Implantable, 3D-Printed Alginate Scaffolds with Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Local Breast Cancer via Enhanced Radiotherapy

Hydrogel-based 3D printing technology: From interfacial engineering to precision medicine

Advances in 3D printing technology and the development of hydrogel-based inks have significantly enhanced the potential of precision medicine, promoting progress in medical diagnosis and treatment. The development of 3D printing enables the fabrication of complex gradient structures that emulate natural tissue environments, while advancements in interface engineering facilitate the precise control of interface properties, thereby enhancing the performance of hydrogels in biomedical applications. This review focuses on the latest advancements in three critical 3D printing application areas: efficient real-time detection, drug delivery systems, and regenerative medicine. The application of 3D printing technology enhances nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostic platforms and wearable biosensors for real-time monitoring of physiological parameters, thereby providing robust support for early disease diagnosis. Additionally, it facilitates the development of targeted and controlled drug delivery systems, which offer promising methods for efficient drug utilization, and enables the construction of complex tissue and organ structures with bioactivity and functionality, providing new solutions for regenerative medicine. Collectively, these advancements propel the ongoing progress and development of precision medicine. Furthermore, the challenges associated with 3D printing technology in these three major applications are discussed along with an outlook on prospects.

A Bi2O3-TiO2 Heterojunction for Triple-Modality Cancer Theranostics

Purpose

Owing to the limitations of single-mode cancer treatments, combination therapies have attracted much attention. However, constructing a platform for combination therapies in a simple and effective way and improving the overall treatment effect remains a challenge. Our aim was to combine sonodynamic therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy together and improve therapeutic outcomes within one nanoplatform.

Methods

In this work, we sought to exploit the properties of nanoscale heterojunctions to this end. A multifunctional Bi2O3-TiO2@polydopamine-doxorubicin (BTPD) nanoparticle platform was constructed as an anti-cancer theranostic. Under ultrasound irradiation, the Bi2O3-TiO2 core can generate singlet oxygen to damage tumor cells. Meanwhile, the high-Z Bi2O3 can attenuate the energy of X-rays and scatter secondary electrons to enhance radiation damage in the tumor. A thin coating of polydopamine (PDA) increases the biocompatibility but also gives the particles the ability for photoacoustic imaging. Doxorubicin, a DNA repair inhibitor which can hinder tumor recovery from radiation damage, was loaded onto the PDA.

Results

A comprehensive series of in vitro and in vivo assays demonstrated that the nanoparticles were effectively taken up into cancer cells, where they could induce ROS production and cause cell death. In vivo, this led to a marked reduction in tumor volume in a murine 4T1 cancer model.

Conclusion

The formulations developed here have significant potential for future investigation and exploration in the treatment of cancer.

Targeted bismuth-based materials for cancer

The use of bismuth and its compounds in biomedicine has developed rapidly in recent years. Due to their unique properties, there are great opportunities for the development of new non-invasive strategies for the early diagnosis and effective treatment of cancers. This perspective highlights key fabrication methods to generate well-defined and clinically relevant bismuth materials of varying characteristics. On the one hand, this opens up a wide range of possibilities for unimodal and multimodal imaging. On the other hand, effective treatment strategies, which are increasingly based on combinatorial therapies, are given a great deal of attention. One of the biggest challenges remains the selective tumour targeting, whether active or passive. Here we present an overview on new developments of bismuth based materials moving forward from a simple enrichment at the tumour site via uptake by the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) to a more active tumour specific targeting via covalent modification with tumour-seeking molecules based on either small or antibody-derived molecules.

Tumor Microenvironment Responsive and Platelet Membrane Coated Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Cancer Radiosensitization by Inducing Cuproptosis

Background

Cuproptosis, distinguished from apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, is a current form of programmed cell death that provides novel strategies for tumor therapy. Nanotechnology inducing cuproptosis showed potential in tumor ablation. However, these strategies might induce cellular damage due to a lack of tumor-targeting ability or insufficient tumor inhibition alone.

Methods

Here, biomimetic copper-doped polydopamine nanoparticles (PC NPs) were developed to specifically induce tumor cell cuproptosis to enhance radiotherapy (RT). PC NPs were characterized before application for tumor ablation.

Results

These PC NPs improve tumor targeting and accumulation. After entering the tumor region, PC degrades in cells responsive to acidic tumor microenvironment (TME). Next, Cu2+ is reduced to Cu+ after consuming overexpressed glutathione (GSH), which induces dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (DLAT) aggression and cuproptosis. Under RT, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated and consume GSH, leading to cuproptosis. The decreasing of GSH content in tumor tissues can improve the treatment effect of RT by inhibiting self-repair of tumor cells, hindering cell survival and proliferation. The combination of PC and RT alleviate tumor growth, reaching a tumor growth inhibition rate of 93.0%.

Conclusion

This tumor-specific targeting nano platform is a valuable radiosensitizer responsive to TME for improving therapeutic efficacy against tumors.

Transferrin-Based Bismuth Nanoparticles for Radiotherapy with Immunomodulation Against Orthotopic Glioma

Modern radiotherapy frequently employs radiosensitizers for radiation dose deposition and triggers an immunomodulatory effect to enhance tumor destruction. However, developing glioma-targeted sensitizers remains challenging due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and multicomponent instability. This study aims to green-synthesize transferrin-bismuth nanoparticles (TBNPs) as biosafe radiosensitizers to enhance X-ray absorption by tumors and stimulate the immune response for glioma therapy. The proposed protein-based strategy provides TBNPs with BBB-crossing ability and prevents off-target toxicity. Cellular experiments following 4 Gy of X-ray irradiation reveal that TBNPs increase DNA damage in glioma cells and trigger immunomodulation, thereby inducing immunogenic cell death. Furthermore, TBNPs effectively inhibit tumor growth through synergistic radiotherapy and immunotherapy in an orthotopic glioma mouse model. The findings highlight TBNPs as promising radiosensitizers for effective and biosafe radiotherapy with immunomodulation.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor Cells Solid Tumor Immunotherapy Assisted by Biomaterials Tools

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immune cell therapies have revolutionized oncology, particularly in hematological malignancies, yet their efficacy against solid tumors remains limited due to challenges such as dense stromal barriers and immunosuppressive microenvironments. With advancements in nanobiotechnology, researchers have developed various strategies and methods to enhance the CAR cell efficacy in solid tumor treatment. In this Review, we first outline the structure and mechanism of CAR-T (T, T cell), CAR-NK (NK, natural killer), and CAR-M (M, macrophage) cell therapies and deeply analyze the potential of these cells in the treatment of solid tumors and the challenges they face. Next, we explore how biomaterials can optimize these treatments by improving the tumor microenvironment, controlling CAR cell release, promoting cell infiltration, and enhancing efficacy. Finally, we summarize the current challenges and potential solutions, emphasize the effective combination of biomaterials and CAR cell therapy, and look forward to its future clinical application and treatment strategies. This Review provides important theoretical perspectives and practical guidance for the future development of more effective solid tumor treatment strategies.

Scaffolds functionalized with matrix metalloproteinase-responsive release of miRNA for synergistic magnetic hyperthermia and sensitizing chemotherapy of drug-tolerant breast cancer

Combining hyperthermia and chemotherapy for maximum anticancer efficacy remains a challenge because drug-tolerant cancer cells often evade this synergistic treatment due to drug resistance and asynchronous drug release. In this study, multifunctional scaffolds were designed to efficiently treat drug-tolerant breast cancer by improving the sensitization of breast cancer cells and synchronizing anticancer drug release with magnetic hyperthermia. The scaffolds contained microRNA-encapsulated matrix metalloproteinase-cleavable liposomes, doxorubicin-encapsulated thermoresponsive liposomes and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The scaffolds could release microRNA specifically to improve the sensitization of breast cancer cells to anticancer drugs. The scaffolds also showed excellent hyperthermia effects under alternating magnetic field irradiation. Moreover, doxorubicin release was synchronized with magnetic hyperthermia. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that the scaffolds effectively reduced drug resistance and eliminated doxorubicin-tolerant MDA-MB-231 cells through the synergistic effect of magnetic hyperthermia and sensitizing chemotherapy. Additionally, the scaffolds could support the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of stem cells for adipose tissue regeneration after killing cancer cells at a late therapeutic stage. These composite scaffolds offer an innovative strategy for treating breast cancer, with synergistic anticancer effects and regenerative functions.

Biomaterials enhancing localized cancer therapy activated anti-tumor immunity: a review

Localized cancer therapies such as radiotherapy, phototherapy, and chemotherapy are precise cancer treatment strategies aimed at minimizing systemic side effects. However, cancer metastasis remains the primary cause of mortality among cancer patients in clinical settings, and localized cancer treatments have limited efficacy against metastatic cancer. Therefore, researchers are exploring strategies that combine localized therapy with immunotherapy to activate robust anti-tumor immune responses, thereby eradicating metastatic cancer. Biomaterials, as novel materials, exhibit great potential in biomedical applications and have achieved great progress in clinic translation. This review introduces biomaterials and their applications in research focused on enhancing localized cancer treatment activated anti-tumor immunity. Additionally, the current challenges and future directions of biomaterials are also discussed, providing insights and references for related research.

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.

Additive manufacturing to fight cancer: Current Applications and Future Directions

3D printing has emerged as a powerful tool demonstrating effectiveness in early screening and targeted delivery for various types of tumors. Although the applications of additive manufacturing for cancer are widespread, the issues of scaling up, quality control and specificity remain. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape of use of additive manufacturing in cancer diagnostics and treatment. Furthermore, it proceeds to elucidate the prominent current and future applications of 4D- and 5D-printed micro-swimmers in cancer treatment with particular emphasis on the significant progress made in magnetic, biological and light-based propulsion microrobots. Lastly, the current limitations and future research directions are enumerated. In summary, this paper serves as a comprehensive exploration of the remarkable contributions of additive manufacturing to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Biomaterials Mimicking Mechanobiology: A Specific Design for a Specific Biological Application

Mechanosensing and mechanotransduction pathways between the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) and cells form the essential crosstalk that regulates cell homeostasis, tissue development, morphology, maintenance, and function. Understanding these mechanisms involves creating an appropriate cell support that elicits signals to guide cellular functions. In this context, polymers can serve as ideal molecules for producing biomaterials designed to mimic the characteristics of the ECM, thereby triggering responsive mechanisms that closely resemble those induced by a natural physiological system. The generated specific stimuli depend on the different natural or synthetic origins of the polymers, the chemical composition, the assembly structure, and the physical and surface properties of biomaterials. This review discusses the most widely used polymers and their customization to develop biomaterials with tailored properties. It examines how the characteristics of biomaterials-based polymers can be harnessed to replicate the functions of biological cells, making them suitable for biomedical and biotechnological applications.

Chitosan- and hyaluronic acid-based nanoarchitectures in phototherapy: Combination cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy

Cancer phototherapy has been introduced as a new potential modality for tumor suppression. However, the efficacy of phototherapy has been limited due to a lack of targeted delivery of photosensitizers. Therefore, the application of biocompatible and multifunctional nanoparticles in phototherapy is appreciated. Chitosan (CS) as a cationic polymer and hyaluronic acid (HA) as a CD44-targeting agent are two widely utilized polymers in nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization. The current review focuses on the application of HA and CS nanostructures in cancer phototherapy. These nanocarriers can be used in phototherapy to induce hyperthermia and singlet oxygen generation for tumor ablation. CS and HA can be used for the synthesis of nanostructures, or they can functionalize other kinds of nanostructures used for phototherapy, such as gold nanorods. The HA and CS nanostructures can combine chemotherapy or immunotherapy with phototherapy to augment tumor suppression. Moreover, the CS nanostructures can be functionalized with HA for specific cancer phototherapy. The CS and HA nanostructures promote the cellular uptake of genes and photosensitizers to facilitate gene therapy and phototherapy. Such nanostructures specifically stimulate phototherapy at the tumor site, with particle toxic impacts on normal cells. Moreover, CS and HA nanostructures demonstrate high biocompatibility for further clinical applications.

Nanoliposomes as nonviral vectors in cancer gene therapy

Nonviral vectors, such as liposomes, offer potential for targeted gene delivery in cancer therapy. Liposomes, composed of phospholipid vesicles, have demonstrated efficacy as nanocarriers for genetic tools, addressing the limitations of off-targeting and degradation commonly associated with traditional gene therapy approaches. Due to their biocompatibility, stability, and tunable physicochemical properties, they offer potential in overcoming the challenges associated with gene therapy, such as low transfection efficiency and poor stability in biological fluids. Despite these advancements, there remains a gap in understanding the optimal utilization of nanoliposomes for enhanced gene delivery in cancer treatment. This review delves into the present state of nanoliposomes as carriers for genetic tools in cancer therapy, sheds light on their potential to safeguard genetic payloads and facilitate cell internalization alongside the evolution of smart nanocarriers for targeted delivery. The challenges linked to their biocompatibility and the factors that restrict their effectiveness in gene delivery are also discussed along with exploring the potential of nanoliposomes in cancer gene therapy strategies by analyzing recent advancements and offering future directions.

Nanomaterials in crossroad of autophagy control in human cancers: Amplification of cell death mechanisms

Cancer is the result of genetic abnormalities that cause normal cells to grow into neoplastic cells. Cancer is characterized by several distinct features, such as uncontrolled cell growth, extensive spreading to other parts of the body, and the ability to resist treatment. The scientists have stressed the development of nanostructures as novel therapeutic options in suppressing cancer, in response to the emergence of resistance to standard medicines. One of the specific mechanisms with dysregulation during cancer is autophagy. Nanomaterials have the ability to specifically carry medications and genes, and they can also enhance the responsiveness of tumor cells to standard therapy while promoting drug sensitivity. The primary mechanism in this process relies on autophagosomes and their fusion with lysosomes to break down the components of the cytoplasm. While autophagy was initially described as a form of cellular demise, it has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in controlling metastasis, proliferation, and treatment resistance in human malignancies. The pharmacokinetic profile of autophagy modulators is poor, despite their development for use in cancer therapy. Consequently, nanoparticles have been developed for the purpose of delivering medications and autophagy modulators selectively and specifically to the cancer process. Furthermore, several categories of nanoparticles have demonstrated the ability to regulate autophagy, which plays a crucial role in defining the biological characteristics and response to therapy of tumor cells.

Dysregulation of autophagy in gastric carcinoma: Pathways to tumor progression and resistance to therapy

The considerable death rates and lack of symptoms in early stages of gastric cancer (GC) make it a major health problem worldwide. One of the most prominent risk factors is infection with Helicobacter pylori. Many biological processes, including those linked with cell death, are disrupted in GC. The cellular "self-digestion" mechanism necessary for regular balance maintenance, autophagy, is at the center of this disturbance. Misregulation of autophagy, however, plays a role in the development of GC. In this review, we will examine how autophagy interacts with other cell death processes, such as apoptosis and ferroptosis, and how it affects the progression of GC. In addition to wonderful its role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, it is engaged in GC metastasis. The role of autophagy in GC in promoting drug resistance stands out. There is growing interest in modulating autophagy for GC treatment, with research focusing on natural compounds, small-molecule inhibitors, and nanoparticles. These approaches could lead to breakthroughs in GC therapy, offering new hope in the fight against this challenging disease.