Targeted treatment of triple-negative-breast cancer through pH-triggered tumour associated macrophages using smart theranostic nanoformulations

Advances in Doxorubicin-based nano-drug delivery system in triple negative breast cancer

Triple positive breast cancer (TPBC) is one of the most aggressive breast cancer. Due to the unique cell phenotype, aggressiveness, metastatic potential and lack of receptors or targets, chemotherapy is the choice of treatment for TNBC. Doxorubicin (DOX), one of the representative agents of anthracycline chemotherapy, has better efficacy in patients with metastatic TNBC (mTNBC). DOX in anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens have higher response rates. Nano-drug delivery systems possess unique targeting and ability of co-load, deliver and release chemotherapeutic drugs, active gene fragments and immune enhancing factors to effectively inhibit or kill tumor cells. Therefore, advances in nano-drug delivery systems for DOX therapy have attracted a considerable amount of attention from researchers. In this article, we have reviewed the progress of nano-drug delivery systems (e.g., Nanoparticles, Liposomes, Micelles, Nanogels, Dendrimers, Exosomes, etc.) applied to DOX in the treatment of TNBC. We also summarize the current progress of clinical trials of DOX combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIS) for the treatment of TNBC. The merits, demerits and future development of nanomedicine delivery systems in the treatment of TNBC are also envisioned, with the aim of providing a new class of safe and efficient thoughts for the treatment of TNBC.

Biological function, regulatory mechanism, and clinical application of mannose in cancer

Studies examining the regulatory roles and clinical applications of monosaccharides other than glucose in cancer have been neglected. Mannose, a common type of monosaccharide found in human body fluids and tissues, primarily functions in protein glycosylation rather than carbohydrate metabolism. Recent research has demonstrated direct anticancer effects of mannose in vitro and in vivo. Simply supplementing cell culture medium or drinking water with mannose achieved these effects. Moreover, mannose enhances the effectiveness of current cancer treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immune therapy. Besides the advancements in basic research on the anticancer effects of mannose, recent studies have reported its application as a biomarker for cancer or in the delivery of anticancer drugs using mannose-modified drug delivery systems. This review discusses the progress made in understanding the regulatory roles of mannose in cancer progression, the mechanisms underlying its anticancer effects, and its current application in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Chitosan-Based Smart Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications: Progress and Perspectives

Over the past decade, smart and functional biomaterials have escalated as one of the most rapidly emerging fields in the life sciences because the performance of biomaterials could be improved by careful consideration of their interaction and response with the living systems. Thus, chitosan could play a crucial role in this frontier field because it possesses many beneficial properties, especially in the biomedical field such as excellent biodegradability, hemostatic properties, antibacterial activity, antioxidant properties, biocompatibility, and low toxicity. Furthermore, chitosan is a smart and versatile biopolymer due to its polycationic nature with reactive functional groups that allow the polymer to form many interesting structures or to be modified in various ways to suit the targeted applications. In this review, we provide an up-to-date development of the versatile structures of chitosan-based smart biomaterials such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, nanofibers, and films, as well as their application in the biomedical field. This review also highlights several strategies to enhance biomaterial performance for fast growing fields in biomedical applications such as drug delivery systems, bone scaffolds, wound healing, and dentistry.

Nanoconstructs for theranostic application in cancer: Challenges and strategies to enhance the delivery

Nanoconstructs are made up of nanoparticles and ligands, which can deliver the loaded cargo at the desired site of action. Various nanoparticulate platforms have been utilized for the preparation of nanoconstructs, which may serve both diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes. Nanoconstructs are mostly used to overcome the limitations of cancer therapies, such as toxicity, nonspecific distribution of the drug, and uncontrolled release rate. The strategies employed during the design of nanoconstructs help improve the efficiency and specificity of loaded theranostic agents and make them a successful approach for cancer therapy. Nanoconstructs are designed with a sole purpose of targeting the requisite site, overcoming the barriers which hinders its right placement for desired benefit. Therefore, instead of classifying modes for delivery of nanoconstructs as actively or passively targeted systems, they are suitably classified as autonomous and nonautonomous types. At large, nanoconstructs offer numerous benefits, however they suffer from multiple challenges, too. Hence, to overcome such challenges computational modelling methods and artificial intelligence/machine learning processes are being explored. The current review provides an overview on attributes and applications offered by nanoconstructs as theranostic agent in cancer.

A critical review on the dissemination of PH and stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticular systems to improve drug delivery in cancer therapy

Stimuli-responsive nanocarriers have the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment by allowing precise delivery of drugs to the site of disease. The use of polymeric nanocarriers with surfaces that respond to triggers such as pH, light, temperature, and redox potential enables targeted drug distribution. pH is a particularly useful tool, as the lower pH in tumour microenvironments can trigger changes in drug release. Recent advances in the development of pH-responsive polymer nanoparticles have shown great promise for improved in vivo drug delivery, reduced negative drug responses, and more precise drug distribution. A deeper understanding of these nanocarriers will allow us to overcome the challenges of targeted cancer treatment and create a better drug delivery system.