Role of macrophage in nanomedicine-based disease treatment

Functional Nanosheet Immunoswitches Reprogramming Innate Macrophages for Immunotherapy of Colorectal Cancer and Sepsis

Macrophages are involved in the immunopathogenesis of cancer and inflammatory diseases and are a primary target for immunotherapy to reprogram the M1 and M2 phenotypes in tumor and inflammatory microenvironments. Herein, functional nanosheet immunoswitches that can bidirectionally polarize macrophages in tumor and inflammatory microenvironments are designed for effective immunotherapy of colorectal cancer and sepsis. WSe2 nanosheets are functionalized with palmitic acid to obtain an M1 immunoswitch (PA-WSe2) that promotes the polarization of macrophages toward the M1 phenotype in the tumor microenvironment by activating the STAT1 signaling pathway. WS2 nanosheets bearing linoleic acid are synthesized as an M2 immunoswitch (LA-WS2) that effectively polarizes macrophages to the M2 phenotype in the septic microenvironment by activating the STAT3 signaling pathway. The PA-WSe2 M1 immunoswitch upregulates the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) via M1 polarization, leading to the effective immunotherapy for colorectal cancer in vivo. In contrast, the LA-WS2 M2 immunoswitch induces the elevated production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and scavenging of ROS and RNS through M2 polarization, resulting in superior immunotherapy for severe sepsis in mice. These nanosheet immunoswitches can provide a route to immunotherapy for various cancers and inflammatory diseases.

Modulating exosomal communication between macrophages and melanoma cancer cells via cyclodextrin-based nanosponges loaded with doxorubicin

The cellular components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) comprise cancer cells and nonmalignant cells including stromal and immune cells. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by various types of cells that play a crucial role in intercellular communications within TME. The main goal of this study was to elucidate how exosomes of macrophage cells treated with doxorubicin (DOX) and DOX-loaded cyclodextrin-based nanosponges (DOX-CDNSs), affect melanoma cancer cell proliferation. For this aim, the exosomes of the murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) were isolated and characterized after treating the cells with DOX and DOX-CDNSs. The results demonstrated that DOX-CDNSs at a treatment concentration of 1 µg/mL, were nontoxic for macrophages and remarkably toxic against cancer cells. However, DOX was nontoxic for both cell types at the same treatment concentration. DOX and DOX-CDNSs remarkably declined the viability of both cell types at higher concentrations (25 and 50 µg/mL). Intriguingly, the exosomes of DOX-CD-NSs treated macrophages promoted the viability of cancer cells at the treatment concentrations of 1, 20, and 40 µg/mL. While the exosomes of DOX-treated macrophages increased cell viability of cancer cells only at the lowest concentration. In conclusion, this study suggests that utilization of CD-NSs may augment the toxicity of DOX against cancer cells, while it could direct macrophages toward secreting exosomes that favor the growth of cancer cells.

Advances in Engineered Macrophages: A New Frontier in Cancer Immunotherapy

Macrophages, as pivotal cells within the tumour microenvironment, significantly influence the impact of and reactions to treatments for solid tumours. The rapid evolution of bioengineering technology has revealed the vast potential of engineered macrophages in immunotherapy, disease diagnosis, and tissue engineering. Given this landscape, the goal of harnessing and innovating macrophages as a novel strategy for solid tumour immunotherapy cannot be overstated. The diverse strategies for engineered macrophages in the realm of cancer immunotherapy, encompassing macrophage drug delivery systems, chimeric antigen receptor macrophage therapy, and synergistic treatment approaches involving bacterial outer membrane vesicles and macrophages, are meticulously examined in this review. These methodologies are designed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of macrophages against solid tumours, particularly those that are drug-resistant and metastatic. Collectively, these immunotherapies are poised to supplement and refine current solid tumour treatment paradigms, thus heralding a new frontier in the fight against malignant tumours.

Unleashing the Potential of Oral Deliverable Nanomedicine in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), marked by chronic gastrointestinal tract inflammation, poses a significant global medical challenge. Current treatments for IBD, including corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologics, often require frequent systemic administration through parenteral delivery, leading to nonspecific drug distribution, suboptimal therapeutic outcomes, and adverse effects. There is a pressing need for a targeted drug delivery system to enhance drug efficacy and minimize its systemic impact. Nanotechnology emerges as a transformative solution, enabling precise oral drug delivery to inflamed intestinal tissues, reducing off-target effects, and enhancing therapeutic efficiency. The advantages include heightened bioavailability, sustained drug release, and improved cellular uptake. Additionally, the nano-based approach allows for the integration of theranostic elements, enabling simultaneous diagnosis and treatment. Recent preclinical advances in oral IBD treatments, particularly with nanoformulations such as functionalized polymeric and lipid nanoparticles, demonstrate remarkable cell-targeting ability and biosafety, promising to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies. These developments signify a paradigm shift toward personalized and effective oral IBD management. This review explores the potential of oral nanomedicine to enhance IBD treatment significantly, focusing specifically on cell-targeting oral drug delivery system for potential use in IBD management. We also examine emerging technologies such as theranostic nanoparticles and artificial intelligence, identifying avenues for the practical translation of nanomedicines into clinical applications.

The bioengineered and multifunctional nanoparticles in pancreatic cancer therapy: Bioresponisive nanostructures, phototherapy and targeted drug delivery

The multidisciplinary approaches in treatment of cancer appear to be essential in term of bringing benefits of several disciplines and their coordination in tumor elimination. Because of the biological and malignant features of cancer cells, they have ability of developing resistance to conventional therapies such as chemo- and radio-therapy. Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant disease of gastrointestinal tract in which chemotherapy and radiotherapy are main tools in its treatment, and recently, nanocarriers have been emerged as promising structures in its therapy. The bioresponsive nanocarriers are able to respond to pH and redox, among others, in targeted delivery of cargo for specific treatment of PC. The loading drugs on the nanoparticles that can be synthetic or natural compounds, can help in more reduction in progression of PC through enhancing their intracellular accumulation in cancer cells. The encapsulation of genes in the nanoparticles can protect against degradation and promotes intracellular accumulation in tumor suppression. A new kind of therapy for cancer is phototherapy in which nanoparticles can stimulate both photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy through hyperthermia and ROS overgeneration to trigger cell death in PC. Therefore, synergistic therapy of phototherapy with chemotherapy is performed in accelerating tumor suppression. One of the important functions of nanotechnology is selective targeting of PC cells in reducing side effects on normal cells. The nanostructures are capable of being surface functionalized with aptamers, proteins and antibodies to specifically target PC cells in suppressing their progression. Therefore, a specific therapy for PC is provided and future implications for diagnosis of PC is suggested.

Macrophage polarization in bone implant repair: A review

Macrophages (MΦ) are highly adaptable and functionally polarized cells that play a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes. Typically, MΦ differentiate into two distinct subsets: the proinflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes. Due to their potent immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, MΦ have garnered significant attention in recent decades. In the context of bone implant repair, the immunomodulatory function of MΦ is of paramount importance. Depending on their polarization phenotype, MΦ can exert varying effects on osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and the inflammatory response around the implant. This paper provides an overview of the immunomodulatory and inflammatory effects of MΦ polarization in the repair of bone implants.

Ferroptosis-based drug delivery system as a new therapeutic opportunity for brain tumors

The brain tumor is a kind of malignant tumor with brutal treatment, high recurrence rate, and poor prognosis, and the incidence and death rate is increasing yearly. Surgery is often used to remove the primary tumor, supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which have highly toxic side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new strategies, methods, and technologies that can genuinely improve the treatment of brain tumors. Ferroptosis differs from traditional apoptosis's morphological and biochemical characteristics, and ferroptosis possesses its unique characteristics and mechanisms, opening up a new field of ferroptosis treatment for cancer. It has been found that there is a close relationship between ferroptosis and brain tumors, and a novel nano-drug delivery system based on ferroptosis has been used for the ferroptosis treatment of brain tumors with remarkable effects. This review firstly analyzes the characteristics of ferroptosis, summarizes the mechanism of its occurrence and some factors that can be involved in the regulation of ferroptosis, introduces the potential link between ferroptosis and brain tumors, and clarifies the feasibility of ferroptosis in the treatment of brain tumors. It then presents the ferroptosis nano drug delivery systems developed under different metabolic pathways for ferroptosis treatment of brain tumors. Finally, it summarizes the current problems and solutions of ferroptosis nano drugs for brain tumor treatment, aiming to provide a reference for developing ferroptosis nano drugs against brain tumors.