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Vakhshiteh F, Bagheri Z, Soleimani M, Ahvaraki A, Pournemat P, Alavi SE, Madjd Z. Heterotypic tumor spheroids: a platform for nanomedicine evaluation. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:249. [PMID: 37533100 PMCID: PMC10398970 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02021-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomedicine has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach, but its translation to the clinic has been hindered by the lack of cellular models to anticipate how tumor cells will respond to therapy. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models are thought to more accurately recapitulate key features of primary tumors than two-dimensional (2D) cultures. Heterotypic 3D tumor spheroids, composed of multiple cell types, have become more popular than homotypic spheroids, which consist of a single cell type, as a superior model for mimicking in vivo tumor heterogeneity and physiology. The stromal interactions demonstrated in heterotypic 3D tumor spheroids can affect various aspects, including response to therapy, cancer progression, nanomedicine penetration, and drug resistance. Accordingly, to design more effective anticancer nanomedicinal therapeutics, not only tumor cells but also stromal cells (e.g., fibroblasts and immune cells) should be considered to create a more physiologically relevant in vivo microenvironment. This review aims to demonstrate current knowledge of heterotypic 3D tumor spheroids in cancer research, to illustrate current advances in utilizing these tumor models as a novel and versatile platform for in vitro evaluation of nanomedicine-based therapeutics in cancer research, and to discuss challenges, guidelines, and future directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Vakhshiteh
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Bagheri
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, 1983969411, Iran.
| | - Marziye Soleimani
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, 1983969411, Iran
| | - Akram Ahvaraki
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, 1983969411, Iran
| | - Parisa Pournemat
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, 1983969411, Iran
| | - Seyed Ebrahim Alavi
- Faculty of Medicine, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Zahra Madjd
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
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Zhu H, Chen HJ, Wen HY, Wang ZG, Liu SL. Engineered Lipidic Nanomaterials Inspired by Sphingomyelin Metabolism for Cancer Therapy. Molecules 2023; 28:5366. [PMID: 37513239 PMCID: PMC10383197 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingomyelin (SM) and its metabolites are crucial regulators of tumor cell growth, differentiation, senescence, and programmed cell death. With the rise in lipid-based nanomaterials, engineered lipidic nanomaterials inspired by SM metabolism, corresponding lipid targeting, and signaling activation have made fascinating advances in cancer therapeutic processes. In this review, we first described the specific pathways of SM metabolism and the roles of their associated bioactive molecules in mediating cell survival or death. We next summarized the advantages and specific applications of SM metabolism-based lipidic nanomaterials in specific cancer therapies. Finally, we discussed the challenges and perspectives of this emerging and promising SM metabolism-based nanomaterials research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Center for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hua-Jie Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hai-Yan Wen
- Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Center for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shu-Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Center for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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Tofani LB, Luiz MT, Paes Dutra JA, Abriata JP, Chorilli M. Three-dimensional culture models: emerging platforms for screening the antitumoral efficacy of nanomedicines. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2023; 18:633-647. [PMID: 37183804 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2022-0205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomedicines have been investigated for delivering drugs to tumors due to their ability to accumulate in the tumor tissues. 2D in vitro cell culture has been used to investigate the antitumoral potential of nanomedicines. However, a 2D model cannot adequately mimic the in vivo tissue conditions because of the lack of cell-cell interaction, a gradient of nutrients and the expression of genes. To overcome this limitation, 3D cell culture models have emerged as promising platforms that better replicate the complexity of native tumors. For this purpose, different techniques can be used to produce 3D models, including scaffold-free, scaffold-based and microfluidic-based models. This review addresses the principles, advantages and limitations of these culture methods for evaluating the antitumoral efficacy of nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Bueno Tofani
- School of Pharmaceutical Science of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Marcela Tavares Luiz
- School of Pharmaceutical Science of Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Sao Paulo, 14800-903, Brazil
| | - Jessyca Aparecida Paes Dutra
- School of Pharmaceutical Science of Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Sao Paulo, 14800-903, Brazil
| | - Juliana Palma Abriata
- School of Pharmaceutical Science of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Marlus Chorilli
- School of Pharmaceutical Science of Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Sao Paulo, 14800-903, Brazil
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Lores S, Gámez-Chiachio M, Cascallar M, Ramos-Nebot C, Hurtado P, Alijas S, López López R, Piñeiro R, Moreno-Bueno G, de la Fuente M. Effectiveness of a novel gene nanotherapy based on putrescine for cancer treatment. Biomater Sci 2023. [PMID: 36790445 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm01456d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy has long been proposed for cancer treatment. However, the use of therapeutic nucleic acids presents several limitations such as enzymatic degradation, rapid clearance, and poor cellular uptake and efficiency. In this work we propose the use of putrescine, a precursor for higher polyamine biosynthesis for the preparation of cationic nanosystems for cancer gene therapy. We have formulated and characterized putrescine-sphingomyelin nanosystems (PSN) and studied their endocytic pathway and intracellular trafficking in cancer cells. After loading a plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding the apoptotic Fas Ligand (FasL), we proved their therapeutic activity by measuring the cell death rate after treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells. We have also used xenografted zebrafish embryos as a first in vivo approach to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed PSN-pDNA formulation in a more complex model. Finally, intratumoral and intraperitoneal administration to mice-bearing MDA-MB-231 xenografts resulted in a significant decrease in tumour cell growth, highlighting the potential of the developed gene therapy nanoformulation for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saínza Lores
- Nano-Oncology and Translational Therapeutics Unit, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Travesía da Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, A Coruña, Spain. .,Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Praza do Obradoiro, s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15782, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Manuel Gámez-Chiachio
- Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Autonomous University of Madrid, School of Medicine, "Alberto Sols" Biomedical Research Institute CSIC-UAM, IdiPaz, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain. .,Biomedical Cancer Research Network (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Cascallar
- Nano-Oncology and Translational Therapeutics Unit, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Travesía da Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, A Coruña, Spain. .,Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Praza do Obradoiro, s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15782, A Coruña, Spain.,Biomedical Cancer Research Network (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Ramos-Nebot
- Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Autonomous University of Madrid, School of Medicine, "Alberto Sols" Biomedical Research Institute CSIC-UAM, IdiPaz, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain. .,Biomedical Cancer Research Network (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Hurtado
- Biomedical Cancer Research Network (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain.,Roche-CHUS Join Unit. Translational Medical Oncology Group (ONCOMET), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Travesía da Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, A Coruña, Spain.
| | - Sandra Alijas
- Nano-Oncology and Translational Therapeutics Unit, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Travesía da Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, A Coruña, Spain. .,Roche-CHUS Join Unit. Translational Medical Oncology Group (ONCOMET), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Travesía da Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, A Coruña, Spain.
| | - Rafael López López
- Nano-Oncology and Translational Therapeutics Unit, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Travesía da Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, A Coruña, Spain. .,Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Praza do Obradoiro, s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15782, A Coruña, Spain.,Biomedical Cancer Research Network (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain.,Roche-CHUS Join Unit. Translational Medical Oncology Group (ONCOMET), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Travesía da Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, A Coruña, Spain.
| | - Roberto Piñeiro
- Biomedical Cancer Research Network (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain.,Roche-CHUS Join Unit. Translational Medical Oncology Group (ONCOMET), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Travesía da Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, A Coruña, Spain.
| | - Gema Moreno-Bueno
- Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Autonomous University of Madrid, School of Medicine, "Alberto Sols" Biomedical Research Institute CSIC-UAM, IdiPaz, Arturo Duperier 4, 28029, Madrid, Spain. .,Biomedical Cancer Research Network (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain.,MD Anderson International Foundation, Gómez Hemans s/n, 28033 Madrid, Spain
| | - María de la Fuente
- Nano-Oncology and Translational Therapeutics Unit, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Travesía da Choupana s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15706, A Coruña, Spain. .,Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Praza do Obradoiro, s/n, Santiago de Compostela, 15782, A Coruña, Spain.,Biomedical Cancer Research Network (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain.,DIVERSA Technologies SL, Edificio Emprendia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Cascallar M, Hurtado P, Lores S, Pensado-López A, Quelle-Regaldie A, Sánchez L, Piñeiro R, de la Fuente M. Zebrafish as a platform to evaluate the potential of lipidic nanoemulsions for gene therapy in cancer. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1007018. [DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1007018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is a promising therapeutic approach that has experienced significant groth in recent decades, with gene nanomedicines reaching the clinics. However, it is still necessary to continue developing novel vectors able to carry, protect, and release the nucleic acids into the target cells, to respond to the widespread demand for new gene therapies to address current unmet clinical needs. We propose here the use of zebrafish embryos as an in vivo platform to evaluate the potential of newly developed nanosystems for gene therapy applications in cancer treatment. Zebrafish embryos have several advantages such as low maintenance costs, transparency, robustness, and a high homology with the human genome. In this work, a new type of putrescine-sphingomyelin nanosystems (PSN), specifically designed for cancer gene therapy applications, was successfully characterized and demonstrated its potential for delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and miRNA (miR). On one hand, we were able to validate a regulatory effect of the PSN/miR on gene expression after injection in embryos of 0 hpf. Additionally, experiments proved the potential of the model to study the transport of the associated nucleic acids (pDNA and miR) upon incubation in zebrafish water. The biodistribution of PSN/pDNA and PSN/miR in vivo was also assessed after microinjection into the zebrafish vasculature, demonstrating that the nucleic acids remained associated with the PSN in an in vivo environment, and could successfully reach disseminated cancer cells in zebrafish xenografts. Altogether, these results demonstrate the potential of zebrafish as an in vivo model to evaluate nanotechnology-based gene therapies for cancer treatment, as well as the capacity of the developed versatile PSN formulation for gene therapy applications.
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