Emerging nanomedicines for early cancer detection and improved treatment: Current perspective and future promise

Nanotechnology Assisted Drug Delivery Strategies for Chemotherapy: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

In pursuit of the treatment of cancer, nanotechnology engineering has emerged as the simplest and most effective means, with the potential to deliver antitumor chemotherapeutics at the targeted site. Employing nanotechnology for drug delivery provides diverse nanosize particles ranging from one to a thousand nanometers. Reduced size improves drug bioavailability by increasing drug diffusion and decreasing the efflux rate. These nanocarriers offer an enormous scope for modification following the chemical and biological properties of both the drug and its disease. Moreover, these nanoformulations assist in targeting pharmaceutically active drug molecules to the desired site and have gained importance in recent years. Their modern use has revolutionized the antitumor action of many therapeutic agents. Higher drug loading efficiency, thermal stability, easy fabrication, low production cost, and large-scale industrial production draw attention to the application of nanotechnology as a better platform for the delivery of drug molecules. Furthermore, the interaction of nanocarrier technology-assisted agents lowers a drug's toxicity and therapeutic dosage, reduces drug tolerance, and enhances active drug concentration in neoplasm tissue, thus decreasing the concentration in healthy tissue. Nanotechnology-based medications are being widely explored and have depicted effective cancer management in vivo and in vitro systems, leading to many clinical trials with promising results. This review summarizes the innovative impact and application of different nanocarriers developed in recent years in cancer therapy. Subsequently, it also describes the essential findings and methodologies and their effects on cancer treatment. Compared with conventional therapy, nanomedicines can significantly improve the therapeutic effectiveness of antitumor drugs. Thus, the adverse effects associated with healthy tissues are decreased, and adverse effects are scaled back through enhanced permeability and retention effects. Lastly, future insights assisting nanotechnology in active therapeutics delivery and their scope in cancer chemotherapeutics have also been discussed.

Engineered nanoparticles for imaging and targeted drug delivery in hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver cancer, notably hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), poses a significant global health burden due to its high fatality rates. Conventional antitumor medications face challenges, including poor targeting, high toxicity, and drug resistance, leading to suboptimal clinical outcomes. This review focused on nanoparticle use in diagnosing and delivering medication for HCC, aiming to advance the development of nanomedicines for improved treatment outcomes. As an emerging frontier science and technology, nanotechnology has shown great potential, especially in precision medicine and personalized treatment. The success of nanosystems is attributable to their smaller size, biocompatibility, selective tumor accumulation, and lower toxicity. Nanoparticles, as a central part of nanotechnology innovation, have emerged in the field of medical diagnostics and therapeutics to overcome the various limitations of conventional chemotherapy, thus offering promising applications for improved selectivity, earlier and more precise diagnosis of cancers, personalized treatment, and overcoming drug resistance. Nanoparticles play a crucial role in drug delivery and imaging of HCC, with the body acting as a delivery system to target and deliver drugs or diagnostic reagents to specific organs or tissues, helping to accurately diagnose and target therapies while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. They protect drugs from early degradation and increase their biological half-life.

Glycyrrhizic Acid Formulated in Hydrotalcite Nanocarriers Intended to Act as a Hepatoprotective Agent

The article focuses on preparing a nanoformulation based on hydrotalcite and glycyrrhizic acid (GA), seeking a hepatoprotective effect. For this purpose, hydrotalcite-GA formulations were prepared by varying the following conditions to obtain optimal systems in terms of size and PDI (the lowest values), and Z potential (the highest values): (i) type of hydrotalcite (obtained by co-precipitation or calcined hydrotalcite); method used (ultrasound or high shear stirring), and (iii) type of stabilizer (Tween®80 or Pluronic® F-127). The best results were obtained using hydrotalcite obtained by co-precipitation, with high shear stirring and adding a stabilizer, either Tween®80 (HT-T80-GA: mean particle size = 315 nm, PDI = 0.18, Z potential = -20.93) or Pluronic® F-127 (HT-PF127-GA: mean particle size = 307 nm; PDI = 0.27, Z potential = -21.03). After stability studies, the HT-T80-GA formulation was chosen to study antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, and intracellular penetration capacity. Although the hepatoprotective effect of GA in solution allowed a high viability and antioxidant activity, the fact of including GA in the HT-T80-GA formulation favored its penetration into hepatocytes, with a decrease in Caspase-3/7 expression of C-9 hepatocyte cells treated with H2O2, suggesting the capacity to inhibit apoptosis.

Exploring Research on the Drug Loading Capacity of Quantum Dots

Quantum dots (QDs), also known as quantum nanodots or colloidal nanocrystals, possess unique visual and electrical properties that have enabled various applications in biomedicine, particularly in drug delivery. Quantum dots offer significant advantages, such as a high surface area for drug attachment, the ability to modify solubility and drug release patterns, and the potential for targeted delivery. This review covers various aspects of QD research, including their synthesis, properties, and the challenges associated with their use. Key challenges include concerns about QD toxicity, stability, and environmental impact. Additionally, the article discusses using quantum dot-Förster resonance energy transfer (QD-FRET) to study in vivo drug release kinetics. This capability is essential for evaluating the performance of QDs as drug carriers and understanding their interactions within biological systems. In summary, while QDs present promising opportunities for advancing drug delivery mechanisms, ongoing research is necessary to mitigate toxicity concerns and enhance their biocompatibility, paving the way for their clinical application in targeted therapies.

PLGA nanomedical consignation: A novel approach for the management of prostate cancer

The malignancy of the prostate is a complicated ailment which impacts millions of male populations around the globe. Despite the multitude of endeavour accomplished within this domain, modalities that are involved in the ameliorative management of predisposed infirmity are still relent upon non-specific and invasive procedures, thus imposing a detrimental mark on the living standard of the individual. Also, the orchestrated therapeutic interventions are still incompetent in substantiating a robust and unabridged therapeutic end point owing to their inadequate solubility, low bioavailability, limited cell assimilation, and swift deterioration, thereby muffling the clinical application of these existing treatment modalities. Nanotechnology has been employed in an array of modalities for the medical management of malignancies. Among the assortment of available nano-scaffolds, nanocarriers composed of a bio-decomposable and hybrid polymeric material like PLGA hold an opportunity to advance as standard chemotherapeutic modalities. PLGA-based nanocarriers have the prospect to address the drawbacks associated with conventional cancer interventions, owing to their versatility, durability, nontoxic nature, and their ability to facilitate prolonged drug release. This review intends to describe the plethora of evidence-based studies performed to validate the applicability of PLGA nanosystem in the amelioration of prostate malignancies, in conjunction with PLGA focused nano-scaffold in the clinical management of prostate carcinoma. This review seeks to explore numerous evidence-based studies confirming the applicability of PLGA nanosystems in ameliorating prostate malignancies. It also delves into the role of PLGA-focused nano-scaffolds in the clinical management of prostate carcinoma, aiming to provide a comprehensive perspective on these advancements.

Nanomedicine drug delivery in South Africa: a retrospective study on research, funding and collaboration

After nearly two decades of substantial investment in the field of nanomedicine within South Africa, this study undertakes an investigation into the specific diseases that have been targeted for research and development, as well as the key actors and collaborative networks involved in this burgeoning field. To accomplish this, the study adopts a mixed-method approach, combining bibliometric and scientometric techniques alongside a comprehensive review of existing literature. The study's findings illuminate that the diseases selected for emphasis in nanomedicine research closely align with the prevalent health challenges faced by South Africa. Notably, these ailments encompass cancer, bacterial infections, and tuberculosis, all of which significantly contribute to the country's disease burden. Furthermore, the investigation highlights that research-intensive South African universities play a pivotal role as the primary actors in advancing nanomedicine initiatives. Over time, collaborative endeavors among these key actors have seen a noteworthy upswing. These collaborations have fostered robust connections between South African institutions and counterparts in Asian nations and the Middle East. It is worth emphasizing that nanomedicine is a resource-intensive field, necessitating substantial capital investment. Collaborative initiatives have, in turn, granted access to critical infrastructure and materials that would have otherwise been beyond the reach of some participating entities. Remarkably, these collaborative partnerships have not only facilitated scientific progress but have also cultivated social capital and trust among involved stakeholders. These valuable intangible assets hold great potential as South Africa advances towards more exploitative phases of technology development within the domain of nanomedicine. Moreover, South Africa is strategically positioning itself to cultivate a critical mass of expertise in nanomedicine, recognising the significance of skilled human resources in harnessing the full potential of this technology in the future. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6173875/.

Andrographis paniculata and Andrographolide - A Snapshot on Recent Advances in Nano Drug Delivery Systems against Cancer

Cancer is one of the deadliest illnesses of the 21st century. Chemotherapy and radiation therapies both have considerable side effects. Antitumor antibiotics are one of them. Coughs, common colds, fevers, laryngitis, and infectious disorders have all been treated with Andrographis paniculata for centuries. Extracts of Andrographis effectively treat various ailments, as well as cancer. The most active molecule in Andrographis paniculata is andrographolide a, diterpene, and lactone. Andrographis paniculata and its derivatives have long been used to treat various ailments. Anti-inflammatory and cancerfighting characteristics have been observed in Andrographolide. Andrographolide, a diterpene lactone separated from Andrographis paniculata, has also been shown to have important criticalessential biological protective properties. It has also been suggested that it could be used to treat major human diseases like-rheumatoid like rheumatoid, colitis, and Parkinsons disease. This summary aims to highlight Andrographolide as a promising cancer treatment option. Several databases were searched for andrographolides cytotoxic/anti-cancer effects in pre-clinical and clinical research to serve this purpose. Several studies have shown that Andrographolide is helpful in cancer medication, as detailed in this review.

Nano Uncaria gambir as Chemopreventive Agent Against Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is one of the main causes of death in women. Uncaria gambir is an Indonesian herbal plant that can be used as an anti-cancer. However, herbal medicines have low bioavailability, which affects their bioactivity. Nanoencapsulation can increase bioavailability and stability of bioactive compounds in herbal medicines.

PURPOSE

This recent finding tried to unravel anti-cancer and chemopreventive of U. gambir nano-encapsulated by Na-alginate.

STUDY DESIGN

U. gambir bioactive compounds were isolated and characterized using UV-Vis spectrometer, FTIR, NMR and HR-MS. U. gambir extract was nanoencapsulated using Na-alginate. Anti-cancer effect was assessed by MTT assay towards T47D cell. Meanwhile, a chemopreventive analysis was carried out in breast cancer mice-induced benzo[α]pyrene. The healthy mice were divided into 8 groups comprising control and treatment.

RESULTS

Elucidation of U. gambir ethyl acetate extract confirmed high catechin content, 89.34% (w/w). Successful nanoencapsulation of U. gambir (G-NPs) was indicated. The particle size of G-NPs was 78.40 ± 12.25 nm. Loading efficiency (LE) and loading amount (LA) of G-NPs were 97.56 ± 0.04% and 32.52 ± 0.01%, respectively. G-NPs had an EC50 value of 10.39 ± 3.50 µg/mL, which was more toxic than the EC50 value of extract towards the T47D cell line. Administration of 200 mg/kg BW G-NPs to mice induced by benzo[α]pyrene exhibited SOD and GSH levels of 13.69 ng/mL and 455.6 ng/mL. In addition, the lowest TNF-α level was 27.96 ng/mL. A dose of 100 mg/kg BW G-NPs could best increase CAT levels by 7.18 ng/mL. There was no damage or histological abnormalities found in histological analysis of the breast tissue in the group given 200 mg/kg BW G-NPs.

Enhanced anti-cancer effect of artemisinin- and curcumin-loaded niosomal nanoparticles against human colon cancer cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third broadly identified cancer in the world. The ineffectiveness of colorectal cancer treatment is redundantly reported. Natural bioactive compounds have gained popularity in reducing the drawback of conventional anti-cancer agents. Curcumin (Cur) and Artemisinin (Art) are materials of a natural source that have been utilized to treat numerous kinds of cancers. Although the benefits of bioactive materials, their utilization is limited because of poor solubility, bioavailability, and low dispersion rate in aqueous media. Nano delivery system such as niosome can improve the bioavailability and stability of bioactive compounds within the drug. In current work, we used Cur-Art co-loaded niosomal nanoparticles (Cur-Art NioNPs) as an anti-tumor factor versus colorectal cancer cell line. The synthesized formulations were characterized using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and FTIR. The proliferation ability of the cells and expression of apoptosis-associated gene were MTT assay and qRT-PCR, respectively. Cur-Art NioNPs exhibited well distributed with an encapsulation efficiency of 80.27% and 85.5% for Cur and Art. The NioNPs had good release and degradation properties, and had no negative effect on the survival and proliferation ability of SW480 cells. Importantly, nanoformulation form of Cur and Art significantly displayed higher toxicity effect against SW480 cells. Furthermore, Cur-Art NioNPs increased Bax, Fas, and p53 gene expressions and suppressed Bcl2, Rb, and Cyclin D 1 gene expressions. In summary, these results display the niosome NPs as a first report of nano-combinational application of the natural herbal substances with a one-step fabricated co-delivery system for effective colorectal cancer.

A mitochondria-targeting self-assembled carrier-free lonidamine nanodrug for redox-activated drug release to enhance cancer chemotherapy

Mitochondria play a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. In recent years, studies have found that mitochondria have an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors, and targeting mitochondria has become a new strategy for tumor treatment. Lonidamine (LND), as a hexokinase inhibitor, can block the energy supply and destroy mitochondria. However, poor water solubility and low mitochondrial selectivity limit its clinical application. To overcome these obstacles, we report redox-activated self-assembled carrier-free nanoparticles (Cy-TK-LND NPs) based on a small molecule prodrug, in which photosensitizer IR780 (Cy) which targets mitochondria is conjugated to LND via a sensitive thioketal (TK) linker. Intracellular oxidative stress induced by laser radiation leads to the responsive cleavage of Cy-TK-LND NPs, facilitating the release of free LND into mitochondria. Subsequently, LND damages mitochondria, triggering the apoptosis pathway. The results show the effective killing effect of Cy-TK-LND NPs on cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The IC50 value of irradiated Cy-TK-LND NPs is 5-fold lower than that of free LND. Moreover, tumor tissue section staining results demonstrate that irradiated Cy-TK-LND NPs induce necrosis and apoptosis of tumor cells, upregulate cytochrome C and pro-apoptotic Bax, and downregulate anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Generally, Cy-TK-LND NPs exhibit efficient mitochondria-targeted delivery to improve the medicinal availability of LND. Accordingly, such a carrier-free prodrug-based nanomedicine holds promise as an effective cancer chemotherapy strategy.

Theoretical aspects of interaction of the anticancer drug cytarabine with human serum albumin

Despite diagnostic and therapeutic methods, cancer is a major cause of death worldwide. Since anticancer drugs affect both normal and cancer cells, targeted drug delivery systems can play a key role in reducing the destructive effects of anticancer drugs on normal cells. In this regard, the use of stimulus-sensitive polymers has increased in recent years. This study has attempted to investigate interaction of the anticancer drug cytarabine with a stimuli-sensitive polymer, human serum albumin (HSA), one of the most abundant protein in blood plasma, via computational methods at both body temperature and tumor temperature. For this purpose, molecular docking was performed using Molegro virtual Docker software to select the best ligand in terms of binding energy to simulate molecular dynamics. Then, molecular dynamics simulation was performed on human serum albumin with code (1Ao6) and cytarabine with code (AR3), using Gromacs software and the results were presented in the graphs. The simulations were performed at 310 K (normal cell temperature) and 313 K (cancer cell temperature) in 100 ns. Results showed drug release occurred at a temperature of 313 K. These findings demonstrated the sensitivity of human serum albumin to temperature.

Brief review: Applications of nanocomposite in electrochemical sensor and drugs delivery

The recent advancement of nanoparticles (NPs) holds significant potential for treating various ailments. NPs are employed as drug carriers for diseases like cancer because of their small size and increased stability. In addition, they have several desirable properties that make them ideal for treating bone cancer, including high stability, specificity, higher sensitivity, and efficacy. Furthermore, they might be taken into account to permit the precise drug release from the matrix. Drug delivery systems for cancer treatment have progressed to include nanocomposites, metallic NPs, dendrimers, and liposomes. Materials’ mechanical strength, hardness, electrical and thermal conductivity, and electrochemical sensors are significantly improved using nanoparticles (NPs). New sensing devices, drug delivery systems, electrochemical sensors, and biosensors can all benefit considerably from the NPs’ exceptional physical and chemical capabilities. Nanotechnology is discussed in this article from a variety of angles, including its recent applications in the medical sciences for the effective treatment of bone cancers and its potential as a promising option for treating other complex health anomalies via the use of anti-tumour therapy, radiotherapy, the delivery of proteins, antibiotics, and vaccines, and other methods. This also brings to light the role that model simulations can play in diagnosing and treating bone cancer, an area where Nanomedicine has recently been formulated. There has been a recent uptick in using nanotechnology to treat conditions affecting the skeleton. Consequently, it will pave the door for more effective utilization of cutting-edge technology, including electrochemical sensors and biosensors, and improved therapeutic outcomes.

TRAIL mediated apoptosis ruling and anticancer trigger by fine-tuned nano spheres of Fagonia cretica methanolic extracts as novel cancer regime

Fagonia cretica L. is a tropical plant of family Zygophyllaceae with wide range of medicinally important secondary metabolites. The low cellular uptake of the polar compounds in the extract of the plant limits its biological application. In present study efficacy of F. cretica modified bioactive nano-formulations for in vitro modulation of TRAIL mediated extrinsic apoptotic pathway as cancer therapy was investigated. F. cretica methanolic extracts were formulated at nano-scale for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles, albumin conjugation and liposomes encapsulation to enhance targeted bioactivity against cancer. Physical characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles was done by SEM, EDX and Zeta potential analyzer. In vitro cell viability assay MTT was done for MCF-7, Hep-2, HUH-7 and HCEC cell lines. Relative expression variation of the apoptotic pathway-associated genes was done by qRT-PCR. SEM revealed spherical shape of 56.62 ± 8.04, 143 ± 11.54 and 83.36 ± 38.73 nm size and zeta potential - 18.6, - 15.5 and - 18.3 mV for liposomes, silver and albumin nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles showed highest anticancer activity in vitro than albumin and liposomes nanoparticles with IC₅₀ 0.101 ± 0.004, 0.177 ± 0.03 and 0.434 ± 0.022 mg/mL in MCF-7, Hep-2 and HUH-7 respectively. F. cretica albumin and silver nanoparticles upregulated the in vitro TRAIL, DR4, DR5 and FADD gene expression at statistically significant levels in Hep-2 cell lines. Nano-formulations of F. cretica proved therapeutically important biomolecules in vitro. The hypothesized modulation of extrinsic apoptosis pathway genes through the plant nanoparticles proved novel medicinal options for effective treatment of cancer and enhancing the bioavailability of the active plant metabolites.

Recent Advances in Lung Cancer Therapy Based on Nanomaterials: A Review

Lung cancer is one of the commonest cancers with a significant mortality rate for both genders, particularly in men. Lung cancer is recognized as one of the leading causes of death worldwide, which threatens the lives of over 1.6 million people every day. Although cancer is the leading cause of death in industrialized countries, conventional anticancer medications are unlikely to increase patients' life expectancy and quality of life significantly. In recent years, there are significant advances in the development and applications of nanotechnology in cancer treatment. The superiority of nanostructured approaches is that they act more selectively than traditional agents. This progress led to the development of a novel field of cancer treatment known as nanomedicine. Various formulations based on nanocarriers, including lipids, polymers, liposomes, nanoparticles and dendrimers have opened new horizons in lung cancer therapy. The application and expansion of nano-agents lead to an exciting and challenging research era in pharmaceutical science, especially for the delivery of emerging anti-cancer agents. The objective of this review is to discuss the recent advances in three types of nanoparticle formulations for lung cancer treatments modalities, including liposomes, polymeric micelles, and dendrimers for efficient drug delivery. Afterward, we have summarized the promising clinical data on nanomaterials based therapeutic approaches in ongoing clinical studies.

Novel Implications of Nanoparticle-Enhanced Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy: Z-Effect and Tumor Hypoxia

Radiotherapy and internal radioisotope therapy (brachytherapy) induce tumor cell death through different molecular signaling pathways. However, these therapies in cancer patients are constrained by dose-related adverse effects and local discomfort due to the prolonged exposure to the surrounding tissues. Technological advancements in nanotechnology have resulted in synthesis of high atomic elements such as nanomaterials, which can be used as radiosensitizers due to their photoelectric characteristics. The aim of this review is to elucidate the effects of novel nanomaterials in the field of radiation oncology to ameliorate dose-related toxicity through the application of ideal nanoparticle-based radiosensitizers such as Au (gold), Bi (bismuth), and Lu (Lutetium-177) for enhancing cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy via the high-Z effect. In addition, we discuss the role of nanoparticle-enhanced radiotherapy in alleviating tumor hypoxia through the nanodelivery of genes/drugs and other functional anticancer molecules. The implications of engineered nanoparticles in preclinical and clinical studies still need to be studied in order to explore potential mechanisms for radiosensitization by minimizing tumor hypoxia, operational/logistic complications and by overcoming tumor heterogeneity in radiotherapy/brachytherapy.

The Application of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: A Review

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases worldwide in present times, with its incidence on a tremendous rise. It is caused by uncontrolled cell growth. Cancer therapies have advanced substantially, but there is a need for improvement in specificity and fear of systemic toxicity. Early detection is critical in improving patients' prognosis and quality of life, and recent advancements in technology, especially in dealing with biomaterials, have aided in that surge. Nanotechnology possesses the key to solving many of the downsides of traditional pharmaceutical formulations. Indeed, significant progress has been made in using customized nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis and treatment with high specificity, sensitivity, and efficacy. Nanotechnology is the integration of nanoscience into medicine by the use of nanoparticles. The advent of nanoscience in cancer diagnosis and treatment will help clinicians better assess and manage patients and improve the healthcare system and services. This review article gives an account of the clinical applications of nanoscience in the modern management of cancer, the different modalities of nanotechnology used, and the limitations and possible side effects of this new tool.

Plant Extracts Mediated Metal-Based Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Biological Applications

The vastness of metal-based nanoparticles has continued to arouse much research interest, which has led to the extensive search and discovery of new materials with varying compositions, synthetic methods, and applications. Depending on applications, many synthetic methods have been used to prepare these materials, which have found applications in different areas, including biology. However, the prominent nature of the associated toxicity and environmental concerns involved in most of these conventional methods have limited their continuous usage due to the desire for more clean, reliable, eco-friendly, and biologically appropriate approaches. Plant-mediated synthetic approaches for metal nanoparticles have emerged to circumvent the often-associated disadvantages with the conventional synthetic routes, using bioresources that act as a scaffold by effectively reducing and stabilizing these materials, whilst making them biocompatible for biological cells. This capacity by plants to intrinsically utilize their organic processes to reorganize inorganic metal ions into nanoparticles has thus led to extensive studies into this area of biochemical synthesis and analysis. In this review, we examined the use of several plant extracts as a mediating agent for the synthesis of different metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs). Furthermore, the associated biological properties, which have been suggested to emanate from the influence of the diverse metabolites found in these plants, were also reviewed.

CD44-Targeted Nanocarrier for Cancer Therapy

Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a cell surface glycoprotein overexpressed in varieties of solid tumors including pancreatic, breast, ovary, brain, and lung cancers. It is a multi-structural glycoprotein of the cell surface which is majorly involved in cell proliferation, cell-to-cell interaction, cellular migration, inflammation, and generation of immune responses. Numerous studies focus on the development of nanocarriers for active targeting of the CD44 receptor to improve efficacy of targeting chemotherapy and achieve precise chemotherapy by defining the release, uptake, and accumulation of therapeutic agents. The CD44 receptor has a selective binding affinity towards hyaluronic and chondroitin sulfate (CS). Taking this into consideration, this review focused on the role of CD44 in cancer and its therapy using several nanocarriers such as polymeric/non-polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimer, micelles, carbon nanotubes, nanogels, nanoemulsions etc., for targeted delivery of several chemotherapeutic molecules and nucleic acid. This review also illuminates the role of hyaluronic acid (HA) in cancer therapy, interaction of HA with CD44, and various approaches to target CD44-overexpressed neoplastic cells.

Emerging Application of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer

Cancer is a disease that has resulted in millions of deaths worldwide. The current conventional therapies utilized for the treatment of cancer have detrimental side effects. This led scientific researchers to explore new therapeutic avenues with an improved benefit to risk profile. Researchers have found nanoparticles, particles between the 1 and 100 nm range, to be encouraging tools in the area of cancer. Magnetic nanoparticles are one of many available nanoparticles at present. Magnetic nanoparticles have increasingly been receiving a considerable amount of attention in recent years owing to their unique magnetic properties, among many others. Magnetic nanoparticles can be controlled by an external magnetic field, signifying their ability to be site specific. The most popular approaches for the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles are co-precipitation, thermal decomposition, hydrothermal, and polyol synthesis. The functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles is essential as it significantly increases their biocompatibility. The most utilized functionalization agents are comprised of polymers. The synthesis and functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles will be further explored in this review. The biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles investigated in this review are drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, and diagnosis. The diagnosis aspect focuses on the utilization of magnetic nanoparticles as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical trials and toxicology studies relating to the application of magnetic nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer will also be discussed in this review.

Impact of Polyethylene Glycol Functionalization of Graphene Oxide on Anticoagulation and Haemolytic Properties of Human Blood

Graphene oxide (GO) is one of the most explored nanomaterials in recent years. It has numerous biomedical applications as a nanomaterial including drug and gene delivery, contrast imaging, cancer treatment, etc. Since most of these applications need intravenous administration of graphene oxide and derivatives, the evaluation of their haemocompatibility is an essential preliminary step for any of the developed GO applications. Plentiful data show that functionalization of graphene oxide nanoparticles with polyethylene glycol (PEG) increases biocompatibility, thus allowing PEGylated GO to elicit less dramatic blood cell responses than their pristine counterparts. Therefore, in this work, we PEGylated graphene oxide nanoparticles and evaluated the effects of their PEGylation on the structure and function of human blood components, especially on the morphology and the haemolytic potential of red blood cells (RBCs). Further, we studied the effect of PEGylation on some blood coagulation factors, including plasma fibrinogen as well as on the activated partial thromboplastin (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT) and platelet aggregation. Our findings provide important information on the mechanisms through which PEGylation increases GO compatibility with human blood cells. These data are crucial for the molecular design and biomedical applications of PEGylated graphene oxide nanomaterials in the future.

When metal-organic framework mediated smart drug delivery meets gastrointestinal cancers

Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract constitute one of the most common cancer types worldwide and a ∼58% increase in the global number of cases has been estimated by IARC for the next twenty years. Recent advances in drug delivery technologies have attracted scientific interest for developing and utilizing efficient therapeutic systems. The present review focuses on the use of nanoscale MOFs (Nano-MOFs) as carriers for drug delivery and imaging purposes. In pursuit of significant improvements to current gastrointestinal cancer chemotherapy regimens, systems that allow multiple concomitant therapeutic options (polytherapy) and controlled release are highly desirable. In this sense, MOF-based nanotherapeutics represent a significant step towards achieving this goal. Here, the current state-of-the-art of interdisciplinary research and novel developments into MOF-based gastrointestinal cancer therapy are highlighted and reviewed.

A concise review: the synergy between artificial intelligence and biomedical nanomaterials that empowers nanomedicine

Nanomedicine has recently experienced unprecedented growth and development. However, the complexity of operations at the nanoscale introduces a layer of difficulty in the clinical translation of nanodrugs and biomedical nanotechnology. This problem is further exacerbated when engineering and optimizing nanomaterials for biomedical purposes. To navigate this issue, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms have been applied for data analysis and inference, allowing for a more applicable understanding of the complex interaction amongst the abundant variables in a system involving the synthesis or use of nanomedicine. Here, we report on the current relationship and implications of nanomedicine and AI. Particularly, we explore AI as a tool for enabling nanomedicine in the context of nanodrug screening and development, brain-machine interfaces and nanotoxicology. We also report on the current state and future direction of nanomedicine and AI in cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorder therapy.

I, Six JL, Ferji K, Jaafar J, Boer JC, Plebanski M, Uskoković V, Mohamud R. Nanoparticles and Gut Microbiota in Colorectal Cancer

Recent years have witnessed an unprecedented growth in the research area of nanomedicine. There is an increasing optimism that nanotechnology applied to medicine will bring significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC), a type of neoplasm affecting cells in the colon or the rectum. Recent findings suggest that the role of microbiota is crucial in the development of CRC and its progression. Dysbiosis is a condition that disturbs the normal microbial environment in the gut and is often observed in CRC patients. In order to detect and treat precancerous lesions, new tools such as nanotechnology-based theranostics, provide a promising option for targeted marker detection or therapy for CRC. Because the presence of gut microbiota influences the route of biomarker detection and the route of the interaction of nanoparticle/drug complexes with target cells, the development of nanoparticles with appropriate sizes, morphologies, chemical compositions and concentrations might overcome this fundamental barrier. Metallic particles are good candidates for nanoparticle-induced intestinal dysbiosis, but this aspect has been poorly explored to date. Herein, we focus on reviewing and discussing nanotechnologies with potential applications in CRC through the involvement of gut microbiota and highlight the clinical areas that would benefit from these new medical technologies.

Pharmacological and Therapeutic Properties of Punica granatum Phytochemicals: Possible Roles in Breast Cancer

Background: Pomgranate (Punica granatum) represents a high source of polyphenols with great bioavailability. The role of this fruit in the prevention and treatment of various malignant pathologies has been long time cited in both scientific and non-scientific literature, making thus important to identify its involvement in the pathophysiological processes. The treatment for breast cancer had focused on the inhibition of the mechanisms that governs the estrogen activity. These mechanisms are covered either by the antagonism of the estrogen receptor (ER) or by the inhibition of the estrogen synthesis. Our interest in identifying a bioactive compound rich in polyphenols, which induces both the antagonism of the estrogen receptor, and the inhibition of the estrogen synthesis, revealed us the pomegranate fruit and its derivatives: peel and seeds. Pomegranates' chemical composition include many biological active substances such as flavonols, flavanols, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, ellagitannins and gallotannins. Materials and Methods: We performed a review of the scientific literature by using the following keywords: "pomegranate", "breast cancer", "Punica granatum", "pomegranate polyphenols". Our search was performed in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, and it included only original research written in English from the last 20 years. None of the articles were excluded due to affiliation. A total number of 28 original papers, which mentioned the beneficial activity of pomegranate against breast cancer, were selected. Both clinical and preclinical studies were considered for this review. Results: Recent discoveries pointed out that polyphenols from Punica granatum possess strong anti-cancer activity, exhibited by a variety of mechanisms, such as anti-estrogenic, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-metastatic. Pomegranate extracts induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, and induced cytotoxicity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, several polyphenols extracted from pomegranate inhibited the invasion potential, migration and viability of breast cancer cells. The effects of pomegranate juice on serum estrogens and other sexual hormones levels were also investigated on two human cohorts. Conclusions: Punica granatum represents a promising area in oncology. The large availability and low cost, associated with the lack of side effects, made from this natural product a great strategy for the management of breast cancer. There are several mechanistic studies in mouse models and in breast cancer cell lines, suggesting the possible pathways through which polyphenols from pomegranate extracts act, but larger and better-controlled studies are necessary in the future. Only two small clinical trials were conducted on humans until now, but their results are contradictory and should be considered preliminary.

Characterization and Inhibitory Effects of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized from Plant Extracts on HeLa Cells

Magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized from maize leaves and plantain peels extract mediators. Particles were characterized, and the inhibitory effects were studied on HeLa cells in vitro using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Voltammograms from the CV show that Fe₃O₄ NPs interaction with HeLa cells affected their electrochemical behavior. The nanoparticles formed with higher Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ molar ratio (2.8 : 1) resulted in smaller crystallite sizes compared to those formed with lower Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ molar ratio (1.4 : 1). The particles with the smallest crystallite size showed higher anodic peak currents, whereas the larger crystallite sizes resulted in lower anodic peak currents. The peak currents relate to cell inhibition and are confirmed by the half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀). The findings show that the particles have a different inhibitory mechanism on HeLa cells ion transfer and are promising to be further exploited for cancer treatment.

Current Nanoparticle Approaches in Nose to Brain Drug Delivery and Anticancer Therapy - A Review

Nanoparticles (NPs) are unique may be organic or inorganic, play a vital role in the development of drug delivery targeting the central nervous system (CNS). Intranasal drug delivery has shown to be an efficient strategy with attractive application for drug delivery to the CNS related diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer 's disease and brain solid tumors. Blood brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers are natural protective hindrances for entry of drug molecules into the CNS. Nanoparticles exhibit excellent intruding capacity for therapeutic agents and overcome protective barriers. By using nanotechnology based NPs targeted, drug delivery can be improved across BBB with discharge drugs in a controlled manner. NPs confer safe from degradation phenomenon. Several kinds of NPs are used for nose to the brain (N2B) enroute, such as lipidemic nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic NPs, solid lipid NPs, dendrimers. Among them, popular lipidemic and polymeric NPs are discussed, and their participation in anti-cancer activity has also been highlighted in this review.

Lipid-based Nanoplatforms in Cancer Therapy: Recent Advances and Applications

Though modern available cancer therapies are effective, they possess major adverse effects, causing non-compliance to patients. Furthermore, the majority of the polymeric-based medication platforms are certainly not universally acceptable, due to their several restrictions. With this juxtaposition, lipid-based medication delivery systems have appeared as promising drug nanocarriers to replace the majority of the polymer-based products because they are in a position to reverse polymer as well as, drug-associated restrictions. Furthermore, the amalgamation of the basic principle of nanotechnology in designing lipid nanocarriers, which are the latest form of lipid carriers, has tremendous chemotherapeutic possibilities as tumor-targeted drug-delivery pertaining to tumor therapy. Apart from this, it is reported that nearly 40% of the modern medication entities are lipophilic. Moreover, research continues to be efficient in attaining a significant understanding of the absorption and bioavailability of the developed lipids systems.

General Nanomedicine Platform by Solvent-Mediated Disassembly/Reassembly of Scalable Natural Polyphenol Colloidal Spheres

The current strategy using the assembly of medicines and active functional molecules to develop nanomedicines often requires both molecules to have a specific matched chemical molecular structure; however, this is often difficult to predict, execute, and control in practical applications. Herein, we reported a general solvent-mediated disassembly/reassembly strategy for preparing nanomedicines based on epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) active molecules. The polyphenol colloidal spheres (CSs) were self-assembled from molecular condensed EGCG in aqueous solution but disassembled in organic solvents and reassembled in aqueous solution. The solvent-mediated disassembly and reassembly capability of CSs gave rise to the active binding of condensed EGCG to various hydrophilic and hydrophobic guest molecules. The maximum encapsulation and drug-loading rate of reassembled CSs/DOX were 90 and 44%, respectively, and the nanomedicines could reverse drug resistance of tumor cells and exhibit enhanced therapeutic effects for breast cancer. Last but not least, 37.3 g of polyphenol CSs was massively produced at one time with a yield of 74.6%, laying a solid foundation for the practical applications of reassembled nanomedicines. The present strategy leading to a general nanomedicines platform was concise and highly efficient for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, making a breakthrough for low loading dilemma of current nanomedicines, and would open up a new direction for the preparation of nanocarriers, nanocomposites, and nanomedicines from natural polyphenols.

Nano Drug Delivery in Treatment of Oral Cancer, A Review of the Literature

Oral Cancer (OC) is a serious and growing problem which constitutes a huge burden on people in more and less economically developed countries alike. The scenario is clearly depicted from the increase in the expected number of new cases in the US diagnosed with OC from 49,670 people in 2016, to 49,750 cases in 2017. The situation is even more alarming in India, with 75,000 to 80,000 new cases being reported every year, thus making it the OC capital of the world. Leukoplakia, erythroplakia, oral lichen planus, oral submucous fibrosis, discoid lupus erythmatosus, hereditary disorders such as dyskeratosis congenital and epidermolisys bullosa are highlighted by WHO expert working group as the predisposing factors increasing the risk of OC. Consumption of tobacco and alcohol, genetic factors, and human papilloma virus are assigned as the factors contributing to the aetiology of OC. On the other hand, pathogenesis of OC involves not only apoptosis but also pain, inflammation and oxidative stress. Inspite of current treatment options (surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy), OC is often associated with recurrence and formation of secondary primary tumours resulting in poor overall survival rates (∼50%). The intervention of nano technology-based drug delivery systems as therapeutics for cancers is often viewed as a cutting edge for technologists. Though ample literature on the usefulness of nano-coutured cancer therapeutics, rarely any product is in pipeline. Yet, despite all the hype about nanotechnology, there are few ongoing trials. This review discusses the current and future trends of nano-based drug delivery for the treatment of OC.

Considerations for using optical clearing techniques for 3D imaging of nanoparticle biodistribution

A key consideration in the clinical translation of nanomedicines is determining their in vivo biodistribution in preclinical studies, which is important for predicting and correlating therapeutic efficacy and safety. There are a number of techniques available for analyzing the in vivo biodistribution of nanoparticles, with each having its own advantages and limitations. However, conventional techniques are limited by their inability to image the three-dimensional (3D) association of nanoparticles with cells, vasculature and other biological structures in whole organs at a subcellular level. Recently, optical clearing techniques have been used to evaluate the biodistribution of nanoparticles by 3D organ imaging. Optical clearing is a procedure that is increasingly being used to improve the imaging of biological tissues, whereby light scattering substances are removed to better match the refractive indices of different tissue layers. The use of optical clearing techniques has the potential to transform the way we evaluate the biodistribution of new and existing nanomedicines, as it allows the visualization of the interaction of nanoparticles with the biological environment in intact tissues. This review will compare the main optical clearing techniques and will address the considerations for the use of these techniques to evaluate nanoparticle biodistribution.

Hyaluronan-Metal Gold Nanoparticle Hybrids for Targeted Tumor Cell Therapy

In this study, a novel multifunctional nanoplatform based on core-shell nanoparticles of spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with low and high molecular weight (200 and 700 kDa) hyaluronic acid (HA), was assembled via a green, one-pot redox synthesis method at room temperature. A multitechnique characterization approach by UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy pointed to the effective 'surface decoration' of the gold nanoparticles by HA, resulting in different grafting densities of the biopolymer chains at the surface of the metal nanoparticle, which in turn affected the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles. Specifically, the spectral features of the gold plasmonic peak (and the related calculated optical size), the hydrodynamic diameter and the nanoparticle stability were found to depend on the molecular weight of the HA. The CD44-targeting capability of HA-functionalized gold nanoparticles was tested in terms of antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity. An enhanced inhibitory activity against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus was found, with a HA molecular weight (MW)-dependent trend for the HA-capped AuNPs compared to the bare, glucose-capped AuNPs. Cell viability assays performed on two CD44-positive cell models, namely normal human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVEC) and prostate tumor (PC-3) cells, in comparison with neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y), which do not express the CD44 receptor, demonstrated an increased cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma compared to prostate cancer cells upon the cellular treatments by HA-AuNP compared to the bare AuNP, but a receptor-dependent perturbation effect on cytoskeleton actin and lysosomal organelles, as detected by confocal microscopy. These results highlighted the promising potentialities of the HA-decorated gold nanoparticles for selective cytotoxicity in cancer therapy. Confocal microscopy imaging of the two human tumor cell models demonstrated a membrane-confined uptake of HA-capped AuNP in the cancer cells that express CD44 receptors and the different perturbation effects related to molecular weight of HA wrapping the metallic core of the plasmonic nanoparticles on cellular organelles and membrane mobility.

Ultrasensitive Fluorescent miRNA Biosensor Based on a "Sandwich" Oligonucleotide Hybridization and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Process Using an Ln(III)-MOF and Ag Nanoparticles for Early Cancer Diagnosis: Application of Central Composite Design

Herein, a novel, rapid, highly sensitive, and selective fluorescent biosensor is presented, which is designed based on "sandwich-type" hybridization of oligonucleotides and the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) strategy. It senses and determines the MicroRNA-155 (miRNA-155) expression levels as a cancer biomarker. In this study, a modified La(III)-metal-organic framework(MOF) and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were used as the energy donor-acceptor pairs in fluorescence quenching through the FRET process. La(III)-MOF was synthesized and then modified by glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent. The Ag NPs were also prepared, and then, the surface of both was conjugated with different 5'-amino-labeled ssDNA strands (aptamers). These prepared nanoprobes were characterized by various physicochemical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, field emission scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, elemental mapping, and gel electrophoresis. To optimize the detection conditions, several factors affecting biosensor performance were assessed by one variable-at-a-time and central composite design methods. Under optimum conditions, this "turn-off" fluorescent biosensor could detect and determine as low as 0.04 ppb (ng. mL^-1) or 5.5 fM of the miRNA-155 biomarker. Therefore, this biosensor provides highly promising potential for lung and breast cancer diagnosis.

Nanoformulated Bioactive Compounds Derived from Different Natural Products Combat Pancreatic Cancer Cell Proliferation

Purpose

This study was designed to determine the potential effect of nanoencapsulated bioactive compounds from different natural sources on human pancreatic cancer.

Background

Pancreatic cancer carries the highest fatality rate among all human cancers because of its high metastatic potential and late presentation at the time of diagnosis. Hence there is a need for improved methods to prevent and treat it. Natural products, such as 3, 3′-diindolylmethane (DIM) and ellagic acid (EA) demonstrated anticancer efficacy against various cancer types. However, DIM is insoluble. Hence, using nanotechnology to encapsulate these compounds in combination with EA might improve their physical and chemical properties and their delivery to the cancer cells.

Methods

Human pancreatic cancer cells, namely SUIT2-luciferase transfected, were used to examine the effects of DIM or EA and their nanoformulation in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) [PLGA-PEG] nanoparticles (NPs) on SUIT2-luciferase cell viability/proliferation over 24 hrs. Additionally, effects on tumor weight and angiogenesis were determined using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) tumor implant model.

Results

Both DIM and EA PLGA-PEG NPs resulted in rapid suppression of pancreatic cancer cell viability/proliferation within 24 hrs (P < 0.01), while the non-encapsulated DIM and EA did not show any significant effect on SUIT2 cancer cell viability or cell proliferation (MTT assay). In the CAM pancreatic cancer cell (SUIT2) implant model, results showed a greater suppression of tumor weight (P < 0.01), tumor cell viability, and tumor angiogenesis (P < 0.01) for DIM NPs and EA NPs and their combinations versus DIM or EA alone.

Conclusion

Nanoformulation of DIM and EA resulted in a more effective suppression of pancreatic cancer cell viability, pancreatic tumor weight, implanted cancer cell viability, and tumor angiogenesis as compared with these bioactive compounds alone.

Cancer Nanotechnology: A New Revolution for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

BACKGROUND

Nanotechnology is gaining significant attention worldwide for cancer treatment. Nanobiotechnology encourages the combination of diagnostics with therapeutics, which is a vital component of a customized way to deal with the malignancy. Nanoparticles are being used as Nanomedicine which participates in diagnosis and treatment of various diseases including cancer. The unique characteristic of Nanomedicine i.e. their high surface to volume ratio enables them to tie, absorb, and convey small biomolecule like DNA, RNA, drugs, proteins, and other molecules to targeted site and thus enhances the efficacy of therapeutic agents.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present article is to provide an insight of several aspect of nanotechnology in cancer therapeutics such as various nanomaterials as drug vehicle, drug release strategies and role of nanotechnology in cancer therapy.

METHODS

We performed an extensive search on bibliographic database for research article on nanotechnology and cancer therapeutics and further compiled the necessary information from various articles into the present article.

RESULTS

Cancer nanotechnology confers a unique technology against cancer through early diagnosis, prevention, personalized therapy by utilizing nanoparticles and quantum dots.Nano-biotechnology plays an important role in the discovery of cancer biomarkers. Quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, gold nanowires etc. have been developed as a carrier of biomolecules that can detect cancer biomarkers. Nanoparticle assisted cancer detection and monitoring involves biomolecules like proteins, antibody fragments, DNA fragments, and RNA fragments as the base of cancer biomarkers.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights various approaches of cancer nanotechnology in the advancement of cancer therapy.

Application of Nanotechnology in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy - A Mini-Review

Cancer is a leading cause of death and poor quality of life globally. Even though several strategies are devised to reduce deaths, reduce chronic pain and improve the quality of life, there remains a shortfall in the adequacies of these cancer therapies. Among the cardinal steps towards ensuring optimal cancer treatment are early detection of cancer cells and drug application with high specificity to reduce toxicities. Due to increased systemic toxicities and refractoriness with conventional cancer diagnostic and therapeutic tools, other strategies including nanotechnology are being employed to improve diagnosis and mitigate disease severity. Over the years, immunotherapeutic agents based on nanotechnology have been used for several cancer types to reduce the invasiveness of cancerous cells while sparing healthy cells at the target site. Nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes, polymeric micelles and liposomes have been used in cancer drug design where they have shown considerable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic benefits in cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we outline the commonly used nanomaterials which are employed in cancer diagnosis and therapy. We have highlighted the suitability of these nanomaterials for cancer management based on their physicochemical and biological properties. We further reviewed the challenges that are associated with the various nanomaterials which limit their uses and hamper their translatability into the clinical setting in certain cancer types.

Glyco-nanoparticles: New drug delivery systems in cancer therapy

Cancer is known as one of the most common diseases that are associated with high mobility and mortality in the world. Despite several efforts, current cancer treatment modalities often are highly toxic and lack efficacy and specificity. However, the application of nanotechnology has led to the development of effective nanosized drug delivery systems which are highly selective for tumors and allow a slow release of active anticancer agents. Different Nanoparticles (NPs) such as the silicon-based nano-materials, polymers, liposomes and metal NPs have been designed to deliver anti-cancer drugs to tumor sites. Among different drug delivery systems, carbohydrate-functionalized nanomaterials, specially based on their multi-valent binding capacities and desirable bio-compatibility, have attracted considerable attention as an excellent candidate for controlled release of therapeutic agents. In addition, these carbohydrate functionalized nano-carriers are more compatible with construction of the intracellular delivery platforms like the carbohydrate-modified metal NPs, quantum dots, and magnetic nano-materials. In this review, we discuss recent research in the field of multifunctional glycol-nanoparticles (GNPs) intended for cancer drug delivery applications.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles: A promising tool for the treatment of fibrosarcoma in-vivo

In this study, we used cerium oxide nanoparticles and evaluated their anti-cancer effects in a mouse model of fibrosarcoma. For evaluation of anti-cancer effects of nanoceria, tumor volume measurement, TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assay, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for Bax and Bcl2 genes, a panel of liver and kidney function tests and hematoxylin-eosin staining were done. Nanoceria dominantly accumulated in the tumor and it could significantly decrease tumor growth and volume in tumor-bearing mice that received nanoceria for four weeks. Cerium oxide nanoparticle showed potential anti-cancer properties against fibrosarcoma.

Advances in nanocarriers as drug delivery systems in Chagas disease

Chagas disease is one of the most important public health problems in Latin America due to its high mortality and morbidity levels. There is no effective treatment for this disease since drugs are usually toxic with low bioavailability. Serious efforts to achieve disease control and eventual eradication have been unsuccessful to date, emphasizing the need for rapid diagnosis, drug development, and a reliable vaccine. Novel systems for drug and vaccine administration based on nanocarriers represent a promising avenue for Chagas disease treatment. Nanoparticulate systems can reduce toxicity, and increase the efficacy and bioavailability of active compounds by prolonging release, and therefore improve the therapeutic index. Moreover, nanoparticles are able to interact with the host's immune system, modulating the immune response to favour the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, new advances in diagnostic assays, such as nanobiosensors, are beneficial in that they enable precise identification of the pathogen. In this review, we provide an overview of the strategies and nanocarrier-based delivery systems for antichagasic agents, such as liposomes, micelles, nanoemulsions, polymeric and non-polymeric nanoparticles. We address recent progress, with a particular focus on the advances of nanovaccines and nanodiagnostics, exploring new perspectives on Chagas disease treatment.

Fabrication of hesperidin nanoparticles loaded by poly lactic co-Glycolic acid for improved therapeutic efficiency and cytotoxicity

Hesperidin, as a flavonone, is recognized as promising anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer agent. Its poor bioavailability is crucial bottleneck for therapeutic efficacy. To enhance the stability and bioactive potentials, hesperidin -PLGA-Poloxamer 407 was successfully prepared to minimize or overcome problems associated with hesperidin absorption. The characteristics of nanohesperidin were testing by in vitro dissolution study, XRD, FTIR, PSA and SEM. Antioxidant effects of nanohesperidin were studied. The structure-activity relationship analysis with antioxidant pharmacophore has been performed by using density functional theory method and quantum chemical calculations. The structural properties were investigated using Becke three-parameter hybrid exchange and the Lee-Yang-Parr correction functional methods. Nanohesperidin was found to decrease the H₂O₂ activity-induced DNA instability. Blood compatibility on human erythrocytes was confirmed by haemolytic and in vitro toxicity assessments. The in vitro anticancer activity of nanohesperidin towards MCF-7 cells using various parameters was carried out. The nanohesperidin was found to exert cell growth arrest, activated DNA fragmentation and induced apoptotic cell death through caspase-3 and p53-dependent pathways. These findings showed that nanohesperidin play an important role in its anticancer effects, suggesting might be used for clinical trials and can represent driving formulation for novel chemotherapeutic agents.

Engineered Nanoparticles for Effective Redox Signaling During Angiogenic and Antiangiogenic Therapy

SIGNIFICANCE

Redox signaling plays a vital role in regulating various cellular signaling pathways and disease biology. Recently, nanomedicine (application of nanotechnology in biology and medicine) has been demonstrated to regulate angiogenesis through redox signaling. A complete understanding of redox signaling pathways influenced angiogenesis/antiangiogenesis triggered by therapeutic nanoparticles is extensively reviewed in this article. Recent Advances: In recent times, nanomedicines are regarded as the Trojan horses that could be employed for successful drug delivery, gene delivery, peptide delivery, disease diagnosis, and others, conquering barriers associated with conventional theranostic approaches.

CRITICAL ISSUES

Physiological angiogenesis is a tightly regulated process maintaining a balance between proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors. The redox signaling is one of the main factors that contribute to this physiological balance. An aberrant redox signaling cascade can be caused by several exogenous and endogenous factors and leads to reduced or augmented angiogenesis that ultimately results in several disease conditions.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Redox signaling-based nanomedicine approach has emerged as a new platform for angiogenesis-related disease therapy, where nanoparticles promote angiogenesis via controlled reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antiangiogenesis by triggering excessive ROS formation. Recently, investigators have identified different efficient nano-candidates, which modulate angiogenesis by controlling intracellular redox molecules. Considering the importance of angiogenesis in health care a thorough understanding of nanomedicine-regulated redox signaling would inspire researchers to design and develop more novel nanomaterials that could be used as an alternative strategy for the treatment of various diseases, where angiogenesis plays a vital role.

Nanomedicines for cancer therapy: current status, challenges and future prospects

The emergence of nanomedicine as an innovative and promising alternative technology shows many advantages over conventional cancer therapies and provides new opportunities for early detection, improved treatment, and diagnosis of cancer. Despite the cancer nanomedicines’ capability of delivering chemotherapeutic agents while providing lower systemic toxicity, it is paramount to consider the cancer complexity and dynamics for bridging the translational bench-to-bedside gap. It is important to conduct appropriate investigations for exploiting the tumor microenvironment, and achieving a more comprehensive understanding of the fundamental biological processes in cancer and their roles in modulating nanoparticle–protein interactions, blood circulation, and tumor penetration. This review provides an overview of the current cancer nanomedicines, the major challenges, and the future opportunities in this research area.

Black phosphorus–polypyrrole nanocomposites for high-performance photothermal cancer therapy

Black phosphorus–polypyrrole nanosheets with superimposed NIR absorption have been fabricated as the novel nanotherapeutic agent for enhanced NIR photothermal cancer therapy in vitro and in vivo.