Efficacy and safety of dendrimer nanoparticles with coexpression of tumor necrosis factor-α and herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase in gene radiotherapy of the human uveal melanoma OCM-1 cell line

The Contribution of Nanomedicine in Ocular Oncology

Nanomedicine is a novel and emerging field that has noted significant progress in both the fields of ophthalmology and cancer treatment. Expanding into ocular oncology, it holds the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies, such as poor drug penetration due to anatomical and physiological ocular barriers and insufficient targeting, which can lead to collateral damage to healthy tissues. By reviewing a series of clinical and preclinical studies, we aim to outline the recent advancements, current trends and future perspectives in nanomedicine for ocular cancer treatment. Beyond improving the existing therapies, like chemotherapy, phototherapies and brachytherapy, nanomedicine enables multimodal applications by combining multiple treatments or integrating imaging for theranostic approaches. Additionally, it paves the way for experimental therapies, such as gene therapy, offering new possibilities for more effective and less invasive treatment strategies in ocular oncology.

TNA-Mediated Antisense Strategy to Knockdown Akt Genes for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Therapy

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a significant challenge in terms of treatment, with limited efficacy of chemotherapy due to side effects and acquired drug resistance. In this study, a threose nucleic acid (TNA)-mediated antisense approach is employed to target therapeutic Akt genes for TNBC therapy. Specifically, two new TNA strands (anti-Akt2 and anti-Akt3) are designed and synthesized that specifically target Akt2 and Akt3 mRNAs. These TNAs exhibit exceptional enzymatic resistance, high specificity, enhance binding affinity with their target RNA molecules, and improve cellular uptake efficiency compared to natural nucleic acids. In both 2D and 3D TNBC cell models, the TNAs effectively inhibit the expression of their target mRNA and protein, surpassing the effects of scrambled TNAs. Moreover, when administered to TNBC-bearing animals in combination with lipid nanoparticles, the targeted anti-Akt TNAs lead to reduced tumor sizes and decreased target protein expression compared to control groups. Silencing the corresponding Akt genes also promotes apoptotic responses in TNBC and suppresses tumor cell proliferation in vivo. This study introduces a novel approach to TNBC therapy utilizing TNA polymers as antisense materials. Compared to conventional miRNA- and siRNA-based treatments, the TNA system holds promise as a cost-effective and scalable platform for TNBC treatment, owing to its remarkable enzymatic resistance, inexpensive synthetic reagents, and simple production procedures. It is anticipated that this TNA-based polymeric system, which targets anti-apoptotic proteins involved in breast tumor development and progression, can represent a significant advancement in the clinical development of effective antisense materials for TNBC, a cancer type that lacks effective targeted therapy.

Fostering the unleashing potential of nanocarriers-mediated delivery of ocular therapeutics

Ocular delivery is the most challenging aspect in the field of pharmaceutical research. The major hurdle for the controlled delivery of drugs to the eye includes the physiological static barriers such as the complex layers of the cornea, sclera and retina which restrict the drug from permeating into the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Recent years have witnessed inventions in the field of conventional and nanocarrier drug delivery which have shown considerable enhancement in delivering small to large molecules across the eye. The dynamic challenges associated with conventional systems include limited drug contact time and inadequate ocular bioavailability resulting from solution drainage, tear turnover, and dilution or lacrimation. To this end, various bioactive-based nanosized carriers including liposomes, ethosomes, niosomes, dendrimer, nanogel, nanofibers, contact lenses, nanoprobes, selenium nanobells, nanosponge, polymeric micelles, silver nanoparticles, and gold nanoparticles among others have been developed to circumvent the limitations associated with the conventional dosage forms. These nanocarriers have been shown to achieve enhanced drug permeation or retention and prolong drug release in the ocular tissue due to their better tissue adherence. The surface charge and the size of nanocarriers (10-1000 nm) are the important key factors to overcome ocular barriers. Various nanocarriers have been shown to deliver active therapeutic molecules including timolol maleate, ampicillin, natamycin, voriconazole, cyclosporine A, dexamethasone, moxifloxacin, and fluconazole among others for the treatment of anterior and posterior eye diseases. Taken together, in a nutshell, this extensive review provides a comprehensive perspective on the numerous facets of ocular drug delivery with a special focus on bioactive nanocarrier-based approaches, including the difficulties and constraints involved in the fabrication of nanocarriers. This also provides the detailed invention, applications, biodistribution and safety-toxicity of nanocarriers-based therapeutcis for the ophthalmic delivery.

Monoacylglycerol lipase regulates macrophage polarization and cancer progression in uveal melanoma and pan-cancer

Background

Although lipid metabolism has been proven to play a key role in the development of cancer, its significance in uveal melanoma (UM) has not yet been elucidated in the available literature.

Methods

To identify the expression patterns of lipid metabolism in 80 UM patients from the TCGA database, 47 genes involved in lipid metabolism were analyzed. Consensus clustering revealed two distinct molecular groups. ESTIMATE, TIMER, and ssGSEA analyses were done to identify the differences between the two subgroups in tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune state. Using Cox regression and Lasso regression analysis, a risk model based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was developed. To validate the expression of monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) and immune infiltration in diverse malignancies, a pan-cancer cohort from the UCSC database was utilized. Next, a single-cell sequencing analysis on UM patients from the GEO data was used to characterize the lipid metabolism in TME and the role of MGLL in UM. Finally, in vitro investigations were utilized to study the involvement of MGLL in UM.

Results

Two molecular subgroups of UM patients have considerably varied survival rates. The majority of DEGs between the two subgroups were associated with immune-related pathways. Low immune scores, high tumor purity, a low number of immune infiltrating cells, and a comparatively low immunological state were associated with a more favorable prognosis. An examination of GO and KEGG data demonstrated that the risk model based on genes involved with lipid metabolism can accurately predict survival in patients with UM. It has been demonstrated that MGLL, a crucial gene in this paradigm, promotes the proliferation, invasion, and migration of UM cells. In addition, we discovered that MGLL is strongly expressed in macrophages, specifically M2 macrophages, which may play a function in the M2 polarization of macrophages and M2 macrophage activation in cancer cells.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that the risk model based on lipid metabolism may be useful for predicting the prognosis of patients with UM. By promoting macrophage M2 polarization, MGLL contributes to the evolution of malignancy in UM, suggesting that it may be a therapeutic target for UM.

Polymer- and lipid-based nanocarriers for ocular drug delivery: Current status and future perspectives

Ocular diseases seriously affect patients' vision and life quality, with a global morbidity of over 43 million blindness. However, efficient drug delivery to treat ocular diseases, particularly intraocular disorders, remains a huge challenge due to multiple ocular barriers that significantly affect the ultimate therapeutic efficacy of drugs. Recent advances in nanocarrier technology offer a promising opportunity to overcome these barriers by providing enhanced penetration, increased retention, improved solubility, reduced toxicity, prolonged release, and targeted delivery of the loaded drug to the eyes. This review primarily provides an overview of the progress and contemporary applications of nanocarriers, mainly polymer- and lipid-based nanocarriers, in treating various eye diseases, highlighting their value in achieving efficient ocular drug delivery. Additionally, the review covers the ocular barriers and administration routes, as well as the prospective future developments and challenges in the field of nanocarriers for treating ocular diseases.

Intraocular siRNA Delivery Mediated by Penetratin Derivative to Silence Orthotopic Retinoblastoma Gene

Gene therapy brings a ray of hope for inherited ocular diseases that may cause severe vision loss and even blindness. However, due to the dynamic and static absorption barriers, it is challenging to deliver genes to the posterior segment of the eye by topical instillation. To circumvent this limitation, we developed a penetratin derivative (89WP)-modified polyamidoamine polyplex to deliver small interference RNA (siRNA) via eye drops to achieve effective gene silencing in orthotopic retinoblastoma. The polyplex could be spontaneously assembled through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, as demonstrated by isothermal titration calorimetry, and enter cells intactly. In vitro cellular internalization revealed that the polyplex possessed higher permeability and safety than the lipoplex composed of commercial cationic liposomes. After the polyplex was instilled in the conjunctival sac of the mice, the distribution of siRNA in the fundus oculi was significantly increased, and the bioluminescence from orthotopic retinoblastoma was effectively inhibited. In this work, an evolved cell-penetrating peptide was employed to modify the siRNA vector in a simple and effective way, and the formed polyplex interfered with intraocular protein expression successfully via noninvasive administration, which showed a promising prospect for gene therapy for inherited ocular diseases.

Egr1/HSP70 Promoter-Driven Activation of Gene Expression for Synergistic Anti-Hepatoma Using PEI-MZF Nanoparticles and Radiation

INTRODUCTION

Spatially restricted gene expression circumvents the gene expression and gene vector problem by enabling localized amplification. The objective of this study is to construct a spatially restricted gene expression for liver cancer therapy based upon the MFH-absorbing properties of PEI- Mn0.5zn0.5Fe2o4, gene therapy and radiation.

METHODS

Mn0.5zn0.5Fe2O4 (MZF) magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by an improved chemical co-precipitation method, modified by polyethylene imine (PEI), and then the structure, modification characters, biocompatibility, temperature rise and control ability and binding efficiency of the plasmid were characterized. Then, the dual-promoter plasmid PCDNA3.1-EGR1-HSP70-HSVTK was constructed. The recombinant vectors were identified by enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequencing. The TK gene expression level was detected by realtime-PCR assay in HEK293 cells. Also, the HSV-TK gene expression was detected in SMMC7721 cells with the help of PEI-Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4. In vitro anti-tumor experiment, MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the cultured SMMC7721 cells treated by different ways. In vivo anti-tumor experiment, the xenografted mice were treated by different ways for three times to detect the antitumor effect.

RESULTS

The Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles could be successfully prepared through improved co-precipitation process and showed good biocompatibility. And PEI had been coated on MZF complex. The modified PEI-MZF presented favorable dispensability, responsibility to magnetism, good loading capability and transfect capability. Also, pCDNA3.1-Egr1-Hsp70-HSVTK plasmid had been constructed successfully and could be induced by heat and irradiation. It would be used for further target gene therapy research. The antitumor results in vitro showed: The therapeutic effects of nanosized PEI-MZF-HSV-TK complex could significantly inhibit the proliferation of cultured liver cancer cells (SMC7721), induce cell apoptosis and had a prominent cell cycle disturbance in the S phase in vitro. The results in vivo showed: The combined therapy induced by PEI-MZF-HSV-TK could inhabit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts by killing and inhabiting the proliferation of the tumor cells.

CONCLUSION

The novel site-directed heat/radiation-inducible expression system based upon the hyperthermia (by MFH) and radiation possessed superior antitumor effect in vivo and in vitro.

LiCl induces apoptosis via CHOP/NOXA/Mcl-1 axis in human choroidal melanoma cells

Background

Choroidal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy that occurs in adults. Lithium Chloride Promotes Apoptosis in Human Leukemia NB4 Cells by Inhibiting Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Beta. In this study, we aimed to understand whether LiCl exerts anticancer effects on choroidal melanoma cells and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods

Human choroidal melanoma cells were treated with LiCl, and cell survival was assessed with MTT assays. Cell reproductive viability was measured by plate colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry, and proteins were detected using western blotting. A human choroidal melanoma xenograft model was established to demonstrate the effect of LiCl on human choroidal melanoma in vivo.

Results

We found that LiCl inhibited cell survival and clonogenic potential and induced apoptosis in human choroidal melanoma cells. LiCl also reduced the proliferation of choroidal melanoma cells in vivo. Moreover, the upregulation of NOXA and downregulation of Mcl-1 were responsible for LiCl-induced apoptosis. Mcl-1 overexpression obviously impaired LiCl-induced apoptosis and cleavage of caspase8, caspase9, caspase3 and PARP. Moreover, the protein expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers, including IRE1α, Bip, p-eIF2α, ATF4 and CHOP, were upregulated following treatment with LiCl. When CHOP expression was knocked down and cells were treated with LiCl, the protein level of NOXA was partially increased, and Mcl-1 expression was increased, while the cleavage of caspase8, caspase9, caspase3 and PARP that was induced by the LiCl was reduced compared with the vehicle treated group. Prolonged ER stress results in the activation of the apoptotic pathway.

Conclusions

In summary, LiCl induced an endoplasmic reticulum stress response while activating intrinsic apoptosis. Furthermore, the CHOP/NOXA/Mcl-1 axis contributed to LiCl-induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. The present study provides important mechanistic insight into potential cancer treatments involving LiCl and enhances the understanding of human choroidal melanoma.

TRIP suppresses cell proliferation and invasion in choroidal melanoma via promoting the proteasomal degradation of Twist1

Choroidal melanoma (CM) remains the most prevalent form of intraocular malignancy, and the prognosis of affected patients is poor. While the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF-interacting protein (TRIP) is known to play key regulatory roles in multiple diseases, its relevance in CM remains uncertain. In the present study, we found that TRIP overexpression is sufficient to inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of CM cells in vitro, whereas the opposite phenotypes are observed following TRIP knockdown. We further determined that TRIP is able to promote the K48-polyubiquitination of EMT-associated transcription factor Twist-related protein 1, thereby suppressing EMT progression. Together, our results suggest that TRIP plays an important role in regulating the progression of CM and that it may therefore be an important therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.

The Rational Design and Biological Mechanisms of Nanoradiosensitizers

Radiotherapy (RT) has been widely used for cancer treatment. However, the intrinsic drawbacks of RT, such as radiotoxicity in normal tissues and tumor radioresistance, promoted the development of radiosensitizers. To date, various kinds of nanoparticles have been found to act as radiosensitizers in cancer radiotherapy. This review focuses on the current state of nanoradiosensitizers, especially the related biological mechanisms, and the key design strategies for generating nanoradiosensitizers. The regulation of oxidative stress, DNA damage, the cell cycle, autophagy and apoptosis by nanoradiosensitizers in vitro and in vivo is highlighted, which may guide the rational design of therapeutics for tumor radiosensitization.

Nanotechnology for Omics-Based Ocular Drug Delivery

Millions of people suffer from ocular diseases that impair vision and can lead to blindness. Advances in genomics and proteomics have revealed a number of different molecular markers specific for different ocular diseases, thereby optimizing the processes of drug development and discovery. Nanotechnology can increase the throughput of data obtained in omics-based studies and allows for more sensitive diagnostic techniques as more efficient drug delivery systems. Biocompatible and biodegradable nanomaterials developed through omics-based research are able to target reported molecular markers for different ocular diseases and offer novel alternatives to conventional drug therapy. In this chapter, the authors review the pathophysiology, current genomic and proteomic information, and current nanomaterial-based therapies of four ocular diseases: glaucoma, uveal melanoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Omics-based research can be used to elucidate specific genes and proteins and develop novel nanomedicine formulations to prevent, halt, or cure ocular diseases at the transcriptional or translational level.

c-FLIP and the NOXA/Mcl-1 axis participate in the synergistic effect of pemetrexed plus cisplatin in human choroidal melanoma cells

Choroidal melanoma is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumor, and very few effective therapies are available to treat it. Our study aimed to understand whether pemetrexed plus cisplatin exerts a beneficial synergistic effect in human choroidal melanoma cells and to delineate the underlying molecular mechanism. To accomplish these aims, we treated choroidal melanoma cells with pemetrexed and cisplatin and assessed cell survival with SRB and MTT assays. Proteins were detected using western blotting analysis. NOXA and CHOP were knocked down with siRNA. We found that pemetrexed or cisplatin alone inhibited survival and induced apoptosis in human choroidal melanoma cells. Furthermore, the expression levels of c-FLIP, an anti-apoptotic protein in the extrinsic apoptosis pathway, and Mcl-1, an anti-apoptotic protein in the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, were decreased by pemetrexed or cisplatin respectively, while the expression of a pro-apoptotic protein in the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, NOXA, was up-regulated. Moreover, pemetrexed or cisplatin alone increased the protein expression of the endoplasmic reticulum stress markers IRE1α, Bip and CHOP. Silencing CHOP expression reduced NOXA expression. These findings suggest that the pemetrexed or cisplatin induced intrinsic apoptosis via activation of the ER stress response. Importantly, combining the two compounds more strongly induced apoptosis. Following the cotreatment, CHOP and NOXA expression increased, while c-FLIP and Mcl-1 expression decreased, and these effects were more pronounced than when using either compound alone. This result suggests that pemetrexed and cisplatin synergistically activate ER stress response-induced apoptosis in choroidal melanoma cells. To summarize, the c-FLIP and NOXA/Mcl-1 axis participated in the synergistic effect of pemetrexed plus cisplatin in human choroidal melanoma cells. Intrinsic apoptosis was induced via activation of the ER stress response. Our study provides important mechanistic insights into potential cancer treatment with pemetrexed plus cisplatin and enriches our understanding of human choroidal melanoma.

Nanotechnology for Omics-Based Ocular Drug Delivery

Millions of people suffer from ocular diseases that impair vision and can lead to blindness. Advances in genomics and proteomics have revealed a number of different molecular markers specific for different ocular diseases, thereby optimizing the processes of drug development and discovery. Nanotechnology can increase the throughput of data obtained in omics-based studies and allows for more sensitive diagnostic techniques as more efficient drug delivery systems. Biocompatible and biodegradable nanomaterials developed through omics-based research are able to target reported molecular markers for different ocular diseases and offer novel alternatives to conventional drug therapy. In this chapter, the authors review the pathophysiology, current genomic and proteomic information, and current nanomaterial-based therapies of four ocular diseases: glaucoma, uveal melanoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Omics-based research can be used to elucidate specific genes and proteins and develop novel nanomedicine formulations to prevent, halt, or cure ocular diseases at the transcriptional or translational level.

A Convenient In Vivo Model Using Small Interfering RNA Silencing to Rapidly Assess Skeletal Gene Function

It is difficult to study bone in vitro because it contains various cell types that engage in cross-talk. Bone biologically links various organs, and it has thus become increasingly evident that skeletal physiology must be studied in an integrative manner in an intact animal. We developed a model using local intraosseous small interfering RNA (siRNA) injection to rapidly assess the effects of a target gene on the local skeletal environment. In this model, 160-g male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated for 1-2 weeks. The left tibia received intraosseous injection of a parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (Pth1r) or insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (Igf-1r) siRNA transfection complex loaded in poloxamer 407 hydrogel, and the right tibia received the same volume of control siRNA. All the tibias received an intraosseous injection of recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34) (rhPTH (1-34)) or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Calcein green and alizarin red were injected 6 and 2 days before euthanasia, respectively. IGF-1R and PTH1R expression levels were detected via RT-PCR assays and immunohistochemistry. Bone mineral density (BMD), microstructure, mineral apposition rates (MARs), and strength were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, micro-CT, histology and biomechanical tests. The RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry results revealed that IGF-1R and PTH1R expression levels were dramatically diminished in the siRNA-treated left tibias compared to the right tibias (both p<0.05). Using poloxamer 407 hydrogel as a controlled-release system prolonged the silencing effect of a single dose of siRNA; the mRNA expression levels of IGF-1R were lower at two weeks than at one week (p<0.01). The BMD, bone microstructure parameters, MAR and bone strength were significantly decreased in the left tibias compared to the right tibias (all p<0.05). This simple and convenient local intraosseous siRNA injection model achieved gene silencing with very small quantities of siRNA over a short treatment period (≤7 days).

Dendrimers as Innovative Radiopharmaceuticals in Cancer Radionanotherapy

Radiotherapy is one of the most commonly used cancer treatments, with an estimate of 40% success that could be improved further if more efficient targeting and retention of radiation at the tumor site were achieved. This review focuses on the use of dendrimers in radionanotherapy, an emerging technology aimed to improve the efficiency of radiotherapy by implementing nanovectorization, an already established praxis in drug delivery and diagnosis. The labeling of dendrimers with radionuclides also aims to reduce the dose of radiolabeled materials and, hence, their toxicity and tumor resistance. Examples of radiolabeled dendrimers with alpha, beta, and Auger electron emitters are commented, along with the use of dendrimers in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The conjugation of radiolabeled dendrimers to monoclonal antibodies for a more efficient targeting and the application of dendrimers in gene delivery radiotherapy are also covered.

Nanomedicine in the application of uveal melanoma

Rapid advances in nanomedicine have significantly changed many aspects of nanoparticle application to the eye including areas of diagnosis, imaging and more importantly drug delivery. The nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems has provided a solution to various drug solubility-related problems in ophthalmology treatment. Nanostructured compounds could be used to achieve local ocular delivery with minimal unwanted systematic side effects produced by taking advantage of the phagocyte system. In addition, the in vivo control release by nanomaterials encapsulated drugs provides prolong exposure of the compound in the body. Furthermore, certain nanoparticles can overcome important body barriers including the blood-retinal barrier as well as the corneal-retinal barrier of the eye for effective delivery of the drug. In summary, the nanotechnology based drug delivery system may serve as an important tool for uveal melanoma treatment.

Tumor radiosensitization by monomethyl auristatin E: mechanism of action and targeted delivery

Intrinsic tumor resistance to radiotherapy limits the efficacy of ionizing radiation (IR). Sensitizing cancer cells specifically to IR would improve tumor control and decrease normal tissue toxicity. The development of tumor-targeting technologies allows for developing potent radiosensitizing drugs. We hypothesized that the anti-tubulin agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), a component of a clinically approved antibody-directed conjugate, could function as a potent radiosensitizer and be selectively delivered to tumors using an activatable cell-penetrating peptide targeting matrix metalloproteinases and RGD-binding integrins (ACPP-cRGD-MMAE). We evaluated the ability of MMAE to radiosensitize both established cancer cells and a low-passage cultured human pancreatic tumor cell line using clonogenic and DNA damage assays. MMAE sensitized colorectal and pancreatic cancer cells to IR in a schedule- and dose-dependent manner, correlating with mitotic arrest. Radiosensitization was evidenced by decreased clonogenic survival and increased DNA double-strand breaks in irradiated cells treated with MMAE. MMAE in combination with IR resulted in increased DNA damage signaling and activation of CHK1. To test a therapeutic strategy of MMAE and IR, PANC-1 or HCT-116 murine tumor xenografts were treated with nontargeted free MMAE or tumor-targeted MMAE (ACPP-cRGD-MMAE). While free MMAE in combination with IR resulted in tumor growth delay, tumor-targeted ACPP-cRGD-MMAE with IR produced a more robust and significantly prolonged tumor regression in xenograft models. Our studies identify MMAE as a potent radiosensitizer. Importantly, MMAE radiosensitization can be localized to tumors by targeted activatable cell-penetrating peptides.