Efficient delivery of Notch1 siRNA to SKOV3 cells by cationic cholesterol derivative-based liposome

Liposomal nanocarriers containing siRNA as small molecule-based drugs to overcome cancer drug resistance

This review discusses the application of nanoliposomes containing siRNA/drug to overcome multidrug resistance for all types of cancer treatments. As drug resistance-associated factors are overexpressed in many cancer cell types, pumping chemotherapy drugs out of the cytoplasm leads to an inadequate therapeutic response. The siRNA/drug-loaded nanoliposomes are a promising approach to treating multidrug-resistant cancer, as they can effectively transmit a small-molecule drug into the target cytoplasm, ensuring that the drug binds efficiently. Moreover, nanoliposome-based therapeutics with advances in nanotechnology can effectively deliver siRNA to cancer cells. Overall, nanoliposomes have the potential to effectively deliver siRNA and small-molecule drugs in a targeted manner and are thus a promising tool for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

Development and Perspectives: Multifunctional Nucleic Acid Nanomedicines for Treatment of Gynecological Cancers

Gynecological malignancies are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. Due to delayed presentation, gynecological cancer patients are often referred late in the disease's course, resulting in poor outcomes. A considerable number of patients ultimately succumb to chemotherapy-resistant disease, which reoccurs at advanced stages despite treatment interventions. Although efforts have been devoted to developing therapies that demonstrate reduced resistance to chemotherapy and enhanced toxicity profiles, current clinical outcomes remain unsatisfactory due to treatment resistance and unfavorable off-target effects. Consequently, innovative biological and nanotherapeutic approaches are imperative to strengthen and optimize the therapeutic arsenal for gynecological cancers. Advancements in nanotechnology-based therapies for gynecological malignancies offer significant advantages, including reduced toxicity, expanded drug circulation, and optimized therapeutic dosing, ultimately leading to enhanced treatment effectiveness. Recent advances in nucleic acid therapeutics using microRNA, small interfering RNA, and messenger RNA provide novel approaches for cancer therapeutics. Effective single-agent and combinatorial nucleic acid therapeutics for gynecological malignancies have the potential to transform cancer treatment by giving safer, more tailored approaches than conventional therapies. This review highlights current preclinical studies that effectively exploit these approaches for the treatment of gynecological malignant tumors and malignant ascites.

Novel Bovine Serum Albumin-Decorated–Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Able to Modulate Apoptosis and Cell-Cycle Response in Ovarian, Breast, and Colon Tumoral Cells

A novel nanoscale approach was developed for the improved cellular internalization of hybrid bovine serum albumin–lipid nanocarriers loaded with piperine (NLC-Pip–BSA) in different tumor cells. The effect of the BSA-targeted–NLC-Pip and untargeted-NLC-Pip on the viability, proliferation, and levels of cell-cycle damage and apoptosis in the colon (LoVo), ovarian (SKOV3) and breast (MCF7) adenocarcinoma cell lines was comparatively discussed. NLCs were characterized concerning particle size, morphology, zeta potential, phytochemical encapsulation efficiency, ATR-FTIR, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that NLC-Pip–BSA showed a mean size below 140 nm, a zeta potential of −60 mV, and an entrapment efficiency of 81.94% for NLC-Pip and 80.45% for NLC-Pip–BSA. Fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed the coating of the NLC with the albumin. By MTS and RTCA assays, NLC-Pip–BSA showed a more pronounced response against the LoVo colon cell line and MCF-7 breast tumor cell lines than against the ovarian SKOV-3 cell line. Flow cytometry assay demonstrated that the targeted NLC-Pip had more cytotoxicity and improved apoptosis than the untargeted ones in MCF-7 tumor cells (p < 0.05). NLC-Pip caused a significant increase in MCF-7 breast tumor cell apoptosis of ~8X, while NLC-Pip–BSA has shown an 11-fold increase in apoptosis.

High-Precision Synthesis of RNA-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

The recent development of RNA-based therapeutics in delivering nucleic acids for gene editing and regulating protein translation has led to the effective treatment of various diseases including cancer, inflammatory and genetic disorder, as well as infectious diseases. Among these, lipid nanoparticles (LNP) have emerged as a promising platform for RNA delivery and have shed light by resolving the inherent instability issues of naked RNA and thereby enhancing the therapeutic potency. These LNP consisting of ionizable lipid, helper lipid, cholesterol, and poly(ethylene glycol)-anchored lipid can stably enclose RNA and help them release into the cells' cytosol. Herein, the significant progress made in LNP research starting from the LNP constituents, formulation, and their diverse applications is summarized first. Moreover, the microfluidic methodologies which allow precise assembly of these newly developed constituents to achieve LNP with controllable composition and size, high encapsulation efficiency as well as scalable production are highlighted. Furthermore, a short discussion on current challenges as well as an outlook will be given on emerging approaches to resolving these issues.

Potential Alternative Therapeutic Modalities for Management Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Review

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) includes malignancies of the lip and oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx. It is among the most common malignancy worldwide, affecting nearly 1 million people annually. The traditional treatment options for HNSCC include surgery, radiotherapy, and conventional chemotherapy. However, these treatment options have their specific sequelae, which produce high rates of recurrence and severe treatment-related disabilities. Recent technological advancements have led to tremendous progress in understanding tumor biology, and hence the emergence of several alternative therapeutic modalities for managing cancers (including HNSCC). These treatment options are stem cell targeted therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. Therefore, this review article aims to provide an overview of these alternative treatments of HNSCC.

Targeted delivery of 5-fluorouracil, miR-532-3p, and si-KRAS to the colorectal tumor using layer-by-layer liposomes

Co-delivery of siRNA or miRNA with chemotherapeutic drugs into tumor sites is an attractive synergetic strategy for treating colorectal cancer (CRC) due to their complementary mechanisms. In the current work, a liposome nanoparticle (Huang et al., Cancer Metastasis Rev., 2018, 37, 173–187) coated by cationic chitosan (CS) using a controlled layer-by-layer (LbL) process was designed to deliver simultaneous si-KRAS, miRNA-532-3p, and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) into CRC cells. The LbL NPs exhibited a spherical structure with an average size of 165.9 nm and effectively protected si-KRAS and miRNA-532-3p against degradation by serum and nucleases. Interestingly, the LbL NPs were successfully entered into cells and efficiently promoted cytotoxicity and suppressed cancer cell migration and invasion. In vivo, the LbL NPs reduced tumor growth in SW480-tumor-bearing mice models. In conclusion, these results suggested that the LbL NPs co-loaded with 5-FU and miR-532-3p/si-KRAS might provide a promising potential strategy for inhibiting the malignant phenotypes of CRC cells.

Gene Therapy for Malignant and Benign Gynaecological Disorders: A Systematic Review of an Emerging Success Story

Simple Summary

This review discusses all the major advances in gene therapy of gynaecological disorders, highlighting the novel and potentially therapeutic perspectives associated with such an approach. It specifically focuses on the gene therapy strategies against major gynaecological malignant disorders, such as ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancer, as well as benign disorders, such as uterine leiomyomas, endometriosis, placental, and embryo implantation disorders. The above therapeutic strategies, which employ both viral and non-viral systems for mutation compensation, suicide gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, antiangiogenesis and immunopotentiation approaches, have yielded promising results over the last decade, setting the grounds for successful clinical trials.

Abstract

Despite the major advances in screening and therapeutic approaches, gynaecological malignancies still present as a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Cervical cancer, although largely preventable through vaccination and regular screening, remains the fourth most common and most lethal cancer type in women, while the available treatment schemes still pose a fertility threat. Ovarian cancer is associated with high morbidity rates, primarily due to lack of symptoms and high relapse rates following treatment, whereas endometrial cancer, although usually curable by surgery, it still represents a therapeutic problem. On the other hand, benign abnormalities, such as fibroids, endometriosis, placental, and embryo implantation disorders, although not life-threatening, significantly affect women’s life and fertility and have high socio-economic impacts. In the last decade, targeted gene therapy approaches toward both malignant and benign gynaecological abnormalities have led to promising results, setting the ground for successful clinical trials. The above therapeutic strategies employ both viral and non-viral systems for mutation compensation, suicide gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, antiangiogenesis and immunopotentiation. This review discusses all the major advances in gene therapy of gynaecological disorders and highlights the novel and potentially therapeutic perspectives associated with such an approach.

Lipids and Lipid Derivatives for RNA Delivery

RNA-based therapeutics have shown great promise in treating a broad spectrum of diseases through various mechanisms including knockdown of pathological genes, expression of therapeutic proteins, and programmed gene editing. Due to the inherent instability and negative-charges of RNA molecules, RNA-based therapeutics can make the most use of delivery systems to overcome biological barriers and to release the RNA payload into the cytosol. Among different types of delivery systems, lipid-based RNA delivery systems, particularly lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), have been extensively studied due to their unique properties, such as simple chemical synthesis of lipid components, scalable manufacturing processes of LNPs, and wide packaging capability. LNPs represent the most widely used delivery systems for RNA-based therapeutics, as evidenced by the clinical approvals of three LNP-RNA formulations, patisiran, BNT162b2, and mRNA-1273. This review covers recent advances of lipids, lipid derivatives, and lipid-derived macromolecules used in RNA delivery over the past several decades. We focus mainly on their chemical structures, synthetic routes, characterization, formulation methods, and structure-activity relationships. We also briefly describe the current status of representative preclinical studies and clinical trials and highlight future opportunities and challenges.

Tumor-suppressing effect of bartogenic acid in ovarian (SKOV-3) xenograft mouse model

Bartogenic acid (BA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, proved to have chemomodulatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-arthritic, and anti-inflammatory activity. Based on structure-activity relationship (SAR) approaches, BA has close structural resemblance to oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. These two pentacyclic triterpenoids are well accepted with respect to their therapeutic value in various ailments including anti-cancer activity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of BA as a possible antitumor agent, along with its safety in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer. In vitro cytotoxicity of BA and paclitaxel on human ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3) was assessed using MTT assay. Antitumor potential of BA alone, standard anticancer drug (paclitaxel) alone, and BA in combination with paclitaxel were evaluated in SKOV-3 xenografted SCID mice. Immunohistochemical analysis of NF-κB was performed and analyzed in SKOV-3 tumors. BA alone and BA in combination with paclitaxel significantly inhibited the tumor growth. IC₅₀ of BA was found to be 15.72 μM. Similarly, paclitaxel showed significant antitumor effect with IC₅₀ of 3.234 μM. Treatments of paclitaxel, BA, and combination of BA with paclitaxel were well tolerated during treatment period. Immunohistochemical analysis of NF-κB in SKOV-3 tumors treated with BA in combination with paclitaxel revealed antitumor effect in terms of inhibition of NF-κB. Our results suggested that BA exhibits promising antitumor effect in the restriction of SKOV-3 cells and tumors with considerable safety.

Nanoparticle-siRNA: a potential strategy for ovarian cancer therapy?

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common causes of mortality throughout the world. Unfortunately, chemotherapy has failed to cure advanced cancers developing multidrug resistance (MDR). Moreover, it has critical side effects because of nonspecific toxicity. Thanks to specific silencing of oncogenes and MDR-associated genes, nano-siRNA drugs can be a great help address the limitations of chemotherapy. Here, we review the current advances in nanoparticle-mediated siRNA delivery strategies such as polymeric- and lipid-based systems, rigid nanoparticles and nanoparticles coupled to specific ligand systems. Nanoparticle-based codelivery of anticancer drugs and siRNA targeting various mechanisms of MDR is a cutting-edge strategy for ovarian cancer therapy, which is completely discussed in this review.

Protein Corona Liposomes Achieve Efficient Oral Insulin Delivery by Overcoming Mucus and Epithelial Barriers

Oral delivery of peptide/protein drugs has attracted worldwide attention due to its good patient compliance and convenience of administration. Orally administered nanocarriers always encounter the rigorous defenses of the gastrointestinal tract, which mainly consist of mucus and epithelium barriers. However, diametrically opposite surface properties of nanocarriers are required for good mucus penetration and high epithelial uptake. Here, bovine serum albumin (BSA) is adsorbed to cationic liposomes (CLs) to form protein corona liposomes (PcCLs). The aim of using PcCLs is to conquer the mucus and epithelium barriers, eventually improving the oral bioavailability of insulin. Investigations using in vitro and in vivo experiments show that the uptake amounts and transepithelial permeability of PcCLs are 3.24- and 7.91-fold higher than that of free insulin, respectively. Further study of the behavior of PcCLs implies that BSA corona can be shed from PcCLs as they cross the mucus layer, which results in the exposure of CLs to improve the transepithelial transport. Intrajejunal administration of PcCLs in type I diabetic rats produces a remarkable hypoglycemic effect and increases the oral bioavailability up to 11.9%. All of these results imply that PcCLs may provide a new insight into the method for oral insulin delivery by overcoming the multiple barriers.

Recent Progress in Gene Therapy for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy in developed countries. This is due to the lack of specific symptoms that hinder early diagnosis and to the high relapse rate after treatment with radical surgery and chemotherapy. Hence, novel therapeutic modalities to improve clinical outcomes in ovarian malignancy are needed. Progress in gene therapy has allowed the development of several strategies against ovarian cancer. Most are focused on the design of improved vectors to enhance gene delivery on the one hand, and, on the other hand, on the development of new therapeutic tools based on the restoration or destruction of a deregulated gene, the use of suicide genes, genetic immunopotentiation, the inhibition of tumour angiogenesis, the alteration of pharmacological resistance, and oncolytic virotherapy. In the present manuscript, we review the recent advances made in gene therapy for ovarian cancer, highlighting the latest clinical trials experience, the current challenges and future perspectives.

Poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer mediated delivery of drug and pDNA/siRNA for cancer therapy

Poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers are well-defined, highly branched macromolecules with numerous active amine groups on the surface. Because of their unique properties, PAMAM dendrimers have steadily grown in popularity in drug delivery, gene therapy, medical imaging and diagnostic application. This review focuses on the recent developments on the application in PAMAM dendrimers as effective carriers for drug and gene (pDNA, siRNA) delivery in cancer therapy, including: a) PAMAM for anticancer drug delivery; b) PAMAM and gene therapy; c) PAMAM used in overcoming tumor multidrug resistance; d) PAMAM used for hybrid nanoparticles; and e) PAMAM linked or loaded in other nanoparticles.

Biomacromolecule/lipid hybrid nanoparticles for controlled delivery of sorafenib in targeting hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

Aim: Hybrids composed of various materials are highly versatile for drug delivery in tumor therapy including hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, a sorafenib (SF)-loaded biomacromolecule hyaluronic acid (HA)/lipid hybrid nanoparticles (HA/SF-cLNS) were developed for targeting drug delivery. Materials & methods: In vitro assays determined HA/SF-cLNS release behavior, enzymatic degradation, uptake and cytotoxicity. H22-bearing liver cancer xenograft murine models were used to evaluate the biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Results: HA/SF-cLNS could be disassembled and drug was released in response to hyaluronidase. In vivo imaging results demonstrated HA/cLNS could enhance drug accumulation at tumor site. Meanwhile, HA/SF-cLNS exhibited improved antitumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: HA/SF-cLNS demonstrated the potential to enhance antitumor efficacy of SF.

Engineering the RNA-Nanobio Interface

RNA nanotechnology is attracting a great deal of attention recently. As the multiple roles that RNA plays in molecular biology and physiological regulation become clearer, there are many opportunities for engineering RNA-Nanoparticle Complexes (RNA-NPCs). The high “engineerability” of RNA-NPCs comes from the ability to modify the RNA and NP chemistry. For example, the NP can be derived from materials with anticancer activity and the RNA delivered by it, designed to target cell signaling pathways that contribute to the molecular basis of these diseases. Despite this rapid advancement and the availability of new quantification and characterization techniques, a key challenge is to develop a better understanding of the RNA-nanobio interface; that is, the interactions of RNA with NP (RNA-nanobio interface) and how that impacts the structure, function, delivery, and activity of the RNA. Here, we attempt to summarize the state-of-the-art in this new and exciting field, and to lay out potential directions for bioengineering research on RNA-NPCs.