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Rajana N, Mounika A, Chary PS, Bhavana V, Urati A, Khatri D, Singh SB, Mehra NK. Multifunctional hybrid nanoparticles in diagnosis and therapy of breast cancer. J Control Release 2022; 352:1024-1047. [PMID: 36379278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent non-cutaneous malignancy in women, with greater than a million new cases every year. In the last decennium, numerous diagnostic and treatment approaches have been enormously studied for Breast cancer. Among the different approaches, nanotechnology has appeared as a promising approach in preclinical and clinical studies for early diagnosis of primary tumors and metastases and eradicating tumor cells. Each of these nanocarriers has its particular advantages and drawbacks. Combining two or more than two constituents in a single nanocarrier system leads to the generation of novel multifunctional Hybrid Nanocarriers with improved structural and biological properties. These novel Hybrid Nanocarriers have the capability to overcome the drawbacks of individual constituents while having the advantages of those components. Various hybrid nanocarriers such as lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles, inorganic hybrid nanoparticles, metal-organic hybrid nanoparticles, and hybrid carbon nanocarriers are utilized for the diagnosis and treatment of various cancers. Certainly, Hybrid Nanocarriers have the capability to encapsulate multiple cargos, targeting agents, enhancement in encapsulation, stability, circulation time, and structural disintegration compared to non-hybrid nanocarriers. Many studies have been conducted to investigate the utilization of Hybrid nanocarriers in breast cancer for imaging platforms, photothermal and photodynamic therapy, chemotherapy, gene therapy, and combinational therapy. In this review, we mainly discussed in detailed about of preparation techniques and toxicological considerations of hybrid nanoparticles. This review also discussed the role of hybrid nanocarriers as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer along with alternative treatment approaches apart from chemotherapy including photothermal and photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, and combinational therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Rajana
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Aare Mounika
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Padakanti Sandeep Chary
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Valamla Bhavana
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Anuradha Urati
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Dharmendra Khatri
- Department of Biological science, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Shashi Bala Singh
- Department of Biological science, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Neelesh Kumar Mehra
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
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L-Cysteine Modified Chitosan Nanoparticles and Carbon-Based Nanostructures for the Intranasal Delivery of Galantamine. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14194004. [PMID: 36235952 PMCID: PMC9571213 DOI: 10.3390/polym14194004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study evaluates the use of thiolized chitosan conjugates (CS) in combination with two fundamental carbon nanoforms (carbon dots (CDs) and Hierarchical Porous Carbons (HPC)) for the preparation of intranasally (IN) administrated galantamine (GAL) nanoparticles (NPs). Initially, the modification of CS with L-cysteine (Cys) was performed, and the successful formation of a Cys-CS conjugates was verified via 1H-NMR, FTIR, and pXRD. The new Cys-CS conjugate showed a significant solubility enhancement in neutral and alkaline pH, improving CS’s utility as a matrix-carrier for IN drug administration. In a further step, drug-loaded NPs were prepared via solid-oil–water double emulsification, and thoroughly analyzed by SEM, DLS, FTIR and pXRD. The results showed the formation of spherical NPs with a smooth surface, while the drug was amorphously dispersed within most of the prepared NPs, with the exemption of those systems contianing the CDs. Finally, in vitro dissolution release studies revealed that the prepared NPs could prolong GAL’s release for up to 12 days. In sum, regarding the most promising system, the results of the present study clearly suggest that the preparation of NPs using both Cys-CS and CDs results in a more thermodynamically stable drug dispersion, while a zero-order release profile was achieved, which is essential to attain a stable in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior.
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Alamdari SG, Amini M, Jalilzadeh N, Baradaran B, Mohammadzadeh R, Mokhtarzadeh A, Oroojalian F. Recent advances in nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy for breast cancer. J Control Release 2022; 349:269-303. [PMID: 35787915 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.06.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women that is associated with high mortality. Conventional treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, which are not effective enough and have disadvantages such as toxicity and damage to healthy cells. Photothermal therapy (PTT) of cancer cells has been took great attention by researchers in recent years due to the use of light radiation and heat generation at the tumor site, which thermal ablation is considered a minimally invasive method for the treatment of breast cancer. Nanotechnology has opened up a new perspective in the treatment of breast cancer using PTT method. Through NIR light absorption, researchers applied various nanostructures because of their specific nature of penetrating and targeting tumor tissue, increasing the effectiveness of PTT, and combining it with other treatments. If PTT is used with common cancer treatments, it can dramatically increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce the side effects of other methods. PTT performance can also be improved by hybridizing at least two different nanomaterials. Nanoparticles that intensely absorb light and increase the efficiency of converting light into heat can specifically kill tumors through hyperthermia of cancer cells. One of the main reasons that have increased the efficiency of nanoparticles in PTT is their permeability and durability effect and they can accumulate in tumor tissue. Targeted PTT can be provided by incorporating specific ligands to target receptors expressed on the surface of cancer cells on nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can specifically target cancer cells by maintaining the surface area and increasing penetration. In this study, we briefly introduce the performance of light therapy, application of metal nanoparticles, polymer nanoparticles, carbon nanoparticles, and hybrid nanoparticles for use in PTT of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sania Ghobadi Alamdari
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amini
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nazila Jalilzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reza Mohammadzadeh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Ahad Mokhtarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Fatemeh Oroojalian
- Department of Advanced Technologies, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran; Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
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Mauro N, Utzeri MA, Sciortino A, Messina F, Cannas M, Popescu R, Gerthsen D, Buscarino G, Cavallaro G, Giammona G. Decagram-Scale Synthesis of Multicolor Carbon Nanodots: Self-Tracking Nanoheaters with Inherent and Selective Anticancer Properties. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:2551-2563. [PMID: 34985246 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c19599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Carbon nanodots (CDs) are a new class of carbon-based nanoparticles endowed with photoluminescence, high specific surface area, and good photothermal conversion, which have spearheaded many breakthroughs in medicine, especially in drug delivery and cancer theranostics. However, the tight control of their structural, optical, and biological properties and the synthesis scale-up have been very difficult so far. Here, we report for the first time an efficient protocol for the one-step synthesis of decagram-scale quantities of N,S-doped CDs with a narrow size distribution, along with a single nanostructure multicolor emission, high near-infrared (NIR) photothermal conversion efficiency, and selective reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cancer cells. This allows achieving targeted and multimodal cytotoxic effects (i.e., photothermal and oxidative stresses) in cancer cells by applying biocompatible NIR laser sources that can be remotely controlled under the guidance of fluorescence imaging. Hence, our findings open up a range of possibilities for real-world biomedical applications, among which is cancer theranostics. In this work, indocyanine green is used as a bidentate SOx donor which has the ability to tune surface groups and emission bands of CDs obtained by solvothermal decomposition of citric acid and urea in N,N-dimethylformamide. The co-doping implies various surface states providing transitions in the visible region, thus eliciting a tunable multicolor emission from blue to red and excellent photothermal efficiency in the NIR region useful in bioimaging applications and image-guided anticancer phototherapy. The fluorescence self-tracking capability of SOx-CDs reveals that they can enter cancer cells more quickly than healthy cell lines and undergo a different intracellular fate after cell internalization. This could explain why sulfur doping entails pro-oxidative activities by triggering more ROS generation in cancer cells when compared to healthy cell lines. We also find that oxidative stress can be locally enhanced under the effects of a NIR laser at moderate power density (2.5 W cm-2). Overall, these findings suggest that SOx-CDs are endowed with inherent drug-independent cytotoxic effects toward cancer cells, which would be selectively enhanced by external NIR light irradiation and helpful in precision anticancer approaches. Also, this work opens a debate on the role of CD surface engineering in determining nanotoxicity as a function of cell metabolism, thus allowing a rational design of next-generation nanomaterials with targeted anticancer properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Mauro
- Laboratory of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mara Andrea Utzeri
- Laboratory of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Alice Sciortino
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC) "E. Segrè", University of Palermo, via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Messina
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC) "E. Segrè", University of Palermo, via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy
- ATeNCenter, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze─Ed. 18/A, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Cannas
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC) "E. Segrè", University of Palermo, via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Radian Popescu
- Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology|KIT, Finanzmanagement Kaiserstraße 12, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Dagmar Gerthsen
- Laboratory for Electron Microscopy, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology|KIT, Finanzmanagement Kaiserstraße 12, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Gianpiero Buscarino
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC) "E. Segrè", University of Palermo, via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy
- ATeNCenter, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze─Ed. 18/A, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gennara Cavallaro
- Laboratory of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
- ATeNCenter, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze─Ed. 18/A, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaetano Giammona
- Laboratory of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
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Alfieri ML, Massaro M, d'Ischia M, D'Errico G, Gallucci N, Gruttadauria M, Licciardi M, Liotta LF, Nicotra G, Sfuncia G, Riela S. Site-specific halloysite functionalization by polydopamine: A new synthetic route for potential near infrared-activated delivery system. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 606:1779-1791. [PMID: 34507169 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.08.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) represent a versatile core structure for the design of functional nanosystems of biomedical interest. However, the development of selective methodologies for the site-controlled functionalization of the nanotubes at specific sites is not an easy task. This study aims to accomplish a procedure for the site-selective/specific, "pin-point", functionalization of HNTs with polydopamine (HNTs@PDA). This goal was achieved, at pH 6.5, by exploiting the basicity of ZnO nanoparticles anchored on the HNTs external surface (HNTs@ZnO) to induce a punctual polydopamine polymerization and coating. The morphology and the chemical composition of the nanomaterial was demonstrated by several techniques. Turbidimetric analysis showed that PDA coating affected the aqueous stability of HNTs@PDA compared to both HNTs@ZnO and HNTs. Notably, hyperthermia studies revealed that the nanomaterial induced a local thermic rise, up to 50 °C, under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Furthermore, secondary functionalization of HNTs@PDA by selective grafting of biotin onto the PDA coating followed by avidin binding was also accomplished.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Alfieri
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia 4, Napoli I-80126, Italy
| | - Marina Massaro
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Sez. Chimica, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 17, Palermo 90128, Italy
| | - Marco d'Ischia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia 4, Napoli I-80126, Italy.
| | - Gerardino D'Errico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia 4, Napoli I-80126, Italy
| | - Noemi Gallucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia 4, Napoli I-80126, Italy
| | - Michelangelo Gruttadauria
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Sez. Chimica, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 17, Palermo 90128, Italy
| | - Mariano Licciardi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), sez. Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 32 90123, Italy
| | - Leonarda F Liotta
- Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN)-CNR, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo 90146, Italy
| | | | | | - Serena Riela
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Sez. Chimica, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 17, Palermo 90128, Italy.
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Chan MH, Chen BG, Ngo LT, Huang WT, Li CH, Liu RS, Hsiao M. Natural Carbon Nanodots: Toxicity Assessment and Theranostic Biological Application. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1874. [PMID: 34834289 PMCID: PMC8618595 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This review outlines the methods for preparing carbon dots (CDs) from various natural resources to select the process to produce CDs with the best biological application efficacy. The oxidative activity of CDs mainly involves photo-induced cell damage and the destruction of biofilm matrices through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby causing cell auto-apoptosis. Recent research has found that CDs derived from organic carbon sources can treat cancer cells as effectively as conventional drugs without causing damage to normal cells. CDs obtained by heating a natural carbon source inherit properties similar to the carbon source from which they are derived. Importantly, these characteristics can be exploited to perform non-invasive targeted therapy on human cancers, avoiding the harm caused to the human body by conventional treatments. CDs are attractive for large-scale clinical applications. Water, herbs, plants, and probiotics are ideal carbon-containing sources that can be used to synthesize therapeutic and diagnostic CDs that have become the focus of attention due to their excellent light stability, fluorescence, good biocompatibility, and low toxicity. They can be applied as biosensors, bioimaging, diagnosis, and treatment applications. These advantages make CDs attractive for large-scale clinical application, providing new technologies and methods for disease occurrence, diagnosis, and treatment research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hsien Chan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; (M.-H.C.); (C.-H.L.)
| | - Bo-Gu Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan; (B.-G.C.); (L.T.N.); (W.-T.H.)
| | - Loan Thi Ngo
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan; (B.-G.C.); (L.T.N.); (W.-T.H.)
- Nano Science and Technology Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Tse Huang
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan; (B.-G.C.); (L.T.N.); (W.-T.H.)
| | - Chien-Hsiu Li
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; (M.-H.C.); (C.-H.L.)
| | - Ru-Shi Liu
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan; (B.-G.C.); (L.T.N.); (W.-T.H.)
| | - Michael Hsiao
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; (M.-H.C.); (C.-H.L.)
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
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Functionalization of Metal and Carbon Nanoparticles with Potential in Cancer Theranostics. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113085. [PMID: 34064173 PMCID: PMC8196792 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer theranostics is a new concept of medical approach that attempts to combine in a unique nanoplatform diagnosis, monitoring and therapy so as to provide eradication of a solid tumor in a non-invasive fashion. There are many available solutions to tackle cancer using theranostic agents such as photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) under the guidance of imaging techniques (e.g., magnetic resonance-MRI, photoacoustic-PA or computed tomography-CT imaging). Additionally, there are several potential theranostic nanoplatforms able to combine diagnosis and therapy at once, such as gold nanoparticles (GNPs), graphene oxide (GO), superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and carbon nanodots (CDs). Currently, surface functionalization of these nanoplatforms is an extremely useful protocol for effectively tuning their structures, interface features and physicochemical properties. This approach is much more reliable and amenable to fine adjustment, reaching both physicochemical and regulatory requirements as a function of the specific field of application. Here, we summarize and compare the most promising metal- and carbon-based theranostic tools reported as potential candidates in precision cancer theranostics. We focused our review on the latest developments in surface functionalization strategies for these nanosystems, or hybrid nanocomposites consisting of their combination, and discuss their main characteristics and potential applications in precision cancer medicine.
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Mauro N, Utzeri MA, Drago SE, Nicosia A, Costa S, Cavallaro G, Giammona G. Hyaluronic acid dressing of hydrophobic carbon nanodots: A self-assembling strategy of hybrid nanocomposites with theranostic potential. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 267:118213. [PMID: 34119168 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We propose a rational design of hyaluronic acid-dressed red-emissive carbon dots (CDs), with a well-structured hydrophobic core capable of locally delivering high amount doxorubicin (Doxo) (> 9% w/w) and heat (hyperthermia) in a light stimuli sensitive fashion. We combined in a unique micelle-like superstructure the peculiar optical properties of CDs (NIR photothermal conversion and red fluorescence) with the ability of hyaluronic acid (HA) shell of stabilizing nanomedicines in aqueous environment and recognizing cancer cells overexpressing CD44 receptors on their membranes, thus giving rise to smart theranostic agents useful in cancer imaging and NIR-triggered chemo-phototherapy of solid tumors. Hydrophobic CDs, named HCDs, were used as functional beads to self-assemble amphiphilic HA derivatives carrying polylactic acid side chains (HA-g-PLA), yielding to light-sensitive and biodegradable core-shell superstructures. We explored the biocompatibility and synergistic effects of chemo-phototherapy combination, together with fluorescence imaging, showing the huge potential of the proposed engineering strategy in improving efficacy. CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Mauro
- Lab of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Mara Andrea Utzeri
- Lab of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Emanuele Drago
- Lab of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Aldo Nicosia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation-National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Costa
- Department of "Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche" (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gennara Cavallaro
- Lab of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaetano Giammona
- Lab of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy; Institute of Biophysics at Palermo, Italian National Research Council, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
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