Search

The incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer are among the highest in the world. Traditional treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Although rapid progress has been achieved in the past decade, treatment limitations remain. It is therefore imperative to identify safer and more effective therapeutic methods, and research is currently being conducted to identify more efficient and less harmful drugs. In recent years, the discovery of antitumor drugs based on the essential trace element selenium (Se) has provided good prospects for lung cancer treatments. In particular, compared to inorganic Se (Inorg-Se) and organic Se (Org-Se), Se nanomedicine (Se nanoparticles; SeNPs) shows much higher bioavailability and antioxidant activity and lower toxicity. SeNPs can also be used as a drug delivery carrier to better regulate protein and DNA biosynthesis and protein kinase C activity, thus playing a role in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. SeNPs can also effectively activate antigen-presenting cells to stimulate cell immunity, exert regulatory effects on innate and regulatory immunity, and enhance lung cancer immunotherapy. This review summarizes the application of Se-based species and materials in lung cancer diagnosis, including fluorescence, MR, CT, photoacoustic imaging and other diagnostic methods, as well as treatments, including direct killing, radiosensitization, chemotherapeutic sensitization, photothermodynamics, and enhanced immunotherapy. In addition, the application prospects and challenges of Se-based drugs in lung cancer are examined, as well as their forecasted future clinical applications and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radiotherapy is a commonly used tool in clinical practice to treat solid tumors. However, due to the unique microenvironment inside the tumor, such as high levels of GSH, overexpressed H2O2 and hypoxia, these factors can seriously affect the effectiveness of radiotherapy. Results: Therefore, to further improve the efficiency of radiotherapy, a core–shell nanocomposite CeO2–MnO2 is designed as a novel radiosensitizer that can modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) and thus improve the efficacy of radiation therapy. CeO2–MnO2 can act as a radiosensitizer to enhance X-ray absorption at the tumor site while triggering the response behavior associated with the tumor microenvironment. According to in vivo and in vitro experiments, the nanoparticles aggravate the killing effect on tumor cells by generating large amounts of ROS and disrupting the redox balance. In this process, the outer layer of MnO2 reacts with GSH and H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment to generate ROS and release oxygen, thus alleviating the hypoxic condition in the tumor area. Meanwhile, the manganese ions produced by degradation can enhance T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, CeO2–MnO2, due to its high atomic number oxide CeO2, releases a large number of electrons under the effect of radiotherapy, which further reacts with intracellular molecules to produce reactive oxygen species and enhances the killing effect on tumor cells, thus having the effect of radiotherapy sensitization. In conclusion, the nanomaterial CeO2–MnO2, as a novel radiosensitizer, greatly improves the efficiency of cancer radiation therapy by improving the lack of oxygen in tumor and responding to the tumor microenvironment, providing an effective strategy for the construction of nanosystem with radiosensitizing function. Conclusion: In conclusion, the nanomaterial CeO2–MnO2, as a novel radiosensitizer, greatly improves the efficiency of cancer radiation therapy by improving the lack of oxygen in tumor and responding to the tumor microenvironment, providing an effective strategy for the construction of nanosystems with radiosensitizing function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer cell membrane-camouflaged nanotechnology for metal complex can enhance its biocompatibility and extend the effective circulation time in body. The ruthenium polypyridyl complex (RuPOP) has extensive antitumor activity, but it still has disadvantages such as poor biocompatibility, lack of targeting, and being easily metabolized by the organism. Cancer cell membranes retain a large number of surface antigens and tumor adhesion molecules CD47, which can be used to camouflage the metal complex and give it tumor homing ability and high biocompatibility. Results: Therefore, this study provides an electrostatic adsorption method, which uses the electrostatic interaction of positive and negative charges between RuPOP and cell membranes to construct a cancer cell membrane-camouflaged nano-platform (RuPOP@CM). Interestingly, RuPOP@CM maintains the expression of surface antigens and tumor adhesion molecules, which can inhibit the phagocytosis of macrophage, reduce the clearance rate of RuPOP, and increase effective circulation time, thus enhancing the accumulation in tumor sites. Besides, RuPOP@CM can enhance the activity of cellular immune response and promote the production of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-6, which is of great significance in treatment of tumor. On the other hand, RuPOP@MCM can produce intracellular ROS overproduction, thereby accelerating the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of tumor cells to play an excellent antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: In brief, engineering cancer cell membrane-camouflaged metal complex is a potential strategy to improve its biocompatibility, biological safety and antitumor effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) drugs, Huangqi and Danshen are always applied in combination for spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment based on the compatibility theory of TCM. Astragalus Polysaccharidesis (APS) and Tanshinone IIA (TSIIA) are the main active ingredients of Huangqi and Danshen, and they both possess neuroprotective effects through antioxidant activities. However, low solubility and poor bioavailability have greatly limited their application. In recent years, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have drawn enormous attention as potential delivery carrier for antioxidant drugs. Results: In this study, TCM active ingredients-based SeNPs surface decorated with APS and loaded with TSIIA (TSIIA@SeNPs-APS) were successfully synthesized under the guidance of the compatibility theory of TCM. Such design improved the bioavailability of APS and TSIIA with the benefits of high stability, efficient delivery and highly therapeutic efficacy for SCI treatment illustrated by an improvement of the antioxidant protective effects of APS and TSIIA. The in vivo experiments indicated that TSIIA@SeNPs-APS displayed high efficiency of cellular uptake and long retention time in PC12 cells. Furthermore, TSIIA@SeNPs-APS had a satisfactory protective effect against oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells by inhibiting excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, so as to alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction to reduce cell apoptosis and S phase cell cycle arrest, and finally promote cell survival. The in vivo experiments indicated that TSIIA@SeNPs-APS can protect spinal cord neurons of SCI rats by enhancing GSH-Px activity and decreasing MDA content, which was possibly via the metabolism of TSIIA@SeNPs-APS to SeCys2 and regulating antioxidant selenoproteins to resist oxidative stress-induced damage. Conclusions: TSIIA@SeNPs-APS exhibited promising therapeutic effects in the anti-oxidation therapy of SCI, which paved the way for developing the synergistic effect of TCM active ingredients by nanotechnology to improve the efficacy as well as establishing novel treatments for oxidative stress-related diseases associated with Se metabolism and selenoproteins regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypoxia is an important factor that contributes to chemoresistance and metastasis in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), and alleviating hypoxia microenvironment can enhance the anti-tumor efficacy and also inhibit tumor invasion. Methods: A near-infrared (NIR) responsive on-demand oxygen releasing nanoplatform (O2-PPSiI) was successfully synthesized by a two-stage self-assembly process to overcome the hypoxia-induced tumor chemoresistance and metastasis. We embedded drug-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) cores into an ultrathin silica shell attached with paramagnetic Gd-DTPA to develop a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-guided NIR-responsive on-demand drug releasing nanosystem, where indocyanine green was used as a photothermal converter to trigger the oxygen and drug release under NIR irradiation. Results: The near-infrared responsive on-demand oxygen releasing nanoplatform O2-PPSiI was chemically synthesized in this study by a two-stage self-assembly process, which could deliver oxygen and release it under NIR irradiation to relieve hypoxia, improving the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy and suppressed tumor metastasis. This smart design achieves the following advantages: (i) the O2 in this nanosystem can be precisely released by an NIR-responsive silica shell rupture; (ii) the dynamic biodistribution process of O2-PPSiI was monitored in real-time and quantitatively analyzed via sensitive MR imaging of the tumor; (iii) O2-PPSiI could alleviate tumor hypoxia by releasing O2 within the tumor upon NIR laser excitation; (iv) The migration and invasion abilities of the TNBC tumor were weakened by inhibiting the process of EMT as a result of the synergistic therapy of NIR-triggered O2-PPSiI. Conclusions: Our work proposes a smart tactic guided by MRI and presents a valid approach for the reasonable design of NIR-responsive on-demand drug-releasing nanomedicine systems for precise theranostics in TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas therapy (GT) has attracted increasing attention in recent years as a new cancer treatment method with favorable therapeutic efficacy and reduced side effects. Several gas molecules, such as nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), have been employed to treat cancers by directly killing tumor cells, enhancing drug accumulation in tumors or sensitizing tumor cells to chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy or radiotherapy. Despite the great progress of gas therapy, most gas molecules are prone to nonspecific distribution when administered systemically, resulting in strong toxicity to normal tissues. Therefore, how to deliver and release gas molecules to targeted tissues on demand is the main issue to be considered before clinical applications of gas therapy. As a specific and noninvasive stimulus with deep penetration, near-infrared (NIR) light has been widely used to trigger the cleavage and release of gas from nano-prodrugs via photothermal or photodynamic effects, achieving the on-demand release of gas molecules with high controllability. In this review, we will summarize the recent progress in cancer gas therapy triggered by NIR light. Furthermore, the prospects and challenges in this field are presented, with the hope for ongoing development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common malignancy in the genitourinary system and the current theranostic approaches are unsatisfactory. Sensitivity and specificity of current diagnosis methods are not ideal and high recurrence and progression rates after initial treatment indicate the urgent need for management improvements in clinic. Nanotechnology has been proposed as an effective method to improve theranosis efficiency for both non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). For example, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been developed for simple, fast and sensitive urinary sample test for bladder cancer diagnosis. Nanoparticles targeting bladder cancers can facilitate to distinguish the normal and abnormal bladder tissues during cystoscopy and thus help with the complete removal of malignant lesions. Both intravenous and intravesical agents can be modified by nanotechnology for targeted delivery, high anti-tumor efficiency and excellent tolerability, exhibiting encouraging potential in bladder cancer treatment. Photosensitizers and biological agents can also be delivered by nanotechnology, intermediating phototherapy and targeted therapy. The management of bladder cancer remained almost unchanged for decades with unsatisfactory effect. However, it is likely to change with the fast-developed nanotechnology. Herein we summarized the current utility of nanotechnology in bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment, providing insights for the future designing and discovering novel nanoparticles for bladder cancer management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The design of stable and biocompatible black phosphorus-based theranostic agents with high photothermal conversion efficiency and clear mechanism to realize MRI-guided precision photothermal therapy (PTT) is imminent. Results: Herein, black phosphorus nanosheets (BPs) covalently with mono-dispersed and superparamagnetic ferrous selenide (FeSe2) to construct heteronanostructure nanoparticles modified with methoxy poly (Ethylene Glycol) (mPEG-NH2) to obtain good water solubility for MRI-guided photothermal tumor therapy is successfully designed. The mechanism reveals that the enhanced photothermal conversion achieved by BPs-FeSe2-PEG heteronanostructure is attributed to the effective separation of photoinduced carriers. Besides, through the formation of the P-Se bond, the oxidation degree of FeSe2 is weakened. The lone pair electrons on the surface of BPs are occupied, which reduces the exposure of lone pair electrons in air, leading to excellent stability of BPs-FeSe2-PEG. Furthermore, the BPs-FeSe2-PEG heteronanostructure could realize enhanced T2-weighted imaging due to the aggregation of FeSe2 on BPs and the formation of hydrogen bonds, thus providing accurate PTT guidance and generating hyperthermia to inhabit tumor growth under NIR laser with negligible toxicity in vivo. Conclusions: Collectively, this work offers an opportunity for fabricating BPs-based heteronanostructure nanomaterials that could simultaneously enhance photothermal conversion efficiency and photostability to realize MRI-guided cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nanoparticles assembled from food-grade calcium carbonate have attracted attention because of their biocompatibility, digestibility, particle and surface features (such as size, surface area, and partial wettability), and stimuli-responsiveness offered by their acid-labile nature. Results: Herein, a type of edible oil-in-water Pickering emulsion was structured by calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO3 NPs; mean particle size: 80 nm) and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) for delivery of lipophilic drugs and simultaneous oral supplementation of calcium. The microstructure of the as-made CaCO3 NPs stabilized Pickering emulsion can be controlled by varying the particle concentration (c) and oil volume fraction (φ). The emulsification stabilizing capability of the CaCO3 NPs also favored the formation of high internal phase emulsion at a high φ of 0.7–0.8 with excellent emulsion stability at room temperature and at 4 °C, thus protecting the encapsulated lipophilic bioactive, vitamin D3 (VD3), against degradation. Interestingly, the structured CaCO3 NP-based Pickering emulsion displayed acid-trigged demulsification because of the disintegration of the CaCO3 NPs into Ca2+ in a simulated gastric environment, followed by efficient lipolysis of the lipid in simulated intestinal fluid. With the encapsulation and delivery of the emulsion, VD3 exhibited satisfying bioavailability after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Conclusions: Taken together, the rationally designed CaCO3 NP emulsion system holds potential as a calcium-fortified formulation for food, pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]