Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an emerging group of RNAs with a crucial role in cancer pathogenesis. In gastrointestinal cancers, TP53 target 1 (TP53TG1) is an epigenetically regulated lncRNA that represents a promising therapeutic target due to its tumor suppressor properties regulating the p53-mediated DNA damage and the intracellular localization of the oncogenic YBX1 protein. However, to translate this finding into the clinic as a gene therapy, it is important to develop effective carriers able to deliver exogenous lncRNAs to the targeted cancer cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to provide new therapeutic options that can improve survival. Sphingomyelin nanosystems (SNs) are a promising type of nanocarriers with potential for association of different types of drugs and, thus, for the development of combination treatments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTriple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known for being very aggressive, heterogeneous and highly metastatic. The standard of care treatment is still chemotherapy, with adjacent toxicity and low efficacy, highlighting the need for alternative and more effective therapeutic strategies. Edelfosine, an alkyl-lysophospholipid, has proved to be a promising therapy for several cancer types, upon delivery in lipid nanoparticles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRational design and development of a nanosystem usually relies on empirical approaches as well as a fair degree of serendipity. Understanding how nanosystems behave at the molecular level is of great importance for potential biomedical applications. In this work, we describe a nanosystem composed of two natural compounds, vitamin E and sphingomyelin, prepared by spontaneous emulsification (vitamin E-sphingomyelin nanosystems (VSNs)).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGene replacement therapy with oncosuppressor microRNAs (miRNAs) is a promising alternative to interfere with cancer progression. However, miRNAs are highly inefficient in a biological environment, hampering a successful translation to clinics. Nanotechnology can tackle this drawback by providing delivery systems able to efficiently deliver them to cancer cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Lack of effective tumor-specific delivery systems remains an unmet clinical challenge for successful translation of innovative therapies, such as, therapeutic oligonucleotides. In the past decade, exosomes have been suggested to be ideal drug delivery systems with application in a broad range of pathologies including cancer, due to their organotropic properties. Tumor-derived exosomes, having tumor-homing properties, can efficiently reach cancer cells and therefore behave as carriers for improved drug delivery to the primary tumor and metastases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolymer-based nanocarriers have shown potential for enhancing the immunological response of antigens. However, the key drivers for this response have not been fully elucidated. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of particle size (≈100 versus 200 nm) and surface composition of polymeric nanocapsules (chitosan, polyarginine and carboxymethyl-β-glucan) on their ability to target specific immune cells in the lymphatics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF