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Pharmaceutics
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Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy and Imaging
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Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy and Imaging

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2024) | Viewed by 13673

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Donald Fernandes

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Guest Editor
Independent Researcher, Toronto, ON, Canada
Interests: nanotechnology; theranostics; cancer; therapy; imaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Domenico Marson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Interests: molecular dynamic; nanovectors; dendrimers; gene therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanoparticles (NPs) have shown to be promising systems for different biomedical applications, and for further development in bio-imaging and treatment methods such as photo-thermal/dynamic therapy and drug delivery. Recent developments in nanotechnology have focused on nanoparticles for both imaging and therapy, referred to as theranostic nanoparticles. These types of nanoparticles are advantageous due their ability to monitor tumor size, with their drug loading and chemical and physical properties (e.g., optical, absorption, fluorescence, magnetic) used to enhance cancer treatment. For example, hybrid nanoparticles with both absorbing polymers and fluorescent proteins/molecules can be synthesized for image-guided therapeutic action, where near-infrared (NIR) laser excitation can lead to significant cancer-cell death without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. Similarly, iron oxide nanoparticles, due to their magnetic properties, can be used for magnetic resonance imaging, and can be synthesized to contain various agents for therapy. Liposomes can load chemotherapeutic agents, and can also host imaging agents for various imaging modalities. Such nanoparticles also have the ability to release therapeutic agents only when located at the tumor site under specific exogenous stimuli (e.g., temperature, pH, electromagnetic radiation), leading to significant cancer-cell death.

This Special Issue will highlight theranostic nanoparticles for cancer therapy and imaging, and welcomes articles in this field. Review articles by experts on the development and advancements in this important field are also welcome.

Dr. Donald Fernandes
Dr. Domenico Marson
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cancer
  • therapy
  • imaging
  • theranostic
  • nanoparticles

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 6684 KiB  
Article
On the Use of Graphene Nanosheets for Drug Delivery: A Case Study of Cisplatin and Some of Its Analogs
by Mahmoud A. A. Ibrahim, Manar H. A. Hamad, Amna H. M. Mahmoud, Gamal A. H. Mekhemer, Shaban R. M. Sayed, Mohamed K. Abd El-Rahman, Peter A. Sidhom, Eslam Dabbish and Tamer Shoeib
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(6), 1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061640 - 1 Jun 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2358
Abstract
Graphene (GN) nanosheets have been widely exploited in biomedical applications as potential nanocarriers for various drugs due to their distinct physical and chemical properties. In this regard, the adsorption behavior of cisplatin (cisPtCl2) and some of its analogs on [...] Read more.
Graphene (GN) nanosheets have been widely exploited in biomedical applications as potential nanocarriers for various drugs due to their distinct physical and chemical properties. In this regard, the adsorption behavior of cisplatin (cisPtCl2) and some of its analogs on a GN nanosheet was investigated in perpendicular and parallel configurations by using density functional theory (DFT). According to the findings, the most significant negative adsorption energies (Eads) within the cisPtX2⋯GN complexes (where X = Cl, Br, and I) were observed for the parallel configuration, with values up to –25.67 kcal/mol at the H@GN site. Within the perpendicular configuration of the cisPtX2⋯GN complexes, three orientations were investigated for the adsorption process, namely, X/X, X/NH3, and NH3/NH3. The negative Eads values of the cisPtX2⋯GN complexes increased with the increasing atomic weight of the halogen atom. The Br@GN site showed the largest negative Eads values for the cisPtX2⋯GN complexes in the perpendicular configuration. The Bader charge transfer outcomes highlighted the electron-accepting properties of cisPtI2 within the cisPtI2⋯GN complexes in both configurations. The electron-donating character of the GN nanosheet increased as the electronegativity of the halogen atom increased. The band structure and density of state plots revealed the occurrence of the physical adsorption of the cisPtX2 on the GN nanosheet, which was indicated by the appearance of new bands and peaks. Based on the solvent effect outlines, the negative Eads values generally decreased after the adsorption process in a water medium. The recovery time results were in line with the Eads findings, where the cisPtI2 in the parallel configuration took the longest time to be desorbed from the GN nanosheet with values of 61.6 × 108 ms at 298.15 K. The findings of this study provide better insights into the utilization of GN nanosheets in drug delivery applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy and Imaging)
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15 pages, 2044 KiB  
Article
Preclinical PET Imaging and Toxicity Study of a 68Ga-Functionalized Polymeric Cardiac Blood Pool Agent
by Katayoun Saatchi, François Bénard, Navjit Hundal, Joshua Grimes, Sergey Shcherbinin, Maral Pourghiasian, Donald E. Brooks, Anna Celler and Urs O. Häfeli
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030767 - 25 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1835
Abstract
Cardiac blood pool imaging is currently performed almost exclusively with 99mTc-based compounds and SPECT/CT imaging. Using a generator-based PET radioisotope has a few advantages, including not needing nuclear reactors to produce it, obtaining better resolution in humans, and potentially reducing the radiation [...] Read more.
Cardiac blood pool imaging is currently performed almost exclusively with 99mTc-based compounds and SPECT/CT imaging. Using a generator-based PET radioisotope has a few advantages, including not needing nuclear reactors to produce it, obtaining better resolution in humans, and potentially reducing the radiation dose to the patient. When the shortlived radioisotope 68Ga is used, it can be applied repeatedly on the same day—for example, for the detection of bleeding. Our objective was to prepare and evaluate a long-circulating polymer functionalized with gallium for its biodistribution, toxicity, and dosimetric properties. A 500 kDa hyperbranched polyglycerol was conjugated to the chelator NOTA and radiolabeled rapidly at room temperature with 68Ga. It was then injected intravenously into a rat, and gated imaging allowed us to easily observe wall motion and cardiac contractility, confirming the suitability of this radiopharmaceutical for cardiac blood pool imaging. Internal radiation dose calculations showed that the radiation doses that patients would receive from the PET agent would be 2.5× lower than those from the 99mTc agent. A complete 14-day toxicology study in rats concluded that there were no gross pathology findings, changes in body or organ weights, or histopathological events. This radioactive-metal-functionalized polymer might be a suitable non-toxic agent to advance for clinical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy and Imaging)
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Review

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30 pages, 5604 KiB  
Review
Liposomes for Cancer Theranostics
by Donald A. Fernandes
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(10), 2448; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15102448 - 11 Oct 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3482
Abstract
Cancer is one of the most well-studied diseases and there have been significant advancements over the last few decades in understanding its molecular and cellular mechanisms. Although the current treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy, gene therapy and immunotherapy) have provided complete cancer remission for [...] Read more.
Cancer is one of the most well-studied diseases and there have been significant advancements over the last few decades in understanding its molecular and cellular mechanisms. Although the current treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy, gene therapy and immunotherapy) have provided complete cancer remission for many patients, cancer still remains one of the most common causes of death in the world. The main reasons for the poor response rates for different cancers include the lack of drug specificity, drug resistance and toxic side effects (i.e., in healthy tissues). For addressing the limitations of conventional cancer treatments, nanotechnology has shown to be an important field for constructing different nanoparticles for destroying cancer cells. Due to their size (i.e., less than 1 μm), nanoparticles can deliver significant amounts of cancer drugs to tumors and are able to carry moieties (e.g., folate, peptides) for targeting specific types of cancer cells (i.e., through receptor-mediated endocytosis). Liposomes, composed of phospholipids and an interior aqueous core, can be used as specialized delivery vehicles as they can load different types of cancer therapy agents (e.g., drugs, photosensitizers, genetic material). In addition, the ability to load imaging agents (e.g., fluorophores, radioisotopes, MRI contrast media) enable these nanoparticles to be used for monitoring the progress of treatment. This review examines a wide variety of different liposomes for cancer theranostics, with the different available treatments (e.g., photothermal, photodynamic) and imaging modalities discussed for different cancers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy and Imaging)
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22 pages, 1997 KiB  
Review
Carbon Dots: Opportunities and Challenges in Cancer Therapy
by Tanima Bhattacharya, Gye Hwa Shin and Jun Tae Kim
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15031019 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 4486
Abstract
Recently, carbon dots (CDs) have been actively studied and reported for their various properties. In particular, the specific characteristics of carbon dots have been considered as a possible technique for cancer diagnosis and therapy. This is also a cutting-edge technology that offers fresh [...] Read more.
Recently, carbon dots (CDs) have been actively studied and reported for their various properties. In particular, the specific characteristics of carbon dots have been considered as a possible technique for cancer diagnosis and therapy. This is also a cutting-edge technology that offers fresh ideas for treating various disorders. Though carbon dots are still in their infancy and have not yet shown their value to society, their discovery has already resulted in some noteworthy advancements. The application of CDs indicates conversion in natural imaging. Photography using CDs has demonstrated extraordinary appropriateness in bio-imaging, the discovery of novel drugs, the delivery of targeted genes, bio-sensing, photodynamic therapy, and diagnosis. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of CDs, including their benefits, characteristics, applications, and mode of action. In this overview, many CD design strategies will be highlighted. In addition, we will discuss numerous studies on cytotoxic testing to demonstrate the safety of CDs. The current study will address the production method, mechanism, ongoing research, and application of CDs in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy and Imaging)
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