Hybrid Radiobioconjugated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide-Based Nanoparticles for Multimodal Cancer Therapy

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.

Magnetic Nanoparticles for Therapy and Diagnosis in Nanomedicine

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used for their potential applications, mainly for the diagnosis and/or therapy (theranostic) of several diseases in the field of nanomedicine, as passive contrast agents, through the opsonization process, or active contrast agents, after their functionalization and the subsequent capture of the signal using various techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optical imaging, nuclear imaging, and ultrasound [...].

Green composites based on volcanic red algae Cyanidiales, cellulose, and coffee waste biomass modified with magnetic nanoparticles for the removal of methylene blue

In this paper, green nanocomposites based on biomass and superparamagnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and used as adsorbents to remove methylene blue (MB) from water with magnetic separation. The adsorbents were synthesized through the wet co-precipitation technique, in which iron-oxide nanoparticles coated the cores based on coffee, cellulose, and red volcanic algae waste. The procedure resulted in materials that could be easily separated from aqueous solutions with magnets. The morphology and chemical composition of the nanocomposites were characterized by SEM, FT-IR, and XPS methods. The adsorption studies of MB removal with UV-vis spectrometry showed that the adsorption performance of the prepared materials strongly depended on their morphology and the type of the organic adsorbent. The adsorption studies presented the highest effectiveness in neutral pH with only a slight effect on ionic strength. The MB removal undergoes pseudo-second kinetics for all adsorbents. The maximal adsorption capacity for the coffee@Fe₃O₄-2, cellulose@Fe₃O₄-1, and algae@Fe₃O₄-1 is 38.23 mg g^-1, 41.61 mg g^-1, and 48.41 mg g^-1, respectively. The mechanism of MB adsorption follows the Langmuir model using coffee@Fe₃O₄ and cellulose@Fe₃O₄, while for algae@Fe₃O₄ the process fits to the Redlich-Peterson model. The removal efficiency analysis based on UV-vis adsorption spectra revealed that the adsorption effectiveness of the nanocomposites increased as follows: coffee@Fe₃O₄-2 > cellulose@Fe₃O₄-1 > algae@Fe₃O₄-1, demonstrating an MB removal efficiency of up to 90%.

Polyetherimide- and folic acid-modified Fe3 O4 nanospheres for enhanced magnetic hyperthermia performance

Recent studies have highlighted the development prospects of magnetic hyperthermia in cancer therapy. A few studies on the application of Fe₃ O₄ nanospheres for the magnetic hyperthermia of gynecological malignancies have achieved certain efficacy, but there was no visible progress currently. In this work, Fe₃ O₄ nanospheres modified with polyetherimide (PEI) and folic acid (FA) were synthesized using a hydrothermal method for possible utility in biocompatible and active tumor-targeting magnetic induction hyperthermia. The PEI- and FA-coated Fe₃ O₄ nanospheres showed high crystallinity, well-dispersed spherical structures and ideal M_s value. As a result, the designed Fe₃ O₄ @ PEI@FA nanospheres achieved higher specific absorption rate (SAR) values at 360 kHz and 308 Oe, as well as excellent biocompatibility in Hela, SKOV3, HEC-1-A and NIH3T3 cells. These nanospheres can be used as an optimal heating agent for the magnetic hyperthermia treatment of gynecological cancers.

The Proteolytic Landscape of Ovarian Cancer: Applications in Nanomedicine

Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is one of the leading causes of mortality globally with an overall 5-year survival of 47%. The predominant subtype of OvCa is epithelial carcinoma, which can be highly aggressive. This review launches with a summary of the clinical features of OvCa, including staging and current techniques for diagnosis and therapy. Further, the important role of proteases in OvCa progression and dissemination is described. Proteases contribute to tumor angiogenesis, remodeling of extracellular matrix, migration and invasion, major processes in OvCa pathology. Multiple proteases, such as metalloproteinases, trypsin, cathepsin and others, are overexpressed in the tumor tissue. Presence of these catabolic enzymes in OvCa tissue can be exploited for improving early diagnosis and therapeutic options in advanced cases. Nanomedicine, being on the interface of molecular and cellular scales, can be designed to be activated by proteases in the OvCa microenvironment. Various types of protease-enabled nanomedicines are described and the studies that focus on their diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic potential are reviewed.

Multifunctional Nanoparticles Based on Iron Oxide and Gold-198 Designed for Magnetic Hyperthermia and Radionuclide Therapy as a Potential Tool for Combined HER2-Positive Cancer Treatment

Iron oxide nanoparticles are commonly used in many medical applications as they can be easily modified, have a high surface-to-volume ratio, and are biocompatible and biodegradable. This study was performed to synthesize nanoparticles designed for multimodal HER2-positive cancer treatment involving radionuclide therapy and magnetic hyperthermia. The magnetic core (Fe₃O₄) was coated with a gold-198 layer creating so-called core-shell nanoparticles. These were then further modified with a bifunctional PEG linker and monoclonal antibody to achieve the targeted therapy. Monoclonal antibody—trastuzumab was used to target specific breast and nipple HER2-positive cancer cells. The nanoparticles measured by transmission electron microscopy were as small as 9 nm. The bioconjugation of trastuzumab was confirmed by two separate methods: thermogravimetric analysis and iodine-131 labeling. Synthesized nanoparticles showed that they are good heat mediators in an alternating magnetic field and exhibit great specific binding and internalization capabilities towards the SKOV-3 (HER2 positive) cancer cell line. Radioactive nanoparticles also exhibit capabilities regarding spheroid degradation without and with the application of magnetic hyperthermia with a greater impact in the case of the latter. Designed radiobioconjugate shows great promise and has great potential for in vivo studies regarding magnetic hyperthermia and radionuclide combined therapy.

Broad-Spectrum Theranostics and Biomedical Application of Functionalized Nanomaterials

Nanotechnology is an important branch of science in therapies known as “nanomedicine” and is the junction of various fields such as material science, chemistry, biology, physics, and optics. Nanomaterials are in the range between 1 and 100 nm in size and provide a large surface area to volume ratio; thus, they can be used for various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, bacterial infections, and diabetes. Nanoparticles play a crucial role in therapy as they can enhance the accumulation and release of pharmacological agents, improve targeted delivery and ultimately decrease the intensity of drug side effects. In this review, we discussthe types of nanomaterials that have various biomedical applications. Biomolecules that are often conjugated with nanoparticles are proteins, peptides, DNA, and lipids, which can enhance biocompatibility, stability, and solubility. In this review, we focus on bioconjugation and nanoparticles and also discuss different types of nanoparticles including micelles, liposomes, carbon nanotubes, nanospheres, dendrimers, quantum dots, and metallic nanoparticles and their crucial role in various diseases and clinical applications. Additionally, we review the use of nanomaterials for bio-imaging, drug delivery, biosensing tissue engineering, medical devices, and immunoassays. Understandingthe characteristics and properties of nanoparticles and their interactions with the biological system can help us to develop novel strategies for the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of many diseases including cancer, pulmonary diseases, etc. In this present review, the importance of various kinds of nanoparticles and their biomedical applications are discussed in much detail.

Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Drug Carriers Modified with Tb3+ Ions

The study aimed to synthesize and characterize the magnetic drug carrier modified with terbium (III) ions. The addition of terbium extends the possibilities of their applications for targeted anticancer radiotherapy as well as for imaging techniques using radioisotopes emitting β⁺, β⁻, α, and γ radiation. The synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized with citrates using the co-precipitation method (IONP @ CA) was carried out during the experimental work. The obtained nanoparticles were used to synthesize a conjugate containing terbium ions and guanosine-5′-monophosphate as an analog of drugs from the thiopurine group. Conjugates and their components were characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray microanalysis, spectrofluorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The hybrid was also investigated with Langmuir layers to check the interaction with analogs of biological membranes.

Biomedical Applications of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Current Insights Progress and Perspectives

The enormous development of nanomaterials technology and the immediate response of many areas of science, research, and practice to their possible application has led to the publication of thousands of scientific papers, books, and reports. This vast amount of information requires careful classification and order, especially for specifically targeted practical needs. Therefore, the present review aims to summarize to some extent the role of iron oxide nanoparticles in biomedical research. Summarizing the fundamental properties of the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, the review's next focus was to classify research studies related to applying these particles for cancer diagnostics and therapy (similar to photothermal therapy, hyperthermia), in nano theranostics, multimodal therapy. Special attention is paid to research studies dealing with the opportunities of combining different nanomaterials to achieve optimal systems for biomedical application. In this regard, original data about the synthesis and characterization of nanolipidic magnetic hybrid systems are included as an example. The last section of the review is dedicated to the capacities of magnetite-based magnetic nanoparticles for the management of oncological diseases.