Conventional chemotherapies used for breast cancer (BC) treatment are non-selective, attacking both healthy and cancerous cells. Therefore, new technologies that enhance drug efficacy and ameliorate the off-target toxic effects exhibited by currently used anticancer drugs are urgently needed. Here we report the design and synthesis of novel mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) equipped with the hormonal drug tamoxifen (TAM) to facilitate guidance towards estrogen receptors (ERs) which are upregulated in breast tumours. TAM is linked to the MSNs using a poly-ʟ-histidine (PLH) polymer as a pH-sensitive gatekeeper, to ensure efficient delivery of encapsulated materials within the pores. XRD, HR-TEM, DLS, SEM, FT-IR and BET techniques were used to confirm the successful fabrication of MSNs. The MSNs have a high surface area (>1000 m/g); and a mean particle size of 150 nm, which is an appropriate size to allow the penetration of premature blood vessels surrounding breast tumours. Successful surface functionalization was supported by FT-IR, XPS and TGA techniques, with a grafting ratio of approximately 29%. The outcomes of this preliminary work could be used as practical building blocks towards future formulations.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules26010219 | DOI Listing |
Drug Deliv Transl Res
January 2025
Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia.
The synergistic bioactive effect of polyphenols can enhance the development of functional foods to prevent chronic diseases such as cancer. Curcumin and quercetin have been shown to possess anticancer properties. The combination of curcumin and quercetin has been shown to provide synergistic effects against cancer cell proliferation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnal Chim Acta
February 2025
Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Henan International Joint Laboratory of Tumor Theranostic Cluster Materials, Henan Key Laboratory of Crystalline Molecular Functional Materials, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China. Electronic address:
Background: Integrating natural enzymes and nanomaterials exhibiting tailored enzyme-like activities is an effective strategy for the application of cascade reactions. It is essential to develop a highly efficient and robust glucose oxidase-catalase (GOx-CAT) cascade system featuring controllable enzyme activity, a reliable supply of oxygen, and improved stability for glucose depletion in cancer starvation therapy. However, the ambiguous relationship between structure and performance, and the difficulty in controlling enzyme-mimic activity, significantly hinder their broader application.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChemosphere
January 2025
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China; Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China; HKUST Shenzhen-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Research Institute, Futian, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address:
Recent studies have raised concerns about the potential toxicity of amorphous silica (SiO) nanoparticles (NPs). This investigation explores the uptake, transport, and transpiration of silica NPs in Apium graveolens var. secalinum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Pollut Res Int
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety of Zhejiang Province, Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310058, P.R. China.
Applying nano-delivery systems for phytohormones via foliar application has proven effective in reducing grain cadmium (Cd) levels in crops. However, the mechanisms underlying this reduction remain inadequately understood. This study integrated the determination of leaf photosynthetic parameters, Cd translocation analysis, and metabolomics to elucidate the effects of reduced glutathione (GSH) and melatonin (MT), delivered with or without chitosan-encapsulated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN-CS), on grain Cd levels in rice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChembiochem
January 2025
Xidian University, School of Life Science and Technology, 266 Xinglong Section of Xifeng Road, 710126, Xi'an, CHINA.
The resistance of cancer cells to apoptosis poses a significant challenge in cancer therapy, driving the exploration of alternative cell death pathways such as pyroptosis, known for its rapid and potent effects. While initial efforts focused on chemotherapy-induced pyroptosis, concerns about systemic inflammation highlight the need for precise activation strategies. Photothermal therapy emerges as a promising non-invasive technique, minimizing pyroptosis-related side effects by targeting tumors spatially and temporally.
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