Delivery Of Agents Research Articles

Review of Lipid Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Management: Targeting Strategies and Clinical Perspective

Abstract: Chemotherapy, a conventional breast cancer treatment, has limitations due to its nonspecific mechanisms and undesirable side effects. Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a versatile and superior platform for targeted breast cancer treatment, offering several distinct advantages over traditional therapies. This class of nanocarriers, which includes solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), and liposomes, enhances the bioavailability and stability of therapeutic agents while minimizing systemic toxicity. LNPs can be engineered to precisely target breast cancer cells by exploiting tumor-specific markers, enabling selective delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and reducing off-target effects. SLNs provide controlled drug release and improved drug retention within the tumor, while NLCs offer higher drug-loading capacities and better stability. Liposomes, with their flexible design, allow for the encapsulation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs and can be modified for active targeting through surface functionalization. These lipid-based carriers also address the challenges of multi-drug resistance (MDR) by enhancing intracellular drug concentration and overcoming efflux mechanisms. In this review, we focus on lipid-based nanoparticles- a subtype of nanoparticles, and their potential advantages as drug delivery systems for breast cancer treatment. Results revealed that lipidbased nanoparticles have shown potential in breast cancer management, these include improved drug efficacy, enhanced ability to overcome cancer therapy resistance, and effective drug carrier for co-loaded drugs.

Oncolytic Viruses as Reliable Adjuvants in CAR-T Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors

Although impactful scientific advancements have recently been made in cancer therapy, there remains an opportunity for future improvements. Immunotherapy is perhaps one of the most cutting-edge categories of therapies demonstrating potential in the clinical setting. Genetically engineered T cells express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which can detect signals expressed by the molecules present on the surface of cancer cells, also called tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). Their effectiveness has been extensively demonstrated in hematological cancers; therefore, these results can establish the groundwork for their applications on a wide range of requirements. However, the application of CAR-T cell technology for solid tumors has several challenges, such as the existence of an immune-suppressing tumor microenvironment and/or inadequate tumor infiltration. Consequently, combining therapies such as CAR-T cell technology with other approaches has been proposed. The effectiveness of combining CAR-T cell with oncolytic virus therapy, with either genetically altered or naturally occurring viruses, to target tumor cells is currently under investigation, with several clinical trials being conducted. This narrative review summarizes the current advancements, opportunities, benefits, and limitations in using each therapy alone and their combination. The use of oncolytic viruses offers an opportunity to address the existing challenges of CAR-T cell therapy, which appear in the process of trying to overcome solid tumors, through the combination of their strengths. Additionally, utilizing oncolytic viruses allows researchers to modify the virus, thus enabling the targeted delivery of specific therapeutic agents within the tumor environment. This, in turn, can potentially enhance the cytotoxic effect and therapeutic potential of CAR-T cell technology on solid malignancies, with impactful results in the clinical setting.

Chemically engineered polyethylenimine conjugates for mannose receptor-mediated gene delivery with potential antimicrobial and anticancer activity

Polyethylenimines exhibit unique intrinsic properties, which make them potential gene delivery agents. However, nonspecific interactions and cytotoxicity in the cells/tissues have significantly hampered their use in clinical applications. To subside these concerns, plant-based cyclitols, shikimic and quinic acids, have been tethered to polyethylenimine (PEI) to fabricate shikimoyl-PEI (SP) and quinoyl-PEI (QP) conjugates under mild coupling conditions. On interactions with plasmid DNA, the size and zeta potential of SP and QP complexes were found in the range of ∼245–158 nm and ∼ +22–10 mV, respectively. Subsequent assessment of these complexes revealed that cytocompatibility (∼90%–94%) and transfection efficiency (∼90% cells transfected) were significantly higher as compared to the native PEI/pDNA and Lipofectamine/pDNA complexes. Further, a higher degree of pDNA release was also obtained from SP/DNA and QP/DNA complexes. A decrease in GFP expression was observed in a competitive assay on RAW 264.7 cells, which reflected receptor-mediated internalization of SP and QP/DNA complexes. Besides, both SP and QP conjugates also displayed efficient antimicrobial activity against differential pathogenic strains of bacteria. Of these conjugates, QP conjugates exhibited promising anticancer activity against variable cell lines such as RAW 264.7, MCF-7, HepG2 cells. Altogether, these results advocate the promising potential of SP and QP conjugates as efficient gene delivery agents having effective antimicrobial and anticancer competence.

Boron Agent Delivery Platforms Based on Natural Products for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is one of the most promising modalities for cancer treatment due to its minimal invasiveness. Although two types of boron agents are clinically used, several issues persist in their delivery, including poor water solubility, instability in aqueous media, selectivity toward cancer cells, accumulation in cancer cells, retention time in tumor tissue, and efficiency in achieving the boron neutron capture reaction. Addressing these challenges, numerous groups have explored various boron agents to enhance the therapeutic benefits of BNCT. This review summarizes delivery platforms based on natural products for BNCT.

Applications of radionuclide-carrying liposomes for diagnosis and treatment of cancer

Using nanocapsules to deliver diagnostic and therapeutic agents to targeted biological sites enhances the safety and effectiveness of healthcare by decreasing toxicity and increasing the accumulation of medicinal agents at targeted sites. Liposomes, nanocapsules made of naturally occurring lipids, boast many advantages for the delivery of therapeutic agents. This article reviews both the advantages and challenges associated with liposomal drug delivery for the treatment of cancerous tumors and infectious diseases. These minute spherical sacs of phospholipid molecules are flexible carriers that can be modified in various ways to optimize their use. Examples of this include alteration of the size of liposomes to selectively accumulate in tumor microenvironments and “PEGylation” of their surface to reduce uptake of liposomes by the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS). While one of the main challenges of liposomal drug delivery is the heightened uptake of liposomes by the MPS, this unique property can be used to target diseased areas with a significant MPS presence. Furthermore, the liposomal structure can be manipulated to allow for the triggered release of internal contents with externally controlled factors. Liposomes carrying therapeutic radionuclides can be injected directly into solid tumors and dispersed throughout the tumor by convection-enhanced delivery. The flexibility and pliability of liposomes allow them to move through tight spaces within a tumor with much greater dispersion and penetration when compared to more rigid nanoparticles. Due to the benefits of radionuclide-carrying liposomes in disease diagnosis and delivery of chemotherapeutic agents, their utilization is expected to be expanded.

Nanozyme-Shelled Microcapsules for Targeting Biofilm Infections in Confined Spaces.

Bacterial infections in irregular and branched confinements pose significant therapeutic challenges. Despite their high antimicrobial efficacy, enzyme-mimicking nanoparticles (nanozymes) face difficulties in achieving localized catalysis at distant infection sites within confined spaces. Incorporating nanozymes into microrobots enables the delivery of catalytic agents to hard-to-reach areas, but poor nanoparticle dispersibility and distribution during fabrication hinder their catalytic performance. To address these challenges, a nanozyme-shelled microrobotic platform is introduced using magnetic microcapsules with collective and adaptive mobility for automated navigation and localized catalysis within complex confinements. Using double emulsions produced from microfluidics as templates, iron oxide and silica nanoparticles are assembled into 100-µm microcapsules, which self-organize into multi-unit, millimeter-size assemblies under rotating magnetic fields. These microcapsules exhibit high peroxidase-like activity, efficiently catalyzing hydrogen peroxide to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Notably, microcapsule assemblies display remarkable collective navigation within arched and branched confinements, reaching the targeted apical regions of the tooth canal with high accuracy. Furthermore, these nanozyme-shelled microrobots perform rapid catalysis in situ and effectively kill biofilms on contact via ROS generation, enabling localized antibiofilm action. This study demonstrates a facile method of integrating nanozymes onto a versatile microrobotic platform to address current needs for targeted therapeutic catalysis in complex and confined microenvironments.

In silico and in vitro evaluation of a PE38 and Nb-based recombinant immunotoxin targeting the GRP78 receptor in cancer cells.

Cancer is a global health problem despite the most developed therapeutic modalities. The delivery of specific therapeutic agents to a target increases the effectiveness of cancer treatment by reducing side effects and post-treatment issues. Our aim in this study was to design a recombinant protein consisting of nanobody molecules and exotoxin that targets the surface GRP78 receptor on tumor cells. Bioinformatics methods make drug design and recombinant protein evaluation much easier before the laboratory steps. Two constructs were designed from a single-variable domain on heavy chain nanobody domains and PE toxin domains II, Ib, and III. The physicochemical properties, secondary structure, and solubility of the chimeric protein were analyzed using different software. Prostate cancer DU-145 and breast cancer MDA-MB-468 cell lines were used as GRP78-positive and negative controls, respectively. Accordingly, the cytotoxicity, binding affinity, cell internalization, and apoptosis were evaluated using MTT, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and western blot. The results showed that in the DU-145 cell line, the cytotoxicity of two recombinant immunotoxins is dose and time-dependent. In MDA-MB-468 and HEK-293 cells, such an event does not occur. It is possible that two constructs designed for immunotoxins can attach to GRP78-positive cancer cells and then eradicate cancer cells by internalization and apoptosis. As our in vitro results were in line with in silico data confirming the Bioinformatics predictions, it can be concluded that the designed recombinant immunotoxins may exhibit therapeutic potential against GRP78-positive tumor cells.

Fathers' engagement in a parenting program primarily intended for female caregivers: An early qualitative process evaluation in Western Kenya.

Parenting programs predominantly target one caregiver of the child or most commonly the child's mother. However, fathers are also important caregivers whose engagement in interventions can benefit child health, nutrition, and development. In August 2023, a qualitative process evaluation was conducted during the first quarter of implementation to assess initial fidelity, quality, and outcomes of a parenting program in rural Western Kenya. In-depth interviews were conducted with female and male caregivers along with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with program delivery agents. This secondary analysis specifically focused on stakeholders' perceptions of father involvement in the program and aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to fathers' participation, initial program impacts when fathers were involved, and recommendations for increasing father inclusion. Thematic content analysis was conducted, and data were triangulated across stakeholder groups. Overall, relatively few fathers participated in the program. Nevertheless, for the rare cases of participating fathers, stakeholders highlighted positive changes in fathers' caregiving attitudes and practices. Key barriers to fathers' program engagement included restrictive gender norms and perceived opportunity costs. Stakeholders suggested several strategies for better reaching fathers, including providing financial incentives and flexible scheduling of sessions. Overall, we found that fathers' participation and program experiences were starkly different from those of mothers. Gender-responsive program adaptations and father-targeted implementation strategies are likely to increase the fathers' engagement in parenting programs, which in turn may facilitate greater program impacts on family caregiving and child outcomes. Future evaluations of parenting programs should combine qualitative and quantitative approaches to more comprehensively assess program impacts on fathers and over time.

Dynamic path finding for multi-load agent pickup and delivery problem

Recently, the Multi-Agent Pickup and Delivery (MAPD) problem has attracted widespread attention from both academia and industry. In the MAPD problem, each task has its pickup and delivery locations, and the agent needs to pick this task up from the pickup location and deliver it to its delivery location. Therefore, existing works consider the MAPD problem as the core problem in industrial scenarios, e.g., logistics warehouse. Note that the agents considered in the MAPD problem are single-load agents that complete tasks one by one. However, many commercial companies have deployed agents with multi-load instead of single-load agents to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The agents with multi-load can complete multiple tasks at once, so existing solutions cannot work well with the MAPD problem for multi-agents. To solve this issue, we investigate a novel problem in this paper, namely the Multi-Load Agent Pickup and Delivery (MLAPD) problem, where the agents with multi-load not only need to complete assigned real-time tasks but also need to avoid conflicts with each other and the goal is to minimize the total cost in the warehouse. To address this novel problem, we develop a task assignment to complete the assignments between multi-load agents and online tasks in real-time and a dynamic path finding problem that enables multi-load agents to move along conflict-free paths. Finally, extensive experiments in two different warehouses examine the effectiveness of our solutions.

Exploring chitosan nanoparticles for enhanced therapy in neurological disorders: a comprehensive review.

Chitosan nanoparticles have emerged as a promising therapeutic platform for treating neurological disorders due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ease of functionalization. One of the significant challenges in treating neurological conditions is overcoming the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which restricts the effective delivery of therapeutic agents to the brain. Addressing this barrier is crucial for the successful treatment of various neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, migraine, psychotic disorders, and brain tumors. Chitosan nanoparticles offer several advantages: they enhance drug absorption, protect drugs from degradation, and enable targeted delivery. These properties open new possibilities for non-invasive therapies for neurological conditions. Numerous studies have highlighted the neuroprotective potential of chitosan nanoparticles, demonstrating improved outcomes in animal models of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Additionally, surface modifications of these nanoparticles allow for the attachment of specific ligands or molecules, enhancing the precision of drug delivery to neuronal cells. Despite these advancements, several challenges persist in the clinical translation of chitosan nanoparticles. Issues such as large-scale production, regulatory hurdles, and the need for further research into long-term safety must be addressed. This review explores recent advancements in the use of chitosan nanoparticles for managing neurological disorders and outlines potential future directions in this rapidly evolving field of research.

Blood-Brain Barrier-Penetrating Metal-Organic Framework Antioxidant Nanozymes for Targeted Ischemic Stroke Therapy.

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during reperfusion in ischemic stroke (IS) severely impedes neuronal survival and results in high rates of morbidity and disability. The effective blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and brain delivery of antioxidative agents remain the biggest challenge in treating ischemic reperfusion-induced cerebrovascular and neural injury. In this study, a metal-organic framework (MOF) nanozyme (MIL-101-NH2(Fe/Cu)) with ROS scavenging activities to encapsulate neuroprotective agent rapamycin is fabricated and decorating the exterior with BBB-targeting protein ligands (transferrin), thereby realizing enhanced drug retention and controlled release within ischemic lesions for the synergistic treatment of IS. Through the receptor-mediated transcellular pathway, the transferrin-coated MOF nanoparticles achieved efficient transport across the BBB and targeted accumulation at the cerebral ischemic injury site of mice with middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R), wherein the nanocarrier exhibited catalytic activities of ROS decomposition into O2 and H2O2-responsive rapamycin release. By its BBB-targeting, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties, the MOF nanosystem addressed multiple pathological factors of IS and realized remarkable neuroprotective effects, leading to the substantial reduction of cerebral infarction volume and accelerated recovery of nerve functions in the MCAO/R mouse model. This MOF-based nanomedicine provides valuable design principles for effective IS therapy with multi-mechanism synergies.

Optimized Fabrication of Dendritic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Efficient Delivery System for Cancer Immunotherapy.

In the past decade, cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized the field of oncology. Major immunotherapy approaches such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, cytokines, and immunomodulators have shown great promise in preclinical and clinical settings. Among them, immunomodulatory agents including cancer vaccines are particularly appealing; however, they face limitations, notably the absence of efficient and precise targeted delivery of immune-modulatory agents to specific immune cells and the potential for off-target toxicity. Nanomaterials can play a pivotal role in addressing targeting and other challenges in cancer immunotherapy. Dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs) can enhance the efficacy of cancer vaccines by enhancing the effective loading of immune modulatory agents owing to their tunable pore sizes. In this work, an emulsion-based method is optimized to customize the pore size of DMSNs and loaded DMSNs with ovalbumin (OVA) and cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-OVA-DMSNs). The immunotherapeutic effect of DMSNs is achieved through controlled chemical release of OVA and CpG in antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The results demonstrated that CpG-OVA-DMSNs efficiently activated the immune response in APCs and reduced tumor growth in the murine B16-OVA tumor model.

Advancements in Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Sarcopenia: An Updated Overview.

Since sarcopenia is a progressive condition that leads to decreased muscle mass and function, especially in elderly people, it is a public health problem that requires attention from researchers. This review aims to highlight drug delivery systems that have a high and efficient therapeutic potential for sarcopenia. Current as well as future research needs to consider the barriers encountered in the realization of delivery systems, such as the route of administration, the interaction of the systems with the aggressive environment of the human body, the efficient delivery and loading of the systems with therapeutic agents, and the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents into the muscle tissue without creating undesirable adverse effects. Thus, this paper sets the framework of existing drug delivery possibilities for the treatment of sarcopenia, serving as an inception point for future interdisciplinary studies.

Guava leaf extract - Phytochemical therapy for periodontitis patients

Introduction: Periodontitis is one of the most prevailing diseases associated with the oral cavity. It is important to treat the disease effectively as it results in tooth loss and also affects the host extensively. Treatment of periodontitis includes various surgical and non-surgical modalities. Non-Surgical modalities include Scaling and Root Planing (SRP), Local Drug Delivery (LDD), laser and HMT therapy. In the present study, the effect of guava leaf extract gel as a local drug delivery agent for the treatment of chronic periodontitis is evaluated. Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the efficacy of guava gel extract as a local drug delivery agent in patients with periodontitis following scaling and root planing (SRP). Materials and method: A randomized, controlled study was conducted in 21 systemically healthy patients suffering from moderate periodontitis with isolated pockets (pocket depths 45mm). Clinical parameters GI, PI and PPD were recorded at baseline and subsequently after 7th, 14th and 21st day. The study design consisted of three groups, each group having 7 subjects, allocated in these groups randomly. Group A - Guava leaf extract gel (7), Group B – Chlorhexidine group (7), Group C - Control group (7). Results: Both the groups, Group A and Group B showed similar reduction in Gingival Index, Plaque Index and Probing Pocket Depth values when compared at baseline and on 21st day but the differences failed to reach the level of significance. Conclusions: The results suggest that Guava leaf extract gel as a local drug delivery is highly effective and comparable to gold standard.

7323 Prostatic Acid Phosphatase Is Negatively Regulated by Androgens and Persists in Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

Abstract Disclosure: A. Kirschenbaum: None. P. Cheung: None. S. Yao: None. P. Cheung: None. Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Most patients with metastatic PCa respond initially to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) but the majority will progress to lethal, metastatic, castrate-resistant PCa (mCRPC). The identification of markers of mCRPC that are not regulated or negatively regulated by androgens can serve as markers and therapeutic targets in mCRPC. We hypothesized that prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), a protein phosphatase and 5’ectonucleotidase that is expressed in both the cytoplasm and transmembrane (TM-PAP) of PCa cells, is negatively regulated by androgen signaling and can serve as a therapeutic target. Methods: PAP protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in PCa cell line spheroids (VCaP, 22Rv1, LNCaP, C42B) +/- androgen addition as well as in LNCaP s.c. xenografts +/- castration. Protein expression of PAP was assessed with western blotting in PCa cell lines after treatment with androgens (DHT) and anti-androgen (enzalutamide). Results: In spheroids derived from PCa cell lines, there is some IHC expression of PAP with the strongest staining in VCaP and 22Rv1 spheroids. DHT decreased PAP IHC expression in all spheroids. LNCaP and VCaP s.c. xenografts demonstrated that castration decreased tumor growth rates but that in castrate as well as control tumors PAP expression persisted. All forms of PAP including TM-PAP are expressed in VCaP cell line and were negatively regulated by androgen addition. Conclusions: The identification of markers of mCRPC that are not regulated or are negatively regulated by androgen could help identify recalcitrant tumor cells and mount targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. In several androgen sensitive PCa cell lines, DHT addition decreased PAP expression in spheroids. In vivo, PAP expression persists after castration in spite of decreases in tumor growth rates. Finally, DHT decreases and enzalutamide restores PAP expression in vitro. These data demonstrate that PAP is a more progenitor cell marker in PCa that persists after castration and may be targeted in castration-resistant disease. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Targeted Cancer Therapy: The Role of Liposomes in Oncology. A Literature Review

Liposomal formulations represent a significant advancement in the field of oncology, providing innovative solutions for the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. These nanoscale carriers, made of phospholipid bilayers, enhance drug stability and allow for targeted delivery to tumor tissues, thereby improving the therapeutic index of anticancer medications. By altering the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of these drugs, liposomes help reduce systemic side effects while increasing the concentration of therapeutic agents at the tumor site. Recent developments in liposomal technology have led to the creation of targeted liposomes, which can bind specifically to cancer cells, enhancing treatment accuracy. This review examines the various applications of liposomes in cancer treatment, discusses important clinical trials, identifies challenges in formulation and delivery, and considers future directions for integrating liposomal therapies into routine oncology practice. As ongoing research progresses, liposomes are poised to play a crucial role in advancing cancer treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. Additionally, we discuss the challenges associated with their clinical translation and future perspectives in optimizing liposome formulations for personalized cancer therapies.

Novel Biomaterials Based Strategies for Neurodegeneration: Recent Advancements and Future Prospects.

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, pose significant challenges for effective treatment due to the complex nature of the central nervous system and the limited delivery of therapeutic agents to the brain. Biomaterial-based drug delivery systems offer promising strategies to overcome these challenges and improve therapeutic outcomes. These systems utilize various biomaterials, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, and implants, to deliver drugs, genes, or cells to the affected regions of the brain. They provide advantages such as targeted delivery, controlled release, and protection of therapeutic agents. This review examines the role of biomaterials in drug delivery for neurodegeneration, discussing different biomaterialbased approaches, including surface modification, encapsulation, and functionalization techniques. Furthermore, it explores the challenges, future perspectives, and potential impact of biomaterialbased drug delivery systems in the field of neurodegenerative diseases.

Organelle Targeted Drug Delivery: Key Challenges, Recent Advancements and Therapeutic Implications.

Organelle-specific targeted drug delivery has emerged as a promising approach in the field of drug delivery and therapeutics. This innovative strategy involves the precise delivery of therapeutic agents to specific organelles within cells, such as the nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, or lysosomes, with the aim of enhancing drug efficacy while minimizing offtarget effects. Despite its tremendous potential, organelle-specific drug delivery faces several key challenges. One major challenge is the development of delivery systems that can accurately navigate the complex intracellular environment and deliver drugs exclusively to the desired organelles. Achieving this level of precision demands advanced nanotechnology and biomaterials engineering. Furthermore, ensuring the safety and biocompatibility of these delivery systems is paramount. Recent advancements in this field include the development of nanocarriers, such as liposomes, nanoparticles, and dendrimers, designed to target specific organelles through ligandreceptor interactions or pH-responsive mechanisms. Additionally, advancements in molecular biology and genetic engineering have enabled the design of genetically encoded organellespecific drug delivery systems. The therapeutic implications of organelle-specific drug delivery are vast. This approach has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of diseases with organelle- specific pathologies, such as neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and mitochondrial diseases. By precisely targeting the organelles involved in disease progression, the efficacy of therapies can be significantly improved while minimizing collateral damage to healthy tissues.

T7 Peptide-modified macrophage membrane-coated nanoplatform for enhanced glioma treatment

The efficient and secure delivery of intravenous chemotherapeutic agents across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to the precise location of a brain tumor is a crucial element in glioma treatment. Herein, we introduce a biomimetic nanoplatform (T7-M-C/S) comprising a core made up of irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT11) and its bioactive metabolite, 7-Ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38), surrounded by a layer of T7-peptide-modified macrophage membrane. CPT11 spontaneously assembles with SN38 into stable and water-dispersible nanoparticles (C/S), greatly enhancing the water solubility of SN38. The integration of the modified peptide with the inherent proteins expressed by macrophage cells confers the nanoplatform with enhanced bioavailability and robust glioma-targeting abilities, ultimately resulting in superior therapeutic outcomes. These discoveries highlight a drug delivery system characterized by a high drug loading capacity, leveraging the macrophage membrane, and promising significant potential for glioma treatment.

GSH-responsive magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles for efficient controlled drug delivery in tumor cells

In this study, glutathione (GSH)-responsive magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles grafted by disulfide organosilicon (SMNPs) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated as controlled drug carriers. The nanoparticles exhibited consistent dispersion, considerable drug-loading capacity, and high saturation magnetization. Importantly, they demonstrated the ability to release doxorubicin (DOX) by up to 43% in a reducing tumor microenvironment, highlighting their potential for targeted therapy. In addition, the SMNPs displayed favorable biocompatibility, making them suitable for biomedical applications. Most notably, the SMNPs loaded with DOX effectively killed both HepG2 and HeLa cancer cells, while also showing efficient cellular uptake in HeLa cells. These findings suggest that SMNPs are a promising platform for magnetic-targeted and GSH-responsive delivery of therapeutic agents.