Recent advancements in the targeted delivery of etoposide nanomedicine for cancer therapy: A comprehensive review

Actively Targeted Nanomedicines: A New Perspective for the Treatment of Pregnancy-Related Diseases

More than 20% of pregnant women experience serious complications during pregnancy, that gravely affect the safety of both the mother and the child. Due to the unique state of pregnancy, medication during pregnancy is subject to various restrictions. Nanotechnology is an emerging technology that has been the focus of extensive medical research, and great progress has recently been made in developing sensitive diagnostic modalities and efficient medical treatment. Accumulating evidence has shown that nanodrug delivery systems can significantly improve the targeting, reduce the toxicity and improve the bioavailability of drugs. Recently, some actively targeted nanomedicines have been explored in the treatment of pregnancy-related diseases. This article reviews common types of nanocarriers and active targeting ligands in common pregnancy-related diseases and complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and choriocarcinoma. Finally, the challenges and future prospects in the development of these nanomaterials are discussed, with the aim of providing guidance for future research directions.

Nanoparticles-Delivered Circular RNA Strategy as a Novel Antitumor Approach

Anticancer therapy urgently needs the development of novel strategies. An innovative molecular target is represented by circular RNAs (circRNAs), single-strand RNA molecules with the 5' and 3' ends joined, characterized by a high stability. Although circRNA properties and biological functions have only been partially elucidated, their relationship and involvement in the onset and progression of cancer have emerged. Specific targeting of circRNAs may be obtained with antisense oligonucleotides and silencing RNAs. Nanotechnology is at the forefront of research for perfecting their delivery. Continuous efforts have been made to develop novel nanoparticles (NPs) and improve their performance, materials, and properties regarding biocompatibility and targeting capabilities. Applications in various fields, from imaging to gene therapy, have been explored. This review sums up the smart strategies developed to directly target circRNAs with the fruitful application of NPs in this context.

Chitosan-Coated Liposome Formulations for Encapsulation of Ciprofloxacin and Etoposide

Cancer and bacterial infections rank among the most significant global health threats. accounting for roughly 25 million fatalities each year. This statistic underscores the urgent necessity for developing novel drugs, enhancing current treatments, and implementing systems that boost their bioavailability to achieve superior therapeutic outcomes. Liposomes have been recognised as effective carriers; nonetheless, they encounter issues with long-term stability and structural integrity, which limit their pharmaceutical applicability. Chitosomes (chitosan-coated liposomes) are generally a good alternative to solve these issues. This research aims to demonstrate the effective individual encapsulation of ciprofloxacin (antibacterial, hydrophilic) and etoposide (anticancer, hydrophobic), within chitosomes to create more effective drug delivery systems (oral administration for ciprofloxacin, parenteral administration for etoposide). Thus, liposomes and chitosomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration technique and were characterised through ATR-FTIR, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), zeta potential, and release profiling. In both cases, the application of chitosomes enhanced long-term stability in size and surface charge. Chitosome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin formulations exhibited a slower and sustained release profile, while the combined effect of etoposide and chitosan showed heightened efficacy against the glioblastoma cell line U373. Therefore, coating liposomes with chitosan improved the encapsulation system's properties, resulting in a promising method for drug delivery.

Combination of Etoposide and quercetin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles Potentiates apoptotic effects on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Background

Breast cancer is a major global cancer, for which radiation and chemotherapy are the main treatments. Natural remedies are being studied to reduce the side effects. Etoposide (ETO), a chemo-drug, and quercetin (QC), a phytochemical, are considered potential factors for adaptation to conventional treatments.

Objectives

The anticancer effect of the synergy between ETO and Quercetin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (QC-SLNs), was investigated in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Methods

We developed QC-SLNs for efficient cellular delivery, characterizing their morphology, particle size, and zeta potential. We assessed the cytotoxicity of QC-SLNs and ETO on breast cancer cells via the MTT assay. Effects on apoptosis intensity in MDA-MB-231 cells have been detected utilizing annexin V-FITC, PI, and caspase activities. Real-time PCR assessed Bax gene and Bcl-2 gene fold change expression, while Western blot analysis determined p53 and p21 protein levels.

Results

Spherical, negatively charged QC-SLNs, when combined with ETO, significantly enhanced inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation compared to ETO or QC-SLNs alone. The combined treatment also notably increased the apoptosis pathway. QC-SLNs + ETO increased the Bax/Bcl-2 gene ratio, elevated p53 and p21 proteins, and activated caspase 3 and 9 enzymes. These results indicate the potential for QC-SLNs + ETO as a strategy for breast cancer treatment, potentially overcoming ETO-resistant breast cancer chemoresistance.

Conclusion

These results suggest that QC-SLN has the potential to have a substantial impact on the breast cancer cure by improving the efficacy of ETO. This enhancement could potentially help overcome chemoresistance observed in ETO-resistant breast cancer.

Preparation of etoposide liposomes for enhancing antitumor efficacy on small cell lung cancer and reducing hematotoxicity of drugs

Etoposide (VP16) is commonly used in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in clinical practice. However, severe adverse reactions such as bone marrow suppression toxicity limit its clinical application. Although several studies on VP16 liposomes were reported, no significant improvement in bone marrow suppression toxicity has been found, and there was a lack of validation of animal models for in vivo antitumor effects. Therefore, we attempted to develop a PEGylated liposomal formulation that effectively encapsulated VP16 (VP16-LPs) and evaluated its therapeutic effect and toxicity at the cellular level and in animal models. First, we optimized the preparation process of VP16-LPs using an orthogonal experimental design and further prepared them into freeze-dried powder to improve storage stability of the product. Results showed that VP16-LPs freeze-dried powder exhibited good dispersibility and stability after redispersion. In addition, compared to marketed VP16 injection, VP16-LPs exhibited sustained drug release characteristics. At the cellular level, VP16-LPs enhanced the cellular uptake of drugs and exhibited strong cytotoxic activity. In animal models, VP16-LPs could target and aggregate in tumors and exhibit a higher anti-tumor effect than VP16-injection after intravenous injection. Most importantly, hematological analysis results showed that VP16-LPs significantly alleviated the bone marrow suppression toxicity of drug. In summary, our study confirmed that PEGylated liposomes could enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce toxicity of VP16, which demonstrated that VP16-LPs had enormous clinical application potential.

Role of Functionalized Peptides in Nanomedicine for Effective Cancer Therapy

Peptide-functionalized nanomedicine, which addresses the challenges of specificity and efficacy in drug delivery, is emerging as a pivotal approach for cancer therapy. Globally, cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, and conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy, often lack precision and cause adverse effects. The integration of peptides into nanomedicine offers a promising solution for enhancing the targeting and delivery of therapeutic agents. This review focuses on the three primary applications of peptides: cancer cell-targeting ligands, building blocks for self-assembling nanostructures, and elements of stimuli-responsive systems. Nanoparticles modified with peptides improved targeting of cancer cells, minimized damage to healthy tissues, and optimized drug delivery. The versatility of self-assembled peptide structures makes them an innovative vehicle for drug delivery by leveraging their biocompatibility and diverse nanoarchitectures. In particular, the mechanism of cell death induced by self-assembled structures offers a novel approach to cancer therapy. In addition, peptides in stimuli-responsive systems enable precise drug release in response to specific conditions in the tumor microenvironment. The use of peptides in nanomedicine not only augments the efficacy and safety of cancer treatments but also suggests new research directions. In this review, we introduce systems and functionalization methods using peptides or peptide-modified nanoparticles to overcome challenges in the treatment of specific cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, skin cancer, glioma, osteosarcoma, and cervical cancer.

Recent advancement of nanomedicine-based targeted delivery for cervical cancer treatment

Cervical cancer is a huge worldwide health burden, impacting women in impoverished nations in particular. Traditional therapeutic approaches, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, frequently result in systemic toxicity and ineffectiveness. Nanomedicine has emerged as a viable strategy for targeted delivery of therapeutic drugs to cancer cells while decreasing off-target effects and increasing treatment success in recent years. Nanomedicine for cervical cancer introduces several novel aspects that distinguish it from previous treatment options such as tailored delivery system, precision targeting, combination therapies, real-time monitoring and diverse nanocarriers to overcome the limitations of one another. This abstract presents recent advances in nanomedicine-based tailored delivery systems for the treatment of cervical cancer. Liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and carbon nanotubes have all been intensively studied for their ability to transport chemotherapeutic medicines, nucleic acids, and imaging agents to cervical cancer cells. Because of the way these nanocarriers are designed, they may cross biological barriers and preferentially aggregate at the tumor site, boosting medicine concentration and lowering negative effects on healthy tissues. Surface modification of nanocarriers with targeting ligands like antibodies, peptides, or aptamers improves specificity for cancer cells by identifying overexpressed receptors or antigens on the tumor surface. Furthermore, nanomedicine-based techniques have made it possible to co-deliver numerous therapeutic drugs, allowing for synergistic effects and overcoming drug resistance. In preclinical and clinical investigations, combination treatments comprising chemotherapeutic medicines, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and photodynamic therapy have showed encouraging results, opening up new avenues for individualized and multimodal treatment regimens. Furthermore, the inclusion of contrast agents and imaging probes into nanocarrier systems has enabled real-time monitoring and imaging of treatment response. This enables the assessment of therapy efficacy, the early diagnosis of recurrence, and the optimization of treatment regimens.

Internal stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for controlled anti-cancer drug release: a review

Cancer disease is one of the most frequent life-threatening, with a high fatality rate worldwide. However, recent immunotherapy studies in various tumours have yielded unsatisfactory outcomes, with just a few individuals experiencing long-term responses. To overcome these issues, nowadays internal stimuli-responsive nanocarriers have been widely exploited to transport a wide range of active substances, including peptides, genes and medicines. These nanosystems could be chemically adjusted to produce target-based drug release at the target location, minimizing pathological and physiological difficulties while increasing therapeutic efficiency. This review highlights the various types of internal stimuli-responsive nanocarriers and applications in cancer diagnosis. This study can provide inspiration and impetus for exploiting more promising internal stimuli-responsive nanosystems for drug delivery.