Review
Oncology
Andy Guzman Rodriguez, Marquiza Sablon Carrazana, Chrislayne Rodriguez Tanty, Martijn J. A. Malessy, Gaston Fuentes, Luis J. Cruz
Summary: Cancer has been a lethal disease with high incidence and invasive treatments. Nanotechnology provides a promising alternative for cancer treatment by using nanocarriers to transport anticancer drugs. This study aims to explore different nanocarriers and new routes to reduce the incidence of cancer to very low levels in humans.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Wang, Ping-Fan Li, Rui Xie, Xiao-Jie Ju, Zhuang Liu, Liang-Yin Chu
Summary: Smart polymeric materials that can respond to environmental stimuli and dynamically adjust their physico-chemical characteristics have gained significant attention in various fields. The combination of micro-/nano-structures and molecular design offers promising opportunities for the development of advanced smart polymeric materials. This review highlights recent progress in the design and fabrication of smart polymeric materials that incorporate micro-/nano-structures and molecular design to achieve desired functions. Various examples, including smart hydrogels, gating membranes, gratings, milli-particles, micro-particles, and microvalves, are discussed, emphasizing the interplay between their micro-/nano-structures and responsive properties for practical applications. The review concludes with perspectives on the current challenges and future opportunities in the development of micro-/nano-structured smart polymeric materials.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Karine Cappuccio de Castro, Josiel Martins Costa, Maria Gabriela Nogueira Campos
Summary: Polymeric nanoparticles are widely studied for drug encapsulation in modern medicine. The researchers focus on a formulation that can control drug administration at specific sites. Stimulus-responsive nanoparticles have attracted attention due to their long circulation time, ability to reach disease sites, and improved medication delivery to cells. This review summarizes the trends in drug delivery mechanisms and the impact of internal and external stimulus sources on stimulus-responsive nanocarriers. It also discusses the conventional and emerging methods for synthesizing polymeric nanoparticles.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND POLYMERIC BIOMATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sousa Javan Nikkhah, Damien Thompson
Summary: Nanomedicine utilizes molecular materials for disease prevention and treatment, with smart nanoparticle drug delivery systems showing promise in improving drug targeting, solubility, and tissue penetration. Interdisciplinary research and multi-scale modeling are essential for optimizing the performance of these systems.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhiwen Liu, Kangli Guo, Liemei Yan, Kai Zhang, Ying Wang, Xiaokang Ding, Nana Zhao, Fu-Jian Xu
Summary: This study proposes Janus-structured nanoparticles for the flexible elimination of drug-resistant biofilms through near-infrared light-activated photothermal eradication or efficient dispersion. The results demonstrate the excellent antibacterial effects of these nanoparticles and their potential for diverse antibacterial scenarios.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rebecca Maher, Almudena Moreno-Borrallo, Dhruvi Jindal, Binh T. Mai, Eduardo Ruiz-Hernandez, Andrew Harkin
Summary: Nanomedicine focuses on developing nanocarriers to improve drug delivery to the brain for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and neurological diseases. Polymer and lipid-based drug carriers have advantages in delivering drugs to the central nervous system (CNS) due to their safety, drug loading capacity, and controlled release properties. These carriers have shown potential in penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and have been extensively studied in glioblastoma, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative disease models. Intranasal administration has emerged as an attractive route to bypass the BBB using tailored nanocarriers. This review explores the characteristics of polymeric and lipid-based nanocarriers and their potential for CNS drug repurposing, as well as the progress in intranasal drug delivery for neurological diseases.
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Edurne Luque-Michel, Laurent Lemaire, Maria J. Blanco-Prieto
Summary: Researchers developed polymeric nanoparticles loaded with SPION and DOX, successfully achieving targeted accumulation in tumor tissue in experimental mice, leading to a reduction in tumor growth rate.
DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Polymer Science
Sascha Schmitt, Lutz Nuhn, Matthias Barz, Hans-Jurgen Butt, Kaloian Koynov
Summary: The use of nanoparticles as carriers for therapeutic agents is promising, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is a versatile tool for characterization of these carriers.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Pedro Mena-Giraldo, Jahir Orozco
Summary: Smart polymer-based micro/nanoassemblies are a promising alternative for transporting and delivering cargo. These polymeric micro/nanocarriers (PCs) offer excellent spatiotemporal control via irradiation and accelerated cargo-medium interaction for various applications. Light-stimulated polymeric micromotors based on PCs have potential for increasing therapeutic effects in drug delivery systems and practical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhuolun Song, Jinghuan Fang, Zhenhua Wang, Renming Xiao, Xing Guo, Shaobing Zhou
Summary: In this study, rod-shaped polylactic acid polyglycolic acid nanoparticles encapsulated with piceatannol were developed to target and interfere with the interaction between neutrophils and inflamed endothelial cells in ischemic stroke. The nanoparticles with an aspect ratio of 5 exhibited enhanced internalization by neutrophils and were able to block neutrophil adherence to endothelial cells and inhibit infiltration into the blood-brain barrier. The released piceatannol within the ischemic region also inhibited neuroinflammation.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Jiayi Qin, Yangbo Zhu, Dongsheng Zheng, Qingwei Zhao
Summary: pH-sensitive smart polymeric nanocarriers are being developed in biomedicine to overcome the limitations of conventional chemotherapeutics delivery systems, by rapidly degrading in tumor acidic environments and achieving controlled drug release, pharmacokinetic improvements, and enhanced efficiency of antitumor biotherapeutic molecules compared to traditional polymers. The review also focuses on constructing smart drug delivery systems based on acid-labile linkers, including pH-sensitive polymeric prodrugs and copolymeric nanocarriers with acid-cleavable groups. Additionally, the article discusses advanced platforms for delivering special biotherapeutic molecules and reviews various acid-sensitive linkages for controlled pH-responsive drug delivery mechanisms and drug pharmacokinetics enhancement.
BIO-DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
(2021)
Review
Polymer Science
Najla M. Salkho, Nahid S. Awad, William G. Pitt, Ghaleb A. Husseini
Summary: Chemotherapeutic drugs are effective in treating cancer but have side effects that lower the quality of life for patients. Smart nanocarriers can encapsulate these drugs and deliver them to tumors, reducing contact with healthy cells and minimizing side effects.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Leila Farhoudi, Prashant Kesharwani, Muhammed Majeed, Thomas P. Johnston, Amirhossein Sahebkar
Summary: Natural compounds, such as curcumin, have potential benefits in cancer therapy, but their low bioavailability limits their application. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have shown promise in improving the delivery and efficacy of curcumin.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Mohammed Elmowafy, Khaled Shalaby, Mohammed H. H. Elkomy, Omar Awad Alsaidan, Hesham A. M. Gomaa, Mohamed A. A. Abdelgawad, Ehab M. M. Mostafa
Summary: In recent decades, natural bioactive agents have been widely used for the treatment and prevention of diseases due to their unique therapeutic effects. However, their limitations in terms of solubility, bioavailability, stability, metabolism, and duration of action hinder their pharmaceutical applications. Polymeric nanoparticles have emerged as a promising drug delivery platform to overcome these limitations and enhance the efficiency of natural bioactive agents. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on polymeric nanoparticles loaded with natural bioactive agents, including commonly used materials, fabrication methods, and potential strategies to improve their characteristics and address the reported toxicity.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wei Xiong, Zhengdong Guo, Baoyan Zeng, Teng Wang, Xiaowei Zeng, Wei Cao, Daizheng Lian
Summary: This study constructed multifunctional nanoparticles for the encapsulation of dacarbazine (DTIC) and targeted therapy of malignant melanoma (MM). In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that these nanoparticles had good release properties and exhibited strong anti-tumor effects with no side effects.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Liu, Zhongyu Jiang, Shizheng Tong, Yifu Sun, Yu Zhang, Jiayuan Zhang, Duoyi Zhao, Yuanzhen Su, Jianxun Ding, Xuesi Chen
Summary: Biomineralization is a normal physiological process involving nucleation, crystal growth, phase transformation, and orientation evolution. Inducing biomineralization in tumor tissue has shown promise as a therapy for malignancy. However, the limited ion-chelating capabilities of carboxyl-containing biomineralization initiators have hindered their efficacy. In this study, a biomineralization-inducing nanoparticle (BINP) was developed for blockade therapy of osteosarcoma. BINP exhibited tumor inhibition rates of 59.3% and 52.1% for subcutaneous and orthotopic osteosarcomas, respectively. The BINP-mediated blockade therapy also inhibited bone dissolution and pulmonary metastases. This selective biomineralization approach holds promise for clinical osteosarcoma therapy.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yongwei Hu, Yanteng Xu, Rachel L. Mintz, Xing Luo, Youqiang Fang, Yeh-Hsing Lao, Hon Fai Chan, Kai Li, Shixian Lv, Guojun Chen, Yu Tao, Yun Luo, Mingqiang Li
Summary: A self-intensified in-situ therapy approach using electrospun fibers loaded with a biomimetic nanozyme and doxorubicin (DOX) has been developed to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis after surgery.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kaixiang Shen, Kai Xu, Mengyuan Zhang, Jing Yu, Yuxuan Yang, Xiaodan Zhao, Qiang Zhang, Youshen Wu, Yangfeng Zhang, Yilong Cheng
Summary: Ion-conductive hydrogels have vast potentials in wearable electronic devices, human-machine interfaces, and health monitoring. In this work, an IC hydrogel sensor with high mechanical properties and excellent sensing performance was developed using N-acryloyl phenylalanine, which can be used for monitoring human body movements and sleep quality.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhipeng Zeng, Wangmeng Hou, Zhitao Hu, Lixin Liu, Zhijia Liu, Yi Shi, Mingqiang Li, Yongming Chen
Summary: By synthesizing the insulin-zwitterionic polymer conjugate (INS-PMPC), the stability and pharmacokinetics of insulin are improved, leading to effective glycemic control and a decreased incidence of hypoglycemia.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengli Ding, Jingwen Qiu, Stephan Rouziere, Christophe Rihouey, Luc Picton, Ruxandra Gref
Summary: Due to their flexible composition, large surface areas, versatile surface properties, and degradability, nanoscale metal organic frameworks (nano MOFs) are drawing significant attention in nanomedicine. In particular, iron trimesate MIL-100 (Fe) is extensively studied in drug delivery. The challenging synthesis of room-temperature (RT) MIL100 has been addressed by using acetic acid as a modulator and non-toxic cyclodextrin-based coatings for stability. RT MIL100 obtained using acetic acid showed good colloidal stability, low cytotoxicity, and high drug payload efficiency, making it suitable for cancer therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Dong-Mei Xie, Qingguo Zhong, Xiaochun Xu, Yuanlong Li, Simin Chen, Mingqiang Li, Chaoquan Peng
Summary: This study developed a new strategy using PLGA copolymers as carriers to achieve controlled release of LA, which effectively reduced ROS damage and restored heart function after myocardial damage in AMI disease. The results demonstrated the great potential of LA drugs in treating AMI.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tom Bourguignon, Jesus Alfredo Godinez-Leon, Ruxandra Gref
Summary: Tuberculosis (TB) is the second deadliest infectious disease, and current therapies have limitations. Nanosized drug delivery systems (DDSs) have the potential to optimize TB treatment by reducing toxicity and improving efficiency. Numerous publications have shown growing interest in this field. This review explores the challenges and relevant publications related to using drug nanocarriers for TB treatment. The reviewed studies demonstrate that DDSs can optimize antibacterial effects, reduce doses and toxicity, and mitigate the emergence of resistant strains, but there is still a lack of clinical applications and in vivo proof of concept for these nanosized DDSs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiazhen Yang, Hongjie Li, Haoyang Zou, Jianxun Ding
Summary: Intoxication is a common cause of accidental death worldwide. Although some antidotes have been developed, clinicians mainly rely on nonspecific extracorporeal techniques for removing toxins. Nano-intervention strategies using nanoantidotes to neutralize toxicity in situ have shown clinical potential. However, most nanoantidotes are still in the proof-of-concept stage, and challenges such as constructing clinical relevance models and understanding their pharmacokinetics hinder their translation to the clinic. This Concept reviews the detoxification mechanisms of polymer nanoantidotes and discusses the opportunities and challenges of their clinical application.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Qiang Zhang, Peng Zhang, Zhishen Ge, Xiaohong Wang, Xiaoming Chen, Shilong Wu, Quan Chen, Chenyu Liang, Yilong Cheng, Yanfeng Zhang
Summary: Polymer alloys (PAs) are mixtures of different polymers that enhance the properties of polymeric materials. In this study, two immiscible covalent adaptable networks were used to prepare a hard-soft thermoset alloy (HSTA) with enhanced toughness. The HSTA showed improved mechanical properties and excellent impact resistance. Addition of carbon nanotubes further improved the electric resistance of the HSTA.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Kexiang Chen, Chenhui Cui, Zhen Li, Zhe Song, Qiang Zhang, Youshen Wu, Zhishen Ge, Yilong Cheng, Yanfeng Zhang
Summary: Multicomponent polymerization (MCP) is a widely used method to synthesize multifunctional polymers, offering high efficiency, mild reaction conditions, and high yield. In this study, a novel covalent adaptable network (CAN) with dynamic thioaminal covalent bonds was developed through a simple one-pot thiol-aldehyde-amine MCP. The obtained thioaminal CANs showed a tensile strength of up to 45 MPa and exhibited reprocessability, recyclability, and reconfigurable shape memory behaviors. The thiol-aldehyde-amine MCP presents a simple and efficient strategy for preparing versatile thioaminal CANs.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Madi Sun, Peiyu Chen, Kai Xiao, Xiang Zhu, Zhibin Zhao, Chenyang Guo, Xuan He, Tongfei Shi, Qingguo Zhong, Yong Jia, Yu Tao, Mingqiang Li, Kam W. Leong, Dan Shao
Summary: This study finds that the temporal pattern of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is strongly associated with damage and inflammation parameters in APAP-induced liver injury (AILI). CfDNA is comparable to ALT in predicting mortality and outperforms ALT when combined with ALT in AILI. Depleting cfDNA or neutrophils alleviates liver damage, while adding cfDNA or adoptive transfer of neutrophils exacerbates the damage. The combination of DNase I and N-acetylcysteine significantly attenuates AILI. This study establishes that cfDNA is a mechanistic biomarker to predict mortality in AILI mice. The combination of scavenging cfDNA and reducing oxidative damage provides a promising treatment for AILI.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ke Yi, Huimin Kong, Yeh-Hsing Lao, Di Li, Rachel L. Mintz, Tianxu Fang, Guojun Chen, Yu Tao, Mingqiang Li, Jianxun Ding
Summary: CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology has great potential in cancer treatment, but limitations of viral delivery have led to the development of non-viral nanomaterials. Optimizing the packaging capacity, pharmacokinetics, and targetability of non-viral CRISPR/Cas9 nanoformulations can enhance the safety and efficacy of cancer therapy.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Qiang Luo, Wei Sun, Zhibo Li, Jinfeng Sun, Yu Xiao, Jichang Zhang, Cuilin Zhu, Bin Liu, Jianxun Ding
Summary: Although reperfusion therapy is commonly used for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, its efficacy is limited by the occurrence of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). Systemic drug administration to reduce MIRI is often ineffective. Therefore, the development of functional biomaterials to improve drug targetability and bioavailability, and reduce side effects, is of great importance.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yeh-Hsing Lao, Robin Ji, Joyce K. Zhou, Kathy J. Snow, Nancy Kwon, Ethan Saville, Siyu He, Shradha Chauhan, Chun-Wei Chi, Malika S. Datta, Hairong Zhang, Chai Hoon Quek, S. Sarah Cai, Mingqiang Li, Yaned Gaitan, Lawrence Bechtel, Shih-Ying Wu, Cathleen M. Lutz, Raju Tomer, Stephen A. Murray, Alejandro Chavez, Elisa E. Konofagou, Kam W. Leong
Summary: This study demonstrates a safe and effective gene editing technique by using focused ultrasound to transiently open the blood-brain barrier for the transport of CRISPR/Cas9 machinery to the brain.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Zhen Li, Yanxiu Wen, Zhe Song, Chuang Zhang, Chenhui Cui, Dongxu An, Zhishen Ge, Yilong Cheng, Qiang Zhang, Yanfeng Zhang
Summary: The researchers have developed a dynamic cross-linked polyethylene material (PE-MA-Epo) with high dielectric constant and polarization capability, which can fully recover its performance after electrical tree healing. This material demonstrates performance comparable to biaxially oriented polypropylene films and shows great potential for applications in next-generation electrical equipment.
