Enhanced Fluorescence Imaging and Photodynamic Cancer Therapy Using Hollow Mesoporous Nanocontainers

Here we show that “off‐on” type of photodynamic therapy agents could be developed using hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNPs), which can be used not only for enhancing delivery of photosensitizers to cancer cells but also for enabling switchable optical properties of the photosensitizers. Fluorescence and singlet oxygen generation of the photosensitizer‐loaded HMSNP are turned off in its native state. In vitro cell studies showed that this HMSNP‐based “off‐on” agent may have potential utility in selective fluorescence detection and photodynamic therapy of cancers.     

New Quinoxaline Derivatives as Dual Pim-1/2 Kinase Inhibitors: Design,Synthesis and Biological Evaluation

Proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus (Pim)-1/2 kinase overexpression has been identified in a variety of hematologic (e.g., multiple myeloma or acute myeloid leukemia (AML)) and solid (e.g., colorectal carcinoma) tumors, playing a key role in cancer progression, metastasis, and drug resistance, and is linked to poor prognosis. These kinases are thus considered interesting targets in oncology. We report herein the design, synthesis, structure–activity relationships (SAR) and in vitro evaluations of new quinoxaline derivatives, acting as dual Pim1/2 inhibitors. Two lead compounds (5c and 5e) were then identified, as potent submicromolar Pim-1 and Pim-2 inhibitors. These molecules were also able to inhibit the growth of the two human cell lines, MV4-11 (AML) and HCT-116 (colorectal carcinoma), expressing high endogenous levels of Pim-1/2 kinases.     

Clinical Perspectives of Theranostics

Theranostics is a precision medicine which integrates diagnostic nuclear medicine and radionuclide therapy for various cancers throughout body using suitable tracers and treatment that target specific biological pathways or receptors. This review covers traditional theranostics for thyroid cancer and pheochromocytoma with radioiodine compounds. In addition, recent theranostics of radioimmunotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and treatment of bone metastasis using bone seeking radiopharmaceuticals are described. Furthermore, new radiopharmaceuticals for prostatic cancer and pancreatic cancer have been added. Of particular, F-18 Fluoro-2-Deoxyglucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is often used for treatment monitoring and estimating patient outcome. A recent clinical study highlighted the ability of alpha-radiotherapy with high linear energy transfer (LET) to overcome treatment resistance to beta--particle therapy. Theranostics will become an ever-increasing part of clinical nuclear medicine.     

Nutritional Value and Preventive Role of Nigella sativa L. and Its Main Component Thymoquinone in Cancer: An Evidenced-Based Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies

In recent times, scientific attention has been paid to different foods and their bioactive components for the ability to inhibit the onset and progress of different types of cancer. Nigella sativa extract, powder and seed oil and its main components, thymoquinone and α-hederin, have showed potent anticancer and chemosensitizing effects against various types of cancer, such as liver, colon, breast, renal, cervical, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate and skin tumors, through the modulation of various molecular signaling pathways. Herein, the purpose of this review was to highlight the anticancer activity of Nigella sativa and it constitutes, focusing on different in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies and projects, in order to underline their antiproliferative, proapoptotic, cytotoxic and antimetastatic effects. Particular attention has been also given to the synergistic effect of Nigella sativa and it constitutes with chemotherapeutic drugs, and to the synthesized analogs of thymoquinone that seem to enhance the chemo-sensitizing potential. This review could be a useful step towards new research on N. sativa and cancer, to include this plant in the dietary treatments in support to conventional therapies, for the best achievement of therapeutic goals.     

A Novel N-Tert-Butyl Derivatives of Pseudothiohydantoin as Potential Target in Anti-Cancer Therapy

Tumors are currently more and more common all over the world; hence, attempts are being made to explain the biochemical processes underlying their development. The search for new therapeutic pathways, with particular emphasis on enzymatic activity and its modulation regulating the level of glucocorticosteroids, may contribute to the development and implementation of new therapeutic options in the treatment process. Our research focuses on understanding the role of 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 as factors involved in the differentiation and proliferation of neoplastic cells. In this work, we obtained the 9 novel N-tert-butyl substituted 2-aminothiazol-4(5H)-one (pseudothiohydantoin) derivatives, differing in the substituents at C-5 of the thiazole ring. The inhibitory activity and selectivity of the obtained derivatives in relation to two isoforms of 11β-HSD were evaluated. The highest inhibitory activity for 11β-HSD1 showed compound 3h, containing the cyclohexane substituent at the 5-position of the thiazole ring in the spiro system (82.5% at a conc. 10 µM). On the other hand, the derivative 3f with the phenyl substituent at C-5 showed the highest inhibition of 11β-HSD2 (53.57% at a conc. of 10 µM). A low selectivity in the inhibition of 11β-HSD2 was observed but, unlike 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, these compounds were found to inhibit the activity of 11β-HSD2 to a greater extent than 11β-HSD1, which makes them attractive for further research on their anti-cancer activity.     

Combined OX40 Agonist and PD-1 Inhibitor Immunotherapy Improves the Efficacy of Vascular Targeted Photodynamic Therapy in a Urothelial Tumor Model

Purpose: Vascular targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) is a nonsurgical tumor ablation approach used to treat early-stage prostate cancer and may also be effective for upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) based on preclinical data. Toward increasing response rates to VTP, we evaluated its efficacy in combination with concurrent PD-1 inhibitor/OX40 agonist immunotherapy in a urothelial tumor-bearing model. Experimental design: In mice allografted with MB-49 UTUC cells, we compared the effects of combined VTP with PD-1 inhibitor/OX40 agonist with those of the component treatments on tumor growth, survival, lung metastasis, and antitumor immune responses. Results: The combination of VTP with both PD-1 inhibitor and OX40 agonist inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival to a greater degree than VTP with either immunotherapeutic individually. These effects result from increased tumor infiltration and intratumoral proliferation of cytotoxic and helper T cells, depletion of Treg cells, and suppression of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that VTP synergizes with PD-1 blockade and OX40 agonist to promote strong antitumor immune responses, yielding therapeutic efficacy in an animal model of urothelial cancer.     

An Iridium Complex as an AIE-active Photosensitizer for Image-guided Photodynamic Therapy

Image-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) has received growing attention due to its non-invasiveness and precise controllability. However, the PDT efficiency of most photosensitizers are decreased in living system due to the aggregation-caused singlet oxygen (¹O₂) generation decreasing. Herein, we present an Iridium (III) pyridylpyrrole complex (Ir-1) featuring of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and ¹O₂ generation characteristics for image-guided PDT of cancer. Ir-1 aqueous solution exhibits bright red phosphorescence peaked at 630 nm, large Stokes shift of 227 nm, and good ¹O₂ generation ability. The ¹O₂ generating rate of Ir-1 in EtOH/water mixture solution is 2.3 times higher than that of Rose Bengal. In vitro experimental results revealed that Ir-1 has better biocompatibility and higher phototoxicity compared with clinically used photosensitizers (Rose Bengal and Ce6), suggesting that Ir-1 can serve as a photosensitizer for image-guided PDT of cancer.     

基于透明质酸构筑的药物递送载体及其应用

传统纳米药物控释载体主要通过细胞胞吞作用实现药物递送,其主要过程为被动靶向机制,因此会影响纳米载体在肿瘤组织的富集和治疗效果。近年来生物大分子透明质酸因其优异的水溶性、生物相容性、可降解性和肿瘤靶向性备受科研工作者青睐,已被广泛用于药物控释载体的构筑中,并成为靶向肿瘤治疗纳米载体领域的研究热点。本文根据透明质酸基纳米载体治疗机制的不同,从透明质酸基纳米载体在化疗、光热治疗、光动力治疗以及联合治疗的应用方面对其性能进行了总结和评述,并在此基础上展望了未来透明质酸基纳米治疗载体的研究方向和发展趋势。     

溶酶体靶向吲哚氟硼二吡咯光敏剂的合成、 双光子荧光成像及光动力治疗

通过Knoevenagel缩合反应制备了一个具有溶酶体靶向的近红外光敏剂IMBDP-Lys, 用于双光子荧光成像和光动力治疗. IMBDP-Lys由2个吲哚吗啉功能团连接到氟硼二吡咯(BODIPY)母核的3?位和8?位构筑而成, 是一种重原子诱导的光敏剂. 采用高斯09W理论计算光敏剂S₁态和T₂态能量值相差0.12 eV, 可以有效地发生系间窜越. 在二氯甲烷溶液中, 光敏剂IMBDP-Lys的最大吸收波长为631 nm, 最大发射波长为684 nm. 在 660 nm的光照下, 以亚甲基蓝为参比, 单线态氧量子产率经计算为48.3%. 此外, 含有2个吗啉基团的光敏剂IMBDP-Lys具有良好的生物相容性和精准的靶向能力, 可以快速地进入斑马鱼体内进行双光子荧光成像, 并且与溶酶体绿色染料Lyso-Tracker Green共定位系数为0.95. 溴化噻唑蓝四氮唑(MTT)实验结果表明, 光敏剂具有低的暗毒性(≥85%)和高的光毒性(IC₅₀=0.52 μmol/L). 在660 nm的光照下, 利用活性氧荧光探针2’,7’-二氯二氢荧光素二乙酸酯（DCFH-DA）证明光敏剂可以产生活性氧, 同时吖啶橙/溴化乙锭(AO/EB)染色实验和细胞迁移实验表明产生的活性氧不仅能诱导A549细胞凋亡, 还能有效地抑制肿瘤细胞迁移. 因此, 近红外光敏剂IMBDP-Lys在双光子荧光成像和溶酶体靶向的光动力治疗中具有重要的应用价值.