Multifunctional ZnO@DOX/ICG-LMHP Nanoparticles for Synergistic Multimodal Antitumor Activity.

Multifunctional nanoparticles are of significant importance for synergistic multimodal antitumor activity. Herein, zinc oxide (ZnO) was used as pH-sensitive nanoparticles for loading the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin (DOX) and the photosensitizer agent indocyanine green (ICG), and biocompatible low-molecular-weight heparin (LMHP) was used as the gatekeepers for synergistic photothermal therapy/photodynamic therapy/chemotherapy/immunotherapy. ZnO was decomposed into cytotoxic Zn2+ ions, leading to a tumor-specific release of ICG and DOX. ZnO simultaneously produced oxygen (O2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). The released ICG under laser irradiation produced ROS for PDT and raised the tumor temperature for photothermal therapy (PTT). The released DOX directly caused tumor cell death for chemotherapy. Both DOX and ICG also induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) for immunotherapy. The in vivo and in vitro results presented a superior inhibition of tumor progression, metastasis and recurrence. Therefore, this study could provide an efficient approach for designing multifunctional nanoparticles for synergistic multimodal antitumor therapy.

Engineered Design of a Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle-Based Nanocarrier for Efficient mRNA Delivery in Vivo.

We have developed tailor-designed mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) specifically for delivering mRNA. Our unique assembly protocol involves premixing mRNA with a cationic polymer and then electrostatically binding it to the MSNP surface. Since the key physicochemical parameters of MSNPs could influence the biological outcome, we also investigated the roles of size, porosity, surface topology, and aspect ratio on the mRNA delivery. These efforts allow us to identify the best-performing carrier, which was able to achieve efficient cellular uptake and intracellular escape while delivering a luciferase mRNA in mice. The optimized carrier remained stable and active for at least 7 days after being stored at 4 °C and was able to enable tissue-specific mRNA expression, particularly in the pancreas and mesentery after intraperitoneal injection. The optimized carrier was further manufactured in a larger batch size and found to be equally efficient in delivering mRNA in mice and rats, without any obvious toxicity.

Antitumor Activity of α-Linolenic Acid-Paclitaxel Conjugate Nanoparticles: In vitro and in vivo.

PURPOSE: Small molecule modified antitumor drug conjugate nanoparticles have the advantages of high drug loading, simple synthesis and preparation, and better biocompatibility. Due to the large demand for exogenous α-linolenic acid (ALA) by tumor cells, we synthesized α-linolenic acid-paclitaxel conjugate (ALA-PTX) and prepared α-linolenic acid-paclitaxel conjugate nanoparticles (ALA-PTX NPs), in order to obtain better tumor cellular uptake and antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: We synthesized and characterized ALA-PTX, and then prepared and characterized ALA-PTX NPs. The cellular uptake, uptake pathways, intracellular behavior, in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of ALA-PTX NPs were evaluated. RESULTS: The size of ALA-PTX NPs was approximately 110.7±1.7 nm. The drug loading was approximately 90% (w/w) with CrEL-free and organic solvent-free characteristics. The cellular uptake of ALA-PTX NPs was significantly higher than that of PTX injection by MCF-7, MCF-7/ADR and HepG2 cells. In these three cell lines, the cellular uptake of ALA-PTX NPs at 6h was approximately 1.5-2.6 times higher than that of PTX injection. ALA-PTX NPs were ingested through clathrin-mediated endocytosis, then transferred to lysosomes, and could dissolve in cells to play an antitumor activity. The in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of ALA-PTX NPs was confirmed in MCF-7/ADR and HepG2 cell models and tumor-bearing nude mouse models. CONCLUSION: ALA-PTX NPs developed in our study could provide a new method for the preparation of nano-delivery systems suitable for antitumor therapy that could increase tumor cellular uptake and enhance antitumor activity.

A combination strategy based on an Au nanorod/doxorubicin gel via mild photothermal therapy combined with antigen-capturing liposomes and anti-PD-L1 agent promote a positive shift in the cancer-immunity cycle.

The antitumor immune response involves a cascade of cancer-immunity cycles. Developing a combination therapy aimed at the cancer-immunity cycle is of great importance. In this research, we designed and tested a combined therapeutic-Au nanorod (AuNR)/doxorubicin (DOX) gel (AuNR/DOX gel)-in which the sustained release of DOX was controlled by Pluronic gel. DOX served as an immunogenic tumor cell death (ICD) inducer, triggering the production of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Mild photothermal therapy (Mild PTT) produced by 880 nm laser-irradiated AuNRs also generated tumor-associated antigens. Maleimide-modified liposomes (L-Mals), as antigen capturing agents, promoted tumor antigen uptake by DCs. Ultimately, more CD8+ T cells and fewer regulatory T cells (Tregs) infiltrated the tumor, eliciting antitumor responses from the PD-L1 antibody. Our results indicate that this combination strategy promotes a positive shift in the cancer-immunity cycle and holds much promise for combination strategy will lead to development of an antitumor drug delivery system. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Developing a combination therapy for cancer-immunity cycle is of great importance due to antitumor immune response involving a cascade of cancer-immunity cycles. Cancer-immunity cycle usually includes tumor antigen release, antigen presentation, immune activation, trafficking, infiltration, specific recognition of tumor cells by T cells, and finally cancer cell killing. In this research, we designed a combination strategy based on Au nanorod/doxorubicin gel via mild photothermal therapy combined with antigen-capturing liposomes and anti-PD-L1 agent promoting a positive shift in the cancer-immunity cycle. Our results indicate that this combination strategy promotes a positive shift in the cancer-immunity cycle and holds much promise for combination strategy will lead to development of an antitumor drug delivery system.

Effect of XlogP and hansen solubility parameters on the prediction of small molecule modified docetaxel, doxorubicin and irinotecan conjugates forming stable nanoparticles.

Small molecule-chemotherapeutic drug conjugate nanoparticles (SMCDC NPs) has a great advantage in improving drug loading. However, the factors which influence these conjugates forming stable nanoparticles (NPs) are currently unclear. In our previous studies, we synthesized a series of fatty acid-paclitaxel conjugates and suggested that the changes in the hydrophobic parameters (XlogP), solubility parameters and crystallinity of these fatty acid-paclitaxel conjugates were the key factors for affecting these small molecule-chemotherapeutic drug conjugates (SMCDCs) forming stable NPs in water. Here, we selected clinically widely used chemotherapeutic drug (docetaxel (DTX), doxorubicin (DOX) and irinotecan (Ir)) as model drug, and chose three straight-chain fatty acids (acetic acid (Ac), hexanoic acid (HA) and stearic acid (SA)) and one branched small molecule (N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl) glycine (B-G)) to synthesize 12 SMCDCs. Our results indicated that our prediction criterions obtained from paclitaxel conjugates were also appropriated for these synthesized SMCDCs. We suggested that the present studies expanded the scope of application of the above-mentioned influencing factors, provided research ideas for the rational design of SMCDC forming NPs and a basis for screening NPs with good anticancer activity.

The synergistic antitumor activity of 3-(2-nitrophenyl) propionic acid-paclitaxel nanoparticles (NPPA-PTX NPs) and anti-PD-L1 antibody inducing immunogenic cell death.

Cancer immunotherapy is a strategy that is moving to the frontier of cancer treatment in the current decade. In this study, we show evidence that 3-(2-nitrophenyl) propionic acid-paclitaxel nanoparticles (NPPA-PTX NPs), act as immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducers, stimulating an antitumor response which results in synergistic antitumor activity by combining anti-PD-L1 antibody (aPD-L1) in vivo. To investigate the antitumor immunity induced by NPPA-PTX NPs, the expression of both ICD marker calreticulin (CRT) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) were analyzed. In addition, the antitumor activity of NPPA-PTX NPs combined with aPD-L1 in vivo was also investigated. The immune response was also measured through quantitation of the infiltration of T cells and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The results demonstrate that NPPA-PTX NPs induce ICD of MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells through upregulation of CRT and HMGB1, reactivating the antitumor immunity via recruitment of infiltrating CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T cells, secreting IFN-γ, TNF-α, and the enhanced antitumor activity by combining with aPD-L1. These data suggest that the combined therapy has a synergistic antitumor activity and has the potential to be developed into a novel therapeutic regimen for cancer patients.

Enhancing Anti-Tumor Activity of Sorafenib Mesoporous Silica Nanomatrix in Metastatic Breast Tumor and Hepatocellular Carcinoma via the Co-Administration with Flufenamic Acid.

INTRODUCTION: Because tumor-associated inflammation is a hallmark of cancer treatment, in the present study, sorafenib mesoporous silica nanomatrix (MSNM@SFN) co-administrated with flufenamic acid (FFA, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)) was investigated to enhance the anti-tumor activity of MSNM@SFN. METHODS: Metastatic breast tumor 4T1/luc cells and hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were selected as cell models. The effects of FFA in vitro on cell migration, PGE2 secretion, and AKR1C1 and AKR1C3 levels in 4T1/luc and HepG2 cells were investigated. The in vivo anti-tumor activity of MSNM@SFN co-administrating with FFA (MSNM@SFN+FFA) was evaluated in a 4T1/luc metastatic tumor model, HepG2 tumor-bearing nude mice model, and HepG2 orthotopic tumor-bearing nude mice model, respectively. RESULTS: The results indicated that FFA could markedly decrease cell migration, PGE2 secretion, and AKR1C1 and AKR1C3 levels in both 4T1/luc and HepG2 cells. The enhanced anti-tumor activity of MSNM@SFN+FFA compared with that of MSNM@SFN was confirmed in the 4T1/luc metastatic tumor model, HepG2 tumor-bearing nude mice model, and HepG2 orthotopic tumor-bearing nude mice model in vivo, respectively. DISCUSSION: MSNM@SFN co-administrating with FFA (MSNM@SFN+FFA) developed in this study is an alternative strategy for improving the therapeutic efficacy of MSNM@SFN via co-administration with NSAIDs.

Antitumor activity of the bioreductive prodrug 3-(2-nitrophenyl) propionic acid-paclitaxel nanoparticles (NPPA-PTX NPs) on MDA-MB-231 cells: in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: 3-(2-Nitrophenyl) propionic acid-paclitaxel (NPPA-PTX) is a paclitaxel (PTX) bioreductive prodrug synthesized by our lab. We hypothesize that NPPA-PTX can self-assemble to form nanoparticles (NPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present research, the theoretical partition coefficient (XlogP) and Hansen solubility parameters of NPPA-PTX were calculated. NPPA-PTX nanoparticles prepared by NPPA-PTX and DSPE-PEG (NPPA-PTX:DSPE-PEG =1:0.1, w/w) (NPPA-PTX@PEG NPs) were prepared and characterized. The cellular uptake, in vitro antitumor activity, in vivo targeting effect, tumor distribution, in vivo antitumor activity, and safety of NPPA-PTX@PEG NPs were investigated. RESULTS: Our results indicate that NPPA-PTX can self-assemble to form NPPA-PTX@PEG NPs. Both the cellular uptake and safety of NPPA-PTX@PEG NPs were higher than those of Taxol. NPPA-PTX@PEG NPs could target tumor tissues by a passive targeting effect. In tumor tissues, NPPA-PTX@PEG NPs could completely transform into active PTX. The in vivo antitumor activity of NPPA-PTX@PEG NPs was confirmed in MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing nude mice. CONCLUSION: The bioreductive prodrug NPPA-PTX could self-assemble to form NPs. The safety and antitumor activity of NPPA-PTX@PEG were confirmed in our in vitro and in vivo experiments. The NPPA-PTX@PEG NPs developed in this study could offer a new way of preparing bioreductive prodrug, self-assembled NPs suitable for antitumor therapy.

Anti-tumour activity of low molecular weight heparin doxorubicin nanoparticles for histone H1 high-expressive prostate cancer PC-3M cells.

Nucleus-targeting drug delivery systems (NTDDs) deliver chemotherapeutic agents to nuclei in order to improve the efficacy of anti-tumour therapy. Histone H1 (H1) plays a key role in establishing and maintaining higher order chromatin structures and could bind to cell membranes. In the present study, we selected H1 as a target to prepare a novel H1-mediated NTDD. Low molecular weight heparin (LMHP) and doxorubicin (DOX) were combined to form LMHP-DOX. Then, a novel NTDD consisting of LMHP-DOX nanoparticles (LMHP-DOX NPs) was prepared by self-assembly. The characteristics of LMHP-DOX and LMHP-DOX NPs were investigated. Histone H1 high-expressive prostate cancer PC-3M cell line was selected as the cell model. Cellular uptake, and the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumour activity of LMHP-DOX NPs were evaluated on H1 high-expressive human prostate cancer PC-3M cells. Our results indicated that intact LMHP-DOX NPs mediated by H1 could be absorbed by H1 high-expressive PC-3M cells, escape from the lysosomes to the cytoplasm, and localize in the perinuclear region via H1-mediated, whereby DOX could directly enter the cell nucleus and quickly increase the concentration of DOX in the nuclei of H1 high-expressive PC-3M cells to enhance the apoptotic activity of cancer cells. The anti-coagulant activity of LMHP-DOX NPs was almost completely diminished in rat blood compared with that of LMHP, indicating the safety of LMHP-DOX NPs. Compared to traditional NTDD strategies, LMHP-DOX NPs avoid the complicated modification of nucleus-targeting ligands and provide a compelling solution for the substantially enhanced nuclear uptake of chemotherapeutic agents for the development of more intelligent NTDDs.