Metal Nanoplatforms as Controlled Release and Targeted Drug Carriers and Hyperthermia Agents

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Delivery and Controlled Release".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 4187

Special Issue Editor

Department of Engineering, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
Interests: cancer therapy; nanomaterials; controlled drug delivery; targeted drug delivery; hyperthermia; scaffold development; tissue engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. Unfortunately, conventional treatment methods such as bulk chemotherapy and radiation therapy are associated with toxic side effects for patients. Therefore, increasing the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer agents, while decreasing their toxicity, has become an important research area. The two approaches used include the controlled release drug delivery and targeted drug delivery. A recently developed paradigm involves employing hyperthermia/heat delivery to shrink tumors. This is especially relevant as an adjuvant therapy for killing residual cancer cells to prevent tumor recurrence following tumor resection surgery or chemotherapy. In this context, metal nanoparticles have been synthesized and/or modified with various functional groups to allow their use as (a) nanocarriers for controlled release and targeted drug delivery or (b) thermoseeds for hyperthermia.

This Special Issue aims to highlight current research on the development and in vitro/in vivo evaluation of metal nanocarriers for controlled drug release, targeted drug delivery, and/or hyperthermia delivery for cancer therapy. Additionally, manuscripts dealing with the incorporation of metal nanocarriers into hybrid or nanocomposite structures for hyperthermia and/or drug delivery are also of interest.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, review articles, and short communications are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: synthesis, characterization, and in vitro/in vivo evaluation of metal nanocarriers, conjugated metal nanocarriers, and metal-based nanocomposite structures for controlled drug release, targeted drug delivery and/or hyperthermia for cancer therapy.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ali A. Salifu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cancer therapy
  • metal nanoparticles
  • conjugation
  • ligands
  • metal-based nanocomposite structures
  • controlled release
  • targeted drug delivery
  • thermoseeds
  • hyperthermia

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 24498 KiB  
Article
Surface Modification of Titanate Nanotubes with a Carboxylic Arm for Further Functionalization Intended to Pharmaceutical Applications
by Ranim Saker, Orsolya Jójárt-Laczkovich, Géza Regdon, Jr., Tamás Takács, Imre Szenti, Noémi Bózsity-Faragó, István Zupkó and Tamás Sovány
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(12), 2780; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15122780 - 15 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1035
Abstract
Nanotechnology is playing a significant role in modern life with tremendous potential and promising results in almost every domain, especially the pharmaceutical one. The impressive performance of nanomaterials is shaping the future of science and revolutionizing the traditional concepts of industry and research. [...] Read more.
Nanotechnology is playing a significant role in modern life with tremendous potential and promising results in almost every domain, especially the pharmaceutical one. The impressive performance of nanomaterials is shaping the future of science and revolutionizing the traditional concepts of industry and research. Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) are one of these novel entities that became an appropriate choice to apply in several platforms due to their remarkable properties such as preparation simplicity, high stability, good biocompatibility, affordability and low toxicity. Surface modification of these nanotubes is also promoting their superior characters and contributing more to the enhancement of their performance. In this research work, an attempt was made to functionalize the surface of titanate nanotubes with carboxylic groups to increase their surface reactivity and widen the possibility of bonding different molecules that could not be bonded directly. Three carboxylic acids were investigated (trichloroacetic acid, citric acid and acrylic acid), and the prepared composites were examined using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The toxicity of these functionalized TNTs was also investigated using adherent cancer cell lines and fibroblasts to determine their safety profile and to draw the basic lines for their intended future application. Based on the experimental results, acrylic acid could be the suitable choice for permanent surface modification with multiple carboxylic groups due to its possibility to be polymerized, thus presenting the opportunity to link additional molecules of interest such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and/or other molecules at the same time. Full article
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18 pages, 5682 KiB  
Article
Glucosamine-Modified Mesoporous Silica-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles: A “Raisin-Cake”-like Structure as an Efficient Theranostic Platform for Targeted Methotrexate Delivery
by Fatemeh Farjadian, Zahra Faghih, Maryam Fakhimi, Pooya Iranpour, Soliman Mohammadi-Samani and Mohammad Doroudian
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(10), 2491; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15102491 - 19 Oct 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1111
Abstract
This study presents the synthesis of glucosamine-modified mesoporous silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a therapeutic platform for the delivery of an anticancer drug, methotrexate (MTX). The MNPs were coated with mesoporous silica in a templated sol–gel process to form MNP@MSN, and then chloropropyl [...] Read more.
This study presents the synthesis of glucosamine-modified mesoporous silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a therapeutic platform for the delivery of an anticancer drug, methotrexate (MTX). The MNPs were coated with mesoporous silica in a templated sol–gel process to form MNP@MSN, and then chloropropyl groups were added to the structure in a post-modification reaction. Glucosamine was then reacted with the chloro-modified structure, and methotrexate was conjugated to the hydroxyl group of the glucose. The prepared structure was characterized using techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis (CHN), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Good formation of nano-sized MNPs and MNP@MSN was observed via particle size monitoring. The modified glucosamine structure showed a controlled release profile of methotrexate in simulated tumor fluid. In vitro evaluation using the 4T1 breast cancer cell line showed the cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and cell cycle effects of methotrexate. The MTT assay showed comparable toxicity between MTX-loaded nanoparticles and free MTX. The structure could act as a glucose transporter-targeting agent and showed increased uptake in cancer cells. An in vivo breast cancer model was established in BALB/C mice, and the distribution of MTX-conjugated MNP@MSN particles was visualized using MRI. The MTX-conjugated particles showed significant anti-tumor potential together with MRI contrast enhancement. Full article
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Review

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35 pages, 8171 KiB  
Review
Hyaluronic Acid Modified Metal Nanoparticles and Their Derived Substituents for Cancer Therapy: A Review
by Uluvangada Thammaiah Uthappa, Maduru Suneetha, Kanalli V. Ajeya and Seong Min Ji
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(6), 1713; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061713 - 12 Jun 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1580
Abstract
The use of metal nanoparticles (M-NPs) in cancer therapy has gained significant consideration owing to their exceptional physical and chemical features. However, due to the limitations, such as specificity and toxicity towards healthy cells, their application in clinical translations has been restricted. Hyaluronic [...] Read more.
The use of metal nanoparticles (M-NPs) in cancer therapy has gained significant consideration owing to their exceptional physical and chemical features. However, due to the limitations, such as specificity and toxicity towards healthy cells, their application in clinical translations has been restricted. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide, has been extensively used as a targeting moiety, due to its ability to selectively bind to the CD44 receptors overexpressed on cancer cells. The HA-modified M-NPs have demonstrated promising results in improving specificity and efficacy in cancer therapy. This review discusses the significance of nanotechnology, the state of cancers, and the functions of HA-modified M-NPs, and other substituents in cancer therapy applications. Additionally, the role of various types of selected noble and non-noble M-NPs used in cancer therapy are described, along with the mechanisms involved in cancer targeting. Additionally, the purpose of HA, its sources and production processes, as well as its chemical and biological properties are described. In-depth explanations are provided about the contemporary applications of HA-modified noble and non-noble M-NPs and other substituents in cancer therapy. Furthermore, potential obstacles in optimizing HA-modified M-NPs, in terms of clinical translations, are discussed, followed by a conclusion and future prospects. Full article
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