Codelivery of adavosertib and olaparib by tumor-targeting nanoparticles for augmented efficacy and reduced toxicity

Therapeutic efficacy of TMTP1-modified EVs in overcoming bone metastasis and immune resistance in PIK3CA mutant NSCLC

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with PIK3CA mutations demonstrates significant challenges in treatment due to enhanced bone metastasis and immune checkpoint resistance. This study investigates the efficacy of tumor-targeting peptide 1-modified cancer stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (TMTP1-TSRP-EVs) in reshaping the tumor microenvironment and reversing immune checkpoint resistance in NSCLC. By integrating TMTP1-TSRP into EVs, we aim to specifically deliver therapeutic agents to NSCLC cells, focusing on inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, a crucial driver of oncogenic activity and immune evasion in PIK3CA-mutated cells. Our comprehensive in vitro and in vivo analyses show that TMTP1-TSRP-EVs significantly inhibit tumor growth, reduce PD-L1 expression, and enhance CD8+ T cell infiltration, effectively reversing the immune-suppressive microenvironment. Moreover, the in vivo models confirm that our approach not only suppresses bone metastases but also overcomes primary resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors by modulating the expression of key immunological markers. These findings suggest that targeted delivery of TMTP1-TSRP-EVs could provide a novel therapeutic strategy for treating PIK3CA-mutant NSCLC, offering significant improvements over traditional therapies by directly targeting the molecular pathogenesis of tumor resistance and metastasis. Molecular Mechanisms Reshaping the TME to Halt PI3K-Mutant Bone Metastasis of NSCLC and Overcoming Primary ICI Resistance. (Created by BioRender).

Biomimetic Targeted Co-Delivery System Engineered from Genomic Insights for Precision Treatment of Osteosarcoma

The high heterogeneity and severe side effects of chemotherapy are major factors contributing to the failure of osteosarcoma treatment. Herein, a comprehensive genomic analysis is conducted, and identified two prominent characteristics of osteosarcoma: significant cyclin-dependent kinases 4 (CDK4) amplification and homologous recombination repair deficiency. Based on these findings, a co-delivery system loaded with CDK4/6 inhibitors and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors is designed. By employing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as carriers, issue of drug insolubility is effectively addressed, while also enabling controlled release in response to the tumor microenvironment. To enhance targeting capability and biocompatibility, the MOFs are further coated with a bio-membrane targeting B7H3. This targeted biomimetic co-delivery system possesses several key features: 1) it can precisely target osteosarcoma with high B7H3 expression; 2) the combination of CDK4/6 inhibitors and PARP inhibitors exhibits synergistic effects, significantly impairing tumor's DNA repair capacity; and 3) the system has the potential for combination with photodynamic therapy, amplifying DNA repair defects to maximize tumor cell eradication. Furthermore, it is observed that this co-delivery system can activate immune microenvironment, increasing CD8+ T cell infiltration and converting osteosarcoma from an immune-cold to an immune-hot tumor. In summary, the co-delivery system is an effective therapeutic strategy and holds promise as a novel approach for osteosarcoma treatment.

Regulation of ovarian cancer by protein post-translational modifications

Ovarian cancer is one of the predominant gynecologic malignancies worldwide, ranking as the fifth leading cause of cancer-induced mortality among women globally. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) refer to the enzyme-catalyzed attachment of functional groups to proteins, thereby inducing structural and functional alterations. Recent evidence suggests that PTMs play multifaceted roles in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer, influencing processes such as cell cycle, metabolism reprogramming, chemoresistance, and immune responses against cancer. Accordingly, a comprehensive understanding of the diverse PTMs in ovarian cancer is imperative for decoding the complex molecular mechanisms that drive cancer progression. This review discusses the latest developments in the study of protein PTMs in ovarian cancer and introduces pharmacological approaches that target these modifications as therapeutic strategies.

Advancing Ovarian Cancer Therapeutics: The Role of Targeted Drug Delivery Systems

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal reproductive system cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death. The high mortality rate and poor prognosis of OC are primarily due to its tendency for extensive abdominal metastasis, late diagnosis in advanced stages, an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, significant adverse reactions to first-line chemotherapy, and the development of chemoresistance. Current adjuvant chemotherapies face challenges such as poor targeting, low efficacy, and significant side effects. Targeted drug delivery systems (TDDSs) are designed to deliver drugs precisely to the tumor site to enhance efficacy and minimize side effects. This review highlights recent advancements in the use of TDDSs for OC therapies, including drug conjugate delivery systems, nanoparticle drug delivery systems, and hydrogel drug delivery systems. The focus is on employing TDDS to conduct direct, effective, and safer interventions in OC through methods such as targeted tumor recognition and controlled drug release, either independently or in combination. This review also discusses the prospects and challenges for further development of TDDSs. Undoubtedly, the use of TDDSs shows promise in the battle against OCs.

Targeted Nanocarrier-Based Drug Delivery Strategies for Improving the Therapeutic Efficacy of PARP Inhibitors against Ovarian Cancer

The current focus of ovarian cancer (OC) research is the improvement of treatment options through maximising drug effectiveness. OC remains the fifth leading cause of cancer-induced mortality in women worldwide. In recent years, nanotechnology has revolutionised drug delivery systems. Nanoparticles may be utilised as carriers in gene therapy or to overcome the problem of drug resistance in tumours by limiting the number of free drugs in circulation and thereby minimising undesired adverse effects. Cell surface receptors, such as human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), folic acid (FA) receptors, CD44 (also referred to as homing cell adhesion molecule, HCAM), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are highly expressed in ovarian cancer cells. Generation of active targeting nanoparticles involves modification with ligands that recognise cell surface receptors and thereby promote internalisation by cancer cells. Several poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) are currently used for the treatment of high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSOC) or platinum-sensitive relapsed OC. However, PARP resistance and poor drug bioavailability are common challenges, highlighting the urgent need to develop novel, effective strategies for ovarian cancer treatment. This review evaluates the utility of nanoparticles in ovarian cancer therapy, with a specific focus on targeted approaches and the use of PARPi nanocarriers to optimise treatment outcomes.

Synthesis and characterization of a pH/temperature-dual responsive hydrogel with promising biocompatibility features for stimuli-responsive 5-FU delivery

The tunable properties of stimuli-responsive copolymers or hydrogels enable their application in different fields such as biomedical engineering, tissue engineering, or even drug release. Here we introduce a new PNIPAM-based triblock copolymer material comprising a controlled amount of a novel hydrophobic crosslinker 2,4'-diacryloyloxy benzophenone (DABP) and acrylic acid (AAc) to achieve lower critical solution temperature (LCST) between ambient and body temperatures. The dual stimuli-responsive p(NIPAM-co-DABP-co-AAc) triblock copolymer material and hydrogel were synthesized, and their temperature and pH-responsive behaviors were systematically investigated. The hydrogel exhibited excellent temperature and pH-responsive properties with an LCST of around 30 °C. Moreover, the synthesized copolymer has been demonstrated to be nontoxic both in vitro and in vivo. When the hydrogel was preloaded with the model drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the designed hydrogel released the drug in a temperature and pH-controlled fashion. It was observed that the prepared hydrogel has the ability to entrap 5-FU, and the loading is more than 85%. In the case of temperature-controlled release, we observed almost complete release of 5-FU at lower temperatures and sustained release behavior at higher temperatures. In addition, the hydrogel matrix was able to retard the release of 5-FU in an acidic environment and selectively release 5-FU in a basic environment. By realizing how the hydrogel properties influence the release of drugs from preloaded hydrogels, it is possible to design new materials with myriad applications in the drug delivery field.

Oncogenic Pathways and Targeted Therapies in Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most aggressive forms of gynaecological malignancies. Survival rates for women diagnosed with OC remain poor as most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease. Debulking surgery and platinum-based therapies are the current mainstay for OC treatment. However, and despite achieving initial remission, a significant portion of patients will relapse because of innate and acquired resistance, at which point the disease is considered incurable. In view of this, novel detection strategies and therapeutic approaches are needed to improve outcomes and survival of OC patients. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the genetic landscape and molecular pathways underpinning OC and its many subtypes. By examining therapeutic strategies explored in preclinical and clinical settings, we highlight the importance of decoding how single and convergent genetic alterations co-exist and drive OC progression and resistance to current treatments. We also propose that core signalling pathways such as the PI3K and MAPK pathways play critical roles in the origin of diverse OC subtypes and can become new targets in combination with known DNA damage repair pathways for the development of tailored and more effective anti-cancer treatments.

Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Systems for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Reproductive Disorders

Over the past decade, nanotechnology has seen extensive integration into biomedical applications, playing a crucial role in biodetection, drug delivery, and diagnostic imaging. This is especially important in reproductive health care, which has become an emerging and significant area of research. Global concerns have intensified around disorders such as infertility, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, erectile dysfunction, benign prostate hyperplasia, sexually transmitted infections, and reproductive cancers. Nanotechnology presents promising solutions to address these concerns by introducing innovative tools and techniques, facilitating early detection, targeted drug delivery, and improved imaging capabilities. Through the utilization of nanoscale materials and devices, researchers can craft treatments that are not only more precise but also more effective, significantly enhancing outcomes in reproductive healthcare. Looking forward, the future of nanotechnology in reproductive medicine holds immense potential for reshaping diagnostics, personalized therapies, and fertility preservation. The utilization of nanotechnology-driven drug delivery systems is anticipated to elevate treatment effectiveness, minimize side effects, and offer patients therapies that are not only more precise but also more efficient. This review aims to delve into the various types, properties, and preparation techniques of nanocarriers specifically designed for drug delivery in the context of reproductive disorders, shedding light on the current landscape and potential future directions in this dynamic field.

Combining Olaparib and Ascorbic Acid on Nanoparticles to Enhance the Drug Toxic Effects in Pancreatic Cancer

Introduction

Pancreatic cancer (PC) shows a very poor response to current treatments. Development of drug resistance is one of the causes of the therapy failure, being PARP1 (poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1) a relevant protein in the resistance mechanism. In this work, we have functionalized calcium phosphate-based nanoparticles (NPs) with Olaparib (OLA, a PARP-1 inhibitor) in combination with ascorbic acid (AA), a pro-oxidative agent, to enhance their individual effects.

Methods

Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP) NPs were synthesized through a biomimetic approach and then functionalized with OLA and AA (NP-ACP-OLA-AA). After evaluation of the loading capacity and release kinetic, cytotoxicity, cell migration, immunofluorescence, and gene expression assays were performed using pancreatic tumor cell lines. In vivo studies were carried out on tumors derived from the PANC-1 line in NOD SCID gamma (NSG) mice.

Results

NP-ACP-OLA-AA was loaded with 13%wt of OLA (75% loading efficiency) and 1% of AA, respectively. The resulting dual nanosystem exhibited a gradual release of OLA and AA, being the latter protected from degradation in solution. This ensured the simultaneous availability of OLA and AA for a longer period, at least, during the entire time of in vitro cell experiments (72 hours). In vitro studies indicated that NP-ACP-OLA-AA showed the best cytotoxic effect outperforming that of the free OLA and a higher genotoxicity and apoptosis-mediated cytotoxic effect in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line. Interestingly, the in vivo assays using immunosuppressed mice with PANC-1-induced tumors revealed that NP-ACP-OLA-AA produced a higher tumor volume reduction (59.1%) compared to free OLA (28.3%) and increased the mice survival.

Conclusion

Calcium phosphate NPs, a highly biocompatible and biodegradable system, were an ideal vector for the OLA and AA co-treatment in PC, inducing significant therapeutic benefits relative to free OLA, including cytotoxicity, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell migration, tumor growth, and survival.