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Special Issue "Advances in Cancer Nanotechnology for Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy"

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2023 | Viewed by 5673

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hanieh Montaseri

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Guest Editor

Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Interests: drug delivery; photodynamic therapy; nanoparticles; cancer treatment

Prof. Dr. Heidi Abrahamse

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Guest Editor

Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
Interests: PDT; laser; cancer therapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In this Special Issue, we will focus on recent advances in nanotechnology for cancer treatment.

The commercialization of oncology drugs carries significant risks in delivering therapeutic and diagnostic agents safely. Therefore, research and development in cancer nanotherapeutics and nanodiagnostics have paved a new avenue to lessen the risks associated with conventional drugs. Nanoparticles (NPs) are potential candidates to enhance the efficacy of drugs in the clinical stage. In addition, the combination of photodynamic (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) as non-invasive and site-specific treatment modalities with nanotechnology has been utilized to eradicate cancer tumor cells. This Special Issue aims to publish high-quality research papers and reviews focusing on the design, synthesis, and applications of nanoparticles and nanostructures in the photodynamic and photothermal therapy of various cancers. Research topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

photodynamic therapy
photothermal therapy
organic/inorganic nanoparticles
nanomedicines
passive and active targeting
drug delivery
nanocarriers
nano-based drug delivery systems
polymeric NPs/micelles
liposomes

Dr. Hanieh Montaseri
Prof. Dr. Heidi Abrahamse
Guest Editors

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Keywords

cancer nanotechnology
photodynamic therapy
photothermal therapy
drug delivery
nanomedicine

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Open AccessArticle

Near-Infrared Fluorescent Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles for Targeted Photothermal Cancer Therapy

and

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(5), 1374; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15051374 - 29 Apr 2023

Viewed by 424

Abstract

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores have attracted great attention due to their excellent optical and photothermal properties. Among them, a bone-targeted NIR fluorophore (named P800SO3) contains two phosphonate groups, which play important roles in binding with hydroxyapatite (HAP) as the main mineral component of bones. In this study, biocompatible and NIR fluorescent HAP nanoparticles functionalized with P800SO3 and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were readily prepared for tumor-targeted imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT). The PEGylated HAP nanoparticle (HAP800-PEG) demonstrated improved tumor targetability with high tumor-to-background ratios (TBR). Moreover, the HAP800-PEG also showed excellent photothermal properties, and the temperature of tumor tissue reached 52.3 °C under NIR laser irradiation, which could completely ablate the tumor tissue without recurrence. Therefore, this new type of HAP nanoparticle has great potential as a biocompatible and effective phototheranostic material, which enables the use of P800SO3 for targeted photothermal cancer treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cancer Nanotechnology for Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy)

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Open AccessArticle

Cerium End-Deposited Gold Nanorods-Based Photoimmunotherapy for Boosting Tumor Immunogenicity

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Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(4), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15041309 - 21 Apr 2023

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Abstract

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) was closely related to high metastatic risk and mortality and has not yet found a targeted receptor for targeted therapy. Cancer immunotherapy, especially photoimmunotherapy, shows promising potential in TNBC treatment because of great spatiotemporal controllability and non-trauma. However, the therapeutic effectiveness was limited by insufficient tumor antigen generation and the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Methods: We report on the design of cerium oxide (CeO₂) end-deposited gold nanorods (CEG) to achieve excellent near-infrared photoimmunotherapy. CEG was synthesized through hydrolyzing of ceria precursor (cerium acetate, Ce(AC)₃) on the surface of Au nanorods (NRs) for cancer therapy. The therapeutic response was first verified in murine mammary carcinoma (4T1) cells and then monitored by analysis of the anti-tumor effect in xenograft mouse models. Results: Under near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation, CEG can efficiently generate hot electrons and avoid hot-electron recombination to release heat and form reactive oxygen species (ROS), triggering immunogenic cell death (ICD) and activating part of the immune response. Simultaneously, combining with PD-1 antibody could further enhance cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration. Conclusions: Compared with CBG NRs, CEG NRs showed strong photothermal and photodynamic effects to destroy tumors and activate a part of the immune response. Combining with PD-1 antibody could reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment and thoroughly activate the immune response. This platform demonstrates the superiority of combination therapy of photoimmunotherapy and PD-1 blockade in TNBC therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cancer Nanotechnology for Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy)

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Open AccessArticle

Targeting Glioblastoma-Associated Macrophages for Photodynamic Therapy Using AGuIX^®-Design Nanoparticles

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Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 997; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030997 - 20 Mar 2023

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Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most difficult brain cancer to treat, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) is emerging as a complementary approach to improve tumor eradication. Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) protein expression plays a critical role in GBM progression and immune response. Moreover, various clinical databases highlight a relationship between NRP-1 and M2 macrophage infiltration. In order to induce a photodynamic effect, multifunctional AGuIX^®-design nanoparticles were used in combination with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, as well as a porphyrin as the photosensitizer molecule and KDKPPR peptide ligand for targeting the NRP-1 receptor. The main objective of this study was to characterize the impact of macrophage NRP-1 protein expression on the uptake of functionalized AGuIX^®-design nanoparticles in vitro and to describe the influence of GBM cell secretome post-PDT on the polarization of macrophages into M1 or M2 phenotypes. By using THP-1 human monocytes, successful polarization into the macrophage phenotypes was argued via specific morphological traits, discriminant nucleocytoplasmic ratio values, and different adhesion abilities based on real-time cell impedance measurements. In addition, macrophage polarization was confirmed via the transcript-level expression of TNFα, CXCL10, CD-80, CD-163, CD-206, and CCL22 markers. In relation to NRP-1 protein over-expression, we demonstrated a three-fold increase in functionalized nanoparticle uptake for the M2 macrophages compared to the M1 phenotype. The secretome of the post-PDT GBM cells led to nearly a three-fold increase in the over-expression of TNFα transcripts, confirming the polarization to the M1 phenotype. The in vivo relationship between post-PDT efficiency and the inflammatory effects points to the extensive involvement of macrophages in the tumor zone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cancer Nanotechnology for Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy)

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Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Analysis of Photothermal Therapy of Tumor Tissue Using Various Gold Nanoparticle Injection Schemes

Donghyuk Kim

and

Hyunjung Kim

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030911 - 10 Mar 2023

Viewed by 557

Abstract

Photothermal therapy is a new chemotherapy technique using photothermal effects, a phenomenon in which light energy is converted into thermal energy. Since the treatment technique is performed without surgical incision, it does not cause bleeding and patients are expected to make rapid recoveries, which are significant advantages. In this study, photothermal therapy with direct injection of gold nanoparticles into tumor tissue was simulated through numerical modeling. The treatment effect resulting from changing the intensity of the irradiated laser, volume fraction of the injected gold nanoparticles, and number of gold nanoparticle injections was quantitatively evaluated. The discrete dipole approximation method was applied to calculate the optical properties of the entire medium, and the Monte Carlo method was applied to identify the absorption and scattering behavior of lasers in tissue. In addition, by confirming the temperature distribution of the entire medium through the calculated light absorption distribution, the treatment effect of photothermal therapy was evaluated, and the optimal treatment conditions were suggested. This is expected to accelerate the popularization of photothermal therapy in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cancer Nanotechnology for Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy)

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Open AccessArticle

Multifunctional Mesoporous Silica-Coated Gold Nanorods Mediate Mild Photothermal Heating-Enhanced Gene/Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer

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Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030854 - 06 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 605

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. It is urgent to search for safe and effective therapies to address the CRC crisis. The siRNA-based RNA interference targeted silencing of PD-L1 has extensive potential in CRC treatment but is limited by the lack of efficient delivery vectors. In this work, the novel cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs)/siPD-L1 co-delivery vectors AuNRs@MS/CpG ODN@PEG-bPEI (ASCP) were successfully prepared by two-step surface modification of CpG ODNs-loading and polyethylene glycol-branched polyethyleneimine-coating around mesoporous silica-coated gold nanorods. ASCP promoted dendritic cells (DCs) maturation by delivering CpG ODNs, exhibiting excellent biosafety. Next, mild photothermal therapy (MPTT) mediated by ASCP killed tumor cells and released tumor-associated antigens, further promoting DC maturation. Furthermore, ASCP exhibited mild photothermal heating-enhanced performance as gene vectors, resulting in an increased PD-L1 gene silencing effect. Enhanced DCs maturity and enhanced PD-L1 gene silencing significantly promoted the anti-tumor immune response. Finally, the combination of MPTT and mild photothermal heating-enhanced gene/immunotherapy effectively killed MC38 cells, leading to strong inhibition of CRC. Overall, this work provided new insights into the design of mild photothermal/gene/immune synergies for tumor therapy and may contribute to translational nanomedicine for CRC treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cancer Nanotechnology for Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy)

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Open AccessArticle

Liposomal Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Loaded with Doxorubicin for Combined Chemo-Photothermal Cancer Therapy

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Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(1), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010292 - 15 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1210

Abstract

Iron oxide nanoparticle (IONP) possesses unique advantages over other nanoparticles in the use of cancer imaging and therapy. Specifically, it has drawn great attention in the emerging research field of photothermal cancer therapy. Herein, we developed doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded liposomal IONP (Lipo-IONP/DOX) and evaluated in vitro and in vivo their applicability for combined chemo-photothermal cancer therapy. The Lipo-IONP was synthesized by the thin-film evaporation method. The prepared Lipo-IONP was observed as about a 240 nm-sized agglomerate of globular-shaped nanoparticles. The TEM and FT-IR data evidenced the successful formation of liposomal IONP. The superparamagnetic property of the Lipo-IONP was confirmed by the SQUID analysis. The DSC data showed a transition temperature of about 47–48 °C for the mixed lipids composing the Lipo IONP, and the DOX release studies revealed the feasibility of induced burst release of DOX by laser irradiation. The Lipo-IONP/DOX possessed a plasma half-life of 42 min, which could ensure sufficient circulation time for magnetic tumor targeting. The in vivo magnetic targeting enabled a significant increase (6.3-fold) in the tumor accumulation of Lipo-IONP/DOX, leading to greater photothermal effects. Finally, the preliminary efficacy study evidenced the applicability as well as the safety of the Lipo-IONP/DOX for use in combined chemo-photothermal cancer therapy. Overall, the study results demonstrated that the Lipo-IONP/DOX might serve as an effective and safe agent for combined chemo-photothermal cancer therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cancer Nanotechnology for Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Dendrimers: Advancements and Potential Applications in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment—An Overview

Andreea Crintea

Alexandru Cătălin Motofelea

Alina Simona Șovrea

Anne-Marie Constantin

Carmen-Bianca Crivii

Rahela Carpa

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Alina Gabriela Duțu

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(5), 1406; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15051406 - 04 May 2023

Viewed by 712

Abstract

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and the main treatment methods for this condition are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. These treatment methods are invasive and can cause severe adverse reactions among organisms, so nanomaterials are increasingly used as structures for anticancer therapies. Dendrimers are a type of nanomaterial with unique properties, and their production can be controlled to obtain compounds with the desired characteristics. These polymeric molecules are used in cancer diagnosis and treatment through the targeted distribution of some pharmacological substances. Dendrimers have the ability to fulfill several objectives in anticancer therapy simultaneously, such as targeting tumor cells so that healthy tissue is not affected, controlling the release of anticancer agents in the tumor microenvironment, and combining anticancer strategies based on the administration of anticancer molecules to potentiate their effect through photothermal therapy or photodynamic therapy. The purpose of this review is to summarize and highlight the possible uses of dendrimers regarding the diagnosis and treatment of oncological conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cancer Nanotechnology for Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy)

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