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Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems
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Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 15445

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yapei Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Interests: nanoparticle; cancer therapy; cancer imaging; immunotherapy; tumor microenvironment
Prof. Dr. Zhi Yuan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Interests: nanoparticle; photothermal therapy; cancer therapey; cancer imaging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, but new developments in nanotechnology are expected to improve the therapeutic efficacy while decreasing the side effects of anticancer drugs on healthy organs by taking advantage of the tumor microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment possesses an intricate structure and constituents that are distinct from those of normal tissues, for example, dysfunctional blood vessels, acidic pH values, excess levels of GSH, and over-expressed enzymes, which not only promote tumor angiogenesis and metastasis but are also responsible for therapeutic resistance and treatment failure. Nanomedicines, based on organic, inorganic, lipid, protein, or glycan compounds as well as on synthetic polymers, have been designed to change their physicochemical property once they arrive at the tumor site and are triggered by the tumor microenvironment to increase cancer therapeutic outcome, reverse the multidrug resistance of cancer, inhibit tumor angiogenesis, etc.

Nanoparticles also hold considerable promise in biomedical imaging, which is indispensable for assessing therapeutic intervention and reflecting the dynamic changes of cancer. For example, macroscopic imaging can measure lesion size, lesion metabolism, metastasis, etc.

This Special Issue is designed to gather scientific papers on nanomedicines for cancer treatment. Potential topics may include (but are not limited to): i) nanomedicine in cancer therapy; ii) nanomedicine in cancer imaging; iii) nanomedicine-based cancer immunotherapy.

Dr. Yapei Zhang
Prof. Dr. Zhi Yuan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanoparticle
  • cancer therapy
  • cancer imaging
  • immunotherapy
  • tumor microenvironment

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2855 KiB  
Article
Boron Nanoparticle-Enhanced Proton Therapy: Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Cell Sensitization
by Anton L. Popov, Danil D. Kolmanovich, Nikita N. Chukavin, Ivan V. Zelepukin, Gleb V. Tikhonowski, Andrei I. Pastukhov, Anton A. Popov, Alexander E. Shemyakov, Sergey M. Klimentov, Vladimir A. Ryabov, Sergey M. Deyev, Irina N. Zavestovskaya and Andrei V. Kabashin
Molecules 2024, 29(16), 3936; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163936 - 21 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1210
Abstract
Boron-enhanced proton therapy has recently appeared as a promising approach to increase the efficiency of proton therapy on tumor cells, and this modality can further be improved by the use of boron nanoparticles (B NPs) as local sensitizers to achieve enhanced and targeted [...] Read more.
Boron-enhanced proton therapy has recently appeared as a promising approach to increase the efficiency of proton therapy on tumor cells, and this modality can further be improved by the use of boron nanoparticles (B NPs) as local sensitizers to achieve enhanced and targeted therapeutic outcomes. However, the mechanisms of tumor cell elimination under boron-enhanced proton therapy still require clarification. Here, we explore possible molecular mechanisms responsible for the enhancement of therapeutic outcomes under boron NP-enhanced proton therapy. Spherical B NPs with a mode size of 25 nm were prepared by methods of pulsed laser ablation in water, followed by their coating by polyethylene glycol to improve their colloidal stability in buffers. Then, we assessed the efficiency of B NPs as sensitizers of cancer cell killing under irradiation with a 160.5 MeV proton beam. Our experiments showed that the combined effect of B NPs and proton irradiation induces an increased level of superoxide anion radical generation, which leads to the depolarization of mitochondria, a drop in their membrane mitochondrial potential, and the development of apoptosis. A comprehensive gene expression analysis (via RT-PCR) confirmed increased overexpression of 52 genes (out of 87 studied) involved in the cell redox status and oxidative stress, compared to 12 genes in the cells irradiated without B NPs. Other possible mechanisms responsible for the B NPs-induced radiosensitizing effect, including one related to the generation of alpha particles, are discussed. The obtained results give a better insight into the processes involved in the boron-induced enhancement of proton therapy and enable one to optimize parameters of proton therapy in order to maximize therapeutic outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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18 pages, 7503 KiB  
Article
Norcantharidin-Encapsulated C60-Modified Nanomicelles: A Potential Approach to Mitigate Cytotoxicity in Renal Cells and Simultaneously Enhance Anti-Tumor Activity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
by Zhongpeng Ding, Beihua Xu, Huimin Zhang, Zhenyu Wang, Luying Sun, Mengjie Tang, Meihong Ding, Ting Zhang and Senlin Shi
Molecules 2023, 28(22), 7609; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28227609 - 15 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1299
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the preparation process of DSPE-PEG-C60/NCTD micelles and assess the impact of fullerenol (C60)-modified micelles on the nephrotoxicity and antitumor activity of NCTD. Method: The micelles containing NCTD were prepared using the ultrasonic method and [...] Read more.
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the preparation process of DSPE-PEG-C60/NCTD micelles and assess the impact of fullerenol (C60)-modified micelles on the nephrotoxicity and antitumor activity of NCTD. Method: The micelles containing NCTD were prepared using the ultrasonic method and subsequently optimized and characterized. The cytotoxicity of micelles loaded with NCTD was assessed using the CCK-8 method on human hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and BEL-7402, as well as normal cell lines HK-2 and L02. Acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) double staining and flow cytometry were employed to assess the impact of NCTD-loaded micelles on the apoptosis of the HK-2 cells and the HepG2 cells. Additionally, JC-1 fluorescence was utilized to quantify the alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) following micelle treatment was determined through 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) staining. Results: The particle size distribution of the DSPE-PEG-C60/NCTD micelles was determined to be 91.57 nm (PDI = 0.231). The zeta potential of the micelles was found to be −13.8 mV. The encapsulation efficiency was measured to be 91.9%. The in vitro release behavior of the micelles followed the Higuchi equation. Cellular experiments demonstrated a notable decrease in the toxicity of the C60-modified micelles against the HK-2 cells, accompanied by an augmented inhibitory effect on cancer cells. Compared to the free NCTD group, the DSPE-PEG-C60 micelles exhibited a decreased apoptosis rate (12%) for the HK-2 cell line, lower than the apoptosis rate observed in the NCTD group (36%) at an NCTD concentration of 75 μM. The rate of apoptosis in the HepG2 cells exhibited a significant increase (49%), surpassing the apoptosis rate observed in the NCTD group (24%) at a concentration of 150 μM NCTD. The HK-2 cells exhibited a reduction in intracellular ROS and an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔψM) upon exposure to C60-modified micelles compared to the NCTD group. Conclusions: The DSPE-PEG-C60/NCTD micelles, as prepared in this study, demonstrated the ability to decrease cytotoxicity and ROS levels in normal renal cells (HK-2) in vitro. Additionally, these micelles showed an enhanced antitumor activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2, BEL-7402). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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Review

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24 pages, 7720 KiB  
Review
Precious Cargo: The Role of Polymeric Nanoparticles in the Delivery of Covalent Drugs
by Daniel Weissberger, Martina H. Stenzel and Luke Hunter
Molecules 2024, 29(20), 4949; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29204949 - 19 Oct 2024
Viewed by 873
Abstract
Covalent drugs can offer significant advantages over non-covalent drugs in terms of pharmacodynamics (i.e., target-binding properties). However, the development of covalent drugs is sometimes hampered by pharmacokinetic limitations (e.g., low bioavailability, rapid metabolism and toxicity due to off-target binding). Polymeric nanoparticles offer a [...] Read more.
Covalent drugs can offer significant advantages over non-covalent drugs in terms of pharmacodynamics (i.e., target-binding properties). However, the development of covalent drugs is sometimes hampered by pharmacokinetic limitations (e.g., low bioavailability, rapid metabolism and toxicity due to off-target binding). Polymeric nanoparticles offer a potential solution to these limitations. Delivering covalent drugs via polymeric nanoparticles provides myriad benefits in terms of drug solubility, permeability, lifetime, selectivity, controlled release and the opportunity for synergistic administration alongside other drugs. In this short review, we examine each of these benefits in turn, illustrated through multiple case studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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26 pages, 2092 KiB  
Review
Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Systems for the Targeted Treatment of Atherosclerosis
by Alexander Shao-Rong Pang, Tarini Dinesh, Natalie Yan-Lin Pang, Vishalli Dinesh, Kimberley Yun-Lin Pang, Cai Ling Yong, Shawn Jia Jun Lee, George W. Yip, Boon Huat Bay and Dinesh Kumar Srinivasan
Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2873; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122873 - 17 Jun 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3136
Abstract
Atherosclerosis continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The precise evaluation of the extent of an atherosclerotic plaque is essential for forecasting its likelihood of causing health concerns and tracking treatment outcomes. When compared to conventional methods used, nanoparticles [...] Read more.
Atherosclerosis continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The precise evaluation of the extent of an atherosclerotic plaque is essential for forecasting its likelihood of causing health concerns and tracking treatment outcomes. When compared to conventional methods used, nanoparticles offer clear benefits and excellent development opportunities for the detection and characterisation of susceptible atherosclerotic plaques. In this review, we analyse the recent advancements of nanoparticles as theranostics in the management of atherosclerosis, with an emphasis on applications in drug delivery. Furthermore, the main issues that must be resolved in order to advance clinical utility and future developments of NP research are discussed. It is anticipated that medical NPs will develop into complex and advanced next-generation nanobotics that can carry out a variety of functions in the bloodstream. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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36 pages, 6469 KiB  
Review
Smart Targeted Delivery Systems for Enhancing Antitumor Therapy of Active Ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine
by Chenglong Kang, Jianwen Wang, Ruotong Li, Jianing Gong, Kuanrong Wang, Yuxin Wang, Zhenghua Wang, Ruzhe He and Fengyun Li
Molecules 2023, 28(16), 5955; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28165955 - 8 Aug 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3102
Abstract
As a therapeutic tool inherited for thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) exhibits superiority in tumor therapy. The antitumor active components of TCM not only have multi-target treatment modes but can also synergistically interfere with tumor growth compared to traditional chemotherapeutics. However, [...] Read more.
As a therapeutic tool inherited for thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) exhibits superiority in tumor therapy. The antitumor active components of TCM not only have multi-target treatment modes but can also synergistically interfere with tumor growth compared to traditional chemotherapeutics. However, most antitumor active components of TCM have the characteristics of poor solubility, high toxicity, and side effects, which are often limited in clinical application. In recent years, delivering the antitumor active components of TCM by nanosystems has been a promising field. The advantages of nano-delivery systems include improved water solubility, targeting efficiency, enhanced stability in vivo, and controlled release drugs, which can achieve higher drug-delivery efficiency and bioavailability. According to the method of drug loading on nanocarriers, nano-delivery systems can be categorized into two types, including physically encapsulated nanoplatforms and chemically coupled drug-delivery platforms. In this review, two nano-delivery approaches are considered, namely physical encapsulation and chemical coupling, both commonly used to deliver antitumor active components of TCM, and we summarized the advantages and limitations of different types of nano-delivery systems. Meanwhile, the clinical applications and potential toxicity of nano-delivery systems and the future development and challenges of these nano-delivery systems are also discussed, aiming to lay the foundation for the development and practical application of nano-delivery systems of TCM in clinical settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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31 pages, 7359 KiB  
Review
Exploring Nanocarriers as Treatment Modalities for Skin Cancer
by Mohammad Adnan, Md. Habban Akhter, Obaid Afzal, Abdulmalik S. A. Altamimi, Irfan Ahmad, Manal A. Alossaimi, Mariusz Jaremko, Abdul-Hamid Emwas, Tanweer Haider and Md. Faheem Haider
Molecules 2023, 28(15), 5905; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28155905 - 5 Aug 2023
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4588
Abstract
Cancer is a progressive disease of multi-factorial origin that has risen worldwide, probably due to changes in lifestyle, food intake, and environmental changes as some of the reasons. Skin cancer can be classified into melanomas from melanocytes and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) from [...] Read more.
Cancer is a progressive disease of multi-factorial origin that has risen worldwide, probably due to changes in lifestyle, food intake, and environmental changes as some of the reasons. Skin cancer can be classified into melanomas from melanocytes and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) from the epidermally-derived cell. Together it constitutes about 95% of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are creditworthy of 99% of NMSC due to the limited accessibility of conventional formulations in skin cancer cells of having multiple obstacles in treatment reply to this therapeutic regime. Despite this, it often encounters erratic bioavailability and absorption to the target. Nanoparticles developed through nanotechnology platforms could be the better topical skin cancer therapy option. To improve the topical delivery, the nano-sized delivery system is appropriate as it fuses with the cutaneous layer and fluidized membrane; thus, the deeper penetration of therapeutics could be possible to reach the target spot. This review briefly outlooks the various nanoparticle preparations, i.e., liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, transethosomes, nanoemulsions, and nanoparticles technologies tested into skin cancer and impede their progress tend to concentrate in the skin layers. Nanocarriers have proved that they can considerably boost medication bioavailability, lowering the frequency of dosage and reducing the toxicity associated with high doses of the medication. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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