept almost unchanged during the continuous extension of their lengths, which has not been reported previously.

PCL–DOX microdroplets: an evaluation of the enhanced intracellular delivery of doxorubicin in metastatic cancer cells via in silico and in vitro approaches

A schematic diagram of HCC & TACE; injections of HepaSphere with DOX are made into the femoral artery, abdominal aorta, and hepatic artery to make the tumor shrink to a resectable size due to a shortage of nutrients and drug treatment.