Mitochondrial dysfunction-targeted nanosystems for precise tumor therapeutics

Chirality-driven strong thioredoxin reductase inhibition

Overexpression of thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD) plays crucial role in tumorigenesis. Therefore, designing TXNRD inhibitors is a promising strategy for targeted anticancer drug development. However, poor selectivity has always been a challenge, resulting in unavoidable toxicity in clinic. Herein we demonstrate a strategy to develop highly selective chiral metal complexes-based TXNRD inhibitors. By manipulating the conformation of two distinct weakly interacting groups, we optimize the compatibility between the drug and the electrophilic group within the active site of TXNRD to enhance their non-covalent interaction, thus effectively avoids the poor selectivity deriving from covalent drug interaction, on the basis of ensuring the strong inhibition. Detailed experimental and computational results demonstrate that the chiral isomeric drugs bind to the active site of TXNRD, and the interaction strength is well modulated by chirality. Especially, the meso-configuration, in which the two large sterically hindered active groups are positioned on opposite sides of the drug, exhibits the highest number of non-covalent interactions and most effective inhibition on TXNRD. Taken together, this work not only provides a novel approach for developing highly selective proteinase inhibitors, but also sheds light on possible underlying mechanisms for future application.

Stimuli-Responsive Delivery of Ions through Layered Materials-Based Triangular Nanofluidic Device

The elegance and accuracy of biological ion channels inspire the fabrication of artificial devices with similar properties. Here, we report the fabrication of iontronic devices capable of delivering ions at the nanomolar (nmol) level of accuracy. The triangular nanofluidic device prepared with reconstructed vanadium pentoxide (VO) membranes of thickness 45 ± 5.5 μm can continuously deliver K+, Na+, and Ca2+ ions at the rate of 0.44 ± 0.24, 0.35 ± 0.06, and 0.03 nmol/min, respectively. The ionic flow rate can be further tuned by modulating the membrane thickness and salt concentration at the source reservoir. The triangular VO device can also deliver ions in minuscule doses (∼132 ± 9.7 nmol) by electrothermally heating (33 °C) with a nichrome wire (NW) or applying light of specific intensities. The simplicity of the fabrication process of reconstructed layered material-based nanofluidic devices allows the design of complicated iontronic devices such as the three-terminal-Ni-VO (3T-Ni-VO) devices.

Ameliorating Mitochondrial Dysfunction for the Therapy of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is currently the second most incurable central neurodegenerative disease resulting from various pathogenesis. As the "energy factory" of cells, mitochondria play an extremely important role in supporting neuronal signal transmission and other physiological activities. Mitochondrial dysfunction can cause and accelerate the occurrence and progression of PD. How to effectively prevent and suppress mitochondrial disorders is a key strategy for the treatment of PD from the root. Therefore, the emerging mitochondria-targeted therapy has attracted considerable interest. Herein, the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and PD, the causes and results of mitochondrial dysfunction, and major strategies for ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction to treat PD are systematically reviewed. The study also prospects the main challenges for the treatment of PD.

UBXN1 promotes liver tumorigenesis by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis

BACKGROUND

The maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis is critical for tumor initiation and malignant progression because it increases tumor cell survival and growth. The molecular events controlling mitochondrial integrity that facilitate the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Here, we report that UBX domain-containing protein 1 (UBXN1) hyperactivation is essential for mitochondrial homeostasis and liver tumorigenesis.

METHODS

Oncogene-induced mouse liver tumor models were generated with the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon delivery system. Assessment of HCC cell growth in vivo and in vitro, including tumour formation, colony formation, TUNEL and FACS assays, was conducted to determine the effects of UBXN1 on HCC cells, as well as the involvement of the UBXN1-prohibitin (PHB) interaction in mitochondrial function. Coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) was used to assess the interaction between UBXN1 and PHB. Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) datasets and HCC patient samples were used to assess the expression of UBXN1.

RESULTS

UBXN1 expression is commonly upregulated in human HCCs and mouse liver tumors and is associated with poor overall survival in HCC patients. UBXN1 facilitates the growth of human HCC cells and promotes mouse liver tumorigenesis driven by the NRas/c-Myc or c-Myc/shp53 combination. UBXN1 interacts with the inner mitochondrial membrane protein PHB and sustains PHB expression. UBXN1 inhibition triggers mitochondrial damage and liver tumor cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

UBXN1 interacts with PHB and promotes mitochondrial homeostasis during liver tumorigenesis.

In Situ Mitochondrial Biomineralization for Drug-Free Cancer Therapy

The common clinical chemotherapy often brings serious side effects to patients, mainly due to the off-target and leakage of toxic drugs. However, this is fatal for some specific clinical tumors, such as brain tumors and neuroma. This study performs a drug-free approach by encapsulating black phosphorus (BP) and calcium peroxide (CaO2) in liposomes with surface-modified triphenylphosphonium (BCLT) to develop mitochondria targeting calcification for cancer therapy without damaging normal cells. BCLT preferentially accumulates inside tumor mitochondria and then is activated by near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation to produce abundant PO4 3- and Ca2+ to accelerate in situ mitochondrial mineralization, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and cancer cell death. More importantly, both PO4 3- and Ca2+ are essential components of metabolism in the body, and random gradient diffusion or premature leakage does not cause damage to adjacent normal cells. This achievement promises to be an alternative to conventional chemotherapy in clinical practice for many specific tumor types.

Targeting PARP14 with lomitapide suppresses drug resistance through the activation of DRP1-induced mitophagy in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy that remains incurable, primarily due to the high likelihood of relapse or development of resistance to current treatments. To explore and discover new medications capable of overcoming drug resistance in MM, we conducted cell viability inhibition screens of 1504 FDA-approved drugs. Lomitapide, a cholesterol-lowering agent, was found to exhibit effective inhibition on bortezomib-resistant MM cells in vitro and in vivo. Our data also indicated that lomitapide decreases the permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane and induces mitochondrial dysfunction in MM cells. Next, lomitapide treatment upregulated DRP1 and PINK1 expression levels, coupled with the mitochondrial translocation of Parkin, leading to MM cell mitophagy. Excessive mitophagy caused mitochondrial damage and dysfunction induced by lomitapide. Meanwhile, PARP14 was identified as a direct target of lomitapide by SPR-HPLC-MS, and we showed that DRP1-induced mitophagy was crucial in the anti-MM activity mediated by PARP14. Furthermore, PARP14 is overexpressed in MM patients, implying that it is a novel therapeutic target in MM. Collectively, our results demonstrate that DRP1-mediated mitophagy induced by PARP14 may be the cause for mitochondrial dysfunction and damage in response to lomitapide treatment.

Mitochondrial Localized In Situ Self-Assembly Reprogramming Tumor Immune and Metabolic Microenvironment for Enhanced Cancer Therapy

The inherent immune and metabolic tumor microenvironment (TME) of most solid tumors adversely affect the antitumor efficacy of various treatments, which is an urgent issue to be solved in clinical cancer therapy. In this study, a mitochondrial localized in situ self-assembly system is constructed to remodel the TME by improving immunogenicity and disrupting the metabolic plasticity of cancer cells. The peptide-based drug delivery system can be pre-assembled into nanomicelles in vitro and form functional nanofibers on mitochondria through a cascade-responsive process involving reductive release, targeted enrichment, and in situ self-assembly. The organelle-specific in situ self-assemblyeffectively switches the role of mitophagy from pro-survival to pro-death, which finally induces intense endoplasmic reticulum stress and atypical type II immunogenic cell death. Disintegration of the mitochondrial ultrastructure also impedes the metabolic plasticity of tumor cells, which greatly promotes the immunosuppresive TME remodeling into an immunostimulatory TME. Ultimately, the mitochondrial localized in situ self-assembly system effectively suppresses tumor metastases, and converts cold tumors into hot tumors with enhanced sensitivity to radiotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade therapy. This study offers a universal strategy for spatiotemporally controlling supramolecular self-assembly on sub-organelles to determine cancer cell fate and enhance cancer therapy.

Self-Delivery Nanoplatform Based on Amphiphilic Apoptosis Peptide for Precise Mitochondria-Targeting Photothermal Therapy

Mitochondria-targeting photothermal therapy could significantly enhance the tumor cell killing effect. However, since therapeutic reagents need to overcome a series of physiological obstacles to arrive at mitochondria accurately, precise mitochondria-targeting photothermal therapy still faces great challenges. In this study, we developed a self-delivery nanoplatform that specifically targeted the mitochondria of tumor cells for precise photothermal therapy. Photothermal agent IR780 was encapsulated by amphiphilic apoptotic peptide KLA with mitochondria-targeting ability to form nanomicelle KI by self-assembly through hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions. Subsequently, negatively charged tumor-targeting polymer HA was coated on the surface of KI through electrostatic interactions, to obtain tumor mitochondria-targeting self-delivery nanoplatform HKI. Through CD44 receptor-mediated recognition, HKI was internalizated by tumor cells and then disassembled in an acidic environment with hyaluronidase in endosomes, resulting in the release of apoptotic peptide KLA and photothermal agent IR780 with mitochondria anchoring capacity, which achieved precise mitochondria guidance and destruction. This tumor mitochondria-targeting self-delivery nanoplatform was able to effectively deliver photothermal agents and apoptotic peptides to tumor cell mitochondria, resulting in precise destruction to mitochondria and enhancing tumor cell inhibition at the subcellular organelle level.

Photodynamic O2 Economizer Encapsulated with DNAzyme for Enhancing Mitochondrial Gene-Photodynamic Therapy

Emerging research suggests that mitochondrial DNA is a potential target for cancer treatment. However, achieving precise delivery of deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes) and combining photodynamic therapy (PDT) and DNAzyme-based gene silencing together for enhancing mitochondrial gene-photodynamic synergistic therapy remains challenging. Accordingly, herein, intelligent supramolecular nanomicelles are constructed by encapsulating a DNAzyme into a photodynamic O2 economizer for mitochondrial NO gas-enhanced synergistic gene-photodynamic therapy. The designed nanomicelles demonstrate sensitive acid- and red-light sequence-activated behaviors. After entering the cancer cells and targeting the mitochondria, these micelles will disintegrate and release the DNAzyme and Mn (II) porphyrin in the tumor microenvironment. Mn (II) porphyrin acts as a DNAzyme cofactor to activate the DNAzyme for the cleavage reaction. Subsequently, the NO-carrying donor is decomposed under red light irradiation to generate NO that inhibits cellular respiration, facilitating the conversion of more O2 into singlet oxygen (1 O2 ) in the tumor cells, thereby significantly enhancing the efficacy of PDT. In vitro and in vivo experiments reveal that the proposed system can efficiently target mitochondria and exhibits considerable antitumor effects with negligible systemic toxicity. Thus, this study provides a useful conditional platform for the precise delivery of DNAzymes and a novel strategy for activatable NO gas-enhanced mitochondrial gene-photodynamic therapy.

Calcium Carbonate/Polydopamine Composite Nanoplatform Based on TGF-β Blockade for Comfortable Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer pain seriously reduces the quality of life of cancer patients. However, most research about cancer focuses solely on inhibiting tumor growth, neglecting the issue of cancer pain. Therefore, the development of therapeutic agents with both tumor suppression and cancer pain relief is crucial to achieve human-centered treatment. Here, the work reports curcumin (CUR) and ropivacaine (Ropi) coincorporating CaCO3/PDA nanoparticles (CaPNMCUR+Ropi) that realized efficient tumor immunotherapy and cancer pain suppression. The therapeutic efficiency and mechanism are revealed in vitro and in vivo. The results indicate that CaPNMCUR+Ropi underwent tumor microenvironment-responsive degradation and realized rapid release of calcium ions, Ropi, and CUR. The excessive intracellular calcium triggered the apoptosis of tumor cells, and the transient pain caused by the tumor injection was relieved by Ropi. Simultaneously, CUR reduced the levels of immunosuppressive factor (TGF-β) and inflammatory factor (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) in the tumor microenvironment, thereby continuously augmenting the immune response and alleviating inflammatory pain of cancer animals. Meanwhile, the decrease of TGF-β leads to the reduction of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) expression, thereby alleviating hyperalgesia and achieving long-lasting analgesic effects. The design of the nanosystem provides a novel idea for human-centered tumor treatment in the future.

Gene signatures to therapeutics: Assessing the potential of ivermectin against t(4;14) multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a terminal differentiated B-cell tumor disease characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells and excessive levels of monoclonal immunoglobulins in the bone marrow. The translocation, (t)(4;14), results in high-risk MM with limited treatment alternatives. Thus, there is an urgent need for identification and validation of potential treatments for this MM subtype. Microarray data and sequencing information from public databases could offer opportunities for the discovery of new diagnostic or therapeutic targets.

AIM

To elucidate the molecular basis and search for potential effective drugs of t(4;14) MM subtype by employing a comprehensive approach.

METHODS

The transcriptional signature of t(4;14) MM was sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Two datasets, GSE16558 and GSE116294, which included 17 and 15 t(4;14) MM bone marrow samples, and five and four normal bone marrow samples, respectively. After the differentially expressed genes were identified, the Cytohubba tool was used to screen for hub genes. Then, the hub genes were analyzed using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis. Using the STRING database and Cytoscape, protein-protein interaction networks and core targets were identified. Potential small-molecule drugs were identified and validated using the Connectivity Map database and molecular docking analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

In this study, a total of 258 differentially expressed genes with enriched functions in cancer pathways, namely cytokine receptor interactions, nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway, lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, and Hippo signaling pathway, were identified. Ten hub genes (cd45, vcam1, ccl3, cd56, app, cd48, btk, ccr2, cybb, and cxcl12) were identified. Nine drugs, including ivermectin, deforolimus, and isoliquiritigenin, were predicted by the Connectivity Map database to have potential therapeutic effects on t (4;14) MM. In molecular docking, ivermectin showed strong binding affinity to all 10 identified targets, especially cd45 and cybb. Ivermectin inhibited t(4;14) MM cell growth via the NF-κB pathway and induced MM cell apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, ivermectin increased reactive oxygen species accumulation and altered the mitochondrial membrane potential in t(4;14) MM cells.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, the findings offer valuable molecular insights for biomarker validation and potential drug development in t(4;14) MM diagnosis and treatment, with ivermectin emerging as a potential therapeutic alternative.

A Mitochondria-Targeted NIR-II Molecule Fluorophore for Precise Cancer Phototheranostics

Subcellular organelle mitochondria are becoming a key player and a driver of cancer. Mitochondrial targeting phototheranostics has attracted increasing attention for precise cancer therapy. However, those phototheranostic systems still face great challenges, including complex and multiple components, light scattering, and insufficient therapeutic efficacy. Herein, a molecular fluorophore IR-TPP-1100 was tactfully designed by molecular engineering for mitochondria-targeted fluorescence imaging-guided phototherapy in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II). IR-TPP-1100 not only exhibited prominent photophysical properties and high photothermal conversion efficiency but also achieved excellent mitochondria-targeting ability. The mitochondria-targeting IR-TPP-1100 enabled NIR-II fluorescence and photoacoustic dual-modality imaging of mitochondria at the organism level. Moreover, it integrated photothermal and photodynamic therapy, obtaining remarkable tumor therapeutic efficacy by inducing mitochondrial apoptosis. These results indicate that IR-TPP-1100 has great potential for precise cancer therapy and provides a promising strategy for developing mitochondria-targeting NIR-II phototheranostic agents.

Strategies to Reverse Hypoxic Tumor Microenvironment for Enhanced Sonodynamic Therapy

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has emerged as a highly effective modality for the treatment of malignant tumors owing to its powerful penetration ability, noninvasiveness, site-confined irradiation, and excellent therapeutic efficacy. However, the traditional SDT, which relies on oxygen availability, often fails to generate a satisfactory level of reactive oxygen species because of the widespread issue of hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment of solid tumors. To address this challenge, various approaches are developed to alleviate hypoxia and improve the efficiency of SDT. These strategies aim to either increase oxygen supply or prevent hypoxia exacerbation, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of SDT. In view of this, the current review provides an overview of these strategies and their underlying principles, focusing on the circulation of oxygen from consumption to external supply. The detailed research examples conducted using these strategies in combination with SDT are also discussed. Additionally, this review highlights the future prospects and challenges of the hypoxia-alleviated SDT, along with the key considerations for future clinical applications. These considerations include the development of efficient oxygen delivery systems, the accurate methods for hypoxia detection, and the exploration of combination therapies to optimize SDT outcomes.

Multi-Enzyme Co-Expressed Nanomedicine for Anti-Metastasis Tumor Therapy by Up-Regulating Cellular Oxidative Stress and Depleting Cholesterol

Tumor cells movement and migration are inseparable from the integrity of lipid rafts and the formation of lamellipodia, and lipid rafts are also a prerequisite for the formation of lamellipodia. Therefore, destroying the lipid rafts is an effective strategy to inhibit tumor metastasis. Herein, a multi-enzyme co-expressed nanomedicine: cholesterol oxidase (CHO) loaded Co─PN3 single-atom nanozyme (Co─PN3 SA/CHO) that can up-regulate cellular oxidative stress, disrupt the integrity of lipid rafts, and inhibit lamellipodia formation to induce anti-metastasis tumor therapy, is developed. In this process, Co─PN3 SA can catalyze oxygen (O2 ) and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) via oxidase-like and Fenton-like properties. The doping of P atoms optimizes the adsorption process of the intermediate at the active site and enhances the ROS generation properties of nanomedicine. Meantime, O2 produced by catalase-like catalysis can combine with excess cholesterol to generate more H2 O2 under CHO catalysis, achieving enhanced oxidative damage to tumor cells. Most importantly, cholesterol depletion in tumor cells also disrupts the integrity of lipid rafts and inhibits the formation of lamellipodia, greatly inhibiting the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. This strategy by up-regulating cellular oxidative stress and depleting cellular cholesterol constructs a new idea for anti-metastasis-oriented cancer therapy strategies.

Ru(II) Phenanthroline-Based Oligothienyl Complexes as Phototherapy Agents

Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes have gained widespread attention as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Herein, we systematically investigate a series of the type [Ru(phen)2(IP-nT)]2+, featuring 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) coligands and imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline ligands tethered to n = 0-4 thiophene rings (IP-nT). The complexes were characterized and investigated for their electrochemical, spectroscopic, and (photo)biological properties. The electrochemical oxidation of the nT unit shifted by -350 mV as n = 1 → 4 (+920 mV for Ru-1T, +570 mV for Ru-4T); nT reductions were observed in complexes Ru-3T (-2530 mV) and Ru-4T (-2300 mV). Singlet oxygen quantum yields ranged from 0.53 to 0.88, with Ru-3T and Ru-4T being equally efficient (∼0.88). Time-resolved absorption spectra of Ru-0T-1T were dominated by metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) states (τTA = 0.40-0.85 μs), but long-lived intraligand charge-transfer (3ILCT) states were observed in Ru-2T-4T (τTA = 25-148 μs). The 3ILCT energies of Ru-3T and Ru-4T were computed to be 1.6 and 1.4 eV, respectively. The phototherapeutic efficacy against melanoma cells (SK-MEL-28) under broad-band visible light (400-700 nm) increases as n = 0 → 4: Ru-0T was inactive up to 300 μM, Ru-1T-2T were moderately active (EC50 ∼ 600 nM, PI = 200), and Ru-3T (EC50 = 57 nM, PI > 1100) and Ru-4T (EC50 = 740 pM, PI = 114,000) were the most phototoxic. The activity diminishes with longer wavelengths of light and is completely suppressed for all complexes except Ru-3T and Ru-4T in hypoxia. Ru-4T is the more potent and robust PS in 1% O2 over seven biological replicates (avg EC50 = 1.3 μM, avg PI = 985). Ru-3T exhibited hypoxic activity in five of seven replicates, underscoring the need for biological replicates in compound evaluation. Singlet oxygen sensitization is likely responsible for phototoxic effects of the compounds in normoxia, but the presence of redox-active excited states may facilitate additional photoactive pathways for complexes with three or more thienyl groups. The 3ILCT state with its extended lifetime (30-40× longer than the 3MLCT state for Ru-3T and Ru-4T) implicates its predominant role in photocytotoxicity.

Bleeding the Excited State Energy to the Utmost: Single-Molecule Iridium Complexes for In Vivo Dual Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy by an Infrared Low-Power Laser

A series of cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes with morpholine and piperazine groups are designed as dual photosensitizers and photothermal agents for more efficient antitumor phototherapy via infrared low-power laser. Their ground and excited state properties, as well as the structural effect on their photophysical and biological properties, are investigated by spectroscopic, electrochemical, and quantum chemical theoretical calculations. They target mitochondria in human melanoma tumor cells and trigger apoptosis related to mitochondrial dysfunction upon irradiation. The Ir(III) complexes, particularly Ir6, demonstrate high phototherapy indexes to melanoma tumor cells and a manifest photothermal effect. Ir6, with minimal hepato-/nephrotoxicity in vitro, significantly inhibits the growth of melanoma tumors in vivo under 808 nm laser irradiation by dual photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy and can be efficiently eliminated from the body. These results may contribute to the development of highly efficient phototherapeutic drugs for large, deeply buried solid tumors.

Iridium(III)-Based Infrared Two-Photon Photosensitizers: Systematic Regulation of Their Photodynamic Therapy Efficacy

Cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes are of significant importance in the field of antitumor photodynamic therapy (PDT), whether they exist as single molecules or are incorporated into nanomaterials. Nevertheless, a comprehensive examination of the relationship between their molecular structure and PDT effectiveness remains awaited. The influencing factors of two-photon excited PDT can be anticipated to be further multiplied, particularly in relation to intricate nonlinear optical properties. At present, a comprehensive body of research on this topic is lacking, and few discernible patterns have been identified. In this study, through systematic structure regulation, the nitro-substituted styryl group and 1-phenylisoquinoline ligand containing YQ2 was found to be the most potent infrared two-photon excitable photosensitizer in a 4 × 3 combination library of cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes. YQ2 could enter cells via an energy-dependent and caveolae-mediated pathway, bind specifically to mitochondria, produce 1O2 in response to 808 nm LPL irradiation, activate caspases, and induce apoptosis. In vitro, YQ2 displayed a remarkable phototherapy index for both malignant melanoma (>885) and non-small-cell lung cancer (>1234) based on these functions and was minimally deleterious to human normal liver and kidney cells. In in vivo antitumor phototherapy, YQ2 inhibited tumor growth by an impressive 85% and could be eliminated from the bodies of mice with a half-life as short as 43 h. This study has the potential to contribute significantly to the development of phototherapeutic drugs that are extremely effective in treating large, profoundly located solid tumors as well as the understanding of the structure-activity relationship of Ir(III)-based PSs in PDT.

TET protein inhibitors: Potential and limitations

TET proteins (methylcytosine dioxygenases) play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Dysregulation of their activity is associated with many serious pathogenic states such as oncological diseases. Regulation of their activity by specific inhibitors could represent a promising therapeutic strategy. Therefore, this review describes various types of TET protein inhibitors in terms of their inhibitory mechanism and possible applicability. The potential and possible limitations of this approach are thoroughly discussed in the context of TET protein functionality in living systems. Furthermore, possible therapeutic strategies based on the inhibition of TET proteins are presented and evaluated, especially in the field of oncological diseases.

Triazine pyridinium derivative supramolecular cascade assembly extended FRET for two-photon NIR targeted cell imaging

A triazine pyridinium derivative (TAZpy) was encapsulated into the cavity of a cucurbit[7]uril and further assembled with sulfonatocalix[4]-arene, hyaluronic acid and commercial dyes, which not only achieved fluorescence cascade enhancement and an effective FRET process based on macrocyclic confinement, but was also applied in two-photon NIR targeted cell imaging.

Endogenous miRNA and K+ Co-Activated Dynamic Assembly of DNA Coacervates for Intracellular miRNA Imaging and Mitochondrial Intervention

Intracellular dynamic assembly of DNA structures may be beneficial for the development of multifunctional nanoplatforms for the regulation of cell behaviors, providing new strategies for disease diagnosis and intervention. Herein, we propose the dynamic assembly of DNA coacervates in living cells triggered by miRNA-21 and K+, which can be used for both miRNA imaging and mitochondrial intervention. The rationale is that miRNA-21 can trigger the hybridization chain reaction to generate G-quadruplex precursors, and K+ can mediate the assembly of G-quadruplex-based coacervates, allowing the colorimetric detection of miRNA-21 ranging from 10 pM to 10 μM. Moreover, the as-formed DNA coacervates can specifically target mitochondria in MCF-7 breast cancer cells using the MCF-7 cell membrane as delivery carriers, which further act as an anionic shielding to inhibit communication between mitochondria and environments, with a significant inhibitory effect on ATP production and cellular migration behaviors. This work provides an ideal multifunctional nanoplatform for rationally interfering with cellular metabolism and migration behaviors through the dynamic assembly of DNA coacervates mediated by endogenous molecules, which has a large number of potential applications in the biomedical field, especially theranostics for cancer metastasis.

Subcellular visualization: Organelle-specific targeted drug delivery and discovery

Organelles perform critical biological functions due to their distinct molecular composition and internal environment. Disorders in organelles or their interacting networks have been linked to the incidence of numerous diseases, and the research of pharmacological actions at the organelle level has sparked pharmacists' interest. Currently, cell imaging has evolved into a critical tool for drug delivery, drug discovery, and pharmacological research. The introduction of advanced imaging techniques in recent years has provided researchers with richer biological information for viewing and studying the ultrastructure of organelles, protein interactions, and gene transcription activities, leading to the design and delivery of precision-targeted drugs. Therefore, this reviews the research on organelles-targeted drugs based upon imaging technologies and development of fluorescent molecules for medicinal purposes. We also give a thorough analysis of a number of subcellular-level elements of drug development, including subcellular research instruments and methods, organelle biological event investigation, subcellular target and drug identification, and design of subcellular delivery systems. This review will make it possible to promote drug research from the individual/cellular level to the subcellular level, as well as give a new focus based on newly found organelle activities.

Cancer Bioenergetics and Tumor Microenvironments-Enhancing Chemotherapeutics and Targeting Resistant Niches through Nanosystems

Cancer is an impending bottleneck in the advanced scientific workflow to achieve diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic success. Most cancers are refractory to conventional diagnostic and chemotherapeutics due to their limited targetability, specificity, solubility, and side effects. The inherent ability of each cancer to evolve through various genetic and epigenetic transformations and metabolic reprogramming underlies therapeutic limitations. Though tumor microenvironments (TMEs) are quite well understood in some cancers, each microenvironment differs from the other in internal perturbations and metabolic skew thereby impeding the development of appropriate diagnostics, drugs, vaccines, and therapies. Cancer associated bioenergetics modulations regulate TME, angiogenesis, immune evasion, generation of resistant niches and tumor progression, and a thorough understanding is crucial to the development of metabolic therapies. However, this remains a missing element in cancer theranostics, necessitating the development of modalities that can be adapted for targetability, diagnostics and therapeutics. In this challenging scenario, nanomaterials are modular platforms for understanding TME and achieving successful theranostics. Several nanoscale particles have been successfully researched in animal models, quite a few have reached clinical trials, and some have achieved clinical success. Nanoparticles exhibit an intrinsic capability to interact with diverse biomolecules and modulate their functions. Furthermore, nanoparticles can be functionalized with receptors, modulators, and drugs to facilitate specific targeting with reduced toxicity. This review discusses the current understanding of different theranostic nanosystems, their synthesis, functionalization, and targetability for therapeutic modulation of bioenergetics, and metabolic reprogramming of the cancer microenvironment. We highlight the potential of nanosystems for enhanced chemotherapeutic success emphasizing the questions that remain unanswered.

Imaging glucose metabolism to reveal tumor progression

Purpose: To analyze and review the progress of glucose metabolism-based molecular imaging in detecting tumors to guide clinicians for new management strategies. Summary: When metabolic abnormalities occur, termed the Warburg effect, it simultaneously enables excessive cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis. Molecular imaging technology combines molecular biology and cell probe technology to visualize, characterize, and quantify processes at cellular and subcellular levels in vivo. Modern instruments, including molecular biochemistry, data processing, nanotechnology, and image processing, use molecular probes to perform real-time, non-invasive imaging of molecular and cellular events in living organisms. Conclusion: Molecular imaging is a non-invasive method for live detection, dynamic observation, and quantitative assessment of tumor glucose metabolism. It enables in-depth examination of the connection between the tumor microenvironment and tumor growth, providing a reliable assessment technique for scientific and clinical research. This new technique will facilitate the translation of fundamental research into clinical practice.