Nanomaterials for Protein Delivery in Anticancer Applications

In vivo delivery of antioxidant enzymes with multi-functionalized lipid nanoparticles for sepsis therapy

Supplementing the cell with specific proteins is essential for disease prevention and therapy. However, protein permeability to the cell membrane is quite low because of the molecules large size and hydrophilic nature. Although protein delivery systems have been developing using vectors, their protein encapsulation efficiency depends on electrostatic interaction between proteins and vectors. Since proteins have a weaker net charge high affinity between vector and protein cannot be realized, and thus the encapsulation efficiency of naked proteins into vector is low. Herein, we developed a strategy for delivering target proteins into cells utilizing multifunctionalized lipid nanoparticles (MF-LNPs) prepared using several functional lipids that induce noncovalent interactions. We used two types of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as model proteins for inflammation therapy. MF-LNPs are prepared by combining positively charged, neutral, and hydrophobic group-functionalized lipids. Optimization of the functional lipid composition alone resulted in MF-LNPs exhibiting nM affinity for SOD and CAT. Proteins were encapsulated in each optimized MF-LNP by freeze-thawing of MF-LNP and protein complexes. Co-treatment with SOD- and CAT-encapsulated MF-LNPs significantly inhibited ROS production in vitro and in vivo. Notably, the survival rate of model mice with severe sepsis was dramatically improved following the co-administration of SOD- and CAT-encapsulated MF-LNPs through the suppression of inflammatory cytokines and improvement of ROS scavenging activities. The findings indicate that this fundamental technology could be useful information for designing protein delivery vectors.

Characterization of the Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasm Immune Microenvironment

INTRODUCTION

A tumor is composed of more than tumoral cells. In recent years, there has been an increase in interest and knowledge of the tumor microenvironment (TME).

METHODS

The TME is an integral part of the tumor, composed of several cells: immune, stromal, and endothelial, among others, thus offering a wide range of tumor interactions and multiple possibilities for targeted therapies and environment modulation. While the TME in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is widely studied, it is not very true for the TME of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The incidence of PNENs is increasing and, therefore, it is important to comprehend their biology for the evolution of efficient therapies since many of the PNENs develop metastasis, including the G1 PNENs. This paper focuses on a review of the role of the TME in PNENs.

Cytosolic delivery of monobodies using the bacterial type III secretion system inhibits oncogenic BCR: ABL1 signaling

BACKGROUND

The inability of biologics to pass the plasma membrane prevents their development as therapeutics for intracellular targets. To address the lack of methods for cytosolic protein delivery, we used the type III secretion system (T3SS) of Y. enterocolitica, which naturally injects bacterial proteins into eukaryotic host cells, to deliver monobody proteins into cancer cells. Monobodies are small synthetic binding proteins that can inhibit oncogene signaling in cancer cells with high selectivity upon intracellular expression. Here, we engineered monobodies targeting the BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase for efficient delivery by the T3SS, quantified cytosolic delivery and target engagement in cancer cells and monitored inhibition of BCR::ABL1 signaling.

METHODS

In vitro assays were performed to characterize destabilized monobodies (thermal shift assay and isothermal titration calorimetry) and to assess their secretion by the T3SS. Immunoblot assays were used to study the translocation of monobodies into different cell lines and to determine the intracellular concentration after translocation. Split-Nanoluc assays were performed to understand translocation and degradation kinetics and to evaluate target engagement after translocation. Phospho flow cytometry and apoptosis assays were performed to assess the functional effects of monobody translocation into BCR:ABL1-expressing leukemia cells.

RESULTS

To enable efficient translocation of the stable monobody proteins by the T3SS, we engineered destabilized mutant monobodies that retained high affinity target binding and were efficiently injected into different cell lines. After injection, the cytosolic monobody concentrations reached mid-micromolar concentrations considerably exceeding their binding affinity. We found that injected monobodies targeting the BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase selectively engaged their target in the cytosol. The translocation resulted in inhibition of oncogenic signaling and specifically induced apoptosis in BCR::ABL1-dependent cells, consistent with the phenotype when the same monobody was intracellularly expressed.

CONCLUSION

Hence, we establish the T3SS of Y. enterocolitica as a highly efficient protein translocation method for monobody delivery, enabling the selective targeting of different oncogenic signaling pathways and providing a foundation for future therapeutic application against intracellular targets.

Integrating Computational Design and Experimental Approaches for Next-Generation Biologics

Therapeutic protein engineering has revolutionized medicine by enabling the development of highly specific and potent treatments for a wide range of diseases. This review examines recent advances in computational and experimental approaches for engineering improved protein therapeutics. Key areas of focus include antibody engineering, enzyme replacement therapies, and cytokine-based drugs. Computational methods like structure-based design, machine learning integration, and protein language models have dramatically enhanced our ability to predict protein properties and guide engineering efforts. Experimental techniques such as directed evolution and rational design approaches continue to evolve, with high-throughput methods accelerating the discovery process. Applications of these methods have led to breakthroughs in affinity maturation, bispecific antibodies, enzyme stability enhancement, and the development of conditionally active cytokines. Emerging approaches like intracellular protein delivery, stimulus-responsive proteins, and de novo designed therapeutic proteins offer exciting new possibilities. However, challenges remain in predicting in vivo behavior, scalable manufacturing, immunogenicity mitigation, and targeted delivery. Addressing these challenges will require continued integration of computational and experimental methods, as well as a deeper understanding of protein behavior in complex physiological environments. As the field advances, we can anticipate increasingly sophisticated and effective protein therapeutics for treating human diseases.

Reconstruction of TNF-α with specific isoelectric point released from SPIONs basing on variable charge to enhance pH-sensitive controlled-release

The clinical application of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is limited by its short half-life, subeffective concentration in the targeted area and severe systemic toxicity. In this study, the recombinant polypeptide S4-TNF-α was constructed and coupled with chitosan-modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (S4-TNF-α-SPIONs) to achieve pH-sensitive controlled release and active tumor targeting activity. The isoelectric point (pI) of S4-TNF-α was reconstructed to approach the pH of the tumor microenvironment. The negative-charge S4-TNF-α was adsorbed to chitosan-modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (CS-SPIONs) with a positive charge through electrostatic adsorption at physiological pH. The acidic tumor microenvironment endowed S4-TNF-α with a zero charge, which accelerated S4-TNF-α release from CS-SPIONs. Our studies showed that S4-TNF-α-SPIONs displayed an ideal pH-sensitive controlled release capacity and improved antitumor effects. Our study presents a novel approach to enhance the pH-sensitive controlled-release of genetically engineered drugs by adjusting their pI to match the pH of the tumor microenvironment.

Recent advance in preparation of lignin nanoparticles and their medical applications: A review

BACKGROUND

Lignin has attracted a lot of attention because it is non-toxic, renewable and biodegradable. Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) have high specific surface area and specific surface charges. It provides LNPs with good antibacterial and antioxidant properties. LNPs preparation has become clear, however, the application remains in the early stages.

PURPOSE

A review centric research has been conducted, reviewing existing literature to accomplish a basic understanding of the medical applications of LNPs.

METHODS

Initially, we extensively counseled the heterogeneity of lignin from various sources. The size and morphology of LNPs from different preparation process were then discussed. Subsequently, we focused on the potential medical applications of LNPs, including drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, and antibacterial agents. Lastly, we explained the significance of LNPs in terms of antibacterial, antioxidant and biocompatibility, especially highlighting the need for an integrated framework to understand a diverse range of medical applications of LNPs.

RESULTS

We outlined the chemical structure of different type of lignin, and highlighted the advanced methods for lignin nanoparticles preparation. Moreover, we provided an in-depth review of the potential applications of lignin nanoparticles in various medical fields, especially in drug carriers, wound dressings, tissue engineering components, and antimicrobial agents.

CONCLUSION

This review provides a detailed overview on the current state and progression of lignin nanoparticles for medical applications.

Multifunctional and stimuli-responsive liposomes in hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and therapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent type of liver cancer, mainly occurring in Asian countries with an increased incidence rate globally. Currently, several kinds of therapies have been deployed for HCC therapy including surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. However, this tumor is still incurable, requiring novel strategies for its treatment. The nanomedicine has provided the new insights regarding the treatment of cancer that liposomes as lipid-based nanoparticles, have been widely applied in cancer therapy due to their biocompaitiblity, high drug loading and ease of synthesis and modification. The current review evaluates the application of liposomes for the HCC therapy. The drugs and genes lack targeting ability into tumor tissues and cells. Therefore, loading drugs or genes on liposomes can increase their accumulation in tumor site for HCC suppression. Moreover, the stimuli-responsive liposomes including pH-, redox- and light-sensitive liposomes are able to deliver drug into tumor microenvironment to improve therapeutic index. Since a number of receptors upregulate on HCC cells, the functionalization of liposomes with lactoferrin and peptides can promote the targeting ability towards HCC cells. Moreover, phototherapy can be induced by liposomes through loading phtoosensitizers to stimulate photothermal- and photodynamic-driven ablation of HCC cells. Overall, the findings are in line with the fact that liposomes are promising nanocarriers for the treatment of HCC.

Biomaterials for Protein Delivery: Opportunities and Challenges to Clinical Translation

The development of biomaterials for protein delivery is an emerging field that spans materials science, bioengineering, and medicine. In this review, we highlight the immense potential of protein-delivering biomaterials as therapeutic options and discuss the multifaceted challenges inherent to the field. We address current advancements and approaches in protein delivery that leverage stimuli-responsive materials, harness advanced fabrication techniques like 3D printing, and integrate nanotechnologies for greater targeting and improved stability, efficacy, and tolerability profiles. We also discuss the demand for highly complex delivery systems to maintain structural integrity and functionality of the protein payload. Finally, we discuss barriers to clinical translation, such as biocompatibility, immunogenicity, achieving reliable controlled release, efficient and targeted delivery, stability issues, scalability of production, and navigating the regulatory landscape for such materials. Overall, this review summarizes insights from a survey of the current literature and sheds light on the interplay between innovation and the practical implementation of biomaterials for protein delivery.

Nanomaterial Delivery Vehicles for the Development of Neoantigen Tumor Vaccines for Personalized Treatment

Tumor vaccines have been considered a promising therapeutic approach for treating cancer in recent years. With the development of sequencing technologies, tumor vaccines based on neoantigens or genomes specifically expressed in tumor cells, mainly in the form of peptides, nucleic acids, and dendritic cells, are beginning to receive widespread attention. Therefore, in this review, we have introduced different forms of neoantigen vaccines and discussed the development of these vaccines in treating cancer. Furthermore, neoantigen vaccines are influenced by factors such as antigen stability, weak immunogenicity, and biosafety in addition to sequencing technology. Hence, the biological nanomaterials, polymeric nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials, etc., used as vaccine carriers are principally summarized here, which may contribute to the design of neoantigen vaccines for improved stability and better efficacy.

In-Space Fabrication of Janus Base Nano-Matrix for Improved Assembly and Bioactivities

In-space manufacturing of nanomaterials is a promising concept while having limited successful examples. DNA-inspired Janus base nanomaterials (JBNs), used for therapeutics delivery and tissue regeneration, are fabricated via a controlled self-assembly process in water at ambient temperature, making them highly suitable for in-space manufacturing. For the first time, we designed and accomplished the production of JBNs on orbit during the Axiom-2 (Ax-2) mission demonstrating great promising and benefits of in-space manufacturing of nanomaterials.

Challenges and advances of the stability of mRNA delivery therapeutics

mRNA therapeutics have garnered significant attention in the biomedical realm, showing immense potential across a spectrum of applications from COVID-19 to cancer treatments. Their ability to trigger precise protein expression, particularly in genome editing, is pivotal in minimizing off-target effects. At the core of mRNA therapy lies a dual-component system, comprising the mRNA itself and a delivery vehicle. The breakthrough success of novel COVID-19 vaccines has catapulted lipid nanoparticles to prominence as the preferred delivery vehicle. However, despite their US FDA approval and efficacy, lipid nanoparticles face a significant challenge: poor stability at room temperature, which limits their applications in various geographic regions with disparities in infrastructure and technology. This review aims to dissect the issue of stability inherent in lipid nanoparticles and other mRNA delivery platforms such as polymer-based materials and protein derivative materials. We herein endeavor to unravel the factors contributing to their instability and explore potential strategies to enhance their stability. By doing so, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape of mRNA delivery systems, highlighting both their successes and limitations, and paving the way for future advancements in this rapidly evolving field.

Intracellular Protein Delivery: Approaches, Challenges, and Clinical Applications

Protein biologics are powerful therapeutic agents with diverse inhibitory and enzymatic functions. However, their clinical use has been limited to extracellular applications due to their inability to cross plasma membranes. Overcoming this physiological barrier would unlock the potential of protein drugs for the treatment of many intractable diseases. In this review, we highlight progress made toward achieving cytosolic delivery of recombinant proteins. We start by first considering intracellular protein delivery as a drug modality compared to existing Food and Drug Administration-approved drug modalities. Then, we summarize strategies that have been reported to achieve protein internalization. These techniques can be broadly classified into 3 categories: physical methods, direct protein engineering, and nanocarrier-mediated delivery. Finally, we highlight existing challenges for cytosolic protein delivery and offer an outlook for future advances.

Self-assembled Janus base nanotubes: chemistry and applications

Janus base nanotubes are novel, self-assembled nanomaterials. Their original designs were inspired by DNA base pairs, and today a variety of chemistries has developed, distinguishing them as a new family of materials separate from DNA origami, carbon nanotubes, polymers, and lipids. This review article covers the principal examples of self-assembled Janus base nanotubes, which are driven by hydrogen-bond and π-π stacking interactions in aqueous environments. Specifically, self-complementary hydrogen bonds organize molecules into ordered arrays, forming macrocycles, while π-π interactions stack these structures to create tubular forms. This review elucidates the molecular interactions that govern the assembly of nanotubes and advances our understanding of nanoscale self-assembly in water.

Anti-Cancer Properties of Flaxseed Proteome

Flaxseed has been recognized as a valuable source of nutrients and bioactive compounds, including proteins that possess various health benefits. In recent years, studies have shown that flaxseed proteins, including albumins, globulins, glutelin, and prolamins, possess anti-cancer properties. These properties are attributed to their ability to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and interfere with cancer cell signaling pathways, ultimately leading to the inhibition of metastasis. Moreover, flaxseed proteins have been reported to modulate cancer cell mechanobiology, leading to changes in cell behavior and reduced cancer cell migration and invasion. This review provides an overview of the anti-cancer properties of flaxseed proteins, with a focus on their potential use in cancer treatment. Additionally, it highlights the need for further research to fully establish the potential of flaxseed proteins in cancer therapy.

Translational biomaterials of four-dimensional bioprinting for tissue regeneration

Bioprinting is an additive manufacturing technique that combines living cells, biomaterials, and biological molecules to develop biologically functional constructs. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is commonly used as anin vitromodeling system and is a more accurate representation ofin vivoconditions in comparison to two-dimensional cell culture. Although 3D bioprinting has been utilized in various tissue engineering and clinical applications, it only takes into consideration the initial state of the printed scaffold or object. Four-dimensional (4D) bioprinting has emerged in recent years to incorporate the additional dimension of time within the printed 3D scaffolds. During the 4D bioprinting process, an external stimulus is exposed to the printed construct, which ultimately changes its shape or functionality. By studying how the structures and the embedded cells respond to various stimuli, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the functionality of native tissues. This review paper will focus on the biomaterial breakthroughs in the newly advancing field of 4D bioprinting and their applications in tissue engineering and regeneration. In addition, the use of smart biomaterials and 4D printing mechanisms for tissue engineering applications is discussed to demonstrate potential insights for novel 4D bioprinting applications. To address the current challenges with this technology, we will conclude with future perspectives involving the incorporation of biological scaffolds and self-assembling nanomaterials in bioprinted tissue constructs.

Nanomedicine strategies for central nervous system (CNS) diseases

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial part of brain anatomy as it is a specialized, protective barrier that ensures proper nutrient transport to the brain, ultimately leading to regulating proper brain function. However, it presents a major challenge in delivering pharmaceuticals to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases due to this selectivity. A variety of different vehicles have been designed to deliver drugs across this barrier to treat neurodegenerative diseases, greatly impacting the patient's quality of life. The two main types of vehicles used to cross the BBB are polymers and liposomes, which both encapsulate pharmaceuticals to allow them to transcytose the cells of the BBB. For Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and glioblastoma brain cancer, there are a variety of different nanoparticle treatments in development that increase the bioavailability and targeting ability of existing drugs or new drug targets to decrease symptoms of these diseases. Through these systems, nanomedicine offers a new way to target specific tissues, especially for the CNS, and treat diseases without the systemic toxicity that often comes with medications used currently.

Pluronic F-68 and F-127 Based Nanomedicines for Advancing Combination Cancer Therapy

Pluronics are amphiphilic triblock copolymers composed of two hydrophilic poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains linked via a central hydrophobic polypropylene oxide (PPO). Owing to their low molecular weight polymer and greater number of PEO segments, Pluronics induce micelle formation and gelation at critical micelle concentrations and temperatures. Pluronics F-68 and F-127 are the only United States (U.S.) FDA-approved classes of Pluronics and have been extensively used as materials for living bodies. Owing to the fascinating characteristics of Pluronics, many studies have suggested their role in biomedical applications, such as drug delivery systems, tissue regeneration scaffolders, and biosurfactants. As a result, various studies have been performed using Pluronics as a tool in nanomedicine and targeted delivery systems. This review sought to describe the delivery of therapeutic cargos using Pluronic F-68 and F-127-based cancer nanomedicines and their composites for combination therapy.

Blood-brain-barrier modeling with tissue chips for research applications in space and on Earth

Tissue chip technology has revolutionized biomedical applications and the medical science field for the past few decades. Currently, tissue chips are one of the most powerful research tools aiding in in vitro work to accurately predict the outcome of studies when compared to monolayer two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures. While 2D cell cultures held prominence for a long time, their lack of biomimicry has resulted in a transition to 3D cell cultures, including tissue chips technology, to overcome the discrepancies often seen in in vitro studies. Due to their wide range of applications, different organ systems have been studied over the years, one of which is the blood brain barrier (BBB) which is discussed in this review. The BBB is an incredible protective unit of the body, keeping out pathogens from entering the brain through vasculature. However, there are some microbes and certain diseases that disrupt the function of this barrier which can lead to detrimental outcomes. Over the past few years, various designs of the BBB have been proposed and modeled to study drug delivery and disease modeling on Earth. More recently, researchers have started to utilize tissue chips in space to study the effects of microgravity on human health. BBB tissue chips in space can be a tool to understand function mechanisms and therapeutics. This review addresses the limitations of monolayer cell culture which could be overcome with utilizing tissue chips technology. Current BBB models on Earth and how they are fabricated as well as what influences the BBB cell culture in tissue chips are discussed. Then, this article reviews how application of these technologies together with incorporating biosensors in space would be beneficial to help in predicting a more accurate physiological response in specific tissue or organ chips. Finally, the current platforms used in space and some solutions to overcome some shortcomings for future BBB tissue chip research are also discussed.

Biomaterial Drug Delivery Systems for Prominent Ocular Diseases

Ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma, have had a profound impact on millions of patients. In the past couple of decades, these diseases have been treated using conventional techniques but have also presented certain challenges and limitations that affect patient experience and outcomes. To address this, biomaterials have been used for ocular drug delivery, and a wide range of systems have been developed. This review will discuss some of the major classes and examples of biomaterials used for the treatment of prominent ocular diseases, including ocular implants (biodegradable and non-biodegradable), nanocarriers (hydrogels, liposomes, nanomicelles, DNA-inspired nanoparticles, and dendrimers), microneedles, and drug-loaded contact lenses. We will also discuss the advantages of these biomaterials over conventional approaches with support from the results of clinical trials that demonstrate their efficacy.

Reversal of hepatic fibrosis by the co-delivery of drug and ribonucleoprotein-based genome editor

Liver fibrosis is a chronic disease without effective treatment in the clinic. Gene editing systems such as the well-known CRISPR/Cas9 have shown great potential in the biomedical field. However, the delivery of the ribonucleoprotein is challenging due to the unstable RNA probe and the requirement for the entrance to the nucleus. Recently, a structure-guided endonuclease (SGN) has been reported as an effective gene-editing system composed of a nuclease and stable DNA probes, which can regulate the protein expression by targeting specific mRNA outside the nucleus. Here, we conjugated the SGN to a nanomicelle as the delivery system. In the resulting material, the chance of the collision between the endonuclease and the probe was raised due to the confinement of the two components within the 40-nm nanomicelle, thus the mRNA can be cleaved immediately after being captured by the probe, resulting in a space-induced nucleotide identification-cleavage acceleration effect. The delivery system was used to treat liver fibrosis via the co-delivery of SGN and a drug rosiglitazone to the hepatic stellate cells, which separately downregulated the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 and inactivated the hepatic stellate cells. The system successfully reversed the liver fibrosis in mice through the bidirectional regulatory that simultaneously promoted the degradation and inhibited the production of the collagen, demonstrating the great potency of the SGN system as gene medicine.

Functional nano-systems for transdermal drug delivery and skin therapy

Transdermal drug delivery is one of the least intrusive and patient-friendly ways for therapeutic agent administration. Recently, functional nano-systems have been demonstrated as one of the most promising strategies to treat skin diseases by improving drug penetration across the skin barrier and achieving therapeutically effective drug concentrations in the target cutaneous tissues. Here, a brief review of functional nano-systems for promoting transdermal drug delivery is presented. The fundamentals of transdermal delivery, including skin biology and penetration routes, are introduced. The characteristics of functional nano-systems for facilitating transdermal drug delivery are elucidated. Moreover, the fabrication of various types of functional transdermal nano-systems is systematically presented. Multiple techniques for evaluating the transdermal capacities of nano-systems are illustrated. Finally, the advances in the applications of functional transdermal nano-systems for treating different skin diseases are summarized.

Biosensor integrated tissue chips and their applications on Earth and in space

The development of space exploration technologies has positively impacted everyday life on Earth in terms of communication, environmental, social, and economic perspectives. The human body constantly fluctuates during spaceflight, even for a short-term mission. Unfortunately, technology is evolving faster than humans' ability to adapt, and many therapeutics entering clinical trials fail even after being subjected to vigorous in vivo testing due to toxicity and lack of efficacy. Therefore, tissue chips (also mentioned as organ-on-a-chip) with biosensors are being developed to compensate for the lack of relevant models to help improve the drug development process. There has been a push to monitor cell and tissue functions, based on their biological signals and utilize the integration of biosensors into tissue chips in space to monitor and assess cell microenvironment in real-time. With the collaboration between the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and other partners, they are providing the opportunities to study the effects of microgravity environment has on the human body. Institutions such as the National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) are partnering with CASIS and NASA to utilize tissue chips onboard the International Space Station (ISS). This article reviews the endless benefits of space technology, the development of integrated biosensors in tissue chips and their applications to better understand human biology, physiology, and diseases in space and on Earth, followed by future perspectives of tissue chip applications on Earth and in space.

Delivery of Therapeutic Biopolymers Employing Silica-Based Nanosystems

The use of nanoparticles is crucial for the development of a new generation of nanodevices for clinical applications. Silica-based nanoparticles can be tailored with a wide range of functional biopolymers with unique physicochemical properties thus providing several advantages: (1) limitation of interparticle interaction, (2) preservation of cargo and particle integrity, (3) reduction of immune response, (4) additional therapeutic effects and (5) cell targeting. Therefore, the engineering of advanced functional coatings is of utmost importance to enhance the biocompatibility of existing biomaterials. Herein we will focus on the most recent advances reported on the delivery and therapeutic use of silica-based nanoparticles containing biopolymers (proteins, nucleotides, and polysaccharides) with proven biological effects.

Pluronic® triblock copolymer-based nanoformulations for cancer therapy: A 10-year overview

This paper provides a review of the literature on the use of Pluronic® triblock copolymers for drug encapsulation over the last 10 years. A special focus is given to the progress of drug delivery systems (e.g., micelles, liposomes, micro/nanoemulsions, hydrogels and nanogels, and polymersomes and niosomes); the beneficial aspects of Pluronic® triblock copolymers as biological response modifiers and as pharmaceutical additives, adjuvants, and stabilizers, are also discussed. The advantages and limitations encountered in developing site-specific targeting approaches based on Pluronic-based nanostructures in cancer treatment are highlighted, in addition to innovative examples for improving tumor cytotoxicity while reducing side effects.

Nanocarriers for delivery of siRNA as gene silencing mediator

The term nanocarrier refers to sub-micrometric particles of less than 100 nm, designed to transport, distribute, and release nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. siRNA therapy is a novel strategy that has great utility for a variety of treatments, however naked siRNA delivery has not been an effective strategy, resulting in the necessary use of nanocarriers for delivery. This review aims to highlight the versatility of carriers based on smart drug delivery systems. The nanocarriers based on nanoparticles as siRNA DDS have provided a set of very attractive advantages related to improved physicochemical properties, such as high surface-to-volume ratio, versatility to package siRNA, provide a dual function to both protect extracellular barriers that lead to elimination and overcome intracellular barriers limiting cytosolic delivery, and possible chemical modifications on the nanoparticle surface to improve stability and targeting. Lipid and polymeric nanocarriers have proven to be stable, biocompatible, and effective in vitro, further exploration of the development of new nanocarriers is needed to obtain safe and biocompatible tools for effective therapy.

Apoferritin and Dps as drug delivery vehicles: Some selected examples in oncology

BACKGROUND

The ideal nanoparticle should be able to encapsulate either pharmaceutical agents or imaging probes so that it could treat or image clinical tumours by targeting the cancer site efficiently. Further, it would be an added advantage if it demonstrates: small size, built in targeting, biocompatibility and biodegradability. Ferritin, which is an endogenous self-assembling protein, stores iron and plays a role in iron homeostasis. When iron atoms are removed apoferritin (AFt) is formed which consists of a hollow shell where it can be used to load guest molecules. Due to its unique architecture, AFt has been investigated as a versatile carrier for tumour theranostic applications. DNA-binding protein from starved cells (Dps), which also belongs to the ferritin family, is a protein found only in prokaryotes. It is used to store iron and protect chromosomes from oxidative damage; because of its architecture, Dps could also be used as a delivery vehicle.

CONCLUSIONS

Both these nano particles are promising in the field of oncology, especially due to their stability, solubility and biocompatibility features. Further their exterior surface can be modified for better tumour-targeting ability. More studies, are warranted to determine the immunogenicity, biodistribution, and clearance from the body.

GENERAL PERSPECTIVE

This review discusses a few selected examples of the remarkable in vitro and in vivo studies that have been carried out in the recent past with the use of AFt and Dps in targeting and delivery of various pharmaceutical agents, natural products and imaging probes in the field of oncology.

Molecularly engineered tumor acidity-responsive plant toxin gelonin for safe and efficient cancer therapy

Due to the unsatisfactory therapeutic efficacy and inexorable side effects of small molecule antineoplastic agents, extensive efforts have been devoted to the development of more potent macromolecular agents with high specificity. Gelonin is a plant-derived protein toxin that exhibits robust antitumor effect via inactivating ribosomes and inhibiting protein synthesis. Nonetheless, its poor internalization ability to tumor cells has compromised the therapeutic promise of gelonin. In this study, a tumor acidity-responsive intracellular protein delivery system ─ functional gelonin (Trx-pHLIP-Gelonin, TpG) composed of a thioredoxin (Trx) tag, a pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) and gelonin, was designed and obtained by genetic recombination technique for the first time. TpG could effectively enter into tumor cells under weakly acidic conditions and markedly suppress tumor cell proliferation via triggering cell apoptosis and inhibiting protein synthesis. Most importantly, treatment by intravenous injection into subcutaneous SKOV3 solid tumors in a mouse model showed that TpG was much more effective than gelonin in curtailing tumor growth rates with negligible toxicity. Collectively, our present work suggests that the tumor acidity-targeted delivery manner endowed by pHLIP offers a new avenue for efficient delivery of other bioactive substances to acidic diseased tissues.

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A pH-responsive gelonin delivery platform — TpG was molecularly engineered.

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TpG exhibited good thermal stability and excellent serum stability.

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TpG enabled an efficient intracellular translocation of gelonin at pH 6.5.

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TpG exerted pronounced anti-proliferative effect via inducing massive apoptosis.

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TpG significantly delayed tumor growth with favorable in vivo biosafety profile.

Modeling the blood-brain barrier for treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the most specialized biological barrier in the body. This configuration of specialized cells protects the brain from invasion of molecules and particles through formation of tight junctions. To learn more about transport to the brain, in vitro modeling of the BBB is continuously advanced. The types of models and cells selected vary with the goal of each individual study, but the same validation methods, quantification of tight junctions, and permeability assays are often used. With Transwells and microfluidic devices, more information regarding formation of the BBB has been observed. Disease models have been developed to examine the effects on BBB integrity. The goal of modeling is not only to understand normal BBB physiology, but also to create treatments for diseases. This review will highlight several recent studies to show the diversity in model selection and the many applications of BBB models in in vitro research.

Controlled Self-Assembly of DNA-Mimicking Nanotubes to Form a Layer-by-Layer Scaffold for Homeostatic Tissue Constructs

Various biomaterial scaffolds have been developed for improving stem cell anchorage and function in tissue constructs for in vitro and in vivo uses. Growth factors are typically applied to scaffolds to mediate cell differentiation. Conventionally, growth factors are not strictly localized in the scaffolds; thus, they may leak into the surrounding environment, causing undesired side effects on tissues or cells. Hence, there is a need for improved tissue construct strategies based on highly localized drug delivery and a homeostatic microenvironment. This study developed an injectable nanomatrix (NM) scaffold with a layer-by-layer structure inside each nanosized fiber of the scaffold based on controlled self-assembly at the molecular level. The NM was hierarchically assembled from Janus base nanotubes (JBNTs), matrilin-3, and transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF-β1) via bioaffinity. JBNTs, which form the NM backbone, are novel DNA-inspired nanomaterials that mimic the natural helical nanostructures of collagens. The chondrogenic factor, TGF-β1, was enveloped in the inner layer inside the NM fibers to prevent its release. Matrilin-3 was incorporated into the outer layer to create a cartilage-mimicking microenvironment and to maintain tissue homeostasis. Interestingly, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) had a strong preference to anchor along the NM fibers and formed a localized homeostatic microenvironment. Therefore, this NM has successfully generated highly organized structures via molecular self-assembly and achieved localized drug delivery and stem cell anchorage for homeostatic tissue constructs.

Nanomedicine for Immunotherapy Targeting Hematological Malignancies: Current Approaches and Perspective

Conventional chemotherapy has partial therapeutic effects against hematological malignancies and is correlated with serious side effects and great risk of relapse. Recently, immunotherapeutic drugs have provided encouraging results in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Several immunotherapeutic antibodies and cell therapeutics are in dynamic development such as immune checkpoint blockades and CAR-T treatment. However, numerous problems restrain the therapeutic effectiveness of tumor immunotherapy as an insufficient anti-tumor immune response, the interference of an immune-suppressive bone marrow, or tumoral milieu with the discharge of immunosuppressive components, access of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, monocyte intrusion, macrophage modifications, all factors facilitating the tumor to escape the anti-cancer immune response, finally reducing the efficiency of the immunotherapy. Nanotechnology can be employed to overcome each of these aspects, therefore having the possibility to successfully produce anti-cancer immune responses. Here, we review recent findings on the use of biomaterial-based nanoparticles in hematological malignancies immunotherapy. In the future, a deeper understanding of tumor immunology and of the implications of nanomedicine will allow nanoparticles to revolutionize tumor immunotherapy, and nanomedicine approaches will reveal their great potential for clinical translation.

Anticoagulant Dodecapeptide Suppresses Thrombosis In Vivo by Inhibiting the Thrombin Exosite-I Binding Site

Thrombin is a crucial regulatory serine protease in hemostasis and thrombosis and has been a therapeutic target of thrombotic events. A novel oyster-derived thrombin inhibitory dodecapeptide (IEELEELEAER, P-2-CG) was identified and characterized. P-2-CG prolonged thrombin time from 9.6 s to 23.3 s at 5 mg/mL in vitro. P-2-CG bound to thrombin Exosite-I domain spontaneously. The occupied Exosite-I blocked fibrinogen binding, which prolonged fibrinogen clotting time to 28 s from 18.5 s. Molecule dynamics demonstrated the interaction of P-2-CG and thrombin Exosite-I involved in eight hydrogen bonds and lots of electrostatic forces. The residue Tyr⁷⁶ at thrombin Exosite-I is one critical amino acid for fibrinogen binding. The Glu¹¹ in P-2-CG was bound with Tyr⁷⁶ through strong hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic action. P-2-CG also significantly reduced the mortality of mice that suffered an acute pulmonary embolism induced by thrombin and inhibited mice tail thrombosis induced by κ-carrageenan. The thrombin inhibitory efficiency in vitro and antithrombosis in vivo of P-2-CG provided insight for further applications to serve as an antithrombotic agent.

Investigating the Application of Liposomes as Drug Delivery Systems for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer

Chemotherapy is the routine treatment for cancer despite the poor efficacy and associated off-target toxicity. Furthermore, therapeutic doses of chemotherapeutic agents are limited due to their lack of tissue specificity. Various developments in nanotechnology have been applied to medicine with the aim of enhancing the drug delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. One of the successful developments includes nanoparticles which are particles that range between 1 and 100 nm that may be utilized as drug delivery systems for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer as they overcome the issues associated with chemotherapy; they are highly efficacious and cause fewer side effects on healthy tissues. Other nanotechnological developments include organic nanocarriers such as liposomes which are a type of nanoparticle, although they can deviate from the standard size range of nanoparticles as they may be several hundred nanometres in size. Liposomes are small artificial spherical vesicles ranging between 30 nm and several micrometres and contain one or more concentric lipid bilayers encapsulating an aqueous core that can entrap both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Liposomes are biocompatible and low in toxicity and can be utilized to encapsulate and facilitate the intracellular delivery of chemotherapeutic agents as they are biodegradable and have reduced systemic toxicity compared with free drugs. Liposomes may be modified with PEG chains to prolong blood circulation and enable passive targeting. Grafting of targeting ligands on liposomes enables active targeting of anticancer drugs to tumour sites. In this review, we shall explore the properties of liposomes as drug delivery systems for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. Moreover, we shall discuss the various synthesis and functionalization techniques associated with liposomes including their drug delivery, current clinical applications, and toxicology.

CD44-Targeted and Enzyme-Responsive Photo-Cross-Linked Nanogels with Enhanced Stability for In Vivo Protein Delivery

One of the biggest challenges of the protein delivery system is to realize stable and high protein encapsulation efficiency in blood circulation and rapid release of protein in the targeted tumor cells. To overcome these hurdles, we fabricated enzyme-responsive photo-cross-linked nanogels (EPNGs) through UV-triggered chemical cross-linking of cinnamyloxy groups in the side chain of PEGylation hyaluronic acid (HA) for CD44-targeted transport of cytochrome c (CC). The EPNGs showed high loading efficiency and excellent stability in different biological media. Notably, CC leakage effectively suppressed under physiological conditions but accelerated release in the presence of hyaluronidase, an overexpressed enzyme in tumor cells. Moreover, thiazolylblue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) results indicated that the vacant EPNGs showed excellent nontoxicity, while CC-loaded EPNGs exhibited higher killing efficiency to CD44-positive A549 cells than to CD44-negative HepG2 cells and free CC. Confocal images confirmed that CC-loaded EPNGs could effectively be internalized by CD44-mediated endocytosis pathway and rapidly escape from the endo/lysosomal compartment. Human lung tumor-bearing mice imaging assays further revealed that CC-loaded EPNGs actively target tumor locations. Remarkably, CC-loaded EPNGs also exhibited enhanced antitumor activity with negligible systemic toxicity. These results implied that these EPNGs have appeared as stable and promising nanocarriers for tumor-targeting protein delivery.

From Residues to Added-Value Bacterial Biopolymers as Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications

Bacterial biopolymers are naturally occurring materials comprising a wide range of molecules with diverse chemical structures that can be produced from renewable sources following the principles of the circular economy. Over the last decades, they have gained substantial interest in the biomedical field as drug nanocarriers, implantable material coatings, and tissue-regeneration scaffolds or membranes due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability into nonhazardous disintegration products, and their mechanical properties, which are similar to those of human tissues. The present review focuses upon three technologically advanced bacterial biopolymers, namely, bacterial cellulose (BC), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and γ-polyglutamic acid (PGA), as models of different carbon-backbone structures (polysaccharides, polyesters, and polyamides) produced by bacteria that are suitable for biomedical applications in nanoscale systems. This selection models evidence of the wide versatility of microorganisms to generate biopolymers by diverse metabolic strategies. We highlight the suitability for applied sustainable bioprocesses for the production of BC, PHA, and PGA based on renewable carbon sources and the singularity of each process driven by bacterial machinery. The inherent properties of each polymer can be fine-tuned by means of chemical and biotechnological approaches, such as metabolic engineering and peptide functionalization, to further expand their structural diversity and their applicability as nanomaterials in biomedicine.