The Influence of Cyanine 5.5 and Doxorubicin on Cell Cycle Arrest, Magnetic Resonance, and Near-Infrared Fluorescence Optical Imaging for Fe3O4-Encapsulated PLA-TPGS Nanoparticles

The combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence signals and chemotherapy agents has been developed for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this work, we investigated the impacts of Cyanine 5.5 and Doxorubicin on cell cycle arrest, magnetic resonance, and NIR fluorescence optical imaging for Fe3O4-encapsulated nanosystems based on poly(lactide)-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (PLA-TPGS) copolymer. Although Cyanine 5.5 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) are less cytotoxic than Doxorubicin, they present a cytostatic effect, inducing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in human brain adenocarcinoma (CCF-STTG1) cells. For MRI applications, the permeability of the PLA-TPGS copolymer coating layer to water molecules might lengthen the translational diffusion time (τ D ${{{{\bf\tau}}}_{{\bf D}}}$ ), causing the higher relaxivity ratio (r2/r1) compared to bare Fe3O4 NPs under an applied magnetic field (7 Tesla). Notably, the chemical structures of Cyanine 5.5 and Doxorubicin significantly contribute to the enhancement of the T2 relaxivities of Fe3O4 NPs through π-π and ρ-π conjugation. Furthermore, the radiance ratio and signal-to-noise ratio enhancement and a slight blue shift in the optimal excitation and emission wavelengths were recorded. These findings show the potential for in vivo MRI and NIR bioimaging experiments of the nanoparticles.

NIR Fluorescent Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy with a Novel Theranostic Phospholipid Probe for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

New exogenous probes are needed for both imaging diagnostics and therapeutics. Here, we introduce a novel nanocomposite near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent imaging probe and test its potency as a photosensitizing agent for photodynamic therapy (PDT) against triple-negative breast cancer cells. The active component in the nanocomposite is a small molecule, pyropheophorbide a-phosphatidylethanolamine-QSY21 (Pyro-PtdEtn-QSY), which is imbedded into lipid nanoparticles for transport in the body. The probe targets abnormal choline metabolism in cancer cells; specifically, the overexpression of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) in breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Pyro-PtdEtn-QSY consists of a NIR fluorophore and a quencher, attached to a PtdEtn moiety. It is selectively activated by PC-PLC resulting in enhanced fluorescence in cancer cells compared to normal cells. In our in vitro investigation, four breast cancer cell lines showed higher probe activation levels than noncancerous control cells, immortalized human mammary gland cells, and normal human T cells. Moreover, the ability of this nanocomposite to function as a sensitizer in PDT experiments on MDA-MB-231 cells suggests that the probe is promising as a theranostic agent.

Nanomaterials for Deep Tumor Treatment

According to statistics, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Thus, it is important to solve this medical and social problem by developing new effective methods for cancer treatment. An alternative to more well-known approaches, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, is photodynamic therapy (PDT), which is limited to the shallow tissue penetration (< 1 cm) of visible light. Since the PDT process can be initiated in deep tissues by X-ray irradiation (X-ray induced PDT, or XPDT), it has a great potential to treat tumors in internal organs. The article discusses the principles of therapies. The main focus is on various nanoparticles used with or without photosensitizers, which allow the conversion of X-ray irradiation into UV-visible light. Much attention is given to the synthesis of nanoparticles and analysis of their characteristics, such as size and spectral features. The results of in vitro and in vivo experiments are also discussed.

Tailoring Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Efficient Cellular Internalization and Endosomal Escape

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) have been widely explored for biomedical applications due to their high biocompatibility, surface-coating versatility, and superparamagnetic properties. Upon exposure to an external magnetic field, IONs can be precisely directed to a region of interest and serve as exceptional delivery vehicles and cellular markers. However, the design of nanocarriers that achieve an efficient endocytic uptake, escape lysosomal degradation, and perform precise intracellular functions is still a challenge for their application in translational medicine. This review highlights several aspects that mediate the activation of the endosomal pathways, as well as the different properties that govern endosomal escape and nuclear transfection of magnetic IONs. In particular, we review a variety of ION surface modification alternatives that have emerged for facilitating their endocytic uptake and their timely escape from endosomes, with special emphasis on how these can be manipulated for the rational design of cell-penetrating vehicles. Moreover, additional modifications for enhancing nuclear transfection are also included in the design of therapeutic vehicles that must overcome this barrier. Understanding these mechanisms opens new perspectives in the strategic development of vehicles for cell tracking, cell imaging and the targeted intracellular delivery of drugs and gene therapy sequences and vectors.

Multifunctional Magnetic Oxide Nanoparticle (MNP) Core-Shell: Review of Synthesis, Structural Studies and Application for Wastewater Treatment

The demand for water is predicted to increase significantly over the coming decades; thus, there is a need to develop an inclusive wastewater decontaminator for the effective management and conservation of water. Magnetic oxide nanocomposites have great potentials as global and novel remediators for wastewater treatment, with robust environmental and economic gains. Environment-responsive nanocomposites would offer wide flexibility to harvest and utilize massive untapped natural energy sources to drive a green economy in tandem with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Recent attempts to engineer smart magnetic oxide nanocomposites for wastewater treatment has been reported by several researchers. However, the magnetic properties of superparamagnetic nanocomposite materials and their adsorption properties nexus as fundamental to the design of recyclable nanomaterials are desirable for industrial application. The potentials of facile magnetic recovery, ease of functionalization, reusability, solar responsiveness, biocompatibility and ergonomic design promote the application of magnetic oxide nanocomposites in wastewater treatment. The review makes a holistic attempt to explore magnetic oxide nanocomposites for wastewater treatment; futuristic smart magnetic oxides as an elixir to global water scarcity is expounded. Desirable adsorption parameters and properties of magnetic oxides nanocomposites are explored while considering their fate in biological and environmental media.

In vivo and in vitro biocompatibility study of MnFe2O4 and Cr2Fe6O12 as photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy and drug delivery of anti-cancer drugs

In The present project, a variety of MnFe₂O₄ (Mn) and Cr₂Fe₆O₁₂ (Cr)-based nanocarriers (NCs) were synthesized as photosensitizer and NCs for delivery of chemotherapeutic curcumin (CUR) and provide a new structure for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). For determining efficiency of NCs release study, MTT assay, lethal dose test and hemolysis assay were carried out. The release study showed the release of CUR from NCs was pH-dependent, but, every NCs had its own behavior for releasing the drug. The data acquired from the release study showed the CUR release from Mn can reach to over 90% at acidic media instead of 41% at neutral media. However, the CUR released from Cr were approximately equal as Cr had equal zeta potential at both media. Hemolysis activity and lethal dose test displayed the cytotoxicity of NCs was neglectable at both in vitro and in vivo study. Also, the results of anti-cancer activity assay (MTT assay) showed that both of Cr and Mn NCs are suitable systems for PDT. Therefore, the results demonstrated that Mn is suitable NCs for PDT and anticancer drugs delivery of therapeutic drugs.

PEGylated Purpurin 18 with Improved Solubility: Potent Compounds for Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer

Purpurin 18 derivatives with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) linker were synthesized as novel photosensitizers (PSs) with the goal of using them in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer. These compounds, derived from a second-generation PS, exhibit absorption at long wavelengths; considerable singlet oxygen generation and, in contrast to purpurin 18, have higher hydrophilicity due to decreased logP. Together, these properties make them potentially ideal PSs. To verify this, we screened the developed compounds for cell uptake, intracellular localization, antitumor activity and induced cell death type. All of the tested compounds were taken up into cancer cells of various origin and localized in organelles known to be important PDT targets, specifically, mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. The incorporation of a zinc ion and PEGylation significantly enhanced the photosensitizing efficacy, decreasing IC50 (half maximal inhibitory compound concentration) in HeLa cells by up to 170 times compared with the parental purpurin 18. At effective PDT concentrations, the predominant type of induced cell death was apoptosis. Overall, our results show that the PEGylated derivatives presented have significant potential as novel PSs with substantially augmented phototoxicity for application in the PDT of cervical, prostate, pancreatic and breast cancer.

Surface functionalization of MIL-101(Cr) by aminated mesoporous silica and improved adsorption selectivity toward special metal ions

Developing novel solid adsorbents with high efficiency and excellent selectivity is always an important target in the removal of toxic metal ions from waste water.

Nonprotecting Group Synthesis of a Phospholipase C Activatable Probe with an Azo-Free Quencher

The near-infrared fluorescent activatable smart probe Pyro-phosphatidylethanolamine (PtdEtn)-QSY was synthesized and observed to selectively fluoresce in the presence of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC). PC-PLC is an important biological target as it is known to be upregulated in a variety of cancers, including triple negative breast cancer. Pyro-PtdEtn-QSY features a QSY21 quenching moiety instead of the Black Hole Quencher-3 (BHQ-3) used previously because the latter contains an azo bond, which could lead to biological instability.

pH-Sensitive graphene oxide conjugate purpurin-18 methyl ester photosensitizer nanocomplex in photodynamic therapy

A GO–Pu18 composite showed excellent photodynamic bioactivity and pH-sensitive drug release behavior.

The photodynamic therapy activity of 3-(1-hydroxylethyl)-3-devinyl-131-(dicyanomethylene) pyropheophorbide-a methyl ester (HDCPPa) against HeLa cell in vitro

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been a potential therapeutic method for the treatment of various cancers, with photosensitizer being the key component in photodynamic therapy. In this paper, we prepared a photosensitizer 3-(1-hydroxylethyl)-3-devinyl-131-(dicyanomethylene) pyropheophorbide-a methyl ester (HDCPPa), based on chlorophyll pyropheophorbide-a according to the previous report, and systematically investigated the fluorescence emission spectrum and ultraviolet absorption spectrum HDCPPa has long absorption in the near-infrared spectral region (around 695 nm). The excitation wavelength and the emission wavelength were 415 nm and 699 nm respectively in dichloromethane, 1O2 quantum yield was 63.5%. HDCPPa also had high stability in PBS solution, DMEM cell culture medium and normal saline (NS) in vitro. After irradiation by the light of 675 nm (10 J.cm[Formula: see text]) for 70 min the degradation rate of HDCPPa was 12.5%, which indicated that the target compound showed high stability under light. The in vitrophotodynamic therapy activities against HeLa cells were also studied, which showed that HDCPPa had extremely low dark toxicity but great phototoxicity, and the cell viability is lower than 10% under the light irradiation of 675 nm (10 J.cm[Formula: see text]). Moreover, HDCPPa can quickly enter the cell after being incubated with HeLa cells in less than 30 min. We also evaluated the mechanism of the photochemical reaction, which had proved that Type II is primarily responsible for the cell death. Therefore HDCPPa could serve as a very promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy.

Green synthesis of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles using Couroupita guianensis Aubl. fruit extract for their antibacterial and cytotoxicity activities

In the present study, a sustainable green chemistry approach was established to fabricate magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄NPs) using the aqueous fruit extract of edible C. guianensis (CGFE). Synthesized NPs were further confirmed with different high-throughput characterization techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, FT-IR, XPS, DLS and zeta potential analysis. Additionally, XRD, AFM, HRTEM and SQUID VSM demonstrate the generation of crystalline CGFe₃O₄NPs with mean diameter of 17 ± 10 nm. Interestingly, CGFe₃O₄NPs exhibit a stupendous bactericidal action against different human pathogens which depicts its antimicrobial value. A significant dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of CGFe₃O₄NPs was noticed against treated human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2).

Facile synthesis of a highly water-soluble graphene conjugated chlorophyll-a photosensitizer composite for improved photodynamic therapy in vitro

Graphene conjugated withp-bromo-phenylhydrazone-methyl pyropheophorbide-a (BPMppa, 683 nm), which is derived from a chlorophyll-aphotosensitizer, shows significantly improved water-solubility and PDT efficiency.

The anti-cancer potency of photodynamic therapy of a novel chlorin derivative Amidochlorin p6 (ACP)

Amidochlorin p6 (ACP) was uptaken by HeLa cells, showing excellent phototoxicity (the cell viability was 21% at a concentration of 8 μmol L⁻¹), resulting in cell death.

Facile synthesis of chitosan assisted multifunctional magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2@CS@pyropheophorbide-a fluorescent nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy

Chitosan assisted magneto-fluorescence nanoparticle Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CS@PPA is a potential photosensitizer for simultaneous PDT and medical fluorescence imaging.

Magnetic iron oxide modified pyropheophorbide-a fluorescence nanoparticles as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy against ovarian cancer (SKOV-3) cells

Magnetic iron oxide modified pyropheophorbide-a fluorescence nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy against SKOV-3 cells.