Engineering nanosystems to overcome barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment

Recent advances in carbon monoxide-releasing nanomaterials

As an endogenous signaling molecule, carbon monoxide (CO) has emerged as an increasingly promising option regarding as gas therapy due to its positive pharmacological effects in various diseases. Owing to the gaseous nature and potential toxicity, it is particularly important to modulate the CO release dosages and targeted locations to elucidate the biological mechanisms of CO and facilitate its clinical applications. Based on these, diverse CO-releasing molecules (CORMs) have been developed for controlled release of CO in biological systems. However, practical applications of these CORMs are limited by several disadvantages including low stability, poor solubility, weak releasing controllability, random diffusion, and potential toxicity. In light of rapid developments and diverse advantages of nanomedicine, abundant nanomaterials releasing CO in controlled ways have been developed for therapeutic purposes across various diseases. Due to their nanoscale sizes, diversified compositions and modified surfaces, vast CO-releasing nanomaterials (CORNMs) have been constructed and exhibited controlled CO release in specific locations under various stimuli with better pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In this review, we present the recent progress in CORNMs according to their compositions. Following a concise introduction to CO therapy, CORMs and CORNMs, the representative research progress of CORNMs constructed from organic nanostructures, hybrid nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials, and nanocomposites is elaborated. The basic properties of these CORNMs, such as active components, CO releasing mechanisms, detection methods, and therapeutic applications, are discussed in detail and listed in a table. Finally, we explore and discuss the prospects and challenges associated with utilizing nanomaterials for biological CO release.

Targeting microRNAs as a promising anti-cancer therapeutic strategy against traffic-related air pollution-mediated lung cancer

Air pollutants are increasingly emitted into the atmosphere because of the high dependency of humans on fossil-derived fuels. Wind speed and direction assisted high dispersibility and uncontrolled nature of air pollution across geo-/demographical borders, making it one of the major global concerns. Besides climate change, air pollution has been found to be associated with various diseases, such as cancer. Lung cancer, which is the world's most common type of cancer, has been found to be associated with traffic-related air pollution. Research and political efforts have been taken to explore green/renewable energy sources. However, these efforts at the current intensity cannot cope with the increasing need for fossil fuels. More specifically, political tensions such as the Russian-Ukraine war, economic tension (e.g., China-USA economic tensions), and other issues (e.g., pandemic, higher inflation rate, and poverty) significantly hindered phasing out fossil fuels. In this context, an increasing global population will be exposed to traffic-related air pollution, which justifies the current uptrend in the number of lung cancer patients. To combat this health burden, novel treatments with higher efficiency and specificity must be designed. One of the potential "life changer" options is microRNA (miRNA)-based therapy to target the expression of oncogenic genes. That said, this review discusses the association of traffic-related air pollution with lung cancer, the changes in indigenous miRNAs in the body during lung cancer, and the current status of miRNA therapeutics for lung cancer treatment. We believe that the article will significantly appeal to a broad readership of oncologists, environmentalists, and those who work in the field of (bio)energy. It may also gain the policymakers' attention to establish better health policies and regulations about air pollution, for example, by promoting (bio)fuel exploration, production, and consumption.

Multifunctionality of cyclodextrin-based polymeric nanoparticulate delivery systems for chemotherapeutics, combination therapy, and theranostics

As cancer being the most difficult disease to treat, different kinds of medications and therapeutic approaches have been prominently developed by scientists. For certain families of drugs, such as immuno-therapeutics or antibody-drug conjugates, efficient delivery systems are required during administration to protect the drugs from chemical degradation or biological inactivation. Delivery systems with the ability to carry different therapeutics or diagnostic agents or both, hold promising potential to tackle the abnormalities behind cancer. In this context, this review provides updated insights on how cyclodextrin-based polymeric nanosystems have become an effective treatment approach against cancer. Cyclodextrins (CDs) are natural oligosaccharides that are famously exploited in pharmaceutical research due to their exceptional quality of entrapping water-insoluble molecules inside their hydrophobic core and providing enhanced solubility with the help of their hydrophilic exterior. Combining the properties of CDs with polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) brings out excellent versatile and tunable profiles, thanks to the submicron-sized PNPs. By introducing the significance of CD as a delivery system, a collective discussion on different binding approaches and release mechanisms of CD-drug complexation, followed by their characterization studies has been done in this review. Further, in light of recent studies, the article majorly focuses on conveying how promoting CD to a polymeric and nanoscale elevates the multifunctional advantages against cancer that can be successfully applied in combination therapy and theranostics. Moreover, CD-based delivery systems including CALAA-01, CRLX101, and CRLX301, have demonstrated improved tumor targeting, reduced side effects, and prolonged drug release in preclinical studies and clinical trials.

Fisetin enhances cisplatin sensitivity in renal cell carcinoma via the CDK6/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Cisplatin resistance is ubiquitous among patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The present study assessed the role of fisetin in regulating cisplatin sensitivity and increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy for patients with RCC. Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays were used to assess the proliferation of RCC cells after fisetin and cisplatin treatment. The mRNA expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)6 were evaluated using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The expression levels of CDK6 and key proteins of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway were assessed using western blotting. The present study demonstrated that fisetin inhibited the proliferation and colony-forming ability of RCC cells, and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, fisetin enhanced the antineoplastic effects of cisplatin, as demonstrated by the increase in proliferation inhibition and apoptosis promotion after fisetin and cisplatin combination treatment. Furthermore, fisetin regulated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway through CDK6 inhibition, which enhanced cisplatin sensitivity. Overexpression of CDK6 neutralized the positive effects of fisetin on the improvement of cisplatin sensitivity in RCC cells. In conclusion, fisetin may enhance the sensitivity of RCC cells to cisplatin via the CDK6/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Nanotherapeutics for prostate cancer treatment: A comprehensive review

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent solid organ malignancy and seriously affects male health. The adverse effects of prostate cancer therapeutics can cause secondary damage to patients. Nanotherapeutics, which have special targeting abilities and controlled therapeutic release profiles, may serve as alternative agents for PCa treatment. At present, many nanotherapeutics have been developed to treat PCa and have shown better treatment effects in animals than traditional therapeutics. Although PCa nanotherapeutics are highly attractive, few successful cases have been reported in clinical practice. To help researchers design valuable nanotherapeutics for PCa treatment and avoid useless efforts, herein, we first reviewed the strategies and challenges involved in prostate cancer treatment. Subsequently, we presented a comprehensive review of nanotherapeutics for PCa treatment, including their targeting methods, controlled release strategies, therapeutic approaches and mechanisms. Finally, we proposed the future prospects of nanotherapeutics for PCa treatment.

Repolarizing Tumor-Associated Macrophages and inducing immunogenic cell Death: A targeted liposomal strategy to boost cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has shown promise in treating various malignancies. However, the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) triggered by M2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the limited tumor cell antigenicity have hindered its broader application. To address these challenges, we developed DOX/R837@ManL, a liposome loaded with imiquimod (R837) and doxorubicin (DOX), modified with mannose-polyethylene glycol (Man-PEG). DOX/R837@ManL employed a mannose receptor (MRC1)-mediated targeting strategy, allowing it to accumulate selectively at M2 Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor sites. R837, an immune adjuvant, promoted the conversion of immunosuppressive M2 TAMs into immunostimulatory M1 TAMs, and reshaped the immunosuppressive TME. Simultaneously, DOX release induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells and enhanced tumor cell antigenicity by promoting dendritic cells (DCs) maturation. Through targeted delivery, the synergistic action of R837 and DOX activated innate immunity and coordinated adaptive immunity, enhancing immunotherapy efficacy. In vivo experiments have demonstrated that DOX/R837@ManL effectively eliminated primary tumors and lung metastases, while also preventing tumor recurrence post-surgery. These findings highlighted the potential of DOX/R837@ManL as a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy.

Multifunctional GQDs for receptor targeting, drug delivery, and bioimaging in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a low survival rate and limited treatment options. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have recently become popular as a promising platform for cancer diagnosis and treatment due to their exceptional physicochemical properties, such as biocompatibility, stability, and fluorescence. This review discusses the potential of multifunctional GQDs as a platform for receptor targeting, drug delivery, and bioimaging in pancreatic cancer. The current studies emphasized the ability of GQDs to selectively target pancreatic cancer cells by overexpressing binding receptors on the cell surface. Additionally, this review discussed the uses of GQDs as drug delivery vehicles for the controlled and targeted release of therapeutics for pancreatic cancer cells. Finally, the potential of GQDs as imaging agents for pancreatic cancer detection and monitoring has been discussed. Overall, multifunctional GQDs showed great promise as a versatile platform for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Further investigation of multifunctional GQDs in terms of their potential and optimization in the context of pancreatic cancer therapy is needed.

Ciprofloxacin Derivative-Loaded Nanoparticles Synergize with Paclitaxel Against Type II Human Endometrial Cancer

Combinations of chemotherapeutic agents comprise a clinically feasible approach to combat cancers that possess resistance to treatment. Type II endometrial cancer is typically associated with poor outcomes and the emergence of chemoresistance. To overcome this challenge, a combination therapy is developed comprising a novel ciprofloxacin derivative-loaded PEGylated polymeric nanoparticles (CIP2b-NPs) and paclitaxel (PTX) against human type-II endometrial cancer (Hec50co with loss of function p53). Cytotoxicity studies reveal strong synergy between CIP2b and PTX against Hec50co, and this is associated with a significant reduction in the IC50 of PTX and increased G2/M arrest. Upon formulation of CIP2b into PEGylated polymeric nanoparticles, tumor accumulation of CIP2b is significantly improved compared to its soluble counterpart; thus, enhancing the overall antitumor activity of CIP2b when co-administered with PTX. In addition, the co-delivery of CIP2b-NPs with paclitaxel results in a significant reduction in tumor progression. Histological examination of vital organs and blood chemistry was normal, confirming the absence of any apparent off-target toxicity. Thus, in a mouse model of human endometrial cancer, the combination of CIP2b-NPs and PTX exhibits superior therapeutic activity in targeting human type-II endometrial cancer.

Biomimetic Cell-Derived Nanoparticles: Emerging Platforms for Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy can significantly prevent tumor growth and metastasis by activating the autoimmune system without destroying normal cells. Although cancer immunotherapy has made some achievements in clinical cancer treatment, it is still restricted by systemic immunotoxicity, immune cell dysfunction, cancer heterogeneity, and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITME). Biomimetic cell-derived nanoparticles are attracting considerable interest due to their better biocompatibility and lower immunogenicity. Moreover, biomimetic cell-derived nanoparticles can achieve different preferred biological effects due to their inherent abundant source cell-relevant functions. This review summarizes the latest developments in biomimetic cell-derived nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy, discusses the applications of each biomimetic system in cancer immunotherapy, and analyzes the challenges for clinical transformation.

Pluronic Induced Interparticle Attraction and Re-entrant Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Charged Silica Nanoparticle Suspensions

Tuning surface properties of nanoparticles by introducing charge, surface functionalization, or polymer grafting is central to their stability and applications. Here, we show that introducing non-DLVO forces like steric and hydrophobic effects in charged silica nanoparticle suspensions through interaction with a nonionic surfactant brings about interesting modulations in their interparticle interaction and phase behavior. The Ludox TM-40 negatively charged silica suspensions thus exhibit liquid-liquid phase separation driven by the onset of interparticle attraction in the system in the presence of the triblock copolymer Pluronic P123. The observed phase separations are thermoresponsive in nature, as they are associated with lower consolute temperatures and a re-entrant behavior as a function of temperature. The nanoparticle-Pluronic system thus undergoes transformation from one-phase to two-phase and then back to one-phase with monotonic increase in temperature. Evolution of the interparticle interaction in the composite system is investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS), zeta potential, rheological, and fluorescence spectroscopy studies. Zeta potential studies show that the charge interaction in the system is partially mitigated through adsorption of a Pluronic micellar layer on the nanoparticle surfaces. Contrast-matching SANS studies suggest that hydrophobic interactions between the adsorbed micellar layer bring about the onset of interparticle attraction in the system. The results are unique and not reported hitherto in charged silica nanoparticle systems.

Magnetic Nanostructures and Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine, Application in Liver Diseases

The term "liver disease" refers to any hepatic condition that leads to tissue damage or altered hepatic function and can be induced by virus infections, autoimmunity, inherited genetic mutations, high consumption of alcohol or drugs, fat accumulation, and cancer. Some types of liver diseases are becoming more frequent worldwide. This can be related to increasing rates of obesity in developed countries, diet changes, higher alcohol intake, and even the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was associated with increased liver disease-related deaths. Although the liver can regenerate, in cases of chronic damage or extensive fibrosis, the recovery of tissue mass is impossible, and a liver transplant is indicated. Because of reduced organ availability, it is necessary to search for alternative bioengineered solutions aiming for a cure or increased life expectancy while a transplant is not possible. Therefore, several groups were studying the possibility of stem cells transplantation as a therapeutic alternative since it is a promising strategy in regenerative medicine for treating various diseases. At the same time, nanotechnological advances can contribute to specifically targeting transplanted cells to injured sites using magnetic nanoparticles. In this review, we summarize multiple magnetic nanostructure-based strategies that are promising for treating liver diseases.

Antibody-Loaded Nanoplatforms for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: An Update

At present, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second deadliest type of cancer, partly because a high percentage of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages when tumors have already metastasized. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel diagnostic systems that allow early detection as well as new therapeutic systems that are more specific than those currently available. In this context, nanotechnology plays a very important role in the development of targeted platforms. In recent decades, many types of nanomaterials with advantageous properties have been used for nano-oncology applications and have been loaded with different types of targeted agents, capable of recognizing tumor cells or biomarkers. Indeed, among the different types of targeted agents, the most widely used are monoclonal antibodies, as the administration of many of them is already approved by the main drug regulatory agencies for the treatment of several types of cancer, including CRC. In this way, this review comprehensively discusses the main drawbacks of the conventional screening technologies and treatment for CRC, and it presents recent advances in the application of antibody-loaded nanoplatforms for CRC detection, therapy or theranostics applications.

A ciprofloxacin derivative with four mechanisms of action overcomes paclitaxel resistance in p53-mutant and MDR1 gene-expressing type II human endometrial cancer

Dysfunction of the p53 gene and the presence of the MDR1 gene are associated with many malignant tumors including endometrial cancer and are responsible for cancer therapeutic resistance and poor survival. Thus, there is a critical need to devise novel combinatorial therapies with multiple mechanisms of action to overcome drug resistance. Here, we report a new ciprofloxacin derivative (CIP2b) tested either alone or in combination with taxanes against four human endometrial cancer cell lines. In vitro studies revealed that a combination of paclitaxel + CIP2b had synergistic cytotoxic effects against MDR1-expressing type-II human endometrial cancer cells with loss-of-function p53 (Hec50co LOFp53). Enhanced antitumor effects were confirmed by substantial increases in caspase-3 expression, cell population shifts toward the G2/M phase, and reduction of cdc2 phosphorylation. It was found that CIP2b targets multiple pathways including the inhibition of MDR1, topoisomerase I, and topoisomerase II, as well as enhancing the effects of paclitaxel (PTX) on microtubule assembly. In vivo treatment with the combination of PTX + CIP2b also led to significantly increased accumulation of PTX in tumors (compared to CIP2b alone) and reduction in tumor growth. Enhanced in vivo cytotoxic effects were confirmed by histological and immunohistochemical examination of the tumor tissues. Complete blood count and blood biochemistry data confirmed the absence of any apparent off-target toxicity. Thus, combination therapy involving PTX and CIP2b targeted multiple pathways and represents an approach that could result in improved tolerance and efficacy in patients with type-II endometrial cancer harboring the MDR1 gene and p53 mutations.

Nano Delivery of Chemotherapeutic ICD Inducers for Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunogenic cell death (ICD, also known as immunogenic apoptosis) of malignant cells is confirmed to activate the host immune system to prevent, control, and eliminate tumors. Recently, a range of chemotherapeutic drugs have been repurposed as ICD inducers and applied for tumor immunotherapy. However, several hurdles to the widespread application of chemotherapeutic ICD inducers remain, namely poor water solubility, short blood circulation, non-specific tissue distribution, and severe toxicity. Recent advances in nanotechnology and pharmaceutical formulation foster the development of nano drug delivery systems to tackle the aforementioned hurdles and expedite safe, effective, and specific delivery. This review will describe delivery barriers to chemical ICD inducers and highlight recent nanoformulations for these drugs in tumor immunotherapy.

Recent advances in electrochemical nanomaterial-based aptasensors for the detection of cancer biomarkers

New technologies have provided suitable tools for rapid diagnosis of cancer which can reduce treatment costs and even increase patients' survival rates. Recently, the development of electrochemical aptamer-based nanobiosensors has raised great hopes for early, sensitive, selective, and low-cost cancer diagnosis. Here, we reviewed the flagged recent research (2021-2023) developed as a series of biosensors equipped with nanomaterials and aptamer sequences (nanoaptasensors) to diagnose/prognosis of various types of cancers. Equipping these aptasensors with nanomaterials and using advanced biomolecular technologies have provided specified biosensing interfaces for more optimal and reliable detection of cancer biomarkers. The primary intention of this review was to present and categorize the latest innovations used in the design of these diagnostic tools, including the hottest surface modifications and assembly of sensing bioplatforms considering diagnostic mechanisms. The main classification is based on applying various nanomaterials and sub-classifications considered based on the type of analyte and other vital features. This review may help design subsequent electrochemical aptasensors. Likewise, the up-to-date status, remaining limitations, and possible paths for translating aptasensors to clinical cancer assay tools can be clarified.

Nanosystems for Brain Targeting of Antipsychotic Drugs: An Update on the Most Promising Nanocarriers for Increased Bioavailability and Therapeutic Efficacy

Orally administered antipsychotic drugs are the first-line treatment for psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Nevertheless, adverse drug reactions jeopardize clinical outcomes, resulting in patient non-compliance. The design formulation strategies for enhancing brain drug delivery has been a major challenge, mainly due to the restrictive properties of the blood-brain barrier. However, recent pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic in vivo assays confirmed the advantage of the intranasal route when compared to oral and intravenous administration, as it allows direct nose-to-brain drug transport via neuronal pathways, reducing systemic side effects and maximizing therapeutic outcomes. In addition, the incorporation of antipsychotic drugs into nanosystems such as polymeric nanoparticles, polymeric mixed micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, nanoemulgels, nanosuspensions, niosomes and spanlastics, has proven to be quite promising. The developed nanosystems, having a small and homogeneous particle size (ideal for nose-to-brain delivery), high encapsulation efficiency and good stability, resulted in improved brain bioavailability and therapeutic-like effects in animal models. Hence, although it is essential to continue research in this field, the intranasal delivery of nanosystems for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other related disorders has proven to be quite promising, opening a path for future therapies with higher efficacy.

Surface-engineered nanoparticles in cancer immune response and immunotherapy: Current status and future prospects

Cancer immunotherapy is a therapeutic strategy to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis by intervening in the immune response process. Strategies applied to cancer immunotherapy mainly include blocking immune checkpoints, adoptive transfer of engineered immune cells, cytokine therapy, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic virus infection. However, many factors, such as off-target side effects, immunosuppressive cell infiltration and/or upregulation of immune checkpoint expression, cancer cell heterogeneity, and lack of antigen presentation, affect the therapeutic effect of immunotherapy on cancer. To improve the efficacy of targeted immunotherapy and reduce off-target effects, over the past two decades, nanoparticle delivery platforms have been increasingly used in tumor immunotherapy. However, nanoparticles are still subject to biological barriers and biodistribution challenges, which limit their overall clinical potential. This has prompted a series of engineered nanoparticles to overcome specific obstacles and transfer the accumulation of payloads to tumor-infiltrating immune cells. In recent years, new techniques and chemical methods have been employed to modify or functionalize the surfaces of nanoparticles. This review discusses the recent progress of surface-engineered nanoparticles in inducing tumor immune responses and immunotherapy, as well as future directions for the development of next-generation nanomedicines.

Nanostrategies: The Future Medicine for Fighting Cancer Progression and Drug Resistance 2.0

The attractiveness of the nanomaterials research field has persisted [...].