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This study aimed to develop a novel radiosensitizer consisting of platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) as a high-atomic-number element in order to maximize the generation of ROS under ionizing radiation at the tumor site. Pt NPs were produced via a green and facile method in the presence of gelatin (Gel) as both reducing and stabilizing agent. After determining the physical structure and chemical composition of Pt@Gel NPs by STEM, FeSEM, EDS, DLS, XRD and FTIR, in vitro cytotoxicity on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and breast cancer cell line (4T1) was evaluated by MTT assay. Finally, ROS generation assay, calcein AM/PI staining assay and clonogenic test were performed on 4T1 cells under X-Ray irradiation to evaluate the radioenhancment efficiency of Pt@Gel. The prepared NPs exhibited spherical and uniform shapes and narrowly distributed sizes in addition to an acceptable radiosensitization capability. The nanosystem provided higher levels of intracellular ROS in malignant cells and enhanced cancer cell death rate under X-Ray irradiation. Overall, the findings suggested that Pt@Gel could be a safe and effective alternative to existing radiosensitizers and potentially be employed for the treatment of breast cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Noble metals as high atomic number elements can localize X-ray radiation within tumor cells by exploiting different mechanisms. Here, alginate (Alg)-coated platinum nanoparticles (Pt@Alg) were synthesized, characterized, and implemented as a radiosensitizer to enhance X-ray therapeutic efficacy in breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Alg not only improves the biocompatibility of the radioenhancer, but also stabilizes the nanoparticles. Pt@Alg was studied by different characterization methods including DLS, STEM, Fe-SEM, XRD, XPS, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The nanosystem provided a higher level of intracellular ROS in malignant cells and enhanced cancer cell death under X-Ray irradiation. Clonogenic assay also demonstrated the radiosensitizing properties of the nanosystem, in vitro. In vivo result show tumor growth restraining properties of the nanosystem when it was administrated along with X-Ray irradiation. Histopathology results confirmed the impact of nanosystem and X-ray co-treatment, as well. Altogether, the importance of radiosensitizers for improving radiotherapy outcomes was highlighted., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The goal of this work is to harness the advantages of a targeted hybrid nanostructure, BSA-coated Fe 3 O 4 (F)-Au heterodimer, as a radiosensitizer and co-delivery vehicle of chemotherapeutic drugs for enhanced synergic cancer therapy and protection of healthy tissues. F-Au-BSA-MTX-CUR combines the abilities of enhanced X-ray radiation therapy (F-Au), long blood circulation time (BSA), tumor targeting (MTX), enhanced chemotherapy (MTX and CUR), and protection of normal cells against the harmful effects of radiation (CUR). In this work, we present the radioprotective and radiosensitizing effects of CUR on normal tissues and the tumor site, respectively. After technical evaluation, drug loading, drug release behavior, hemolysis assay, transfection efficacy, and cellular uptake studies with fluorescence microscopy, the biosafety and toxicity of the nanostructure was assessed in vitro and in vivo. Also, to confirm its power to improve synergistic chemoradiation therapy in mice, the antitumor effects of the designed treatment plan were assessed in a 4T1-tumor bearing mouse model. The in vivo antitumor effect evaluation interestingly reveals outstanding therapeutic power of the final formulation (F-Au-BSA-MTX-CUR) and further requirement of CUR as a radioprotective. This result importantly revealed the radioprotection effect of CUR. Co-delivery of the chemotherapeutic drugs MTX and CUR, combined with the radiosensitizing effect of the F-Au heterodimer and the radioprotective effect of CUR, showed promising prospects in cancer therapy.

The application of nanoparticles (NPs) as radio-sensitizers and carriers has opened up a new horizon to overcome the limitations of chemo and radiotherapy. In this study, bovine serum albumin-coated Bi 2 S 3 NPs (Bi 2 S 3 @BSA NPs) were synthesized and evaluated in terms of their ability to be used as a radio-sensitizer and carrier for methotrexate (MTX). Physicochemical properties of MTX conjugated Bi 2 S 3 @BSA NPs (Bi 2 S 3 @BSA-MTX NPs) were characterized by DLS, TEM, FTIR, UV/Vis, and XRD analyses. After the evaluation of cellular uptake and intracellular localization, the cytotoxicity of the combination of Bi 2 S 3 @BSA-MTX NPs and X-Ray radiation was analyzed against the SW480 cell line. The synthesized NPs exhibited spherical-like shapes and homogenous morphology, possessing a hydrodynamic diameter of 140.2 ± 5.71 nm (mean ± SD) and zeta potential of -25 mV. Also, the release study showed that the release of MTX is faster and higher in the presence of the proteinase K enzyme than the absence of the enzyme. The results of in-vitro chemo-radiation therapy indicated that the viability of treated cells with Bi 2 S 3 @BSA-MTX NPs is significantly lower than the cells treated with Bi 2 S 3 @BSA NPs. Furthermore, cells treated with Bi 2 S 3 @BSA-MTX NPs showed a lower degree of viability when combined with X-Ray radiation in comparison with the absence of irradiation, which confirmed the ability of the Bi 2 S 3 @BSA-MTX NPs as radio-sensitizer., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this project methotrexate (MTX) conjugated albumin based nanoparticles (MTX-BSA) loaded with curcumin (CUR) drug (CUR-MTX-BSA) for simultaneous delivery of multi-chemotherapeutic drugs and combination cancer therapy were designed. Co-delivery is a new strategy which minimize the amount of each drug, reduce of side effects and also to achieve the synergistic effect for cancer therapies. The MTX was conjugated to albumin via covalent bond. Next, this synthesized prodrug loaded with CUR. Afterward, the formulations were evaluated for physical and chemical properties by DLS, TEM, FTIR, UV/Vis, DSC analysis, in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo biocompatibility studies. Furthermore, the drug loading and release study were evaluated. Proteinase K enzyme was used to break amid bond between MTX and BSA and also amidic bonds in BSA structure. Administration of up to 2000 mg/kg of BSA to healthy animals was non-toxic and all treated mice were still alive after 24 h. The result of this study proved that CUR-MTX-BSA can be used as a proficient vehicle for effective co-delivery of CUR and MTX in the treatment of cancer., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

• Various methods and nanomaterials used to deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 discussed. • Recent progress in the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 system via nanomaterials presented. • Three different forms of CRISPR/Cas9 discussed in more detail point by point. • Both biological aspect and the structure of nanomaterials discussed. • Outline future challenges in the field of CRISPR/Cas9 components delivery summarized. Exploiting bacterial DNA-acting enzymes and expanding their repertoire for genome engineering have been major technological and conceptual advances in molecular biology over the last decade. The CRISPR-Cas9 system offers many attractive superiorities, such as multiplexing, high precision, low cost, and simplicity compared to other strategies/systems/approaches known to date for gene editing. The efficient co-delivery of Cas9 and single guide RNA(s) into a desired cell and subsequent correct targeting of selected genomic fragment(s) are among the most critical and determining issues for CRISPR-Cas9-based genome engineering. CRISPR/Cas9 components can be transported into target cells via various delivery methods, including physical methods (such as electroporation and microinjection) as well as viral and non-viral methods. Physical and viral methods, with all their privileges, still suffer from disadvantages including induction of immune responses, cell damage, lack of high specificity, etc. We are witnessing a remarkable increase in the employment of nanomaterials as non-viral carriers for the delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Nanoparticles have so far presented numerous advantages such as ease of synthesis, high efficiency, low cost, size tunability, non-mutagenicity, non-immunogenicity, etc. with regard to the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9. Here, we will review the recent progress in the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 system components via nanomaterials and outline future challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work described a folic acid conjugated delivery of chrysin-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles, which could overcome the nonspecific targeting disadvantage. Chrysin (5, 7-dihydroxyflavone) is a natural flavonoid which have some significant biological effects on the processes of chemical defense. Chrysin loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (Chrysin-BSA NPs) were synthesized by a simple desolvation procedure. Afterward, folic acid (FA) was conjugated to the surface of Chrysin-BSA NPs by carbodiimide chemistry (Chrysin-BSA-FA NPs). The resultant Chrysin-BSA-FA NPs showed a spherical shape, with a hydrodynamic diameter of 97.5 ± 5.8 nm (mean ± SD) nm and a ζ-potential of −11.3 mV. The in vitro drug release study of chrysin presented a sustained and controlled release pattern. Hemolysis assay and cytotoxicity study results on HFF-2 cell line show that as prepared BSA NPs are biocompatible. Both the Chrysin-BSA NPs and Chrysin-BSA-FA NPs prompted an enhanced cancer cell cytotoxic effect in contrast to chrysin solution. These data recommended that the folate-modified chrysin -loaded vehicle, which demonstrated better biocompatibility and potential superiority, could be a suitable cancer therapy in targeting tumors in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]