Revolutionizing Cancer Immunotherapy: Emerging Nanotechnology-Driven Drug Delivery Systems for Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy

Cancer immunotherapy is an innovative way of treating cancer by stimulating individual cells to overcome cancer. Widespread biomedical studies were carried out with the aim of exploring immunotherapy cancer therapeutics, and this review spotlights some mechanisms in which it was developed, namely immune checkpoint inhibitors (E.G PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4), adoptive cell therapy (e.g., CAR T-cell therapy), and cancer vaccines. Although it has shown clinical benefit in a number of cancer types, including melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer, several challenges have dampened enthusiasm for this approach, from the differing patient response rates to toxicities. Nanotechnology in drug delivery systems must play a role in overcoming the same. Nanotechnology enables increased specificity and controlled drug release, improved solubility and bioavailability, can treat the tumor specifically, and localized drug delivery at the disease site decreases systemic toxicity. The review also features advances in the construction of lipid-based, polymeric, and inorganic nanoparticles that improve drug stability and allow the delivery of cotherapeutic agents. Nanotechnology-based delivery systems can be used alone or in combination with immunotherapy to assist in improving the immune response, gaining access to the tumor microenvironment, and overcoming biological barriers. Thus, the nano-DDS were both safe and effective in preclinical studies, and ongoing clinical trials have shown that they are capable of increasing the therapeutic index of anticancer drugs. Lastly, the review also discusses current challenges and regulatory issues in advancing these technologies and highlights the importance of further research to devise appropriate methodology for efficient functionalization of nanotechnology for individualized cancer solutions in cancer treatment.

Development of a fish oil-nanoemulsion gel as a drug-delivery system to prevent capsular contracture

Capsular contracture, a significant complication of breast-implant surgery, causes pain and deformation following the formation of a tight capsule around an implant. Current surgical and non-surgical treatment options are invasive, expensive, and typically administered for prolonged periods, potentially leading to side effects. To address these challenges, we developed a novel fish oil-encapsulated, poloxamer-based nanoemulsion gel with omega-3 (ω3) as the primary active component (NE-ω3 gel; N3G). This formulation can be injected during surgery, reducing the need for prolonged administration of medications and minimizing associated side effects. N3G was prepared through a two-step process involving the emulsification of fish oil followed by gelation with poloxamer to create a thermoreversible gel. Dynamic light-scattering analysis confirmed a uniform distribution of nanoemulsion particles, which had a mean diameter of 287 ± 8.599 nm and a PDI of 0.29 ± 0.047. FTIR and DSC analyses validated the encapsulation of fish oil within poloxamer micelles. Drug-release analysis demonstrated that more than 96% of fish oil was released within 10 h. In in vivo experiments, rats (n = 30) were divided into three groups: a negative control group (G1), a positive control group receiving fish oil (G2), and an experimental group with implants coated with N3G (G3). G3 exhibited a 21.2% reduction in capsular thickness compared to G1 and a 5.6% reduction compared to G2. In addition, significant decreases in fibrosis and myofibroblast counts were observed in G3. These results, supported by histological and gene expression analyses, highlight the effectiveness of N3G in reducing inflammation and fibrosis. This study underscores the therapeutic potential of N3G for capsular contracture, based on its persistence, thermoreversibility, and improved dosing and storage characteristics.

Unraveling the Omega-3 Puzzle: Navigating Challenges and Innovations for Bone Health and Healthy Aging

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs, n-3 PUFAs), including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), are essential polyunsaturated fats primarily obtained from fatty fish and plant-based sources. Compelling evidence from preclinical and epidemiological studies consistently suggests beneficial effects of ω-3 PUFAs on bone health and healthy aging processes. However, clinical trials have yielded mixed results, with some failing to replicate these benefits seen in preclinical models. This contraindication is mainly due to challenges such as low bioavailability, potential adverse effects with higher doses, and susceptibility to oxidation of ω-3 fatty acids, hindering their clinical effectiveness. This review comprehensively discusses recent findings from a clinical perspective, along with preclinical and epidemiological studies, emphasizing the role of ω-3 PUFAs in promoting bone health and supporting healthy aging. Additionally, it explores strategies to improve ω-3 PUFA efficacy, including nanoparticle encapsulation and incorporation of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM) derived from DHA and EPA, to mitigate oxidation and enhance solubility, thereby improving therapeutic potential. By consolidating evidence from various studies, this review underscores current insights and future directions in leveraging ω-3 PUFAs for therapeutic applications.

Iron as a therapeutic target in chronic liver disease

It was clearly realized more than 50 years ago that iron deposition in the liver may be a critical factor in the development and progression of liver disease. The recent clarification of ferroptosis as a specific form of regulated hepatocyte death different from apoptosis and the description of ferritinophagy as a specific variation of autophagy prompted detailed investigations on the association of iron and the liver. In this review, we will present a brief discussion of iron absorption and handling by the liver with emphasis on the role of liver macrophages and the significance of the iron regulators hepcidin, transferrin, and ferritin in iron homeostasis. The regulation of ferroptosis by endogenous and exogenous mod-ulators will be examined. Furthermore, the involvement of iron and ferroptosis in various liver diseases including alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease, chronic hepatitis B and C, liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) will be analyzed. Finally, experimental and clinical results following interventions to reduce iron deposition and the promising manipulation of ferroptosis will be presented. Most liver diseases will be benefited by ferroptosis inhibition using exogenous inhibitors with the notable exception of HCC, where induction of ferroptosis is the desired effect. Current evidence mostly stems from in vitro and in vivo experimental studies and the need for well-designed future clinical trials is warranted.

Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica to produce nutritional fatty acids: Current status and future perspectives

Due to their vital physiological functions, nutritional fatty acids have great potential as nutraceutical food supplements for preventing an array of diseases such as inflammation, depression, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer. Microbial biosynthesis of fatty acids follows the trend of sustainable development, as it enables green, environmentally friendly and efficient production. As a natural oleaginous yeast, Yarrowia lipolytica is especially well-suited for the production of fatty acids. Moreover, it has a variety of genetic engineering tools and novel metabolic engineering strategies that make it a robust workhorse for the production of an array of value-added products. In this review, we summarize recent advances in metabolic engineering strategies for accumulating nutritional fatty acids in Y. lipolytica, including conjugated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In addition, the future prospects of nutritional fatty acid production using the Y. lipolytica platform are discussed in light of the current progress, challenges, and trends in this field. Finally, guidelines for future studies are also emphasized.

Emerging advances in nanomedicine for breast cancer immunotherapy: opportunities and challenges

Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Early diagnosis and an appropriate therapeutic approach for all cancers are climacterics for a favorable prognosis. Targeting the immune system in breast cancer is already a clinical reality with notable successes, specifically with checkpoint blockade antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. However, there have been inevitable setbacks in the clinical application of cancer immunotherapy, including inadequate immune responses due to insufficient delivery of immunostimulants to immune cells and uncontrolled immune system modulation. Rapid advancements and new evidence have suggested that nanomedicine-based immunotherapy may be a viable option for treating breast cancer.

Ferroptosis as a new therapeutic opportunity for nonviral liver disease

Nonviral liver disease is a global public health problem due to its high mortality and morbidity. However, its underlying mechanism is unclear. Ferroptosis is a novel form of cell death that is involved in a variety of disease processes. Both abnormal iron metabolism (e.g., iron overload) and lipid peroxidation, which is induced by deletion of glutathione (GSH) or glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and the accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing phospholipids (PUFA-PLs) trigger ferroptosis. Recently, ferroptosis has been involved in the pathological process of nonviral liver diseases [including alcohol-related liver disease (ALD); nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); hereditary hemochromatosis (HH); drug-, ischemia/reperfusion- or immune-induced liver injury; liver fibrosis; and liver cancer]. Hepatocyte ferroptosis is activated in ALD; NAFLD; HH; drug-, ischemia/reperfusion- or immune-induced liver injury; and liver fibrosis, whereas hepatic stellate cell and liver cancer cell ferroptosis are inhibited in liver fibrosis and liver cancer, respectively. Thus, ferroptosis is an ideal target for nonviral liver diseases. In the present review, we discuss the latest findings on ferroptosis and potential drugs targeting ferroptosis for nonviral liver diseases. This review will highlight further directions for the treatment and prevention of nonviral liver diseases.

Lipid Nanoparticle Technology for Delivering Biologically Active Fatty Acids and Monoglycerides

There is enormous interest in utilizing biologically active fatty acids and monoglycerides to treat phospholipid membrane-related medical diseases, especially with the global health importance of membrane-enveloped viruses and bacteria. However, it is difficult to practically deliver lipophilic fatty acids and monoglycerides for therapeutic applications, which has led to the emergence of lipid nanoparticle platforms that support molecular encapsulation and functional presentation. Herein, we introduce various classes of lipid nanoparticle technology and critically examine the latest progress in utilizing lipid nanoparticles to deliver fatty acids and monoglycerides in order to treat medical diseases related to infectious pathogens, cancer, and inflammation. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding how nanoparticle structure is related to biological function in terms of mechanism, potency, selectivity, and targeting. We also discuss translational opportunities and regulatory needs for utilizing lipid nanoparticles to deliver fatty acids and monoglycerides, including unmet clinical opportunities.

Encapsulation and Protection of Omega-3-Rich Fish Oils Using Food-Grade Delivery Systems

Regular consumption of adequate quantities of lipids rich in omega-3 fatty acids is claimed to provide a broad spectrum of health benefits, such as inhibiting inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Lipids isolated from many marine sources are a rich source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the omega-3 form which are claimed to have particularly high biological activities. Functional food products designed to enhance human health and wellbeing are increasingly being fortified with these omega-3 PUFAs because of their potential nutritional and health benefits. However, food fortification with PUFAs is challenging because of their low water-solubility, their tendency to rapidly oxidize, and their variable bioavailability. These challenges can be addressed using advanced encapsulation technologies, which typically involve incorporating the omega-3 oils into well-designed colloidal particles fabricated from food-grade ingredients, such as liposomes, emulsion droplets, nanostructured lipid carriers, or microgels. These omega-3-enriched colloidal dispersions can be used in a fluid form or they can be converted into a powdered form using spray-drying, which facilitates their handling and storage, as well as prolonging their shelf life. In this review, we provide an overview of marine-based omega-3 fatty acid sources, discuss their health benefits, highlight the challenges involved with their utilization in functional foods, and present the different encapsulation technologies that can be used to improve their performance.

Repurposed drug against COVID-19: nanomedicine as an approach for finding new hope in old medicines

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a threat to global public health. It is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and has triggered over 17 lakh causalities worldwide. Regrettably, no drug or vaccine has been validated for the treatment of COVID-19 and standard treatment for COVID-19 is currently unavailable. Most of the therapeutics moieties which were originally intended for the other disease are now being evaluated for the potential to be effective against COVID-19 (re-purpose). Nanomedicine has emerged as one of the most promising technologies in the field of drug delivery with the potential to deal with various diseases efficiently. It has addressed the limitations of traditional repurposed antiviral drugs including solubility and toxicity. It has also imparted enhanced potency and selectivity to antivirals towards viral cells. This review emphasizes the scope of repositioning of traditional therapeutic approaches, in addition to the fruitfulness of nanomedicine against COVID-19.

Naringenin Nano-Delivery Systems and Their Therapeutic Applications

Naringenin (NRG) is a polyphenolic phytochemical belonging to the class of flavanones and is widely distributed in citrus fruits and some other fruits such as bergamot, tomatoes, cocoa, and cherries. NRG presents several interesting pharmacological properties, such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the therapeutic potential of NRG is hampered due to its hydrophobic nature, which leads to poor bioavailability. Here, we review a wide range of nanocarriers that have been used as delivery systems for NRG, including polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), nanosuspensions, and nanoemulsions. These nanomedicine formulations of NRG have been applied as a potential treatment for several diseases, using a wide range of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models and different routes of administration. From this review, it can be concluded that NRG is a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, liver diseases, ocular disorders, inflammatory diseases, skin diseases, and diabetes when formulated in the appropriate nanocarriers.

The role of single- and multi-walled carbon nanotube in breast cancer treatment

Numerous studies have been conducted to design new strategies for breast cancer treatment. Past studies have shown a wide range of carbon-nanomaterials properties, such as single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs and MWCNTs) in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this regard, the current study aims to review the role of both SWCNTs and MWCNTs in breast cancer treatment and diagnosis. For reaching this goal, we reviewed the literature by using various searching engines such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and MEDLINE. This comprehensive review showed that CNTs could dramatically improve breast cancer treatment and could be used as a novel modality to increase diagnostic accuracy; however, no clinical studies have been conducted based on CNTs. In addition, the literature review demonstrates a lack of enough studies to evaluate the side effects of using CNTs.