Dual-targeted TfRA4-DNA1-Ag@AuNPs: An innovative radiosensitizer for enhancing radiotherapy in glioblastoma multiforme.

Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the most effective and widely used treatment methods for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). However, its efficacy is often compromised by the inherent radioresistance of tumor cells, while the restrictive nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) specifically impedes the delivery of radiosensitizer. Thus, we constructed and characterized polyethylene glycol (PEG)-functionalized silver-gold core-shell nanoparticles (PSGNPs) targeting both BBB (TfRA4) and GBM (DNA1) (TDSGNPs).

AS1411-conjugated doxorubicin-loaded silver nanotriangles for targeted chemo-photothermal therapy of breast cancer.

Combination therapy has attracted tremendous interest for its great potential in treating cancers. Based on chitosan-coated silver nanotriangles, polyethylene glycol, AS1411 aptamer and doxorubicin, a multifunctional nanocomposite (AS1411-DOX-AgNTs) was constructed and characterized. Then the photothermal properties, ability to target breast cancer cells and anti-breast cancer effect of AS1411-DOX-AgNTs were evaluated.

Sustained delivery of gemcitabine injectable mussel-inspired hydrogels for the local therapy of pancreatic cancer.

The issue of pervasively enhanced drug resistance of pancreatic cancer is fundamental to a better understanding of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Currently available treatment plans involving injectable therapeutics are mainly engineered to improve the performance and broaden their applications in the domain of biomedicine. Fixed-dose-rate infusion of free gemcitabine (Gem) has drawn appropriate attention for its potent anti-tumor efficacy against various solid tumors, whereas it remains a considerable challenge to extend its application and achieve better treatment.

The effect of AS1411 surface density on the tumor targeting properties of PEGylated silver nanotriangles.

To determine the optimal AS1411 density on polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated silver nanotriangles (PNTs) for targeting breast cancer cells. PNTs modified with different AS1411 densities (ANTs) were constructed, characterized and evaluated for their targeting properties in breast cancer cells and a mouse model of breast cancer. AS1411 was successfully conjugated to PNTs.

GMT8 aptamer conjugated PEGylated Ag@Au core-shell nanoparticles as a novel radiosensitizer for targeted radiotherapy of glioma.

Radiotherapy is one of the main treatment modalities for glioma, but the therapeutic efficacy is often limited by the radioresistance of tumor cells. The radiosensitization effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on tumors have been confirmed by previous studies. To enhance the specific killing effect of irradiation on tumor cells, targeted modification of radiosensitizers is urgently needed.

Gauging surface charge distribution of live cell membrane by ionic current change using scanning ion conductance microscopy.

The distribution of surface charge and potential of cell membrane plays an indispensable role in cellular activities. However, probing surface charge of live cells under physiological conditions, until recently, remains an arduous challenge owing to the lack of effective methods. Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is an emerging imaging technique for imaging a live cell membrane in its native state.

AS1411 and EpDT3-conjugated silver nanotriangle-mediated photothermal therapy for breast cancer and cancer stem cells.

This study aimed to construct AS1411 and EpDT3-conjugated PEGylated silver nanotriangles (AENTs) and assess their ability to target breast cancer and cancer stem cells, as well as the antitumor and antimetastatic effects of AENT-mediated photothermal therapy. AENTs were constructed and characterized. The targeting properties, as well as antitumor and antimetastatic activities, were evaluated in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, cancer stem cells and breast cancer-bearing mice.

DOX-loaded silver nanotriangles and photothermal therapy exert a synergistic antibreast cancer effect via ROS/ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

The combination of multiple therapies has been proved to be more effective than a single therapy for many cancers. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic antibreast cancer effect of doxorubicin-loaded silver nanotriangles (DOX-AgNTs) combined with near-infrared (NIR) irradiation and explore the underlying mechanism. AgNTs were prepared by a chemical method and DOX was loaded via electrostatic adsorption.

Immunogenic Cell Death Induced by Chemoradiotherapy of Novel pH-Sensitive Cargo-Loaded Polymersomes in Glioblastoma.

Background: Inducing the immunogenic cell death of tumour cells can mediate the occurrence of antitumour immune responses and make the therapeutic effect more significant. Therefore, the development of treatments that can induce ICD to destroy tumour cells most effectively is promising. Previously, a new type of pH-sensitive polymersome was designed for the treatment of glioblastoma which represents a promising nanoplatform for future translational research in glioblastoma therapy.

Application of silver nanotriangles as a novel contrast agent in tumor computed tomography imaging.

This study aimed to prepare chitosan-coated silver nanotriangles (AgNTs) and assess their computed tomography (CT) contrast property byandexperiments. AgNTs with a range of sizes were synthesized by a seed-based growth method, and subsequently characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. The x-ray attenuation capability of all prepared AgNTs was evaluated using micro CT.

Repurposing Erythrocytes as a "Photoactivatable Bomb": A General Strategy for Site-Specific Drug Release in Blood Vessels.

Tumor vasculature has long been considered as an extremely valuable therapeutic target for cancer therapy, but how to realize controlled and site-specific drug release in tumor blood vessels remains a huge challenge. Despite the widespread use of nanomaterials in constructing drug delivery systems, they are suboptimal in principle for meeting this demand due to their easy blood cell adsorption/internalization and short lifetime in the systemic circulation. Here, natural red blood cells (RBCs) are repurposed as a remote-controllable drug vehicle, which retains RBC's morphology and vessel-specific biodistribution pattern, by installing photoactivatable molecular triggers on the RBC membrane via covalent conjugation with a finely tuned modification density.

Chitosan oligosaccharide decorated liposomes combined with TH302 for photodynamic therapy in triple negative breast cancer.

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive tumor with extremely high mortality that results from its lack of effective therapeutic targets. As an adhesion molecule related to tumorigenesis and tumor metastasis, cluster of differentiation-44 (also known as CD44) is overexpressed in TNBC. Moreover, CD44 can be effectively targeted by a specific hyaluronic acid analog, namely, chitosan oligosaccharide (CO).

Increasing the accumulation of aptamer AS1411 and verapamil conjugated silver nanoparticles in tumor cells to enhance the radiosensitivity of glioma.

Radioresistance significantly decreases the efficacy of radiotherapy, which can ultimately lead to tumor recurrence and metastasis. As a novel type of nano-radiosensitizer, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have shown promising radiosensitizing properties in the radiotherapy of glioma, but their ability to efficiently enter and accumulate in tumor cells needs to be improved. In the current study, AS1411 and verapamil (VRP) conjugated bovine serum albumin (BSA) coated AgNPs (AgNPs@BSA-AS-VRP) were synthesized and characterized.

Silver Nanotriangles and Chemotherapeutics Synergistically Induce Apoptosis in Glioma Cells via a ROS-Dependent Mitochondrial Pathway.

Background: The synergistic effect of nanomaterials and chemotherapeutics provides a novel strategy for the treatment of tumors. Silver nanotriangles (AgNTs) exhibited some unique properties in nanomedicine. Studies on the synergy of silver-based nanomaterials and anti-tumor drugs against gliomas are rare.

Palladium Nanosheets as Safe Radiosensitizers for Radiotherapy.

Many noble metal-based nanoparticles have emerged for applications in cancer radiotherapy in recent years, but few investigations have been carried out for palladium nanoparticles. Herein, palladium nanosheets (Pd NSs), which possess a sheetlike morphology with a diameter of ∼14 nm and a thickness of ∼2 nm, were utilized as a sensitizer to improve the performance of radiotherapy. It was found that Pd NSs alone did not decrease the cell viability after treatment for as long as 130 h, suggesting the excellent cytocompatibility of the nanoagents.

Ionizing radiation induces ferroptosis in granulocyte-macrophage hematopoietic progenitor cells of murine bone marrow.

To study whether radiation-induced bleeding in the bone marrow induced iron accumulation, and subsequently caused ferroptosis in granulocyte-macrophage hematopoietic progenitor cells. Male mice were subjected to different doses (0, 4, 8, or 10 Gy) of gamma radiation from a Cs source. The changes in iron metabolism or ferroptosis-related parameters of irradiated bone marrow were accessed with biochemical, histopathological, and antibody methods.

Effect of graphene oxide exposure on intestinal Wnt signaling in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Exposure to engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), such as graphene oxide (GO), can potentially induce the response of various molecular signaling pathways, which can mediate the protective function or the toxicity induction. Wnt signaling pathway is conserved evolutionarily in organisms. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo assay model, we investigated the effect of GO exposure on intestinal Wnt signaling.

Enhancement of Radiosensitization by Silver Nanoparticles Functionalized with Polyethylene Glycol and Aptamer As1411 for Glioma Irradiation Therapy.

Background: The efficacy of radiotherapy for glioma is often limited by the radioresistance of glioma cells. The radiosensitizing effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on glioma were found in the previous studies of our group. In order to enhance the radiosensitivity of tumor cells and selectively kill them while reducing the side effects of irradiation therapy, targeted modification of AgNPs is urgently needed.

Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response to Microgravity Stress in Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Caenorhabditis elegans is useful for assessing biological effects of spaceflight and simulated microgravity. The molecular response of organisms to simulated microgravity is still largely unclear. Mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mt UPR) mediates a protective response against toxicity from environmental exposure in nematodes.

Sequential Treatment of Cell Cycle Regulator and Nanoradiosensitizer Achieves Enhanced Radiotherapeutic Outcome.

Nanoradiosensitizers are promising agents for enhancing cancer radiotherapeutic efficiency. Although many attempts have been adopted to improve their radiation enhancement effect through regulation of their size, shape, and/or surface chemistry, few methods have achieved satisfactory radiotherapeutic outcomes. Herein, we propose a sequential drug treatment strategy through cell cycle regulation for achieving improved radiotherapeutic performance of the nanoradiosensitizers.

Dysregulation of Neuronal Gαo Signaling by Graphene Oxide in Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Exposure to graphene oxide (GO) induced some dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs), such as the increase in mir-247, in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We here further identified goa-1 encoding a Gαo and pkc-1 encoding a serine/threonine protein kinase as the targets of neuronal mir-247 in the regulation of GO toxicity. GO exposure increased the expressions of both GOA-1 and PKC-1.

Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Induce Enhanced Radiosensitizing Effect via Destructive Autophagy.

Emerging nanotechnologies for radiotherapy are attracting increasing interest from researchers in recent years. To improve the radiotherapeutic performance, developing nanoparticles that can efficiently generate toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) under X-ray irradiation are highly desirable. Here, we investigate the potential of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) as nanoradiosensitizers.

Enhancement of radiotherapy efficacy by silver nanoparticles in hypoxic glioma cells.

Radiotherapy is one of the most widely used treatments for therapy of malignant tumors, but resistance to radiation of hypoxic cells in tumor tissues is still a serious concern. Previous studies have demonstrated that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) enhance the radiosensitivity of human glioma cells in vitro, but the effect of AgNPs on hypoxic glioma cells has not been investigated in detail. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the radiosensitizing efficacy of AgNPs on hypoxic glioma cells.

Radiosensitivity enhancement of FeO@Ag nanoparticles on human glioblastoma cells.

Radiotherapy is one of the main therapeutic methods for cancers, but radiation resistance of cancer cells still remains a serious concern. Searching for radiosensitizers to overcome such resistance is therefore urgently required. The goal of this study is to evaluate and compare the radiosensitizing efficacy of FeO-OA, Ag and FeO@Ag nanoparticles on U251 cells.