Vehicle-Free Nanotheranostic Self-Assembled from Clinically Approved Dyes for Cancer Fluorescence Imaging and Photothermal/Photodynamic Combinational Therapy

Synergistic therapeutic strategies and engineered nanoparticles for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in cancer

Angiogenesis is one of the defining characteristics of cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is crucial for the development of angiogenesis. A growing interest in cancer therapy is being caused by the widespread use of antiangiogenic drugs in treating several types of human cancer. However, this therapeutic approach can worsen resistance, invasion, and overall survival. As we proceed, refining combination strategies and addressing the constraint of targeted treatments are paramount. Therefore, major challenges in using novel combinations of antiangiogenic agents with cytotoxic treatments are currently focused on illustrating the potential of synergistic therapeutic strategies, alongside advancements in nanomedicine and gene therapy, present opportunities for more precise interference with angiogenesis pathways and tumor environments. Nanoparticles have the potential to regulate several crucial activities and improve several drug limitations such as lack of selectivity, non-targeted cytotoxicity, insufficient drug delivery at tumor sites, and multi-drug resistance based on their unique features. The goal of this updated review is to illustrate the enormous potential of novel synergistic therapeutic strategies and the targeted nanoparticles as an alternate strategy for t treating a variety of tumors employing antiangiogenic therapy.

Nano-modulators with the function of disrupting mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis and photothermal conversion for synergistic breast cancer therapy

Breast cancer treatment has been a global puzzle, and apoptosis strategies based on mitochondrial Ca2+ overload have attracted extensive attention. However, various limitations of current Ca2+ nanogenerators make it difficult to maintain effective Ca2+ overload concentrations. Here, we constructed a multimodal Ca2+ nano-modulator that, for the first time, combined photothermal therapy (PTT) and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload strategies to inhibit tumor development. By crosslinking sodium alginate (SA) on the surface of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles encapsulating with Cur and ICG, we prepared a synergistic Ca2+ nano-regulator SA/Cur@CaCO3-ICG (SCCI). In vitro studies have shown that SCCI further enhanced photostability while preserving the optical properties of ICG. After uptake by tumor cells, SCCI can reduce mitochondrial membrane potential and down-regulate ATP production by producing large amounts of Ca2+ at low pH. Near-infrared light radiation (NIR) laser irradiation made the tumor cells heat up sharply, which not only accelerated the decomposition of CaCO3, but also produced large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) followed by cell apoptosis. In vivo studies have revealed that the Ca2+ nano-regulators had excellent targeting, biocompatibility, and anti-tumor effects, which can significantly inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and play a direct killing effect. These findings indicated that therapeutic strategies based on ionic interference and PTT had great therapeutic potential, providing new insights into antitumor therapy.

Construction of mPt/ICG-αA nanoparticles with enhanced phototherapeutic activities for multidrug-resistant bacterial eradication and wound healing

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections calls for novel strategies for effective bacterial inhibition and wound healing. Phototherapeutic approaches are promising in treating bacterial infection because of their high efficiency, noninvasiveness, and few side effects; however, their antibacterial effect is limited by the formation of biofilms in wounds. Herein, we report novel composite nanoparticles (mPt/ICG-αA NPs) combining mesoporous platinum (mPt) nanoparticles, indocyanine green (ICG) and α-amylase (αA) for combating MDR bacteria and treating wound infection, which integrates a triple bacterial inhibition mechanism arising from the combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT) and α-amylase enzymatic activities. The combination of mPt and ICG significantly enhances the effect of PTT and the temperature can be increased up to 80.8 °C to induce efficacious bacterial degeneration. Meanwhile, mPt/ICG-αA (mPIA) NPs with a low concentration of 25 μg mL-1 exhibited a remarkable catalase activity (CAT) and could continuously decompose endogenous H2O2 into O2 in a hypoxic microenvironment, thereby enhancing the PDT effect to achieve broad-spectrum bactericidal activity. mPIA NPs showed excellent MDR antibacterial efficiency against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli), and the bactericidal rate reached up to 99.0% and 97.2% with single 808 nm near-infrared light irradiation, respectively. mPIA NPs also exhibited an excellent ability to destroy biofilms and biocompatibility. Animal experiments further suggested that mPIA NPs could achieve the successful repairment of wounds infected with S. aureus in living systems, while this platform demonstrated negligible toxicity towards mice. Considering the superior performances of mPIA NPs, the synergistic αA-CAT-PDT-PTT boosted therapeutic activity presented in the current work provides a promising method to effectively fight against biofilm-related infectious diseases and wound healing.

Indocyanine Green (ICG) and Colorectal Surgery: A Literature Review on Qualitative and Quantitative Methods of Usage

Background: Due to its many benefits, indocyanine green (ICG) has gained progressive popularity in operating rooms (ORs) globally. This literature review examines its qualitative and quantitative usage in surgical treatment. Method: Relevant terms were searched in five international databases (1. Pubmed, 2. Sciencedirect, 3. Scopus, 4. Oxfordjournals, 5. Reaxys) for a comprehensive literature review. The main benefits of using ICG in colorectal surgery are: intraoperative fluorescence angiography; fluorescence-guided lymph node involvement detection and the sentinel technique; the fluorescent emphasis of a minute liver tumour, counting just 200 tumour cells; facilitation of fistula diagnosis; and tumour tattooing. This methodology can also be used with quantitative characteristics such as maximum intensity, relative maximum intensity, and in-flow parameters such as time-to-peak, slope, and t1/2max. This article concludes that fluorescence surgery with ICG and near-infrared (NIR) light is a relatively new technology that improves anatomical and functional information, allowing more comprehensive and safer tumour removal and the preservation of important structures.

Editorial for Special Issue: Advanced Technologies for Developing the State-of-the-Art Nanomedicines

This Special Issue aims to introduce advanced technologies that promote the development of nanomedicines [...].