Preparation and performance of a pH-sensitive cisplatin-loaded magnetic nanomedicine that targets tumor cells via folate receptor mediation

Are smart delivery systems the solution to overcome the lack of selectivity of current metallodrugs in cancer therapy?

Chemotherapeutic metallodrugs such as cisplatin and its derivatives are among the most widely applied anticancer treatments worldwide. Despite their clinical success, patients suffer from severe adverse effects while subjected to treatment due to platinum's low selectivity for tumour over healthy tissues. Additionally, intrinsic or acquired resistance to metallodrugs, as well as their inability to reach cancer metastases, often results in therapeutic failure. The evident need for highly efficient and specific treatments has driven the scientific community to research novel ways to surpass the stated limitations. Within this scenario, a rising number of smart drug delivery systems have been lately reported to target primary cancers or metastases, where the metallodrugs are released in a controlled and selective way triggered by specific tumour-related stimuli, thus suggesting a viable and attractive therapeutic approach. Herein, we discuss the main efforts undertaken in the past few years towards the smart delivery of metal-based drugs and drug candidates to tumour sites, particularly focusing on the pH- and/or redox-responsive targeted delivery of platinum and ruthenium anticancer complexes.

Preparation of FA-targeted magnetic nanocomposites co-loading TFPI-2 plasmid and cis-platinum and its targeted therapy effects on nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The majority of patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) present with advanced-stage disease. The main treatment for these patients is concurrent chemoradiotherapy, which has various side effects. To improve the therapeutic effects and reduce the side effects of NPC chemoradiotherapy, we constructed a multifunctional folic acid (FA)-targeted magnetic nanocomposite codelivering tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) and cisplatin (CDDP). This novel nanocomposite (FA-MNP/CDDP/TFPI-2) was obtained by amidation and electrostatic adsorption between FA-methoxypolyethylene glycol-polyethyleneimine (FA-MPEG-PEI) containing the TFPI-2 plasmid and magnetic nanoparticles modified by aldehyde sodium alginate loaded with CDDP. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the size of the individual magnetite particle core was approximately 11.5 nm. The structure and composition of the nanocomposites were identified and examined by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry. The fluorescence analysis, Prussian blue iron staining, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and whole-body fluorescence imaging results demonstrated that FA-MNP/CDDP/TFPI-2 showed high gene transfection efficiency and could target tumor cells via folate receptor (FR)-mediated delivery. The codelivery analysis showed that the obtained FA-MNP/CDDP/TFPI-2 composite could cause significantly more apoptosis than treatment with CDDP or TFPI-2 alone. The results showed that the FA-MNP/CDDP/TFPI-2 composites were successfully synthesized and indicated to be a specific molecular target for the FR with significant inhibitory effects on the growth of HNE-1 cells.

TAT peptide-modified cisplatin-loaded iron oxide nanoparticles for reversing cisplatin-resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma

As chemo-radiotherapy continues to increase the lifespan of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), adverse reaction and drug resistance remain two major problems when using cisplatin (CDDP). In this study, we took the lead in designing a dual-mechanism anti-cancer system modified with cell-penetrating peptide on the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) to enhance CDDP delivery efficacy to NPC cells, especially CDDP resistant NPC cells. The combinatorial delivery of CDDP and iron oxide nanoparticles showed an unexpected effect on reversal of CDDP resistance due to the Fenton reaction with an average decrease in the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50) of 85% and 94% in HNE-1/DDP and CNE-2/DDP resistant cells respectively compared to CDDP alone. On this basis, modification with TAT peptide (YGRKKRRQRRR) significantly improved tumor intracellular uptake, devoting to better curative effects and minimized side effects by reducing CDDP therapeutic doses. Furthermore, we specifically labelled CDDP with fluorescence for detection of intracellular nanoparticles uptake and mechanism research through drug tracing. This novel compound provides a promising therapy for reducing chemotherapy side effects and reversing CDDP-resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Preparation of chitosan‑silicon dioxide/BCSG1‑siRNA nanoparticles to enhance therapeutic efficacy in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is one of the most serious diseases, posing threats to women's physical and mental health. Gene therapy has been gradually regarded as an important part of tumor therapeutics. In the present study, the breast cancer‑specific gene 1‑small interference RNA (BCSG1‑siRNA) plasmid was designed, then encapsulated by chitosan‑silicon dioxide nanometer carriers. The results demonstrated a successful encapsulation of BCSG1‑siRNA in chitosan‑silicon dioxide nanoparticles (encapsulation efficiency exceeded 90%). BCSG1‑siRNA was released slowly (the release rate was almost 30% after 24 h). The cytotoxic effect on MCF‑7 cells was enhanced by increasing the concentration of nanoparticle (the proliferation rate was reduced to 13.4±5.3% and apoptosis rate was increased to 71.5±6.8%). Therefore, the materials presented in the current study acted as successful gene carriers and exhibited significant antitumor effects in breast cancer cells.

Synthesis, characterization and in vivo evaluation of a magnetic cisplatin delivery nanosystem based on PMAA-graft-PEG copolymers

The development of anticancer drug delivery systems which retain or enhance the cytotoxic properties of the drug to tumorous tissues, while reducing toxicity to other organs is of key importance. We investigated different poly(methacrylic acid)-g-poly(ethyleneglycol methacrylate) polymers as in situ coating agents for magnetite nanocrystallites. The obtained magnetic nano-assemblies were in turn thoroughly characterized for their structural, colloidal and physicochemical properties (drug loading capacity/release, magnetic field triggered drug release, cell uptake and localization) in order to select the best performing system. With the focus on in vivo validation of such magnetic drug delivery systems for first time, we selected cisplatin as the drug, since it is a potent anticancer agent which exhibits serious side effects due to lack of selectivity. In addition, cisplatin would offer facile determination of the metal content in the animal tissues for biodistribution studies. Alongside post-mortem Pt determination in the tissues, the biodistribution of the drug nanocarriers was also monitored in real time with PET-CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) with and without the presence of magnetic field gradients; using a novel chelator-free method, the nanoparticles were radiolabeled with ⁶⁸Ga without having to alter their structure with chemical modifications for conjugation of radiochelators. The ability to be radiolabeled in such a straightforward but very robust way, along with their measured high MRI response, renders them attractive for dual imaging, which is an important functionality for translational investigations. Their anticancer properties were evaluated in vitro and in vivo, in a cisplatin resistant HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma model, with and without the presence of magnetic field gradients. Enhanced anticancer efficacy and reduced toxicity was recorded for the cisplatin-loaded nanocarriers in comparison to the free cisplatin, particularly when a magnetic field gradient was applied at the tumor site. Post mortem and real-time tissue distribution studies did not reveal increased cisplatin concentration in the tumor site, suggesting that the enhanced anticancer efficacy of the cisplatin-loaded nanocarriers is driven by mechanisms other than increased cisplatin accumulation in the tumors.