Versatile metal-phenolic network nanoparticles for multitargeted combination therapy and magnetic resonance tracing in glioblastoma

Therapeutic and prognostic values of ferroptosis signature in glioblastoma

Ferroptosis is a regulated cell death process that results in decreased tumor growth and aggressiveness when targeted in various cancer cells. Studying the impact of ferroptosis in glioblastoma (GBM) will provide important knowledge about tumor biology and potential treatment strategies. The high metabolic activity resulting in ROS production, iron content and active lipid metabolism of glioblastoma cells make them particularly susceptible to ferroptosis. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the molecular signature of GBM and its tumor microenvironment, introducing ferroptosis-related biomarkers pathways and drug resistance mechanisms to enhance treatment outcomes for GBM patients. The relationship between ferroptosis and the immune landscape in GBM is complex and can have either positive or negative effects. These effects can be identified through single-cell RNA sequencing to develop targeted chemo-, radio- and immuno- therapies against glioma stem cells and tumor-supportive immune cells. Additionally, the implication of oncolytic virotherapy in combination with ferroptosis induction can lead to improved treatment of GBM in a clinical setting.

Recent advances in biomimetic nanodelivery systems for the treatment of glioblastoma

Glioblastoma remain one of the deadliest malignant tumors in the central nervous system, largely due to their aggressiveness, high degree of heterogeneity, and the protective barrier of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Conventional therapies including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy often fail to improve patient prognosis due to limited drug penetration and non-specific toxicity. We then present recent advances in biomimetic nanodelivery systems, focusing on cell membrane coatings, nanoenzymes, and exosome-based carriers. By mimicking endogenous biological functions, these systems demonstrate improved immune evasion, enhanced BBB traversal, and selective drug release within the tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, we acknowledge unresolved bottlenecks related to large-scale production, stability, and the intricacies of regulatory compliance. Looking forward, we propose an interdisciplinary roadmap that combines materials engineering, cellular biology, and clinical expertise. Through this collaborative approach, this work aims to optimize biomimetic nanodelivery for glioma therapy and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

A Glutathione-Responsive System with Prodrug and Sensitization Strategies for Targeted Therapy of Glioma

Glioblastoma represents a highly aggressive form of malignant tumor within the central nervous system. Although chemotherapy remains the primary therapeutic strategy, its efficacy is often limited. To overcome the limitations associated with chemotherapeutic agents, such as high toxicity and non-specific adverse effects, a novel nanoparticle system comprising cRGD-modified and glutathione (GSH)-responsive polymers, and PEG-ss-Dox and apatinib (AP) (PDOX-AP/cRGD-NPs) is developed. PDOX-AP/cRGD-NPs show effective penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), facilitate targeted delivery to brain tumors, and exhibit controlled drug release. PDOX-AP/cRGD-NPs show more effect in reducing the viability of GL-261, U87-MG, and LN-229 cells, inhibiting clonogenicity, and suppressing anti-apoptotic protein expression than PDOX/cRGD-NPs or AP/cRGD-NPs. Additionally, PDOX-AP/cRGD-NPs substantially increase drug uptake, BBB penetration, apoptosis rates, and the proportion of cells in the G2 phase. In vivo experiments further reveal that cRGD-directed nanoparticles exhibit superior accumulation in glioma regions compared to their non-cRGD-modified counterparts. In the interim, PDOX-AP/cRGD-NPs demonstrate significant efficacy in suppressing both ectopic and orthotopic growth of GL-261 gliomas, as well as orthotopic LN-229 gliomas, thereby markedly extending the median survival duration. This study introduces a promising targeted co-delivery system for combination chemotherapy.

Nanomedicine's shining armor: understanding and leveraging the metal-phenolic networks

Metal-phenolic networks (MPNs), which comprise supramolecular amorphous networks formed by interlinking polyphenols with metal ions, garner escalating interest within the realm of nanomedicine. Presently, a comprehensive synthesis of the cumulative research advancements and utilizations of MPNs in nanomedicine remains absent. Thus, this review endeavors to firstly delineate the characteristic polyphenols, metal ions, and their intricate interaction modalities within MPNs. Subsequently, it elucidates the merits and demerits of diverse synthesis methodologies employed for MPNs, alongside exploring their potential functional attributes. Furthermore, it consolidates the diverse applications of MPNs across various nanomedical domains encompassing tumor therapy, antimicrobial interventions, medical imaging, among others. Moreover, a meticulous exposition of the journey of MPNs from their ingress into the human body to eventual excretion is provided. Lastly, the persistent challenges and promising avenues pertaining to MPNs are delineated. Hence, this review offering a comprehensive exposition on the current advancements of MPNs in nanomedicine, consequently offering indirect insights into their potential clinical implementation.

Hydrogen sulfide-generating semiconducting polymer nanoparticles for amplified radiodynamic-ferroptosis therapy of orthotopic glioblastoma

A variety of therapeutic strategies are available to treat glioblastoma (GBM), but the tumor remains one of the deadliest due to its aggressive invasiveness, restrictive blood-brain barrier (BBB), and exceptional resistance to drugs. In this study, we present a hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-generating semiconducting polymer nanoparticle (PFeD@Ang) for amplified radiodynamic-ferroptosis therapy of orthotopic glioblastoma. Our results show that in an acidic tumor microenvironment (TME), H2S donors produce large amounts of H2S, which inhibits mitochondrial respiration and alleviates cellular hypoxia, thus enhancing the radiodynamic effect during X-ray irradiation; meanwhile, Fe3+ is reduced to Fe2+ by tannic acid in an acidic TME, which promotes an iron-dependent cell death process in tumors. H2S facilitates the ferroptosis process by increasing the local H2O2 concentration via inhibiting catalase activity. This kind of amplified radiodynamic-ferroptosis therapeutic strategy could remarkably inhibit glioma progression in an orthotopic GBM mouse model. Our study demonstrates the potential of PFeD@Ang for GBM treatment via targeted delivery and combinational therapeutic actions of RDT and ferroptosis therapy.

A glutathione-activated bismuth-gallic acid metal-organic framework nano-prodrug for enhanced sonodynamic therapy of breast tumor

Sonodynamic therapy is a promising, noninvasive, and precise tumor treatment that leverages sonosensitizers to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species during ultrasound stimulation. Gallic acid (GA), a natural polyphenol, possesses certain anti-tumor properties, but exhibits significant toxicity toward normal cells, limiting its application in cancer treatment. To overcome this issue, we synthesized a bismuth-gallic acid (BGA), coordinated metal-organic framework (MOF) nano-prodrug. Upon encountering glutathione (GSH), BGA gradually dissociated and depleted GSH, releasing GA, which had anti-tumor effects. As an MOF with semiconductor properties, BGA primarily produced superoxide anion radical upon ultrasound excitation. After the release of GA, GA generated superoxide anion radical and further produced high toxic singlet oxygen under ultrasound stimulation, while further oxidizing and consuming GSH, enhancing sonocatalytic performance. Additionally, the released GA induced cell cycle arrest, ultimately leading to apoptosis. Our results revealed that BGA, as a GSH-activated, metal-polyphenol MOF nano-prodrug, showed potential for use in breast tumor sonodynamic therapy, providing a novel strategy for precise tumor treatment.

Metal Polyphenol Nanoparticle-Based Chemo/Ferroptosis Synergistic Therapy for the Treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Despite the use of surgical resection and chemotherapy in the clinical treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the 5-year survival rates of advanced patients are low. Therefore, more efficient strategies are urgently needed. Herein, a chemo/ferroptosis synergistic therapeutic system-DMEFe nanoparticles (NPs) is established for the treatment of OSCC. To create this system, the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into mesoporous silica nanoparticles and further coated with a pH-sensitive metal polyphenol (iron ion and epigallocatechin gallate). These nanoparticles displayed excellent pH-sensitive drug-control release properties, and the release ratio of DOX at pH 5.5 was twice as high than that at pH 7.4. Additionally, DMEF NPs were effectively taken up by the OSCC cell line SSC-25, which greatly impeded the proliferation of these cells. Notably, these nanoparticles increased the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species and effectively exhibited cytotoxity effects. The mechanistic results proved that DMEFe NPs regulated the expression of ferroptosis-related genes to induce ferroptosis of SSC-25 cells. Eventually, this chemo/ferroptosis therapeutic system exhibited remarkable antitumor effects and provided a novel strategy for the treatment of OSCC.

Phenolic-enabled nanotechnology: a new strategy for central nervous system disease therapy

Polyphenolic compounds have received tremendous attention in biomedicine because of their good biocompatibility and unique physicochemical properties. In recent years, phenolic-enabled nanotechnology (PEN) has become a hotspot of research in the medical field, and many promising studies have been reported, especially in the application of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Polyphenolic compounds have superior anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and can easily cross the blood‒brain barrier, as well as protect the nervous system from metabolic damage and promote learning and cognitive functions. However, although great advances have been made in this field, a comprehensive review regarding PEN-based nanomaterials for CNS therapy is lacking. A systematic summary of the basic mechanisms and synthetic strategies of PEN-based nanomaterials is beneficial for meeting the demand for the further development of novel treatments for CNS diseases. This review systematically introduces the fundamental physicochemical properties of PEN-based nanomaterials and their applications in the treatment of CNS diseases. We first describe the different ways in which polyphenols interact with other substances to form high-quality products with controlled sizes, shapes, compositions, and surface chemistry and functions. The application of PEN-based nanomaterials in the treatment of CNS diseases is then described, which provides a reference for subsequent research on the treatment of CNS diseases.

A universal nanoreactor triggering butterfly effect for encouraging Fenton/Fenton-like reactions and chemodynamic therapy

Fenton/Fenton-like reaction induced chemical dynamic therapy (CDT) has been widely recognized in tumor therapy. Due to the low efficiency of conversion from high-valent metal ions (M(n+1)+) to low-valent ions (Mn+) in the Fenton/Fenton-like catalytic process, enhancing the conversion efficiency safely and effectively would create a great opportunity for the clinical application of CDT. In the study, a universal nanoreactor (NR) consisting of liposome (Lip), tumor cell membrane (CM), and bis(2,4,5-trichloro-6-carboxyphenyl) oxalate (CPPO) is developed to tackle this challenge. The CPPO was first discovered to decompose under weak acidity and H2O2 conditions to generate carboxylic acids (R'COOH) and alcohols (R'OH) with reducibility, which will reduce M(n+1)+ to Mn+ and magnify the effect of CDT. Furthermore, glucose oxidase (GOx) was introduced to decompose glucose in tumor and generate H2O2 and glucose acid, which promote the degradation of CPPO, further strengthening the efficiency of CDT, leading to a butterfly effect. This demonstrated that the butterfly effect triggered by NR and GOx encourages Fenton/Fenton-like reactions of Fe3O4 and MoS2, thereby enhancing the tumor inhibition effect. The strategy of combining GOx and CPPO to strengthen the Fenton/Fenton-like reaction is a universal strategy, which provides a new and interesting perspective for CPPO in the application of CDT, reflecting the exquisite integration of Fenton chemistry and catalytic medicine.

Mitochondria targeted drug delivery system overcoming drug resistance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by reprogramming lipid metabolism

The challenge of drug resistance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is intricately linked with lipid metabolism reprogramming. The hepatic lipase (HL) and the membrane receptor CD36 are overexpressed in BGJ398-resistant ICC cells, while they are essential for lipid uptake, further enhancing lipid utilization in ICC. Herein, a metal-organic framework-based drug delivery system (OB@D-pMOF/CaP-AC, DDS), has been developed. The specifically designed DDS exhibits a successive targeting property, enabling it to precisely target ICC cells and their mitochondria. By specifically targeting the mitochondria, DDS produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) through its sonodynamic therapy effect, achieving a more potent reduction in ATP levels compared to non-targeted approaches, through the impairment of mitochondrial function. Additionally, the DDS strategically minimizes lipid uptake through the incorporation of the anti-HL drug, Orlistat, and anti-CD36 monoclonal antibody, reducing lipid-derived energy production. This dual-action strategy on both mitochondria and lipids can hinder energy utilization to restore drug sensitivity to BGJ398 in ICC. Moreover, an orthotopic mice model of drug-resistant ICC was developed, which serves as an exacting platform for evaluating the multifunction of designed DDS. Upon in vivo experiments with this model, the DDS demonstrated exceptional capabilities in suppressing tumor growth, reprogramming lipid metabolism and improving immune response, thereby overcoming drug resistance. These findings underscore the mitochondria-targeted DDS as a promising and innovative solution in ICC drug resistance.

Unveiling the shield: Troglitazone's impact on epilepsy-induced nerve injury through ferroptosis inhibition

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a widespread central nervous system disorder with an estimated 50 million people affected globally. It is characterized by a bimodal incidence peak among infants and the elderly and is influenced by a variety of risk factors, including a significant genetic component. Despite the use of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), drug-refractory epilepsy develops in about one-third of patients, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic approaches.

AIMS

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of troglitazone (TGZ) in epilepsy and to explore the potential mechanisms underlying its action.

METHODS

We employed both in vitro and in vivo models to assess TGZ's effects. The in vitro model involved glutamate-induced toxicity in HT22 mouse hippocampal neurons, while the in vivo model used kainic acid (KA) to induce epilepsy in mice. A range of methods, including Hoechst/PI staining, CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, RT-PCR analysis, Nissl staining, scanning electron microscopy, and RNA sequencing, were utilized to assess various parameters such as cellular damage, viability, lipid-ROS levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, mRNA expression, seizure grade, and mitochondrial morphology.

RESULTS

Our results indicate that TGZ, at doses of 5 or 20 mg/kg/day, significantly reduces KA-induced seizures and neuronal damage in mice by inhibiting the process of ferroptosis. Furthermore, TGZ was found to prevent changes in mitochondrial morphology. In the glutamate-induced HT22 cell damage model, 2.5 μM TGZ effectively suppressed neuronal ferroptosis, as shown by a reduction in lipid-ROS accumulation, a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and an increase in PTGS2 expression. The anti-ferroptotic effect of TGZ was confirmed in an erastin-induced HT22 cell damage model as well. Additionally, TGZ reversed the upregulation of Plaur expression in HT22 cells treated with glutamate or erastin. The downregulation of Plaur expression was found to alleviate seizures and reduce neuronal damage in the mouse hippocampus.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that troglitazone has significant therapeutic potential in the treatment of epilepsy by reducing epileptic seizures and the associated brain damage through the inhibition of neuronal ferroptosis. The downregulation of Plaur expression plays a crucial role in TGZ's anti-ferroptotic effect, offering a promising avenue for the development of new epilepsy treatments.

Folic-Acid-Conjugated Poly (Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticles Loaded with Gallic Acid Induce Glioblastoma Cell Death by Reactive-Oxygen-Species-Induced Stress

Glioblastoma (GBM) conventional treatment is not curative, and it is associated with severe toxicity. Thus, natural compounds with anti-cancer properties and lower systemic toxicity, such as gallic acid (GA), have been explored as alternatives. However, GA's therapeutic effects are limited due to its rapid metabolism, low bioavailability, and low permeability across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This work aimed to develop poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) modified with folic acid (FA), as its receptor is overexpressed in BBB and GBM cells, for GA delivery to enhance its therapeutic efficacy. The preparation of NPs was optimized by a central composite design (CCD). The obtained NPs showed physicochemical features suitable for drug internalization in BBB and tumor cells (sizes below 200 nm, monodispersity, and negative surface charge) and the ability to maintain a slow and sustained release for 40 days. In vitro studies using a human GBM cell line (U215) revealed the NPs' ability to accumulate in the target cells, further promoting GA antiproliferative activity by inducing the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, GA encapsulation in the developed nanosystems conferred higher protection to healthy cells.

Remote Control of Energy Transformation-Based Cancer Imaging and Therapy

Cancer treatment requires precise tumor-specific targeting at specific sites that allows for high-resolution diagnostic imaging and long-term patient-tailorable cancer therapy; while, minimizing side effects largely arising from non-targetability. This can be realized by harnessing exogenous remote stimuli, such as tissue-penetrative ultrasound, magnetic field, light, and radiation, that enable local activation for cancer imaging and therapy in deep tumors. A myriad of nanomedicines can be efficiently activated when the energy of such remote stimuli can be transformed into another type of energy. This review discusses the remote control of energy transformation for targetable, efficient, and long-term cancer imaging and therapy. Such ultrasonic, magnetic, photonic, radiative, and radioactive energy can be transformed into mechanical, thermal, chemical, and radiative energy to enable a variety of cancer imaging and treatment modalities. The current review article describes multimodal energy transformation where a serial cascade or multiple types of energy transformation occur. This review includes not only mechanical, chemical, hyperthermia, and radiation therapy but also emerging thermoelectric, pyroelectric, and piezoelectric therapies for cancer treatment. It also illustrates ultrasound, magnetic resonance, fluorescence, computed tomography, photoluminescence, and photoacoustic imaging-guided cancer therapies. It highlights afterglow imaging that can eliminate autofluorescence for sustained signal emission after the excitation.

To see or not to see: In vivo nanocarrier detection methods in the brain and their challenges

Nanoparticles have a great potential to significantly improve the delivery of therapeutics to the brain and may also be equipped with properties to investigate brain function. The brain, being a highly complex organ shielded by selective barriers, requires its own specialized detection system. However, a significant hurdle to achieve these goals is still the identification of individual nanoparticles within the brain with sufficient cellular, subcellular, and temporal resolution. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge on detection systems for tracking nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier and within the brain. We discuss commonly employed in vivo and ex vivo nanoparticle identification and quantification methods, as well as various imaging modalities able to detect nanoparticles in the brain. Advantages and weaknesses of these modalities as well as the biological factors that must be considered when interpreting results obtained through nanotechnologies are summarized. Finally, we critically evaluate the prevailing limitations of existing technologies and explore potential solutions.

Interactions of Melanin with Electromagnetic Radiation: From Fundamentals to Applications

Melanin, especially integumentary melanin, interacts in numerous ways with electromagnetic radiation, leading to a set of critical functions, including radiation protection, UV-protection, pigmentary and structural color productions, and thermoregulation. By harnessing these functions, melanin and melanin-like materials can be widely applied to diverse applications with extraordinary performance. Here we provide a unified overview of the melanin family (all melanin and melanin-like materials) and their interactions with the complete electromagnetic radiation spectrum (X-ray, Gamma-ray, UV, visible, near-infrared), which until now has been absent from the literature and is needed to establish a solid fundamental base to facilitate their future investigation and development. We begin by discussing the chemistries and morphologies of both natural and artificial melanin, then the fundamentals of melanin-radiation interactions, and finally the exciting new developments in high-performance melanin-based functional materials that exploit these interactions. This Review provides both a comprehensive overview and a discussion of future perspectives for each subfield of melanin that will help direct the future development of melanin from both fundamental and applied perspectives.

Blood-Brain Barrier Penetrating Nanovehicles for Interfering with Mitochondrial Electron Flow in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and lethal form of human brain tumors. Dismantling the suppressed immune microenvironment is an effective therapeutic strategy against GBM; however, GBM does not respond to exogenous immunotherapeutic agents due to low immunogenicity. Manipulating the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) elevates the immunogenicity of GBM, rendering previously immune-evasive tumors highly susceptible to immune surveillance, thereby enhancing tumor immune responsiveness and subsequently activating both innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we report a nanomedicine-based immunotherapeutic approach that targets the mitochondria in GBM cells by utilizing a Trojan-inspired nanovector (ABBPN) that can cross the blood-brain barrier. We propose that the synthetic photosensitizer IrPS can alter mitochondrial electron flow and concurrently interfere with mitochondrial antioxidative mechanisms by delivering si-OGG1 to GBM cells. Our synthesized ABBPN coloaded with IrPS and si-OGG1 (ISA) disrupts mitochondrial electron flow, which inhibits ATP production and induces mitochondrial DNA oxidation, thereby recruiting immune cells and endogenously activating intracranial antitumor immune responses. The results of our study indicate that strategies targeting the mitochondrial ETC have the potential to treat tumors with limited immunogenicity.

Nanomedicine facilitated cell signaling blockade: difficulties and strategies to overcome glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive and lethal type of brain tumor with complex and diverse molecular signaling pathways involved that are in its development and progression. Despite numerous attempts to develop effective treatments, the survival rate remains low. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms of these pathways can aid in the development of targeted therapies for the treatment of glioblastoma. Nanomedicines have shown potential in targeting and blocking signaling pathways involved in glioblastoma. Nanomedicines can be engineered to specifically target tumor sites, bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and release drugs over an extended period. However, current nanomedicine strategies also face limitations, including poor stability, toxicity, and low therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, novel and advanced nanomedicine-based strategies must be developed for enhanced drug delivery. In this review, we highlight risk factors and chemotherapeutics for the treatment of glioblastoma. Further, we discuss different nanoformulations fabricated using synthetic and natural materials for treatment and diagnosis to selectively target signaling pathways involved in GBM. Furthermore, we discuss current clinical strategies and the role of artificial intelligence in the field of nanomedicine for targeting GBM.

Magnetic nanoparticles for ferroptosis cancer therapy with diagnostic imaging

Ferroptosis offers a novel method for overcoming therapeutic resistance of cancers to conventional cancer treatment regimens. Its effective use as a cancer therapy requires a precisely targeted approach, which can be facilitated by using nanoparticles and nanomedicine, and their use to enhance ferroptosis is indeed a growing area of research. While a few review papers have been published on iron-dependent mechanism and inducers of ferroptosis cancer therapy that partly covers ferroptosis nanoparticles, there is a need for a comprehensive review focusing on the design of magnetic nanoparticles that can typically supply iron ions to promote ferroptosis and simultaneously enable targeted ferroptosis cancer nanomedicine. Furthermore, magnetic nanoparticles can locally induce ferroptosis and combinational ferroptosis with diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The use of remotely controllable magnetic nanocarriers can offer highly effective localized image-guided ferroptosis cancer nanomedicine. Here, recent developments in magnetically manipulable nanocarriers for ferroptosis cancer nanomedicine with medical imaging are summarized. This review also highlights the advantages of current state-of-the-art image-guided ferroptosis cancer nanomedicine. Finally, image guided combinational ferroptosis cancer therapy with conventional apoptosis-based therapy that enables synergistic tumor therapy is discussed for clinical translations.

Sensitizing chemotherapy for glioma with fisetin mediated by a microenvironment-responsive nano-drug delivery system

Drug resistance has become an obstacle to successful cancer chemotherapies, with therapeutic agents effectively traversing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remaining a great challenge. A microenvironment responsive and active targeting nanoparticle was constructed to enhance the penetration of drugs, leading to improved therapeutic effects. Dynamic light scattering demonstrated that the prepared nanoparticle had a uniform size. The cRGD modification renders the nanoparticle with active targeting capabilities to traverse the BBB for chemotherapy. The disulfide-bond-containing nanoparticle can be disintegrated in response to a high concentration of endogenous glutathione (GSH) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumor-specific drug release, resulting in more effective accumulation. Notably, the released fisetin further increased the uptake of doxorubicin by glioma cells and exerted synergistic effects to promote apoptosis, induce cellular G2/M cycle arrest, and inhibit cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Moreover, the nanoparticle showed favorable anti-glioma effects in vivo. Our study provides a new strategy to overcome drug resistance by utilizing a natural product to sensitize conventional chemotherapeutics with well-designed targeted nanodelivery systems for cancer treatment.

NIR Light-Activated and RGD-Conjugated Ultrasmall Fe/PPy Nanopolymers for Enhanced Tumor Photothermal Ferrotherapy and MR Imaging

Iron-based nanomaterials have shown great promise for tumor ferrotherapy in recent years. However, nanoparticle-induced ferroptosis has low therapeutic efficacy owing to unsatisfactory Fenton reaction activity in a typical tumor microenvironment. In this study, NIR light-activated Fe/PPy-RGD nanopolymers were developed to combine photothermal therapy and ferrotherapy and achieve enhanced antitumor activity. Importantly, Fe/PPy-RGD exhibited excellent therapeutic performance under NIR light activation both in vitro and in vivo. Under irradiation with NIR light, the heat generated by Fe/PPy-RGD not only induced a therapeutic photothermal effect but also enhanced the release of iron ions and the Fenton reaction by inducing ferroptosis. Additionally, by virtue of RGD conjugation and its ultrasmall size, Fe/PPy-RGD could effectively accumulate at tumor sites in living mice after systemic administration and could be monitored via MR imaging. Hence, this study provides a promising approach for integrating ferrotherapy with photothermal therapy to achieve enhanced tumor treatment.

Engineering the glioblastoma microenvironment with bioactive nanoparticles for effective immunotherapy

While immunotherapies have revolutionized treatment for other cancers, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients have not shown similar positive responses. The limited response to immunotherapies is partly due to the unique challenges associated with the GBM tumor microenvironment (TME), which promotes resistance to immunotherapies, causing many promising therapies to fail. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop strategies that make the TME immune permissive to promote treatment efficacy. Bioactive nano-delivery systems, in which the nanoparticle, due to its chemical composition, provides the pharmacological function, have recently emerged as an encouraging option for enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapeutics. These systems are designed to overcome immunosuppressive mechanisms in the TME to improve the efficacy of a therapy. This review will discuss different aspects of the TME and how they impede therapy success. Then, we will summarize recent developments in TME-modifying nanotherapeutics and the in vitro models utilized to facilitate these advances.

Tumor Microenvironment Activated Photoacoustic-Fluorescence Bimodal Nanoprobe for Precise Chemo-immunotherapy and Immune Response Tracing of Glioblastoma

Synergistic therapy strategy and prognostic monitoring of glioblastoma's immune response to treatment are crucial to optimize patient care and advance clinical outcomes. However, current systemic temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy and imaging methods for in vivo tracing of immune responses are inadequate. Herein, we report an all-in-one theranostic nanoprobe (PEG/αCD25-Cy7/TMZ) for precise chemotherapy and real-time immune response tracing of glioblastoma by photoacoustic-fluorescence imaging. The nanoprobe was loaded with TMZ and targeted regulatory T lymphocyte optical dye αCD25-Cy7 encapsulated by glutathione-responsive DSPE-SS-PEG2000. The results showed that the targeted efficiency of the nanoprobe to regulatory T lymphocytes is up to 92.3%. The activation of PEG/αCD25-Cy7/TMZ by glutathione enhanced the precise delivery of TMZ to the tumor microenvironment for local chemotherapy and monitored glioblastoma's boundary by photoacoustic-fluorescence imaging. Immunotherapy with indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase inhibitors after chemotherapy could promote immunological responses and reduce regulatory T lymphocyte infiltration, which could improve the survival rate. Photoacoustic imaging has in real-time and noninvasively depicted the dynamic process of immune response on a micrometer scale, showing that the infiltration of regulatory T lymphocytes after chemotherapy was up-regulated and would down-regulate after IDO inhibitor treatment. This all-in-one theranostic strategy is a promising method for precisely delivering TMZ and long-term dynamically tracing regulatory T lymphocytes to evaluate the immune response in situ for accurate tumor chemo-immunotherapy.

Inflammatory responsive neutrophil-like membrane-based drug delivery system for post-surgical glioblastoma therapy

Surgical resection of glioblastoma (GBM) causes brain inflammation that activates and recruits neutrophils (NEs) to residual GBM tissues. NE-based drug delivery using inflammatory chemotaxis is promising for the post-surgical treatment of residual GBM, but its clinical application is limited by the short life span of NEs and lack of in vitro propagation methods. HL60 cells are a type of infinitely multiplying tumor cells that can be induced to differentiate into NE-like cells. We developed a novel NE-like membrane system (NM-PD) by coating NE-like membranes on the surface of poly (lactide-co-glycolide)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG)-based doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded core (PLGA-PEG-DOX, PD) for post-surgical residual GBM treatment. Cell adhesion proteins were detected on NE-like membranes and endowed NM-PDs with inflammatory chemotaxis similar to mature NEs. The resulting NM-PD shows excellent inflamed in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and anti-proliferative effects on GBM cells. In our intracranial GBM resection model, NM-PD exhibited superior inflammatory chemotaxis and targeted residual GBM cells, thus remarkably improving antitumor capability and prolonging the survival time of the mice. These data suggest that NM-PD, which has sufficient sources and is easy to prepare, can efficiently suppress post-surgical residual GBM and holds potential for clinical transformation in GBM post-surgical adjuvant therapy.

Chlorin e6-modified iron oxide nanoparticles for photothermal-photodynamic ablation of glioblastoma cells

Introduction: The effective treatment of glioblastoma still remains a great challenge. We herein report the development of chlorin e6 (Ce6)-conjugated iron oxide (Fe3O4-Ce6) nanoparticles for ablation of glioblastoma cells via combining photothermal therapy (PTT) with photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods: Ce6 was conjugated to the synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles to form Fe3O4-Ce6 nanoparticles displaying the optical property of Ce6. Results and discussion: Under 808 nm laser irradiation, Fe3O4-Ce6 nanoparticles generated heat and the temperature increase did not have obvious changes after five cycles of laser irradiation, suggesting their good photothermal effect and photothermal stability. In addition, 660 nm laser irradiation of Fe3O4-Ce6 nanoparticles produced singlet oxygen (1O2) to mediate PDT. The Fe3O4-Ce6 nanoparticles without laser irradiation showed a low cytotoxicity, but they would obviously kill C6 cancer cells after laser irradiation via the combinational effect of PTT and PDT. Fe3O4-Ce6 nanoparticles thus could be used as a nanotherapeutic agent for combinational ablation of glioblastoma cells.

Biomimetic nanotherapeutics for targeted drug delivery to glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis and high mortality, with no curative treatment to date as limited trafficking across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) combined with tumor heterogeneity often leads to therapeutic failure. Although modern medicine poses a wide range of drugs that are otherwise efficacious in treating other tumors, they often do not achieve therapeutic concentrations in the brain, hence driving the need for more effective drug delivery strategies. Nanotechnology, an interdisciplinary field, has been gaining immense popularity in recent years for remarkable advancements such as nanoparticle (NP) drug carriers, which possess extraordinary versatility in modifying surface coatings to home in on target cells, including those beyond the BBB. In this review, we will be highlighting recent developments in biomimetic NPs in GBM therapy and how these allowed us to overcome the physiological and anatomical challenges that have long plagued GBM treatment.

Engineering a synergistic antioxidant inhibition nanoplatform to enhance oxidative damage in tumor treatment

The antioxidant system of tumor cells severely impairs reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated tumor therapy. Despite extensive attempts to attenuate the antioxidant capacity by eliminating ROS scavengers such as glutathione (GSH), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) over-expressed in the tumor microenvironment can regenerate GSH from glutathione disulfide (GSSG), hence weakening ROS-induced oxidative damage. Therefore, engineering a nanoplatform capable of depleting both NADPH and GSH is extremely significant for improving ROS-mediated tumor treatment. Herein, a synergetic antioxidant inhibition strategy is proposed to attenuate intracellular antioxidant capacity for hypoxic tumor therapy. In this context, both porous Prussian blue nanoparticles (PPB NPs) and cisplatin prodrug [cis-Pt (IV)] in the nanoplatform can oxidize GSH to directly reduce GSH levels, while PPB NPs also enable NADPH depletion by peroxidase-mimicking to impair GSH regeneration. Furthermore, PPB NPs with catalase-mimicking activity catalyze H₂O₂ decomposition to alleviate tumor hypoxia, thus reducing the generation of GSH and boosting singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production by Chlorin e6 (Ce6) for enhancing oxidative damage. Experimental results prove that the nanoplatform, denoted as PPB-Ce6-Pt, can induce remarkable tumor cells apoptosis and ferroptosis. Importantly, a simple loading method and the use of Food Drug Administration (FDA)-approved materials make PPB-Ce6-Pt have great potential for practical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The antioxidant system in tumor cells disables ROS-mediated tumor therapy. Besides, extensive attempts aim at depleting GSH without considering their regeneration. Therefore, we developed a synergetic strategy to attenuate intracellular antioxidant capacity for hypoxic tumor therapy. PPB-Ce6-Pt nanoplatform could not only directly reduce GSH levels but also deplete NADPH by peroxidase-mimicking to impair GSH regeneration. In addition, PPB-Ce6-Pt nanoplatform could catalyze H₂O₂ decomposition to alleviate tumor hypoxia, thus reducing the generation of GSH and boosting ¹O₂ production by Chlorin e6 (Ce6) for increasing oxidative damage. Then, intracellular ROS boost and redox dyshomeostasis induced remarkable tumor cells apoptosis and ferroptosis. Importantly, a simple loading method and the use of biosafety materials made the nanoplatform have great potential for practical applications.

Forecasting Molecular Features in IDH-Wildtype Gliomas: The State of the Art of Radiomics Applied to Neurosurgery

BACKGROUND

The fifth edition of the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System (CNS), published in 2021, marks a step forward the future diagnostic approach to these neoplasms. Alongside this, radiomics has experienced rapid evolution over the last several years, allowing us to correlate tumor imaging heterogeneity with a wide range of tumor molecular and subcellular features. Radiomics is a translational field focused on decoding conventional imaging data to extrapolate the molecular and prognostic features of tumors such as gliomas. We herein analyze the state-of-the-art of radiomics applied to glioblastoma, with the goal to estimate its current clinical impact and potential perspectives in relation to well-rounded patient management, including the end-of-life stage.

METHODS

A literature review was performed on the PubMed, MEDLINE and Scopus databases using the following search items: "radiomics and glioma", "radiomics and glioblastoma", "radiomics and glioma and IDH", "radiomics and glioma and TERT promoter", "radiomics and glioma and EGFR", "radiomics and glioma and chromosome".

RESULTS

A total of 719 articles were screened. Further quantitative and qualitative analysis allowed us to finally include 11 papers. This analysis shows that radiomics is rapidly evolving towards a reliable tool.

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies are necessary to adjust radiomics' potential to the newest molecular requirements pointed out by the 2021 WHO classification of CNS tumors. At a glance, its application in the clinical routine could be beneficial to achieve a timely diagnosis, especially for those patients not eligible for surgery and/or adjuvant therapies but still deserving palliative and supportive care.

Boosting ferroptosis and microtubule inhibition for antitumor therapy via a carrier-free supermolecule nanoreactor

Traditional microtubule inhibitors fail to significantly enhance the effect of colorectal cancer; hence, new and efficient strategies are necessary. In this study, a supramolecular nanoreactor (DOC@TA-Fe³⁺) based on tannic acid (TA), iron ion (Fe³⁺), and docetaxel (DOC) with microtubule inhibition, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) inhibition, is prepared for ferroptosis/apoptosis treatment. After internalization by CT26 cells, the DOC@TA-Fe³⁺ nanoreactor escapes from the lysosomes to release payloads. The subsequent Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ conversion mediated by TA reducibility can trigger the Fenton reaction to enhance the ROS concentration. Additionally, Fe³⁺ can consume glutathione to repress the activity of GPX4 to induce ferroptosis. Meanwhile, the released DOC controls microtubule dynamics to activate the apoptosis pathway. The superior in vivo antitumor efficacy of DOC@TA-Fe³⁺ nanoreactor in terms of tumor growth inhibition and improved survival is verified in CT26 tumor-bearing mouse model. Therefore, the nanoreactor can act as an effective apoptosis and ferroptosis inducer for application in colorectal cancer therapy.

Ferroptosis-based drug delivery system as a new therapeutic opportunity for brain tumors

The brain tumor is a kind of malignant tumor with brutal treatment, high recurrence rate, and poor prognosis, and the incidence and death rate is increasing yearly. Surgery is often used to remove the primary tumor, supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which have highly toxic side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new strategies, methods, and technologies that can genuinely improve the treatment of brain tumors. Ferroptosis differs from traditional apoptosis's morphological and biochemical characteristics, and ferroptosis possesses its unique characteristics and mechanisms, opening up a new field of ferroptosis treatment for cancer. It has been found that there is a close relationship between ferroptosis and brain tumors, and a novel nano-drug delivery system based on ferroptosis has been used for the ferroptosis treatment of brain tumors with remarkable effects. This review firstly analyzes the characteristics of ferroptosis, summarizes the mechanism of its occurrence and some factors that can be involved in the regulation of ferroptosis, introduces the potential link between ferroptosis and brain tumors, and clarifies the feasibility of ferroptosis in the treatment of brain tumors. It then presents the ferroptosis nano drug delivery systems developed under different metabolic pathways for ferroptosis treatment of brain tumors. Finally, it summarizes the current problems and solutions of ferroptosis nano drugs for brain tumor treatment, aiming to provide a reference for developing ferroptosis nano drugs against brain tumors.

Opportunities and challenges related to ferroptosis in glioma and neuroblastoma

A newly identified form of cell death known as ferroptosis is characterized by the peroxidation of lipids in response to iron. Rapid progress in research on ferroptosis in glioma and neuroblastoma has promoted the exploitation of ferroptosis in related therapy. This manuscript provides a review of the findings on ferroptosis-related therapy in glioblastoma and neuroblastoma and outlines the mechanisms involved in ferroptosis in glioma and neuroblastoma. We summarize some recent data on traditional drugs, natural compounds and nanomedicines used as ferroptosis inducers in glioma and neuroblastoma, as well as some bioinformatic analyses of genes involved in ferroptosis. Moreover, we summarize some data on the associations of ferroptosis with the tumor immunotherapy and TMZ drug resistance. Finally, we discuss future directions for ferroptosis research in glioma and neuroblastoma and currently unresolved issues.

Application of nanomaterials in diagnosis and treatment of glioblastoma

Diagnosing and treating glioblastoma patients is currently hindered by several obstacles, such as tumor heterogeneity, the blood-brain barrier, tumor complexity, drug efflux pumps, and tumor immune escape mechanisms. Combining multiple methods can increase benefits against these challenges. For example, nanomaterials can improve the curative effect of glioblastoma treatments, and the synergistic combination of different drugs can markedly reduce their side effects. In this review, we discuss the progression and main issues regarding glioblastoma diagnosis and treatment, the classification of nanomaterials, and the delivery mechanisms of nanomedicines. We also examine tumor targeting and promising nano-diagnosis or treatment principles based on nanomedicine. We also summarize the progress made on the advanced application of combined nanomaterial-based diagnosis and treatment tools and discuss their clinical prospects. This review aims to provide a better understanding of nano-drug combinations, nano-diagnosis, and treatment options for glioblastoma, as well as insights for developing new tools.

[Study of the efficiency of cellular accumulation of doxorubicin supplied with a targeted delivery system based on phospholipid nanoparticles with integrin-directed peptide]

Chemotherapeutic agents containing targeted systems are a promising pathway to increase the effectiveness of glioblastoma treatment. Specific proteins characterized by increased expression on the surface of tumor cells are considered as possible targets. Integrin αvβ3 is one of such proteins on the cell surface. It effectively binds the cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (cRGD) peptide. In this study, the cRGD peptide-modified doxorubicin (Dox) phospholipid composition was investigated. The particle size of this composition was 43.76±2.09 nm, the ζ-potential was 4.33±0.54 mV. Dox was almost completely incorporated into the nanoparticles (99.7±0.58%). The drug release increased in an acidic medium (at pH 5.0 of about 35±3.2%). The total accumulation and internalization of Dox used the composition of phospholipid nanoparticles with the targeted vector was 1.4-fold higher as compared to the free form. In the HeLa cell line (not expressing αvβ3 integrin) this effect was not observed. These results suggest the prospects of using the cyclic RGD peptide in the delivery of Dox to glioblastoma cells and the feasibility of further investigation of the mechanism of action of the entire composition as a whole.

Ferroptosis: A novel therapeutic strategy and mechanism of action in glioma

Glioma is the most common malignant tumor of the central nervous system and resistance is easily developed to chemotherapy drugs during the treatment process, resulting in high mortality and short survival in glioma patients. Novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed to improve the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs and to improve the prognosis of patients with glioma. Ferroptosis is a novel regulatory cell death mechanism that plays a key role in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and other diseases. Studies have found that ferroptosis-related regulators are closely related to the survival of patients with glioma, and induction of ferroptosis can improve glioma resistance to chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, induction of tumor cell ferroptosis may be an effective therapeutic strategy for glioma. This review summarizes the relevant mechanisms of ferroptosis, systematically summarizes the key role of ferroptosis in the treatment of glioma and outlines the relationship between ferroptosis-related ncRNAs and the progression of glioma.

Neuropeptide-Functionalized Gold Nanorod Enhanced Cellular Uptake and Improved In Vitro Photothermal Killing in LRP1-Positive Glioma Cells

The therapeutic modalities for glioblastoma multiforme fail badly due to the limitations of poor penetration through the blood–brain barrier and the lack of tumor targeting. In this study, we synthesized a neuropeptide (ANGIOPEP-2)-functionalized gold nanorod (GNR-ANGI-2) and systemically evaluated the cellular uptake and photothermal effects enhanced by the neuropeptide functionalization of the gold nanorod under laser or sham exposure. The expression of LRP1, the specific ligand for ANGIOPEP-2, was the highest in C6 cells among five studied glioma cell lines. The cellular internalization studies showed higher uptake of gold nanorods functionalized with ANGIOPEP-2 than of those functionalized with scrambled ANGIOPEP-2. The in vitro photothermal studies of C6 cells treated with GNR-ANGI-2 and laser showed a higher rate of apoptosis at early and late stages than cells treated with GNR-ANGI-2 without laser. Correspondingly, in vitro ROS evaluation showed a higher intensity of ROS production in cells treated with GNR-ANGI-2 under laser irradiation. The Western blotting results indicated that GNR-ANGI-2 with laser exposure activated the caspase pathway of apoptosis, and GNR-ANGI-2 with sham exposure induced autophagy in C6 cells. The current study provides in-depth knowledge on the effective time point for maximum cellular uptake of GNR-ANGI-2 to achieve a better anti-glioma effect. Moreover, by exploring the molecular mechanism of cell death with GNR-ANGI-2-mediated photothermal therapy, we could modify the nanoshuttle with multimodal targets to achieve more efficient anti-glioma therapy in the future.

The role of Platinum(IV)-based antitumor drugs and the anticancer immune response in medicinal inorganic chemistry. A systematic review from 2017 to 2022

Platinum-based antitumor drugs have been used in many types of tumors due to its broad antitumor spectrum in clinic. Encouraged by the cisplatin's (CDDP) worldwide success in cancer chemotherapy, the research in platinum-based antitumor drugs has evolved from traditional platinum drug to multi-ligand and multifunctional platinum prodrugs over half a century. With the rapid development of metal drugs and the anticancer immune response, challenges and opportunities in platinum drug research have been shifted from traditional platinum-based drugs to platinum-based hybrids and the direction of development is tending toward photodynamic therapy, nano-delivery therapy, drug combination, targeted therapy, diagnostic therapy, immune-combination therapy and tumor stem cell therapy. In this review, we first exhaustively overviewed the role of platinum-based antitumor prodrugs and the anticancer immune response in medicinal inorganic chemistry based on the special nanomaterials, the modification of specific ligands, and the multiple functions obtained that are beneficial for tumor therapy in the last five years. We also categorized them according to drug potency and function. There hasn't been a comprehensive evaluation of precursor platinum drugs in prior articles. And a multifarious approach to distinguish and detail the variety of alterations of platinum-based precursors in various valence states also hasn't been summarized. In addition, this review points out the main problems at the interface of chemistry, biology, and medicine from their action mechanisms for current platinum drug development, and provides up-to-date potential strategies from drug design perspectives to circumvent those drawbacks. And a promising idea is also enlightened for researchers in the development and discovery of platinum prodrugs.

Emerging role of ferroptosis in glioblastoma: Therapeutic opportunities and challenges

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant craniocerebral tumor. The treatment of this cancer is difficult due to its high heterogeneity and immunosuppressive microenvironment. Ferroptosis is a newly found non-apoptotic regulatory cell death process that plays a vital role in a variety of brain diseases, including cerebral hemorrhage, neurodegenerative diseases, and primary or metastatic brain tumors. Recent studies have shown that targeting ferroptosis can be an effective strategy to overcome resistance to tumor therapy and immune escape mechanisms. This suggests that combining ferroptosis-based therapies with other treatments may be an effective strategy to improve the treatment of GBM. Here, we critically reviewed existing studies on the effect of ferroptosis on GBM therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. In particular, this review discussed the potential of ferroptosis inducers to reverse drug resistance and enhance the sensitivity of conventional cancer therapy in combination with ferroptosis. Finally, we highlighted the therapeutic opportunities and challenges facing the clinical application of ferroptosis-based therapies in GBM. The data generated here provide new insights and directions for future research on the significance of ferroptosis-based therapies in GBM.

The molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and its role in glioma progression and treatment

Ferroptosis is one of the programmed modes of cell death that has attracted widespread attention recently and is capable of influencing the developmental course and prognosis of many tumors. Glioma is one of the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system, but effective treatment options are very limited. Ferroptosis plays a critical role in the glioma progression, affecting tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, tumor necrosis, and shaping the immune-resistant tumor microenvironment. Inducing ferroptosis has emerged as an attractive strategy for glioma. In this paper, we review ferroptosis-related researches on glioma progression and treatment.

Ferroptosis Modulation: Potential Therapeutic Target for Glioblastoma Treatment

Glioblastoma multiforme is a lethal disease and represents the most common and severe type of glioma. Drug resistance and the evasion of cell death are the main characteristics of its malignancy, leading to a high percentage of disease recurrence and the patients’ low survival rate. Exploiting the modulation of cell death mechanisms could be an important strategy to prevent tumor development and reverse the high mortality and morbidity rates in glioblastoma patients. Ferroptosis is a recently described type of cell death, which is characterized by iron accumulation, high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-containing phospholipids, and deficiency in lipid peroxidation repair. Several studies have demonstrated that ferroptosis has a potential role in cancer treatment and could be a promising approach for glioblastoma patients. Thus, here, we present an overview of the mechanisms of the iron-dependent cell death and summarize the current findings of ferroptosis modulation on glioblastoma including its non-canonical pathway. Moreover, we focused on new ferroptosis-inducing compounds for glioma treatment, and we highlight the key ferroptosis-related genes to glioma prognosis, which could be further explored. Thereby, understanding how to trigger ferroptosis in glioblastoma may provide promising pharmacological targets and indicate new therapeutic approaches to increase the survival of glioblastoma patients.

In situ forming and biocompatible hyaluronic acid hydrogel with reactive oxygen species-scavenging activity to improve traumatic brain injury repair by suppressing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation

The efficacy of neural repair and regeneration strategies for traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment is greatly hampered by the harsh brain lesion microenvironment including oxidative stress and hyper-inflammatory response. Functionalized hydrogel with the capability of oxidative stress suppression and neuroinflammation inhibition will greatly contribute to the repairment of TBI. Herein, antioxidant gallic acid-grafted hyaluronic acid (HGA) was combined with hyaluronic acid-tyramine (HT) polymer to develop an injectable hydrogel by dual-enzymatically crosslinking method. The resulting HT/HGA hydrogel is biocompatible and possesses effective scavenging activity against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. Meanwhile, this hydrogel improved cell viability and reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under H₂O₂ insult. The in vivo study showed that in situ injection of HT/HGA hydrogel significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) production and increased glutathione (GSH) expression in lesion area after treatment for 3 or 21 days, which might be associated with the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Furthermore, this hydrogel promoted the microglia polarization to M2 (Arg1) phenotype, it also decreased the level of proinflammatory factors including TNF-α and IL-6 and increased anti-inflammatory factor expression of IL-4. Finally, blood-brain barrier (BBB) was protected, neurogenesis in hippocampus was promoted, and the motor, learning and memory ability was enhanced. Therefore, this injectable, biocompatible, and antioxidant hydrogel exhibits a huge potential for treating TBI and allows us to recognize the great value of this novel biomaterial for remodeling brain structure and function.

LncRNA PELATON, a Ferroptosis Suppressor and Prognositic Signature for GBM

PELATON is a long noncoding RNA also known as long intergenic nonprotein coding RNA 1272 (LINC01272). The known reports showed that PELATON functions as an onco-lncRNA or a suppressor lncRNA by suppressing miRNA in colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and lung cancer. In this study, we first found that PELATON, as an onco-lncRNA, alleviates the ferroptosis driven by mutant p53 and promotes mutant p53-mediated GBM proliferation. We also first confirmed that PELATON is a new ferroptosis suppressor lncRNA that functions as a ferroptosis inhibitor mainly by mutant P53 mediating the ROS ferroptosis pathway, which inhibits the production of ROS, reduces the levels of divalent iron ions, promotes the expression of SLC7A11, and inhibits the expression of ACSL4 and COX2.PELATON can inhibit the expression of p53 in p53 wild-type GBM cells and regulate the expression of BACH1 and CD44, but it has no effect on p53, BACH1 and CD44 in p53 mutant GBM cells. PELATON and p53 can form a complex through the RNA binding protein EIF4A3. Knockdown of PELATON resulted in smaller mitochondria, increased mitochondrial membrane density, and enhanced sensitivity to ferroptosis inducers to inhibit GBM cell proliferation and invasion. In addition, we established a favourite prognostic model with NCOA4 and PELATON. PELATON is a promising target for the prognosis and treatment of GBM.

Nanoparticles as Physically- and Biochemically-Tuned Drug Formulations for Cancers Therapy

Simple Summary

Conventional antitumor drugs have limitations, including poor water solubility and lack of targeting capability, with consequent non-specific distribution, systemic toxicity, and low therapeutic index. Nanotechnology promises to overcome these drawbacks by exploiting the physical properties of diverse nanocarriers that can be linked to moieties with binding selectivity for cancer cells. The use of nanoparticles as therapeutic formulations allows a targeted delivery and a slow, controlled release of the drug(s), making them tunable modules for applications in precision medicine. In addition, nanoparticles are also being developed as cancer vaccines, offering an opportunity to increase both cellular and humoral immunity, thus providing a new weapon to beat cancer.

Abstract

Malignant tumors originate from a combination of genetic alterations, which induce activation of oncogenes and inactivation of oncosuppressor genes, ultimately resulting in uncontrolled growth and neoplastic transformation. Chemotherapy prevents the abnormal proliferation of cancer cells, but it also affects the entire cellular network in the human body with heavy side effects. For this reason, the ultimate aim of cancer therapy remains to selectively kill cancer cells while sparing their normal counterparts. Nanoparticle formulations have the potential to achieve this aim by providing optimized drug delivery to a pathological site with minimal accumulation in healthy tissues. In this review, we will first describe the characteristics of recently developed nanoparticles and how their physical properties and targeting functionalization are exploited depending on their therapeutic payload, route of delivery, and tumor type. Second, we will analyze how nanoparticles can overcome multidrug resistance based on their ability to combine different therapies and targeting moieties within a single formulation. Finally, we will discuss how the implementation of these strategies has led to the generation of nanoparticle-based cancer vaccines as cutting-edge instruments for cancer immunotherapy.

Metal Ion-Directed Functional Metal-Phenolic Materials

Metal ions are ubiquitous in nature and play significant roles in assembling functional materials in fields spanning chemistry, biology, and materials science. Metal-phenolic materials are assembled from phenolic components in the presence of metal ions through the formation of metal-organic complexes. Alkali, alkali-earth, transition, and noble metal ions as well as metalloids interacting with phenolic building blocks have been widely exploited to generate diverse hybrid materials. Despite extensive studies on the synthesis of metal-phenolic materials, a comprehensive summary of how metal ions guide the assembly of phenolic compounds is lacking. A fundamental understanding of the roles of metal ions in metal-phenolic materials engineering will facilitate the assembly of materials with specific and functional properties. In this review, we focus on the diversity and function of metal ions in metal-phenolic material engineering and emerging applications. Specifically, we discuss the range of underlying interactions, including (i) cation-π, (ii) coordination, (iii) redox, and (iv) dynamic covalent interactions, and highlight the wide range of material properties resulting from these interactions. Applications (e.g., biological, catalytic, and environmental) and perspectives of metal-phenolic materials are also highlighted.

Versatile polyphenolic platforms in regulating cell biology

Polyphenolic materials are a class of fascinating and versatile bioinspired materials for biointerfacial engineering. In particular, due to the presence of active chemical groups, a series of unique physicochemical properties become accessible and tunable of the as-prepared polyphenolic platforms, which could delicately regulate the cell activities via cell-material contact-dependent interactions. More interestingly, polyphenols could also affect the cell behaviors via cell-material contact-independent manner, which arise due to their intrinsically functional characteristics (e.g., antioxidant and photothermal behaviors). As such, a comprehensive understanding on the relationship between material properties and desired biomedical applications, as well as the underlying mechanism at the cellular and molecular level would provide material design principles and accelerate the lab-to-clinic translation of polyphenolic platforms. In this review, we firstly give a brief overview of cell hallmarks governed by surrounding cues, followed by the introduction of polyphenolic material engineering strategies. Subsequently, a detailed discussion on cell-polyphenols contact-dependent interfacial interaction and contact-independent interaction was also carefully provided. Lastly, their biomedical applications were elaborated. We believe that this review could provide guidances for the rational material design of multifunctional polyphenols and extend their application window.

Progress and Viewpoints of Multifunctional Composite Nanomaterials for Glioblastoma Theranostics

The most common malignant tumor of the brain is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in adults. Many patients die shortly after diagnosis, and only 6% of patients survive more than 5 years. Moreover, the current average survival of malignant brain tumors is only about 15 months, and the recurrence rate within 2 years is almost 100%. Brain diseases are complicated to treat. The reason for this is that drugs are challenging to deliver to the brain because there is a blood–brain barrier (BBB) protection mechanism in the brain, which only allows water, oxygen, and blood sugar to enter the brain through blood vessels. Other chemicals cannot enter the brain due to their large size or are considered harmful substances. As a result, the efficacy of drugs for treating brain diseases is only about 30%, which cannot satisfy treatment expectations. Therefore, researchers have designed many types of nanoparticles and nanocomposites to fight against the most common malignant tumors in the brain, and they have been successful in animal experiments. This review will discuss the application of various nanocomposites in diagnosing and treating GBM. The topics include (1) the efficient and long-term tracking of brain images (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, and near-infrared light (NIR)); (2) breaking through BBB for drug delivery; and (3) natural and chemical drugs equipped with nanomaterials. These multifunctional nanoparticles can overcome current difficulties and achieve progressive GBM treatment and diagnosis results.

Saponins -Uptake and Targeting issues for brain-specific delivery for enhanced cell death induction in glioblastoma

Abstract:

Saponins represent a category of diverse, natural glycoside molecules that belong to the triterpenoid or the steroid class. They vary in terms of their solubility and permeability characteristics and are classifiable based on the biopharmaceutics classification system. They have drug delivery potential as surfactants that can solubilize cholesterol in the plasma membrane of tumorigenic cells. Glioblastoma is an important malignancy that can aggressively afflict the brain of humans with a poor prognosis. Glioblastoma Stem Cells (GSCs), are an important subset of cancer cells and are major determinants for drug resistance and tumour relapse. These cells are quiescent and have been known to survive current therapeutic strategies. Certain saponins have shown potential to eliminate glioblastoma cells in a variety of model systems and hence provide a sound scientific basis for their development as a “stand-alone” drug or as part of a drug combination (from the existing arsenal of drugs) developed for the treatment of glioblastoma. However, due to their reactogenicity towards the immune system and hemolytic potential, selective delivery to the tumorigenic site is essential. Hence, nano-formulations (liposome/emulsion-based delivery systems/nano-structured lipid and calix[n]arenes-based carriers) and variants that are resistant to saponin may serve as delivery tools that can be functionalized to improve the selectivity. It is necessary to develop/validate/refine in vitro higher order models that replicate the features of the glioma microenvironment (BBB/BTB). Reproducible validation of the model as well as the drug/delivery system will help in the development of formulations that can augment cell death in this recalcitrant brain tumour.