Diameter-dependent release of a cisplatin pro-drug from small and large functionalized carbon nanotubes

Gelatin-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes Loaded with Cisplatin for Anti-Cancer Therapy

Cisplatin (Cp), a chemotherapeutic agent, interacts with purines on tumor DNA, causing tumor cell apoptosis. However, cisplatin has the characteristics of non-specific distribution and lack of selectivity, resulting in systemic toxicity. Moreover, it cannot maintain the drug's high concentration in the tumor-weak acid environment. These flaws of cisplatin restrict its use in clinical applications. Therefore, a pH-responsive carbon nanotube-modified nano-drug delivery system (CNTs/Gel/Cp) was constructed in this study using gelatin (Gel)-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs/Gel) loaded with cisplatin to release drugs precisely and slowly, preventing premature inactivation and maintaining an effective concentration. When MCp:MCNTs/Gel = 1:1, the drug reaches the highest loading rate and entrapment efficiency. To achieve the sustained-release effect, CNTs/Gel/Cp can release the medicine steadily for a long time in a pH environment of 6.0. Additionally, CNTs/Gel/Cp display antitumor properties comparable to cisplatin in a manner that varies with the dosage administered. These findings indicate that CNTs/Gel/Cp have an effective, sustained release of cisplatin and a good antitumor effect, providing a theoretical and experimental basis for the clinical application of modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a new drug delivery system.

Applications of Filled Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), which possess electrical and thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, and flexibility, and are ultra-light weight, are an outstanding material for applications in nanoelectronics, photovoltaics, thermoelectric power generation, light emission, electrochemical energy storage, catalysis, sensors, spintronics, magnetic recording, and biomedicine. Applications of SWCNTs require nanotube samples with precisely controlled and customized electronic properties. The filling of SWCNTs is a promising approach in the fine-tuning of their electronic properties because a large variety of substances with appropriate physical and chemical properties can be introduced inside SWCNTs. The encapsulation of electron donor or acceptor substances inside SWCNTs opens the way for the Fermi-level engineering of SWCNTs for specific applications. This paper reviews the recent progress in applications of filled SWCNTs and highlights challenges that exist in the field.

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of resveratrol-loaded functionalized carbon nanotubes as a novel delivery system in radiation enteropathy

Radiation-induced enteropathy is a major clinical challenge during radiotherapy. Resveratrol displays beneficial pharmacological activities; however, low oral bioavailability limits its effectiveness. This study aims at preparing methacrylic acid (MAAc) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-MAAc) as carriers for pH triggered controlled release of resveratrol in an effort to improve the drug therapeutic potential. MWCNTs-MAAc were prepared using radiation technique and then characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. In vitro drug release profile at different pH values was analyzed. Furthermore, the designed RES-MWCNTs-MAAc nanocomplex was evaluated against radiation-induced enteropathy in rats. Oral administration of RES-MWCNTs-MAAc restored colonic redox state and elevated antioxidant enzymes activities glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and reduced colonic inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interferone-γ (IFN-γ) contents in addition to declining the intrinsic apoptotic pathway as evidenced by down-regulation of Bax and caspase-3 proteins expression accompanied by up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression. RES-MWCNTs-MAAc was more efficient than free resveratrol due to the delivery system that allowed prolonged resveratrol release at target site. Thus, this formulation could serve as a beneficial anti-inflammatory approach for patients during radiotherapy.

Natural Products from Madagascar, Socio-Cultural Usage, and Potential Applications in Advanced Biomedicine: A Concise Review

Natural products endowed of biological activity represent a primary source of commodities ranging from nutrition to therapeutic agents, as well as cosmetic tools and recreational principles. These natural means have been used by mankind for centuries, if not millennia. They are commonly used all over the world in socio-economical contexts, but are particularly attractive in disadvantaged areas or economically emerging situations all over the world. This is very likely due to the relatively easy recovery of these bioactive principles from the environment, at a low if any cost, as well as ease of administration and the general popular compliance concerning their consumption/ingestion. In this concise review, we focus on some popular bioactive principles of botanical origin which find a wide use in the Madagascan populations. However, due to space limitations, only some of the most common and largely diffused principles in this country are considered. Finally, a possible nanotechnological administration is discussed in the case where a potential therapeutic usage is envisaged.

Nano drug delivery systems in upper gastrointestinal cancer therapy

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) carcinomas are characterized as one of the deadliest cancer types with the highest recurrence rates. Their treatment is challenging due to late diagnosis, early metastasis formation, resistance to systemic therapy and complicated surgeries performed in poorly accessible locations. Current cancer medication face deficiencies such as high toxicity and systemic side-effects due to the non-specific distribution of the drug agent. Nanomedicine has the potential to offer sophisticated therapeutic possibilities through adjusted delivery systems. This review aims to provide an overview of novel approaches and perspectives on nanoparticle (NP) drug delivery systems for gastrointestinal carcinomas. Present regimen for the treatment of upper GI carcinomas are described prior to detailing various NP drug delivery formulations and their current and potential role in GI cancer theranostics with a specific emphasis on targeted nanodelivery systems. To date, only a handful of NP systems have met the standard of care requirements for GI carcinoma patients. However, an increasing number of studies provide evidence supporting NP-based diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Future development and strategic use of NP-based drug formulations will be a hallmark in the treatment of various cancers. This article seeks to highlight the exciting potential of novel NPs for targeted cancer therapy in GI carcinomas and thus provide motivation for further research in this field.

Functionalized Carbon Nanostructures Versus Drug Resistance: Promising Scenarios in Cancer Treatment

Carbon nanostructures (CN) are emerging valuable materials for the assembly of highly engineered multifunctional nanovehicles for cancer therapy, in particular for counteracting the insurgence of multi-drug resistance (MDR). In this regard, carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene oxide (GO), and fullerenes (F) have been proposed as promising materials due to their superior physical, chemical, and biological features. The possibility to easily modify their surface, conferring tailored properties, allows different CN derivatives to be synthesized. Although many studies have explored this topic, a comprehensive review evaluating the beneficial use of functionalized CNT vs G or F is still missing. Within this paper, the most relevant examples of CN-based nanosystems proposed for MDR reversal are reviewed, taking into consideration the functionalization routes, as well as the biological mechanisms involved and the possible toxicity concerns. The main aim is to understand which functional CN represents the most promising strategy to be further investigated for overcoming MDR in cancer.

Targeting drug delivery system for platinum(Ⅳ)-Based antitumor complexes

Classical platinum(II) anticancer agents are widely-used chemotherapeutic drugs in the clinic against a range of cancers. However, severe systemic toxicity and drug resistance have become the main obstacles which limit their application and effectiveness. Because divalent cisplatin analogues are easily destroyed in vivo, their bioavailability is low and no selective to tumor tissues. The platinum(IV) prodrugs are attractive compounds for cancer treatment because they have great advantages, e.g., higher stability in biological media, aqueous solubility and no cross-resistance with cisplatin, which may become the next generation of platinum anticancer drugs. In addition, platinum(IV) drugs could be taken orally, which could be more acceptable to cancer patients, breaking the current situation that platinum(II) drugs can only be given by injection. The coupling of platinum(IV) complexes with tumor targeting groups avoids the disadvantages such as instability in blood, irreversible binding to plasma proteins, rapid renal clearance, and non-specific distribution in normal tissues. Because of the above advantages, the combination of platinum complexes and tumor targeting groups has become the hottest field in the research and development of new platinum drugs. These approaches can be roughly categorized into two groups: active and passive targeted strategies. This review concentrates on various targeting and delivery strategies for platinum(IV) complexes to improve the efficacy and reduce the side effects of platinum-based anticancer drugs. We have made a summary of the related articles on platinum(IV) targeted delivery in recent years. We believe the results of the studies described in this review will provide new ideas and strategies for the development of platinum drugs.

Preparation, characterization and controlled-release property of CS crosslinked MWCNT based on Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides

In present study, the optimal condition of prepared drug was determined by response surface methodology. In addition, their physicochemical properties, drug release and uptake ability of CS-MWCNT-HEP were studied, and the distribution of the drug in ICR mice and the sites of action were further evaluated. Under the optimal condition, the mean experimental loaded efficiency 68.55 ± 1.47% was corresponded well with the predicted value of 68.28%. The results of in vitro experiments proved that a release of the drug in a pH-dependent behavior. Flow cytometry and inverted microscope showed that the uptake of CS-MWCNT-HEP in Raw264.7 cells increased significantly as the time increased. In vivo experiment proved that the HEP and CS-MWCNT-HEP were mainly accumulated in the kidney, shown the characteristics of kidney metabolism. On the other hand, the extended retention of CS-MWCNT-HEP in the mice could enhance the immune function. CS-MWCNT-HEP has high loaded efficiency and pH-responsive drug released, which could significantly improved the body's immunity and enhance the body's ability to absorbed drugs. These findings proposed a well characterized novel CS-MWCNT-HEP formulation as drug delivery system, and its mechanism and application will be further investigated in our undergoing studies.

Hyaluronate Functionalized Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Filled with Carboplatin as a Novel Drug Nanocarrier against Murine Lung Cancer Cells

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged in recent years as a potential option for drug delivery, due to their high functionalization capacity. Biocompatibility and selectivity using tissue-specific biomolecules can optimize the specificity, pharmacokinetics and stability of the drug. In this study, we design, develop and characterize a drug nanovector (oxCNTs-HA-CPT) conjugating oxidated multi-wall carbon nanotubes (oxCNTs) with hyaluronate (HA) and carboplatin (CPT) as a treatment in a lung cancer model in vitro. Subsequently, we exposed TC-1 and NIH/3T3 cell lines to the nanovectors and measured cell uptake, cell viability, and oxidative stress induction. The characterization of oxCNTs-HA-CPT reveals that on their surface, they have HA. On the other hand, oxCNTs-HA-CPT were endocytosed in greater proportion by tumor cells than by fibroblasts, and likewise, the cytotoxic effect was significantly higher in tumor cells. These results show the therapeutic potential that nanovectors possess; however, future studies should be carried out to determine the death pathways involved, as well as their effect on in vivo models.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube-based systems for improving the controlled release of insoluble drug dipyridamole

Applicability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in loading dipyridamole (DDM), a poorly soluble drug, was evaluated. Additionally, the effect of drug-loading efficiency on the release behavior of the MWCNT-DDM system was also investigated. DDM as a model drug was incorporated into MWCNTs with different drug-loading rates (10, 25 and 50%) using the solvent deposition method. The MWCNT-DDM system was successfully established and characterized using common solid-state characterization methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption analysis and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were carried out to observe the progress of drug loading. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to systematically assess the crystalline state of the DDM after being loaded into the MWCNTs. Improvements in dissolution rate were evaluated by the dissolution test. The results revealed that with the increase of drug loading, the form of DDM in the MWCNTs changed from amorphous to crystalline state. Also, the release rate of DDM decreased upon increasing the drug-loading rate of carriers. In conclusion, MWCNTs are proven to be promising carriers for loading DDM.

Nano-Based Systems and Biomacromolecules as Carriers for Metallodrugs in Anticancer Therapy

Since the discovery of cisplatin and its potency in anticancer therapy, the development of metallodrugs has been an active area of research. The large choice of transition metals, oxidation states, coordinating ligands, and different geometries, allows for the design of metal-based agents with unique mechanisms of action. Many metallodrugs, such as titanium, ruthenium, gallium, tin, gold, and copper-based complexes have been found to have anticancer activities. However, biological application of these agents necessitates aqueous solubility and low systemic toxicity. This minireview highlights the emerging strategies to facilitate the in vivo application of metallodrugs, aimed at enhancing their solubility and bioavailability, as well as improving their delivery to tumor tissues. The focus is on encapsulating the metal-based complexes into nanocarriers or coupling to biomacromolecules, generating efficacious anticancer therapies. The delivery systems for complexes of platinum, ruthenium, copper, and iron are discussed with most recent examples.

Mechanisms of action of Ru(ii) polypyridyl complexes in living cells upon light irradiation

The unique photophysical properties of Ru(ii) polypyridyl complexes make them very attractive candidates as photosensitisers in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). However, to date, there are not many studies exploring in detail the mechanism(s) of action of such compounds in living systems upon light irradiation. This feature article provides an overview of the most in-depth biological studies on such compounds.

Clinical Applications of Carbon Nanomaterials in Diagnostics and Therapy

Nanomaterials have the potential to improve how patients are clinically treated and diagnosed. While there are a number of nanomaterials that can be used toward improved drug delivery and imaging, how these nanomaterials confer an advantage over other nanomaterials, as well as current clinical approaches is often application or disease specific. How the unique properties of carbon nanomaterials, such as nanodiamonds, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphene, and graphene oxides, make them promising nanomaterials for a wide range of clinical applications are discussed herein, including treating chemoresistant cancer, enhancing magnetic resonance imaging, and improving tissue regeneration and stem cell banking, among others. Additionally, the strategies for further improving drug delivery and imaging by carbon nanomaterials are reviewed, such as inducing endothelial leakiness as well as applying artificial intelligence toward designing optimal nanoparticle-based drug combination delivery. While the clinical application of carbon nanomaterials is still an emerging field of research, there is substantial preclinical evidence of the translational potential of carbon nanomaterials. Early clinically trial studies are highlighted, further supporting the use of carbon nanomaterials in clinical applications for both drug delivery and imaging.

Phospholipid-mimic oxaliplatin prodrug liposome for treatment of the metastatic triple negative breast cancer

A phospholipid-mimic oxaliplatin prodrug (Oxalipid) was synthesized, which could self-assemble into a liposomal nanostructure with a drug loading ratio as high as 27 wt%. Compared to free oxaliplatin, the resulting Oxalipid liposome displayed elongated blood circulation, increased tumor accumulation and improved anticancer efficacy against the metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Controlling activation barrier by carbon nanotubes as nano-chemical reactors

The oxidative addition of primary amine on a monocyclic phospholane was studied in confined conditions. This one-step chemical reaction has been investigated using the DFT technique to elucidate the role of confinement in carbon nanotubes on the reaction. Calculations were carried out by a progressive increase of the nanotube diameters from 10 Å to 15 Å in order to highlight the dependence of the reactivity on the nanotube diameter. First, single point investigations were dedicated to the study of reactants, transition states, and products placed in the different nanotubes while keeping their optimized structure as free compounds. Second, all studied compounds were relaxed inside nanotubes and their geometries were fully optimized. Within these approaches, we proved that the activation barrier could be controlled depending on the confinement, generating a well-controlled catalysis process.

Design and cellular studies of a carbon nanotube-based delivery system for a hybrid platinum-acridine anticancer agent

A three-component drug-delivery system has been developed consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) coated with a non-classical platinum chemotherapeutic agent ([PtCl(NH3)2(L)]Cl (P3A1; L=N-(2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl)-N-methylproprionimidamide) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-5000] (DSPE-mPEG). The optimized P3A1-MWCNTs are colloidally stable in physiological solution and deliver more P3A1 into breast cancer cells than treatment with the free drug. Furthermore, P3A1-MWCNTs are cytotoxic to several cell models of breast cancer and induce S-phase cell cycle arrest and non-apoptotic cell death in breast cancer cells. By contrast, free P3A1 induces apoptosis and allows progression to G2/M phase. Photothermal activation of P3A1-MWCNTs to generate mild hyperthermia potentiates their cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that delivery of P3A1 to cancer cells using MWCNTs as a drug carrier may be beneficial for combination cancer chemotherapy and photothermal therapy.

Exploiting developments in nanotechnology for the preferential delivery of platinum-based anti-cancer agents to tumours: targeting some of the hallmarks of cancer

Platinum drugs as anti-cancer therapeutics are held in extremely high regard. Despite their success, there are drawbacks associated with their use; their dose-limiting toxicity, their limited activity against an array of common cancers and patient resistance to Pt-based therapeutic regimes. Current investigations in medicinal inorganic chemistry strive to offset these shortcomings through selective targeting of Pt drugs and/or the development of Pt drugs with new or multiple modes of action. A comprehensive overview showcasing how liposomes, nanocapsules, polymers, dendrimers, nanoparticles and nanotubes may be employed as vehicles to selectively deliver cytotoxic Pt payloads to tumour cells is provided.

Pressure-driven opening of carbon nanotubes

The closing and opening of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is essential for their applications in nanoscale chemistry and biology. We report reactive molecular dynamics simulations of CNT opening triggered by internal pressure of encapsulated gas molecules. Confined argon generates 4000 bars of pressure inside capped CNT and lowers the opening temperature by 200 K. Chemical interactions greatly enhance the efficiency of CNT opening: fluorine-filled CNTs open by fluorination of carbon bonds at temperature and pressure that are 700 K and 1000 bar lower than for argon-filled CNTs. Moreover, pressure induced CNT opening by confined gases leaves the CNT cylinders intact and removes only the fullerene caps, while the empty CNT decomposes completely. In practice, the increase in pressure can be achieved by near-infrared light, which penetrates through water and biological tissues and is absorbed by CNTs, resulting in rapid local heating. Spanning over a thousand of bars and Kelvin, the reactive and non-reactive scenarios of CNT opening represent extreme cases and allow for a broad experimental control over properties of the CNT interior and release conditions of the confined species. The detailed insights into the thermodynamic conditions and chemical mechanisms of the pressure-induced CNT opening provide practical guidelines for the development of novel nanoreactors, catalysts, photo-catalysts, imaging labels and drug delivery vehicles.

The Next Generation of Platinum Drugs: Targeted Pt(II) Agents, Nanoparticle Delivery, and Pt(IV) Prodrugs

The platinum drugs, cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin, prevail in the treatment of cancer, but new platinum agents have been very slow to enter the clinic. Recently, however, there has been a surge of activity, based on a great deal of mechanistic information, aimed at developing nonclassical platinum complexes that operate via mechanisms of action distinct from those of the approved drugs. The use of nanodelivery devices has also grown, and many different strategies have been explored to incorporate platinum warheads into nanomedicine constructs. In this Review, we discuss these efforts to create the next generation of platinum anticancer drugs. The introduction provides the reader with a brief overview of the use, development, and mechanism of action of the approved platinum drugs to provide the context in which more recent research has flourished. We then describe approaches that explore nonclassical platinum(II) complexes with trans geometry or with a monofunctional coordination mode, polynuclear platinum(II) compounds, platinum(IV) prodrugs, dual-threat agents, and photoactivatable platinum(IV) complexes. Nanoparticles designed to deliver platinum(IV) complexes will also be discussed, including carbon nanotubes, carbon nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, quantum dots, upconversion nanoparticles, and polymeric micelles. Additional nanoformulations, including supramolecular self-assembled structures, proteins, peptides, metal-organic frameworks, and coordination polymers, will then be described. Finally, the significant clinical progress made by nanoparticle formulations of platinum(II) agents will be reviewed. We anticipate that such a synthesis of disparate research efforts will not only help to generate new drug development ideas and strategies, but also will reflect our optimism that the next generation of approved platinum cancer drugs is about to arrive.

In vitro controlled release of cisplatin from gold-carbon nanobottles via cleavable linkages

Carbon nanotubes' (CNTs) hollow interior space has been explored for biomedical applications, such as drug repository against undesirable inactivation. To further devise CNTs as smart material for controlled release of cargo molecules, we propose the concept of "gold-carbon nanobottles". After encapsulating cis-diammineplatinum(II) dichloride (cisplatin, CDDP) in CNTs, we covalently attached gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) at the open-tips of CNTs via different cleavable linkages, namely hydrazine, ester, and disulfide-containing linkages. Compared with our previous study in which more than 80% of CDDP leaked from CNTs in 2 hours, AuNPs were found to significantly decrease such spontaneous release to <40%. In addition, CDDP release from AuNP-capped CNTs via disulfide linkage was selectively enhanced by twofolds in reducing conditions (namely with 1 mM dithiothreitol [DTT]), which mimic the intracellular environment. We treated human colon adenocarcinoma cells HCT116 with our CDDP-loaded gold-carbon nanobottles and examined the cell viability using lactate dehydrogenase assay. Interestingly, we found that our nanobottles with cleavable disulfide linkage exerted stronger cytotoxic effect in HCT116 compared with normal human fetal lung fibroblast cells IMR-90. Therefore, we infer that our nanobottles strategy with inbuilt disulfide linkage could attain selective release of payload in highly reductive tumor tissues while avoiding collateral damage to normal tissues.

Theoretical demonstration of the potentiality of boron nitride nanotubes to encapsulate anticancer molecule

Anticancer drug transport is now becoming an important scientific challenge since it would allow localizing the drug release near the tumor cell, avoiding secondary medical effects. We present theoretical results, based on density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, which demonstrate the stability of functionalized single (10,10) boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) filled with anticancer molecule such as carboplatin (CPT). For this functionalized system we determine the dependence of the adsorption energy on the molecule displacement near the inner BNNTs surface, together with their local morphological and electrical changes and compare the values to the adsorption energy obtained on the outer surface. Quantum simulations show that the most stable physisorption state is located inside the nanotube, with no net charge transfer. This demonstrates that chemotherapeutic encapsulation is the most favorable way to transport drug molecules. The solvent effect and dispersion repulsion contributions are then taken into account using molecular dynamics simulations. Our results confirm that carboplatin therapeutic agents are not affected when they are adsorbed inside BNNTs by the surrounding water molecules.

Core-shell polymer nanoparticles for prevention of GSH drug detoxification and cisplatin delivery to breast cancer cells

Platinum drug delivery against the detoxification of cytoplasmic thiols is urgently required for achieving efficacy in breast cancer treatment that is over expressed by glutathione (GSH, thiol-oligopeptide). GSH-resistant polymer-cisplatin core-shell nanoparticles were custom designed based on biodegradable carboxylic functional polycaprolactone (PCL)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymers. The core of the nanoparticle was fixed as 100 carboxylic units and the shell part was varied using various molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ethers (MW of PEGs = 100-5000 g mol(-1)) as initiator in the ring-opening polymerization. The complexation of cisplatin aquo species with the diblocks produced core-shell nanoparticles of 75 nm core with precise size control the particles up to 190 nm. The core-shell nanoparticles were found to be stable in saline solution and PBS and they exhibited enhanced stability with increase in the PEG shell thickness at the periphery. The hydrophobic PCL layer on the periphery of the cisplatin core behaved as a protecting layer against the cytoplasmic thiol residues (GSH and cysteine) and exhibited <5% of drug detoxification. In vitro drug-release studies revealed that the core-shell nanoparticles were ruptured upon exposure to lysosomal enzymes like esterase at the intracellular compartments. Cytotoxicity studies were performed both in normal wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (Wt-MEFs), and breast cancer (MCF-7) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines. Free cisplatin and polymer drug core-shell nanoparticles showed similar cytotoxicity effects in the HeLa cells. In MCF-7 cells, the free cisplatin drug exhibited 50% cell death whereas complete cell death (100%) was accomplished by the polymer-cisplatin core-shell nanoparticles. Confocal microscopic images confirmed that the core-shell nanoparticles were taken up by the MCF-7 and HeLa cells and they were accumulated both at the cytoplasm as well at peri-nuclear environments. The present investigation lays a new foundation for the polymer-based core-shell nanoparticles approach for overcoming detoxification in platinum drugs for the treatment of GSH over-expressed breast cancer cells.

Carbon nanotube biosensors

Nanomaterials possess unique features which make them particularly attractive for biosensing applications. In particular, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can serve as scaffolds for immobilization of biomolecules at their surface, and combine several exceptional physical, chemical, electrical, and optical characteristics properties which make them one of the best suited materials for the transduction of signals associated with the recognition of analytes, metabolites, or disease biomarkers. Here we provide a comprehensive review on these carbon nanostructures, in which we describe their structural and physical properties, functionalization and cellular uptake, biocompatibility, and toxicity issues. We further review historical developments in the field of biosensors, and describe the different types of biosensors which have been developed over time, with specific focus on CNT-conjugates engineered for biosensing applications, and in particular detection of cancer biomarkers.

Noncovalent Ruthenium(II) Complexes-Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites for Bimodal Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy with Near-Infrared Irradiation

To enhance the efficacy and optimize the treatment of cancers, the integration of multimodal treatment strategies leading to synergistic effects is a promising approach. The coassembly of multifunctional agents for systematic therapies has received considerable interest in cancer treatment. Herein, Ru(II) complex-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (Ru@SWCNTs) are developed as nanotemplates for bimodal photothermal and two-photon photodynamic therapy (PTT-TPPDT). SWCNTs have the ability to load a great amount of Ru(II) complexes (Ru1 or Ru2) via noncovalent π-π interactions. The loaded Ru(II) complexes are efficiently released by the photothermal effect of irradiation from an 808 nm diode laser (0.25 W/cm(2)). The released Ru(II) complexes produce singlet oxygen species ((1)O2) upon two-photon laser irradiation (808 nm, 0.25 W/cm(2)) and can be used as a two-photon photodynamic therapy (TPPDT) agent. Based on the combination of photothermal therapy and two-photon photodynamic therapy, Ru@SWCNTs have greater anticancer efficacies than either PDT using Ru(II) complexes or PTT using SWCNTs in two-dimensional (2D) cancer cell and three-dimensional (3D) multicellular tumor spheroid (MCTS) models. Furthermore, in vivo tumor ablation is achieved with excellent treatment efficacy under a diode laser (808 nm) irradiation at the power density of 0.25 W/cm(2) for 5 min. This study examines an efficacious bimodal PTT and TPPDT nanoplat form for the development of cancer therapeutics.

Integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine modulator for overcoming the multidrug resistance with carbon nanotubes

GA/Dox/P-gp Ab-CNTs, integrated specific targeting, P-gp inhibitor and chemotherapeutic agent, could represent a promising modulator for overcoming tumor MDR.