Low-density lipoprotein-coupled micelles with reduction and pH dual sensitivity for intelligent co-delivery of paclitaxel and siRNA to breast tumor

The impact of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family on multidrug resistance in head and neck tumors

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family is among the largest protein superfamilies, consisting of seven subfamilies, and plays an important role in various physiological processes and in the clinical manifestations of many diseases. The early clinical signs of head and neck cancer (HNC) are often subtle, resulting in most patients being diagnosed at more advanced stages. This late diagnosis adversely affects tumor treatment, and the resistance of certain tumors to chemotherapy further poses significant challenges for clinical management. Several previous studies have indicated a correlation between the ABC protein family and multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumors. This article offers a thorough review of the subfamilies, structures, functions, and roles of ABC transporters in MDR related to head and neck tumors, with the aim of providing insights and recommendations for overcoming MDR in this context.

Stimuli-responsive chitosan based nanoparticles in cancer therapy and diagnosis: A review

Chitosan, obtained through deacetylation of chitin, has been shown to a promising biopolymer for the development of nano- and micro-particles. In spite of inherent anti-cancer activity of chitosan, the employment of this carbohydrate polymer for the synthesis of nanoparticles opens a new gate in disease therapy. The properties of chitosan including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and modifiability are vital in enhancing these nanoparticles, allowing for improved solubility and interaction with cellular targets. Among the pathological events, cancer has demonstrated an increase in incidence rate and therefore, the chitosan nanoparticles have been significantly utilized in cancer therapy. The present review emphasizes on the role of stimuli-responsive chitosan nanoparticles in the field of cancer therapy. The stimuli-responsive nanoparticles can release the cargo in the tumor site that not only improves the anti-cancer activity of chemotherapy drugs, but also diminishes their systemic toxicity. The stimuli-responsive chitosan nanoparticles can respond to endogenous and exogenous stimuli including pH, redox and light to release cargo. This improves the specificity towards tumor cells and enhances accumulation of drugs and/or drugs. The light-responsive chitosan nanoparticles can cause photothermal and photodynamic therapy in tumor ablation and provide theranostic feature that is cancer diagnosis and therapy simultaneously.

Delivery of Chemotherapy Agents and Nucleic Acids with pH-Dependent Nanoparticles

With less than one percent of systemically injected nanoparticles accumulating in tumors, several novel approaches have been spurred to direct and release the therapy in or near tumors. One such approach depends on the acidic pH of the extracellular matrix and endosomes of the tumor. With an average pH of 6.8, the extracellular tumor matrix provides a gradient for pH-responsive particles to accumulate, enabling greater specificity. Upon uptake by tumor cells, nanoparticles are further exposed to lower pHs, reaching a pH of 5 in late endosomes. Based on these two acidic environments in the tumor, various pH-dependent targeting strategies have been employed to release chemotherapy or the combination of chemotherapy and nucleic acids from macromolecules such as the keratin protein or polymeric nanoparticles. We will review these release strategies, including pH-sensitive linkages between the carrier and hydrophobic chemotherapy agent, the protonation and disruption of polymeric nanoparticles, an amalgam of these first two approaches, and the release of polymers shielding drug-loaded nanoparticles. While several pH-sensitive strategies have demonstrated marked antitumor efficacy in preclinical trials, many studies are early in their development with several obstacles that may limit their clinical use.

Recent Development of LDL-Based Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), a natural lipoprotein transporting cholesterol in the circulatory system, has been a possible drug carrier for targeted delivery. LDL can bind to the LDL receptor (LDLR) with its outside apolipoprotein B-100 and then enter the cell via LDLR-mediated endocytosis. This targeting function inspires researchers to modify LDL to deliver different therapeutic drugs. Drugs can be loaded in the surficial phospholipids, hydrophobic core, or apolipoprotein for the structure of LDL. In addition, LDL-like synthetic nanoparticles carrying therapeutic drugs are also under investigation for the scarcity of natural LDL. In addition to being a carrier, LDL can also be a targeting molecule, decorated to the surface of synthetic nanoparticles loaded with cytotoxic compounds. This review summarizes the properties of LDL and the different kinds of LDL-based delivery nanoparticles, their loading strategies, and the achievements of the recent anti-tumor advancement.

Recent Advancements in the Design of Nanodelivery Systems of siRNA for Cancer Therapy

RNA interference (RNAi) has increased the possibility of restoring RNA drug targets for cancer treatment. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a promising therapeutic RNAi tool that targets the defective gene by inhibiting its mRNA expression and stopping its translation. However, siRNAs have flaws like poor intracellular trafficking, RNase degradation, rapid kidney filtration, off-targeting, and toxicity, which limit their therapeutic efficiency. Nanocarriers (NCs) have been designed to overcome such flaws and increase antitumor activity. Combining siRNA and anticancer drugs can give synergistic effects in cancer cells, making them a significant gene-modification tool in cancer therapy. Our discussion of NCs-mediated siRNA delivery in this review includes their mechanism, limitations, and advantages in comparison with naked siRNA delivery. We will also discuss organic NCs (polymers and lipids) and inorganic NCs (quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, and gold) that have been reported for extensive delivery of therapeutic siRNA to tumor sites. Finally, we will conclude by discussing the studies based on organic and inorganic NCs-mediated siRNA drug delivery systems conducted in the years 2020 and 2021.

Nanoparticles design considerations to co-deliver nucleic acids and anti-cancer drugs for chemoresistance reversal

Chemoresistance and hence the consequent treatment failure is considerably challenging in clinical cancer therapeutics. The understanding of the genetic variations in chemoresistance acquisition encouraged the use of gene modulatory approaches to restore anti-cancer drug efficacy. Many smart nanoparticles are designed and optimized to mediate combinational therapy between nucleic acid and anti-cancer drugs. This review aims to define a rational design of such co-loaded nanocarriers with the aim of chemoresistance reversal at various cellular levels to improve the therapeutic outcome of anticancer treatment. Going through the principles of therapeutics loading, physicochemical characteristics tuning, and different nanocarrier modifications, also looking at combination effectiveness on chemosensitivity restoration. Up to now, these emerging nanocarriers are in development status but are expected to introduce outstanding outcomes.

pH-Sensitive Targeting of Tumors with Chemotherapy-Laden Nanoparticles: Progress and Challenges

Accumulating chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin within a tumor while limiting the drug dose to normal tissues is a central goal of drug delivery with nanoparticles. Liposomal products such as Doxil® represent one of the marked successes of nanoparticle-based strategies. To replicate this success for cancer treatment, many approaches with nanoparticles are being explored in order to direct and release chemotherapeutic agents to achieve higher accumulation in tumors. A promising approach has been stimulus-based therapy, such as the release of chemotherapeutic agents from the nanoparticles in the acidic environments of the tumor matrix or the tumor endosomes. Upon reaching the acidic environments of the tumor, the particles, which are made up of pH-dependent polymers, become charged and release the entrapped chemotherapy agents. This review discusses recent advances in and prospects for pH-dependent histidine-based nanoparticles that deliver chemotherapeutic agents to tumors. The strategies used by investigators include an array of histidine-containing peptides and polymers which form micelles, mixed micelles, nanovesicles, polyplexes, and coat particles. To date, several promising histidine-based nanoparticles have been demonstrated to produce marked inhibition of tumor growth, but challenges remain for successful outcomes in clinical trials. The lessons learned from these histidine-containing particles will provide insight in the development of improved pH-dependent polymeric delivery systems for chemotherapy.

Application Perspectives of Nanomedicine in Cancer Treatment

Cancer is a disease that seriously threatens human health. Based on the improvement of traditional treatment methods and the development of new treatment modes, the pattern of cancer treatment is constantly being optimized. Nanomedicine plays an important role in these evolving tumor treatment modalities. In this article, we outline the applications of nanomedicine in three important tumor-related fields: chemotherapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. According to the current common problems, such as poor targeting of first-line chemotherapy drugs, easy destruction of nucleic acid drugs, and common immune-related adverse events in immunotherapy, we discuss how nanomedicine can be combined with these treatment modalities, provide typical examples, and summarize the advantages brought by the application of nanomedicine.

Statins Lower Lipid Synthesis But Promote Secretion of Cholesterol-Enriched Extracellular Vesicles and Particles

Lipid droplets are lipid-rich cytosolic organelles that play roles in cell signaling, membrane trafficking, and many other cellular activities. Recent studies revealed that lipid droplets in cancer cells have various biological functions, such as energy production, membrane synthesis, and chemoresistance, thereby fostering cancer progression. Accordingly, the administration of antilipemic agents could improve anti-cancer treatment efficacy given hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs could be encapsulated into lipid droplets and then expelled to extracellular space. In this study, we investigated whether statins could promote treatment efficacy of lipid droplet-rich ovarian SKOV-3 cells and the potential influences on generation and composition of cell-derived extracellular vesicles and particles (EVP). Our studies indicate that statins can significantly lower lipid biosynthesis. Moreover, statins can inhibit proliferation, migration, and invasion of SKOV-3 cells and enhance chemosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, statins can lower EVP secretion but enforce the release of cholesterol-enriched EVPs, which can further lower lipid contents in parental cells. It is the first time that the influence of statins on EVP generation and EVP-lipid composition is observed. Overall, we demonstrated that statins could inhibit lipid production, expel cholesterol to extracellular space via EVPs, and improve chemosensitivity.

Noncoding RNAs and their therapeutics in paclitaxel chemotherapy: Mechanisms of initiation, progression, and drug sensitivity

The identification of agents that can reverse drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy, and enhance the overall efficacy is of great interest. Paclitaxel (PTX) belongs to taxane family that exerts an antitumor effect by stabilizing microtubules and inhibiting cell cycle progression. However, PTX resistance often develops in tumors due to the overexpression of drug transporters and tumor-promoting pathways. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are modulators of many processes in cancer cells, such as apoptosis, migration, differentiation, and angiogenesis. In the present study, we summarize the effects of ncRNAs on PTX chemotherapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can have opposite effects on PTX resistance (stimulation or inhibition) via influencing YES1, SK2, MRP1, and STAT3. Moreover, miRNAs modulate the growth and migration rates of tumor cells in regulating PTX efficacy. PIWI-interacting RNAs, small interfering RNAs, and short-hairpin RNAs are other members of ncRNAs regulating PTX sensitivity of cancer cells. Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are similar to miRNAs and can modulate PTX resistance/sensitivity by their influence on miRNAs and drug efflux transport. The cytotoxicity of PTX against tumor cells can also be affected by circular RNAs (circRNAs) and limitation is that oncogenic circRNAs have been emphasized and experiments should also focus on onco-suppressor circRNAs.

Decreased serum apolipoprotein A1 level predicts poor prognosis of patients with de novo myelodysplastic syndromes

BACKGROUND

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is a group of heterogeneous myeloid clonal diseases originating from hematopoietic stem cells. It has been demonstrated that apolipoproteins A1(ApoA1) are associated with disease risk in many cancer types. However, there still lacks evidence regarding the link between ApoA1 and MDS. This study was designed to investigate the prognostic value of pretreatment ApoA1 levels in MDS patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 228 MDS patients to explore the prognostic value of the serum ApoA1 levels at diagnosis. Patients were divided into the high ApoA1 group and the low ApoA1 group. The prognostic significance was determined by univariate and multivariate Cox hazard models.

RESULTS

MDS patients with low ApoA1 levels had significantly shorter overall survival (OS, P < 0.0001) along with a higher frequency of TP53 mutation (P = 0.002). Based on univariate analysis, age (≥ 60 years), gender (male), lower levels of hemoglobin (< 10 g/dl), HDL (≤0.91 mmol/L), higher bone marrow blast percentage (> 5%), higher IPSS-R scores and poorer karyotype were significantly associated with decreased OS. However, low ApoA1 level did not influence leukemia-free survival (LFS, P = 0.367). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that low ApoA1 level (≤ 1.02 g/L) was also an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS in MDS (P = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased ApoA1 level predicts a poor prognosis of MDS patients and thus provides a novel evaluation factor for them that is independent of the IPSS-R system.

Carbon nanotubes as an emerging nanocarrier for the delivery of doxorubicin for improved chemotherapy

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a versatile nanocarrier for doxorubicin (DOX) delivery had attracted significant attention in drug delivery of pharmaceuticals. Several properties such as high surface area, high drug loading capacity, stability, ease of functionalization, ultrahigh length to diameter ratio and good cellular uptake make them preferred nanocarrier as multipurpose drug delivery system. Several surface properties of CNTs can be easily modified by covalent/noncovalent functionalization, which can make CNTs a profound nanomaterial. Hydrophobic surface of CNTs facilitated π-π stacking interactions, with several drugs and therapeutic agents having aromatic ring in their structure, for example anthracyclines. In case some drug molecules, electrostatic interaction between drug and CNTs comes into the picture. DOX, an anthracycline anticancer drug, can easily adsorb on the surface of CNTs by π-π stacking interactions. In present article, we have reviewed various CNTs based drug delivery systems for the delivery of DOX alone or in combination with genetic materials and other drug molecules. In addition, we described recent updates in CNTs based drug delivery system for the delivery of DOX, we covered adsorption and desorption, different types of functionalization, to alter the properties of CNTs in vitro and in vivo. CNT attached many targeting ligands for the targeted delivery of DOX have also been discussed.

Nanotechnology lights up the antitumor potency by combining chemotherapy with siRNA

Nanotechnology-based combination anticancer therapy offers novel approaches to overcome the limitations of single-agent administration. The emerging siRNA technology combined with chemotherapy has shown considerable promise in anticancer therapy. There are three main challenges in the fabrication of siRNA/chemotherapeutic drug co-loaded nanovectors: adequate cargo protection, precise targeted delivery, and site-specific cargo release. This review presents a summary of the nanosystems that have recently been developed for co-delivering siRNA and chemotherapeutic drugs. Their combined therapeutic effects are also discussed.

Nanotechnology-Based Strategies to Overcome Current Barriers in Gene Delivery

Nanomaterials are currently being developed for the specific cell/tissue/organ delivery of genetic material. Nanomaterials are considered as non-viral vectors for gene therapy use. However, there are several requirements for developing a device small enough to become an efficient gene-delivery tool. Considering that the non-viral vectors tested so far show very low efficiency of gene delivery, there is a need to develop nanotechnology-based strategies to overcome current barriers in gene delivery. Selected nanostructures can incorporate several genetic materials, such as plasmid DNA, mRNA, and siRNA. In the field of nanotechnologies, there are still some limitations yet to be resolved for their use as gene delivery systems, such as potential toxicity and low transfection efficiency. Undeniably, novel properties at the nanoscale are essential to overcome these limitations. In this paper, we will explore the latest advances in nanotechnology in the gene delivery field.

[Correlation between Pretreatment Serum Apolipoprotein Level and Prognosis of Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients]

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has a poor prognosis in all types of lung cancer. This study evaluated the relationship between pretreatment serum apolipoprotein levels and prognosis in patients with SCLC, seeks a new index can guide diagnosis and treatment of SCLC.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 122 patients with SCLC. The clinical results of patients with serum apolipoprotein levels within 2 weeks before treatment were collected, including apolipoprotein AI (ApoA-I), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and the ratio of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein AI (ApoB/ApoA-I). Patients' progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) are the main outcome indicators. The best critical to determine the index's value by X-tile tool. For survival analysis, Kaplan-Meier method was used for analysis, and Cox regression analysis method was used for single factor analysis and multifactor analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with patients with low ApoA-I levels, patients with high ApoA-I levels (ApoA-I>1.12 g/L) had better OS (21.5 mon vs 12.3 mon, P=0.007) and PFS (7.3 mon vs 5.5 mon, P=0.017). In contrast, patients with higher ApoB/ApoA-I levels had worse median OS than patients with lower ApoB/ApoA-I levels (13.4 mon vs 20.7 mon, P=0.012). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that ApoA-I was an independent prognostic factor affecting PFS in SCLC patients (HR=0.67, 95%CI: 0.45-0.99, P=0.043). ApoB/ApoA-I is an independent risk factor for OS in patients with SCLC (HR=1.98, 95%CI: 1.21-3.23, P=0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum ApoA-I level and ApoB/ApoA-I level before treatment can be important prognostic factors for SCLC, which is helpful to judge the prognosis of patients.

Multifunctional polymeric micellar nanomedicine in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer

Polymeric micelles are a prevalent topic of research for the past decade, especially concerning their fitting ability to deliver drug and diagnostic agents. This delivery system offers outstanding advantages, such as biocompatibility, high loading efficiency, water-solubility, and good stability in biological fluids, to name a few. The multifunctional polymeric micellar architect offers the added capability to adapt its surface to meet the looked-for clinical needs. This review cross-talks the recent reports, proof-of-concept studies, patents, and clinical trials that utilize polymeric micellar family architectures concerning cancer targeted delivery of anticancer drugs, gene therapeutics, and diagnostic agents. The manuscript also expounds on the underlying opportunities, allied challenges, and ways to resolve their bench-to-bedside translation for allied clinical applications.

Skeletal Muscle-Adipose Tissue-Tumor Axis: Molecular Mechanisms Linking Exercise Training in Prostate Cancer

Increased visceral adiposity may influence the development of prostate cancer (PCa) aggressive tumors and cancer mortality. White adipose tissue (WAT), usually referred to as periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT), surrounds the prostatic gland and has emerged as a potential mediator of the tumor microenvironment. Exercise training (ET) induces several adaptations in both skeletal muscle and WAT. Some of these effects are mediated by ET-induced synthesis and secretion of several proteins, known as myo- and adipokines. Together, myokines and adipokines may act in an endocrine-like manner to favor communication between skeletal muscle and WAT, as they may work together to improve whole-body metabolic health. This crosstalk may constitute a potential mechanism by which ET exerts its beneficial role in the prevention and treatment of PCa-related disorders; however, this has not yet been explored. Therefore, we reviewed the current evidence on the effects of skeletal muscle–WAT–tumor crosstalk in PCa, and the potential mediators of this process to provide a better understanding of underlying ET-related mechanisms in cancer.

The Therapeutic Efficacy of Dendrimer and Micelle Formulations for Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer is among the most common types of cancer in women and it is the cause of a high rate of mortality globally. The use of anticancer drugs is the standard treatment approach used for this type of cancer. However, most of these drugs are limited by multi-drug resistance, drug toxicity, poor drug bioavailability, low water solubility, poor pharmacokinetics, etc. To overcome multi-drug resistance, combinations of two or more anticancer drugs are used. However, the combination of two or more anticancer drugs produce toxic side effects. Micelles and dendrimers are promising drug delivery systems that can overcome the limitations associated with the currently used anticancer drugs. They have the capability to overcome drug resistance, reduce drug toxicity, improve the drug solubility and bioavailability. Different classes of anticancer drugs have been loaded into micelles and dendrimers, resulting in targeted drug delivery, sustained drug release mechanism, increased cellular uptake, reduced toxic side effects of the loaded drugs with enhanced anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. This review article reports the biological outcomes of dendrimers and micelles loaded with different known anticancer agents on breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Progress in Natural Compounds/siRNA Co-delivery Employing Nanovehicles for Cancer Therapy

Chemotherapy using natural compounds, such as resveratrol, curcumin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, etoposide, doxorubicin, and camptothecin, is of importance in cancer therapy because of the outstanding therapeutic activity and multitargeting capability of these compounds. However, poor solubility and bioavailability of natural compounds have limited their efficacy in cancer therapy. To circumvent this hurdle, nanocarriers have been designed to improve the antitumor activity of the aforementioned compounds. Nevertheless, cancer treatment is still a challenge, demanding novel strategies. It is well-known that a combination of natural products and gene therapy is advantageous over monotherapy. Delivery of multiple therapeutic agents/small interfering RNA (siRNA) as a potent gene-editing tool in cancer therapy can maximize the synergistic effects against tumor cells. In the present review, co-delivery of natural compounds/siRNA using nanovehicles are highlighted to provide a backdrop for future research.

miR-146a Enhances the Sensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells to Paclitaxel by Downregulating IRAK1

Objective: To investigate the effect of miR-146a on the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to paclitaxel (PTX). Materials and Methods: The mRNA expressions of miR-146a in normal breast cancer cells, MCF-7, and PTX-resistant breast cancer cells, MCF-7/PTX, were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MTS was used to analyze the cytotoxicity treated with different concentrations of PTX. Overexpressed and silenced cell lines of miR-146a and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) were constructed, respectively. Cells were treated with PTX and observed the changes of cell morphology. Proliferation was detected by clone formation assay. Invasion and migration were measured by transwell. RT-PCR was applied to detect the expression of IRAK1 gene. Dual luciferase report was performed to validate the target relationship between miR-146a and IRAK1. Salvage experiments were used to further verify the relationship between miR-146a and IRAK1. Results: PTX reduces the viability of MCF-7 and MCF-7/PTX cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ of PTX in MCF-7 cells was significantly lower compared with MCF-7/PTX cells (p < 0.05). Compared with MCF-7/PTX cells, the expression of miR-146a gene in MCF-7 cells was significantly increased, while the expression of IRAK1 gene was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were decreased after miR-146a overexpression or IRAK1 silencing. Whereas, miR-146a silencing and IRAK1 overexpression can increase cell proliferation, invasion, and migration ability. Salvage experiments further verify that IRAK1 can weaken the role of miR-146a. Conclusion: miR-146a can enhance the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to PTX; the mechanism may be related to the downregulation of IRAK1.

Celastrol: A Review of Useful Strategies Overcoming its Limitation in Anticancer Application

Celastrol, a natural bioactive ingredient derived from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, exhibits significant broad-spectrum anticancer activities for the treatment of a variety of cancers including liver cancer, breast cancer, prostate tumor, multiple myeloma, glioma, etc. However, the poor water stability, low bioavailability, narrow therapeutic window, and undesired side effects greatly limit its clinical application. To address this issue, some strategies were employed to improve the anticancer efficacy and reduce the side-effects of celastrol. The present review comprehensively focuses on the various challenges associated with the anticancer efficiency and drug delivery of celastrol, and the useful approaches including combination therapy, structural derivatives and nano/micro-systems development. The specific advantages for the use of celastrol mediated by these strategies are presented. Moreover, the challenges and future research directions are also discussed. Based on this review, it would provide a reference to develop a natural anticancer compound for cancer treatment.

Serum protein-based nanoparticles for cancer diagnosis and treatment

Serum protein as naturally essential biomacromolecules has recently emerged as a versatile carrier for diagnostic and therapeutic drug delivery for cancer nanomedicine with superior biocompatibility, improved pharmacokinetics and enhanced targeting capacity. A variety of serum proteins have been utilized for drug delivery, mainly including albumin, ferritin/apoferritin, transferrin, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and hemoglobin. As evidenced by the success of paclitaxel-bound albumin nanoparticles (Abraxane^TM), serum protein-based nanoparticles have gained attractive attentions for precise biological design and potential clinical application. In this review, we summarize the general design strategies, targeting mechanisms and recent development of serum protein-based nanoparticles in the field of cancer nanomedicine. Moreover, we also concisely specify the current challenges to be addressed for a bright future of serum protein-based nanomedicines.

Fluorescent MoS2 QDs based on IFE for turn-off determination of FOX-7 in real water samples

A novel method for turn-off sensing 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (FOX-7) in aqueous medium was first proposed based on the inner filter effect (IFE) of FOX-7 on the fluorescence of molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MoS₂ QDs). Water-soluble MoS₂ QDs as the fluorophore were prepared by the simple hydrothermal method. The morphology, structure, composition and optical properties of the prepared MoS₂ QDs were characterized by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra. The results showed that the MoS₂ QDs had good water dispersibility and emitted strong photoluminescence with a particle size of 2 nm. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the fluorescence signal of MoS₂ QDs was quenched in the concentrations range of FOX-7 (0.5-100 μM) and the limit of detection (LOD) of the sensor was 0.19 μM. The method had been applied to analyze the real water samples with good selectivity and stability. Moreover, the quenching mechanism was studied systematically by the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV-vis absorption spectra, fluorescence lifetime, and Stern-Volmer equation, which had been proved to be static quenching. The fluorescence quenching mechanism is mainly IFE and electron transfer.

Zwitterionic Polymer Micelles with Dual Conjugation of Doxorubicin and Curcumin: Synergistically Enhanced Efficacy against Multidrug-Resistant Tumor Cells

This paper reports a novel redox-sensitive micellar system for the co-delivery of doxorubicin (Dox) and a chemosensitizer (curcumin, Cur) to overcome the multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells. Dox and Cur were co-conjugated onto a zwitterionic polymer, poly(carboxybetaine) (pCB), to form Cur-pCB-Dox that self-assembled into stable micelles (164.2 ± 4.8 nm). Single-drug conjugates (pCB-Dox and pCB-Cur) were prepared for comparisons. Compared to the high half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of Dox (437.2 μg/mL), the IC₅₀ value of pCB-Dox (14.1 μg/mL) was only 1/33 that of Dox. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry revealed the greatly enhanced cell uptake of the conjugate due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect of tumor cells on the micellar conjugate. Co-delivery of pCB-Dox with pCB-Cur further reduced the IC₅₀ value by 37% (8.9 μg/mL). More importantly, Cur-pCB-Dox exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity against MCF-7/Adr cells (IC₅₀, 5.87 μg/mL) because the co-delivered Dox and Cur on one carrier specifically transported into the same cells, which inhibited the efflux of Dox by Cur, led to a higher intracellular Dox concentration and made the drugs exert synergistic effects at the targeting regions. The results proved the zwitterionic micelles as promising drug co-delivery vehicles for fighting against MDR.

Prognostic value of the serum apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A-I ratio in metastatic colorectal cancer patients

Background: The aim of our research was to assess the prognostic value of the apolipoprotein B (ApoB) to apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) ratio (ApoB/ApoA-I) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients.

Methods: We randomly assigned 838 patients into the training cohort (n=578) and the validation cohort (n=260). The cut-off value of the ApoB/ApoA-I in the training cohort identified by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.69 and was further validated in the validation cohort. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was carried out to eliminate the imbalance in the baseline characteristics of the high and low ApoB/ApoA-I group. The PSM cohort of 542 mCRC patients was generated. We also validated our main findings and conclusions with an independent cohort (n=150). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to explore the independent prognostic value of the ApoB/ApoA-I in the training cohort (n=578), the validation cohort (n=260), the PSM cohort (n=542) and the independent cohort (n=150).

Results: Patients in the high ApoB/ApoA-I group had significantly shorter overall survival compared to those in the low ApoB/ApoA-I group in the training cohort, the validation cohort, the PSM cohort and the independent cohort (P <0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that the ApoB/ApoA-I was an independent prognostic index for OS in the training cohort [hazard ratio (HR):1.371; 95% confidence interval (CI):1.205-1.870, P=0.045], the validation cohort (HR: 1.924; 95% CI: 1.360-2.723, P<0.001), the PSM cohort (HR: 1.599; 95% CI: 1.287-1.988, P<0.001) and the independent cohort (HR: 1.949; 95% CI: 1.014-3.747, P=0.046).

Conclusions: An increased baseline serum ApoB/ApoA-I is an independent prognostic factor for a poor prognosis in mCRC patients.

Theranostic small interfering RNA nanoparticles in cancer precision nanomedicine

Due to their ability to effectively downregulate the expression of target genes, small interfering RNA (siRNA) have emerged as promising candidates for precision medicine in cancer. Although some siRNA-based treatments have advanced to clinical trials, challenges such as poor stability during circulation, and less than optimal pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of siRNA in vivo present barriers to the systemic delivery of siRNA. In recent years, theranostic nanomedicine integrating siRNA delivery has attracted significant attention for precision medicine. Theranostic nanomedicine takes advantage of the high capacity of nanoplatforms to ferry cargo with imaging and therapeutic capabilities. These theranostic nanoplatforms have the potential to play a major role in gene specific treatments. Here we have reviewed recent advances in the use of theranostic nanoplatforms to deliver siRNA, and discussed the opportunities as well as challenges associated with this exciting technology. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants.

Traditional Chinese medicine-combination therapies utilizing nanotechnology-based targeted delivery systems: a new strategy for antitumor treatment

Cancer is a major public health problem, and is now the world’s leading cause of death. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-combination therapy is a new treatment approach and a vital therapeutic strategy for cancer, as it exhibits promising antitumor potential. Nano-targeted drug-delivery systems have remarkable advantages and allow the development of TCM-combination therapies by systematically controlling drug release and delivering drugs to solid tumors. In this review, the anticancer activity of TCM compounds is introduced. The combined use of TCM for antitumor treatment is analyzed and summarized. These combination therapies, using a single nanocarrier system, namely codelivery, are analyzed, issues that require attention are determined, and future perspectives are identified. We carried out a systematic review of >280 studies published in PubMed since 1985 (no patents involved), in order to provide a few basic considerations in terms of the design principles and management of targeted nanotechnology-based TCM-combination therapies.

Enhanced blood-brain barrier penetration and glioma therapy mediated by T7 peptide-modified low-density lipoprotein particles

Therapeutic outcome for the treatment of glioma was often limited due to the non-targeted nature and low permeability of drugs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). An ideal glioma-targeted delivery system need to traverse the BBB and then target glioma cells with adequate optimized physiochemical properties and biocompatibility. However, it is an enormous challenge to the researchers to engineer the above-mentioned features into a single nanocarrier particle. New frontiers in nanomedicine are advancing the research of new biomaterials. In this study, we demonstrate a strategy for glioma targeting by encapsulating vincristine sulfate (VCR) into a naturally available low-density lipoprotein particles (LDL)-based drug delivery system with the modification of T7 peptide ligand (T7-LDL). LDL, endogenous lipid transporters, can specifically bind to brain endothelial cells and glioma cells via interacting with the low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR). T7 is a seven-peptide ligand of transferrin receptors (TfR) capable of circumventing the BBB and then targeting glioma. By combining the dual-targeting delivery effect of T7 peptide and parent LDL, T7-LDL displayed higher glioma localization than that of parent LDL. After loading with VCR, T7-LDL showed the most favorable antiglioma effect in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrated that T7-LDL is an important potential drug delivery system for glioma-targeted therapy.

Enhanced Lysosomal Escape of pH-Responsive Polyethylenimine-Betaine Functionalized Carbon Nanotube for the Codelivery of Survivin Small Interfering RNA and Doxorubicin

The combination of gene therapy and chemotherapy has recently received considerable attention for cancer treatment. However, low transfection efficiency and poor endosomal escape of genes from nanocarriers strongly limit the success of the clinical use of small interfering RNA (siRNA). In this study, a novel pH-responsive, surface-modified single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) was designed for the codelivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and survivin siRNA. Polyethylenimine (PEI) was covalently conjugated with betaine, and the resulting PEI-betaine (PB) was further synthesized with the oxidized SWCNT to form SWCNT-PB (SPB), which exhibits an excellent pH-responsive lysosomal escape of siRNA. SPB was modified with the targeting and penetrating peptide BR2 (SPBB), thereby achieving considerably higher uptake of siRNA than SWCNT-PEI (SP) or SPB. Furthermore, SPBB-siRNA presented substantially lower survivin expression and higher apoptotic index than Lipofectamine 2000. DOX and survivin siRNA were adsorbed onto SPB to form DOX-SPBB-siRNA, and siRNA/DOX was released into the cytoplasm and nuclei of adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial (A549) cells without lysosomal retention. Compared with SPBB-siRNA or DOX-SPBB treatment alone, DOX-SPBB-siRNA significantly reduced tumor volume in A549 cell-bearing nude mice, demonstrating the synergistic effects of DOX and survivin siRNA. Pathological analysis also indicated the potential therapeutic effects of DOX-SPBB-siRNA on tumors without distinct damages to normal tissues. In conclusion, the novel functionalized SWCNT loaded with DOX and survivin siRNA was successfully synthesized, and the nanocomplex exhibited effective antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo, thereby providing an alternative strategy for the codelivery of antitumor drugs and genes.

Low-density lipoprotein decorated silica nanoparticles co-delivering sorafenib and doxorubicin for effective treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Combinational therapy is usually considered as a preferable approach for effective cancer therapy. Especially, combinational chemotherapies targeting different molecular targets are of particular interest due to its high flexibility as well as efficiency. In our study, the surface of silica nanoparticles (SLN) was modified with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to construct platform (LDL-SLN) capable of specifically targeting low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLRs) that overexpressing in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, the versatile drug loading capacity of LDL-SLN was employed to fabricate a preferable drug delivery system to co-deliver sorafenib (Sor) and doxorubicin (Dox) for combinational chemotherapy of HCC. Our results revealed that the LDL-SLN/Sor/Dox nanoparticles with size around 100 nm showed preferable stability in physiological environments. Moreover, the LDL-SLN/Sor/Dox could target LDLR overexpressed HepG2 cells. More importantly, both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the LDL-SLN/Sor/Dox exerted elevated antitumor efficacy compared to Sor or Dox alone, which indicated that LDL-SLN/Sor/Dox could be a powerful tool for effective combinational chemotherapy of HCC.

Reduction-sensitive polymeric nanomedicines: An emerging multifunctional platform for targeted cancer therapy

The development of smart delivery systems that are robust in circulation and quickly release drugs following selective internalization into target cancer cells is a key to precision cancer therapy. Interestingly, reduction-sensitive polymeric nanomedicines showing high plasma stability and triggered cytoplasmic drug release behavior have recently emerged as one of the most exciting platforms for targeted delivery of various anticancer drugs including small chemical drugs, proteins, and nucleic acids. In vivo studies in varying tumor models reveal that these reduction-sensitive multifunctional nanomedicines outperform the currently used clinical formulations and reduction-insensitive counterparts, bringing about not only significantly enhanced tumor selectivity, accumulation and inhibition efficacy but also markedly reduced systemic toxicity and improved therapeutic index. In this review, we will highlight the cutting-edge advancement with a focus on in vivo performances as well as future perspectives on reduction-sensitive polymeric nanomedicines for targeted cancer therapy.

Hybrid nanoparticles based on chlorin e6-conjugated hyaluronic acid/poly(l-histidine) copolymer for theranostic application to tumors

The aim of this study is to synthesize multifunctional hybrid nanoparticles composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(l-histidine) (PHS) with a disulfide linkage and chlorin e6 (HAPHSce6ss) for diagnostic and therapeutic application against breast tumor cells. The reductive end of HA was conjugated with cystamine to make a disulfide linkage (HA-cystamine). PHS was conjugated with Ce6 with the aid of carbodiimide chemistry (PHS-ce6). Then, HA-cystamine was conjugated with the carboxyl group of Ce6 to make an HAPHSce6ss copolymer. Nanoparticles of HAPHSce6ss copolymer have small particle sizes of less than 100 nm and their diameters increased with acidic pH, indicating that HAPHSce6ss nanoparticles have pH-sensitivity. Furthermore, ce6 was activated in the acidic environment and had redox-status in a fluorescence study. In a cell culture study, the nanoparticles were specifically targeted at the CD44 receptor of MDA-MB231 cells while CD44-negative MCF7 cells had no CD44-specificity. The nanoparticles exhibited an enhanced association with cells and were more fluorescent at acidic pH or in the presence of GSH. They inhibited the growth of tumor cells in a CD44 receptor specific or pH-sensitive manner. In an in vivo animal tumor xenograft study using mice, HAPHSce6ss nanoparticles predominantly targeted an MDA-MB231 tumor rather than an MCF7 tumor and effectively inhibited tumor growth. HAPHSce6ss nanoparticles have CD44 specificity, pH/redox dual sensitivity and a fluorescence diagnostic function against tumor cells. We suggest that HAPHSce6ss nanoparticles are a promising candidate for theranostic application to tumors.

Dual-responsive dithio-polydopamine coated porous CeO2 nanorods for targeted and synergistic drug delivery

Objective

The aim was to produce the first report of assembling degradable stimuli-responsive dithio-polydopamine coating with a cancer target unit for synergistic and targeted drug delivery.

Methods

A multifunctional drug delivery system was constructed by coating a dual-responsive dithio-polydopamine (PDS) on porous CeO₂ nanorods and subsequent conjugation of lactose derivative, where the PDS was formed by self-polymerization of dithio-dopamine (DOPASS).

Results

The multifunctional drug delivery system displayed excellent cancer targeted ability resulting from the conjugation of lactose derivative, which could specifically recognize the overexpressed asialoglycoprotein receptors on the surface of HepG2 cells. It also showed a dual-responsive property of glutathione and pH, achieving controllable drug release from the cleavage of disulfide bond and subsequent degradation of PDS in cancer cells. Moreover, the degradation of PDS led to the exposure of CeO₂ nanorods, which has a synergistic anticancer effect due to its cytotoxicity to cancer cells.

Conclusion

This work presents a good example of a rational design towards synergistic and targeted DDS for cancer chemotherapies.

Nanotechnology for Cancer Therapy Based on Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy has been widely applied in clinics. However, the therapeutic potential of chemotherapy against cancer is seriously dissatisfactory due to the nonspecific drug distribution, multidrug resistance (MDR) and the heterogeneity of cancer. Therefore, combinational therapy based on chemotherapy mediated by nanotechnology, has been the trend in clinical research at present, which can result in a remarkably increased therapeutic efficiency with few side effects to normal tissues. Moreover, to achieve the accurate pre-diagnosis and real-time monitoring for tumor, the research of nano-theranostics, which integrates diagnosis with treatment process, is a promising field in cancer treatment. In this review, the recent studies on combinational therapy based on chemotherapy will be systematically discussed. Furthermore, as a current trend in cancer treatment, advance in theranostic nanoparticles based on chemotherapy will be exemplified briefly. Finally, the present challenges and improvement tips will be presented in combination therapy and nano-theranostics.

Fundamentals of siRNA and miRNA therapeutics and a review of targeted nanoparticle delivery systems in breast cancer

Gene silencing via RNA interference (RNAi) is rapidly evolving as a personalized approach to cancer treatment. The effector molecules-small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs)-can be used to silence or "switch off" specific cancer genes. Currently, the main barrier to implementing siRNA- and miRNA-based therapies in clinical practice is the lack of an effective delivery system that can protect the RNA molecules from nuclease degradation, deliver to them to tumor tissue, and release them into the cytoplasm of the target cancer cells, all without inducing adverse effects. Here, we review the fundamentals of RNAi, cell membrane transport pathways, and factors that affect intracellular delivery. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of nanoparticle delivery systems, with a focus on those that have been investigated in breast cancer in vivo.

Nucleolin-Targeting AS1411-Aptamer-Modified Graft Polymeric Micelle with Dual pH/Redox Sensitivity Designed To Enhance Tumor Therapy through the Codelivery of Doxorubicin/TLR4 siRNA and Suppression of Invasion

In this article, a novel graft polymeric micelle with targeting function ground on aptamer AS1411 was synthesized. The micelle was based on chitosan-ss-polyethylenimine-urocanic acid (CPU) with dual pH/redox sensitivity and targeting effects. This micelle was produced for codelivering Toll-like receptor 4 siRNA (TLR4-siRNA) and doxorubicin (Dox). In vitro investigation revealed the sustained gene and drug release from Dox-siRNA-loaded micelles under physiological conditions, and this codelivery nanosystem exhibited high dual pH/redox sensitivity, rapid intracellular drug release, and improved cytotoxicity against A549 cells in vitro. Furthermore, the micelles loaded with TLR4-siRNA inhibited the migration and invasion of A549. Excellent tumor penetrating efficacy was also noted in the A549 tumor spheroids and solid tumor slices. In vivo, multiple results demonstrated the excellent tumor-targeting ability of AS1411-chitosan-ss-polyethylenimine-urocanic acid (ACPU) micelle in tumor tissues. The micelles exhibited excellent antitumor efficacy and low toxicity in the systemic circulation in lung-tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. These results conclusively demonstrated the great potential of the new graft copolymer micelle with targeting function for the targeted and efficient codelivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and genes in cancer treatment.

Recent Advances in Nanoparticle-Based Cancer Drug and Gene Delivery

Effective and safe delivery of anticancer agents is among the major challenges in cancer therapy. The majority of anticancer agents are toxic to normal cells, have poor bioavailability, and lack in vivo stability. Recent advancements in nanotechnology provide safe and efficient drug delivery systems for successful delivery of anticancer agents via nanoparticles. The physicochemical and functional properties of the nanoparticle vary for each of these anticancer agents, including chemotherapeutics, nucleic acid-based therapeutics, small molecule inhibitors, and photodynamic agents. The characteristics of the anticancer agents influence the design and development of nanoparticle carriers. This review focuses on strategies of nanoparticle-based drug delivery for various anticancer agents. Recent advancements in the field are also highlighted, with suitable examples from our own research efforts and from the literature.