Tumor-Targeting Glycol Chitosan Nanoparticles for Image-Guided Surgery of Rabbit Orthotopic VX2 Lung Cancer

Different conjugates of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, drug, and dye: optical and magnetic properties for in vivo bimodal imaging

Bioimaging is very important in medicine, especially in cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we determined the impact of different components on the optical and magnetic properties of various conjugates. The three components, i.e., Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs), drug (doxorubicin - Dox), and dye (Cyanine 5.5 - Cy 5.5), were incorporated to form the four conjugates of A1 (Fe3O4-Cy 5.5), A2 (Fe3O4-Dox), A3 (Fe3O4-Cy 5.5-Dox), and A4 (Cy 5.5-Dox). The conjugates were characterized by DLS, UV-Vis spectra, fluorescence spectra, VSM, XRD, and TEM methods. After that, in vitro near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments were carried out to determine the conjugate suitable for bimodal imaging. The results show that A3 exhibits the highest quantum yield and radiance ratio and also has the highest ratio of r 2/r 1. The in vivo MRI and NIR fluorescent imaging results of CT26-bearing mice injected with A3 conjugates prove that the conjugate has potential in bimodal cancer imaging applications.

Advances in controlled release drug delivery systems based on nanomaterials in lung cancer therapy: A review

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors, with the highest morbidity and mortality rates. Currently, significant progress has been made in the treatment of lung cancer, which has effectively improved the overall prognosis of patients, but there are still many problems, such as tumor recurrence, drug resistance, and serious complications. With the rapid development of nanotechnology in the field of medicine, it breaks through the inherent limitations of traditional cancer treatments and shows great potential in tumor treatment. To address the drawbacks of traditional therapeutic means, nanodrug delivery systems can release drugs under specific conditions, thus realizing tumor-targeted drug delivery, which improves the antitumor effect of drugs. In this paper, we review the current treatments for lung cancer and further discuss the advantages and common carriers of nanodrug delivery systems. We also summarize the latest research progress of nanotargeted drug delivery systems in the field of lung cancer therapy, discuss the problems faced in their clinical translation, and look forward to future development opportunities and directions.

Folic-acid-targeted drug delivery system implementing Angelica gigas polysaccharide: A potential strategy for colorectal cancer treatment

The study focuses on the development of folate-targeted conjugates utilizing Angelica gigas polysaccharide (F2) as a drug carrier for colorectal cancer therapy. We synthesized F2-C-5-FU conjugates by linking carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (C-5-FU) with folic acid (FA) through ester bonding. The drug release behavior of F2-C-5-FU-FA was pH-dependent, favoring release under alkaline conditions. After 96 h in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), the conjugate exhibited a cumulative release of 54.7%, which was higher compared to other pH environments. In vitro, F2-C-5-FU-FA showed enhanced cytotoxicity and increased cellular uptake in folate receptor-positive HCT-116 cells compared to A549 cells. The conjugate also induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and modulated the BAX/BCL-2 mRNA expression ratio through the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. In vivo, F2-C-5-FU-FA increased tumor fluorescence intensity, prolonged drug circulation, and reduced organ toxicity to non-target organs. The treatment promoted cancer cell apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Overall, F2-C-5-FU-FA conjugates demonstrate potential as an effective drug delivery system for targeted colorectal cancer therapy.

A novel targeted anticancer drug delivery strategy: Cnidium officinale polysaccharide conjugated with carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil and folic acid for ovarian cancer therapy

To mitigate adverse reactions induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), Cnidium officinale fraction 2 (F2) polysaccharides served as the macromolecular carrier, facilitating its reaction with carboxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (C-5-FU) for producing F2-C-5-FU. Subsequently, this compound could react with folic acid (FA) through the ester bond, forming F2-C-5-FU-FA, as verified through NMR analysis. The in vitro anticancer efficacy of F2-C-5-FU-FA was evaluated using SKOV-3 cells that expressed folate receptor (FR) and FR-deficient A549 cells, showing greater cytotoxicity in the SKOV-3 cell line due to the FRs on the cell membrane. In vivo experiments were conducted on SKOV-3-bearing xenograft mice using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS). Animals injected with F2-C-5-FU-FA exhibited significantly stronger targeting of tumor tissue compared to those injected with F2-C-5-FU. These findings highlighted enhanced drug delivery and accumulation in targeted tumor regions facilitated by folate-targeted conjugates. Moreover, F2-C-5FU-FA showed reduced cardiac toxicity in mice and minimal spleen accumulation, indicating a negligible effect on the immune system. Overall, this study introduced a novel strategy for achieving highly efficient anticancer drug delivery into tumor cells that express FR.

Current advance of nanotechnology in diagnosis and treatment for malignant tumors

Cancer remains a significant risk to human health. Nanomedicine is a new multidisciplinary field that is garnering a lot of interest and investigation. Nanomedicine shows great potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Specifically engineered nanoparticles can be employed as contrast agents in cancer diagnostics to enable high sensitivity and high-resolution tumor detection by imaging examinations. Novel approaches for tumor labeling and detection are also made possible by the use of nanoprobes and nanobiosensors. The achievement of targeted medication delivery in cancer therapy can be accomplished through the rational design and manufacture of nanodrug carriers. Nanoparticles have the capability to effectively transport medications or gene fragments to tumor tissues via passive or active targeting processes, thus enhancing treatment outcomes while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. Simultaneously, nanoparticles can be employed in the context of radiation sensitization and photothermal therapy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of malignant tumors. This review presents a literature overview and summary of how nanotechnology is used in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. According to oncological diseases originating from different systems of the body and combining the pathophysiological features of cancers at different sites, we review the most recent developments in nanotechnology applications. Finally, we briefly discuss the prospects and challenges of nanotechnology in cancer.

Surface Bio-engineered Polymeric Nanoparticles

Surface bio-engineering of polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) has emerged as a cornerstone in contemporary biomedical research, presenting a transformative avenue that can revolutionize diagnostics, therapies, and drug delivery systems. The approach involves integrating bioactive elements on the surfaces of PNPs, aiming to provide them with functionalities to enable precise, targeted, and favorable interactions with biological components within cellular environments. However, the full potential of surface bio-engineered PNPs in biomedicine is hampered by obstacles, including precise control over surface modifications, stability in biological environments, and lasting targeted interactions with cells or tissues. Concerns like scalability, reproducibility, and long-term safety also impede translation to clinical practice. In this review, these challenges in the context of recent breakthroughs in developing surface-biofunctionalized PNPs for various applications, from biosensing and bioimaging to targeted delivery of therapeutics are discussed. Particular attention is given to bonding mechanisms that underlie the attachment of bioactive moieties to PNP surfaces. The stability and efficacy of surface-bioengineered PNPs are critically reviewed in disease detection, diagnostics, and treatment, both in vitro and in vivo settings. Insights into existing challenges and limitations impeding progress are provided, and a forward-looking discussion on the field's future is presented. The paper concludes with recommendations to accelerate the clinical translation of surface bio-engineered PNPs.

Fe3O4-Cy5.5-trastuzumab magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic resonance/near-infrared imaging targeting HER2 in breast cancer

This study developed a probe Fe3O4-Cy5.5-trastuzumab with fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging functions that can target breast cancer with high HER2 expression, aiming to provide a new theoretical method for the diagnosis of early breast cancer. Fe3O4-Cy5.5-trastuzumab nanoparticles were combined with Fe3O4for T2imaging and Cy5.5 for near-infrared imaging, and coupled with trastuzumab for HER2 targeting. We characterized the nanoparticles used transmission electron microscopy, hydration particle size, Zeta potential, UV and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and examined its magnetism, fluorescence, and relaxation rate related properties. CCK-8 and blood biochemistry analysis evaluated the biosafety and stability of the nanoparticles, and validated the targeting ability of Fe3O4-Cy5.5 trastuzumab nanoparticles throughin vitroandin vivocell and animal experiments. Characterization results showed the successful synthesis of Fe3O4-Cy5.5-trastuzumab nanoparticles with a diameter of 93.72 ± 6.34 nm. The nanoparticles showed a T2relaxation rate 42.29 mM-1s-1, magnetic saturation strength of 27.58 emg g-1. Laser confocal and flow cytometry uptake assay showed that the nanoparticles could effectively target HER2 expressed by breast cancer cells. As indicated byin vitroandin vivostudies, Fe3O4-Cy5.5-trastuzumab were specifically taken up and effectively aggregated to tumour regions with prominent NIRF/MR imaging properties. CCK-8, blood biochemical analysis and histological results suggested Fe3O4-Cy5.5-trastuzumab that exhibited low toxicity to major organs and goodin vivobiocompatibility. The prepared Fe3O4-Cy5.5-trastuzumab exhibited excellent targeting, NIRF/MR imaging performance. It is expected to serve as a safe and effective diagnostic method that lays a theoretical basis for the effective diagnosis of early breast cancer. This study successfully prepared a kind of nanoparticles with near-infrared fluorescence imaging and T2imaging properties, which is expected to serve as a new theory and strategy for early detection of breast cancer.

HSA-ZW800-PEG for Enhanced Optophysical Stability and Tumor Targeting

Small molecule fluorophores often face challenges such as short blood half-life, limited physicochemical and optical stability, and poor pharmacokinetics. To overcome these limitations, we conjugated the zwitterionic near-infrared fluorophore ZW800-PEG to human serum albumin (HSA), creating HSA-ZW800-PEG. This conjugation notably improves chemical, physical, and optical stability under physiological conditions, addressing issues commonly encountered with small molecules in biological applications. Additionally, the high molecular weight and extinction coefficient of HSA-ZW800-PEG enhances biodistribution and tumor targeting through the enhanced permeability and retention effect. The unique distribution and elimination dynamics, along with the significantly extended blood half-life of HSA-ZW800-PEG, contribute to improved tumor targetability in both subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft tumor-bearing animal models. This modification not only influences the pharmacokinetic profile, affecting retention time and clearance patterns, but also enhances bioavailability for targeting tissues. Our study guides further development and optimization of targeted imaging agents and drug-delivery systems.

Platinum(IV)-Loaded Degraded Glycol Chitosan as Efficient Platinum(IV) Drug Delivery Platform

A new class of anticancer prodrugs was designed by combining the cytotoxicity of platinum(IV) complexes and the drug carrier properties of glycol chitosan polymers: Unsymmetrically carboxylated platinum(IV) analogues of cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin, namely (OC-6-44)-acetatodiammine(3-carboxypropanoato)dichloridoplatinum(IV), (OC-6-44)-acetaodiammine(3-carboxypropanoato)(cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylato)platinum(IV) and (OC-6-44)-acetato(3-carboxypropanoato)(1R,2R-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine)oxalatoplatinum(IV) were synthesised and conjugated via amide bonding to degraded glycol chitosan (dGC) polymers with different chain lengths (5, 10, 18 kDa). The 15 conjugates were investigated with ¹H and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy, and average amounts of platinum(IV) units per dGC polymer molecule with ICP-MS, revealing a range of 1.3-22.8 platinum(IV) units per dGC molecule. Cytotoxicity was tested with MTT assays in the cancer cell lines A549, CH1/PA-1, SW480 (human) and 4T1 (murine). IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar to nanomolar range were obtained, and higher antiproliferative activity (up to 72 times) was detected with dGC-platinum(IV) conjugates in comparison to platinum(IV) counterparts. The highest cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ of 0.036 ± 0.005 µM) was determined in CH1/PA-1 ovarian teratocarcinoma cells with a cisplatin(IV)-dGC conjugate, which is hence 33 times more potent than the corresponding platinum(IV) complex and twice more potent than cisplatin. Biodistribution studies of an oxaliplatin(IV)-dGC conjugate in non-tumour-bearing Balb/C mice showed an increased accumulation in the lung compared to the unloaded oxaliplatin(IV) analogue, arguing for further activity studies.

Coordination-driven Metal-polyphenolic Nanoparticles toward Effective Anticancer Therapy

Stabilization of bioactive components, especially for hydrophobic functional factors, is a promising approach for improving their biological activity. Here, a metal-phenolic coordination chemistry that synthesizes biocompatible and biodegradable thin-film based on tannic acid (TA) and trivalent metal ion (Fe³⁺ or Al³⁺ ) is addressed, and the results also demonstrate its use for encapsulating a hydrophobic drug (Nobiletin, NOB) and triggering drug release for cancer treatment both in vitro and in vivo. This assembled system provides drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) with small, but uniform, size (∼200 nm). It displays beneficial potential in enhancing colloidal stability and preventing premature drug leakage. Moreover, the metal-phenolic coating is found to possess high cell biocompatibility as a delivery vector for controlled drug delivery, while the final fabricated drug NPs have effective anti-tumor activity by both inducing higher tumor apoptosis and inhibiting tumor metastasis, which is superior to naked drug formulations. Overall, our findings propose an effective and straightforward way for coating hydrophobic drugs employing interfacial adhesion and assembly, which could be a highly promising vehicle for controlled-release biomedical applications for cancer therapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Marine Polysaccharides in Tailor- Made Drug Delivery

Abstract:

Marine sources have attracted much interest as an emerging source of biomaterials in drug delivery applications. Amongst all other marine biopolymers, polysaccharides have been the mostly investigated class of biomaterials. The low cytotoxic behavior, in combination with the newly explored health benefits of marine polysaccharides has made it one of the prime research areas in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. In this review, we focused on all available marine polysaccharides, including their classification based on biological sources. The applications of several marine polysaccharides in recent years for tissue-specific novel drug delivery including gastrointestinal, brain tissue, transdermal, ocular, liver, and lung have also been discussed here. The abundant availability in nature, cost-effective extraction, and purification process along with a favorable biodegradable profile will encourage researchers to continue investigating marine polysaccharides for exploring newer applications in targeting specific delivery of therapeutics.

Near-Infrared Fluorescence Tumor-Targeted Imaging in Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review

Lung cancer is the most common cancer type worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the most common subtype. Non-disseminated NSCLC is mainly treated with surgical resection. The intraoperative detection of lung cancer can be challenging, since small and deeply located pulmonary nodules can be invisible under white light. Due to the increasing use of minimally invasive surgical techniques, tactile information is often reduced. Therefore, several intraoperative imaging techniques have been tested to localize pulmonary nodules, of which near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence is an emerging modality. In this systematic review, the available literature on fluorescence imaging of lung cancers is presented, which shows that NIR fluorescence-guided lung surgery has the potential to identify the tumor during surgery, detect additional lesions and prevent tumor-positive resection margins.

Chitosan Nanoparticle-Based System: A New Insight into the Promising Controlled Release System for Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer has been recognized as one of the most often diagnosed and perhaps most lethal cancer diseases worldwide. Conventional chemotherapy for lung cancer-related diseases has bumped into various limitations and challenges, including non-targeted drug delivery, short drug retention period, low therapeutic efficacy, and multidrug resistance (MDR). Chitosan (CS), a natural polymer derived from deacetylation of chitin, and comprised of arbitrarily distributed β-(1-4)-linked d-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (acetylated unit) that exhibits magnificent characteristics, including being mucoadhesive, biodegradable, and biocompatible, has emerged as an essential element for the development of a nano-particulate delivery vehicle. Additionally, the flexibility of CS structure due to the free protonable amino groups in the CS backbone has made it easy for the modification and functionalization of CS to be developed into a nanoparticle system with high adaptability in lung cancer treatment. In this review, the current state of chitosan nanoparticle (CNP) systems, including the advantages, challenges, and opportunities, will be discussed, followed by drug release mechanisms and mathematical kinetic models. Subsequently, various modification routes of CNP for improved and enhanced therapeutic efficacy, as well as other restrictions of conventional drug administration for lung cancer treatment, are covered.

CKAP4 Antibody-Conjugated Si Quantum Dot Micelles for Targeted Imaging of Lung Cancer

At present, various fluorescent nanomaterials have been designed and synthesized as optical contrast agents for surgical navigation. However, there have been no reports on the preparation of fluorescent contrast agents for lung cancer surgery navigation using silicon quantum dots (Si QDs). This study improved and modified the water-dispersible Si QD micelles reported by Pi et al. to prepare Si QD micelles-CKAP4. The data showed that the Si QD micelles-CKAP4 were spherical particles with a mean hydrodiameter of approximately 78.8 nm. UV-visible absorption of the Si QD micelles-CKAP4 ranged from 200 to 500 nm. With an excitation wavelength of 330 nm, strong fluorescence at 640 nm was observed in the fluorescence emission spectra. Laser confocal microscopy and fluorescence microscopy assay showed that the Si QD micelles-CKAP4 exhibited good targeting ability to lung cancer cells and lung cancer tissues in vitro. The in vivo fluorescence-imaging assay showed that the Si QD micelles-CKAP4 was metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidney. In addition, Si QD micelles-CKAP4 specifically targeted lung cancer tissue in vivo compared with healthy lung tissue. Cytotoxicity and hematoxylin and eosin staining assays showed that the Si QD micelles-CKAP4 exhibited high biosafety in vitro and in vivo. Si QD micelles-CKAP4 is a specifically targeted imaging agent for lung cancer and is expected to be a fluorescent contrast agent for lung cancer surgical navigation in the future.

Biomedical application of chitosan-based nanoscale delivery systems: Potential usefulness in siRNA delivery for cancer therapy

Gene therapy is an emerging and promising strategy in cancer therapy where small interfering RNA (siRNA) system has been deployed for down-regulation of targeted gene and subsequent inhibition in cancer progression; some issues with siRNA, however, linger namely, its off-targeting property and degradation by enzymes. Nanoparticles can be applied for the encapsulation of siRNA thus enhancing its efficacy in gene silencing where chitosan (CS), a linear alkaline polysaccharide derived from chitin, with superb properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, stability and solubility, can play a vital role. Herein, the potential of CS nanoparticles has been discussed for the delivery of siRNA in cancer therapy; proliferation, metastasis and chemoresistance are suppressed by siRNA-loaded CS nanoparticles, especially the usage of pH-sensitive CS nanoparticles. CS nanoparticles can provide a platform for the co-delivery of siRNA and anti-tumor agents with their enhanced stability via chemical modifications. As pre-clinical experiments are in agreement with potential of CS-based nanoparticles for siRNA delivery, and these carriers possess biocompatibiliy and are safe, further studies can focus on evaluating their utilization in cancer patients.