NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided hepatocellular carcinoma treatment via IR-1061-acridine and lenvatinib co-loaded thermal-sensitive micelles and anti-PD-1 combinational therapy

Tumor-targeted hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for dual-mode diagnostic imaging and near-infrared light-triggered photothermal cancer therapy

Photothermal therapy (PTT), which utilizes photothermal agents (PTAs) to induce localized hyperthermia within tumors upon light irradiation, has emerged as a promising cancer treatment strategy. However, low water solubility, poor in vivo circulation stability and a lack of tumor specificity of many common PTAs limit their applicability. To address these issues, we have developed a simple, yet highly potent, tumor-targeted nanotheranostic system that consists of lipid/PEG-coated hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (LHAPNs) encapsulating the near-infrared (NIR) photothermal dye IR106 (LHAPNIRs). The lipid coat serves to retain the encapsulated dye and prevent serum protein adsorption and macrophage recognition, which would otherwise destabilize the nanoparticles and hinder their tumor targeting efficiency. Additionally, the coat is functionalized with the tumor-acidity-triggered rational membrane (ATRAM) peptide for efficient and specific internalization into tumor cells in the mildly acidic microenvironment of tumors. The nanoparticles facilitated real-time fluorescence and thermal imaging of tumors and demonstrated potent NIR-light triggered anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo , without adversely affecting healthy tissue, leading to markedly prolonged survival. Our results demonstrate that the biocompatible and biodegradable ATRAM-functionalized LHAPNIRs (ALHAPNIRs) effectively combine dual-mode diagnostic imaging with targeted cancer PTT.

iRGD-mediated liposomal nanoplatforms for improving hepatocellular carcinoma targeted combination immunotherapy and monitoring tumor response via IVIM-MRI

The combination therapy of targeted treatments and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) holds great promise for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. However, challenges such as immunogenicity, off-target toxicity of ICB antibodies, low drug co-delivery efficiency, and lack of effective biomarkers to monitor treatment response limit the efficacy of existing targeted immunotherapies. Herein, we synthesized iRGD-modified pH-sensitive liposomal nanoparticles co-encapsulating lenvatinib (Len) and the small molecule PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor BMS-202 (iRGD-lip@Len/BMS-202) to address issues related to inadequate tumor enrichment and distinct pharmacokinetics of these drugs. Furthermore, intravoxel incoherent motion-magnetic resonance imaging (IVIM-MRI), which is calculated using a biexponential model, can simultaneously reflect both the diffusion of water molecules within the tissue and the microcirculatory perfusion of capillaries. Consequently, we further assessed the feasibility of using IVIM-MRI to monitor the cancer treatment response in nanodrug therapy. These results demonstrated that the iRGD-targeted liposomal nanodrug effectively accumulated in tumors and released in acidic microenvironments. The sustained release of Len facilitated tumor vascular normalization, decreased the presence of Tregs and MDSCs and activated the IFN-γ signaling pathway. This led to increased PD-L1 expression in tumor cells, enhancing the sensitivity of BMS-202. Consequently, there was a synergistic amplification of antitumor immune therapy, resulting in the shrinkage of subcutaneous and orthotopic HCC and inhibition of lung metastasis. Furthermore, IVIM-MRI technology facilitated the non-invasive monitoring of the tumor microenvironment (TME), revealing critical therapeutic response indicators such as the normalization of tumor blood vessels and the degree of hypoxia. Collectively, the combination of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs with iRGD-modified liposomes presents a promising strategy for HCC treatment. Simultaneously, IVIM-MRI provides a non-invasive method to accurately predict the response to this nanodrug.

Recent advances in the development of tumor microenvironment-activatable nanomotors for deep tumor penetration

Cancer represents a significant threat to human health, with the use of traditional chemotherapy drugs being limited by their harsh side effects. Tumor-targeted nanocarriers have emerged as a promising solution to this problem, as they can deliver drugs directly to the tumor site, improving drug effectiveness and reducing adverse effects. However, the efficacy of most nanomedicines is hindered by poor penetration into solid tumors. Nanomotors, capable of converting various forms of energy into mechanical energy for self-propelled movement, offer a potential solution for enhancing drug delivery to deep tumor regions. External force-driven nanomotors, such as those powered by magnetic fields or ultrasound, provide precise control but often necessitate bulky and costly external equipment. Bio-driven nanomotors, propelled by sperm, macrophages, or bacteria, utilize biological molecules for self-propulsion and are well-suited to the physiological environment. However, they are constrained by limited lifespan, inadequate speed, and potential immune responses. To address these issues, nanomotors have been engineered to propel themselves forward by catalyzing intrinsic "fuel" in the tumor microenvironment. This mechanism facilitates their penetration through biological barriers, allowing them to reach deep tumor regions for targeted drug delivery. In this regard, this article provides a review of tumor microenvironment-activatable nanomotors (fueled by hydrogen peroxide, urea, arginine), and discusses their prospects and challenges in clinical translation, aiming to offer new insights for safe, efficient, and precise treatment in cancer therapy.

Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Red Blood Cell Membranes for Near-Infrared Second Window Imaging-Guided Photothermal-Enhanced Immunotherapy on Tumors

Photothermal therapy (PTT), which uses the high thermal conversion ability of photothermal agents to ablate tumor cells at high temperatures, has gained significant attention because it has the advantages of high selectivity and specificity, precise targeting of tumor sites, and low invasiveness and trauma. However, PTT guided by the NIR-I has limitations in tissue penetration depth, resulting in limited imaging monitoring and therapeutic effects on deep-seated tumor tissues. Moreover, nanoparticles are easily cleared by the immune system and difficult to passively target tumor sites during the process of treatment. To address these issues, we prepared nanoparticles using NIR-II dyes IR1048 and DSPE-PEG-OH and further encapsulated them in red blood cell membranes derived from mice. These biomimetic nanoparticles, called RDIR1048, showed reduced clearance by the immune system and had long circulation characteristics. They effectively accumulated at tumor sites, and strong fluorescence could still be observed at the tumor site 96 h after administration. Furthermore, through mouse thermal imaging experiments, we found that RDIR1048 exhibited good PTT ability. When used in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, anti-PD-L1 antibodies, it enhanced the immunogenic cell death of tumor cells caused by PTT and improved the therapeutic effect of immunotherapy, which demonstrated good therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of tumor-bearing mice. This study provides a feasible basis for the future development of NIR-II nanoparticles with long circulation properties.

Photothermal Fibrous Chitosan/Polydopamine Sponge for Intraoperative Hemostasis and Prevention of Tumor Recurrence in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Resection

Hepatectomy, a surgical procedure for liver cancer, is often plagued by high recurrence rates worldwide. The recurrence of liver cancer is primarily attributed to microlesions in the liver, changes in the immune microenvironment, and circulating tumor cells in the bloodstream. To address this issue, a novel intervention method that combines intraoperative hemostasis with mild photothermal therapy is proposed, which has the potential to ablate microlesions and improve the immune microenvironment simultaneously. Specifically, the integrated strategy is realized based on the fibrous chitosan/polydopamine sponge (CPDS), which is constructed from shearing-flow-induced oriented hybrid chitosan fibers and subsequent self-assembly of polydopamine. The CPDS demonstrates high elasticity, excellent water absorption, and photothermal conversion performance. The results confirm the efficient hemostatic properties of the fibrous CPDS in various bleeding models. Notably, in subcutaneous and orthotopic postoperative recurrence and metastasis models of hepatocellular carcinoma, the fibrous CPDS significantly inhibits local tumor recurrence and distant metastasis. Moreover, the combination with lenvatinib can substantially enhance the antitumor effect. This comprehensive treatment strategy offers new insights into hepatectomy of liver cancer, representing a promising approach for clinical management.

Engineered tumor microvesicles modified by SP94 peptide for arsenic trioxide targeting drug delivery in liver cancer therapy

Liver cancer is among the leading cause of cancer related death worldwide. There is growing interest in using traditional Chinese medicines such as arsenic trioxide (ATO) to treat liver cancer. ATO have attracted attention due to its wide range of anti-cancer activities. However, the current ATO formulations are associated with drawbacks such as short half-life, lack of targeting ability towards solid tumors and apparent toxic side effects. Tumor microvesicles (TMVs) has shown encouraging results for the delivery of drugs to solid tumor. In this work, we designed ATO loaded TMVs further modified by SP94 peptide as liver cancer specific ligand (ATO@SP94-TMVs). This drug delivery system utilized SP94 peptide that selectively targets liver cancer cells while TMVs increase the accumulation of ATO at tumor site and activate immune response owing to the associated antigens. ATO@SP94-TMVs exhibited high encapsulation efficiency and tumor microenvironment triggered enhanced release of ATO in vitro. Cytotoxicity and uptake studies revealed remarkable inhibition and specific targeting of H22 cells. In addition, excellent immune response was detected in vitro, enhancing anti-tumor efficacy. Furthermore, a tumor inhibition rate of about 53.23 % was observed in H22 bearing tumor model. Overall, these results confirm that ATO@SP94-TMVs can be a promising nano drug delivery system for the future liver cancer therapy and improve its clinical applications.

Synergistic Approaches in the Design and Applications of UCST Polymers

This review summarizes recent progress in the synergistic design strategy for thermoresponsive polymers possessing an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in aqueous systems. To achieve precise control of the responsive behavior of the UCST polymers, their molecular design can benefit from a synergistic effect of hydrogen bonding with other interactions or modification of the chemical structures. The combination of UCST behavior with other stimuli-responsive properties of the polymers may yield new functional materials with potential applications such as sensors, actuators, and controlled release devices. The advances in this area provide insight or inspiration into the understanding and design of functional UCST polymers for a wide range of applications.

Imaging Investigation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progress via Monitoring γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase Level with a Near-Infrared Fluorescence/Photoacoustic Bimodal Probe

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main principal causes of cancer death, and the late definite diagnosis limits therapeutic approaches in time. The early diagnosis of HCC is essential, and the previous investigations on the biomarkers inferred that the γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) level could indicate the HCC process. Herein, a near-infrared fluorescence/photoacoustic (NIRF/PA) bimodal probe, CySO3-GGT, was developed for monitoring the GGT level and thus to image the HCC process. After the in-solution tests, the bimodal response was convinced. The various HCC processes were imaged by CySO3-GGT at the cellular level. Then, the CCl4-induced HCC (both induction and treatment) and the subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft mice models were selected. All throughout the tests, CySO3-GGT achieved NIRF and PA bimodal imaging of the HCC process. In particular, CySO3-GGT could effectively realize 3D imaging of the HCC nodule by visualizing the boundary between the tumor and the normal tissue. The information here might offer significant guidance for the dynamic monitoring of HCC in the near future.