Nanotechnology based therapeutic application in cancer diagnosis and therapy

Therapeutic potential of Phycocyanin in gastrointestinal cancers and related disorders

Gastrointestinal cancer is the most fatal cancer worldwide. The etiology of gastrointestinal cancer has yet to be fully characterized. Alcohol consumption, obesity, tobacco, Helicobacter pylori and gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric ulcer, colon polyps and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are among the several risks factors for gastrointestinal cancers. Phycocyanin which is abundant in Spirulina. Phycocyanin, a member of phycobiliprotein family with intense blue color, is an anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer compound. Evidence exists supporting that phycocyanin has antitumor effects, exerting its pharmacological effects by targeting a variety of cellular and molecular processes, i.e., apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest, migration and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Phycocyanin has also been applied in treatment of several gastrointestinal disorders such as, gastric ulcer, ulcerative colitis and fatty liver that is known as a risk factor for progression to cancer. Herein, we summarize various cellular and molecular pathways that are affected by phycocyanin, its efficacy upon combined drug treatment, and the potential for nanotechnology in its gastrointestinal cancer therapy.

Apoptosis Induction by ZnFe2O4-Ag Biosynthesized by Chlorella vulgaris in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

The incidence and mortality of breast cancer are growing which indicates the inefficiency of the current chemotherapy drugs. Due to the anticancer potential of Zn and Ag and the magnetic feature of iron oxide, in this work, we synthesized ZnFe2O4-Ag nanocomposite using Chlorella vulgaris and investigated its anticancer effect on breast cancer cell line. Physicochemical characterization was performed by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, VSM, EDS mapping, UV, and zeta potential assays. Cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis frequency were studied by the MTT and flow cytometry assays. Also, cell cycle analysis, Hoechst staining, and measuring ROS (reactive oxygen species) level were performed. The synthesized particles were almost spherical with a size range of 14-52 nm. The FT-IR and XRD assays confirmed the proper synthesis of the particles and VSM analysis showed that particles had magnetic property and the maximum saturation magnetization was 0.8 Emu/g. Also, the EDS mapping of the nanocomposite showed the Zn, Fe, O, and Ag elements. The MTT assay showed that the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ZnFe2O4-Ag for breast cancer and normal cells were 28 and 154 µg/mL, respectively, and the nanocomposite had stronger anticancer activity than cisplatin (IC50 = 84 µg/mL). Flow cytometry analysis showed that the exposure to the nanocomposite induced cell apoptosis by 77.5% and significantly induced ROS generation. Also, treating breast cancer cells with the nanocomposite induced cell cycle arrest and apoptotic features, including chromatin condensation and fragmentation. In conclusion, ZnFe2O4-Ag nanocomposite synthesized by C. vulgaris could suppress the proliferation of breast cancer cells by the generation of oxidative stress, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle arrest.

Nanotechnology-based theranostic and prophylactic approaches against SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has been an unpredicted burden on global healthcare system by infecting over 700 million individuals, with approximately 6 million deaths worldwide. COVID-19 significantly impacted all sectors, but it very adversely affected the healthcare system. These effects were much more evident in the resource limited part of the world. Individuals with acute conditions were also severely impacted. Although classical COVID-19 diagnostics such as RT-PCR and rapid antibody testing have played a crucial role in reducing the spread of infection, these diagnostic techniques are associated with certain limitations. For instance, drawback of RT-PCR diagnostics is that due to degradation of viral RNA during shipping, it can give false negative results. Also, rapid antibody testing majorly depends on the phase of infection and cannot be performed on immune compromised individuals. These limitations in current diagnostic tools require the development of nanodiagnostic tools for early detection of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has necessitated the development of specific, responsive, accurate, rapid, low-cost, and simple-to-use diagnostic tools at point of care. In recent years, early detection has been a challenge for several health diseases that require prompt attention and treatment. Disease identification at an early stage, increased imaging of inner health issues, and ease of diagnostic processes have all been established using a new discipline of laboratory medicine called nanodiagnostics, even before symptoms have appeared. Nanodiagnostics refers to the application of nanoparticles (material with size equal to or less than 100 nm) for medical diagnostic purposes. The special property of nanomaterials compared to their macroscopic counterparts is a lesser signal loss and an enhanced electromagnetic field. Nanosize of the detection material also enhances its sensitivity and increases the signal to noise ratio. Microchips, nanorobots, biosensors, nanoidentification of single-celled structures, and microelectromechanical systems are some of the most modern nanodiagnostics technologies now in development. Here, we have highlighted the important roles of nanotechnology in healthcare sector, with a detailed focus on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. We outline the different types of nanotechnology-based diagnostic devices for SARS-CoV-2 and the possible applications of nanomaterials in COVID-19 treatment. We also discuss the utility of nanomaterials in formulating preventive strategies against SARS-CoV-2 including their use in manufacture of protective equipment, formulation of vaccines, and strategies for directly hindering viral infection. We further discuss the factors hindering the large-scale accessibility of nanotechnology-based healthcare applications and suggestions for overcoming them.

Magnetosomes as Potential Nanocarriers for Cancer Treatment

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTBs) and their organelles, magnetosomes, are intriguing options that might fulfill the criteria of using bacterial magnetosomes (BMs). The ferromagnetic crystals contained in BMs can condition the magnetotaxis of MTBs, which is common in water storage facilities. This review provides an overview of the feasibility of using MTBs and BMs as nanocarriers in cancer treatment. More evidence suggests that MTBs and BMs can be used as natural nanocarriers for conventional anticancer medicines, antibodies, vaccine DNA, and siRNA. In addition to improving the stability of chemotherapeutics, their usage as transporters opens the possibilities for the targeted delivery of single ligands or combinations of ligands to malignant tumors. Magnetosome magnetite crystals are different from chemically made magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) because they are strong single-magnetic domains that stay magnetized even at room temperature. They also have a narrow size range and a uniform crystal morphology. These chemical and physical properties are essential for their usage in biotechnology and nanomedicine. Bioremediation, cell separation, DNA or antigen regeneration, therapeutic agents, enzyme immobilization, magnetic hyperthermia, and contrast enhancement of magnetic resonance are just a few examples of the many uses for magnetite-producing MTB, magnetite magnetosomes, and magnetosome magnetite crystals. From 2004 to 2022, data mining of the Scopus and Web of Science databases showed that most research using magnetite from MTB was carried out for biological reasons, such as in magnetic hyperthermia and drug delivery.

Polymeric Micellar Systems-A Special Emphasis on "Smart" Drug Delivery

Concurrent developments in anticancer nanotechnological treatments have been observed as the burden of cancer increases every year. The 21st century has seen a transformation in the study of medicine thanks to the advancement in the field of material science and nanomedicine. Improved drug delivery systems with proven efficacy and fewer side effects have been made possible. Nanoformulations with varied functions are being created using lipids, polymers, and inorganic and peptide-based nanomedicines. Therefore, thorough knowledge of these intelligent nanomedicines is crucial for developing very promising drug delivery systems. Polymeric micelles are often simple to make and have high solubilization characteristics; as a result, they seem to be a promising alternative to other nanosystems. Even though recent studies have provided an overview of polymeric micelles, here we included a discussion on the "intelligent" drug delivery from these systems. We also summarized the state-of-the-art and the most recent developments of polymeric micellar systems with respect to cancer treatments. Additionally, we gave significant attention to the clinical translation potential of polymeric micellar systems in the treatment of various cancers.

Designing Intelligent Nanomaterials to Achieve Highly Sensitive Diagnoses and Multimodality Therapy of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is among the most common malignant tumors of the genitourinary system worldwide. In recent years, the rate of BC incidence has increased, and the recurrence rate is high, resulting in poor quality of life for patients. Therefore, how to develop an effective method to achieve synchronous precise diagnoses and BC therapies is a difficult problem to solve clinically. Previous reports usually focus on the role of nanomaterials as drug delivery carriers, while a summary of the functional design and application of nanomaterials is lacking. Summarizing the application of functional nanomaterials in high-sensitivity diagnosis and multimodality therapy of BC is urgently needed. This review summarizes the application of nanotechnology in BC diagnosis, including the application of nanotechnology in the sensoring of BC biomarkers and their role in monitoring BC. In addition, conventional and combination therapies strategy in potential BC therapy are analyzed. Moreover, different kinds of nanomaterials in BC multimodal therapy according to pathological features of BC are also outlined. The goal of this review is to present an overview of the application of nanomaterials in the theranostics of BC to provide guidance for the application of functional nanomaterials to precisely diagnose and treat BC.

New Advances in Biomedical Application of Polymeric Micelles

In the last decade, nanomedicine has arisen as an emergent area of medicine, which studies nanometric systems, namely polymeric micelles (PMs), that increase the solubility and the stability of the encapsulated drugs. Furthermore, their application in dermal drug delivery is also relevant. PMs present unique characteristics because of their unique core-shell architecture. They are colloidal dispersions of amphiphilic compounds, which self-assemble in an aqueous medium, giving a structure-type core-shell, with a hydrophobic core (that can encapsulate hydrophobic drugs), and a hydrophilic shell, which works as a stabilizing agent. These features offer PMs adequate steric protection and determine their hydrophilicity, charge, length, and surface density properties. Furthermore, due to their small size, PMs can be absorbed by the intestinal mucosa with the drug, and they transport the drug in the bloodstream until the therapeutic target. Moreover, PMs improve the pharmacokinetic profile of the encapsulated drug, present high load capacity, and are synthesized by a reproducible, easy, and low-cost method. In silico approaches have been explored to improve the physicochemical properties of PMs. Based on this, a computer-aided strategy was developed and validated to enable the delivery of poorly soluble drugs and established critical physicochemical parameters to maximize drug loading, formulation stability, and tumor exposure. Poly(2-oxazoline) (POx)-based PMs display unprecedented high loading concerning water-insoluble drugs and over 60 drugs have been incorporated in POx PMs. Among various stimuli, pH and temperature are the most widely studied for enhanced drug release at the site of action. Researchers are focusing on dual (pH and temperature) responsive PMs for controlled and improved drug release at the site of action. These dual responsive systems are mainly evaluated for cancer therapy as certain malignancies can cause a slight increase in temperature and a decrease in the extracellular pH around the tumor site. This review is a compilation of updated therapeutic applications of PMs, such as PMs that are based on Pluronics^®, micelleplexes and Pox-based PMs in several biomedical applications.

Gold Nanoconjugates for miRNA Modulation in Cancer Therapy: From miRNA Silencing to miRNA Mimics

Cancer is a major healthcare burden and cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and 10 million cancer deaths globally only in 2020. While several anticancer therapeutics are available to date, many of these still show low treatment efficacy and high off-target effects and adverse reactions. This prompts a serious need to develop novel therapies that can decrease the side effects and increase treatment efficacy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can have a role in tumor development and progression, making them important targets for the improvement of anticancer therapies. In this context, gold nanoparticles have been widely studied for different clinical applications due to their biocompatibility and possibility of customization, and gold nanoconjugates targeting miRNAs are being developed for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here we summarize the research developed so far and how it can contribute to cancer treatment, discuss how it can be improved, and present the current challenges and future perspectives on their design and application.

Monodisperse Gold Nanoparticles: A Review on Synthesis and Their Application in Modern Medicine

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are becoming increasingly popular as drug carriers due to their unique properties such as size tenability, multivalency, low toxicity and biocompatibility. AuNPs have physical features that distinguish them from bulk materials, small molecules and other nanoscale particles. Their unique combination of characteristics is just now being fully realized in various biomedical applications. In this review, we focus on the research accomplishments and new opportunities in this field, and we describe the rising developments in the use of monodisperse AuNPs for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This study addresses the key principles and the most recent published data, focusing on monodisperse AuNP synthesis, surface modifications, and future theranostic applications. Moving forward, we also consider the possible development of functionalized monodisperse AuNPs for theranostic applications based on these efforts. We anticipate that as research advances, flexible AuNPs will become a crucial platform for medical applications.

Electrochemotherapy of Deep-Seated Tumors: State of Art and Perspectives as Possible "EPR Effect Enhancer" to Improve Cancer Nanomedicine Efficacy

Simple Summary

Electroporation-based therapies (reversible electroporation, irreversible electroporation, electrochemotherapy) are used for the selective treatment of deep-seated tumors. The combination of the structural modifications of the lipid bilayer of cell membranes, due to the application of electrical pulses in the targeted tissue, with the concomitant systemic (intravenous) administration of drugs can be considered as a sort of bridge between local-regional and systemic treatments. A possible further application of these techniques can be envisaged in their use as enhancers of the so-called “enhanced permeability and retention” effect. The intratumoral uptake of drug-loaded nanocarriers concomitant with the application of electric pulses in the target tumor is a new scenario worthy of attention and can represent a potential new frontier for drug delivery in oncology.

Abstract

Surgical resection is the gold standard for the treatment of many kinds of tumor, but its success depends on the early diagnosis and the absence of metastases. However, many deep-seated tumors (liver, pancreas, for example) are often unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Chemotherapies and radiotherapies are a second line for cancer treatment. The “enhanced permeability and retention” (EPR) effect is believed to play a fundamental role in the passive uptake of drug-loaded nanocarriers, for example polymeric nanoparticles, in deep-seated tumors. However, criticisms of the EPR effect were recently raised, particularly in advanced human cancers: obstructed blood vessels and suppressed blood flow determine a heterogeneity of the EPR effect, with negative consequences on nanocarrier accumulation, retention, and intratumoral distribution. Therefore, to improve the nanomedicine uptake, there is a strong need for “EPR enhancers”. Electrochemotherapy represents an important tool for the treatment of deep-seated tumors, usually combined with the systemic (intravenous) administration of anticancer drugs, such as bleomycin or cisplatin. A possible new strategy, worthy of investigation, could be the use of this technique as an “EPR enhancer” of a target tumor, combined with the intratumoral administration of drug-loaded nanoparticles. This is a general overview of the rational basis for which EP could be envisaged as an “EPR enhancer” in nanomedicine.

Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of antibacterial activity of transition metal oxyde nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) have a wide range of applications in various areas. For health application, cytotoxicity tests are used to ensure its efficiency and safety. In this paper, ZnFe₂O₄, CoFe₂O₄, Zn_0.5Co_0.5Fe₂O₄ NPs were synthesized, characterized and their antibacterial properties were evaluated. The Sol-Gel method was used to synthesize the NPs. Their electronic and crystallographic structures were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). To perform the antibacterial evaluation, ferrites were dispersed through nanoemulsion to prevent the crystals from accumulating together. Then the evaluation was performed through microdilution in a 96-well plate and diffusion in agar disc in contact with 3 different strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. It demonstrated that the Sol-Gel method was efficient to synthesize NPs with suitable sizes for health application. All synthesized NPs showed the inhibition of bacterias with different concentrations used.

Construction of a pH/TGase "Dual Key"-Responsive Gold Nano-radiosensitizer with Liver Tumor-Targeting Ability

The method of tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive aggregation has become a promising approach to enhance treatment effect by improving the accumulation of nanoparticles in tumors. The enzymatic cross-linking strategy has widely attracted attention owing to its good aggregation stability and biocompatibility. However, the enzymes in nontumor tissue can also catalyze the cross-linking reaction and reduce accumulation of nanoparticles in tumor. In this work, a "dual key"-responsive strategy is utilized to construct a transglutaminase (TGase)/pH-responsive radiosensitizer (Au@TAcoGal) with specific aggregation behavior in hepatic tumor cells. Au@TAcoGal can retain its stability in blood circulation (pH 7.4) even in the presence of TGase in plasma. On reaching tumor sites, it can be endocytosed by hepatoma cells by the active targeting of phenylboronic acid (PBA) and aggregated under acidity and overexpression of TGase in cells. Due to its specific accumulation in hepatoma cells, radiotherapy can be operated under a lower dose of X-ray. The results show that the cellular accumulation of Au@TAcoGal increases by 30-70%, and the cell survival rate is less than 25% under X-ray irradiation. The antineoplastic results show that Au@TAcoGal exhibits a higher therapeutic effect, and the tumor inhibition rate can reach 84.21%.

Synthesis of Starch Nanoparticles and Their Applications for Bioactive Compound Encapsulation

In recent years, starch nanoparticles (SNPs) have attracted growing attention due to their unique properties as a sustainable alternative to common nanomaterials since they are natural, renewable and biodegradable. SNPs can be obtained by the breakdown of starch granules through different techniques which include both physical and chemical methods. The final properties of the SNPs are strongly influenced by the synthesis method used as well as the operational conditions, where a controlled and monodispersed size is crucial for certain bioapplications. SNPs are considered to be a good vehicle to improve the controlled release of many bioactive compounds in different research fields due to their high biocompatibility, potential functionalization, and high surface/volume ratio. Their applications are frequently found in medicine, cosmetics, biotechnology, or the food industry, among others. Both the encapsulation properties as well as the releasing processes of the bioactive compounds are highly influenced by the size of the SNPs. In this review, a general description of the different types of SNPs (whole and hollow) synthesis methods is provided as well as on different techniques for encapsulating bioactive compounds, including direct and indirect methods, with application in several fields. Starches from different botanical sources and different bioactive compounds are compared with respect to the efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Applications and future research trends on SNPs synthesis have been included and discussed.

Nanotechnology in Bladder Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment

Bladder cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer of the urinary tract in men and the fourth most common cancer in women, and its incidence rises with age. There are many conventional methods for diagnosis and treatment of BC. There are some current biomarkers and clinical tests for the diagnosis and treatment of BC. For example, radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy and surgical, but residual tumor cells mostly cause tumor recurrence. In addition, chemotherapy after transurethral resection causes high side effects, and lack of selectivity, and low sensitivity in sensing. Therefore, it is essential to improve new procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of BC. Nanotechnology has recently sparked an interest in a variety of areas, including medicine, chemistry, physics, and biology. Nanoparticles (NP) have been used in tumor therapies as appropriate tools for enhancing drug delivery efficacy and enabling therapeutic performance. It is noteworthy, nanomaterial could be reduced the limitation of conventional cancer diagnosis and treatments. Since, the major disadvantages of therapeutic drugs are their insolubility in an aqueous solvent, for instance, paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the important therapeutic agents utilized to treating BC, due to its ability to prevent cancer cell growth. However, its major problem is the poor solubility, which has confirmed to be a challenge when improving stable formulations for BC treatment. In order to reduce this challenge, anti-cancer drugs can be loaded into NPs that can improve water solubility. In our review, we state several nanosystem, which can effective and useful for the diagnosis, treatment of BC. We investigate the function of metal NPs, polymeric NPs, liposomes, and exosomes accompanied therapeutic agents for BC Therapy, and then focused on the potential of nanotechnology to improve conventional approaches in sensing.

A review of advanced nanoformulations in phototherapy for cancer therapeutics

Phototherapy has the potential to play a greater role in oncology. Phototherapy converts light energy into either chemical energy or thermal energy, which eventually destroys cancer cells after a series of biological reactions. With nanotechnology applications in cancer therapeutics, it has become possible to prepare smart drug carriers with multifunctional properties at the nanoscale level. These nanocarriers may be able to deliver the drug molecules to the target site more efficiently in the form of nanoparticles. Several intrinsic and extrinsic properties of these nanocarriers help target the tumor cells exclusively, and by utilizing these features, drug molecules can be delivered to the tumor cells specifically, which results in high tumor uptake and better therapeutic effects ultimately. Nanocarriers can also be designed to carry different drugs together to provide a platform for combination therapy like chemo-photodynamic therapy and chemo-photodynamic-photothermal therapy. In combination therapy, co-delivery of all different drugs is crucial to obtain their synergistic effects, and with the help of nanocarriers, it is possible to co-deliver these drugs by loading them together onto the nanocarriers.

Unbiased Identification of Angiogenin as an Endogenous Antimicrobial Protein With Activity Against Virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a highly prevalent infectious disease with more than 1.5 million fatalities each year. Antibiotic treatment is available, but intolerable side effects and an increasing rate of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) may hamper successful outcomes. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer an alternative strategy for treatment of infectious diseases in which conventional antibiotic treatment fails. Human serum is a rich resource for endogenous AMPs. Therefore, we screened a library generated from hemofiltrate for activity against Mtb. Taking this unbiased approach, we identified Angiogenin as the single compound in an active fraction. The antimicrobial activity of endogenous Angiogenin against extracellular Mtb could be reproduced by synthetic Angiogenin. Using computational analysis, we identified the hypothetical active site and optimized the lytic activity by amino acid exchanges. The resulting peptide-Angie1-limited the growth of extra- and intracellular Mtb and the fast-growing pathogens Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Toward our long-term goal of evaluating Angie1 for therapeutic efficacy in vivo, we demonstrate that the peptide can be efficiently delivered into human macrophages via liposomes and is not toxic for zebrafish embryos. Taken together, we define Angiogenin as a novel endogenous AMP and derive the small, bioactive fragment Angie1, which is ready to be tested for therapeutic activity in animal models of tuberculosis and infections with fast-growing bacterial pathogens.

Evaluation of biopolymer-derived carbon dots as cancer diagnostic biomarkers for human monocyte cell lines (THP-1)

Fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) were fabricated from Anogeissus latifolia (Gum ghatti) gum extract using direct microwave pyrolysis method. The C-dots are fine-tuned concerning three parameters, viz., NaOH addition (presence and absence), microwave power, and irradiation time. C-dots optical properties were investigated through UV-visible (UV-Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy. Using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman Spectroscopy, physiochemical properties of synthesized C-dots were inspected. The average size of C-dots was estimated to be 4.8 ± 2 nm and is amorphous. These C-dots displayed high solubility in an aqueous medium due to oxygen functionality, and showed good fluorescence stability to high-ionic concentration and varied pH. The fluorescence spectra outcomes specified that C-dots exhibited excitation-dependent emission behavior. Furthermore, the C-dots biological function was tested for cell biocompatibility and bioimaging. The cytotoxicity studies were performed on Vero cell lines and compared with THP-1 human monocyte cell lines at different concentrations. The results revealed good biocompatibility app. 80 and 90% for Vero and THP-1 cell lines even after 24 h incubation with the C-dots. Finally, by employing C-dots as the fluorescent tool, THP-1 cells were imaged successfully via a Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM) in a concentration-dependent manner.

Experimental comparison of four nonlinear magnetic detection methods and considerations on clinical usability

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are promising for clinical applications, because they have a characteristic nonlinear magnetic response when an external magnetic field is applied. This nonlinearity enables the distinct detection of SPIONs and makes measurements less sensitive to the human body and surgical steel instruments. In clinical applications, only a limited field strength for the magnetic detection is allowed. The signal to noise ratios (SNRs) of four nonlinear magnetic detection methods are compared. These methods include differential magnetometry and three variations of magnetic particle spectroscopy: frequency mixing, second harmonic detection and third harmonic detection. All methods were implemented on the same hardware and experimentally compared for various field strengths. To make the comparison fair, the same power was supplied to the excitation coil each time. In general, the SNR increases with increasing field strength. The SNR per drive field of all methods stabilizes or even decreases for field strengths above 6 mT. The second harmonic detection has the best SNR and the most room for improvement.

Nanoparticles loading porphyrin sensitizers in improvement of photodynamic therapy for ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer, the malignant tumor with the highest mortality rate in gynecological tumors, leads to a poor prognosis due to tumor metastasis. At present, the main treatment for ovarian cancer is the combination of cytoreduction surgery and chemotherapy. But the surgery is insufficient to solve the extensive transfer of tumor in the abdominal cavity and a large proportion of ovarian cancer cases have shown resistance to chemotherapy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a viable treatment option for a wide range of applications, especially in malignant tumors. Porphyrin sensitizers, as the most widely used photosensitive agents, have the following advantages: short photosensitive period and high singlet oxygen production. However, most studies have found that it is difficult to achieve high loading rates of photosensitive agents, thus effective concentration in target tissue is suboptimal and the lethal ability is greatly reduced. In this article, we review several studies that nanoparticles loading porphyrin sensitizers for photodynamic therapy of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

We collected relevant literature from PUBMED and reviewed their research content.

RESULTS

The application of nanotechnology to PDT in ovarian cancer can reduce the non-specific toxicity of photosensitive agents and increase stability and delivery efficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination with nanotechnology can cover the shortcomings of photodynamic therapy, but the specific efficacy still needs a large number of experiments to prove.

ICG-loaded gold nano-bipyramids with NIR activatable dual PTT-PDT therapeutic potential in melanoma cells

A great amount of effort is directed towards the progress of cancer treatment approaches aspiring to develop non-invasive, targeted and highly efficient therapies. In this context, Photothermal (PTT) and Photodynamic (PDT) Therapies were proven as promising. This work aims to integrate the therapeutic activities of two near-infrared (NIR) photoactive biomaterials - gold nano-bipyramids (AuBPs) and Indocyanine Green (ICG) - into one single targeted hybrid nanosystem able to operate as dual PTT-PDT agent with higher efficiency compared with each one alone. Firstly, different aspect ratio' AuBPs were systematically investigated in water solution for their intrinsic ability to efficiently generate toxic reactive oxygen species, namely oxygen singlet (¹O₂), under NIR laser irradiation, as this effect is less investigated in literature. Interestingly, the photodynamic activity of AuBPs measured by monitoring the photooxidation of 9,10-Anthracenediyl-bis(methylene)dimalonic acid (ABDA) - a well-known ¹O₂ sensor, is important, counting for 30 % decrease in ABDA optical absorbance for the most active AuBPs, well-correlating with the previously determined photothermal conversion efficiency. Furthermore, ICG was successfully grafted onto the Poly-lactic acid (PLA) coating of plasmonic nanoparticles and, consequently, the as-designed fully integrated hybrid nanosystem shows improved PTT-PDT performance in solution. Specifically, by triggering simultaneous PTT-PDT activities, the ¹O₂ amount is doubled, while the heating monitoring shows higher and faster increase in temperature compared to AuBPs alone. Finally, the efficiency of the combined PTT-PDT therapeutic activity was validated in vitro against B16-F10 cell line by covalent conjugation of the nanosystem with Folic Acid, which ensures the cellular recognition by overexpression of folate receptor.

UCNP-based Photoluminescent Nanomedicines for Targeted Imaging and Theranostics of Cancer

Theranostic approach is currently among the fastest growing trends in cancer treatment. It implies the creation of multifunctional agents for simultaneous precise diagnosis and targeted impact on tumor cells. A new type of theranostic complexes was created based on NaYF₄: Yb,Tm upconversion nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol and functionalized with the HER2-specific recombinant targeted toxin DARPin-LoPE. The obtained agents bind to HER2-overexpressing human breast adenocarcinoma cells and demonstrate selective cytotoxicity against this type of cancer cells. Using fluorescent human breast adenocarcinoma xenograft models, the possibility of intravital visualization of the UCNP-based complexes biodistribution and accumulation in tumor was demonstrated.

Targeted MRI and chemotherapy of ovarian cancer with clinic available nano-drug based nanoprobe

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, and chemotherapy, as its main treatment, has side effects in clinical application due to lack of targeting selectivity to tumor tissues. Theranostic nanomaterials have shown wonderful functions for the diagnosis and therapy of disease benefitting from the controllability of nanomaterials. However, there is still little available for clinical transformation due to the uncertain biocompatibility. It is urgent to develop nanoprobes possessing bright transformation potentials. This study reports a facile biomineralization route to synthesize the theranostic nanoprobe using the clinic available nano-drug (trademark Abraxane). Further profiting from the binding ability of albumin to metal cations, we successfully prepared biocompatible nanoprobe, BSA-Gd₂O₃/PTX@Anti-HE4 mAb, for the targeted magnetic resonance imaging and chemotherapy of ovarian carcinoma. The obtained nanoprobe has the advantages of uniform particle size, good dispersibility and favorable stability. In vivo and in vitro experiment results showed that the nanoprobe can realize targeted magnetic resonance imaging and chemotherapy of ovarian carcinoma. Such a novel multifunctional nanoprobe based on clinic nano-drug might be promising for clinic transformation.

Multifunctional Complexes Based on Photoluminescent Upconversion Nanoparticles for Theranostics of the HER2-Positive Tumors

Combining diagnostic and therapeutic functions in one agent is a promising strategy in the development of personalized approaches to the treatment of cancer. The opportunity to combine diagnostics and therapy appeared with the development of nanobiotechnologies and was realized in the concept of theranostics. To date, a number of promising agents based on nanomaterials capable of diagnosing, targeted therapeutic effects, and monitoring the response of tumor cells were obtained within the approach of theranostics. In this work, a new type of theranostic complexes based on upconversion nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol and functionalized with the DARPin-LoPE recombinant targeted toxin was developed. Selective binding of complexes to human breast adenocarcinoma cells overexpressing the HER2 receptor and specific toxicity to them were shown.

Chitosan Nanoparticles for Therapy and Theranostics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and Liver-Targeting

Chitosan nanoparticles are well-known delivery systems widely used as polymeric carriers in the field of nanomedicine. Chitosan is a carbohydrate of natural origin: it is a biodegradable, biocompatible, mucoadhesive, polycationic polymer and it is endowed with penetration enhancer properties. Furthermore, it can be easily derivatized. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a remarkable health problem because current therapies, that include surgery, liver transplantation, trans-arterial embolization, chemoembolization and chemotherapy, present significant limitations due to the high risk of recurrence, to a lack of drug selectivity and to other serious side effects. Therefore, there is the need for new therapeutic strategies and for improving the liver-targeting to HCC. Nanomedicine consists in the use of nanoscale carriers as delivery systems to target and deliver drugs and/or diagnostic agents to specific organs or tissues. Chitosan and its derivatives can be successfully used in the preparation of nanoparticles that, for their peculiar surface-properties, can specifically interact with liver tumor, by passive and active targeting. This review concerns the use of chitosan nanoparticles for the therapy and theranostics of HCC and liver-targeting.

Autophagic stress; a new cellular response to nanoparticles. Could it be a new strategy for inhibition of liver cancer cell invasion and metastasis?

We herein report a new biological consequence from a unique interaction between nanoparticles of ferric-tannic complexes (Fe-TA NPs) and liver cancer cells (HepG2.2.15). The Fe-TA NPs were found to accumulate into the cells via specific cellular uptake mechanisms and thereafter disturbed cellular autophagy and cellular pH homeostasis, which led the cells to undergo autophagic stress and eventual death. According to biophysical analysis, the cells undergoing autophagic stress were found to lose their capability of attachment, migration, and movement. Similarly, KEGG analysis demonstrated the down-regulation of TGF-beta indicating that the autophagic stress is capable of reducing cancer cell invasion. Therefore, the Fe-TA NPs could be considered beneficial as a new pharmaceutical nanoplatform for liver cancer treatment via induction of autophagic stress.

Application of Nanotechnology in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy - A Mini-Review

Cancer is a leading cause of death and poor quality of life globally. Even though several strategies are devised to reduce deaths, reduce chronic pain and improve the quality of life, there remains a shortfall in the adequacies of these cancer therapies. Among the cardinal steps towards ensuring optimal cancer treatment are early detection of cancer cells and drug application with high specificity to reduce toxicities. Due to increased systemic toxicities and refractoriness with conventional cancer diagnostic and therapeutic tools, other strategies including nanotechnology are being employed to improve diagnosis and mitigate disease severity. Over the years, immunotherapeutic agents based on nanotechnology have been used for several cancer types to reduce the invasiveness of cancerous cells while sparing healthy cells at the target site. Nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes, polymeric micelles and liposomes have been used in cancer drug design where they have shown considerable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic benefits in cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we outline the commonly used nanomaterials which are employed in cancer diagnosis and therapy. We have highlighted the suitability of these nanomaterials for cancer management based on their physicochemical and biological properties. We further reviewed the challenges that are associated with the various nanomaterials which limit their uses and hamper their translatability into the clinical setting in certain cancer types.