Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Weidong Zhao, Shaoyou Yang, Chunxiao Li, Feifei Li, Houjun Pang, Guangling Xu, Yuxin Wang, Mei Cong
Summary: By constructing a novel nanodrug delivery system, the efficacy of gemcitabine has been enhanced while reducing adverse effects, providing a promising therapeutic candidate for pancreatic cancer treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tao Zhang, Fangjun Huo, Weijie Zhang, Fangqin Cheng, Caixia Yin
Summary: Mitophagy is a process that removes excess or damaged mitochondria and affects cell polarity. A polarity-sensitive fluorescent probe, NIR-BT-P, can monitor mitophagy and distinguish normal cells from cancer cells. The probe was also able to visualize mitophagy in cardiomyocytes during starvation.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dongdong An, Linlin Shi, Tianyu Li, Hong-Yu Zhang, Yahong Chen, Xin-Qi Hao, Mao-Ping Song
Summary: Fluorescent chemosensors are used extensively in biomedical imaging, but face challenges such as small Stokes shifts, interfering signals, background noise, and self-quenching. This study presents a supramolecular cage (C-A) assembled through coordination-driven self-assembly of benzothiadiazole derivatives and Eu(OTf)(3). C-A exhibits high fluorescence with a quantum yield (QY) of 38.57%, good photoluminescence (PL) stability, and a large Stokes shift (153 nm). Additionally, the low cytotoxicity of C-A is confirmed by CCK-8 assay against U87 glioblastoma cells, making it a potential probe for U87 cell targeting bioimaging.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Monika Kaurav, Sakina Ruhi, Husni Ahmed Al-Goshae, Ashok Kumar Jeppu, Dhani Ramachandran, Ram Kumar Sahu, Ashish Kumar Sarkar, Jiyauddin Khan, Abu Md Ashif Ikbal
Summary: A brain tumor is an uncontrolled cell proliferation that grows and divides abnormally. Approximately 25,690 primary malignant brain tumors are discovered each year, with 70% originating in glial cells. Nanocarriers have shown significant therapeutic efficacy in various brain diseases.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Vincenzo Balzani, Paola Ceroni, Alberto Credi, Margherita Venturi
Summary: [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) and its related compounds are a unique family of clever molecules that can process optical and electrical signals, and perform a variety of interesting functions as components of chemical species.
COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ying Sun, Minglong Chen, Dan Yang, Wanbing Qin, Guilan Quan, Chuanbin Wu, Xin Pan
Summary: The study developed a self-assembly nanomicelle dissolving microneedle (DMN) patch to enhance drug accumulation in tumors and improve penetration into deep tumor tissue for synergetic chemo-photothermal therapy against melanoma. The results showed that the nanomicelles could efficiently eliminate tumors without causing damage to normal tissues, providing a versatile approach for superficial cancer treatment.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Behnaz Lahooti, Racheal G. Akwii, Fatema Tuz Zahra, Md Sanaullah Sajib, Margarita Lamprou, Ahmed Alobaida, Michail S. Lionakis, George Mattheolabakis, Constantinos M. Mikelis
Summary: The review focuses on the characteristics and regulation of vascular permeability in tumor microenvironment, especially the impact of endothelial cells. It discusses the challenges and approaches of targeting vascular permeability for clinical translation, the effects of immune cells on the tumor vessels and nanomedicine delivery, and desirable nanoparticle design approaches.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zheng Li, Weiwei Huan, Yan Wang, Ying-Wei Yang
Summary: Discrete organometallic complexes with defined structures have shown promising applications in the treatment of malignant tumors. Their advantages, including high antitumor activity, low toxicity, active targeting ability, and enhanced cellular uptake, make them suitable for clinical use. In particular, coordination-induced regulation of luminescence and photophysical properties has potential in evaluating therapeutic efficacy and enabling synergistic photodynamic or photothermal therapy. This review focuses on multimodal radiochemotherapy platforms based on self-assembled metallacycles/metallacages for cancer ablation, classifying them according to their functions. The review also discusses the demands and prospects for future development in this field.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Md Abdus Subhan, Farzana Parveen, Nina Filipczak, Satya Siva Kishan Yalamarty, Vladimir P. Torchilin
Summary: The innovative development of nanomedicine offers effective treatment options for cancer therapy. However, the efficiency of EPR-targeted nanodrugs is hindered by the heterogeneity of the EPR effect. Enhancing the EPR effect through various approaches is vital for improving cancer therapy.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Ke-Fei Xu, Hao-Ran Jia, Xiaoyang Liu, Ya-Xuan Zhu, Cong She, Junying Li, Qiu-Yi Duan, Rufeng Zhang, Fu-Gen Wu
Summary: This study utilized dendrimers to prepare nanoprobes with high-quality imaging performance for multicolor labeling of the plasma membrane of living mammalian cells, as well as for drug toxicity evaluation and biosensing applications.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xiaocui Fang, Kaiyue Zhang, Mei Jiang, Lilusi Ma, Jian Liu, Haiyan Xu, Yanlian Yang, Chen Wang
Summary: The study demonstrated that nanometer-sized PEG-PE micelles can co-deliver CXCR4 antagonistic peptide E5 and doxorubicin, preferentially accumulating in lymph nodes, to better inhibit cancer metastasis and enhance anti-tumor efficacy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mayumi Ikeda-Imafuku, Lily Li-Wen Wang, Danika Rodrigues, Suyog Shaha, Zongmin Zhao, Samir Mitragotri
Summary: This review examines the key advances in strategies to enhance the extravasation and retention effect of nanoparticles, as well as analyzes the clinical trials and translation of these strategies.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Chie Kojima, Kento Nagai
Summary: A fluorescence imaging probe was designed for the detection of lymph nodes and tumor cells. By conjugating fluorescence probes and peptide ligands, the detection of tumor cells could be achieved. This non-invasive method can be used to diagnose cancer metastasis in lymph nodes.
Article
Cell Biology
Jiarong Hang, Yu Chen, Lukuan Liu, Liwen Chen, Jiqin Fang, Fei Wang, Miao Wang
Summary: Polymer micelles have promising applications in cancer treatment by increasing drug solubility and bioavailability. This study conducted a preliminary investigation into the anti-tumor mechanism of niclosamide micelles through in vitro experiments and metabolomics. The results showed that niclosamide-loaded micelles had an inhibitory effect on liver cancer cells and could induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Metabolomics analysis revealed that amino acid metabolism was mainly affected by the micelles.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Md Abdus Subhan, Satya Siva Kishan Yalamarty, Nina Filipczak, Farzana Parveen, Vladimir P. Torchilin
Summary: The article discusses the importance of nanodrugs in cancer therapy, targeting tumors through the EPR effect and addressing the lack of selectivity in traditional anticancer drugs.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2021)
Letter
Oncology
Nicolas A. Fraunhoffer, Analia Meilerman Abuelafia, Nelson Dusetti, Juan Iovanna
CANCER COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Nicolas A. Fraunhoffer, Analia Meilerman Abuelafia, Martin Bigonnet, Odile Gayet, Julie Roques, Remy Nicolle, Gwen Lomberk, Raul Urrutia, Nelson Dusetti, Juan Iovanna
Summary: This study developed a Master Regulators (MR)-Gradient model based on transcriptomic profiles derived from both PDAC epithelial and microenvironment cells to reveal the transcriptional networks, epigenomic states, and metabolic pathways underlying PDAC heterogeneity. Integration of methylome and metabolome datasets, along with experimental measurements, showed a close association between PDAC prognosis, tumor epithelial cell phenotype, and immunological component. Metabolic analysis indicated a positive correlation between favorable PDAC phenotype and enzymes involved in complex lipid biosynthesis, while an unfavorable phenotype exhibited an OXPHOS independent metabolism centered on the Warburg effect and glutaminolysis. The study also identified key deregulated pathways in PDAC related to epigenetics.
NPJ PRECISION ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Michele Tonelli, Marco Catto, Raimon Sabate, Valeria Francesconi, Erik Laurini, Sabrina Pricl, Leonardo Pisani, Daniela Valeria Miniero, Grazia Maria Liuzzi, Elena Gatta, Annalisa Relini, Rosalina Gavin, Jose Antonio Del Rio, Fabio Sparatore, Angelo Carotti
Summary: A set of thioxanthene-9-one and xanthene-9-one derivatives were evaluated for their inhibition of tau protein aggregation. Compound 20 showed outstanding biological data with inhibitory potency against tau protein and A beta 40 aggregation, and also exhibited neuroprotective activity. Compound 10 demonstrated good inhibition of cholinesterases with low cytotoxicity. Compound 4 showed high potency as a butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor with selectivity against acetylcholinesterase. These findings suggest that thioxanthene-9-one derivatives have the potential for AD therapy, pending further structural variations to improve safety.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maria Russi, Rachele Valeri, Domenico Marson, Chiara Danielli, Fulvia Felluga, Aura Tintaru, Natasa Skoko, Suzana Aulic, Erik Laurini, Sabrina Pricl
Summary: Dabrafenib (DAB) and vemurafenib (VEM), two clinically approved anticancer drugs, were successfully encapsulated into nanomicelles formed by an amphiphilic dendrimer. The nanomicelles demonstrated well-defined structure, high encapsulation efficiency, good drug loading capacity, and pH-dependent drug release. In vitro experiments showed that the drug-loaded nanomicelles exhibited enhanced response compared to free drugs in melanoma cell lines.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
A. Ya-Ting Huang, C. -L. Kao, A. Selvaraj, L. Peng
Summary: Dendrimers have a unique dendritic structure and multivalent cooperativity, making them promising for various applications. However, dendrimer synthesis faces challenges with structural defects and purification. Solid-phase synthesis can overcome these problems by enabling complete reactions and facilitating purification. This review discusses the challenges and current research in solid-phase dendrimer synthesis, as well as efforts to develop more effective methods.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Luca Blicker, Rafael Gonzalez-Cano, Erik Laurini, Francisco R. Nieto, Judith Schmidt, Dirk Schepmann, Sabrina Pricl, Bernhard Wunsch
Summary: Antagonists targeting sigma 1 receptors show promise for neuropathic pain treatment. A series of aminodiols were synthesized from (-)-isopulegol (1) and transformed into bicyclic and tricyclic derivatives. The aminodiols exhibited higher sigma 1 affinity compared to the derivatives. The study also revealed the importance of stereochemistry and compound structure in modulating sigma 1 affinity.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Daniel Ferry, Sabrina Pricl, Domenico Marson, Zhongrui Chen, Gabriel Canard, Simon Pascal, Aura Tintaru, Olivier Siri
Summary: In this study, the formation of nanoribbons from N-alkyl azacalixphyrin 4 and nanodonuts from the N-aryl analogue 5 were investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The different modes of intermolecular interactions were rationalized based on the nature of the N-substituents. Nanoribbons were formed through the stackings of azacalixphyrin cores along the vertical direction, while nanodonuts were self-assembled with macrocyclic cores stacking along the horizontal plane and thorns pointing towards the solvent.
JOURNAL OF PORPHYRINS AND PHTHALOCYANINES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiaxuan Chen, Dandan Zhu, Baoping Lian, Kangjie Shi, Peng Chen, Ying Li, Wenyi Lin, Ling Ding, Qiulin Long, Yang Wang, Erik Laurini, Wenjun Lan, Yun Li, Aura Tintaru, Caoyun Ju, Can Zhang, Sabrina Pricl, Juan Iovanna, Xiaoxuan Liu, Ling Peng
Summary: Nucleic acid therapeutics serve as an important drug modality for targeting undruggable targets, responding to evolving pathogens, and precision medicine at the gene level. Dendrimers, as precision delivery systems, have been utilized for selective and on-demand delivery of DNA and siRNA. The properties and performance of these dendrimers were systematically studied, and they exhibited cargo-adaptive and selective delivery, tumor targeting, and redox-responsive cargo release. The dendrimers outperformed currently available vectors in tumor and cancer cell-specific delivery of siRNA and DNA therapeutics in various cancer models. This study provides a pathway for engineering tailor-made vectors for nucleic acid delivery and precision medicine.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stefano Rosa, Andrea Tagliani, Chiara Bertaso, Luca Tadini, Cristina Visentin, Louise Jane Gourlay, Sabrina Pricl, Lucia Feni, Sara Pellegrino, Paolo Pesaresi, Simona Masiero
Summary: Genetically-encoded combinatorial peptide libraries are useful for identifying peptides with potential therapeutic applications. In this study, a cyclic peptide called G4CP2 was identified and characterized. G4CP2 interferes with the function of GAL4 protein, a transcription factor involved in galactose metabolism in yeast. The results demonstrate the potential biotechnological applications of G4CP2 and the utility of CYCLIC as a tool for peptide identification.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Peng Zhang, Zhi Li, Weiling Cao, Jingjie Tang, Yi Xia, Ling Peng, Jing Ma
Summary: The study presents an effective strategy for treating metastatic breast cancer by using a self-assembling dendrimer nanosystem to deliver siRNA inhibiting PDK1 and modulating cancer metabolism, while promoting PD-1/PD-L1 pathway-based immunotherapy. This nanosystem, named PPD, effectively inhibits tumor growth and metastasis without notable toxicity in tumor-bearing mouse models. The results highlight the potential use of PPD as an effective and safe tumor-targeting therapy for breast cancer.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Gabriele Cavalieri, Giulia Cilurzo, Lorenzo Pettorosso, Andrea Mansueto, Erik Laurini, Sabrina Pricl
Summary: The combination therapy of BRAF and MEK inhibitors shows better outcomes in melanoma treatment than monotherapy. Encorafenib and Binimetinib have been identified as an effective treatment modality. The comprehensive approach of fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, far-UV circular dichroism, and molecular simulations reveals the binding mechanisms and stability of the inhibitors with human serum albumin.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sabrina Pricl
Summary: COST Action CA17140 is an interdisciplinary network aiming to promote research and development in cancer nanomedicine. This action provides a timely instrument to rationalize and focus research efforts at the European level in translating nanomedicine in cancer. Within this action, dendrimers play a vital role in oncology.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Luca Blicker, Rafael Gonzalez-Cano, Erik Laurini, Francisco R. Nieto, Judith Schmidt, Dirk Schepmann, Sabrina Pricl, Bernhard Wuensch
Summary: Antagonists at a1 receptors have great potential for treating neuropathic pain. The study examined different compounds and found that amino-diols showed higher a1 affinity than bicyclic and tricyclic derivatives. The configuration and structure of the compounds also influenced their a1 affinity and selectivity. A specific compound, aminodiol 8b, demonstrated high a1 affinity, selectivity, and promising activity in pain relief.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Christina Galanakou, Dinesh Dhumal, Ling Peng
Summary: With the increasing concern for antimicrobial resistance, there is a need for novel antimicrobial agents that can effectively combat bacterial resistance without inducing further resistance development. Amphiphilic dendrimers are emerging as a promising solution, as they mimic antimicrobial peptides and possess stable dendritic structures that resist enzymatic degradation. These dendrimers can be precisely designed to optimize their hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance, resulting in potent antibacterial activity and minimal adverse effects. This review explores the challenges, mechanisms, and future prospects of using amphiphilic dendrimers as antibiotic substitutes to combat antimicrobial resistance.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)