Emerging Therapeutic Potential of Nanoparticles in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer: current insights and nanoparticle-based interventions

Background: H. pylori is recognized as one of the main causes of gastric cancer, and this type of cancer is considered as one of the leading diseases causing cancer deaths all over the world. Knowledge on the interactions between H. pylori and gastric carcinogenesis is important for designing preventive measures. Objective: the objective of this review is to summarize the available literature on H. pylori and gastric cancer, specifically regarding the molecular mechanisms, nanoparticle-based therapy and clinical developments. Methods: the databases including PubMed, Google Scholar and web of science were searched as well as papers from 2010 to 2024 were considered for review. Research literature on H. pylori, gastric cancer, nanoparticles, nanomedicine, and therapeutic interventions was summarized for current findings and possible treatments. Results: the presence of H. pylori in gastric mucosa causes chronic inflammation and several molecular alterations such as DNA alteration, epigenetic changes and activation of oncogenic signaling pathways which causes gastric carcinogenesis. Conventional antibiotic treatments have some issues because of the constantly rising levels of antibiotic resistance. Lipid based nanoformulations, polymeric and metallic nanoparticles have been delivered in treatment of H. pylori to improve drug delivery and alter immunological responses. Conclusion: nanoparticle based interventions have been widely explored as drug delivery systems by improving the treatment strategies against H. pylori induced gastric cancer. Further studies and clinical trials are required to bring these findings into a clinical setting in order to possibly alter the management of H. pylori related gastric malignancies.

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.

Inhibitory effects and mechanisms of phenolic compounds in rapeseed oil on advanced glycation end product formation in chemical and cellular models in vitro

Sinapic acid (SA), canolol (CAO) and canolol dimer (CAO dimer) are the main phenolic compounds in rapeseed oil. However, their possible efficacy against glycation remains unclear. This study aims to explore the impacts of these substances on the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) based on chemical and cellular models in vitro. Based on fluorescence spectroscopy results, three chemical models of BSA-fructose, BSA-methylglyoxal (MGO), and arginine (Arg)-MGO showed that SA/CAO/CAO dimer could effectively reduce AGE formation but with different abilities. After SA/CAO/CAO dimer incubation, effective protection against BSA protein glycation was observed and three different MGO adducts were formed. In MGO-induced HUVEC cell models, only CAO and CAO dimer significantly inhibited oxidative stress and cell apoptosis, accompanied by the regulation of the Nrf2-HO-1 pathway. During the inhibition, 20 and 12 lipid mediators were reversed in the CAO and CAO dimer groups compared to the MGO group.

CRISPR-Cas9 for selective targeting of somatic mutations in pancreatic cancers

Somatic mutations are desirable targets for selective elimination of cancer, yet most are found within noncoding regions. We have adapted the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing tool as a novel, cancer-specific killing strategy by targeting the subset of somatic mutations that create protospacer adjacent motifs (PAMs), which have evolutionally allowed bacterial cells to distinguish between self and non-self DNA for Cas9-induced double strand breaks. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of paired tumor minus normal (T-N) samples from three pancreatic cancer patients (Panc480, Panc504, and Panc1002) showed an average of 417 somatic PAMs per tumor produced from single base substitutions. Further analyses of 591 paired T-N samples from The International Cancer Genome Consortium found medians of ∼455 somatic PAMs per tumor in pancreatic, ∼2800 in lung, and ∼3200 in esophageal cancer cohorts. Finally, we demonstrated 69-99% selective cell death of three targeted pancreatic cancer cell lines using 4-9 sgRNAs designed using the somatic PAM discovery approach. We also showed no off-target activity from these tumor-specific sgRNAs in either the patient's normal cells or an irrelevant cancer using WGS. This study demonstrates the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 as a novel and selective anti-cancer strategy, and supports the genetic targeting of adult cancers.

Nano-Drug Delivery Systems Targeting CAFs: A Promising Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer

Currently, pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignant tumors. PC is typically diagnosed at a late stage, exhibits a poor response to conventional treatment, and has a bleak prognosis. Unfortunately, PC's survival rate has not significantly improved since the 1960s. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME). They play a vital role in maintaining the extracellular matrix and facilitating the intricate communication between cancer cells and infiltrated immune cells. Exploring therapeutic approaches targeting CAFs may reverse the current landscape of PC therapy. In recent years, nano-drug delivery systems have evolved rapidly and have been able to accurately target and precisely release drugs with little or no toxicity to the whole body. In this review, we will comprehensively discuss the origin, heterogeneity, potential targets, and recent advances in the nano-drug delivery system of CAFs in PC. We will also propose a novel integrated treatment regimen that utilizes a nano-drug delivery system to target CAFs in PC, combined with radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Additionally, we will address the challenges that this regimen currently faces.

Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment by Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems

Pancreatic cancer represents one of the most lethal cancer types worldwide, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Due to the inability to diagnose it promptly and the lack of efficacy of existing treatments, research and development of innovative therapies and new diagnostics are crucial to increase the survival rate and decrease mortality. Nanomedicine has been gaining importance as an innovative approach for drug delivery and diagnosis, opening new horizons through the implementation of smart nanocarrier systems, which can deliver drugs to the specific tissue or organ at an optimal concentration, enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing systemic toxicity. Varied materials such as lipids, polymers, and inorganic materials have been used to obtain nanoparticles and develop innovative drug delivery systems for pancreatic cancer treatment. In this review, it is discussed the main scientific advances in pancreatic cancer treatment by nano-based drug delivery systems. The advantages and disadvantages of such delivery systems in pancreatic cancer treatment are also addressed. More importantly, the different types of nanocarriers and therapeutic strategies developed so far are scrutinized.

Development of Stable Liposomal Drug Delivery System of Thymoquinone and Its In Vitro Anticancer Studies Using Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Cell Lines

Thymoquinone, a well-known phytoconstituent derived from the seeds of Nigella sativa, exhibits unique pharmacological activities However, despite the various medicinal properties of thymoquinone, its administration in vivo remains challenging due to poor aqueous solubility, bioavailability, and stability. Therefore, an advanced drugdelivery system is required to improve the therapeutic outcome of thymoquinone by enhancing its solubility and stability in biological systems. Therefore, this study is mainly focused on preparing thymoquinone-loaded liposomes to improve its physicochemical stability in gastric media and its performance in different cancer cell line studies. Liposomes were prepared using phospholipid extracted from egg yolk. The liposomal nano preparations were evaluated in terms of hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, microscopic analysis, and entrapment efficiency. Cell-viability measurements were conducted using breast and cervical cancer cell lines. Optimized liposomal preparation exhibited polygonal, globule-like shape with a hydrodynamic diameter of less than 260 nm, PDI of 0.6, and zeta potential values of -23.0 mV. Solid-state characterizations performed using DSC and XRPD showed that the freeze-dried liposomal preparations were amorphous in nature. Gastric pH stability data showed no physical changes (precipitation, degradation) or significant growth in the average size of blank and thymoquinone-loaded liposomes after 24 h. Cell line studies exhibited better performance for thymoquinone-loaded liposomal drug delivery system compared with the thymoquinone-only solution; this finding can play a critical role in improving breast and cervical cancer treatment management.

METTL3-IGF2BP3-axis mediates the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer by regulating spermine synthase m6A modification

Spermine synthase (SMS) is an enzyme participating in polyamine synthesis; however, its function and role in pancreatic cancer remains elusive. Here we report that SMS is upregulated in pancreatic cancer and predicts a worse overall survival and significantly promotes the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cells. Excessive SMS reduces the accumulation of spermidine by converting spermidine into spermine, which activates the phosphorylation of serine/threonine kinase (AKT) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Moreover, SMS was identified as the direct target of both methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) and insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), which directly bind to the m6A modification sites of SMS and inhibit mRNA degradation. Knockdown of METTL3 or IGF2BP3 significantly reduced the SMS protein expression and inhibited the migration of pancreatic cancer. We propose a novel regulatory mechanism in which the METTL3-IGF2BP3 axis mediates the mRNA degradation of SMS in an m6A-dependent manner to regulate spermine/spermidine conversion, which regulates AKT phosphorylation and EMT activation, thereby inducing tumor progression and migration in pancreatic cancer.

Nanomedicine in Pancreatic Cancer: Current Status and Future Opportunities for Overcoming Therapy Resistance

Simple Summary

Despite access to a vast arsenal of anticancer agents, many fail to realise their full therapeutic potential in clinical practice. One key determinant of this is the evolution of multifaceted resistance mechanisms within the tumour that may either pre-exist or develop during the course of therapy. This is particularly evident in pancreatic cancer, where limited responses to treatment underlie dismal survival rates, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. Here, we discuss the major features of pancreatic tumours that contribute to therapy resistance, and how they may be alleviated through exploitation of the mounting and exciting promise of nanomedicines; a unique collection of nanoscale platforms with tunable and multifunctional capabilities that have already elicited a widespread impact on cancer management.

Abstract

The development of drug resistance remains one of the greatest clinical oncology challenges that can radically dampen the prospect of achieving complete and durable tumour control. Efforts to mitigate drug resistance are therefore of utmost importance, and nanotechnology is rapidly emerging for its potential to overcome such issues. Studies have showcased the ability of nanomedicines to bypass drug efflux pumps, counteract immune suppression, serve as radioenhancers, correct metabolic disturbances and elicit numerous other effects that collectively alleviate various mechanisms of tumour resistance. Much of this progress can be attributed to the remarkable benefits that nanoparticles offer as drug delivery vehicles, such as improvements in pharmacokinetics, protection against degradation and spatiotemporally controlled release kinetics. These attributes provide scope for precision targeting of drugs to tumours that can enhance sensitivity to treatment and have formed the basis for the successful clinical translation of multiple nanoformulations to date. In this review, we focus on the longstanding reputation of pancreatic cancer as one of the most difficult-to-treat malignancies where resistance plays a dominant role in therapy failure. We outline the mechanisms that contribute to the treatment-refractory nature of these tumours, and how they may be effectively addressed by harnessing the unique capabilities of nanomedicines. Moreover, we include a brief perspective on the likely future direction of nanotechnology in pancreatic cancer, discussing how efforts to develop multidrug formulations will guide the field further towards a therapeutic solution for these highly intractable tumours.

The Effectiveness of Nanoparticles on Gene Therapy for Glioblastoma Cells Apoptosis: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and fatal type of glioma. Nanoparticles (NPs) are used in new approaches for the delivery of gene therapy in the treatment of GBM.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this article was to review the efficacy of NPs as the targeted carriers in the gene therapy aimed at apoptosis in GBM.

METHODS

The appropriate keywords such as nanoparticle, glioblastoma, gene therapy, apoptosis, and related words were used to search from PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus for relevant publications up to September 4, 2020, with no language restrictions. The present systematic review was performed based on PRISMA protocol and reviewed the articles evaluating the effects of nanoparticles, carriers of various gene therapies essentials, on GBM cells apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. The selected articles were considered using specific scores on the quality of the articles. Data extraction and quality evaluation were performed by two reviewers.

RESULTS

Of 101 articles retrieved, forty-two met the inclusion criteria and were, therefore, subjected to the final deduction. The most widely used NP in GBM gene therapy studies is polyamidoamine (PAMAM). The most common gene therapy approach for apoptosis in GBM is using siRNAs.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, these studies validated that NPs could be a practical choice to enhance the efficiency and specific delivery in gene therapies for GBM cell apoptosis. However, the choice of NP type and gene therapy mechanism affect the GBM cell apoptotic efficiency.

Biomarkers in Pancreatic Cancer as Analytic Targets for Nanomediated Imaging and Therapy

As the increase in therapeutic and imaging technologies is swiftly improving survival chances for cancer patients, pancreatic cancer (PC) still has a grim prognosis and a rising incidence. Practically everything distinguishing for this type of malignancy makes it challenging to treat: no approved method for early detection, extended asymptomatic state, limited treatment options, poor chemotherapy response and dense tumor stroma that impedes drug delivery. We provide a narrative review of our main findings in the field of nanoparticle directed treatment for PC, with a focus on biomarker targeted delivery. By reducing drug toxicity, increasing their tumor accumulation, ability to modulate tumor microenvironment and even improve imaging contrast, it seems that nanotechnology may one day give hope for better outcome in pancreatic cancer. Further conjugating nanoparticles with biomarkers that are overexpressed amplifies the benefits mentioned, with potential increase in survival and treatment response.

Recent Advances in the Development of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

The unique properties of magnetic nanoparticles have led them to be considered materials with significant potential in the biomedical field. Nanometric size, high surface-area ratio, ability to function at molecular level, exceptional magnetic and physicochemical properties, and more importantly, the relatively easy tailoring of all these properties to the specific requirements of the different biomedical applications, are some of the key factors of their success. In this paper, we will provide an overview of the state of the art of different aspects of magnetic nanoparticles, specially focusing on their use in biomedicine. We will explore their magnetic properties, synthetic methods and surface modifications, as well as their most significative physicochemical properties and their impact on the in vivo behaviour of these particles. Furthermore, we will provide a background on different applications of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedicine, such as magnetic drug targeting, magnetic hyperthermia, imaging contrast agents or theranostics. Besides, current limitations and challenges of these materials, as well as their future prospects in the biomedical field will be discussed.

Nano-Biomaterials for the Delivery of Therapeutic and Monitoring Cues for Aortic Diseases

The aorta is the largest artery in the body, so any diseases or conditions which could cause damage to the aorta would put patients at considerable and life-threatening risk. In the management of aortic diseases, the major treatments include drug therapy, endovascular treatment, and surgical treatment, which are of great danger or with a poor prognosis. The delivery of nano-biomaterials provides a potential development trend and an emerging field where we could monitor patients’ conditions and responses to the nanotherapeutics. One of the putative applications of nanotechnology is ultrasensitive monitoring of cardiovascular markers by detecting and identifying aneurysms. Moreover, the use of nanosystems for targeted drug delivery can minimize the systemic side effects and enhance drug positioning and efficacy compared to conventional drug therapies. This review shows some examples of utilizing nano-biomaterials in in vitro organ and cell culture experiments and explains some developing technologies in delivering and monitoring regenerative therapeutics.

Stroma-Targeting Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer: One Coin With Two Sides?

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a malignancy with one of the worst prognoses worldwide and has an overall 5-year survival rate of only 9%. Although chemotherapy is the recommended treatment for patients with advanced PDAC, its efficacy is not satisfactory. The dense dysplastic stroma of PDAC is a major obstacle to the delivery of chemotherapy drugs and plays an important role in the progression of PDAC. Therefore, stroma-targeting therapy is considered a potential treatment strategy to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy and patient survival. While several preclinical studies have shown encouraging results, the anti-tumor potential of the PDAC stroma has also been revealed, and the extreme depletion might promote tumor progression and undermine patient survival. Therefore, achieving a balance between stromal abundance and depletion might be the further of stroma-targeting therapy. This review summarized the current progress of stroma-targeting therapy in PDAC and discussed the double-edged sword of its therapeutic effects.

Polymer nanoparticle-assisted chemotherapy of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease characterized by highly dense stroma fibrosis. Only 15-20% of patients with pancreatic cancer have resectable tumors, and only around 20% of them survive to 5 years. Traditional cancer treatments have little effect on their prognosis, and successful surgical resection combined with effective perioperative therapy is the main method for maximizing long-term survival. For this reason, chemotherapy is an adjunct treatment for resectable cancer and is the main therapy for incurable pancreatic cancer, including metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, there are various side effects of chemotherapeutic medicine and low drug penetration because the complex tumor microenvironment limits the application of chemotherapy. As a novel strategy, polymer nanoparticles make it possible to target the tumor microenvironment, release cytotoxic agents through various responsive reactions, and thus overcome the treatment barrier. As drug carriers, polymer nanoparticles show marked advantages, such as increased drug delivery and efficiency, controlled drug release, decreased side effects, prolonged half-life, and evasion of immunogenic blockade. In this review, we discuss the factors that cause chemotherapy obstacles in pancreatic cancer, and introduce the application of polymer nanoparticles to treat pancreatic cancer.

Tracking Gold Nanorods' Interaction with Large 3D Pancreatic-Stromal Tumor Spheroids by Multimodal Imaging: Fluorescence, Photoacoustic, and Photothermal Microscopies

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most complex types of cancers to detect, diagnose, and treat. However, the field of nanomedicine has strong potential to address such challenges. When evaluating the diffusion and penetration of theranostic nanoparticles, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is of crucial importance because it acts as a barrier to the tumor microenvironment. In the present study, the penetration of functionalized, fluorescent gold nanorods into large (>500 μm) multicellular 3D tissue spheroids was studied using a multimodal imaging approach. The spheroids were generated by co-culturing pancreatic cancer cells and pancreatic stellate cells in multiple ratios to mimic variable tumor-stromal compositions and to investigate nanoparticle penetration. Fluorescence live imaging, photothermal, and photoacoustic analysis were utilized to examine nanoparticle behavior in the spheroids. Uniquely, the nanorods are intrinsically photoacoustic and photothermal, enabling multi-imaging detection even when fluorescence tracking is not possible or ideal.

Doxorubicin and Varlitinib Delivery by Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles Against Human Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

The aim of this study was to develop drug delivery nanosystems based on pegylated gold nanoparticles (PEGAuNPs) for a combination against pancreatic cancer cells. Doxorubicin and varlitinib, an anthracycline and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor respectively, were conjugated with gold nanoparticles. The systems were characterized, after synthesis, regarding their size, stability and morphology. An efficient conjugation of doxorubicin and varlitinib with PEGAuNPs was revealed. The cytotoxicity effect induced by the combination of the nanoconjugates was investigated in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Doxorubicin and varlitinib conjugated with PEGAuNPs revealed a combined effect to decrease the cell survival of the cancer line S2-013s, while reducing the drugs' toxicity for the healthy pancreatic cells hTERT-HPNE. This study highlights the promising potential of PEGAuNPs for targeted delivery of therapeutic drugs into human cells, enhancing the antitumor growth-inhibition effect on cancer cells, and decreasing the toxicity against normal cells. In cancer therapy, the present approach based on PEGAuNP functionalization can be further explored to increase drug targeting efficiency and to reduce side effects.

Combination Therapies and Drug Delivery Platforms in Combating Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, is highly aggressive and resistant to both chemo- and radiotherapy. It remains one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers, not only due to its unique pathobiological features such as stroma-rich desmoplastic tumors surrounded by hypovascular and hypoperfused vessels limiting the transport of therapeutic agents, but also due to problematic early detection, which renders most treatment options largely ineffective, resulting in extensive metastasis. To elevate therapeutic effectiveness of treatments and overt their toxicity, significant enthusiasm was generated to exploit new strategies for combating PDAC. Combination therapy targeting different barriers to mitigate delivery issues and reduce tumor recurrence and metastasis has demonstrated optimal outcomes in patients' survival and quality of life, providing possible approaches to overcome therapeutic challenges. This paper aims to provide an overview of currently explored multimodal therapies using either conventional therapy or nanomedicines along with rationale, up-to-date progress, as well as the key challenges that must be overcome. Understanding the future directions of the field may assist in the successful development of novel treatment strategies for enhancing therapeutic efficacy in PDAC.

Development of resveratrol-conjugated gold nanoparticles: interrelationship of increased resveratrol corona on anti-tumor efficacy against breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers

Background: As part of our continuing quest to enhance the efficacy of bioactive phytochemicals in cancer therapy, we report an innovative green nanotechnology approach toward the use of resveratrol for the production of biocompatible resveratrol-conjugated gold nanoparticles (Res-AuNPs). Our overarching aim is to exploit the inherent pro-apoptotic properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) through synergistic anti-tumor characteristics of resveratrol, with the aim of developing a new class of green nanotechnology-based phytochemical-embedded AuNPs for applications in oncology.

Method: Resveratrol was used to reduce Au³⁺ to Au⁰ for the synthesis of Res-AuNPs at room temperature and gum arabic (GA) was used to further encapsulate the nanoparticulate surface to increase the overall stability of the AuNPs. This comprehensive study involves the synthesis, full characterization and in vitro stability of Res-AuNPs in various biological media for their ultimate applications as anti-cancer agents against human breast (MDAMB-231), pancreatic (PANC-1) and prostate (PC-3) cancers.

Results: This strategy to systematically increase the corona of resveratrol on AuNPs, in order to gain insights into the interrelationship of the phytochemical corona on the overall anti-tumor activities of Res-AuNPs, proved successful. The increased resveratrol corona on Res-AuNPs showed superior anti-cancer effects, attributed to an optimal cellular uptake after 24-hour incubation, while GA provided a protein matrix support for enhanced trans-resveratrol loading onto the surface of the AuNPs.

Conclusion: The approach described in this study harnesses the benefits of nutraceuticals and nanoparticles toward the development of Res-AuNPs. We provide compelling evidence that the increased corona of resveratrol on AuNPs enhances the bioavailability of resveratrol so that therapeutically active species can be optimally available in vivo for applications in cancer therapy.

Future perspectives of nanoparticle-based contrast agents for cardiac magnetic resonance in myocardial infarction

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR), thanks to high spatial resolution and absence of ionizing radiation, has been widely used in myocardial infarction (MI) assessment to evaluate cardiac structure, function, perfusion and viability. Nevertheless, it suffers from limitations in tissue and assessment of myocardial pathophysiological changes subsequent to MI. In this issue, nanoparticle-based contrast agents offer the possibility to track biological processes at cellular and molecular level underlying the various phases of MI, infarct healing and tissue repair. In this paper, first we examine the conventional CMR protocol and its findings in MI patients. Next, we looked at how nanoparticles can help in the imaging of MI and give an overview of the major approaches currently explored. Based on the presentation of successful nanoparticle applications as contrast agents (CAs) in preclinical and clinical models, we discuss promises and outstanding challenges facing the field of CMR in MI, their translational potential and clinical application.

Reviewing two decades of nanomedicine implementations in targeted treatment and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: An emphasis on state of art

Pancreatic cancer is nowadays the most life-threatening cancer type worldwide. The problem of poor diagnosis, anti-neoplastics resistance and biopharmaceutical drawbacks of effective anti-cancer drugs lead to worsen disease state. Nanotechnology-based carrier systems used in both imaging and treatment procedures had solved many of these problems. It is critical to develop advanced detection method to save patients from being too late diagnosed. Targeting the pancreatic cancer cells as well helped in decreasing the side effects associated with normal cells destruction. Drug resistance is another challenge in pancreatic cancer management that can be solved by thorough understanding of the microenvironment associated with the disease to design creative nanocarriers. This is the first article to review multifaceted approaches of nanomedicine in pancreatic cancer detection and management. Additionally, mortality rates in selected Arab and European countries were illustrated herein. An emphasis was given on therapeutic and diagnostic challenges and different nanotechnologies adopted to overcome. The four main approaches encompassed nanomedicine for herbal treatment, nanomedicine of synthetic anti-cancer drugs, metal nanoparticles as a distinct treatment policy and nanotechnology for cancer diagnosis. Future research perspectives have been finally proposed.

Use of nano engineered approaches to overcome the stromal barrier in pancreatic cancer

While chemotherapy is the only approved non-surgical option for the majority of pancreatic cancer patients, it rarely results in a cure. The failure to respond to chemotherapy is due to the presence of an abundant dysplastic stroma that interferes in drug delivery and as a result of drug resistance. It is appropriate, therefore, to consider the stromal contribution to the resistance to chemotherapy and sidestepping this barrier with nanocarriers that improve survival outcome. In this paper, we provide a short overview of the role of the stroma in chemotherapy resistance, including the use of nanocarriers to negate this barrier. We provide a perspective and guidance towards the implementation of nanotherapeutic approaches to improve therapeutic delivery and efficacy of PDAC management.

Use of Nanoparticles As Contrast Agents for the Functional and Molecular Imaging of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a degenerative disease of the aorta common in adults older than 65 years of age. AAA is usually imaged using ultrasound or computed tomography. Molecular imaging technologies employing nanoparticles (NPs) have been proposed as novel ways to quantify pathological processes, such as inflammation, within AAAs as a means to identify the risk of rapid progression or rupture. This article reviews the current evidence supporting the role of NP-based imaging in the management of AAA. Currently, ultrasmall superparamagnetic NPs enhanced magnetic resonance imaging appears to hold the greatest potential for imaging macrophage-mediated inflammation in human AAA.

Multifunctionalized iron oxide nanoparticles for selective targeting of pancreatic cancer cells

Nanomedicine nowadays offers novel solutions in cancer therapy by introducing multimodal treatments in one single formulation. In addition, nanoparticles act as nanocarriers changing the solubility, biodistribution and efficiency of the therapeutic molecules, thus generating more efficient treatments and reducing their side effects. To apply these novel therapeutic approaches, efforts are focused on the multi-functionalization of the nanoparticles and will open up new avenues to advanced combinational therapies. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a cancer with unmet medical needs. Abundant expression of the anti-phagocytosis signal CD47 has also been observed on pancreatic cancer cells, in particular a subset of cancer stem cells (CSCs) responsible for resistance to standard therapy and metastatic potential. CD47 receptor is found on pancreatic cancer and highly expressed on CSCs, but not on normal pancreas. Inhibiting CD47 using monoclonal antibodies has been shown as an effective strategy to treat PDAC in vivo. However, CD47 inhibition effectively slowed tumor growth only in combination with Gemcitabine or Abraxane. In this work, we present the generation of multifunctionalized iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that include the anti-CD47 antibody and the chemotherapeutic drug Gemcitabine in a single formulation. We demonstrate the in vitro efficacy of the formulation against CD47-positive pancreatic cancer cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Recent Advances in Bionanomaterials" Guest Editor: Dr. Marie-Louise Saboungi and Dr. Samuel D. Bader.