Folate-Targeted Nanoliposomal Chemophototherapy.

Light-responsive liposomes have been developed for the on-demand release of drugs. However, efficient delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to tumor for cancer theranostics remains a challenge. Herein, folic acid (FA), an established ligand for targeted drug delivery, was used to decorate light-sensitive porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposomes, which were assessed for FA-targeted chemophototherapy (CPT).

Topical Drug Delivery of Concentrated Cabazitaxel in an α-Tocopherol and DMSO Solution.

Topical chemotherapy approaches are relevant for certain skin cancer treatments. This study observes that cabazitaxel (CTX), a broad-spectrum second-generation taxane cytotoxic agent, can be dissolved in α-tocopherol at high concentrations exceeding 100 mg mL . 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis and molecular dynamics (MD) are used to study this phenomenon.

Immune checkpoint blockade enhances chemophototherapy in a syngeneic pancreatic tumor model.

Pancreatic cancer (PaCa) suffers from poor treatment options for locally advanced cases. Chemophototherapy (CPT) is an emerging anti-tumor modality, and porphyrin-phospholipid liposomes have been shown to be versatile drug carriers for CPT in preclinical rodent models. Here we show that in the syngeneic subcutaneous KPC PaCa tumor model, exhausted CD8 T cells are localized in the tumor, and that CPT is enhanced in combination with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB).

Decoding the effects of spike receptor binding domain mutations on antibody escape abilities of omicron variants.

Recent times witnessed an upsurge in the number of COVID19 cases which is primarily attributed to the emergence of several omicron variants, although there is substantial population vaccination coverage across the globe. Currently, many therapeutic antibodies have been approved for emergency usage. The present study critically evaluates the effect of mutations observed in several omicron variants on the binding affinities of different classes of RBD-specific antibodies using a combined approach of immunoinformatics and binding free energy calculations.

Decoding molecular factors shaping human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor usage by spike glycoprotein in lineage B beta-coronaviruses.

Acquiring the human ACE2 receptor usage trait enables the coronaviruses to spill over to humans. However, the origin of the ACE2 usage trait in coronaviruses is poorly understood. Using a multi-disciplinary approach combining evolutionary bioinformatics and molecular dynamics simulation, we decode the principal driving force behind human ACE2 receptor recognition in coronaviruses.

Chemophototherapeutic Ablation of Doxorubicin-Resistant Human Ovarian Tumor Cells.

Porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposomes loaded with Doxorubicin (Dox) have been demonstrated to be an efficient vehicle for chemophototherapy (CPT). Multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells is a problematic phenomenon in which tumor cells develop resistance to chemotherapy. Herein, we report that Dox-resistant tumor cells can be ablated using our previously described formulation termed long-circulating Dox loaded in PoP liposomes (LC-Dox-PoP), which is a PEGylated formulation containing 2 mol.

Single-treatment tumor ablation with photodynamic liposomal irinotecan sucrosulfate.

Irinotecan (IRI) loaded actively into PEGylated liposomes via a sucrosulfate gradient has been approved recently to treat advanced pancreatic cancer. In this study, a similar liposomal composition was developed that includes a low mole fraction (1 mol.%) of porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP), a photosensitizer that stably incorporates into liposomes, to confer light-triggered IRI release.

Two Laser Treatments Can Improve Tumor Ablation Efficiency of Chemophototherapy.

Chemophototherapy is an emerging tumor ablation modality that can improve local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. Long circulating doxorubicin (Dox) in porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposomes (LC-Dox-PoP) has previously been developed as an effective chemophototherapy agent. In the present study, we observed that in mice, LC-Dox-PoP showed enhanced accumulation in human pancreatic tumor xenografts even with suboptimal light doses, as assessed by fluorometric analysis of tissue homogenates and microscopic imaging of Dox and PoP in tumor slices.

Phylogenomics Analysis of SARS-CoV2 Genomes Reveals Distinct Selection Pressure on Different Viral Strains.

We are witnessing a tremendous outbreak of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) across the globe. Upon exposure to different population and changing environment, the viral strain might experience different mutational bias that leads to genetic diversity among the viral population. Also, the diversification can be influenced by distinct selection pressure on different viral genomes.

Singlet oxygen partition between the outer-, inner- and membrane-phases of photo/chemotherapeutic liposomes.

Liposomes carrying membrane-embedded porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) are capable of chemo- and photo-therapeutic modes of action, which make them a potential candidate material for next-generation cancer treatments. This study examines singlet oxygen (O) production and release by PoP liposomes carrying either no chemotherapeutic cargo (EMPTY), or those carrying either doxorubicin (DOX) or irinotecan (IRT) chemotherapy drugs. Herein, we developed a strategy to quantify the fraction of O lifetime spent in the three distinct local liposomal environments by obtaining four key pieces of information for each system: average O deactivation rate constants (k) for liposome suspensions in HO and in DO solvents, as well as the absolute and the apparent O production quantum yields (Φ).

Liposomal formulations of photosensitizers.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinical ablation modality to treat cancers and other diseases. PDT involves administration of a photosensitizer, followed by irradiation of target tissue with light. As many photosensitizers are small and hydrophobic, solubilization approaches and nanoscale delivery vehicles have been extensively explored.

Loading and Releasing Ciprofloxacin in Photoactivatable Liposomes.

We demonstrate that ciprofloxacin can be actively loaded into liposomes that contain small amounts of porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP). PoP renders the liposomes photoactivatable, so that the antibiotic is released from the carrier under red light irradiation (665 nm). The use of 2 molar % PoP in the liposomes accommodated active loading of ciprofloxacin.