Co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by targeting lipid nanoemulsions for cancer therapy

Advances in cell membrane-based biomimetic nanodelivery systems for natural products

Active components of natural products, which include paclitaxel, curcumin, gambogic acid, resveratrol, triptolide and celastrol, have promising anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-oxidant, and other pharmacological activities. However, their clinical application is limited due to low solubility, instability, low bioavailability, rapid metabolism, short half-life, and strong off-target toxicity. To overcome these drawbacks, cell membrane-based biomimetic nanosystems have emerged that avoid clearance by the immune system, enhance targeting, and prolong drug circulation, while also improving drug solubility and bioavailability, enhancing drug efficacy, and reducing side effects. This review summarizes recent advances in the preparation and coating of cell membrane-coated biomimetic nanosystems and in their applications to disease for targeted natural products delivery. Current challenges, limitations, and prospects in this field are also discussed, providing a research basis for the development of multifunctional biomimetic nanosystems for natural products.

Folic acid modified precision nanocarriers: charting new frontiers in breast cancer management beyond conventional therapies

Breast cancer presents a significant global health challenge, ranking highest incidence rate among all types of cancers. Functionalised nanocarriers offer a promising solution for precise drug delivery by actively targeting cancer cells through specific receptors, notably folate receptors. By overcoming the limitations of passive targeting in conventional therapies, this approach holds the potential for enhanced treatment efficacy through combination therapy. Encouraging outcomes from studies like in vitro and in vivo, underscore the promise of this innovative approach. This review explores the therapeutic potential of FA (Folic acid) functionalised nanocarriers tailored for breast cancer management, discussing various chemical modification techniques for functionalization. It examines FA-conjugated nanocarriers containing chemotherapeutics to enhance treatment efficacy and addresses the pharmacokinetic aspect of these functionalised nanocarriers. Additionally, the review integrates active targeting via folic acid with theranostics, photothermal therapy, and photodynamic therapy, offering a comprehensive management strategy. Emphasising rigorous experimental validation for practical utility, the review underscores the need to bridge laboratory research to clinical application. While these functionalised nanocarriers show promise, their credibility and applicability in real-world settings necessitate thorough validation for effective clinical use.

Better together: nanoscale co-delivery systems of therapeutic agents for high-performance cancer therapy

Combination therapies can enhance the sensitivity of cancer to drugs, lower drug doses, and reduce side effects in cancer treatment. However, differences in the physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics of different therapeutic agents limit their application. To avoid the above dilemma and achieve accurate control of the synergetic ratio, a nanoscale co-delivery system (NCDS) has emerged as a prospective tool for combined therapy in cancer treatment, which is increasingly being used to co-load different therapeutic agents. In this study, we have summarized the mechanisms of therapeutic agents in combination for cancer therapy, nanoscale carriers for co-delivery, drug-loading strategies, and controlled/targeted co-delivery systems, aiming to give a general picture of these powerful approaches for future NCDS research studies.

Improved Antitumor Efficacy of a Dextran-based Docetaxel-coupled Conjugate against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Most chemotherapeutic agents are characterized by poor water solubility and non-specific distribution. Polymer-based conjugates are promising strategies for overcoming these limitations.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to fabricate a polysaccharide, dextran-based, dual-drug conjugate by covalently grafting docetaxel (DTX) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) onto the bifunctionalized dextran through a long linker, and to investigate the antitumor efficacy of this conjugate against breast cancer.

METHODS

DTX was firstly coupled with DHA and covalently bounded with the bifunctionalized dextran (100 kDa) through a long linker to produce a conjugate dextran-DHA-DTX (termed C-DDD). Cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of this conjugate were measured in vitro. Drug biodistribution and pharmacokinetics were investigated through liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. The inhibitory effects on tumor growth were evaluated in MCF-7- and 4T1-tumor-bearing mice.

RESULTS

The loading capacity of the C-DDD for DTX was 15.90 (weight/weight). The C-DDD possessed good water solubility and was able to self-assemble into nanoparticles measuring 76.8 ± 5.5 nm. The maximum plasma concentration and area under the curve (0-∞) for the released DTX and total DTX from the C-DDD were significantly enhanced compared with the conventional DTX formulation. The C-DDD selectively accumulated in the tumor, with limited distribution was observed in normal tissues. The C-DDD exhibited greater antitumor activity than the conventional DTX in the triplenegative breast cancer model. Furthermore, the C-DDD nearly eliminated all MCF-7 tumors in nude mice without leading to systemic adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

This dual-drug C-DDD has the potential to become a candidate for clinical application through the optimization of the linker.

Site-specific delivery of cisplatin and paclitaxel mediated by liposomes: A promising approach in cancer chemotherapy

The site-specific delivery of drugs, especially anti-cancer drugs has been an interesting field for researchers and the reason is low accumulation of cytotoxic drugs in cancer cells. Although combination cancer therapy has been beneficial in providing cancer drug sensitivity, targeted delivery of drugs appears to be more efficient. One of the safe, biocompatible and efficient nano-scale delivery systems in anti-cancer drug delivery is liposomes. Their particle size is small and they have other properties such as adjustable physico-chemical properties, ease of functionalization and high entrapment efficiency. Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug with clinical approval in patients, but its accumulation in cancer cells is low due to lack of targeted delivery and repeated administration results in resistance development. Gene and drug co-administration along with cisplatin/paclitaxel have resulted in increased sensitivity in tumor cells, but there is still space for more progress in cancer therapy. The delivery of cisplatin/paclitaxel by liposomes increases accumulation of drug in tumor cells and impairs activity of efflux pumps in promoting cytotoxicity. Moreover, phototherapy along with cisplatin/paclitaxel delivery can increase potential in tumor suppression. Smart nanoparticles including pH-sensitive nanoparticles provide site-specific delivery of cisplatin/paclitaxel. The functionalization of liposomes can be performed by ligands to increase targetability towards tumor cells in mediating site-specific delivery of cisplatin/paclitaxel. Finally, liposomes can mediate co-delivery of cisplatin/paclitaxel with drugs or genes in potentiating tumor suppression. Since drug resistance has caused therapy failure in cancer patients, and cisplatin/paclitaxel are among popular chemotherapy drugs, delivery of these drugs mediates targeted suppression of cancers and prevents development of drug resistance. Because of biocompatibility and safety of liposomes, they are currently used in clinical trials for treatment of cancer patients. In future, the optimal dose of using liposomes and optimal concentration of loading cisplatin/paclitaxel on liposomal nanocarriers in clinical trials should be determined.

Effect and mechanism of paclitaxel loaded on magnetic Fe3O4@mSiO2-NH2-FA nanocomposites to MCF-7 cells

Magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were prepared via a simple hydrothermal method and utilized to load paclitaxel. The average particle size of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was found to be 20.2 ± 3.0 nm, and the calculated saturation magnetization reached 129.38 emu/g, verifying superparamagnetism of nanomaterials. The specific surface area and pore volume were 84.756 m²/g and 0.265 cm³/g, respectively. Subsequently, Fe₃O₄@mSiO₂ nanoparticles were successfully fabricated using the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles as precursors with an average size of 27.81 nm. The relevant saturation magnetization, zeta potential, and specific surface area of Fe₃O₄@mSiO₂-NH₂-FA were respectively 76.3 emu/g, -14.1 mV, and 324.410 m²/g. The pore volume and average adsorption pore size were 0.369 cm³/g and 4.548 nm, respectively. Compared to free paclitaxel, the solubility and stability of nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel were improved. The drug loading efficiency and drug load of the nanoformulation were 44.26 and 11.38%, respectively. The Fe₃O₄@mSiO₂-NH₂-FA nanocomposites were easy to construct with excellent active targeting performance, pH sensitivity, and sustained-release effect. The nanoformulation also showed good biocompatibility, where the cell viability remained at 73.8% when the concentration reached 1200 μg/mL. The nanoformulation induced cell death through apoptosis, as confirmed by AO/EB staining and flow cytometry. Western blotting results suggested that the nanoformulation could induce iron death by inhibiting Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity or decreasing Ferritin Heavy Chain 1 (FTH1) expression. Subsequently, the expression of HIF-1α was upregulated owing to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus affecting the expression of apoptosis-related proteins regulated by p53, inducing cell apoptosis.

A Novel pH-Responsive Iron Oxide Core-Shell Magnetic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle (M-MSN) System Encapsulating Doxorubicin (DOX) and Glucose Oxidase (Gox) for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Introduction

This study developed a pancreatic cancer targeted drug delivery system that responds to changes in acidity. The system was based on iron oxide core-shell magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (M-MSNs) to treat pancreatic cancer through combined chemotherapy and starvation therapy.

Methods

Glucose oxidase (Gox) was coupled to the cancer cell surface to reduce glucose availability for cancer cells, exacerbating the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment. Reduced pH accelerated the depolymerization of pH-sensitive polydopamine (PDA), thereby controlling the spatial distribution of Gox and release of doxorubicin (DOX) within tumor cells.

Results

Characterization results showed the successful synthesis of DG@M-MSN-PDA-PEG-FA (DG@NPs) with a diameter of 66.02 ± 3.6 nm. In vitro data indicated DG@NPs were highly effective and stable with good cellular uptake shown by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). DG@NPs exhibited high cytotoxicity and induced apoptosis. Additionally, in vivo experiments confirmed DG@NPs effectively inhibited tumor growth in nude mice with good biosafety. The combination of starvation therapy and chemotherapy facilitated drug release, suggesting DG@NPs as a novel drug delivery system for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Conclusion

This study successfully constructed a doxorubicin release system responsive to acidity changes for targeted delivery in pancreatic cancer, providing a new strategy for combination therapy.

Stimulators of immunogenic cell death for cancer therapy: focusing on natural compounds

A growing body of evidence indicates that the anticancer effect of the immune system can be activated by the immunogenic modulation of dying cancer cells. Cancer cell death, as a result of the activation of an immunomodulatory response, is called immunogenic cell death (ICD). This regulated cell death occurs because of increased immunogenicity of cancer cells undergoing ICD. ICD plays a crucial role in stimulating immune system activity in cancer therapy. ICD can therefore be an innovative route to improve anticancer immune responses associated with releasing damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Several conventional and chemotherapeutics, as well as preclinically investigated compounds from natural sources, possess immunostimulatory properties by ICD induction. Natural compounds have gained much interest in cancer therapy owing to their low toxicity, low cost, and inhibiting cancer cells by interfering with different mechanisms, which are critical in cancer progression. Therefore, identifying natural compounds with ICD-inducing potency presents agents with promising potential in cancer immunotherapy. Naturally derived compounds are believed to act as immunoadjuvants because they elicit cancer stress responses and DAMPs. Acute exposure to DAMP molecules can activate antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells (DCs), which leads to downstream events by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer cells (NKs). Natural compounds as inducers of ICD may be an interesting approach to ICD induction; however, parameters that determine whether a compound can be used as an ICD inducer should be elucidated. Here, we aimed to discuss the impact of multiple ICD inducers, mainly focusing on natural agents, including plant-derived, marine molecules, and bacterial-based compounds, on the release of DAMP molecules and the activation of the corresponding signaling cascades triggering immune responses. In addition, the potential of synthetic agents for triggering ICD is also discussed.

OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS FORMULATION FOR ENHANCED STABILITY AND DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM OF MEFLOQUINE

Objective: This work aims to choose suitable essential oil formulations to improve the bioavailability and long-term aqueous stability of mefloquine in drug delivery systems. Methods: Oil phases of pomegranate oil, black cumin seed oil, and garlic oil. To choose the proper oil and surfactant for creating pseudo-ternary phase diagrams, cremophore EL, tween®20 and tween®80 (surfactants), and brij 35 (co-surfactants) were used in a variety of concentrations and combinations (Smix). Mefloquine was estimated to be soluble in a variety of oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants. Drug solubility, drug release research, thermodynamic stability, mean hydrodynamic size and zeta potential. Results: Garlic with smix of cremophore EL and brij 35, Pomegranate with Tween 2.0, and Black cumin seed oil with Tween 80 showed the highest solubilization and emulsification capabilities and were further investigated using ternary phase diagrams. When combined with the co-surfactants under investigation, cremophore EL demonstrated a greater self-emulsification zone than tween® 80 and tween 20. Garlic oil, cremophore EL, and brij 35 nanoemulsion showed smaller size, greater zeta potential, less emulsification time, high transmittance, and better drug solubility than microemulsion formulations on especially those made with tween®20 and tween 80. Mefloquine loaded garlic oil nanoemulsion showed considerably low release in body fluid (32.48%) and a good release in intestinal fluid (82.78%) by 12 h in a drug release study. Conclusion: Garlic oil as the oil phase and a mixture of cremophore EL and brij 35 as the surfactant phase are ideal surfactants and co-surfactant for mefloquine loaded garlic oil nanoemulsion with greater drug release in release kinetics investigation.

Nanotechnology revolutionises breast cancer treatment: harnessing lipid-based nanocarriers to combat cancer cells

One of the most common cancers that occur in females is breast cancer. Despite the significant leaps and bounds that have been made in treatment of breast cancer, the disease remains one of the leading causes of death among women and a major public health challenge. The therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapeutics is hindered by chemoresistance and toxicity. Nano-based lipid drug delivery systems offer controlled drug release, nanometric size and site-specific targeting. Breast cancer treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite this, no single method of treatment for the condition is currently effective due to cancer stem cell metastasis and chemo-resistance. Therefore, the employment of nanocarrier systems is necessary in order to target breast cancer stem cells. This article addresses breast cancer treatment options, including modern treatment procedures such as chemotherapy, etc. and some innovative therapeutic options highlighting the role of lipidic nanocarriers loaded with chemotherapeutic drugs such as nanoemulsion, solid-lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers and liposomes, and their investigations have demonstrated that they can limit cancer cell growth, reduce the risk of recurrence, as well as minimise post-chemotherapy metastasis. This article also explores FDA-approved lipid-based nanocarriers, commercially available formulations, and ligand-based formulations that are being considered for further research.

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles-cloaked modified zein nanoparticles for oral delivery of paclitaxel

To improve the aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability of paclitaxel (PTX), a biomimetic system for oral administration of PTX was efficiently developed as an outer membrane vesicle (OMVs) of sodium caseinate (CAS) modified zein nanoparticles (OMVs-Zein-CAS-PTX-NPs) by Escherichia coli. To verify their structure and properties, the designed nanostructures were thoroughly characterized using various characterization techniques. The results indicated that hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces mainly drove the interaction between PTX and Zein, but the complex is unstable. The physicochemical stability of PTX-loaded zein nanoparticles was improved by the addition of CAS. The biological characteristics of biofilms are reproduced by nanoparticles cloaked with outer membrane vesicles. OMVs-Zein-CAS-PTX-NPs delayed the release of PTX under simulated gastric and intestinal fluids due to OMVs protection. OMVs-Zein-CAS-PTX-NPs exhibited remarkable antitumor ability in vitro and improved the bioavailability of oral administration of PTX in vivo. Therefore, OMVs cloaked in nanoparticles may be a suitable delivery vehicle to provide an efficient application prospect for the oral administration of PTX.

The Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Breast Cancer as a Preventive Measure or as an Adjunct to Conventional Treatments

In order to understand how omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) supplements affect breast cancer prevention and treatment, a systematic review of articles published in the last 5 years in two databases was performed. Of the 679 articles identified, only 27 were included and examined based on five topics, taking into account: the induction type of the breast cancer used in animal models; the characteristics of the induction model by cell transplantation; the experimental design of the ω-3 supplementation—combined or not with a treatment antitumor drug; the fatty acids (FAs) composition used; the analysis of the studies’ outcomes. There are diverse and well-established animal models of breast cancer in the literature, with very relevant histological and molecular similarities depending on the specific objective of the study, such as whether the method of tumor induction was transgenic, by cell transplantation, or by oncogenic drugs. The analyses of outcomes were mainly focused on monitoring tumor growth, body/tumor weight, and molecular, genetic, or histological analyses, and few studies evaluated latency, survival, or metastases. The best results occurred when supplementation with ω-3 PUFA was associated with antitumor drugs, especially in the analysis of metastases and volume/weight of tumors or when the supplementation was started early and maintained for a long time. However, the beneficial effect of ω-3 PUFA supplementation when not associated with an antitumor agent remains unclear.

Antitumor therapy for breast cancer: Focus on tumor-associated macrophages and nanosized drug delivery systems

BACKGROUND

In breast cancer (BC), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are an important component of the tumor microenvironment and are closely related to poor prognosis. A growing number of studies have focused on the role of TAMs in BC progression and therapeutic strategies targeting TAMs. As an emerging treatment, the application of nanosized drug delivery systems (NDDSs) in the treatment of BC by targeting TAMs has attracted much attention.

AIMS

This review is to summarize the characteristics and treatment strategies targeting TAMs in BC and to clarify the applications of NDDSs targeting TAMs in the treatment of BC by targeting TAMs.

MATERIALS & METHODS

The existing results related to characteristics of TAMs in BC, BC treatment strategies by targeting TAMs, and the applications of NDDSs in these strategies are described. Through analyzing these results, the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment strategies using NDDSs are discussed, which could provide advices on designing NDDSs for BC treatment.

RESULTS

TAMs are one of the most prominent noncancer cell types in BC. TAMs not only promote angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis but also lead to therapeutic resistance and immunosuppression. Mainly four strategies have been used to target TAMs for BC therapy, which include depleting macrophages, blocking recruitment, reprogramming to attain an anti-tumor phenotype, and increasing phagocytosis. Since NDDSs can efficiently deliver drugs to TAMs with low toxicity, they are promising approaches for targeting TAMs in tumor therapy. NDDSs with various structures can deliver immunotherapeutic agents and nucleic acid therapeutics to TAMs. In addition, NDDSs can realize combination therapies.

DISCUSSION

TAMs play a critical role in the progression of BC. An increasing number of strategies have been proposed to regulate TAMs. Compared with free drugs, NDDSs targeting TAMs improve drug concentration, reduce toxicity and realize combination therapies. However, in order to achieve better therapeutic efficacy, there are still some disadvantages that need to be considered in the design of NDDSs.

CONCLUSION

TAMs play an important role in the progression of BC, and targeting TAMs is a promising strategy for BC therapy. In particular, NDDSs targeting TAMs have unique advantages and are potential treatments for BC.

Oridonin Induces Apoptosis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Inhibiting Cytoskeletal Protein LASP1 and PDLIM1

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is a severe malignancy for its high mortality and poor prognosis. Mainstay chemotherapies cause serious side effects for their ways of inducing cell death. Oridonin is the main bioactive constituent from natural plants that has anticancer ability and weak side effects. The proteomics method is efficient to understand the anticancer mechanism. However, proteins identified by proteomics aimed at understanding oridonin's anticancer mechanism is seldom overlapped by different groups. This study used proteomics based on two-dimensional electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE SDS-PAGE) integrated with mass spectrometry and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to understand the anticancer mechanism of oridonin on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The results showed that oridonin induced ESCC cell death via apoptosis by decreasing the protein expression of LASP1 and PDLIM1.

Lipid-engineered nanotherapeutics for cancer management

Cancer causes significant mortality and morbidity worldwide, but existing pharmacological treatments are greatly limited by the inherent heterogeneity of cancer as a disease, as well as the unsatisfactory efficacy and specificity of therapeutic drugs. Biopharmaceutical barriers such as low permeability and poor water solubility, along with the absence of active targeting capabilities, often result in suboptimal clinical results. The difficulty of successfully reaching and destroying tumor cells is also often compounded with undesirable impacts on healthy tissue, including off-target effects and high toxicity, which further impair the ability to effectively manage the disease and optimize patient outcomes. However, in the last few decades, the development of nanotherapeutics has allowed for the use of rational design in order to maximize therapeutic success. Advances in the fabrication of nano-sized delivery systems, coupled with a variety of surface engineering strategies to promote customization, have resulted in promising approaches for targeted, site-specific drug delivery with fewer unwanted effects and better therapeutic efficacy. These nano systems have been able to overcome some of the challenges of conventional drug delivery related to pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and target specificity. In particular, lipid-based nanosystems have been extensively explored due to their high biocompatibility, versatility, and adaptability. Lipid-based approaches to cancer treatment are varied and diverse, including liposomal therapeutics, lipidic nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipidic carriers, lipid-polymer nanohybrids, and supramolecular nanolipidic structures. This review aims to provide an overview of the use of diverse formulations of lipid-engineered nanotherapeutics for cancer and current challenges in the field, as researchers attempt to successfully translate these approaches from bench to clinic.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Paclitaxel-aminoguanidine Conjugates for Suppressing Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

A combination of paclitaxel with antineoplastic agents or paclitaxel alone was used clinically for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. However, paclitaxel has poor water solubility and limited effect on some metastatic breast cancers. Hence, novel paclitaxel derivatives are in demand. In addition, the inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, and aminoguanidine has a synergistic antitumor effect with chemotherapeutics.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to design and synthesize the paclitaxel-aminoguanidine conjugates. Upon cellular internalization, the novel paclitaxel-aminoguanidine conjugates could release paclitaxel and aminoguanidine with the aid of esterase and weak acids in cancer cells.

METHODS

Paclitaxel-aminoguanidine conjugates were synthesized using click chemistry. The biological activity of paclitaxel-aminoguanidine conjugates was evaluated by MTT assay, determination of nitric oxide, analysis of apoptosis and cell cycle, and wound healing assay.

RESULTS

Here, a novel paclitaxel-aminoguanidine conjugate was synthesized using click chemistry. Compared with paclitaxel, the water solubility of paclitaxel-aminoguanidine conjugates increased obviously. Upon cellular internalization, the novel paclitaxel-aminoguanidine conjugates released paclitaxel and aminoguanidine to synergistically inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells with the aid of esterase and weak acids in cancer cells. The results of the MTT assay showed that compared with paclitaxel or the mixture of paclitaxel and aminoguanidine, the cytotoxicity of compound 4 against 4T1 cells was enhanced. As for apoptosis induced by these compounds, the paclitaxel-aminoguanidine conjugates also had a stronger ability to induce apoptosis than paclitaxel or the mixture of paclitaxel and aminoguanidine. The results of the scratch test showed that the anti-metastatic effect of the conjugate was the strongest among these tested compounds.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that paclitaxel-aminoguanidine conjugate is a promising anticancer agent worthy of further study.

A new chitosan-based thermosensitive nanoplatform for combined photothermal and chemotherapy

Targeting the delivery of anti-cancer drugs to a tumor site is essential for effective treatment and to ensure minimal damage to healthy cells and tissues. In this work, a chitosan-based nanoplatform was constructed for combined photothermal therapy and chemotherapy of breast cancer. The pH-sensitive and biocompatible biopolymer chitosan (CS) was grafted with N-vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) and modified with biotin (Bio), imparting it with temperature sensitive property and also the ability for active targeting. The polymer self-assembled to give nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) and doxorubicin (DOX). When the NPs are exposed to near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, ICG converts the light to heat, inducing a significant phase transition in the NPs and facilitating the release of the drug cargo. In addition, the solubility of chitosan is increased in the slightly acidic microenvironment of the tumor site, which also promotes drug release. A detailed analysis of the NPs both in vitro and in vivo showed that the carrier system is biocompatible, while the drug-loaded NPs are selectively taken up by cancer cells. Particularly when augmented with NIR irradiation, this leads to potent cell death in vitro and also in an in vivo murine xenograft model of breast cancer.

Nutraceutical-Based Nanoformulations for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Different strategies have been investigated for a more satisfactory treatment of advanced breast cancer, including the adjuvant use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). These nutritional compounds have been shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic activities, the capacity to affect transduction pathways/receptors involved in cell growth and to reprogram tumor microenvironment. Omega-3 PUFA-containing nanoformulations designed for drug delivery in breast cancer were shown to potentiate the effects of enclosed drugs, enhance drug delivery to target sites, and minimize drug-induced side effects. We have critically analyzed here the results of the most recent studies investigating the effects of omega-3 PUFA-containing nanoformulations in breast cancer. The anti-neoplastic efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs has also been convincingly demonstrated by using preclinical in vivo models of ovarian cancer. The results obtained are critically analyzed here and seem to provide a sufficient rationale to move to still lacking interventional clinical trials, as well as to evaluate possible advantages of enclosing omega-3 PUFAs to drug-delivery nanosystems for ovarian cancer. Future perspectives in this area are also provided.

Critical Review on Fatty Acid-Based Food and Nutraceuticals as Supporting Therapy in Cancer

Fatty acids have an important place in both biological and nutritional contexts and, from a clinical point of view, they have known consequences for diseases’ onset and development, including cancer. The use of fatty acid-based food and nutraceuticals to support cancer therapy is a multidisciplinary subject, involving molecular and clinical research. Knowledge regarding polyunsaturated fatty acids essentiality/oxidizability and the role of lipogenesis-desaturase pathways for cell growth, as well as oxidative reactivity in cancer cells, are discussed, since they can drive the choice of fatty acids using their multiple roles to support antitumoral drug activity. The central role of membrane fatty acid composition is highlighted for the application of membrane lipid therapy. As fatty acids are also known as biomarkers of cancer onset and progression, the personalization of the fatty acid-based therapy is also possible, taking into account other important factors such as formulation, bioavailability and the distribution of the supplementation. A holistic approach emerges combining nutra- and pharma-strategies in an appropriate manner, to develop further knowledge and applications in cancer therapy.