Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2023) | Viewed by 32597

Special Issue Editors

Department of Applied Chemistry, National Institute of Technology (KIT), Gumi, Gyeongbuk 39177, Republic of Korea
Interests: NIR-absorbing nanomaterials; cancer therapy; microbial infections; multimodel imaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Applied Chemistry, National Institute of Technology (KIT), Gumi, Gyeongbuk 39177, Republic of Korea
Interests: NIR-based nanoparticles; cancer therapy; phototherapy; chemodynamic therapy; multimodel imaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer remains a major threat to human health worldwide due to the intense physical pain, toxic side effects, and poor therapeutic effect associated with traditional therapeutic methods such as surgery and radiotherapy. Numerous studies have attempted to explore new therapeutic methods, such as chemotherapy (CHT), photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), immunotherapy (IMT), and starvation therapy (ST), with high efficiency and minimized side effects. The development of new multifunctional metal-based nanoparticles for cancer therapy has attracted tremendous attention in recent years because of the various advantages of the reduced rate of recurrent tumors and minimized side effects. In addition, a variety of metal-based nanomaterials with diagnostic imaging properties have been widely used to improve imaging quality, leading to more efficient and promising applications in diagnostic imaging. Combination cancer therapy also allows precise diagnosis and highly efficient tumor therapy. 

We invite all researchers to submit their findings related to metal-based nanomaterials for various cancer treatments.

This Special Issue titled “ Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy” aims to collect as many original research articles and reviews concerning the synthesis of various metal-based nanomaterials, characterization studies, in vitro and in vivo cancer studies, and clinical trials in the pharmaceutical field as possible. In addition, works aiming to increase knowledge about the synthesis of various metal-based nanomaterials, characterization, and cancer treatments are also welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Manivasagan Panchanathan
Prof. Dr. Eue-Soon Jang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • various metal-based nanoparticles
  • green synthesis of nanoparticles
  • cancer therapy
  • synthesis and characterization
  • in vitro and in vivo studies
  • multimodel imaging
  • theranostics
  • tumor targeting
  • drug delivery systems
  • phototherapy

Published Papers (15 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 4706 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Silver Nanoparticle-Induced Photothermal Therapy and Its Augmentation of Hyperthermia on Breast Cancer Cells Harboring Intracellular Bacteria
by Sijia Liu, Spencer Phillips, Scott Northrup and Nicole Levi
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(10), 2466; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15102466 - 14 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1141
Abstract
Breast cancer can harbor intracellular bacteria, which may have an impact on metastasis and therapeutic responses. Silver nanoparticles are FDA-approved for their antimicrobial potential, plus they have pleiotropic benefits for eradicating cancer cells. In the current work we synthesized photothermal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) [...] Read more.
Breast cancer can harbor intracellular bacteria, which may have an impact on metastasis and therapeutic responses. Silver nanoparticles are FDA-approved for their antimicrobial potential, plus they have pleiotropic benefits for eradicating cancer cells. In the current work we synthesized photothermal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with an absorption at 800 nm for heat generation when exposed to near-infrared laser irradiation. Breast cell lines MCF 10A, MCF7, and MDA MB 231 were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and their response to AgNPs, heat, or photothermal therapy (PTT) was evaluated. The results demonstrate that the application of a brief heating of cells treated with AgNPs offers a synergistic benefit in killing both infected and non-infected cells. Using 10 µg/mL of AgNPs plus laser stimulation induced a temperature change of 12 °C, which was sufficient for reducing non-infected breast cells by 81–94%. Infected breast cells were resistant to PTT, with only a reduction of 45–68%. In the absence of laser stimulation, 10 µg/mL of AgNPs reduced breast cell populations by 10–65% with 24 h of exposure. This concentration had no impact on the survival of planktonic bacteria with or without laser stimulation, although infected breast cells had a 42–90% reduction in intracellular bacteria. Overall, this work highlights the advantages of AgNPs for the generation of heat, and to augment the benefits of heat, in breast cancer cells harboring intracellular infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 8919 KiB  
Article
Biocompatible Calcium Ion-Doped Magnesium Ferrite Nanoparticles as a New Family of Photothermal Therapeutic Materials for Cancer Treatment
by Panchanathan Manivasagan, Sekar Ashokkumar, Ala Manohar, Ara Joe, Hyo-Won Han, Sun-Hwa Seo, Thavasyappan Thambi, Hai-Sang Duong, Nagendra Kumar Kaushik, Ki Hyeon Kim, Eun Ha Choi and Eue-Soon Jang
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(5), 1555; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15051555 - 21 May 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1702
Abstract
Novel biocompatible and efficient photothermal (PT) therapeutic materials for cancer treatment have recently garnered significant attention, owing to their effective ablation of cancer cells, minimal invasiveness, quick recovery, and minimal damage to healthy cells. In this study, we designed and developed calcium ion-doped [...] Read more.
Novel biocompatible and efficient photothermal (PT) therapeutic materials for cancer treatment have recently garnered significant attention, owing to their effective ablation of cancer cells, minimal invasiveness, quick recovery, and minimal damage to healthy cells. In this study, we designed and developed calcium ion-doped magnesium ferrite nanoparticles (Ca2+-doped MgFe2O4 NPs) as novel and effective PT therapeutic materials for cancer treatment, owing to their good biocompatibility, biosafety, high near-infrared (NIR) absorption, easy localization, short treatment period, remote controllability, high efficiency, and high specificity. The studied Ca2+-doped MgFe2O4 NPs exhibited a uniform spherical morphology with particle sizes of 14.24 ± 1.32 nm and a strong PT conversion efficiency (30.12%), making them promising for cancer photothermal therapy (PTT). In vitro experiments showed that Ca2+-doped MgFe2O4 NPs had no significant cytotoxic effects on non-laser-irradiated MDA-MB-231 cells, confirming that Ca2+-doped MgFe2O4 NPs exhibited high biocompatibility. More interestingly, Ca2+-doped MgFe2O4 NPs exhibited superior cytotoxicity to laser-irradiated MDA-MB-231 cells, inducing significant cell death. Our study proposes novel, safe, high-efficiency, and biocompatible PT therapeutics for treating cancers, opening new vistas for the future development of cancer PTT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 79859 KiB  
Article
Impact of Plasmonic Nanoparticles on Poikilocytosis and Microrheological Properties of Erythrocytes
by Tatiana Avsievich, Ruixue Zhu, Alexey P. Popov, Alexander Yatskovskiy, Anton A. Popov, Gleb Tikhonowsky, Andrei I. Pastukhov, Sergei Klimentov, Alexander Bykov, Andrei Kabashin and Igor Meglinski
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(4), 1046; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15041046 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1567
Abstract
Plasmonic nanoparticles (NP) possess great potential in photothermal therapy and diagnostics. However, novel NP require a detailed examination for potential toxicity and peculiarities of interaction with cells. Red blood cells (RBC) are important for NP distribution and the development of hybrid RBC-NP delivery [...] Read more.
Plasmonic nanoparticles (NP) possess great potential in photothermal therapy and diagnostics. However, novel NP require a detailed examination for potential toxicity and peculiarities of interaction with cells. Red blood cells (RBC) are important for NP distribution and the development of hybrid RBC-NP delivery systems. This research explored RBC alterations induced by noble (Au and Ag) and nitride-based (TiN and ZrN) laser-synthesized plasmonic NP. Optical tweezers and conventional microscopy modalities indicated the effects arising at non-hemolytic levels, such as RBC poikilocytosis, and alterations in RBC microrheological parameters, elasticity and intercellular interactions. Aggregation and deformability significantly decreased for echinocytes independently of NP type, while for intact RBC, all NP except Ag NP increased the interaction forces but had no effect on RBC deformability. RBC poikilocytosis promoted by NP at concentration 50 μg mL1 was more pronounced for Au and Ag NP, compared to TiN and ZrN NP. Nitride-based NP demonstrated better biocompatibility towards RBC and higher photothermal efficiency than their noble metal counterparts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

25 pages, 4532 KiB  
Article
The Role of Functionalization and Size of Gold Nanoparticles in the Response of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells to Ionizing Radiation Comparing 2D and 3D In Vitro Models
by Marika Musielak, Agnieszka Boś-Liedke, Oliwia Piwocka, Katarzyna Kowalska, Roksana Markiewicz, Barbara Szymkowiak, Paweł Bakun and Wiktoria M. Suchorska
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030862 - 07 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1631
Abstract
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), as an agent enhancing radiosensitivity, play a key role in the potential treatment of breast cancer (BC). Assessing and understanding the kinetics of modern drug delivery systems is a crucial element that allows the implementation of AuNPs in clinical treatment. [...] Read more.
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), as an agent enhancing radiosensitivity, play a key role in the potential treatment of breast cancer (BC). Assessing and understanding the kinetics of modern drug delivery systems is a crucial element that allows the implementation of AuNPs in clinical treatment. The main objective of the study was to assess the role of the properties of gold nanoparticles in the response of BC cells to ionizing radiation by comparing 2D and 3D models. In this research, four kinds of AuNPs, different in size and PEG length, were used to sensitize cells to ionizing radiation. The in vitro viability, uptake, and reactive oxygen species generation in cells were investigated in a time- and concentration-dependent manner using 2D and 3D models. Next, after the previous incubation with AuNPs, cells were irradiated with 2 Gy. The assessment of the radiation effect in combination with AuNPs was analyzed using the clonogenic assay and γH2AX level. The study highlights the role of the PEG chain in the efficiency of AuNPs in the process of sensitizing cells to ionizing radiation. The results obtained imply that AuNPs are a promising solution for combined treatment with radiotherapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3519 KiB  
Article
Thermosensitive Polymer-Modified Mesoporous Silica for pH and Temperature-Responsive Drug Delivery
by Kokila Thirupathi, Madhappan Santhamoorthy, Sivaprakasam Radhakrishnan, Selvakumari Ulagesan, Taek-Jeong Nam, Thi Tuong Vy Phan and Seong-Cheol Kim
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 795; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030795 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1437
Abstract
A mesoporous silica-based drug delivery system (MS@PNIPAm-PAAm NPs) was synthesized by conjugating the PNIPAm-PAAm copolymer onto the mesoporous silica (MS) surface as a gatekeeper that responds to temperature and pH changes. The drug delivery studies are carried out in vitro at different pH [...] Read more.
A mesoporous silica-based drug delivery system (MS@PNIPAm-PAAm NPs) was synthesized by conjugating the PNIPAm-PAAm copolymer onto the mesoporous silica (MS) surface as a gatekeeper that responds to temperature and pH changes. The drug delivery studies are carried out in vitro at different pH (7.4, 6.5, and 5.0) and temperatures (such as 25 °C and 42 °C, respectively). The surface conjugated copolymer (PNIPAm-PAAm) acts as a gatekeeper below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) (<32 °C) and as a collapsed globule structure above LCST (>32 °C), resulting in controlled drug delivery from the MS@PNIPAm-PAAm system. Furthermore, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cellular internalization results support the prepared MS@PNIPAm-PAAm NPs being biocompatible and readily taken up by MDA-MB-231 cells. The prepared MS@PNIPAm-PAAm NPs, with their pH-responsive drug release behavior and good biocompatibility, could be used as a drug delivery vehicle where sustained drug release at higher temperatures is required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2516 KiB  
Article
An Efficient, Short Stimulus PANC-1 Cancer Cell Ablation and Electrothermal Therapy Driven by Hydrophobic Interactions
by Maria P. Meivita, Denise Lee, J Shamita Naikar, Shao-Xiang Go, Wey Chyi Teoh, Yaw Sing Tan, Natasa Bajalovic and Desmond K. Loke
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(1), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010106 - 28 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5294
Abstract
Promising results in clinical studies have been demonstrated by the utilization of electrothermal agents (ETAs) in cancer therapy. However, a difficulty arises from the balance between facilitating the degradation of ETAs, and at the same time, increasing the electrothermal performance/stability required for highly [...] Read more.
Promising results in clinical studies have been demonstrated by the utilization of electrothermal agents (ETAs) in cancer therapy. However, a difficulty arises from the balance between facilitating the degradation of ETAs, and at the same time, increasing the electrothermal performance/stability required for highly efficient treatment. In this study, we controlled the thermal signature of the MoS2 by harnessing MoS2 nanostructures with M13 phage (MNM) via the structural assembling (hydrophobic interaction) phenomena and developed a combined PANC-1 cancer cell–MNM alternating current (AC)-stimulus framework for cancer cell ablation and electrothermal therapy. A percentage decrease in the cell viability of ~23% was achieved, as well as a degradation time of 2 weeks; a stimulus length of 100 μs was also achieved. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed the assembling kinetics in integrated M13 phage–cancer cell protein systems and the structural origin of the hydrophobic interaction-enabled increase in thermal conduction. This study not only introduced an ‘ideal’ agent that avoided the limitations of ETAs but also provided a proof-of-concept application of MoS2-based materials in efficacious cancer therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 6630 KiB  
Article
Methylene Blue-Loaded Mesoporous Silica-Coated Gold Nanorods on Graphene Oxide for Synergistic Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy
by Sun-Hwa Seo, Ara Joe, Hyo-Won Han, Panchanathan Manivasagan and Eue-Soon Jang
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(10), 2242; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14102242 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1986
Abstract
Photo-nanotheranostics integrates near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered diagnostics and therapeutics, which are combined into a novel all-in-one phototheranostic nanomaterial that holds great promise for the early detection and precise treatment of cancer. In this study, we developed methylene blue-loaded mesoporous silica-coated gold nanorods on graphene [...] Read more.
Photo-nanotheranostics integrates near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered diagnostics and therapeutics, which are combined into a novel all-in-one phototheranostic nanomaterial that holds great promise for the early detection and precise treatment of cancer. In this study, we developed methylene blue-loaded mesoporous silica-coated gold nanorods on graphene oxide (MB-GNR@mSiO2-GO) as an all-in-one photo-nanotheranostic agent for intracellular surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) imaging-guided photothermal therapy (PTT)/photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer. Amine functionalization of the MB-GNR@mSiO2 surfaces was performed using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), which was well anchored on the carboxyl groups of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets uniformly, and showed a remarkably higher photothermal conversion efficiency (48.93%), resulting in outstanding PTT/PDT for cancer. The in vitro photothermal/photodynamic effect of MB-GNR@mSiO2-GO with laser irradiation showed significantly reduced cell viability (6.32%), indicating that MB-GNR@mSiO2-GO with laser irradiation induced significantly more cell deaths. Under laser irradiation, MB-GNR@mSiO2-GO showed a strong SERS effect, which permits accurate cancer cell detection by SERS imaging. Subsequently, the same Raman laser can focus on highly detected MDA-MB-23l cells for a prolonged time to perform PTT/PDT. Therefore, MB-GNR@mSiO2-GO has great potential for precise SERS imaging-guided synergistic PTT/PDT for cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 5431 KiB  
Article
Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized with Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) Ethanolic Extracts Displayed Antiproliferative Effects and Induced Caspase 3 Activity in Human HT29 and SW480 Cancer Cells
by Karen M. Soto, Ivan Luzardo-Ocampo, José M. López-Romero, Sandra Mendoza, Guadalupe Loarca-Piña, Eric M. Rivera-Muñoz and Alejandro Manzano-Ramírez
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(10), 2069; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14102069 - 28 Sep 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2093
Abstract
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are promising nanomaterials exhibiting anti-cancer effects. Green AuNPs synthesis using plant extracts can be used to achieve stable and beneficial nanoparticles due to their content of bioactive compounds. This research aimed to synthesize and evaluate the antiproliferative and caspase-3 activity [...] Read more.
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are promising nanomaterials exhibiting anti-cancer effects. Green AuNPs synthesis using plant extracts can be used to achieve stable and beneficial nanoparticles due to their content of bioactive compounds. This research aimed to synthesize and evaluate the antiproliferative and caspase-3 activity induction of green AuNPs synthesized with common mullein (V. thapsus) flowers (AuNPsME) and castor bean (R. communis) leaves (AuNPsCE) ethanolic extracts in human HT29 and SW480 colorectal cancer cells. Their effect was compared with chemically synthesized AuNPs (AuNPsCS). The extracts mainly contained p-coumaric acid (71.88–79.93 µg/g), ferulic acid (19.07–310.71 µg/g), and rutin (8.14–13.31 µg/g). The obtained nanoparticles presented typical FT-IR bands confirming the inclusion of polyphenols from V. thapsus and R. communis and spherical/quasi-spherical morphologies with diameters in the 20.06–37.14 nm range. The nanoparticles (20–200 µg/mL) showed antiproliferative effects in both cell lines, with AuNPsCE being the most potent (IC50 HT29: 110.10 and IC50SW480: 64.57 µg/mL). The AuNPsCS showed the lowest intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in SW480 cells. All treatments induced caspase 3/7 activity to a similar or greater extent than 30 mM H2O2-treated cells. Results indicated the suitability of V. thapsus and R. communis extracts to synthesize AuNPs, displaying a stronger antiproliferative effect than AuNPsCS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 6358 KiB  
Article
Gold Nanoclusters-Based NIR-II Photosensitizers with Catalase-like Activity for Boosted Photodynamic Therapy
by Qing Dan, Zhen Yuan, Si Zheng, Huanrong Ma, Wanxian Luo, Li Zhang, Ning Su, Dehong Hu, Zonghai Sheng and Yingjia Li
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(8), 1645; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14081645 - 07 Aug 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2468
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) under fluorescence imaging as a selective and non-invasive treatment approach has been widely applied for the therapy of cancer and bacterial infections. However, its treatment efficiency is hampered by high background fluorescence in the first near-infrared window (NIR-I, 700–900 nm) [...] Read more.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) under fluorescence imaging as a selective and non-invasive treatment approach has been widely applied for the therapy of cancer and bacterial infections. However, its treatment efficiency is hampered by high background fluorescence in the first near-infrared window (NIR-I, 700–900 nm) and oxygen-dependent photosensitizing activity of traditional photosensitizers. In this work, we employ gold nanoclusters (BSA@Au) with the second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) fluorescence and catalase-like activity as alternative photosensitizers to realize highly efficient PDT. The bright NIR-II fluorescence of BSA@Au enables the visualization of PDT for tumor with a high signal-to-background ratio (SBR = 7.3) in 4T1 tumor-bearing mouse models. Furthermore, the catalase-like activity of BSA@Au endows its oxygen self-supplied capability, contributing to a five-fold increase in the survival period of tumor-bearing mice receiving boosted PDT treatment compared to that of the control group. Moreover, we further demonstrate that BSA@Au-based PDT strategy can be applied to treat bacterial infections. Our studies show the great potential of NIR-II BSA@Au as a novel photosensitizer for boosted PDT against cancer and bacterial infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2847 KiB  
Article
Saporin Toxin Delivered by Engineered Colloidal Nanoparticles Is Strongly Effective against Cancer Cells
by Lucia Salvioni, Filippo Testa, Linda Barbieri, Marco Giustra, Jessica Armida Bertolini, Giulia Tomaino, Paolo Tortora, Davide Prosperi and Miriam Colombo
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(7), 1517; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14071517 - 21 Jul 2022
Viewed by 1626
Abstract
Ribosome-inactivating proteins, including Saporin toxin, have found application in the search for innovative alternative cancer therapies to conventional chemo- and radiotherapy. Saporin’s main mechanism of action involves the inhibition of cytoplasmic protein synthesis. Its strong theoretical efficacy is counterbalanced by negligible cell uptake [...] Read more.
Ribosome-inactivating proteins, including Saporin toxin, have found application in the search for innovative alternative cancer therapies to conventional chemo- and radiotherapy. Saporin’s main mechanism of action involves the inhibition of cytoplasmic protein synthesis. Its strong theoretical efficacy is counterbalanced by negligible cell uptake and diffusion into the cytosol. In this work, we demonstrate that by immobilizing Saporin on iron oxide nanoparticles coated with an amphiphilic polymer, which promotes nanoconjugate endosomal escape, a strong cytotoxic effect mediated by ribosomal functional inactivation can be achieved. Cancer cell death was mediated by apoptosis dependent on nanoparticle concentration but independent of surface ligand density. The cytotoxic activity of Saporin-conjugated colloidal nanoparticles proved to be selective against three different cancer cell lines in comparison with healthy fibroblasts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3580 KiB  
Article
Surface-Functionalized NdVO4:Gd3+ Nanoplates as Active Agents for Near-Infrared-Light-Triggered and Multimodal-Imaging-Guided Photothermal Therapy
by Kerong Deng, Donglian Liu, Ziyan Wang, Zhaoru Zhou, Qianyi Chen, Jiamin Luo, Yaru Zhang, Zhiyao Hou and Jun Lin
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(6), 1217; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14061217 - 08 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1770
Abstract
Development of nanotheranostic agents with near-infrared (NIR) absorption offers an effective tool for fighting malignant diseases. Lanthanide ion neodymium (Nd3+)-based nanomaterials, due to the maximum absorption at around 800 nm and unique optical properties, have caught great attention as potential agents [...] Read more.
Development of nanotheranostic agents with near-infrared (NIR) absorption offers an effective tool for fighting malignant diseases. Lanthanide ion neodymium (Nd3+)-based nanomaterials, due to the maximum absorption at around 800 nm and unique optical properties, have caught great attention as potential agents for simultaneous cancer diagnosis and therapy. Herein, we employed an active nanoplatform based on gadolinium-ion-doped NdVO4 nanoplates (NdVO4:Gd3+ NPs) for multiple-imaging-assisted photothermal therapy. These NPs exhibited enhanced NIR absorption and excellent biocompatibility after being grafted with polydopamine (pDA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) layers on their surface. Upon expose to an 808 nm laser, these resulting NPs were able to trigger hyperthermia rapidly and cause photo-destruction of cancer cells. In a xenograft tumor model, tumor growth was also significantly inhibited by these photothermal agents under NIR laser irradiation. Owing to the multicomponent nanostructures, we demonstrated these nanoagents as being novel contrast agents for in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, X-ray computed tomography (CT), photoacoustic (PA) imaging, and second biological window fluorescent imaging of tumor models. Thus, we believe that this new kind of nanotherapeutic will benefit the development of emerging nanosystems for biological imaging and cancer therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3411 KiB  
Article
Monoclonal Antibody Functionalized, and L-lysine α-Oxidase Loaded PEGylated-Chitosan Nanoparticle for HER2/Neu Targeted Breast Cancer Therapy
by Kandasamy Saravanakumar, Anbazhagan Sathiyaseelan, Soyoung Park, Song-Rae Kim, Veeraraghavan Vishnu Priya and Myeong-Hyeon Wang
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(5), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14050927 - 24 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2198
Abstract
Herein, we designed a nanocarrier to deliver the LO specifically to HER2+ breast cancer (BC) cells, where functionalization of mAb (anti-HER2+) with PEGylated chitosan enabled it to target the HER2+ BC cells. Taking advantage of overexpression of HER2+ in cancer cells, our nanocarrier [...] Read more.
Herein, we designed a nanocarrier to deliver the LO specifically to HER2+ breast cancer (BC) cells, where functionalization of mAb (anti-HER2+) with PEGylated chitosan enabled it to target the HER2+ BC cells. Taking advantage of overexpression of HER2+ in cancer cells, our nanocarrier (CS-LO-PEG-HER NPs) exhibited promising potency and selectivity against HER2+ BC cells (BT474). The CS-LO-PEG-HER NPs demonstrated the cytotoxicity in BT474 cells by promoting reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential loss, and nucleus damage. The biocompatibility of CS-LO-PEG-HER NPs was evidenced by the hemolysis assay and H & E staining of major organs. The CS-LO-PEG-HER NPs showed anticancer potency against the BT474-xenograft tumor-bearing mice, as evident by the reduction of tumor size and cell density. These results indicate that CS-LO-PEG-HER NPs are biocompatible with mice while inhibiting tumor growth through alter the oxidative stress. Overall, this work provides a promising approach for the delivery of LO for good therapeutic effect in combination with mAb. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 7059 KiB  
Review
Metal-Based Nanoparticles for Cancer Metalloimmunotherapy
by Ivan Hardianto Suliman, Kidong Kim, Weihsuan Chen, Yubin Kim, Jeong-Hyun Moon, Sejin Son and Jutaek Nam
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(7), 2003; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15072003 - 21 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1810
Abstract
Although the promise of cancer immunotherapy has been partially fulfilled with the unprecedented clinical success of several immunotherapeutic interventions, some issues, such as limited response rate and immunotoxicity, still remain. Metalloimmunotherapy offers a new form of cancer immunotherapy that utilizes the inherent immunomodulatory [...] Read more.
Although the promise of cancer immunotherapy has been partially fulfilled with the unprecedented clinical success of several immunotherapeutic interventions, some issues, such as limited response rate and immunotoxicity, still remain. Metalloimmunotherapy offers a new form of cancer immunotherapy that utilizes the inherent immunomodulatory features of metal ions to enhance anticancer immune responses. Their versatile functionalities for a multitude of direct and indirect anticancer activities together with their inherent biocompatibility suggest that metal ions can help overcome the current issues associated with cancer immunotherapy. However, metal ions exhibit poor drug-like properties due to their intrinsic physicochemical profiles that impede in vivo pharmacological performance, thus necessitating an effective pharmaceutical formulation strategy to improve their in vivo behavior. Metal-based nanoparticles provide a promising platform technology for reshaping metal ions into more drug-like formulations with nano-enabled engineering approaches. This review provides a general overview of cancer immunotherapy, the immune system and how it works against cancer cells, and the role of metal ions in the host response and immune modulation, as well as the impact of metal ions on the process via the regulation of immune cells. The preclinical studies that have demonstrated the potential of metal-based nanoparticles for cancer metalloimmunotherapy are presented for the representative nanoparticles constructed with manganese, zinc, iron, copper, calcium, and sodium ions. Lastly, the perspectives and future directions of metal-based nanoparticles are discussed, particularly with respect to their clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 3871 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Polymer-Based Nanomaterials for Non-Invasive Photothermal Therapy of Arthritis
by Muktika Tekade, Prashant Pingale, Rachna Gupta, Bhakti Pawar, Rakesh Kumar Tekade and Mukesh Chandra Sharma
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030735 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1588
Abstract
To date, nanomaterials have been widely used for the treatment and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Amongst various nanomaterials, polymer-based nanomaterials are becoming increasingly popular in nanomedicine due to their functionalised fabrication and easy synthesis, making them biocompatible, cost-effective, biodegradable, and efficient nanocarriers for [...] Read more.
To date, nanomaterials have been widely used for the treatment and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Amongst various nanomaterials, polymer-based nanomaterials are becoming increasingly popular in nanomedicine due to their functionalised fabrication and easy synthesis, making them biocompatible, cost-effective, biodegradable, and efficient nanocarriers for the delivery of drugs to a specific target cell. They act as photothermal reagents with high absorption in the near-infrared region that can transform near-infrared light into localised heat with fewer side effects, provide easier integration with existing therapies, and offer increased effectiveness. They have been combined with photothermal therapy to understand the chemical and physical activities behind the stimuli-responsiveness of polymer nanomaterials. In this review article, we provide detailed information regarding the recent advances in polymer nanomaterials for the non-invasive photothermal treatment of arthritis. The synergistic effect of polymer nanomaterials and photothermal therapy has enhanced the treatment and diagnosis of arthritis and reduced the side effects of drugs in the joint cavity. In addition, further novel challenges and future perspectives must be resolved to advance polymer nanomaterials for the photothermal therapy of arthritis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 2636 KiB  
Review
Mitophagy Induced by Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment
by Deepa Mundekkad and William C. Cho
Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(11), 2275; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14112275 - 24 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1804
Abstract
Research on nanoparticles, especially metal nanoparticles, in cancer therapy is gaining momentum. The versatility and biocompatibility of metal nanoparticles make them ideal for various applications in cancer therapy. They can bring about apoptotic cell death in cancer cells. In addition to apoptosis, nanoparticles [...] Read more.
Research on nanoparticles, especially metal nanoparticles, in cancer therapy is gaining momentum. The versatility and biocompatibility of metal nanoparticles make them ideal for various applications in cancer therapy. They can bring about apoptotic cell death in cancer cells. In addition to apoptosis, nanoparticles mediate a special type of autophagy facilitated through mitochondria called mitophagy. Interestingly, nanoparticles with antioxidant properties are capable of inducing mitophagy by altering the levels of reactive oxygen species and by influencing signaling pathways like PINK/Parkin pathway and P13K/Akt/mTOR pathway. The current review presents various roles of metal nanoparticles in inducing mitophagy in cancer cells. We envision this review sheds some light on the blind spots in the research related to mitophagy induced by nanoparticles for cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop