Folate-decorated and NIR-activated nanoparticles based on platinum(IV) prodrugs for targeted therapy of ovarian cancer

Wash-free fluorescent tools based on organic molecules: Design principles and biomedical applications

Fluorescence-assisted tools based on organic molecules have been extensively applied to interrogate complex biological processes in a non-invasive manner with good sensitivity, high resolution, and rich contrast. However, the signal-to-noise ratio is an essential factor to be reckoned with during collecting images for high fidelity. In view of this, the wash-free strategy is proven as a promising and important approach to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, thus a thorough introduction is presented in the current review about wash-free fluorescent tools based on organic molecules. Firstly, generalization and summarization of the principles for designing wash-free molecular fluorescent tools (WFTs) are made. Subsequently, to make the thought of molecule design more legible, a wash-free strategy is highlighted in recent studies from four diverse but tightly binding aspects: (1) special chemical structures, (2) molecular interactions, (3) bio-orthogonal reactions, (4) abiotic reactions. Meanwhile, biomedical applications including bioimaging, biodetection, and therapy, are ready to be accompanied by. Finally, the prospects for WFTs are elaborated and discussed. This review is a timely conclusion about wash-free strategy in the fluorescence-guided biomedical applications, which may bring WFTs to the forefront and accelerate their extensive applications in biology and medicine.

Efficient synergism of concentric ring structures and carbon dots for enhanced methanol electro-oxidation

Developing affordable and reliable electrocatalysts with high activity and stability is crucial for enhancing the practicality of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). An effective and simple strategy of combining the carbon point of N-CDs (0.4 mg mL-1) with NiO/Ni for the fabrication of NiO/Ni-N-CDsV nanocomposites with a three-dimensional concentric core-shell structure was proposed to successfully prepare the electro-oxidation catalyst of methanol. The low cost of Ni-based materials and the conductive N-CDs that improve methanol catalytic performance make the composites an excellent choice as electrode materials for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The electrocatalytic behavior of methanol oxidation was studied using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results indicated that the catalytic activity of NiO/Ni-N-CDsV increased by 3.02 times, and the current density was stable during the operation for 83 hours, implying strong electrocatalytic stability. Furthermore, the electrocatalytic performance for ethanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol electro-oxidation reactions was impressive. This study provides a novel foundation for the development of high-performance, cost-effective, non-noble metal catalysts for DMFC applications, contributing to the formation of commercially competitive electro-oxidation catalysts with enhanced efficiency and stability.

iRGD-Guided Silica/Gold Nanoparticles for Efficient Tumor-Targeting and Enhancing Antitumor Efficacy Against Breast Cancer

Background

Breast cancer presents significant challenges due to the limited effectiveness of available treatments and the high likelihood of recurrence. iRGD possesses both RGD sequence and C-terminal sequence and has dual functions of targeting and membrane penetration. iRGD-modified nanocarriers can enhance drug targeting of tumor vascular endothelial cells and penetration of new microvessels, increasing drug concentration in tumor tissues.

Methods

The amidation reaction was carried out between SiO2/AuNCs and iRGD/PTX, yielding a conjugated drug delivery system (SiO2/AuNCs-iRGD/PTX, SAIP@NPs). The assessment encompassed the characterization of the morphology, particle size distribution, physicochemical properties, in vitro release profile, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake of SAIP@NPs. The tumor targeting and anti-tumor efficacy of SAIP@NPs were assessed using a small animal in vivo imaging system and a tumor-bearing nude mice model, respectively. The tumor targeting and anti-tumor efficacy of SAIP@NPs were assessed utilizing a small animal in vivo imaging system and an in situ nude mice breast cancer xenograft model, respectively.

Results

The prepared SAIP@NPs exhibited decent stability and a certain slow-release effect in phosphate buffer (PBS, pH 7.4). In vitro studies had shown that, due to the dual functions of transmembrane and targeting of iRGD peptide, SAIP@NPs exhibited strong binding to integrin αvβ3, which was highly expressed on the membrane of MDA-MB-231 cells, improving the uptake capacity of tumor cells, inhibiting the rapid growth of tumor cells, and promoting tumor cell apoptosis. The results of animal experiments further proved that SAIP@NPs had longer residence time in tumor sites, stronger anti-tumor effect, and no obvious toxicity to major organs of experimental animals.

Conclusion

The engineered SAIP@NPs exhibited superior functionalities including efficient membrane permeability, precise tumor targeting, and imaging, thereby significantly augmenting the therapeutic efficacy against breast cancer with a favorable safety profile.

EGFR-targeted hybrid lipid nanoparticles for chemo-photothermal therapy against colorectal cancer cells

Antibody-functionalized targeted nanocarriers have shown great-potential for minimizing the chemoresistance and systemic toxicity of cancer chemotherapies. The combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy has great potential in improving therapeutic effect. However, cetuximab-modified nanoparticles based lipids for chemo-phototherapy of EGFR overexpressing colorectal carcinoma (CRC) have seldom been investigated. Hence, this study aimed to fabricate cetuximab-conjugated and near infrared (NIR) light-responsive hybrid lipid-polymer nanoparticles (abbreviated as Cet-CINPs) for targeted delivery of irinotecan. Cet-CINPs were prepared with copolymer PLGA and various lipids DSPE-PEG, DSPE-PEG-Mal, lecithin as carriers. Cetuximab was conjugated on the surface of nanoparticles to achieve targeting anti-tumor efficacy. Cet-CINPs were characterized in terms of morphology (spherical), size (119 nm), charge (-27.2 mV), drug entrapment efficiency (43.27 %), and antibody conjugation efficiency (70.87 %). Cet-CINPs showed preferable photothermal response, pH/NIR-triggered drug release behavior, enhanced cellular uptake and ROS level compared with free ICG and CINPs. Meanwhile, in vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that Cet-CINPs with NIR irradiation had a higher cytotoxicity against Lovo cells than non-targeted or non-NIR activated nanoparticles. The IC₅₀ values of Cet-CINPs with NIR irradiation was 22.84 ± 1.11 μM for 24 h and 5.01 ± 1.06 μM for 48 h, respectively. These investigations demonstrate that Cet-CINPs with good tumor-targeting ability and enhanced antitumor activity, are a promising multifunctional nanoplatform for CRC therapy.

Photo-Enhanced Chemotherapy Performance in Bladder Cancer Treatment via Albumin Coated AIE Aggregates

The implementation of cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) plays a key role in conjunction with surgical resection in preventing bladder cancer progression and recurrence. However, the significant dose-dependent toxic side effects of NAC are still a major challenge. To solve this problem, we developed a photoenhanced cancer chemotherapy (PECC) strategy based on AIEgen ((E)-3-(2-(2-(5-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)thiophen-2-yl)vinyl)-1,1-dimethyl-1H-3λ⁴-benzo[e]indol-3-yl)propane-1-sulfonate), which is abbreviated as BITT. Multifunctional BITT@BSA-DSP nanoparticles (NPs) were employed with an albumin-based nanocarrier decorated with the cisplatin(IV) prodrug and loaded to produce strong near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIR FLI), and they exhibited good photoenhancement performance via photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). In vitro results demonstrated that BITT@BSA-DSP NPs could be efficiently taken up by bladder cancer cells and reduced to release Pt (II) under reductase, ensuring the chemotherapy effect. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo evaluation verified that the integration of NIR FL imaging-guided PECC efficiently promoted the sensitivity of bladder cancer to cisplatin chemotherapy with negligible side effects. This work provides a promising strategy to enhance the sensitivity of multiple cancers to chemotherapy drugs and even achieve effective treatments for drug-resistant cancers.

Cetuximab-decorated and NIR-activated Nanoparticles Based on Platinum(IV)-prodrug: Preparation, Characterization and In-vitro Anticancer Activity in Epidermoid Carcinoma Cells

Platinum-based drugs are the mainstay of chemotherapy regimens in a clinic, but their use is seriously limited by severe side effects and drug resistance. A cetuximab-decorated drug delivery system can selectively deliver drugs into EGFR-highexpressing cancer cells to prevent the shortcomings of platinum-based chemotherapy. Here, cetuximab-decorated and near-infrared (NIR)-activated nanoparticles based on Pt(IV)-prodrug (abbreviated as Cetuximab-Pt-INPs) was constructed. First, PEGylated Pt(IV)-prodrug was synthesized by a condensation reaction between c,c,t-[Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂(OOCCH₂CH₂COOH)(OH)] and MPEG-PLA. Then, Pt(IV)-prodrug and indocyanine green co-encapsulated nanoparticles (Pt-INPs) were prepared through an ultrasonic emulsification method. Finally, Cetuximab-Pt-INPs were obtained by decorating Pt-INPs with cetuximab as a targeting vector. The optimized Cetuximab-Pt-INPs exhibited a spherical core-shell shape of 138.5 ± 0.96 nm. In-vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity assays revealed that more Cetuximab-Pt-INPs with NIR irradiation were selectively taken up by A431 cells, thereby leading to higher cytotoxicity. These multifunctional nanoparticles may have promising potential for targeted and effective therapy against EGFR-highexpressing cells of epidermoid carcinoma.

Folic acid-modified nonionic surfactant vesicles for gambogenic acid targeting: Preparation, characterization, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation

The aim of present study was to develop folic acid (FA)-modified nonionic surfactant vesicles (NISVs, niosomes) as carrier systems for targeted delivery of gambogenic acid (GNA). The FA-GNA-NISVs exhibited a mean particle size of 180.77 ± 2.41 nm with a narrow poly dispersion index of 0.147 ± 0.08 determined by dynamic light scattering. Transmission electron microscopy also revealed that the FA-GNA-NISVs were spherical with double-layer structure. Entrapment efficiency (EE%) and zeta potential of the optimal FA-GNA-NISVs were 87.84 ± 1.06% and -37.33 ± 0.33 mV, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that the GNA was in a molecular or amorphous state inside the FA-NISVs in vitro release profiles suggested that FA-GNA-NISVs could release GNA at a sustained manner, and less than 60% of GNA was released from the FA-NISVs within 12 hours of dialysis. in vivo pharmacokinetic results illustrated that FA-GNA-NISVs had considerably higher C_max , area under curve (AUC_0 - t ) and accumulation in lung. The cell proliferation study shown that the FA-GNA-NISVs significantly enhanced the in vitro cytotoxicity against A549 cells. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy further demonstrated that the FA-GNA-NISVs increased apoptosis compared with nonmodified GNA-NISVs and free GNA. Moreover, FA-GNA-NISVs induced A549 cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, cellular uptake assays showed a higher uptake of FA-GNA-NISVs than GNA-NISVs as well as free GNA. Taken together, it could be concluded that FA-GNA-NISVs were proposed as a novel targeting carriers for efficient delivering of GNA to cancers cells.

Surface engineering of nanomaterials with phospholipid-polyethylene glycol-derived functional conjugates for molecular imaging and targeted therapy

In recent years, phospholipid-polyethylene glycol-derived functional conjugates have been widely employed to decorate different nanomaterials, due to their excellent biocompatibility, long blood circulation characteristics, and specific targeting capability. Numerous in vivo studies have demonstrated that nanomedicines peripherally engineered with phospholipid-polyethylene glycol-derived functional conjugates show significantly increased selective and efficient internalization by target cells/tissues. Targeting moieties including small-molecule ligands, peptides, proteins, and antibodies are generally conjugated onto PEGylated phospholipids to decorate liposomes, micelles, hybrid nanoparticles, nanocomplexes, and nanoemulsions for targeted delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents to diseased sites. In this review, the synthesis methods of phospholipid-polyethylene glycol-derived functional conjugates, biophysicochemical properties of nanomedicines decorated with these conjugates, factors dominating their targeting efficiency, as well as their applications for in vivo molecular imaging and targeted therapy were summarized and discussed.

FePt@MnO-Based Nanotheranostic Platform with Acidity-Triggered Dual-Ions Release for Enhanced MR Imaging-Guided Ferroptosis Chemodynamic Therapy

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based anticancer therapy methods were heavily dependent on specific tumor microenvironments such as acidity and excess hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). In this work, an acidity-sensitive nanotheranostic agent (FePt@MnO)@DSPE-PEG5000-FA (FMDF NPs)  was successfully constructed for MR imaging guided ferroptosis chemodynamic therapy (FCDT) of cancer. The FMDF NPs could specifically target folic acid (FA) receptor-positive tumor cells (HeLa etc.) and induce ferroptosis efficiently by rapidly releasing active Fe²⁺ to catalyze intracellular H₂O₂ into ROS based on Fenton reaction. On the other hand, the Mn²⁺ could also be released due to acidity  and further coordinate with GSH to enhance the longitudinal-transverse relaxivity (T₁/T₂-weighted MR imaging), which could obviously strengthen the contrast distinction between solid tumors and the surrounding tissue to accurately real-time monitor the tumor location. Furthermore, the in vivo anticancer study revealed that the growth of solid tumor models could be suppressed remarkably after treating with FMDF NPs and no obvious damage to other major organs. Therefore, the FMDF NPs were competent simultaneously as an enhanced imaging diagnosis contrast agent and efficient therapy agent for promoting more precise and effective treatment in the bionanomedicine field.

Prodrugs in combination with nanocarriers as a strategy for promoting antitumoral efficiency

Prodrug entrapment into nanocarriers for tumor delivery is a strategy to achieve a valid therapy with high efficiency. The prodrug contains anticancer agents conjugating with functional moieties or ligands so that the active component is released after metabolism in the body or tumor. The advantages of nanosystems for loading prodrugs include high loading, increased prodrug stability, improved bioavailability and enhanced targeting to tumor cells. In the present article, we introduce the prodrug delivery approaches according to nanomedicine and the recent advances in prodrug-loaded nanocarriers. First, we discuss the conceptional design of combined prodrugs and nanocarriers in response to the obstruction in anticancer therapy. Then we describe the cases of prodrug-loaded nanoparticles for cancer treatment during the past 5 years.

Targeting Membrane Receptors of Ovarian Cancer Cells for Therapy

Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide from gynecological malignancies, mainly because there are few early symptoms and the disease is generally diagnosed at an advanced stage. In addition, despite the effectiveness of cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer and the high response rates to chemotherapy, survival has improved little over the last 20 years. The management of patients with ovarian cancer also remains similar despite studies showing striking differences and heterogeneity among different subtypes. It is therefore clear that novel targeted therapeutics are urgently needed to improve clinical outcomes for ovarian cancer. To that end, several membrane receptors associated with pivotal cellular processes and often aberrantly overexpressed in ovarian cancer cells have emerged as potential targets for receptor-mediated therapeutic strategies including specific agents and multifunctional delivery systems based on ligand-receptor binding. This review focuses on the profiles and potentials of such strategies proposed for ovarian cancer treatment and imaging.

Development of an Efficient Dual-Action GST-Inhibiting Anticancer Platinum(IV) Prodrug

The cytotoxicity of cisplatin (cDDP) is enhanced when co-administered with ethacrynic acid (EA), a glutathione S-transferase (GST) inhibitor. A Pt^IV -EA conjugate containing a cDDP core and two axial ethacrynate ligands (compound 1) was shown to be an excellent inhibitor of GST, but did not readily release a Pt^II species to exert a synergistic cytotoxic effect. In this study, a redesigned Pt^IV construct composed of a cDDP core with one axial ethacrynate ligand and one axial hydroxido ligand (compound 2) was prepared and shown to overcome the limitations of compound 1. The EA ligand in 2 is readily released in vitro together with a cytotoxic Pt^II species derived from cisplatin, working together to inhibit cell proliferation in cDDP-resistant human ovarian cancer cells. The in vitro activity translates well in vivo with 2, showing effective (∼80 %) inhibition of tumor growth in a human ovarian carcinoma A2780 tumor model, while showing considerably lower toxicity than cisplatin, thus validating the new design strategy.

Leveraging Engineering of Indocyanine Green-Encapsulated Polymeric Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications

In recent times, photo-induced therapeutics have attracted enormous interest from researchers due to such attractive properties as preferential localization, excellent tissue penetration, high therapeutic efficacy, and minimal invasiveness, among others. Numerous photosensitizers have been considered in combination with light to realize significant progress in therapeutics. Along this line, indocyanine green (ICG), a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved near-infrared (NIR, >750 nm) fluorescent dye, has been utilized in various biomedical applications such as drug delivery, imaging, and diagnosis, due to its attractive physicochemical properties, high sensitivity, and better imaging view field. However, ICG still suffers from certain limitations for its utilization as a molecular imaging probe in vivo, such as concentration-dependent aggregation, poor in vitro aqueous stability and photodegradation due to various physicochemical attributes. To overcome these limitations, much research has been dedicated to engineering numerous multifunctional polymeric composites for potential biomedical applications. In this review, we aim to discuss ICG-encapsulated polymeric nanoconstructs, which are of particular interest in various biomedical applications. First, we emphasize some attractive properties of ICG (including physicochemical characteristics, optical properties, metabolic features, and other aspects) and some of its current limitations. Next, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview highlighting recent reports on various polymeric nanoparticles that carry ICG for light-induced therapeutics with a set of examples. Finally, we summarize with perspectives highlighting the significant outcome, and current challenges of these nanocomposites.

pH-sensitive prodrug conjugated polydopamine for NIR-triggered synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy

Combination of chemotherapy with photothermal therapy (PTT) demonstrate highly desirable for efficient medical treatment of tumor. At present works, camptothecin (CPT)-containing polymeric prodrug (PCPT) were fabricated by polymerization of a pH-sensitive camptothecin (CPT) prodrug monomer and MPC using reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT) strategy. The pH-sensitive polymeric prodrug was tethered onto surface of polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles by amidation chemistry for combination of chemotherapy with photothermal therapy. Specifically, the active CPT quickly released from the multifunctional nanoparticles in acidic microenvironment ascribe to the cleavage of bifunctional silyl ether linkage. Meanwhile, the PDA could convert the near infrared (NIR) light energy into heat with high efficiency, which makes the resulted nanoparticles an effective platform for photothermal therapy. In vitro analysis confirmed that the PDA@PCPT nanoparticles could be efficiently uptaked by HeLa cells and deliver CPT into the nuclei of cancer cells. The cell viability assays indicated an evident in vitro cytotoxicity to HeLa cancer cells under 808 nm light irradiation. Significant tumor regression was also observed in the tumor-bearing mice model with the combinational therapy provided from the PDA@PCPT nanoparticles. The PDA@PCPT multifunctional system which was achieved by a facile route should be a potential candidate in the anti-cancer field due to the synergistic therapeutic effect, which is superior to any single approach.