Targosomes: Anti-HER2 PLGA nanocarriers for bioimaging, chemotherapy and local photothermal treatment of tumors and remote metastases

Photodynamic Inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus and Biomolecules by Free and Encapsulated Indium(III) Phthalocyanines in PHB Nanoparticles: The Influence of the Position of the Coumarin Group

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) is a promising alternative to inactivating resistant microorganisms. Metallic phthalocyanines (Pc) substituted with coumarin groups exhibit favorable photophysical properties for APDT; however, their hydrophobicity limits administration. This study investigates indium(III) Pc substituted with 7-oxy-3-(3',4',5'-trimethoxyphenyl)coumarin at nonperipheral (3nInOAc) and peripheral (4nInOAc) positions, both in their free form and encapsulated in polyhydroxybutyrate nanoparticles, for the photodynamic inactivation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteria. The photodynamic activity was also assessed through the photooxidation of tryptophan and bovine serum albumin. Theoretical calculations and molecular docking were performed to corroborate the experimental results, investigating the influence of molecular structure on the photodynamic and antimicrobial performance of Pc-loaded nanoparticles as well as their nanoparticulate properties. Overall, both free and encapsulated Pc were capable of photooxidizing biomolecules and exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity, with 4nInOAc demonstrating superior efficacy, achieving an average reduction of 2 logs (99%) in MSSA and MRSA colonies.

Potential of lactylation as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment (Review)

Post‑translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins influence their functionality by altering the structure of precursor proteins. These modifications are closely linked to tumor progression through the regulation of processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and invasion. Tumors produce large amounts of lactic acid through aerobic glycolysis. Lactic acid not only serves an important role in cell metabolism, but also serves an important role in cell communication. Lactylation, a PTM involving lactate and lysine residues as substrates, serves as an epigenetic regulator that modulates intracellular signaling, gene expression and protein function, thereby serving a crucial role in tumorigenesis and progression. The identification of lactylation provides a key breakthrough in elucidating the interaction between tumor metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic modification. The present review primarily summarizes the occurrence of lactylation, its effect on tumor progression, drug resistance, the tumor microenvironment and gut microbiota, and its potential as a therapeutic target for cancer. The aim of the present review was to provide novel strategies for potential cancer therapies.

PhotoChem Interplays: Lighting the Way for Drug Delivery and Diagnosis

Light, a non-invasive tool integrated with cutting-edge nanotechnologies, has driven transformative advancements in imaging-based diagnosis and drug delivery for cancer and bacterial treatments. This review discusses recent progress in these areas, beginning with emerging imaging technologies. Unlike traditional photosensors activated by visible light, alternative energy sources such as near-infrared (NIR) light, X-rays, and ultrasound have been extensively investigated to activate various photosensors, achieving high sensitivity, wavelength versatility, and spatial resolution for deep-tissue imaging. Moreover, to address challenges like tissue autofluorescence in real-time fluorescence imaging, afterglow luminescent nanoparticles are being developed by integrating these alternative energy sources for real-time imaging and sensing in deep tissue for precise cancer diagnosis and treatment beyond superficial tissues. In addition to deep tissue imaging, light-responsive nanomedicines are revolutionizing anticancer and antimicrobial phototherapy by enabling spatially and temporally controlled drug release. These smart nanoparticles are engineered to release therapeutic cargo at target sites in response to microenvironmental cues specific to tumors or infections. In anticancer phototherapy, these nanoparticles facilitate controlled drug release via photoisomerization, photothermal, and photodynamic processes. To enhance circulation time and specific targeting, biomimetic nanoparticles, which mimic natural anti-tumor responses by our body, have attracted increasing attention. In antimicrobial phototherapy, research has been focused on the chemical modification of the photosensitizer to enable targeted drug delivery. An intriguing strategy has recently emerged involving the development of "pro-photosensitizers" that are specifically activated within bacterial cells upon light irradiation, offering a high margin of safety. These advancements leverage photochemical reactions and nanotechnology to enhance precision therapy and diagnosis in addressing critical health challenges.

Advances in polysaccharide-based materials for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications: A comprehensive review

Polysaccharides, the most abundant biopolymers in nature, have attracted the attention of researchers and clinicians due to its practicality in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. These biomaterials have high bioavailability and play structural and functional roles in living organisms. Polysaccharides are classified into several groups based on their origin, including plant polysaccharides and marine polysaccharides (like chitosan, hyaluronic acid, dextran, alginates, etc.) with specific applications. These biopolymers possess unique physicochemical (such as surface functional groups, solubility, and stability), mechanical (like mechanical strength and tensile), and biomedical (such as antioxidant activity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewability, and non-immunogenicity) characteristics which have made them excellent platforms for a wide variety of biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Ease of extraction and different preparation approaches are mentioned as other potential properties of polysaccharides that further improved their practicality in biomedical sciences. They have high drug/bioactive encapsulation capacity and sustained/controlled release manner in in vivo microenvironments. The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulation, stimuli-responsive drug/bioactive release, and passive and active drug/bioactive delivery are considered the potential features of these biopolymers in pharmaceutical sciences. Polysaccharides have indicated practical applications in biomedical sciences, including biosensors, tissue engineering, implantation, wound healing, vascular grafting, and vaccines. This review highlights the advances of polysaccharide-based materials in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences.

Recent advances in polysaccharide-based drug delivery systems for cancer therapy: a comprehensive review

Cancer has a high rate of incidence and mortality throughout the world. Although several conventional approaches have been developed for the treatment of cancer, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and thermal therapy, they have remarkable disadvantages which result in inefficient treatment of cancer. For example, immunogenicity, prolonged treatment, non-specificity, metastasis and high cost of treatment, are considered as the major drawbacks of chemotherapy. Therefore, there is a fundamental requirement for the development of breakthrough technologies for cancer suppression. Polysaccharide-based drug delivery systems (DDSs) are the most reliable drug carriers for cancer therapy. Polysaccharides, as a kind of practical biomaterials, are divided into several types, including chitosan, alginates, dextran, hyaluronic acid, cyclodextrin, pectin, etc. Polysaccharides are extracted from different natural resources (like herbal, marine, microorganisms, etc.). The potential features of polysaccharides have made them reliable candidates for therapeutics delivery to cancer sites; the simple purification, ease of modification and functionalization, hydrophilicity, serum stability, appropriate drug loading capacity, biocompatibility, bioavailability, biodegradability and stimuli-responsive and sustained drug release manner are considerable aspects of these biopolymers. This review highlights the practical applications of polysaccharides-based DDSs in pharmaceutical science and cancer therapy.

Biologics, theranostics, and personalized medicine in drug delivery systems

The progress in human disease treatment can be greatly advanced through the implementation of nanomedicine. This approach involves targeted and cell-specific therapy, controlled drug release, personalized dosage forms, wearable drug delivery, and companion diagnostics. By integrating cutting-edge technologies with drug delivery systems, greater precision can be achieved at the tissue and cellular levels through the use of stimuli-responsive nanoparticles, and the development of electrochemical sensor systems. This precision targeting - by virtue of nanotechnology - allows for therapy to be directed specifically to affected tissues while greatly reducing side effects on healthy tissues. As such, nanomedicine has the potential to transform the treatment of conditions such as cancer, genetic diseases, and chronic illnesses by facilitating precise and cell-specific drug delivery. Additionally, personalized dosage forms and wearable devices offer the ability to tailor treatment to the unique needs of each patient, thereby increasing therapeutic effectiveness and compliance. Companion diagnostics further enable efficient monitoring of treatment response, enabling customized adjustments to the treatment plan. The question of whether all the potential therapeutic approaches outlined here are viable alternatives to current treatments is also discussed. In general, the application of nanotechnology in the field of biomedicine may provide a strong alternative to existing treatments for several reasons. In this review, we aim to present evidence that, although in early stages, fully merging advanced technology with innovative drug delivery shows promise for successful implementation across various disease areas, including cancer and genetic or chronic diseases.