The construction of the novel magnetic prodrug Fe3O4@DOX and its antagonistic effects on hepatocarcinoma with low toxicity

Core-Shell Magnetic Nanocarriers: Fe3O4-Hydroxyapatite/Polysuccinimide Hybrids for Enhanced Oral Bioavailability of Fluorouracil

Objective

This study pioneers a pH-responsive core-shell nanoplatform integrating magnetic Fe3O4-hydroxyapatite (Fe/HAP) with polysuccinimide (PSI) polymer, engineered to enhance tumor-targeted delivery of fluorouracil (5-FU) for liver cancer therapy.

Methods

The individual components-hydroxyapatite (HAP), magnetite (F3O4), iron-doped hydroxyapatite (Fe/HAP), and polysuccinimide (PSI)-were synthesized and systematically characterized through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Through a combination of single-factor experiments and Box-Behnken design (BBD) response surface methodology, the formulation parameters were optimized for two nanoparticle systems: (1) non-magnetic 5-FU-loaded PSI-HAP (designated as 5-FU@DC, where DC denotes "drug carrier") and (2) magnetic-targeted formulations 5-FU@PSI-Fe/HAP with varying iron content (5-FU@FeDC20, 5-FU@FeDC30, 5-FU@FeDC40). The engineered nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized for their morphological characteristics, hydrodynamic properties (particle size distribution and zeta potential), magnetic responsiveness (vibrating sample magnetometry), and pH-dependent drug release profiles. Nile Red was used to label the drug-loaded nanoparticles, and small animal imaging technology was employed to track their distribution in mice in vivo. Furthermore, in vitro studies examined the effects of these formulations on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of Huh-7 liver cancer cells.

Results

The formulations (5-FU@DC and 5-FU@FeDC) were found to form uniform spherical or near-spherical nanoparticles. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis confirmed that the 5-FU@FeDC formulations displayed paramagnetic properties. Zeta potential measurements showed that all prepared systems had negative charges, similar to human biological membranes. All nanoparticles gradually released the drug at pH levels above 5, with the release rate increasing as the pH increased. Compared to the non-magnetic 5-FU@DC formulation, the magnetic 5-FU@FeDC formulations showed significantly longer distribution and retention times in liver tissue and more effectively inhibited the proliferation of Huh-7 cells.

Conclusion

The current study developed a magnetic targeting nano-delivery system using PSI and Fe/HAP as formulation excipients. The system offers uniform particle size, a simple preparation process, and a cost-effective method for targeted drug delivery. It is not only suitable for liver-targeted drug delivery but also applicable for drug delivery to other tissues in the body for anti-tumor drugs.

Peptide-Functionalized Inorganic Oxide Nanomaterials for Solid Cancer Imaging and Therapy

The diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors have undergone significant advancements marked by a trend toward increased specificity and integration of imaging and therapeutic functions. The multifaceted nature of inorganic oxide nanomaterials (IONs), which boast optical, magnetic, ultrasonic, and biochemical modulatory properties, makes them ideal building blocks for developing multifunctional nanoplatforms. A promising class of materials that have emerged in this context are peptide-functionalized inorganic oxide nanomaterials (PFIONs), which have demonstrated excellent performance in multifunctional imaging and therapy, making them potential candidates for advancing solid tumor diagnosis and treatment. Owing to the functionalities of peptides in tumor targeting, penetration, responsiveness, and therapy, well-designed PFIONs can specifically accumulate and release therapeutic or imaging agents at the solid tumor sites, enabling precise imaging and effective treatment. This review provides an overview of the recent advances in the use of PFIONs for the imaging and treatment of solid tumors, highlighting the superiority of imaging and therapeutic integration as well as synergistic treatment. Moreover, the review discusses the challenges and prospects of PFIONs in depth, aiming to promote the intersection of the interdisciplinary to facilitate their clinical translation and the development of personalized diagnostic and therapeutic systems by optimizing the material systems.

Cellulose nanocrystals-based fluorescent biocarrier binding GAPDH protein with high affinity in cancer-target doxorubicin delivery

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have shown immense promise in medical applications, especially in cancer treatment, owing to their excellent biocompatibility and potential for functional modifications. Considering the crucial role of the protein reduced glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in cancer progression, we embarked to immobilize CNCs with GAPDH and fluorescent molecules FITC, creating FCNC-G through regioselective modifications. Furthermore, an accelerated proliferation of cancer cells was observed in the presence of FCNC-G. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of FCNC-G, we loaded it with doxorubicin (DOX) to create FCNC-G-D and tested its effect on Hepg2. We observed a significant inhibition of Hepg2 cells exposed to low concentrations of FCNC-G-D. Additionally, mitochondrial dysfunction was detected in Hepg2 and Cal27 cells, treated with FCNC-G-D, but not in A375 cells, further highlighting its selective impact on cancer cells. Given the limitations of DOX in clinical applications, our findings establish a strong foundation for further research on the potential of CNCs grafted with GAPDH as a novel cancer-targeted biocarrier with high affinity. The combination of CNCs unique properties with targeted delivery strategies holds tremendous promise for the development of more effective and safer cancer therapies.

Electrospun Hyaluronan Nanofiber Membrane Immobilizing Aromatic Doxorubicin as Therapeutic and Regenerative Biomaterial

Lesioned tissue requires synchronous control of disease and regeneration progression after surgery. It is necessary to develop therapeutic and regenerative scaffolds. Here, hyaluronic acid (HA) was esterified with benzyl groups to prepare hyaluronic acid derivative (HA-Bn) nanofibers via electrospinning. Electrospun membranes with average fiber diameters of 407.64 ± 124.8 nm (H400), 642.3 ± 228.76 nm (H600), and 841.09 ± 236.86 nm (H800) were obtained by adjusting the spinning parameters. These fibrous membranes had good biocompatibility, among which the H400 group could promote the proliferation and spread of L929 cells. Using the postoperative treatment of malignant skin melanoma as an example, the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was encapsulated in nanofibers via hybrid electrospinning. The UV spectroscopy of DOX-loaded nanofibers (HA-DOX) revealed that DOX was successfully encapsulated, and there was a π-π interaction between aromatic DOX and HA-Bn. The drug release profile confirmed the sustained release of about 90%, achieved within 7 days. In vitro cell experiments proved that the HA-DOX nanofiber had a considerable inhibitory effect on B16F10 cells. Therefore, the HA-Bn electrospun membrane could facilitate the potential regeneration of injured skin tissues and be incorporated with drugs to achieve therapeutic effects, offering a powerful approach to developing therapeutic and regenerative biomaterial.

Recent Trends and Developments in Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Cancer Theranostics

Conventional anticancer treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, have significantly improved cancer therapy. Nevertheless, the existing traditional anticancer treatments have been reported to cause serious side effects and resistance to cancer and even to severely affect the quality of life of cancer survivors, which indicates the utmost urgency to develop effective and safe anticancer treatments. As the primary focus of cancer nanotheranostics, nanomaterials with unique surface chemistry and shape have been investigated for integrating cancer diagnostics with treatment techniques, including guiding a prompt diagnosis, precise imaging, treatment with an effective dose, and real-time supervision of therapeutic efficacy. Several theranostic nanosystems have been explored for cancer diagnosis and treatment in the past decade. However, metal-based nanotheranostics continue to be the most common types of nonentities. Consequently, the present review covers the physical characteristics of effective metallic, functionalized, and hybrid nanotheranostic systems. The scope of coverage also includes the clinical advantages and limitations of cancer nanotheranostics. In light of these viewpoints, future research directions exploring the robustness and clinical viability of cancer nanotheranostics through various strategies to enhance the biocompatibility of theranostic nanoparticles are summarised.

Titanium and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy: Surface Chemistry and Biological Implications

Currently, cancer is among the most challenging diseases due to its ability to continuously evolve into a more complex muldimentional system, in addition to its high capability to spread to other organs and tissues. In this context, the relevance of nanobiomaterials (NBMs) for the development of new more effective and less harmful treatments is increasing. NBMs provide the possibility of combining several functionalities on a single system, expectedly in a synergic way, to better perform the treatment and cure. However, the control of properties such as colloidal stability, circulation time, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution, assuring the concentration in specific target tissues and organs, while keeping all desired properties, tends to be dependent on subtle changes in surface chemistry. Hence, the behavior of such materials in different media/environments is of uttermost relevance and concern since it can compromise their efficiency and safety on application. Given the bright perspectives, many efforts have been focused on the development of nanomaterials fulfilling the requirements for real application. These include robust and reproducible preparation methods to avoid aggregation while preserving the interaction properties. The possible impact of nanomaterials in different forms of diagnosis and therapy has been demonstrated in the past few years, given the perspectives on how revolutionary they can be in medicine and health. Considering the high biocompatibility and suitability, this review is focused on titanium dioxide– and iron oxide–based nanoagents highlighting the current trends and main advancements in the research for cancer therapies. The effects of phenomena, such as aggregation and agglomeration, the formation of the corona layer, and how they can compromise relevant properties of nanomaterials and their potential applicability, are also addressed. In short, this review summarizes the current understanding and perspectives on such smart nanobiomaterials for diagnostics, treatment, and theranostics of diseases.