Combination Chemotherapy of Lung Cancer - Co-Delivery of Docetaxel Prodrug and Cisplatin Using Aptamer-Decorated Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles

Target-Triggered Enzymatic Cascade LF-NMR Biosensor for the Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells

A target-triggered, enzymatic cascade-amplified low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) sensor was developed for the detection of the circulating tumor cell (CTC) A549. A multifunctional two-dimensional bionanomaterial GDA@GOX&DNA1 was designed as the initiator, with Fe3O4@DNA2/Apt as the recognition unit and CaO2@MnO2 as the signal unit. When A549 was present, the aptamer (Apt) detached from the recognition unit, allowing the formation of GDA@GOX&DNA1-DNA2@Fe3O4 and triggering the following reactions: (1) glucose oxidase (GOX) catalyzed the reaction between the substrate glucose and oxygen (O2) to produce gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); (2) the generated acid and H2O2 reacted with MnO2, producing signal probes Mn2+ and O2; and (3) CaO2 reacted with the acid, generating H2O2. These cyclic reactions brought the generation of massive Mn2+ and a decrease of the transverse relaxation time (T2), resulting in a target-triggered, enzymatic cascade-amplified LF-NMR biosensing of CTCs. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the linear range and limit of detection (LOD) were 10-1.0 × 106 and 6 cells/mL, respectively. The feasibility and reliability in practical applications were verified by using spiked whole blood samples containing A549 cells. This study represents the first successful demonstration of an LF-NMR biosensor for the detection of intact CTCs, providing a new tool for clinical testing and diagnosis.

The Progress and Evolving Trends in Nucleic-Acid-Based Therapies

Nucleic-acid-based therapies have emerged as a pivotal domain within contemporary biomedical science, marked by significant advancements in recent years. These innovative treatments primarily operate through the precise binding of DNA or RNA molecules to discrete target genes, subsequently suppressing the expression of the target proteins. The spectrum of nucleic-acid-based therapies encompasses antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and messenger RNAs (mRNAs), etc. Compared to more traditional medicinal approaches, nucleic-acid-based therapies stand out for their highly targeted action on specific genes, as well as their potential for chemical modification to improve resistance to nucleases, ensuring sustained therapeutic activity and mitigating immunogenicity concerns. Nevertheless, these molecules' limited cellular permeability necessitates the deployment of delivery vectors to enhance their intracellular uptake and stability. As nucleic-acid-based therapies progressively display promising pharmacodynamic profiles, there has been a burgeoning interest in these treatments for applications in clinical research. This review aims to summarize the variety of nucleic acid drugs and their mechanisms, evaluate the present status in research and application, discourse on prospective trends, and potential challenges ahead. These innovative therapeutics are anticipated to assume a pivotal role in the management of a wide array of diseases.

αvβ3 integrin aptamer functionalized pH-responsive lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles for targeted co-delivery of paclitaxel and tamoxifen

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the deadliest type due to its aggressive behavior, high recurrence, metastatic, and mortality rates. This study was aimed at the targeted co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and tamoxifen (TMF) via lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) for treating TNBC. Here, we conjugated αvβ3 integrin aptamer over LPHNPs for targeting TNBC cells. The aptamer-conjugated LPHNPs showed significantly higher uptake in 4 T1 cells than non-targeted LPHNPs. The PTX + TMX co-loaded targeted LPHNPs have cell viabilities of 5.9 ± 0.7 and 7.8 ± 0.6 % in 4 T1 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively, in 48 h. The cell viabilities of PTX + TMX co-loaded non-targeted LPHNPs and free PTX + TMX were 17.27 ± 1.56 and 24.31 ± 0.81 % in 4 T1 cells and 16.07 ± 0.14 and 20.15 ± 1.11 % in MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively, in 48 h. Flow cytometry indicated that targeted LPHNP-mediated PTX + TMF delivery was considerably more efficient (~31 %) in inducing apoptosis than PTX + TMF co-loaded non-targeted LPHNPs (~21 %) and free PTX + TMF (~13 %). The anti-cancer efficiency was better when PTX and TMF were delivered together rather than separately. The cytotoxicity assessment in the 3D cell culture demonstrated higher anti-cancer effectiveness of aptamer-conjugated co-loaded LPHNPs, confirmed by significantly inducing cell death. Thus, the results concluded that PTX and TMF-loaded αvβ3 integrin aptamer conjugated LPHNPs have tremendous potential for treating TNBC.

Uncovering the Emerging Prospects of Lipid-based Nanoparticulate Vehicles in Lung Cancer Management: A Recent Perspective

Lung cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, is gaining research interest more than ever before. Owing to the burden of pathogenesis on the quality of life of patients and subsequently the healthcare system, research efforts focus on its management and amelioration. In an effort to improve bioavailability, enhance stability, minimize adverse effects and reduce the incidence of resistance, nanotechnological platforms have been harnessed for drug delivery and improving treatment outcomes. Lipid nanoparticles, in particular, offer an interesting clinical opportunity with respect to the delivery of a variety of agents. These include synthetic chemotherapeutic agents, immunotherapeutic molecules, as well as phytoconstituents with promising anticancer benefits. In addition to this, these systems are being studied for their usage in conjunction with other treatment strategies. However, their applications remain limited owing to a number of challenges, chiefly clinical translation. There is a need to address the scalability of such technologies, in order to improve accessibility. The authors aim to offer a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of lipid nanoparticles and their application in lung cancer, the interplay of disease pathways and their mechanism of action and the potential for delivery of a variety of agents. Additionally, a discussion with respect to results from preclinical studies has also been provided. The authors have also provided a well-rounded insight into the limitations and future perspectives. While the possibilities are endless, there is a need to undertake focused research to expedite clinical translation and offer avenues for wider applications in disease management.

Current status of nanoparticle-mediated immunogenic cell death in cancer immunotherapy

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) encompasses various forms of cell death modalities, including apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis. It arises from a harmonious interplay of adjuvant (damage-associated molecular patterns-DAMPs and chemokines/cytokines) and antigenicity (tumor-associated antigens-TAA) to induce immune-reaction toward cancer cells. Inducing ICD stands out as a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy, capable of directly eliminating cancer cells and of eliciting enduring antitumor immune responses. Conventional tumor therapies like radiation therapy, photodynamic therapy, and chemotherapy can also induce ICD which could amplify their activities. The development of effective ICD inducers like nano-systems is crucial for ensuring safe and efficacious immunotherapy. Nanoparticles hold considerable promise in cancer therapy, offering enhanced therapeutic outcomes and mitigated side effects. They could be the capacity to adjust systemic biodistribution, augment the accumulation of therapeutic agents at the intended site and protect active agents from the complexity of human biofluid. This review aims to outline the role of nanoparticles in triggering ICD for cancer immunotherapy that potentially pave the way for cancer treatment.

Self-assembled lipid-based nanoparticles for chemotherapy against breast cancer

Self-assembled lipid-based nanoparticles have been shown to have improved therapeutic efficacy and lower toxic side effects. Breast cancer is a common type of malignant tumor in women. Conventional drugs such as doxorubicin (DOX) have shown low therapeutic efficacy and high drug toxicity in antitumor therapy. This paper surveys research on self-assembled lipid-based nanoparticles by categorizing them under three groups: self-assembled liposomal nanostructures, self-assembled niosomes, and self-assembled lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles. Subsequently, the structural features and operating mechanisms of each group are summarized individually along with examples of representative drugs from each group.

Targeted Hybrid Nanocarriers as Co-Delivery Systems for Enhanced Cancer Therapy

Hybrid nanocarriers have realized a growing interest in drug delivery research because of the potential of being able to treat, manage or cure diseases that previously had limited therapy or cure. Cancer is currently considered the second leading cause of death globally. This makes cancer therapy a major focus in terms of the need for efficacious and safe drug formulations that can be used to reduce the rate of morbidity and mortality globally. The major challenge encountered over the years with cancer chemotherapy is the non-selectivity of anticancer drugs, leading to severe adverse effects in patients. Multidrug resistance has also resulted in treatment failure in cancer chemotherapy over the years. Hybrid nanocarriers can be targeted to the site and offer co-delivery of two or more chemotherapeutics, thus leading to synergistic or additive results. This makes hybrid nanocarriers an extremely attractive type of drug delivery system for cancer therapy. Hybrid nanocarrier systems are also attracting attention as possible non-viral gene vectors that could have a higher level of transfection, and be efficacious, with the added advantage of being safer than viral vectors in clinical settings. An extensive review of various aspects of hybrid nanocarriers was discussed in this paper. It is envisaged that in the future, metastatic cancers, multi-drug resistant cancers, and low prognosis cancers like pancreatic cancers, will have a lasting solution via hybrid nanocarrier formulations with targeted co-delivery of therapeutics.

Lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles against lung cancer and their application as inhalable formulation

Lung cancer is a leading cause of global cancer mortality, often treated with chemotherapeutic agents. However, conventional approaches such as oral or intravenous administration of drugs yield low bioavailability and adverse effects. Nanotechnology has unlocked new gateways for delivering medicine to their target sites. Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) are one of the nano-scaled delivery platforms that have been studied to exploit advantages of liposomes and polymers, enhancing stability, drug loading, biocompatibility and controlled release. Pulmonary administration of drug-loaded LPHNPs enables direct lung deposition, rapid onset of action and heightened efficacy at low doses of drugs. In this manuscript, we will review the potential of LPHNPs in management of lung cancer through pulmonary administration.

Platinum-based chemotherapy: trends in organic nanodelivery systems

Despite the investment in platinum drugs research, cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin are still the only Pt-based compounds used as first line treatments for several cancers, with a few other compounds being approved for administration in some Asian countries. However, due to the severe and worldwide impact of oncological diseases, there is an urge for improved chemotherapeutic approaches. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical application of platinum complexes is hindered by their inherent toxicity and acquired resistance. Nanodelivery systems rose as a key strategy to overcome these challenges, with recognized versatility and ability towards improving the safety, bioavailability and efficacy of the available drugs. Among the known nanocarriers, organic systems have been widely applied, taking advantage of their potential as drug vehicles. Researchers have mainly focused on the development of lipidic and polymeric carriers, including supramolecular structures, with an overall improvement of encapsulated platinum complexes. Herein, an overview of recent trends and strategies is presented, with the main focus on the encapsulation of platinum compounds into organic nanocarriers, showcasing the evolution in the design and development of these promising systems. This comprehensive review highlights formulation methods as well as characterization procedures, providing insights that may be helpful for the development of novel platinum nanocarriers aiming at future pharmaceutical applications.

Lipid Nanoparticles in Lung Cancer Therapy

This manuscript explores the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in addressing the pivotal challenges of lung cancer treatment, including drug delivery inefficacy and multi-drug resistance. LNPs have significantly advanced targeted therapy by improving the precision and reducing the systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutics such as doxorubicin and paclitaxel. This manuscript details the design and benefits of various LNP systems, including solid lipid-polymer hybrids, which offer controlled release and enhanced drug encapsulation. Despite achievements in reducing tumor size and enhancing survival, challenges such as manufacturing complexity, biocompatibility, and variable clinical outcomes persist. Future directions are aimed at refining targeting capabilities, expanding combinatorial therapies, and integrating advanced manufacturing techniques to tailor treatments to individual patient profiles, thus promising to transform lung cancer therapy through interdisciplinary collaboration and regulatory innovation.

Aptamers for the Delivery of Plant-Based Compounds: A Review

Natural compounds have a high potential for the treatment of various conditions, including infections, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. However, they usually present poor pharmacokinetics, low specificity, and even toxicity, which limits their use. Therefore, targeted drug delivery systems, typically composed of a carrier and a targeting ligand, can enhance natural product selectivity and effectiveness. Notably, aptamers-short RNA or single-stranded DNA molecules-have gained attention as promising ligands in targeted drug delivery since they are simple to synthesize and modify, and they present high tissue permeability, stability, and a wide array of available targets. The combination of natural products, namely plant-based compounds, with a drug delivery system utilizing aptamers as targeting agents represents an emerging strategy that has the potential to broaden its applications. This review discusses the potential of aptamers as targeting agents in the delivery of natural compounds, as well as new trends and developments in their utilization in the field of medicine.

A comprehensive review on lipid nanocarrier systems for cancer treatment: fabrication, future prospects and clinical trials

Over the last few decades, cancer has been considered a clinical challenge, being among the leading causes of mortality all over the world. Although many treatment approaches have been developed for cancer, chemotherapy is still the most utilized in the clinical setting. However, the available chemotherapeutics-based treatments have several caveats including their lack of specificity, adverse effects as well as cancer relapse and metastasis which mainly explains the low survival rate of patients. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been utilized as promising nanocarrier systems for chemotherapeutics to overcome the challenges of the currently applied therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Loading chemotherapeutic agent(s) into LNPs improves drug delivery at different aspects including specific targeting of tumours, and enhancing the bioavailability of drugs at the tumour site through selective release of their payload, thus reducing their undesired side effects on healthy cells. This review article delineates an overview of the clinical challenges in many cancer treatments as well as depicts the role of LNPs in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, the review contains a comprehensive description of the many LNPs categories used as nanocarriers in cancer treatment to date, as well as the potential of LNPs for future applications in other areas of medicine and research.

Cisplatin-Based Combination Therapy for Enhanced Cancer Treatment

Cisplatin, a primary chemotherapeutic drug, is of great value in the realm of tumor treatment. However, its clinical efficacy is strictly hindered by issues, such as drug resistance, relapse, poor prognosis, and toxicity to normal tissue. Cisplatin-based combination therapy has garnered increasing attention in both preclinical and clinical cancer research for its ability to overcome resistance, reduce toxicity, and enhance anticancer effects. This review examines three primary co-administration strategies of cisplatin-based drug combinations and their respective advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, seven types of combination therapies involving cisplatin are discussed, focusing on their main therapeutic effects, mechanisms in preclinical research, and clinical applications. This review also discusses future prospects and challenges, aiming to offer guidance for the development of optimal cisplatin-based combination therapy regimens for improved cancer treatment.

The diverse effects of cisplatin on tumor microenvironment: Insights and challenges for the delivery of cisplatin by nanoparticles

Cisplatin is a well-known platinum-based chemotherapy medication that is widely utilized for some malignancies. Despite the direct cytotoxic consequences of cisplatin on tumor cells, studies in the recent decade have revealed that cisplatin can also affect different cells and their secretions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cisplatin has complex impacts on the TME, which may contribute to its anti-tumor activity or drug resistance mechanisms. These regulatory effects of cisplatin play a paramount function in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. This paper aims to review the diverse impacts of cisplatin and nanoparticles loaded with cisplatin on cancer cells and also non-cancerous cells in TME. The impacts of cisplatin on immune cells, tumor stroma, cancer cells, and also hypoxia will be discussed in the current review. Furthermore, we emphasize the challenges and prospects of using cisplatin in combination with other adjuvants and therapeutic modalities that target TME. We also discuss the potential synergistic effects of cisplatin with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and other agents with anticancer potentials such as polyphenols and photosensitizers. Furthermore, the potential of nanoparticles for targeting TME and better delivery of cisplatin into tumors will be discussed.

Multifunctional nanoparticle-mediated combining therapy for human diseases

Combining existing drug therapy is essential in developing new therapeutic agents in disease prevention and treatment. In preclinical investigations, combined effect of certain known drugs has been well established in treating extensive human diseases. Attributed to synergistic effects by targeting various disease pathways and advantages, such as reduced administration dose, decreased toxicity, and alleviated drug resistance, combinatorial treatment is now being pursued by delivering therapeutic agents to combat major clinical illnesses, such as cancer, atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, myocarditis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Combinatorial therapy involves combining or co-delivering two or more drugs for treating a specific disease. Nanoparticle (NP)-mediated drug delivery systems, i.e., liposomal NPs, polymeric NPs and nanocrystals, are of great interest in combinatorial therapy for a wide range of disorders due to targeted drug delivery, extended drug release, and higher drug stability to avoid rapid clearance at infected areas. This review summarizes various targets of diseases, preclinical or clinically approved drug combinations and the development of multifunctional NPs for combining therapy and emphasizes combinatorial therapeutic strategies based on drug delivery for treating severe clinical diseases. Ultimately, we discuss the challenging of developing NP-codelivery and translation and provide potential approaches to address the limitations. This review offers a comprehensive overview for recent cutting-edge and challenging in developing NP-mediated combination therapy for human diseases.

3D in vitro hydrogel models to study the human lung extracellular matrix and fibroblast function

The pulmonary extracellular matrix (ECM) is a macromolecular structure that provides mechanical support, stability and elastic recoil for different pulmonary cells including the lung fibroblasts. The ECM plays an important role in lung development, remodeling, repair, and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Biomechanical and biochemical signals produced by the ECM regulate the phenotype and function of various cells including fibroblasts in the lungs. Fibroblasts are important lung structural cells responsible for the production and repair of different ECM proteins (e.g., collagen and fibronectin). During lung injury and in chronic lung diseases such as asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an abnormal feedback between fibroblasts and the altered ECM disrupts tissue homeostasis and leads to a vicious cycle of fibrotic changes resulting in tissue remodeling. In line with this, using 3D hydrogel culture models with embedded lung fibroblasts have enabled the assessment of the various mechanisms involved in driving defective (fibrotic) fibroblast function in the lung's 3D ECM environment. In this review, we provide a summary of various studies that used these 3D hydrogel models to assess the regulation of the ECM on lung fibroblast phenotype and function in altered lung ECM homeostasis in health and in chronic respiratory disease.

Therapeutic potential of nanotechnology in reproduction disorders and possible limitations

One of the prominent peculiarities of nanoparticles (NPs) is their ability to cross biological barriers. Therefore, the development of NPs with different properties has great therapeutic potential in the area of reproduction because the association of drugs, hormones and other compounds with NPs represents an alternative for delivering substances directly at a specific site and for treatment of reproductive problems. Additionally, lipid-based NPs can be taken up by the tissues of patients with ovarian failure, deep endometriosis, testicular dysfunctions, etc., opening up new perspectives for the treatment of these diseases. The development of nanomaterials with specific size, shape, ligand density and charge certainly will contribute to the next generation of therapies to solve fertility problems in humans. Therefore, this review discusses the potential of NPs to treat reproductive disorders, as well as to regulate the levels of the associated hormones. The possible limitations of the clinical use of NPs are also highlighted.

Aptamers against cancer drug resistance: Small fighters switching tactics in the face of defeat

Discovering novel cancer therapies has attracted extreme interest in the last decade. In this regard, multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapies is a key challenge in cancer treatment. Cancerous cells are growingly become resistant to existing chemotherapeutics by employing diverse mechanisms, highlighting the significance of discovering approaches to overcome MDR. One promising strategy is utilizing aptamers as unique tools to target elements or signaling pathways incorporated in resistance mechanisms, or develop actively targeted drug delivery systems or chimeras enabling the precise delivery of novel agents to inhibit the conventionally undruggable resistance elements. Furthermore, due to their advantages over their proteinaceous counterparts, particularly antibodies, including improved targeting action, enhanced thermal stability, easier production, and superior tumor penetration, aptamers are emerging and have frequently been considered for developing cancer therapeutics. Here, we highlighted significant chemoresistance pathways in cancer and discussed the use of aptamers as prospective tools to surmount cancer MDR.

Highlights on Cell-Penetrating Peptides and Polymer-Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticle: Overview and Therapeutic Applications for Targeted Anticancer Therapy

Polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLHNs) have been widely used as a vehicle for carrying anticancer owing to its unique framework of polymer and lipid combining and giving the maximum advantages over the lipid and polymer nanoparticle drug delivery system. Surface modification of PLHNs aids in improved targeting and active delivery of the encapsulated drug. Therefore, surface modification of the PLHNs with the cell-penetrating peptide is explored by many researchers and is explained in this review. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are made up of few amino acid sequence and act by disrupting the cell membrane and transferring the cargos into the cell. Ideally, we can say that CPPs are peptide chains which are cell specific and are biocompatible, noninvasive type of delivery vehicle which can transport siRNA, protein, peptides, macromolecules, pDNA, etc. into the cell effectively. Therefore, this review focuses on the structure, type, and method of preparation of PLHNs also about the uptake mechanism of CPPs and concludes with the therapeutic application of PLHNs surface modified with the CPPs and their theranostics.

Lipid-Based Inhalable Micro- and Nanocarriers of Active Agents for Treating Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) afflicts about 2 million people worldwide, with both genetic (familial) and environmental factors contributing to its development and spread. The inadequacy of currently available therapeutic techniques, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, in addressing NSCLC is reflected in the very low survival rate of this disease. Therefore, newer approaches and combination therapy regimens are required to reverse this dismal scenario. Direct administration of inhalable nanotherapeutic agents to the cancer sites can potentially lead to optimal drug use, negligible side effects, and high therapeutic gain. Lipid-based nanoparticles are ideal agents for inhalable delivery owing to their high drug loading, ideal physical traits, sustained drug release, and biocompatibility. Drugs loaded within several lipid-based nanoformulations, such as liposomes, solid-lipid nanoparticles, lipid-based micelles, etc., have been developed as both aqueous dispersed formulations as well as dry-powder formulations for inhalable delivery in NSCLC models in vitro and in vivo. This review chronicles such developments and charts the future prospects of such nanoformulations in the treatment of NSCLC.

Advanced cancer targeting using aptamer functionalized nanocarriers for site-specific cargo delivery

The non-specificity of standard anticancer therapies has profound detrimental consequences in clinical treatment. Therapeutic specificity can be precisely achieved using cutting-edge ligands. Small synthetic oligonucleotide-ligands chosen through Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) would be an unceasing innovation in using nucleic acids as aptamers, frequently referred to as "chemical antibodies." Aptamers act as externally controlled switching materials that can attach to various substrates, for example, membrane proteins or nucleic acid structures. Aptamers pose excellent specificity and affinity for target molecules and can be used as medicines to suppress tumor cell growth directly. The creation of aptamer-conjugated nanoconstructs has recently opened up innovative options in cancer therapy that are more effective and target tumor cells with minor toxicity to healthy tissues. This review focuses on a comprehensive description of the most capable classes of aptamer-tethered nanocarriers for precise recognition of cancer cells with significant development in proficiency, selectivity, and targetability for cancer therapy. Existing theranostic applications with the problems and future directions are also highlighted.

Aptamers in cancer therapy: problems and new breakthroughs

Aptamers, a class of oligonucleotides that can bind with molecular targets with high affinity and specificity, have been widely applied in research fields including biosensing, imaging, diagnosing, and therapy of diseases. However, compared with the rapid development in the research fields, the clinical application of aptamers is progressing at a much slower speed, especially in the therapy of cancer. Obstructions including nuclease degradation, renal clearance, a complex selection process, and potential side effects have inhibited the clinical transformation of aptamer-conjugated drugs. To overcome these problems, taking certain measures to improve the biocompatibility and stability of aptamer-conjugated drugs in vivo is necessary. In this review, the obstructions mentioned above are thoroughly discussed and the methods to overcome these problems are introduced in detail. Furthermore, landmark research works and the most recent studies on aptamer-conjugated drugs for cancer therapy are also listed as examples, and the future directions of research for aptamer clinical transformation are discussed.

Nano-Enabled Strategies for the Treatment of Lung Cancer: Potential Bottlenecks and Future Perspectives

On a global scale, lung cancer is acknowledged to be the major driver of cancer death attributable to treatment challenges and poor prognosis. Classical cancer treatment regimens, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, can be used to treat lung cancer, but the appended adverse effects limit them. Because of the numerous side effects associated with these treatment modalities, it is crucial to strive to develop novel and better strategies for managing lung cancer. Attributes such as enhanced bioavailability, better in vivo stability, intestinal absorption pattern, solubility, prolonged and targeted distribution, and the superior therapeutic effectiveness of numerous anticancer drugs have all been boosted with the emergence of nano-based therapeutic systems. Lipid-based polymeric and inorganic nano-formulations are now being explored for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics for lung cancer treatment. Nano-based approaches are pioneering the route for primary and metastatic lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. The implementation and development of innovative nanocarriers for drug administration, particularly for developing cancer therapies, is an intriguing and challenging task in the scientific domain. The current article provides an overview of the delivery methods, such as passive and active targeting for chemotherapeutics to treat lung cancer. Combinatorial drug therapy and techniques to overcome drug resistance in lung cancer cells, as potential ways to increase treatment effectiveness, are also discussed. In addition, the clinical studies of the potential therapies at different stages and the associated challenges are also presented. A summary of patent literature has also been included to keep readers aware of the new and innovative nanotechnology-based ways to treat lung cancer.

Binary Nanodrug-Delivery System Designed for Leukemia Therapy: Aptamer- and Transferrin-Codecorated Daunorubicin- and Luteolin-Coloaded Nanoparticles

Objective

This study aimed to develop a binary nanodrug-delivery system decorated with aptamers (APs) and transferrin (Tf) and loaded with daunorubicin (Drn) and luteolin (Lut) for the treatment of leukemia.

Methods

Oligonucleotide AP- and Tf-contaiing ligands were designed and synthesized separately. AP-decorated Drn-loaded nanoparticles (AP-Drn NPs) and Tf-Lut NPs were prepared by self-assembly. An AP- and Tf-codecorated Drn- and Lut-coloaded nanodrug-delivery system (AP/Tf-Drn/Lut NPs) was prepared by self-assembly of AP-Drn NPs and Tf-Lut NPs. In vitro and in vivo efficiency of the system was evaluated on leukemia cell line and cell-bearing mouse model in comparison with single ligand-decorated, single drug-loaded and free-drug formulations.

Results

AP/Tf-Drn/Lut NPs were spherical and nanosized (187.3±5.3 nm) and loaded with about 85% of drugs. In vitro cytotoxicity of AP/Tf-Drn/Lut NPs was remarkably higher than single ligand-decorated ones. Double drug-loaded AP/Tf-Drn/Lut NPs exhibited higher tumor-cell inhibition than single drug-loaded ones, which showed a synergic effect of the two drugs. AP/Tf-Drn/Lut NPs achieved the most efficient antileukemic activity and absence of toxicity in vivo.

Conclusion

The present study showed that AP/Tf-Drn/Lut NPs are a promising drug-delivery system for targeted treatment of leukemia, due to the synergic effect of the two drugs in this system. The limitations of this system include stability during large-scale production and application from bench to bedside.

Inhalable Formulations to Treat Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Recent Therapies and Developments

Cancer has been the leading cause of mortalities, with lung cancer contributing 18% to overall deaths. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers. The primary form of therapy used to treat lung cancer still includes oral and systemic administration of drugs, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Some patients have to go through a regime of combination therapy. Despite being the only available form of therapy, their use is limited due to the adverse effects, toxicity, and development of resistance over prolonged use. This led to a shift and progressive evolution into using pulmonary drug delivery systems. Being a non-invasive method of drug-administration and allowing localized delivery of drugs to cancer cells, inhalable drug delivery systems can lead to lower dosing and fewer systemic toxicities over other conventional routes. In this way, we can increase the actual local concentration of the drug in lungs, which will ultimately lead to better antitumor therapy. Nano-based systems also provide additional diagnostic advantages during lung cancer treatment, including imaging, screening, and tracking. Regardless of the advantages, pulmonary delivery is still in the early stages of development and various factors such as pharmacology, immunology, and toxicology should be taken into consideration for the development of suitable inhalable nano-based chemotherapeutic drugs. They face numerous physiological barriers such as lung retention and efficacy, and could also lead to toxicity due to prolonged exposure. Nano-carriers with a sustained drug release mechanism could help in overcoming these challenges. This review article will focus on the various inhalable formulations for targeted drug delivery, including nano-based delivery systems such as lipids, liposome, polymeric and inorganic nanocarriers, micelles, microparticles and nanoaggregates for lung cancer treatment. Various devices used in pulmonary drug delivery loaded on various nano-carriers are also discussed in detail.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen targeted, glutathione-sensitive nanoparticles loaded with docetaxel and enzalutamide for the delivery to prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor in men. Chemotherapy with docetaxel (DTX) and novel hormonal agents such as enzalutamide (EZL) and abiraterone are the preferred first-line therapeutic regimens. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed on the surface of PCa cells. This study aimed to prepare a PSMA targeted (Glutamate-Urea-Lysine, GUL ligand modified), glutathione (GSH)-sensitive (Cystamine, SS), DTX and EZL co-loaded nanoparticles (GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs) to treat PCa. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was conjugated with oleic acid (OA) using a GSH-sensitive ligand: cystamine (PEG-SS-OA). GUL was covalently coupled to PEG-SS-OA to achieve GUL-PEG-SS-OA. GUL-PEG-SS-OA was used to prepare GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs. To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficiency of the system, human prostate cancer cell lines and PCa cells bearing mice were applied. Single drug-loaded nanoparticle and free drugs systems were utilized for the comparison of the anticancer ability. GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs showed a size of 143.7 ± 4.1 nm, with a PDI of 0.162 ± 0.037 and a zeta potential of +29.1 ± 2.4 mV. GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs showed high cancer cell uptake of about 70%, as well as higher cell growth inhibition efficiency (a maximum 79% of cells were inhibited after treatment) than single drug-loaded NPs and free drugs. GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs showed the most prominent tumor inhibition ability and less systemic toxicity. The novel GUL-SS DTX/EZL-NPs could be used as a promising system for PCa therapy.

Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy for the Nervous System: From Bench to Bedside with Emphasis on Pediatric Neurology

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are disease-modifying agents affecting protein-coding and noncoding ribonucleic acids. Depending on the chemical modification and the location of hybridization, ASOs are able to reduce the level of toxic proteins, increase the level of functional protein, or modify the structure of impaired protein to improve function. There are multiple challenges in delivering ASOs to their site of action. Chemical modifications in the phosphodiester bond, nucleotide sugar, and nucleobase can increase structural thermodynamic stability and prevent ASO degradation. Furthermore, different particles, including viral vectors, conjugated peptides, conjugated antibodies, and nanocarriers, may improve ASO delivery. To date, six ASOs have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in three neurological disorders: spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and polyneuropathy caused by hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Ongoing preclinical and clinical studies are assessing the safety and efficacy of ASOs in multiple genetic and acquired neurological conditions. The current review provides an update on underlying mechanisms, design, chemical modifications, and delivery of ASOs. The administration of FDA-approved ASOs in neurological disorders is described, and current evidence on the safety and efficacy of ASOs in other neurological conditions, including pediatric neurological disorders, is reviewed.

Nano-based targeted drug delivery for lung cancer: therapeutic avenues and challenges

Most anticancer drugs often fail in clinical trials due to poor solubility, poor bioavailability, lack of targeted delivery and several off-target effects. Polymeric nanoparticles such as poly(lactide), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), ALB-loading paclitaxel (Abraxane® ABI-007), lomustine-loaded chitosan, gelatin (decorated with EGF receptor-targeted biotinylated EGF) and so on offer controlled and sustained drug-release properties, biocompatibility and promising anticancer effects. EGF, folic acid, transferrin, sigma and urokinase plasminogen activator receptors-targeting nano preparations improve bioavailability and accumulate drugs on the lung tumor cell surface. However, route of administration, size, pharmacokinetic properties, immune clearance and so on hamper nanomedicines' clinical uses. This review focuses on the benefits, avenues and challenges of nanoparticle-based drug-delivery systems for lung cancer treatment.

Ligand conjugated lipid-based nanocarriers for cancer theranostics

Cancer is one of the major health-related issues affecting the population worldwide and subsequently accounts for the second-largest death. Genetic and epigenetic modifications in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes affect the regulatory systems that lead to the initiation and progression of cancer. Conventional methods, including chemotherapy/radiotherapy/appropriate combinational therapy and surgery, are being widely used for theranostics of cancer patients. Surgery is useful in treating localized tumors, but it is ineffective in treating metastatic tumors, which spread to other organs and result in a high recurrence rate and death. Also, the therapeutic application of free drugs is related to substantial issues such as poor absorption, solubility, bioavailability, high degradation rate, short shelf-life, and low therapeutic index. Therefore, these issues can be sorted out using nano lipid-based carriers (NLBCs) as promising drug delivery carriers. Still, at most, they fail to achieve site targeted drug delivery and detection. This can be achieved by selecting a specific ligand/antibody for its cognate receptor molecule expressed on the surface of cancer cell. In this review, we have mainly discussed the various types of ligands used to decorate NLBCs. A list of the ligands used to design nanocarriers to target malignant cells has been extensively undertaken. The approved ligand decorated lipid-based nanomedicines with their clinical status has been explained in tabulated form to provide a wider scope to the readers regarding ligand coupled NLBCs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Recent Advances in Nanoparticle-Based Co-Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy

Cancer therapies have advanced tremendously throughout the last decade, yet multiple factors still hinder the success of the different cancer therapeutics. The traditional therapeutic approach has been proven insufficient and lacking in the suppression of tumor growth. The simultaneous delivery of multiple small-molecule chemotherapeutic drugs and genes improves the effectiveness of each treatment, thus optimizing efficacy and improving synergistic effects. Nanomedicines integrating inorganic, lipid, and polymeric-based nanoparticles have been designed to regulate the spatiotemporal release of the encapsulated drugs. Multidrug-loaded nanocarriers are a potential strategy to fight cancer and the incorporation of co-delivery systems as a feasible treatment method has projected synergistic benefits and limited undesirable effects. Moreover, the development of co-delivery systems for maximum therapeutic impact necessitates better knowledge of the appropriate therapeutic agent ratio as well as the inherent heterogeneity of the cancer cells. Co-delivery systems can simplify clinical processes and increase patient quality of life, even though such systems are more difficult to prepare than single drug delivery systems. This review highlights the progress attained in the development and design of nano carrier-based co-delivery systems and discusses the limitations, challenges, and future perspectives in the design and fabrication of co-delivery systems.

Taxanes prodrug-based nanomedicines for cancer therapy

Malignant tumor remains a huge threat to human health and chemotherapy still occupies an important place in clinical tumor treatment. As a kind of potent antimitotic agent, taxanes act as the first-line broad-spectrum cancer drug in clinical use. However, disadvantages such as prominent hydrophobicity, severe off-target toxicity or multidrug resistance lead to unsatisfactory therapeutic effects, which restricts its wider usage. The efficient delivery of taxanes is still quite a challenge despite the rapid developments in biomaterials and nanotechnology. Great progress has been made in prodrug-based nanomedicines (PNS) for cancer therapy due to their outstanding advantages such as high drug loading efficiency, low carrier induced immunogenicity, tumor stimuli-responsive drug release, combinational therapy and so on. Based on the numerous developments in this filed, this review summarized latest updates of taxanes prodrugs-based nanomedicines (TPNS), focusing on polymer-drug conjugate-based nanoformulations, small molecular prodrug-based self-assembled nanoparticles and prodrug-encapsulated nanosystems. In addition, the new trends of tumor stimuli-responsive TPNS were also discussed. Moreover, the future challenges of TPNS for clinical translation were highlighted. We here expect this review will inspire researchers to explore more practical taxanes prodrug-based nano-delivery systems for clinical use.

Combined and targeted drugs delivery system for colorectal cancer treatment: Conatumumab decorated, reactive oxygen species sensitive irinotecan prodrug and quercetin co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers

PURPOSE

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer and this study aimed to develop a conatumumab decorated, irinotecan prodrug and quercetin co-loaded delivery system for combined and targeted colorectal cancer treatment.

METHODS

A conatumumab (C) decorated, irinotecan prodrug (I-p) and quercetin (Q) co-encapsulated NLC (C I-p/Q NLC) was developed. In vitro and in vivo antitumor efficiency of NLC was evaluated on CRC cells and mice xenograft.

RESULTS

The results showed that the HT-29 cells uptake of C I-p/Q NLC was over 70%. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensitive irinotecan prodrug formulation showed improved drug release ability in hypoxic conditions. C I-p/Q NLC showed significantly higher cytotoxicity than non-decorated NLC, single drug-loaded NLC and free drugs. In vivo studies in a CRC-bearing model corroborated the capability of nanoparticles for the inhibition of cancer, leading to a reduction of tumor growth without systemic toxicity.

CONCLUSION

The conatumumab decorated, ROS sensitive prodrug contained combination nano-system is a promising platform for CRC therapy.

Carrier-free nanoparticles of camptothecin prodrug for chemo-photothermal therapy: the making, in vitro and in vivo testing

Background

Nanoscale drug delivery systems have emerged as broadly applicable approach for chemo-photothermal therapy. However, these nanoscale drug delivery systems suffer from carrier-induced toxicity, uncontrolled drug release and low drug carrying capacity issues. Thus, to develop carrier-free nanoparticles self-assembled from amphiphilic drug molecules, containing photothermal agent and anticancer drug, are very attractive.

Results

In this study, we conjugated camptothecin (CPT) with a photothermal agent new indocyanine green (IR820) via a redox-responsive disulfide linker. The resulting amphiphilic drug–drug conjugate (IR820-SS-CPT) can self-assemble into nanoparticles (IR820-SS-CPT NPs) in aqueous solution, thus remarkably improving the membrane permeability of IR820 and the aqueous solubility of CPT. The disulfide bond in the IR820-SS-CPT NPs could be cleaved in GSH rich tumor microenvironment, leading to the on demand release of the conjugated drug. Importantly, the IR820-SS-CPT NPs displayed an extremely high therapeutic agent loading efficiency (approaching 100%). Besides, in vitro experimental results indicated that IR820-SS-CPT NPs displayed remarkable tumor cell killing efficiency. Especially, the IR820-SS-CPT NPs exhibited excellent anti-tumor effects in vivo. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted, which have indicated that the design of IR820-SS-CPT NPs can provide an efficient nanotherapeutics for chemo-photothermal therapy.

Conclusion

A novel activatable amphiphilic small molecular prodrug IR820-SS-CPT has been developed in this study, which integrated multiple advantages of GSH-triggered drug release, high therapeutic agent content, and combined chemo-photothermal therapy into one drug delivery system.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-021-01093-y.

Fabrication of versatile targeted lipopolymersomes for improved camptothecin efficacy against colon adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND

Hybrid vesicular systems (lipopolymersomes) are promising platforms for minimizing the liposomes and polymersomes disadvantages in terms of chemotherapeutic transportation. In this regard, lipopolymersome has been designed to integrate the advantage of both polymersomes and liposomes to enable better structural integrity of the bilayer after encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs while maintaining the soft nature of liposomes, superior serum stability, and high encapsulation efficiency of cargos in the bilayer segment.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In the present study, we reported preparation and characterization of five camptothecin (CPT)-loaded lipopolymersomal formulations composed of poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (lactic acid) (PEG-PLA) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) at different molar ratios using film rehydration method. Afterward, the preferred formulation was tagged with AS1411 DNA aptamer in order to evaluate the therapeutic index using nucleolin-positive colon cancer cell lines (HT29 and C26).

RESULTS

The obtained data indicated that the prepared CPT-loaded lipopolymersome at a PEG-PLA: DPPC ratio of 75:25 exhibited superior stability and high loading capacity compared to other systems. Moreover, high cytotoxicity of the aptamer-targeted lipopolymersome and increased tumor accumulation were observed in comparison with non-targeted one.

CONCLUSIONS

The designed polymer-rich lipopolymersomal platform offers bright future for the development of potent nanomedicine against cancer.

Employing siRNA tool and its delivery platforms in suppressing cisplatin resistance: Approaching to a new era of cancer chemotherapy

Although chemotherapy is a first option in treatment of cancer patients, drug resistance has led to its failure, requiring strategies to overcome it. Cancer cells are capable of switching among molecular pathways to ensure their proliferation and metastasis, leading to their resistance to chemotherapy. The molecular pathways and mechanisms that are responsible for cancer progression and growth, can be negatively affected for providing chemosensitivity. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a powerful tool extensively applied in cancer therapy in both pre-clinical (in vitro and in vivo) and clinical studies because of its potential in suppressing tumor-promoting factors. As such oncogene pathways account for cisplatin (CP) resistance, their targeting by siRNA plays an important role in reversing chemoresistance. In the present review, application of siRNA for suppressing CP resistance is discussed. The first priority of using siRNA is sensitizing cancer cells to CP-mediated apoptosis via down-regulating survivin, ATG7, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and XIAP. The cancer stem cell properties and related molecular pathways including ID1, Oct-4 and nanog are inhibited by siRNA in CP sensitivity. Cell cycle arrest and enhanced accumulation of CP in cancer cells can be obtained using siRNA. In overcoming siRNA challenges such as off-targeting feature and degradation, carriers including nanoparticles and biological carriers have been applied. These carriers are important in enhancing cellular accumulation of siRNA, elevating gene silencing efficacy and reversing CP resistance.

Oral administration co-delivery nanoparticles of docetaxel and bevacizumab for improving intestinal absorption and enhancing anticancer activity

In this study, to improve the intestinal absorption of small molecule chemotherapeutic drug docetaxel (DTX) and macromolecular monoclonal antibody drug bevacizumab (BVZ), we designed and prepared a type of co-delivery nanoparticles for the oral administration of DTX and BVZ. Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were used as the carrier of DTX nanoparticles (CPNP_DTX), and methoxy polyethylene glycol-poly (β-amino ester) (mPEG-PAE) was used as the carrier of BVZ nanoparticles (PPNP_BVZ). Then, the two nanoparticles were physically mixed in mass ratios to form mixed co-delivery nanoparticles, which was named as CPNP_DTX&PPNP_BVZ. The nanoparticles were characterized with pH-sensitive drug release property. CPNP_DTX&PPNP_BVZ could significantly increase the bioavailability of DTX and BVZ according to the more cellular uptake in Caco-2 cells and the higher absorption in the intestinal tissue. Compared with free DTX and BVZ, CPNP_DTX&PPNP_BVZ showed excellent cytotoxic effects on A549 cells. Our study revealed the potential of co-delivery nanoparticles of binary mixture of chemotherapeutic small molecule and macromolecular antibody drug as an oral administration therapeutic system.

Abdulbaqi I, Parumasivam T, Mohtar N, A. Wahab H. Advances in Nanocarriers for Effective Delivery of Docetaxel in the Treatment of Lung Cancer: An Overview

Docetaxel (DCX) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic drug used in the treatment of different types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The drug is known to have low oral bioavailability due to its low aqueous solubility, poor membrane permeability and susceptibility to hepatic first-pass metabolism. To mitigate these problems, DCX is administered via the intravenous route. Currently, DCX is commercially available as a single vial that contains polysorbate 80 and ethanol to solubilize the poorly soluble drug. However, this formulation causes short- and long-term side effects, including hypersensitivity, febrile neutropenia, fatigue, fluid retention, and peripheral neuropathy. DCX is also a substrate to the drug efflux pump P-glycoprotein (P-gp) that would reduce its concentration within the vicinity of the cells and lead to the development of drug resistance. Hence, the incorporation of DCX into various nanocarrier systems has garnered a significant amount of attention in recent years to overcome these drawbacks. The surfaces of these drug-delivery systems indeed can be functionalized by modification with different ligands for smart targeting towards cancerous cells. This article provides an overview of the latest nanotechnological approaches and the delivery systems that were developed for passive and active delivery of DCX via different routes of administration for the treatment of lung cancer.

Nanotechnology in pulmonary medicine

Nanotechnology in medicine—nanomedicine—is extensively employed to diagnose, treat, and prevent pulmonary diseases. Over the last few years, this brave new world has made remarkable progress, offering opportunities to address historical clinical challenges in pulmonary diseases including multidrug resistance, adverse side effects of conventional therapeutic agents, novel imaging, and earlier disease detection. Nanomedicine is also being applied to tackle the new emerging infectious diseases, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), influenza A virus subtype H1N1 (A/H1N1), and more recently, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this review we provide both a historical overview of the application of nanomedicine to respiratory diseases and more recent cutting-edge approaches such as nanoparticle-mediated combination therapies, novel double-targeted nondrug delivery system for targeting, stimuli-responsive nanoparticles, and theranostic imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary diseases.