Drug Delivery Systems of Natural Products in Oncology

Promises of natural products as clinical applications for cancer

Cancer represents a substantial threat to human health and mortality, necessitating the development of novel pharmacological agents with innovative mechanisms of action. Consequently, extensive research has been directed toward discovering new anticancer compounds derived from natural sources, including plants, microbes, and marine organisms. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of natural anticancer agents that are either currently undergoing clinical trials or have been integrated into clinical practice. A comprehensive understanding of the historical origins of natural anticancer agents, alongside traditional targets for tumor treatment and the distinct characteristics of cancer, can significantly facilitate researchers in the discovery and development of innovative anticancer drugs for clinical use. Furthermore, the exploration of microbial and marine sources is currently a prominent area of focus in the clinical application and advancement of new anticancer therapies. Detailed classification and elucidation of the functions and antitumor properties of these natural products are essential. It is imperative to comprehensively summarize and comprehend the natural anticancer drugs that have been and continue to be utilized in clinical settings.

Transforming cancer treatment: The potential of nanonutraceuticals

Chemotherapy in the management of cancer is constrained by limitations like off-target effects, poor bioavailability, and dose-dependent toxicity. Nutraceuticals have been explored as an innovative strategy to overcome chemotherapy drawbacks.However, the clinical utility of nutraceuticals is restricted due to their complex structures, less water solubility, reduced stability, decreased bioavailability and more obstacles in the gastrointestinal tract. Nanonutraceuticals are nanosized nutraceutical particles having enhanced solubility, improved bioavailability, stability, and targeted delivery to specific cells. Nutraceuticals can be co-delivered with other chemotherapeutic drugs in nanocarriers to elicit synergistic effects. The targeting of nutraceuticals against cancer cells can be enabled by coupling ligands with the nanocarriers, which direct to the overexpressed receptors found at the surface of the cancer cells. Transitioning a nanonutraceutical from pre-clinical research to clinical trials is a pivotal step. This focus on advancing their application holds great potential for impacting clinical research and improving the treatment landscape for cancer patients. This review focuses on the role of nutraceuticals for cancer treatment, various nanocarriers for the efficient delivery of nutraceuticals along with co-administration of nutraceuticals with chemotherapeutic drugs using nanocarriers. Also, emphasize the targeting of ligands coupled nanocarriers to the cancer cells along with patents and clinical trials for nanonutraceuticals.

Piperlongumine and its derivatives against cancer: A recent update and future prospective

Piperlongumine, or piplartine (PL), is a bioactive alkaloid isolated from Piper longum L. and a potent phytoconstituent in Indian Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine with a lot of therapeutic benefits. Apart from all of its biological activities, it demonstrates multimodal anticancer activity by targeting various cancer-associated pathways and being less toxic to normal cells. According to their structure-activity relationship (SAR), the trimethylphenyl ring (cinnamoyl core) and 5,6-dihydropyridin-2-(1H)-one (piperdine core) are responsible for the potent anticancer activity. However, it has poor intrinsic properties (low aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability, etc.). As a result, pharmaceutical researchers have been trying to optimise or modify the structure of PL to improve the drug-likeness profiles. The present review selected 26 eligible research articles on PL derivatives published between 2012 and 2023, followed by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) format. We have thoroughly summarised the anticancer potency, mode of action, SAR and drug chemistry of the proposed PL-derivatives against different cancer cells. Overall, SAR analyses with respect to anticancer potency and drug-ability revealed that substitution of methoxy to hydroxyl, attachment of ligustrazine and 4-hydroxycoumarin heterocyclic rings in place of phenyl rings, and attachment of heterocyclic rings like indole at the C7-C8 olefin position in native PL can help to improve anticancer activity, aqueous solubility, cell permeability, and bioavailability, making them potential leads. Hopefully, the large-scale collection and critical drug-chemistry analyses will be helpful to pharmaceutical and academic researchers in developing potential, less-toxic and cost-effective PL-derivatives that can be used against different cancers.

Tumor-Homing Peptides as Crucial Component of Magnetic-Based Delivery Systems: Recent Developments and Pharmacoeconomical Perspective

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is considered to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and new therapeutic approaches, especially improved novel cancer treatment regimens, are in high demand. Considering that many chemotherapeutic drugs tend to have poor pharmacokinetic profiles, including rapid clearance and limited on-site accumulation, a combined approach with tumor-homing peptide (THP)-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles could lead to remarkable improvements. This is confirmed by an increasing number of papers in this field, showing that the on-target peptide functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles improves their penetration properties and ensures tumor-specific binding, which results in an increased clinical response. This review aims to highlight the potential applications of THPs in combination with magnetic carriers across various fields, including a pharmacoeconomic perspective.

Prospects of earthworm coelomic fluid as a potential therapeutic agent to treat cancer

Cancer is a major public health concern because it is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. As a result, numerous studies have reported the development of new therapeutic compounds with the aim of selectively treating cancer while having little negative influence on healthy cells. In this context, earthworm coelomic fluid has been acknowledged as a rich source of several bioactive substances that may exhibit promising anticancer activity. Therefore, the objective of the present review is to evaluate the findings of the reported studies exploring the antitumor effects of coelomic fluid in the context of its possible utilization as a natural therapeutic agent to cure different types of cancer. The possible mechanisms underlying the coelomic fluid's anticancerous potential as well as the possibility for future development of cutting-edge therapeutic agents utilizing coelomic fluid-derived natural bioactive compounds to treat cancer disorders have been discussed along with future challenges. In addition, the feasibility of encapsulation of bioactive compounds derived from coelomic fluid with nanomaterials that could be further explored to attain more effective anticancer competence is discussed.

Synthesis and Characterization of Graphene Oxide/Polyethylene Glycol/Folic Acid/Brucine Nanocomposites and Their Anticancer Activity on HepG2 Cells

Background

Liver cancer is the sixth most prevalent form of cancer and the second major cause of cancer-associated mortalities worldwide. Cancer nanotechnology has the ability to fundamentally alter cancer treatment, diagnosis, and detection.

Objective

In this study, we explained the development of graphene oxide/polyethylene glycol/folic acid/brucine nanocomposites (GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs) and evaluated their antimicrobial and anticancer effect on the liver cancer HepG2 cells.

Methodology

The GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs were prepared using the co-precipitation technique and characterized using various techniques. The cytotoxicity of the GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs was tested against both liver cancer HepG2 and non-malignant Vero cells using an MTT assay. The antimicrobial activity of the GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs was tested against several pathogens using the well diffusion technique. The effects of GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs on endogenous ROS accumulation, apoptosis, and MMP levels were examined using corresponding fluorescent staining assays, respectively. The apoptotic protein expressions, such as Bax, Bcl-2, and caspases, were studied using the corresponding kits.

Results

The findings of various characterization assays revealed the development of GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs with face-centered spherical morphology and an agglomerated appearance with an average size of 197.40 nm. The GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs treatment remarkably inhibited the growth of the tested pathogens. The findings of the MTT assay evidenced that the GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs effectively reduced the HepG2 cell growth while not showing toxicity to the Vero cells. The findings of the fluorescent assay proved that the GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs increased ROS generation, reduced MMP levels, and promoted apoptosis in the HepG2 cells. The levels of Bax, caspase-9, and -3 were increased, and Bcl-2 was reduced in the GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs-treated HepG2 cells.

Conclusion

The results of this work demonstrate that GO/PEG/Bru-FA NCs suppress viability and induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells, indicating their potential as an anticancer candidate.

Bruceine D and Narclasine inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells and the prediction of potential drug targets

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is one of the most common female malignancies. This study explored the underlying mechanism through which the two plant compounds (Brucaine D and Narclasine) inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of Brucaine D and Narclasine on breast cancer development and their potential drug targets.

METHODS

GSE85871 dataset containing 212 samples and the hallmark gene set "h.all.v2023.1.Hs.symbols.gmt" were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB) database, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to classify clusters showing similar gene expression pattern. Single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used to calculate the hallmark score for different drug treatment groups. The expressions of genes related to angiogenesis, glycolysis and cell cycle were detected. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed to study the interaction of the hub genes. Then, HERB database was employed to identify potential target genes for Narclasine and Bruceine D. Finally, in vitro experiments were conducted to validate partial drug-target pair.

RESULTS

PCA analysis showed that the significant changes in gene expression patterns took place in 6 drugs treatment groups (Narciclasine, Bruceine D, Japonicone A, 1beta-hydroxyalatolactone, Britanin, and four mixture drugs) in comparison to the remaining drug treatment groups. The ssGSEA pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that Narciclasine and Bruceine treatments had similar enriched pathways, for instance, suppressed pathways related to angiogenesis, Glycolysis, and cell cycle, etc.. Further gene expression analysis confirmed that Narciclasine and Bruceine had a strong ability to inhibit these cell cycle genes, and that MYC, CHEK2, MELK, CDK4 and EZH2 were closely interacted with each other in the PPI analysis. Drug target prediction revealed that Androgen Receptor (AR) and Estrogen Receptor 1 (ESR1) were the targets for Bruceine D, and Cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme (CYP3A4) was the target for Narciclasine. Cell experiments also confirmed the connections between Narciclasine and CYP3A4.

CONCLUSION

The present study uncovered that Narciclasine and Bruceine D could inhibit the growth of breast cancer and also predicted the potential targets for these two drugs, providing a new therapeutic direction for breast cancer patients.

pH/redox responsive size-switchable intelligent nanovehicle for tumor microenvironment targeted DOX release

Tumor microenvironment (TME) targeted strategy could control the drug release in tumor cells more accurately and creates a new opportunity for enhanced site-specific targeted delivery. In this study, (PAA-b-PCL-S-S-PCL-b-PAA) copolymeric nanoparticles (NPs) with size-switchable ability and dual pH/redox-triggered drug release behavior were designed to significantly promote cancer uptake (cell internalization of around 100% at 30 min) and site-specific targeted doxorubicin (DOX) delivery in MDA-MB-231 tumor cells. NPs surface charge was shifted from - 17.8 to - 2.4 and their size shrunk from 170.3 to 93 nm in TME. The cell cycle results showed that DOX-loaded NPs showed G2/M (68%) arrest, while free DOX showed sub-G1 arrest (22%). Apoptosis tests confirmed that the cells treated with DOX-loaded NPs showed a higher amount of apoptosis (71.6%) than the free DOX (49.8%). Western blot and RT-PCR assays revealed that the apoptotic genes and protein levels were significantly upregulated using the DOX-loaded NPs vs. the free DOX (Pvalue < 0.001). In conclusion, dual pH/redox-responsive and size-switchable DOX-loaded NPs developed here showed outstanding anti-tumoral features compared with free DOX that might present a prospective platform for tumor site-specific accumulation and drug release that suggest further in vivo research.

Paeoniflorin Induces ER Stress-Mediated Apoptotic Cell Death by Generating Nox4-Derived ROS under Radiation in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer types worldwide, and its resistance to cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, has made treating it a major challenge. Paeoniflorin (PF) is one potential pharmacological treatment derived from paeony root. However, in cancer, the molecular mechanisms and biological functions of PF are still unclear. In the present study, we found that PF exerts anti-tumor effects in vivo and in vitro and induces apoptotic cell death through ER stress, calcium (Ca2+), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) release in gastric cancer cells. However, ROS inhibition by DPI and NAC blocks cell death and the PERK signaling pathway via the reduction of Nox4. Moreover, PF triggers a synergistic inhibitory effect of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process under radiation exposure in radiation-resistant gastric cancer cells. These findings indicate that PF-induced Ca2+ and ROS release overcomes radioresistance via ER stress and induces cell death under radiation in gastric cancer cells. Therefore, PF, in combination with radiation, may be a powerful strategy for gastric cancer therapy.

Comparison effects of Ferula gummosa essential oil and Beta-pinene Alginate nanoparticles on human melanoma and breast cancer cells proliferation and apoptotic index in short term normobaric hyperoxic model

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and melanoma is the most dreadful type of skin cancer. Due to the side effects of chemotherapy drugs, the development of new herbal nano-medicines has been considered.

METHODS

This study first investigated the chemical composition of Ferula gummosa essential oil using GC-MS analysis; β-pinene, with 61.57%, was the major compound. Next, alginate nanoparticles containing β-pinene and the essential oil with particle sizes of 174 ± 7 and 137 ± 6 nm were prepared. Meanwhile, their zeta potentials were 12.4 ± 0.7 and 28.1 ± 1 mV. Besides, the successful loading of β-pinene and the essential oil in nanoparticles was confirmed using ATR-FTIR analysis. After that, their effects on viability and apoptotic index of human melanoma and breast cancer cells were investigated in normoxia and normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) conditions.

RESULTS

The best efficacy on A-375 and MDA-MB-231 cells was achieved by alginate nanoparticles containing the EO at hyperoxic and normoxia conditions; IC50 76 and 104 µg/mL. Besides, it affected apoptosis-involved genes; as Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was higher than 1, conditions for induction of apoptosis were obtained. Higher sensitivity was observed in the A-375 cell line treated with Alg-EO in the NBO model.

CONCLUSIONS

Alginate nanoparticles containing F. gummosa EO could be considered for further investigation in anticancer studies. Also, it may be expected that NBO can be a new strategy for delaying cancer progression and improving nanotherapy efficacy.

Phytochemical characterization and toxicological activity attributed to the acetonic extract of South American Vassobia breviflora

The particular plant species found in southern Brazil, Vassobia breviflora (Solanaceae) has only a few apparent studies examining its biological effect. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the activity of the acetone extract fraction derived from V. breviflora. Four compounds were identified by ESI-qTOF-MS: eucalrobusone R, aplanoic acid B, pheophorbide A, and pheophytin A. In addition, 5 compounds were identified by HPLC-PDA-MS/MS: all-trans-lutein, 15-cis-lutein, all-trans-β-carotene, 5,8-epoxy-β-carotene, and cis-β-carotene. Cell lines A549 (lung cancer), A375 (melanoma cancer) and HeLa (cervical cancer) were incubated with different concentrations of each studied extract using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and 2'-7'dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assays. The acetonic extract exhibited cytotoxic activity at a concentration of 0.03 mg/ml in the HeLa strain and 0.1 mg/ml in the others. In addition to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antibacterial activity was assessed utilizing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) in 9 ATCCs strains and 7 clinical isolates, as well as determination of biofilm production. Data demonstrated that MIC and MBC were approximately 256 mg/ml in most of the strains tested and antibiofilm effect at S. aureus, S. epidermidis, A. baumannii, and E. faecalis, concentrations below the MIC. Genotoxic activity on plasmid DNA did not produce significant elevated levels in breaks in the isolated genetic material.

Nanocarriers in Tuberculosis Treatment: Challenges and Delivery Strategies

The World Health Organization identifies tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as a leading infectious killer. Although conventional treatments for TB exist, they come with challenges such as a heavy pill regimen, prolonged treatment duration, and a strict schedule, leading to multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains. The rise of MDR strains endangers future TB control. Despite these concerns, the hunt for an efficient treatment continues. One breakthrough has been the use of nanotechnology in medicines, presenting a novel approach for TB treatment. Nanocarriers, such as lipid nanoparticles, nanosuspensions, liposomes, and polymeric micelles, facilitate targeted delivery of anti-TB drugs. The benefits of nanocarriers include reduced drug doses, fewer side effects, improved drug solubility, better bioavailability, and improved patient compliance, speeding up recovery. Additionally, nanocarriers can be made even more targeted by linking them with ligands such as mannose or hyaluronic acid. This review explores these innovative TB treatments, including studies on nanocarriers containing anti-TB drugs and related patents.

Characterization and In Vivo Antiangiogenic Activity Evaluation of Morin-Based Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes

Morin (MRN) is a natural compound with antiangiogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activity. However, it shows a very low water solubility (28 μg/mL) that reduces its oral absorption, making bioavailability low and unpredictable. To improve MRN solubility and positively affect its biological activity, particularly its antiangiogenic activity, in this work, we prepared the inclusion complexes of MNR with sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). The inclusion complexes obtained by the freeze-drying method were extensively characterized in solution (phase-solubility studies, UV-Vis titration, and NMR spectroscopy) and in the solid state (TGA, DSC, and WAXD analysis). The complexation significantly increased the water solubility by about 100 times for MRN/HP-β-CD and 115 times for MRN/SBE-β-CD. Furthermore, quantitative dissolution of the complexes was observed within 60 min, whilst 1% of the free drug dissolved in the same experimental time. 1H NMR and UV-Vis titration studies demonstrated both CDs well include the benzoyl moiety of the drug. Additionally, SBE-β-CD could interact with the cinnamoyl moiety of MRN too. The complexes are stable in solution, showing a high value of association constant, that is, 3380 M-1 for MRN/HP-β-CD and 2870 M-1 for MRN/SBE-β-CD. In vivo biological studies on chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and zebrafish embryo models demonstrated the high biocompatibility of the inclusion complexes and the effective increase in antiangiogenic activity of complexed MRN with respect to the free drug.

Stimuli-Responsive Design of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Cancer Theranostics: Current Challenges and Future Perspective

Scientific fraternity revealed the potential of stimuli-responsive nanotherapeutics for cancer treatment that aids in tackling the major restrictions of traditionally reported drug delivery systems. Among stimuli-responsive inorganic nanomaterials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have transpired as unique porous materials displaying resilient structures and diverse applications in cancer theranostics. Mainly, it demonstrates tailorable porosity, versatile chemical configuration, tunable size and shape, and feasible surface functionalization, etc. The present review provides insights into the design of stimuli-responsive multifunctional MOFs for targeted drug delivery and bioimaging for effective cancer therapy. Initially, the concept of cancer, traditional cancer treatment, background of MOFs, and approaches for MOFs synthesis have been discussed. After this, applications of stimuli-responsive multifunctional MOFs-assisted nanostructures that include pH, light, ions, temperature, magnetic, redox, ATP, and others for targeted drug delivery and bioimaging in cancer have been thoroughly discussed. As an outcome, the designed multifunctional MOFs showed an alteration in properties due to the exogenous and endogenous stimuli that are beneficial for drug release and bioimaging. The several reported types of stimuli-responsive surface-modified MOFs revealed good biocompatibility to normal cells, promising drug loading capability, target-specific delivery of anticancer drugs into cancerous cells, etc. Despite substantial progress in this field, certain crucial issues need to be addressed to reap the clinical benefits of multifunctional MOFs. Specifically, the toxicological compatibility and biodegradability of the building blocks of MOFs demand a thorough evaluation. Moreover, the investigation of sustainable and greener synthesis methods is of the utmost importance. Also, the low flexibility, off-target accumulation, and compromised pharmacokinetic profile of stimuli-responsive MOFs have attracted keen attention. In conclusion, the surface-modified nanosized design of inorganic diverse stimuli-sensitive MOFs demonstrated great potential for targeted drug delivery and bioimaging in different kinds of cancers. In the future, the preference for stimuli-triggered MOFs will open a new frontier for cancer theranostic applications.

Design, Synthesis and Fungicidal Activity of Ester Derivatives of 4-(3,4-Dichloroisothiazole) 7-Hydroxy Coumarin

The development of new fungicides is vital for safeguarding crops and ensuring sustainable agriculture. Building on our previous finding that 4-(3,4-dichloroisothiazole)-7-hydroxy coumarins can be used as fungicidal leads, 44 novel coumarin ester derivatives were designed and synthesized to evaluate whether esterification could enhance their fungicidal activity. In vitro fungicidal bioassays indicated that compound 2ai displayed good activity against Alternaria solani, Botrytis cinereal, Cercospora arachidicola, Physalospora piricola and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, with an EC₅₀ value ranging from 2.90 to 5.56 μg/mL, comparable to the lead compound 1a, with its EC₅₀ value ranging from 1.92 to 9.37 μg/mL. In vivo bioassays demonstrated that compounds 1a, 2ar and 2bg showed comparable, excellent efficacy against Pseudoperonospora cubensis at a dose of 25 µg/mL. Our research shows that the esterification of 4-(3,4-dichloroisothiazole) 7-hydroxycoumarins results in a fungicidal activity equivalent to that of its lead compounds. Furthermore, our density functional theory (DFT) calculations and 3D-QSAR modeling provide a rational explanation of the structure-activity relationship and offer valuable insights to guide further molecular design.

Amelioration of Cancer Employing Chitosan, Its Derivatives, and Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles: Recent Updates

The limitations associated with the conventional treatment of cancer have necessitated the design and development of novel drug delivery systems based mainly on nanotechnology. These novel drug delivery systems include various kinds of nanoparticles, such as polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, hydrogels, and polymeric micelles. Among the various kinds of novel drug delivery systems, chitosan-based nanoparticles have attracted the attention of researchers to treat cancer. Chitosan is a polycationic polymer generated from chitin with various characteristics such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and mucoadhesiveness, making it an ideal polymer to fabricate drug delivery systems. However, chitosan is poorly soluble in water and soluble in acidic aqueous solutions. Furthermore, owing to the presence of reactive amino groups, chitosan can be chemically modified to improve its physiochemical properties. Chitosan and its modified derivatives can be employed to fabricate nanoparticles, which are used most frequently in the pharmaceutical sector due to their possession of various characteristics such as nanosize, appropriate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, non-immunogenicity, improved stability, and improved drug loading capacity. Furthermore, it is capable of delivering nucleic acids, chemotherapeutic medicines, and bioactives using modified chitosan. Chitosan and its modified derivative-based nanoparticles can be targeted to specific cancer sites via active and passive mechanisms. Based on chitosan drug delivery systems, many anticancer drugs now have better effectiveness, potency, cytotoxicity, or biocompatibility. The characteristics of chitosan and its chemically tailored derivatives, as well as their use in cancer therapy, will be examined in this review.

Codelivery of Phytochemicals with Conventional Anticancer Drugs in Form of Nanocarriers

Anticancer drugs in monotherapy are ineffective to treat various kinds of cancer due to the heterogeneous nature of cancer. Moreover, available anticancer drugs possessed various hurdles, such as drug resistance, insensitivity of cancer cells to drugs, adverse effects and patient inconveniences. Hence, plant-based phytochemicals could be a better substitute for conventional chemotherapy for treatment of cancer due to various properties: lesser adverse effects, action via multiple pathways, economical, etc. Various preclinical studies have demonstrated that a combination of phytochemicals with conventional anticancer drugs is more efficacious than phytochemicals individually to treat cancer because plant-derived compounds have lower anticancer efficacy than conventional anticancer drugs. Moreover, phytochemicals suffer from poor aqueous solubility and reduced bioavailability, which must be resolved for efficacious treatment of cancer. Therefore, nanotechnology-based novel carriers are employed for codelivery of phytochemicals and conventional anticancer drugs for better treatment of cancer. These novel carriers include nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, metallic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes that provide various benefits of improved solubility, reduced adverse effects, higher efficacy, reduced dose, improved dosing frequency, reduced drug resistance, improved bioavailability and higher patient compliance. This review summarizes various phytochemicals employed in treatment of cancer, combination therapy of phytochemicals with anticancer drugs and various nanotechnology-based carriers to deliver the combination therapy in treatment of cancer.

Recent Advances in Natural Product-Based Hybrids as Anti-Cancer Agents

Cancer is one of the top leading causes of death worldwide. It is a heterogenous disease characterized by unregulated cell proliferation and invasiveness of abnormal cells. For the treatment of cancer, natural products have been widely used as a source of therapeutic ingredients since ancient times. Although natural compounds and their derivatives have demonstrated strong antitumor activity in many types of cancer, their poor pharmacokinetic properties, low cell selectivity, limited bioavailability and restricted efficacy against drug-resistant cancer cells hinder their wide clinical application. Conjugation of natural products with other bioactive molecules has given rise to a new field in drug discovery resulting to the development of novel, bifunctional and more potent drugs for cancer therapy to overcome the current drawbacks. This review discusses multiple categories of such bifunctional conjugates and highlights recent trends and advances in the development of natural product hybrids. Among them, ADCs, PDCs, ApDCs, PROTACs and AUTOTACs represent emerging therapeutic agents against cancer.

Applications of Nanotechnology-based Approaches to Overcome Multi-drug Resistance in Cancer

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the major treatments used for the management of cancer. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major hindrance faced in the treatment of cancer and is also responsible for cancer relapse. To date, several studies have been carried out on strategies to overcome or reverse MDR in cancer. Unfortunately, the MDR reversing agents have been proven to have minimal clinical benefits, and eventually, no improvement has been made in therapeutic efficacy to date. Thus, several investigational studies have also focused on overcoming drug resistance rather than reversing the MDR. In this review, we focus primarily on nanoformulations regarded as a novel approach to overcome or bypass the MDR in cancer. The nanoformulation systems serve as an attractive strategy as these nanosized materials selectively get accumulated in tumor tissues, thereby improving the clinical outcomes of patients suffering from MDR cancer. In the current work, we present an overview of recent trends in the application of various nano-formulations, belonging to different mechanistic classes and functionalization like carbon nanotubes, carbon nanohorns, carbon nanospheres, liposomes, dendrimers, etc., to overcome MDR in cancer. A detailed overview of these techniques will help researchers in exploring the applicability of nanotechnologybased approaches to treat MDR.

Mucoadhesive Polymers and Their Applications in Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is the tenth most common type of cancer worldwide, affecting up to four times more men than women. Depending on the stage of the tumor, different therapy protocols are applied. Non-muscle-invasive cancer englobes around 70% of the cases and is usually treated using the transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBIT) followed by the instillation of chemotherapy or immunotherapy. However, due to bladder anatomy and physiology, current intravesical therapies present limitations concerning permeation and time of residence. Furthermore, they require several frequent catheter insertions with a reduced interval between doses, which is highly demotivating for the patient. This scenario has encouraged several pieces of research focusing on the development of drug delivery systems (DDS) to improve drug time residence, permeation capacity, and target release. In this review, the current situation of BC is described concerning the disease and available treatments, followed by a report on the main DDS developed in the past few years, focusing on those based on mucoadhesive polymers as a strategy. A brief review of methods to evaluate mucoadhesion properties is also presented; lastly, different polymers suitable for this application are discussed.

Recent updates in curcumin delivery

Curcumin is a natural component extracted from the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a natural plat with known medicinal uses for more than 4000 years. Most turmeric therapeutic effects are attributed to curcumin, a yellow-coloured extract. Curcumin has received considerable attention due to its biological activities, such as its use in arthritis, liver and neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, and several types of cancers. Most of these curcumin therapeutic activities are related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the clinical application of curcumin is hampered by some limitations that prevent its extensive clinical application. Curcumin high hydrophobicity of curcumin and limited water solubility are among the most important limitations. This poor solubility will result in low bioavailability due to its poor absorption into plasma and the target tissues. Curcumin also has rapid metabolism, which will significantly lower its bioavailability and shorten its half-life. Moreover, curcumin is photosensitive with limited chemical stability during manufacturing and storage. These limitations have been overcome by applying nanotechnology using several types of nanoparticles (NPs). This includes using NPs such as liposomes, niosomes, gold nanoparticles, and many others to improve the curcumin solubility and bioavailability. This review focuses on the different types of NPs investigated and the outcomes generated by their use in the most recent studies in this field. To follow the latest advances in the field of site-specific drug delivery using nanomaterials, an electronic databases search was conducted using PubMed, Google scholar and Scopus using the following keywords: lipid-based nanoparticles, curcumin delivery, niosomes, and liposomes.

Modulation of TLR/NF-κB/NLRP Signaling by Bioactive Phytocompounds: A Promising Strategy to Augment Cancer Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy

Background

Tumors often progress to a more aggressive phenotype to resist drugs. Multiple dysregulated pathways are behind this tumor behavior which is known as cancer chemoresistance. Thus, there is an emerging need to discover pivotal signaling pathways involved in the resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and cancer immunotherapy. Reports indicate the critical role of the toll-like receptor (TLR)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing (NLRP) pathway in cancer initiation, progression, and development. Therefore, targeting TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling is a promising strategy to augment cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy and to combat chemoresistance. Considering the potential of phytochemicals in the regulation of multiple dysregulated pathways during cancer initiation, promotion, and progression, such compounds could be suitable candidates against cancer chemoresistance.

Objectives

This is the first comprehensive and systematic review regarding the role of phytochemicals in the mitigation of chemoresistance by regulating the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway in chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Methods

A comprehensive and systematic review was designed based on Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane electronic databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to include papers on TLR/NF-κB/NLRP and chemotherapy/immunotherapy/chemoresistance by phytochemicals.

Results

Phytochemicals are promising multi-targeting candidates against the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway and interconnected mediators. Employing phenolic compounds, alkaloids, terpenoids, and sulfur compounds could be a promising strategy for managing cancer chemoresistance through the modulation of the TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling pathway. Novel delivery systems of phytochemicals in cancer chemotherapy/immunotherapy are also highlighted.

Conclusion

Targeting TLR/NF-κB/NLRP signaling with bioactive phytocompounds reverses chemoresistance and improves the outcome for chemotherapy and immunotherapy in both preclinical and clinical stages.

Emerging uses of PLA-PEG copolymer in cancer drug delivery

Traditional therapies need high systematic dosages that not only destroys cancerous cells but also healthy cells. To overcome this problem recent advancement in nanotechnology specifically in nanomaterials has been extensively done for various biological applications, such as targeted drug delivery. Nanotechnology, as a frontier science, has the potential to break down all the obstacles to be more effective and secure drug delivery system. It is possible to develop nanopolymer based drug carrier that can target drugs with extreme accuracy. Polymers can advance drug delivery technologies by allowing controlled release of therapeutic drugs in stable amounts over long duration of time. For controlled drug delivery, biodegradable synthetic polymers have various benefits over non-biodegradable polymers. Biodegradable polymer either are less toxic or non-toxic. Polylactic Acid (PLA) is one of the most remarkable amphipathic polymers which make it one of the most suitable materials for polymeric micelles. Amphiphilic nanomaterial, such as Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), is one of the most promising carrier for tumor targeting. PLA-PEG as a copolymer has been generally utilized as drug delivery system for the various types of cancer. Chemotherapeutic drugs are stacked into PLA-PEG copolymer and as a result their duration time delays, hence medications arrive at specific tumor site.

Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of the Anti-Cancer Drugs: A Review

Abstract:

Cancer is one of the main reasons for mortality worldwide. Chemotherapeutic agents have been effectively designed to increase certain patients' survival rates, but ordinarily designed chemotherapeutic agents necessarily deliver toxic chemotherapeutic drugs to healthy tissues, resulting in serious side effects. Cancer cells can often acquire drug resistance after repeated dosing of current chemotherapeutic agents, restricting their efficacy. Given such obstacles, investigators have attempted to distribute chemotherapeutic agents using targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs), especially nanotechnology-based DDSs. Lipid-Based Nanoparticles (LBNPs) are a large and complex class of substances that have been utilized to manage a variety of diseases, mostly cancer. Liposomes seem to be the most frequently employed LBNPs, owing to their high biocompatibility, bioactivity, stability, and flexibility; howbeit Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) and Non-structured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) have lately received a lot of interest. Besides that, there are several reports that concentrate on novel therapies via LBNPs to manage various forms of cancer. In the present research, the latest improvements in the application of LBNPs have been shown to deliver different therapeutic agents to cancerous cells and have been demonstrated LBNPs also can be a quite successful candidate in cancer therapy for subsequent use.

Hesperidin and its aglycone hesperetin in breast cancer therapy: A review of recent developments and future prospects

Breast cancer (BC) has high incidence and mortality rates, making it a major global health issue. BC treatment has been challenging due to the presence of drug resistance and the limited availability of therapeutic options for triple-negative and metastatic BC, thereby urging the exploration of more effective anti-cancer agents. Hesperidin and its aglycone hesperetin, two flavonoids from citrus species, have been extensively evaluated for their anti-cancer potentials. In this review, available literatures on the chemotherapeutic and chemosensitising activities of hesperidin and hesperetin in preclinical BC models are reported. The safety and bioavailability of hesperidin and hesperetin as well as the strategies to enhance their bioavailability are also discussed. Overall, hesperidin and hesperetin can inhibit cell proliferation, migration and BC stem cells as well as induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in vitro. They can also inhibit tumour growth, metastasis and neoplastic changes in tissue architecture in vivo. Moreover, the co-administration of hesperidin or hesperetin with doxorubicin, letrozole or tamoxifen can enhance the efficacies of these clinically available agents. These chemotherapeutic and chemosensitising activities of hesperidin and hesperetin have been linked to several mechanisms, including the modulation of signalling pathways, glucose uptake, enzymes, miRNA expression, oxidative status, cell cycle regulatory proteins, tumour suppressor p53, plasma and liver lipid profiles as well as DNA repair mechanisms. However, poor water solubility, extensive phase II metabolism and apical efflux have posed limitations to the bioavailability of hesperidin and hesperetin. Various strategies for bioavailability enhancement have been studied, including the utilisation of nano-based drug delivery systems and the co-administration of hesperetin with other flavonoids. In particular, nanoformulated hesperidin and hesperetin possess greater chemotherapeutic and chemosensitising activities than free compounds. Despite promising preclinical results, further safety and efficacy evaluation of hesperidin and hesperetin as well as their nanoformulations in clinical trials is required to ascertain their potentials to be developed as clinically useful agents for BC treatment.

Drug Delivery of Natural Products Through Nanocarriers for Effective Breast Cancer Therapy: A Comprehensive Review of Literature

Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (BC), it remains a global health issue affecting millions of women annually. Poor prognosis in BC patients is often linked to drug resistance as well as the lack of effective therapeutic options for metastatic and triple-negative BC. In response to these unmet needs, extensive research efforts have been devoted to exploring the anti-BC potentials of natural products owing to their multi-target mechanisms of action and good safety profiles. Various medicinal plant extracts/essential oils and natural bioactive compounds have demonstrated anti-cancer activities in preclinical BC models. Despite the promising preclinical results, however, the clinical translation of natural products has often been hindered by their poor stability, aqueous solubility and bioavailability. There have been attempts to overcome these limitations, particularly via the use of nano-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs). This review highlights the tumour targeting mechanisms of NDDSs, the advantages and disadvantages of the major classes of NDDSs and their current clinical status in BC treatment. Besides, it also discusses the proposed anti-BC mechanisms and nanoformulations of nine medicinal plants' extracts/essential oils and nine natural bioactive compounds; selected via the screening of various scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, based on the following keywords: "Natural Product AND Nanoparticle AND Breast Cancer". Overall, these nanoformulations exhibit improved anti-cancer efficacy against preclinical BC models, with some demonstrating biocompatibility with normal cell lines and mouse models. Further clinical studies are, however, warranted to ascertain their efficacy and biocompatibility in humans.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (Ido) inhibitors and their nanomedicines for cancer immunotherapy

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) as a principle enzyme in tryptophan (Trp) catabolism, modulates immune responses and promotes cancer progression. In recent decades, the newly emerging IDO inhibitors are regarded as the breakthrough for cancer immunotherapy. Intensified efforts have been increasingly made to, on the one hand, optimize the IDO inhibitors-based combination therapy in clinical trials; on the other hand, develop IDO inhibitors nanomedicines for tumor-targeted delivery in preclinical studies. This review will discuss the types of IDO inhibitors and the relevant clinical trials, especially those of the feasible combined therapeutic modalities. Moreover, it would be the first time to overview the cutting-edge nanomedicines that combine IDO inhibitors with other therapeutic modalities (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT) and immune checkpoint blockade) to effectively improve the effect of cancer therapy. Lastly, the prospects of IDO inhibitors in terms of clinical application and potential breakthroughs will be briefly discussed.

An Overview of New Insights into the Benefits of the Seagrass Posidonia oceanica for Human Health

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is a Mediterranean-endemic angiosperm often described for its great ecological importance. Despite evidence of a millennia-old relationship between P. oceanica and humans, as well as traditional medicine applications, the potential benefits of P. oceanica for human health have been documented only recently. This review aims to compile newly acquired knowledge on P. oceanica bioactive properties that allow the scientific community to look at this plant as a promising source of natural therapeutical products for human health. Experimental investigations conducted in both in vitro cellular-based and in vivo animal models pave the way for new research projects aiming at the development of alternative and complementary therapeutic strategies based on P. oceanica against a wide range of pathological conditions.

Advances in Intracellular Calcium Signaling Reveal Untapped Targets for Cancer Therapy

Intracellular Ca2+ distribution is a tightly regulated process. Numerous Ca2+ chelating, storage, and transport mechanisms are required to maintain normal cellular physiology. Ca2+-binding proteins, mainly calmodulin and calbindins, sequester free intracellular Ca2+ ions and apportion or transport them to signaling hubs needing the cations. Ca2+ channels, ATP-driven pumps, and exchangers assist the binding proteins in transferring the ions to and from appropriate cellular compartments. Some, such as the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and lysosomes, act as Ca2+ repositories. Cellular Ca2+ homeostasis is inefficient without the active contribution of these organelles. Moreover, certain key cellular processes also rely on inter-organellar Ca2+ signaling. This review attempts to encapsulate the structure, function, and regulation of major intracellular Ca2+ buffers, sensors, channels, and signaling molecules before highlighting how cancer cells manipulate them to survive and thrive. The spotlight is then shifted to the slow pace of translating such research findings into anticancer therapeutics. We use the PubMed database to highlight current clinical studies that target intracellular Ca2+ signaling. Drug repurposing and improving the delivery of small molecule therapeutics are further discussed as promising strategies for speeding therapeutic development in this area.

Dietary Flavonoids: Cardioprotective Potential with Antioxidant Effects and Their Pharmacokinetic, Toxicological and Therapeutic Concerns

Flavonoids comprise a large group of structurally diverse polyphenolic compounds of plant origin and are abundantly found in human diet such as fruits, vegetables, grains, tea, dairy products, red wine, etc. Major classes of flavonoids include flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavanols, anthocyanidins, isoflavones, and chalcones. Owing to their potential health benefits and medicinal significance, flavonoids are now considered as an indispensable component in a variety of medicinal, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic preparations. Moreover, flavonoids play a significant role in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which could be mainly due to their antioxidant, antiatherogenic, and antithrombotic effects. Epidemiological and in vitro/in vivo evidence of antioxidant effects supports the cardioprotective function of dietary flavonoids. Further, the inhibition of LDL oxidation and platelet aggregation following regular consumption of food containing flavonoids and moderate consumption of red wine might protect against atherosclerosis and thrombosis. One study suggests that daily intake of 100 mg of flavonoids through the diet may reduce the risk of developing morbidity and mortality due to coronary heart disease (CHD) by approximately 10%. This review summarizes dietary flavonoids with their sources and potential health implications in CVDs including various redox-active cardioprotective (molecular) mechanisms with antioxidant effects. Pharmacokinetic (oral bioavailability, drug metabolism), toxicological, and therapeutic aspects of dietary flavonoids are also addressed herein with future directions for the discovery and development of useful drug candidates/therapeutic molecules.

Potential chemotherapeutic effect of betalain against human non-small cell lung cancer through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

This work focuses on evaluating the therapeutic ability of betalain and its causal mechanisms in NSCLC both in vivo and in vitro. The experimental results demonstrated that betalain was able to reduce the viability of A549 cells dose dependently with undetectable toxicity toward normal human cells. Betalain also augmented the apoptotic cells of A549 and cell cycle arrest which was evidenced via increased in level of p53/p21 and decreasing levels of cyclin-D1 complex. Moreover, betalain also reduced the levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and mammalian target of rapamycin significantly, justifying the pro-apoptotic effect on A549 cells. The in vivo anticancer activity of betalain was determined further in nude mice injected with A549 cells. Xenograft in vivo experiments confirmed betalain administration of ameliorates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor markers with reduced toxic effect. Accordingly, this combined study provides significant insight on betalain as a therapeutic agent.

Graphene Oxide Loaded with Protocatechuic Acid and Chlorogenic Acid Dual Drug Nanodelivery System for Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapeutic Application

Hepatocellular carcinoma or hepatoma is a primary malignant neoplasm that responsible for 75-90% of all liver cancer in humans. Nanotechnology introduced the dual drug nanodelivery method as one of the initiatives in nanomedicine for cancer therapy. Graphene oxide (GO) loaded with protocatechuic acid (PCA) and chlorogenic acid (CA) have shown some anticancer activities in both passive and active targeting. The physicochemical characterizations for nanocomposites were conducted. Cell cytotoxicity assay and lactate dehydrogenase were conducted to estimate cell cytotoxicity and the severity of cell damage. Next, nanocomposite intracellular drug uptake was analyzed using a transmission electron microscope. The accumulation and localization of fluorescent-labelled nanocomposite in the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells were analyzed using a fluorescent microscope. Subsequently, Annexin V- fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide analysis showed that nanocomposites induced late apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Cell cycle arrest was ascertained at the G2/M phase. There was the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and an upregulation of reactive oxygen species when HepG2 cells were induced by nanocomposites. In conclusion, HepG2 cells treated with a graphene oxide-polyethylene glycol (GOP)-PCA/CA-FA dual drug nanocomposite exhibited significant anticancer activities with less toxicity compared to pristine protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid and GOP-PCA/CA nanocomposite, may be due to the utilization of a folic acid-targeting nanodrug delivery system.

Anticancer Molecular Mechanism of Protocatechuic Acid Loaded on Folate Coated Functionalized Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Delivery System in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Liver cancer is listed as the fifth-ranked cancer, responsible for 9.1% of all cancer deaths globally due to its assertive nature and poor survival rate. To overcome this obstacle, efforts have been made to ensure effective cancer therapy via nanotechnology utilization. Recent studies have shown that functionalized graphene oxide (GO)-loaded protocatechuic acid has shown some anticancer activities in both passive and active targeting. The nanocomposites’ physicochemical characterizations were conducted. A lactate dehydrogenase experiment was conducted to estimate the severity of cell damage. Subsequently, a clonogenic assay was carried out to examine the colony-forming ability during long-term exposure of the nanocomposites. The Annexin V/ propidium iodide analysis showed that nanocomposites induced late apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Following the intervention of nanocomposites, cell cycle arrest was ascertained at G2/M phase. There was depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and an upregulation of reactive oxygen species when HepG2 cells were induced by nanocomposites. Finally, the proteomic profiling array and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction revealed the expression of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins induced by graphene oxide conjugated PEG loaded with protocatechuic acid drug folic acid coated nanocomposite (GOP–PCA–FA) in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, GOP–PCA–FA nanocomposites treated HepG2 cells exhibited significant anticancer activities with less toxicity compared to pristine protocatechuic acid and GOP–PCA nanocomposites, due to the utilization of a folic acid-targeting nanodrug delivery system.

Improved Pharmacodynamic Potential of Rosuvastatin by Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System: An in vitro and in vivo Evaluation

PURPOSE

The purpose of this proposed research was to investigate a nano-formulation developed using self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) to improve the pharmacodynamic potential of rosuvastatin by assisting its transportation through lymphatic circulation.

METHODS

The utilized lipids, surfactants, and co-surfactants for SNEDDS were selected on the basis of solubility studies. The SNEDDS formulation was optimized by implementing a D-optimal mixture design, wherein the effect of concentration of Capmul MCM EP (X1), Tween 20 (X2) and Transcutol P (X3) as independent variables was studied on droplet size (Y1), % cumulative drug release (Y2) and self-emulsification time (Y3) as dependent variables. The optimized formulation was evaluated via in vitro parameters and in vivo pharmacodynamic potential in Wistar rats.

RESULTS

The D-optimal mixture design and subsequent ANOVA application resulted in the assortment of the optimized SNEDDS formulation that exhibited a droplet size of nano range (14.91nm), in vitro drug release of >90% within 30 minutes, and self-emulsification time of 16 seconds. The in vivo pharmacodynamic study carried out using Wistar rats confirmed the better antihyperlipidemic potential of developed formulation in normalizing the lipidic level of serum in contrast to pure drug and marketed tablets.

CONCLUSION

This research reports the application of D-optimal mixture design for successful and systematic development of rosuvastatin-loaded SNEDDS with distinctly enhanced in vitro and in vivo performance in comparison to marketed formulation. Eventually, improved anti-hyperlipidemic efficacy was envisaged which might be attributed to increased drug solubility and absorption. Overall, this study shows the utility of SNEDDS for improving the dissolution rate and bioavailability of poor aqueous-soluble drugs. The present SNEDDS formulation could be a promising approach and alternative to conventional dosage form.

The Interplay between Fe3O4 Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles, Sodium Butyrate, and Folic Acid for Intracellular Transport

Combined treatments which use nanoparticles and drugs could be a synergistic strategy for the treatment of a variety of cancers to overcome drug resistance, low efficacy, and high-dose-induced systemic toxicity. In this study, the effects on human colon adenocarcinoma cells of surface modified Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in combination with sodium butyrate (NaBu), added as a free formulation, were examined demonstrating that the co-delivery produced a cytotoxic effect on malignant cells. Two different MNP coatings were investigated: a simple polyethylene glycol (PEG) layer and a mixed folic acid (FA) and PEG layer. Our results demonstrated that MNPs with FA (FA-PEG@MNPs) have a better cellular uptake than the ones without FA (PEG@MNPs), probably due to the presence of folate that acts as an activator of folate receptors (FRs) expression. However, in the presence of NaBu, the difference between the two types of MNPs was reduced. These similar behaviors for both MNPs likely occurred because of the differentiation induced by butyrate that increases the uptake of ferromagnetic nanoparticles. Moreover, we observed a strong decrease of cell viability in a NaBu dose-dependent manner. Taking into account these results, the cooperation of multifunctional MNPs with NaBu, taking into consideration the particular cancer-cell properties, can be a valuable tool for future cancer treatment.