Synthesis of defined oligohyaluronates-decorated liposomes and interaction with lung cancer cells

Designing functionalized nanodiamonds with hyaluronic acid-phospholipid conjugates for enhanced cancer cell targeting and fluorescence imaging capabilities

Nanomedicine aims to develop smart approaches for treating cancer and other diseases to improve patient survival and quality of life. Novel nanoparticles as nanodiamonds (NDs) represent promising candidates to overcome current limitations. In this study, NDs were functionalized with a 200 kDa hyaluronic acid-phospholipid conjugate (HA/DMPE), enhancing the stability of the nanoparticles in water-based solutions and selectivity for cancer cells overexpressing specific HA cluster determinant 44 (CD44) receptors. These nanoparticles were characterized by diffuse reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy, confirming the efficacy of the functionalization process. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to evaluate the size distribution of the dry particles, while dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements were utilized to evaluate ND behavior in a water-based medium. Furthermore, the ND biocompatibility and uptake mediated by CD44 receptors in three different models of human adenocarcinoma cells were assessed by performing cytofluorimetric assay and confocal microscopy. HA-functionalized nanodiamonds demonstrated the advantage of active targeting in the presence of cancer cells expressing CD44 on the surface, suggesting higher drug delivery to tumors over non-tumor tissues. Even CD44-poorly expressing cancers could be targeted by the NDs, thanks to their good passive diffusion within cancer cells.

Targeting pentamidine towards CD44-overexpressing cells using hyaluronated lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles

Biodegradable nanocarriers possess enormous potential for use as drug delivery systems that can accomplish controlled and targeted drug release, and a wide range of nanosystems have been reported for the treatment and/or diagnosis of various diseases and disorders. Of the various nanocarriers currently available, liposomes and polymer nanoparticles have been extensively studied and some formulations have already reached the market. However, a combination of properties to create a single hybrid system can give these carriers significant advantages, such as improvement in encapsulation efficacy, higher stability, and active targeting towards specific cells or tissues, over lipid or polymer-based platforms. To this aim, this work presents the formulation of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles in the presence of a hyaluronic acid (HA)-phospholipid conjugate (HA-DPPE), which was used to anchor HA onto the nanoparticle surface and therefore create an actively targeted hybrid nanosystem. Furthermore, ionic interactions have been proposed for drug encapsulation, leading us to select the free base form of pentamidine (PTM-B) as the model drug. We herein report the preparation of hybrid nanocarriers that were loaded via ion-pairing between the negatively charged PLGA and HA and the positively charged PTM-B, demonstrating an improved loading capacity compared to PLGA-based nanoparticles. The nanocarriers displayed a size of below 150 nm, a negative zeta potential of -35 mV, a core-shell internal arrangement and high encapsulation efficiency (90%). Finally, the ability to be taken up and exert preferential and receptor-mediated cytotoxicity on cancer cells that overexpress the HA specific receptor (CD44) has been evaluated. Competition assays supported the hypothesis that PLGA/HA-DPPE nanoparticles deliver their cargo within cells in a CD44-dependent manner.

Enhancing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) therapy with targeted carbon nano-onion (CNO)-mediated delivery of gemcitabine (GEM)-derived prodrugs

Nanotechnology's potential in revolutionising cancer treatments is evident in targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs) engineered to optimise therapeutic efficacy and minimise toxicity. This study examines a novel nanocarrier constructed with carbon nano-onions (CNOs), engineered and evaluated for its ability to selectively target cancer cells overexpressing the hyaluronic acid receptor; CD44. Our results highlighted that the CNO-based nanocarrier coupled with hyaluronic acid as the targeting agent demonstrated effective uptake by CD44+ PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells, while avoiding CD44- Capan-1 cells. The CNO-based nanocarrier also exhibited excellent biocompatibility in all tested pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, as well as healthy cells. Notably, the CNO-based nanocarrier was successfully loaded with chemotherapeutic 4-(N)-acyl- sidechain-containing prodrugs derived from gemcitabine (GEM). These prodrugs alone exhibited remarkable efficacy in killing PDAC cells which are known to be GEM resistant, and their efficacy was amplified when combined with the CNO-based nanocarrier, particularly in targeting GEM-resistant CD44+ PDAC cells. These findings demonstrate the potential of CNOs as promising scaffolds in advancing targeted DDSs, signifying the translational potential of carbon nanoparticles for cancer therapy.

Octanoyl esterification of low molecular weight sulfated galactan enhances the cellular uptake and collagen expression in fibroblast cells

Low molecular weight sulfated galactan (LMSG) supplemented with octanoyl ester (Oct-LMSG) demonstrated superior wound healing activity compared to the unsupplemented LMSG in a fibroblast wound model. To test the hypothesis that the increased bioactivity of Oct-LMSG may depend on its penetration into the plasma membrane, its cellular uptake was investigated and collagen production in fibroblast cells was assessed for the first time. The cellular uptake of Oct-LMSG was examined using indirect immunofluorescence and a confocal laser scanning microscope. In addition, the degree of fibroblast activation associated with this uptake was evaluated. The results indicated increased LMSG internalization in fibroblasts treated with Oct-LMSG. Transmission electron micrographs revealed the ultrastructure of active protein production in fibroblasts upon treatment with Oct-LMSG. In addition, Oct-LMSG upregulated the expression of type I collagen mRNA and proteins, as well as related signaling molecules involved in collagen synthesis, including collagen type I α1 chain (Col1A1), Col1A2, phosphorylated (p)-Smad2/3 and p-Smad4. The current findings support the notion that the supplementation of LMSG with octanoyl enhanced its cellular uptake into fibroblasts and, as a result, regulated the expression of type I collagen in fibroblasts via the activation of the Smad signaling pathway. This study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of Oct-LMSG in promoting tissue regeneration.

Perspectives on cutting-edge nanoparticulate drug delivery technologies based on lipids and their applications

Numerous nanotech arenas in therapeutic biology have recently provided a scientific platform to manufacture a considerable swath of unique chemical entities focusing on drugs. Recently, nanoparticulate drug delivery systems have emerged to deliver a specific drug to a specified site. Among all other carriers, lipids possess features exclusive to nanostructured dosage forms. The bioavailability of orally administered drugs is typically negatively affected by their poor water solubility, resulting from the unique chemical moieties introduced. Because of their unique advantages, lipid nanoparticles must become increasingly predictable as a robust delivery mechanism. The enhanced biopharmaceutical properties and significance of lipid-based targeting technologies such as liposomes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and micelles are highlighted in this review. Pharmaceutical implications of lipid nanocarriers for the transport and distribution of various therapeutic agents, such as biotechnological products and small pharmaceutical molecules, is a booming topic. Lipid nanoparticles as drug delivery systems have many appealing properties, including high biocompatibility, ease of preparation, tissue specificity, avoidance of reticuloendothelial systems, delayed drug release, scale-up feasibility, nontoxicity and targeted delivery. The use of lipid nanoparticles to enhance the transport of biopharmaceuticals is currently considered state-of-the-art. Similarly, we critically examine the upcoming guidelines that therapeutic scientists should handle.

Design strategy and research progress of multifunctional nanoparticles in lung cancer therapy

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer is one of the cancer types with the highest mortality rate, exploring a more effective treatment modality that improves therapeutic efficacy while mitigating side effects is now an urgent requirement. Designing multifunctional nanoparticles can be used to overcome the limitations of drugs and conventional drug delivery systems. Nanotechnology has been widely researched, and through different needs, suitable nanocarriers can be selected to load anti-cancer drugs to improve the therapeutic effect. It is foreseeable that with the rapid development of nanotechnology, more and more lung cancer patients will benefit from nanotechnology. This paper reviews the merits of various multifunctional nanoparticles in the treatment of lung cancer to provide novel ideas for lung cancer treatment.

AREAS COVERED

This review focuses on summarizing various nanoparticles for targeted lung cancer therapy and their advantages and disadvantages, using nanoparticles loaded with anti-cancer drugs, delivered to lung cancer sites, enhancing drug half-life, improving anti-cancer drug efficacy and reducing side effects.

EXPERT OPINION

The delivery mode of nanoparticles with superior pharmacokinetic properties in the in vivo circulation enhances the half-life of the drug, and provides tissue-targeted selectivity and the ability to overcome biological barriers, bringing a revolution in the field of oncology.

Hyaluronic acid-modified redox-sensitive hybrid nanocomplex loading with siRNA for non-small-cell lung carcinoma therapy

A novel hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified hybrid nanocomplex HA-SeSe-COOH/siR-93C@PAMAM, which could efficiently deliver siRNA into tumor cells via a redox-mediated intracellular disassembly, was constructed for enhanced antitumor efficacy. Thereinto, siR-93C (siRNA) and positive PAMAM were firstly mixed into the electrostatic nano-intermediate, and then diselenide bond (-SeSe-)-modified HA was coved to shield excessive positive charges. This hybrid nanocomplex displayed uniform dynamic sizes, high stability, controlled zeta potential and narrow PDI distribution. Moreover, the -SeSe- linkage displayed GSH/ROS dual responsive properties, improving intracellular trafficking of siRNA. In vitro assays in A549 cell line presented that HA-SeSe-COOH/siR-93C@PAMAM has low cytotoxicity, rapid lysosomal escape and significant transfection efficiency; besides, an efficient proliferation inhibition ability and enhanced apoptosis. Furthermore, in animal studies, this negative-surfaced hybrid nanocomplex showed a prolonged circulation in blood and improved inhibition of tumor growth. All these results verified our hypothesis in this study that diselenide bonds-modified HA could promote not only stability and safety of nanoparticles in vivo but also intracellular behavior of siRNA via redox-dual sensitive properties; furthermore, this hybrid nanocomplex provided a visible potential approach for siRNA delivery in the antitumor field.

Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of the Anti-Cancer Drugs: A Review

Abstract:

Cancer is one of the main reasons for mortality worldwide. Chemotherapeutic agents have been effectively designed to increase certain patients' survival rates, but ordinarily designed chemotherapeutic agents necessarily deliver toxic chemotherapeutic drugs to healthy tissues, resulting in serious side effects. Cancer cells can often acquire drug resistance after repeated dosing of current chemotherapeutic agents, restricting their efficacy. Given such obstacles, investigators have attempted to distribute chemotherapeutic agents using targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs), especially nanotechnology-based DDSs. Lipid-Based Nanoparticles (LBNPs) are a large and complex class of substances that have been utilized to manage a variety of diseases, mostly cancer. Liposomes seem to be the most frequently employed LBNPs, owing to their high biocompatibility, bioactivity, stability, and flexibility; howbeit Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) and Non-structured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) have lately received a lot of interest. Besides that, there are several reports that concentrate on novel therapies via LBNPs to manage various forms of cancer. In the present research, the latest improvements in the application of LBNPs have been shown to deliver different therapeutic agents to cancerous cells and have been demonstrated LBNPs also can be a quite successful candidate in cancer therapy for subsequent use.

Developing Actively Targeted Nanoparticles to Fight Cancer: Focus on Italian Research

Active targeting is a valuable and promising approach with which to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of nanodelivery systems, and the development of tumor-targeted nanoparticles has therefore attracted much research attention. In this field, the research carried out in Italian Pharmaceutical Technology academic groups has been focused on the development of actively targeted nanosystems using a multidisciplinary approach. To highlight these efforts, this review reports a thorough description of the last 10 years of Italian research results on the development of actively targeted nanoparticles to direct drugs towards different receptors that are overexpressed on cancer cells or in the tumor microenvironment. In particular, the review discusses polymeric nanocarriers, liposomes, lipoplexes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, squalene nanoassemblies and nanobubbles. For each nanocarrier, the main ligands, conjugation strategies and target receptors are described. The literature indicates that polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes stand out as key tools for improving specific drug delivery to the site of action. In addition, solid lipid nanoparticles, squalene nanoparticles and nanobubbles have also been successfully proposed. Taken together, these strategies all offer many platforms for the design of nanocarriers that are suitable for future clinical translation.

Synthesis, self-assembly and Langerin recognition studies of a resorcinarene-based glycocluster exposing a hyaluronic acid thiodisaccharide mimetic

Herein, we report the synthesis of an octavalent glycocluster exposing a thiodisaccharide mimetic of the repetitive unit of hyaluronic acid, βSGlcA(1 → 3)βSGlcNAc, constructed on a calix[4]resorcinarene scaffold by CuAAC reaction of suitable precursors. This glycocluster showed a strong tendency toward self-aggregation. DOSY-NMR and DLS experiments demonstrated the formation of spherical micelles of d ≅ 6.2 nm, in good agreement. TEM micrographs showed the presence of particles of different sizes, depending on the pH of the starting solution, thus evidencing that the negative charge on the micelle surface due to ionization of the GlcA residues plays an important role in the aggregation process. STD-NMR and DLS experiments provided evidence of the interaction between the synthetic glycocluster and Langerin, a relevant C-type lectin. This interaction was not observed in the STD-NMR experiments performed with the basic disaccharide, providing evidence of a multivalent effect.