Nanoparticles loaded with Daunorubicin as an advanced tool for cancer therapy

Nowadays, with the advent of cutting-edge technologies in the field of biotechnology, some highly advanced medical methods are introduced to treat cancers more efficiently. In the chemotherapy processes, anti-cancer drugs can be encapsulated in a stimuli-responsive coating which is capable of being functionalized by diverse ligands to increase the biocompatibility and control drug release behavior in a targeted drug delivery system. Nanoparticles (NPs) are playing an important role as nanocarriers in chemotherapy procedures, recently, numerous novel drug delivery systems have been studied which employed diverse types of NPs with remarkable structural features like porous nanocarriers with active and extended surface areas to enhance the drug loading and delivery efficacy. In this study, Daunorubicin (DAU) as an effective anti-cancer drug for treating various cancers introduced, and its application for novel drug delivery systems either as a single chemotherapy agent or co-delivery alongside other drugs with diverse NPs has been reviewed.

Nanocomposite of chitosan/gelatin/carbon quantum dots as a biocompatible and efficient nanocarrier for improving the Curcumin delivery restrictions to treat brain cancer

Curcumin (CUR) is among the most appropriate and natural-based anticancer drugs that can be applied effectively treat different classes of cancers. However, CUR suffers from a low half-life and stability in the body, which has restricted the efficacy of its delivery applications. This study is dedicated to introducing the pH-sensitive nanocomposite of chitosan (CS)/gelatin (GE)/carbon quantum dots (CQDs) as an applicable nanocarrier for enhancing CUR half-life and its delivery restrictions. The CS/GE hydrogel was synthesized by the physical crosslinking method, which improves the biocompatibility of this hydrogel. Moreover, the water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion approach is involved in fabricating the drug-loaded CS/GE/CQDs@CUR nanocomposite. Afterward, drug encapsulation (EE) and loading efficiencies (LE) have been determined. Furthermore, FTIR and XRD assessments were performed to confirm the CUR incorporation into the prepared nanocarrier and crystalline features of the nanoparticles. Then, by employing Zeta potential and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis, the size distribution and stability of the drug-loaded nanocomposites have been assessed, which indicated monodisperse and stable nanoparticles. Furthermore, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was utilized that confirmed the homogeneous distribution of the nanoparticles with smooth and quite spherical structures. In vitro drug release pattern was studied and the kinetic analysis was performed using a curve fitting technique to determine the governing release mechanism at both acidic pH and physiological conditions. The obtained outcomes from release data revealed a controlled release behavior with a 22-hour half-life, while the EE% and EL% were acquired at 46.75 % and 87.5 %, respectively. In addition, the MTT assay has been carried out on U-87 MG cell lines to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the nanocomposite. The findings showed that the fabricated nanocomposite of CS/GE/CQDs can be assumed as a biocompatible CUR nanocarrier, while the drug-loaded nanocomposite of CS/GE/CQDs@CUR showed enhanced cytotoxicity compared to the pure CUR. Based on the obtained results, this study suggests the CS/GE/CQDs nanocomposite as a biocompatible and potential nanocarrier for ameliorating CUR delivery restrictions to treat brain cancers.

Nanoemulsion carriers of porous γ-alumina modified by polyvinylpyrrolidone and carboxymethyl cellulose for pH-sensitive delivery of 5-fluorouracil

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a cytotoxic drug with a low half-life. These features can cause some problems such as burst drug release and numerous side effects. In the present study, a pH-sensitive nanocomposite of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/γ-alumina developed by using water in oil in water (W/O/W) double emulsion method. The fabricated emulsion has been employed as the 5-FU carrier to investigate its effects on drug half-life, side effects, drug loading efficiency (DLE), and drug entrapment efficiency (DEE). Analyzing the FTIR and XRD indicated the successful loading of 5-FU into the nanocarrier and affirmed the synthesized nanocomposite's chemical bonding and crystalline features. Furthermore, by using DLS and Zeta potential assessment, size and undersize distribution, as well as the stability of the drug-loaded nanocomposite were determined, which demonstrated the monodisperse and stable nanoparticles. Moreover, the nanocomposites with spherical shapes and homogeneous surfaces were shown in FE-SEM, which indicated good compatibility for the constituents of the nanocomposites. Moreover, by employing BET analysis the porosity has been investigated. Drug release pattern was studied, which indicated a controlled drug release behavior with above 96 h drug retention. Besides, the loading and entrapment efficiencies were obtained 44 % and 86 %, respectively. Furthermore, the curve fitting technique has been employed and the predominant release mechanism has been determined to evaluate the best-fitted kinetic models. MTT assay and flow cytometry assessment has been carried out to investigate the cytotoxic effects of the fabricated drug-loaded nanocomposite on MCF-7 and normal cells. The results showed enhanced cytotoxicity and late apoptosis for the PVP/CMC/γ-alumina/5-FU. Based on the MTT assay outcomes on normal cell lines (L929), which indicated above 90 % cell viability, the biocompatibility and biosafety of the synthesized nanocarrier have been confirmed. Moreover, due to the porosity of the PVP/CMC/γ-alumina, this nanocarrier can exploit from high specific surface area and be more sensitive to environmental conditions such as pH. These outcomes propose that the novel pH-sensitive PVP/CMC/γ-alumina nanocomposite can be a potential candidate for drug delivery applications, especially for cancer therapy.

Cell Encapsulation and 3D Bioprinting for Therapeutic Cell Transplantation

The promise of cell therapy has been augmented by introducing biomaterials, where intricate scaffold shapes are fabricated to accommodate the cells within. In this review, we first discuss cell encapsulation and the promising potential of biomaterials to overcome challenges associated with cell therapy, particularly cellular function and longevity. More specifically, cell therapies in the context of autoimmune disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer are reviewed from the perspectives of preclinical findings as well as available clinical data. Next, techniques to fabricate cell-biomaterials constructs, focusing on emerging 3D bioprinting technologies, will be reviewed. 3D bioprinting is an advancing field that enables fabricating complex, interconnected, and consistent cell-based constructs capable of scaling up highly reproducible cell-biomaterials platforms with high precision. It is expected that 3D bioprinting devices will expand and become more precise, scalable, and appropriate for clinical manufacturing. Rather than one printer fits all, seeing more application-specific printer types, such as a bioprinter for bone tissue fabrication, which would be different from a bioprinter for skin tissue fabrication, is anticipated in the future.

5-Fluorouracil nano-delivery systems as a cutting-edge for cancer therapy

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is amongst the most commonly used antimetabolite chemotherapeutic agents in recent decades. However, its low bioavailability, short half-life, rapid metabolism and the development of drug resistance after chemotherapy limit its therapeutic efficiency. In this study, 5-FU applications as an anti-cancer drug for treating diverse types of cancers (e.g. colon, pancreatic and breast) have been reviewed. Different approaches lately designed to circumvent the drawbacks of 5-FU therapy are described herein, including 5-FU-loaded lipid-based nanoparticles (NPs), polymeric NPs (both stimuli and non-stimuli responsive), carbon-based nanostructures and inorganic NPs. Furthermore, co-delivery systems of 5-FU with other drugs (e.g. paclitaxel, gelatin-doxorubicin and naproxen) have been reviewed, which aid to attain better bioavailability, higher effectiveness at a lower concentration and lower toxicity. This review provides researchers with the latest progress on 5-FU-loaded nanocarriers, which show great potential as an advanced tool for cancer therapy.

Application of Various Optical and Electrochemical Nanobiosensors for Detecting Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125): A Review

Nowadays, diagnosing early-stage cancers can be vital for saving patients and dramatically decreases mortality rates. Therefore, specificity and sensitivity in the detection of cancer antigens should be elaborately ensured. Some early-stage cancers can be diagnosed via detecting the cancer antigen CA-125, such as ovarian cancer, and required treatments can be applied more efficiently. Thus, detection of CA-125 by employing various optical or electrochemical biosensors is a preliminary and crucial step to treating cancers. In this review, a diverse range of optical and electrochemical means of detecting CA-125 are reviewed. Furthermore, an applicable comparison of their performance and sensitivity is provided, several commercial detection kits are investigated, and their applications are compared and discussed to determine whether they are applicable and accurate enough.

Role of Iron Oxide (Fe2O3) Nanocomposites in Advanced Biomedical Applications: A State-of-the-Art Review

Nanomaterials have demonstrated a wide range of applications and recently, novel biomedical studies are devoted to improving the functionality and effectivity of traditional and unmodified systems, either drug carriers and common scaffolds for tissue engineering or advanced hydrogels for wound healing purposes. In this regard, metal oxide nanoparticles show great potential as versatile tools in biomedical science. In particular, iron oxide nanoparticles with different shape and sizes hold outstanding physiochemical characteristics, such as high specific area and porous structure that make them idoneous nanomaterials to be used in diverse aspects of medicine and biological systems. Moreover, due to the high thermal stability and mechanical strength of Fe₂O₃, they have been combined with several polymers and employed for various nano-treatments for specific human diseases. This review is focused on summarizing the applications of Fe₂O₃-based nanocomposites in the biomedical field, including nanocarriers for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing. Additionally, their structure, magnetic properties, biocompatibility, and toxicity will be discussed.

Construction of Aptamer-Based Nanobiosensor for Breast Cancer Biomarkers Detection Utilizing g-C3N4/Magnetic Nano-Structure

An electrochemical aptasensor has been developed to determine breast cancer biomarkers (CA 15-3). Aptamer chains were immobilized on the surface of the electrode by g-C₃N₄/Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, which increased the conductivity and active surface area of the electrode. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements have been carried out to characterize the nanomaterials. Cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been used to characterize the developed electrode. The results demonstrate that the modified electrode has better selectivity for CA 15-3 compared to other biological molecules. It has a good electrochemical response to CA 15-3 with a detection limit of 0.2 UmL^-1 and a linear response between 1 and 9 UmL^-1. It has been used as a label-free sensor in potassium ferrocyanide medium and as methylene blue-labeled in phosphate buffer medium. This electrode was successfully applied to analyze the serum of diseased and healthy individuals, which corroborates its high potential for biosensing applications, especially for the diagnosis of breast cancer.