Review
Oncology
Gyoergy Trencsenyi, Gabor Halmos, Zita Kepes
Summary: Due to the increasing prevalence of malignant diseases and related metastases, there is a need for specific diagnostic vectors that can identify tumors in a timely and selective manner. Multi-target imaging using multivalent ligands has emerged as an effective way to increase the binding ability of peptide-based molecular vectors in cancer research. The colocalization of the asparagine-glycine-arginine (NGR) motif with angiogenesis-related Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) makes radiolabelled NGR-containing bispecific compounds valuable tools for molecular diagnostics of APN/CD13 overexpressing tumors. The establishment of vascular-homing heterobivalent probes not only expands the horizon of cancer diagnostics but also contributes to the goal of personalized tumor imaging.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Xiuping Cao, Xinxin Shang, Yingshu Guo, Xiaofei Zheng, Wenxin Li, Di Wu, Li Sun, Shanliang Mu, Chuanen Guo
Summary: In the process of drug carrier design, the lysosome degradation is often neglected, leading to a considerable number of drugs not playing a role. A tumor treatment platform (Apn/siRNA/NLS/HA/Apt) has been constructed with unique lysosomal escape function and excellent cancer treatment effect. This strategy based on Apn nanocage shows high biocompatibility and unique lysosome escape property, significantly improving drug delivery and treatment efficiency.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Yu Long, Fuqiang Shao, Hao Ji, Xiangming Song, Xiaoying Lv, Xiaotian Xia, Qingyao Liu, Yongxue Zhang, Dexing Zeng, Xiaoli Lan, Yongkang Gai
Summary: Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate among gynecologic malignancies. Ga-68-NGR-RGD, a tracer targeting CD13 and integrin alpha(v)beta(3), shows better contrast and improved ability to differentiate inflammation compared to F-18-FDG in ovarian cancer imaging. It presents a promising imaging agent for the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of ovarian tumors.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Abiodun Ayo, Pirjo Laakkonen
Summary: The article discusses a new treatment strategy utilizing tumor-targeting peptides to deliver drugs, as well as the structure-function relationship data of different tumor-targeting peptides. The importance of improving peptide activity and conjugation strategies is also highlighted.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yan Hou, Jingzhe Jin, Hongxia Duan, Chao Liu, Liqing Chen, Wei Huang, Zhonggao Gao, Mingji Jin
Summary: Colon cancer is a prevalent global cancer, and the complexity of the gastrointestinal structure hinders the safe delivery of drugs to the tumor site. In this study, paclitaxel-loaded oral colon double-targeted nanoparticles were designed to specifically target the colon tumor. These nanoparticles were able to effectively deliver the drug to cancer cells and induce apoptosis. In vivo studies showed that the nanoparticles could accumulate at the tumor site and have a therapeutic effect on colon cancer. The safety evaluation also demonstrated that this drug delivery system is safe and holds promise for orthotopic colon cancer treatment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yan Zhao, Haolin Jiang, Jiazhen Yu, Luyao Wang, Juanjuan Du
Summary: Currently, the clinical application of protein/peptide therapeutics is limited to the extracellular spaces, mainly due to the endosomal entrapment of internalized proteins/peptides. This study presents a strategy to design peptides that enable the delivery from endosomes to cytosol by extending the histidine switch principle. By replacing the Arg/Lys residues in cationic cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) with histidine, the researchers obtained peptides with pH-dependent membrane-perturbation activity, mimicking the endosomal escape of CPPs.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jessica Hersh, Jose Manuel Condor Capcha, Camila Iansen Irion, Guerline Lambert, Mauricio Noguera, Mohit Singh, Avinash Kaur, Emre Dikici, Joaquin J. Jimenez, Lina A. Shehadeh, Sylvia Daunert, Sapna K. Deo
Summary: In this study, a modified G5 PAMAM dendrimer-DNA complex was developed for targeted delivery to skeletal muscle cells, aiming to treat patients with DMD by improving DNA transfection efficiency.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Diana Costa, Daniela Santo, Catia Domingues, Francisco Veiga, Henrique Faneca, Ana Figueiras
Summary: The decoding of the human genome has led to a better understanding of how genetics affect health and disease. The development of therapies based on exogenous nucleic acids has grown rapidly to address genetic-associated diseases. Non-viral systems, such as micelleplexes, show promise as gene delivery options, but their performance is often hindered by in vivo barriers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xingang Liu, Yukun Duan, Dehong Hu, Min Wu, Chengjian Chen, Pramila Baban Ghode, Gayathiri Magarajah, Nitish Thakor, Xin Liu, Chengbo Liu, Zonghai Sheng, Hairong Zheng, Bin Liu
Summary: The study developed a lipid-decorated molecular photoacoustic contrast agent TFML, which effectively labeled live neutrophils for targeted brain tumor imaging in mice glioblastoma multiforme detection. This approach presents a promising prospect for neutrophil-based nanotherapeutics research.
ACS MATERIALS LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Rachel M. Lieser, Emily J. Hartzell, Daniel Yur, Millicent O. Sullivan, Wilfred Chen
Summary: In this study, SpyTag peptide was fused to the surface of engineered E2 nanocages to enable tunable nanocage decoration and effective E2 cell targeting using a variety of SpyCatcher fusion proteins. The core of the E2 nanocage incorporated four phenylalanine mutations for hydrophobic drug loading and pH-responsive release. By functionalizing the nanocage surface with a highly cell-specific EGFR-targeting protein conjugate, efficient drug loading and targeted cell death in inflammatory breast cancer cells were achieved. This engineered protein nanocage construct demonstrates versatility for cargo delivery.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tanja Sack, Piriththiv Dhavarasa, Daniel Szames, Siobhan O'Brien, Stephane Angers, Shana O. Kelley
Summary: Comparing to nuclear DNA repair mechanisms, the characterization of mtDNA repair mechanisms is difficult due to the challenge of specifically addressing mitochondrial damage. This study uses an mtDNA-damaging agent in combination with CRISPR/Cas9 screening to identify genes essential for mtDNA damage response and confirms the responsiveness of WRNIP1 to mtDNA damage for the first time. The study also reveals the mitochondrial role of WRNIP1 in innate immune signaling and nuclear genome maintenance.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Doudou He, Haoze Li, Yang Li, Ziqing Xu, Chuanbin Wang, Yuxia Tang, Feiyun Wu, Xu Zhen, Shouju Wang
Summary: By functionalizing semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) to target breast cancer and perform ultra-low laser power photothermal therapy (aPTT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS), the local recurrence can be completely inhibited without compromising cosmetic effect. This offers a potential replacement for radiotherapy with minimal side effects.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Israel Santana, Su-Ji Jeon, Hye-In Kim, Md Reyazul Islam, Christopher Castillo, Gail F. H. Garcia, Gregory M. Newkirk, Juan Pablo Giraldo
Summary: This study explores the use of nanotechnology to improve the delivery efficiency of chemicals and genes in plants. By coating carbon-based nanomaterials with a chloroplast targeting peptide, the researchers were able to enhance the delivery of these materials to chloroplasts in leaves. Although the targeted nanomaterials caused a temporary increase in leaf H2O2 levels, they did not have a significant impact on the overall health of the plants. This research provides valuable insights into the potential of using nanomaterials for more efficient and targeted delivery in agriculture.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Palmira Alessia Cavallaro, Marzia De Santo, Emilia Lucia Belsito, Camilla Longobucco, Manuela Curcio, Catia Morelli, Luigi Pasqua, Antonella Leggio
Summary: Breast cancer is a common and deadly disease, and overexpression of HER2 is a major contributing factor. This review provides an overview of the diagnosis and treatment approaches for HER2-positive breast cancer in the past decade. Antibodies and peptides are explored as targeting strategies, with nanotechnology offering potential solutions to current clinical challenges in breast cancer imaging, targeting, and therapy.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fatemeh Movahedi, Jie Liu, Bing Sun, Pei Cao, Luyao Sun, Christopher Howard, Wenyi Gu, Zhi Ping Xu
Summary: Co-loaded dual-targeting LCP nanoparticles with ABZ and OTS show synergistic cytotoxicity against skin cancer cells and completely suppress skin tumor growth at low doses through targeting PD-L1 and folate receptor.
