Biomedical applications of nanomaterials in the advancement of nucleic acid therapy: Mechanistic challenges, delivery strategies, and therapeutic applications

Exploring nanocarriers as innovative materials for advanced drug delivery strategies in onco-immunotherapies

In recent years, Onco-immunotherapies (OIMTs) have been shown to be a potential therapy option for cancer. Several immunotherapies have received regulatory approval, while many others are now undergoing clinical testing or are in the early stages of development. Despite this progress, a large number of challenges to the broad use of immunotherapies to treat cancer persists. To make immunotherapy more useful as a treatment while reducing its potentially harmful side effects, we need to know more about how to improve response rates to different types of immunotherapies. Nanocarriers (NCs) have the potential to harness immunotherapies efficiently, enhance the efficiency of these treatments, and reduce the severe adverse reactions that are associated with them. This article discusses the necessity to incorporate nanomedicines in OIMTs and the challenges we confront with current anti-OIMT approaches. In addition, it examines the most important considerations for building nanomedicines for OIMT, which may improve upon current immunotherapy methods. Finally, it highlights the applications and future scenarios of using nanotechnology.

Exosome-Based Macromolecular neurotherapeutic drug delivery approaches in overcoming the Blood-Brain barrier for treating brain disorders

Delivering drugs to the brain is a complex challenge in medical research, particularly for disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The blood-brain barrier restricts the entry of many therapeutic molecules, hindering their effectiveness. Nanoparticles, a potential solution, face issues like toxicity and limited approvals. A new avenue explores the use of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), i.e., exosomes, as natural carriers for drug delivery. sEVs, tiny structures below 150 nm, show promise due to their minimal immune response and ability to precisely deliver drugs. This review focuses on the potential of sEVs-based drug delivery systems for treating neurological disorders, brain cancers, and other brain-related issues. Notably, bioengineered sEVs-carrying therapeutic compounds exhibit promise in early studies. The unique features of sEVs, such as their small size and natural properties, position them as candidates to overcome challenges in drug delivery to the brain. Ongoing clinical trials and research into sEVs behavior within the body further highlight their potential for revolutionizing drug delivery and addressing complex brain conditions.

An overview on recent patents and technologies on nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery

INTRODUCTION

Nucleic acid-based therapeutics offer groundbreaking potential for treating genetic diseases and advancing next-generation vaccines. Despite their promise, challenges in efficient delivery persist due to the properties of nucleic acids. Nanoparticles (NPs) serve as vital carriers, facilitating effective delivery to target cells, and addressing these challenges. Understanding the global landscape of patents in this field is essential for fostering innovation and guiding decision-making for researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, and regulatory agencies.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides a comprehensive overview of patent compositions, applications, and manufacturing aspects concerning NPs as nucleic acid delivery systems. It delves into temporal trends, protection locations, market dynamics, and the most influential technological domains. In this work, we provide valuable insights into the advancements and potential of NP-based nucleic acid delivery systems, with a special focus on their pivotal role in advancing cutting-edge therapeutic solutions.

EXPERT OPINION

Investment in NPs for nucleic acid delivery has significantly surged in recent years. However, translating these therapies into clinical practice faces obstacles, including the need for robust clinical evidence, regulatory compliance, and streamlined manufacturing processes. To address these challenges, our review article summarizes recent advances. We aim to engage researchers worldwide in the development of these promising technologies.

Enhancement efficiency delivery of antiviral Molnupiravir-drug via the loading with self-assembly nanoparticles of pycnogenol and cellulose which are decorated by zinc oxide nanoparticles for COVID-19 therapy

The target of the study is to modify the efficiency of Molnupiravir-drug (MOL) for COVID-19 therapy via the rearrangement of the building engineering of MOL-drug by loading it with self-assembly biomolecules nanoparticles (NPs) of pycnogenol (Pyc) and cellulose (CNC) which are decorated by zinc oxide nanoparticles. The synthesis and characterization of the modified drug are performing successfully, the loading and release process of the MOL drug on a nano surface is measured by UV-Vis spectroscopy under room temperature and different pH. The release efficiency of the MOL drug is calculated to be 65% (pH 6.8) and 69% (pH 7.4). The modified MOL drug displays 71% (pH 6.8) and 78% (pH 7.4) for CNC@Pyc.MOL nanocomposite, while CNC@Pyc.MOL.ZnO nanocomposite gave values at 76% (pH 6.8) and 78% (pH 7.4), the efficiency recorded after 19 h. The biological activity of the MOL-drug and modified MOL-drug is measured, and the cytotoxicity is performed by SRB technique, where the self-assembly (CNC@Pyc) appears to be a safe healthy, and high viability against the examined cell line. The antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory are evaluated, where the nanocomposite that has ZnO NPs (CNC@Pyc.MOL.ZnO) gave high efficiency compared to the composite without ZnO NPs. The CPE-inhibition assay is used to identify potential antivirals against CVID-19 (229E virus), the viral inhibition (%) was reported at 37.6 % (for 800 µg/ml) and 18.02 % (for 400 µg/ml) of CNC@Pyc.MOL.ZnO. So, the modified MOL-drug was suggested as a replacement drug for the therapy of COVID-19 compared to MOL-drug, but the results need clinical trials.

Magnetic graphene oxide nanoflakes for dual RNA interfering delivery and gene knockdown in prostate and liver cancers

The development of synthetic carriers for small interfering RNA (siRNA) and plasmids is crucial for effective gene therapy. In this study, we synthesized magnetic graphene oxide nanoflakes as carriers for siRNA delivery, with the goal of knockdown specific genes such as the green fluorescence protein (GFP). Our approach combined magnetically reduced graphene oxide with polyethylenimine (PEI) crosslinked to its surface using carbonyl diimidazole. To evaluate the adsorption capacity of the PEI-modified nanocomposite, we investigated its ability to bind two types of nucleic acids: short-hairpin (sh)RNA plasmids and siRNA targeting GFP. The nanocomposite exhibited significant adsorption, with maximum capacities of 426 ng/μg for shRNA and 71 ng/μg for siRNA, respectively. Simultaneous delivery of siRNA and shRNA using our designed nanocomposites was successfully achieved in human hepatoma and prostate cancer cells. Under magnetic guidance, the knockdown efficiencies reached 73.5 % in hepatoma cells for dual delivery of siRNA and shRNA. Our findings revealed that the nanocomplexes were internalized by the cells through a caveolae-dependent endocytosis mechanism. The demonstrated ability of the nanoflakes to efficiently transport siRNA and shRNA, with high loading capacity, controlled release, and magnetic targeting, resulted in effective GFP knockdown in vitro. These findings highlight the potential of magnetic graphene oxide nanoflakes as promising carriers for siRNA delivery and gene knockdown in therapeutic applications.

Surface modification strategies in translocating nano-vesicles across different barriers and the role of bio-vesicles in improving anticancer therapy

Nanovesicles and bio-vesicles (BVs) have emerged as promising tools to achieve targeted cancer therapy due to their ability to overcome many of the key challenges currently being faced with conventional chemotherapy. These challenges include the diverse and often complex pathophysiology involving the progression of cancer, as well as the various biological barriers that circumvent therapeutic molecules reaching their target site in optimum concentration. The scientific evidence suggests that surface-functionalized nanovesicles and BVs camouflaged nano-carriers (NCs) both can bypass the established biological barriers and facilitate fourth-generation targeting for the improved regimen of treatment. In this review, we intend to emphasize the role of surface-functionalized nanovesicles and BVs camouflaged NCs through various approaches that lead to an improved internalization to achieve improved and targeted oncotherapy. We have explored various strategies that have been employed to surface-functionalize and biologically modify these vesicles, including the use of biomolecule functionalized target ligands such as peptides, antibodies, and aptamers, as well as the targeting of specific receptors on cancer cells. Further, the utility of BVs, which are made from the membranes of cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), platelets (PLTs) as well as cancer cells also been investigated. Lastly, we have discussed the translational challenges and limitations that these NCs can encounter and still need to be overcome in order to fully realize the potential of nanovesicles and BVs for targeted cancer therapy. The fundamental challenges that currently prevent successful cancer therapy and the necessity of novel delivery systems are in the offing.

Advances in siRNA delivery approaches in cancer therapy: challenges and opportunities

Advancements in the clinical applications of small interfering RNA (siRNA) in cancer therapy have opened up new possibilities for precision medicine. siRNAs, as powerful genetic tools, have shown potential in targeting and suppressing the expression of specific genes associated with cancer progression. Their effectiveness has been further enhanced by incorporating them into nanoparticles, which protect siRNAs from degradation and enable targeted delivery. However, despite these promising developments, several challenges persist in the clinical translation of siRNA-based cancer therapy. This comprehensive review explores the progress and challenges associated with the clinical applications of siRNA in cancer therapy. This review highlights the use of siRNA-loaded nanoparticles as an effective delivery system for optimizing siRNA efficacy in various types of carcinomas and the potential of siRNA-based therapy as a genetic approach to overcome limitations associated with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, including severe drug toxicities and organ damage. Moreover, it emphasizes on the key challenges, including off-target effects, enzymatic degradation of siRNAs in serum, low tumor localization, stability issues, and rapid clearance from circulation that need to be addressed for successful clinical development of siRNA-based cancer therapy. Despite these challenges, the review identifies significant avenues for advancing siRNA technology from the laboratory to clinical settings. The ongoing progress in siRNA-loaded nanoparticles for cancer treatment demonstrates potential antitumor activities and safety profiles. By understanding the current state of siRNA-based therapy and addressing the existing challenges, we aim to pave the way for translating siRNA technology into effective oncologic clinics as an improved treatment options for cancer patients.

Fabrication and Characterization of Zn Particle Incorporated Fibrous Scaffolds for Potential Application in Tissue Healing and Regeneration

Zinc (Zn) metal and its alloys have received a lot of interest in biomedical applications due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, antimicrobial activity, and ability to stimulate tissue regeneration. Bulk Zn has been successfully utilized in a variety of implant applications, most notably as bioabsorbable cardiac stents and orthopedic fixation devices, where it provides adequate mechanical properties while also releasing helpful Zn ions (Zn2+) during degradation. Such beneficial ions are dose-dependent and, when released in excess, can induce cellular toxicity. In this study, we hypothesize that embedding Zn metal particles into a polymer nanofibrous scaffold will enable control of the degradation and time release of the Zn2+. We designed and fabricated two polymer scaffolds, polycaprolactone (PCL) and polycaprolactone-chitosan (PCL-CH). Each scaffold had an increasing amount of Zn. Several physicochemical properties such as fiber morphology, crystallinity, mechanical strength, hydrophilicity, degradation and release of Zn2+, thermal properties, chemical compositions, and so forth were characterized and compared with the PCL fibrous scaffold. The biological properties of the scaffolds were evaluated in vitro utilizing direct and indirect cytotoxicity assays and cell viability. All the data show that the addition of Zn changed various physical properties of the PCL and PCL-CH scaffolds except their chemical structure. Further investigation reveals that the PCL-CH scaffolds degrade the Zn particles relatively faster than the PCL because the presence of the hydrophilic CH influences the faster release of Zn2+ in cell culture conditions as compared to the PCL fibrous scaffold. The combined advantages of CH and Zn in the PCL scaffold enriched 3T3 fibroblast cells' survival and proliferation except the ones with the higher concentration of Zn particles. These new composite scaffolds are promising and can be further considered for tissue healing and regeneration applications.