Fe3O4-SiO2 Mesoporous Core/Shell Nanoparticles for Magnetic Field-Induced Ibuprofen-Controlled Release

Magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles as advanced polymeric scaffolds for efficient cancer chemotherapy: recent progress and challenges

Magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MMS NPs) stand out as excellent options for targeted chemotherapy owing to their remarkable features, such as extensive surface area, substantial pore volume, adjustable and uniform pore size, facile scalability, and versatile surface chemistry. This review comprehensively explores the latest developments in MMS NPs, emphasizing their design, functionalization, and application in cancer therapy. Initially, we discuss the critical need for targeted and controlled drug delivery (DD) in oncology, highlighting the role of magnetic and MMs in addressing some challenges. Subsequently, the key features of MMS NPs, such as their high surface area, pore structure, and functionalization strategies, are examined for their impact on their DD performance for efficient cancer chemotherapy. The integration of chemotherapy methods such as photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy with MMS NPs is also explored, showcasing multifunctional platforms that combine imaging and therapeutic capabilities. Finally, we identify the current challenges and provide future perspectives for the development and clinical translation of MMS NPs, underscoring their potential to reshape CT paradigms.

Evaluation of anticancer activity of urotropine surface modified iron oxide nanoparticles using a panel of forty breast cancer cell lines

Urotropine, an antibacterial agent to treat urinary tract bacterial infections, can be also considered as a repurposed drug with formaldehyde-mediated anticancer activity. Recently, we have synthesized urotropine surface modified iron oxide nanoparticles (URO@Fe3O4 NPs) with improved colloidal stability and limited cytotoxicity against human fibroblasts. In the present study, we have investigated URO@Fe3O4 NP-mediated responses in a panel of forty phenotypically different breast cancer cell lines along with three non-cancerous corresponding cell lines. URO@Fe3O4 NPs promoted oxidative stress and FOXO3a-based antioxidant response in breast cancer cells. Elevated levels of GPX4 and decreased levels of ACSL4 in URO@Fe3O4 NP-treated breast cancer cells protected against ferroptotic cell death. On the contrary, URO@Fe3O4 NPs impaired the activity of PERK, a part of unfolded protein response (UPR), especially when the glucose supply was limited, that was accompanied by genetic instability, and apoptotic and/or necrotic cell death in breast cancer cells. In conclusion, this is the first comprehensive analysis of anticancer effects of URO@Fe3O4 NPs against a panel of forty breast cancer cell lines with different receptor status and in glucose replete and deplete conditions. We suggest that presented results might be helpful for designing new nano-based anti-breast cancer strategies.

Imparting of Nearly Superparamagnetic Properties to Cryogel Scaffolds With Mesoporous MNPs for Magneto-Sensitive Tissue Engineering Strategies

This work reports the assembly of mesoporous iron oxide nanoparticles (meso-MNPs) with cryogel scaffolds composed of chitosan and gelatin. Meso-MNPs with a particle size ranging from 2 and 50 nm, a surface area of 140.52 m2 g-1, and a pore volume of 0.27 cm3 g-1 were synthesized on a porous SiO2 template in the presence of PEG 6000 followed by leaching of SiO2. Different ratios of meso-MNPs were successfully incorporated into chitosan:gelatin cryogels up to an amount equivalent to the entire amount of polymer. The morphological structure and physicochemical properties of the cryogels were directly affected by the amount of MNPs. VSM curves showed that all composite cryogels could be magnetized by applying a magnetic field. In the context of the safety of magnetic cryogel scaffolds for use in biomedicine, it is important to note that all values are below the exposure limit for static magnetic fields, and according to cytotoxicity data, scaffolds containing meso-MNPs showed nontoxicity with cell viability ranging from 150% to 275%. In addition, microbial analysis with gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria showed that the scaffolds exhibited activity against these bacteria.

Preparation of Medical 228Th-224Ra Radionuclide Generator Based on SiO2@TiO2 Microspheres

224Ra (T1/2 = 3.63 d), an α-emitting radionuclide, holds significant promise in cancer endoradiotherapy. Current 224Ra-related therapy is still scarce because of the lack of reliable radionuclide supply. The 228Th-224Ra radionuclide generator can undoubtedly introduce continuous and sustainable availability of 224Ra for advanced nuclear medicine. However, conventional metal oxides for such radionuclide generators manifest suboptimal adsorption capacities for the parent nuclide, primarily attributable to their limited surface area. In this work, core-shell SiO2@TiO2 microspheres were proposed to develop as column materials for the construction of a 228Th-224Ra generator. SiO2@TiO2 microspheres were well prepared and systematically characterized, which has also been demonstrated to have good adsorption capacity to 228Th and very weak binding affinity toward 224Ra via simulated chemical separation. Upon introducing 228Th-containing solution onto the SiO2@TiO2 functional column, a 228Th-224Ra generator with excellent retention of the parent radionuclide and ideal elution efficiency of daughter radionuclide was obtained. The prepared 228Th-224Ra generator can produce 224Ra with high purity and medical usability in good elution efficiency (98.72%) even over five cycles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the core-shell mesoporous materials have been applied in a radionuclide generator, which can offer valuable insights for materials chemistry, radiochemical separation, and biological medicine.

Carbon-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Promote Reductive Stress-Mediated Cytotoxic Autophagy in Drug-Induced Senescent Breast Cancer Cells

The surface modification of magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) is a promising approach to obtaining biocompatible and multifunctional nanoplatforms with numerous applications in biomedicine, for example, to fight cancer. However, little is known about the effects of Fe3O4 NP-associated reductive stress against cancer cells, especially against chemotherapy-induced drug-resistant senescent cancer cells. In the present study, Fe3O4 NPs in situ coated by dextran (Fe3O4@Dex) and glucosamine-based amorphous carbon coating (Fe3O4@aC) with potent reductive activity were characterized and tested against drug-induced senescent breast cancer cells (Hs 578T, BT-20, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-175-VII cells). Fe3O4@aC caused a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and an increase in the levels of antioxidant proteins FOXO3a, SOD1, and GPX4 that was accompanied by elevated levels of cell cycle inhibitors (p21, p27, and p57), proinflammatory (NFκB, IL-6, and IL-8) and autophagic (BECN1, LC3B) markers, nucleolar stress, and subsequent apoptotic cell death in etoposide-stimulated senescent breast cancer cells. Fe3O4@aC also promoted reductive stress-mediated cytotoxicity in nonsenescent breast cancer cells. We postulate that Fe3O4 NPs, in addition to their well-established hyperthermia and oxidative stress-mediated anticancer effects, can also be considered, if modified using amorphous carbon coating with reductive activity, as stimulators of reductive stress and cytotoxic effects in both senescent and nonsenescent breast cancer cells with different gene mutation statuses.

Investigation of background, novelty and recent advance of iron (II,III) oxide- loaded on 3D polymer based scaffolds as regenerative implant for bone tissue engineering: A review

Bone tissue engineering had crucial role in the bone defects regeneration, particularly when allograft and autograft procedures have limitations. In this regard, different types of scaffolds are used in tissue regeneration as fundamental tools. In recent years, magnetic scaffolds show promising applications in different biomedical applications (in vitro and in vivo). As superparamagnetic materials are widely considered to be among the most attractive biomaterials in tissue engineering, due to long-range stability and superior bioactivity, therefore, magnetic implants shows angiogenesis, osteoconduction, and osteoinduction features when they are combined with biomaterials. Furthermore, these scaffolds can be coupled with a magnetic field to enhance their regenerative potential. In addition, magnetic scaffolds can be composed of various combinations of magnetic biomaterials and polymers using different methods to improve the magnetic, biocompatibility, thermal, and mechanical properties of the scaffolds. This review article aims to explain the use of magnetic biomaterials such as iron (II,III) oxide (Fe2O3 and Fe3O4) in detail. So it will cover the research background of magnetic scaffolds, the novelty of using these magnetic implants in tissue engineering, and provides a future perspective on regenerative implants.