Redox-responsive polymer prodrug/AgNPs hybrid nanoparticles for drug delivery

The redox-responsive hybrid nanoparticles of P(MACPTS-co-MAGP)@AgNPs is developed for drug delivery and fluorescence monitoring of the drug release by applying the NSET-based strategy.     

Inorganic hybrid nanoparticles in cancer theranostics: understanding their combinations for better clinical translation

Drug resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and poor selectivity make cancer treatment with current modalities a challenging and complicated task. Careful planning of diagnosis and therapy is required to build new strategies for treatment and management of cancer. The amalgamation of therapeutics and diagnostics in a single nano agent, known as theranostics is now possible due to the emergence of nanotechnology. Theranostics offers opportunities for personalized medicine by real-time monitoring of drug accumulation and dynamic modification of treatment depending on individual patient needs. Thus potential to reform disease management is held by theranostic nanoparticles. Amongst other nanosystems, inorganic nanoparticles have been widely used for developing theranostic drug delivery systems due to their favorable intrinsic properties. The last decade has seen a surge in development of such theranostic nanoparticles in which various inorganic materials in different combinations have been engineered to maximize the output with respect to specific applications. For example, Fe₃O₄@Au nanoparticles were developed for MRI, hyperthermia and magnetically controlled drug delivery. Several such combinations leading to innovative theranostic applications and their underlying mechanisms have been highlighted in this review. A review of patents and clinical trials of inorganic theranostic nanoparticles is also presented through which we understood that clinical translation still remains in the nascent stage. Thus, it is necessary to find and understand reasons for lack of clinical translations. Therefore, we have discussed the challenges associated with bench-to-bed translation of such inorganic nanoparticles which show immense potential in vitro but fail to deliver in long run.     

Functional organic nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy

In recent years, cancer has been one of the leading causes of death in the world. Much effort has been devoted to developing cancer treatments. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive therapeutic modality by combining the light of a specific wavelength, a photosensitizer (PS) and oxygen, which has been widely applied for the treatment of cancers. However, the application of PDT in clinic is greatly limited due to lack of tumor selectivity and often causing skin photosensitivity. The use of organic nanoparticles (NPs) as an advanced technology in the field of PDT shows a great promise to overcome these shortcomings. Therefore, in this review, we summarize several functional organic NPs as PS carriers that have been developed to enhance the efficacy of PDT against cancers.     

Tumor-homing poly-siRNA/glycol chitosan self-cross-linked nanoparticles for systemic siRNA delivery in cancer treatment

The condensed version: Thiolated glycol chitosan can form stable nanoparticles with polymerized siRNAs through charge-charge interactions and self-cross-linking (see scheme). This poly-siRNA/glycol chitosan nanoparticles (psi-TGC) provided sufficient in?vivo stability for systemic delivery of siRNAs. Knockdown of tumor proteins by psi-TGC resulted in a reduction in tumor size and vascularization.     

Local delivery of superagonist gene based on polymer nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy

Cancer is the leading cause that threatens human life expectancy due to the lack of effective therapies. Cancer immunotherapy has been explored to improve the body's immune system against cancer and accompanied by promising results in recent years. Interleukin 15 (IL-15), a pleiotropic immunomodulator, is critical for immune cells development and displays great anti-tumor potential in both preclinical and clinical trials. In this study, superagonist IL-15 plasmid (psIL-15) consisting of IL-15Rα-sushi-linker-IL-15 was constructed in order to secret superagonist IL-15 (sIL-15) in tumor site. A gene delivery system through self-assembly by methylated polyethylene glycol-b-polylactic acid-b-methylated polyethylene glycol (mPEG-PLA-mPEG) and 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP), named DMAM, was designed to deliver psIL-15. Further study showed that DMAM/psIL-15 could successfully deliver psIL-15 to tumor cells and the supernatants of the tumor cells could further stimulate lymphocytes proliferation as well as activation in vitro. Local delivery of DMAM/psIL-15 in animal models demonstrated significant tumor inhibition through enhancing immune cells responses, reducing angiogenesis, promoting tumor cell apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation, with no evidence of system toxicities. These results indicate that DMAM/psIL-15 may be a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy.     

Functional delivery vehicle of organic nanoparticles in inorganic crystals

This work has developed a functional delivery vehicle of an organic-inorganic hybrid consisted of organic nanoparticles in inorganic crystals, which greatly improves the stability of the bioactive and implements a unique pH-triggered release.     

Functional delivery vehicle of organic nanoparticles in inorganic crystals

Encapsulation of bioactive substances for extended shelf life and controlled, targeted release is critical for their applications in food and drug delivery. Here, a new method has been developed to encapsulate bioactive molecules in the crystal composites, showing greatly enhanced stability and unique pH-triggered response. Chlorophyll, a model bioactive, is first loaded in shellac nanoparticles via co-precipitation with a high encapsulation efficiency, and then the chlorophyll-loaded nanoparticles are incorporated into calcite crystals grown from a gel media containing the nanoparticles. Under the protection of shellac nanoparticles and calcite crystals, chlorophyll shows excellent stability even under light. Encapsulated chlorophyll could only be released by first dissolving the calcite crystals under acidic condition and then dissolving the shellac nanoparticles under alkaline condition. The unique pH-triggered release mimics the pH change from acidic in the stomach to alkaline in the intestine and is thus well suited for controlled, targeted intestinal release. This work suggests that the crystal composites are an ideal delivery vehicle for the functional design of bioactive molecules.     

Recent advances in the preparation of hybrid nanoparticles in miniemulsions

In this review, we summarize recent advances in the synthesis of hybrid nanoparticles in miniemulsions since 2009. These hybrid nanoparticles include organic–inorganic, polymeric, and natural macromolecule/synthetic polymer hybrid nanoparticles. They may be prepared through encapsulation of inorganic components or natural macromolecules by miniemulsion (co)polymerization, simultaneous polymerization of vinyl monomers and vinyl-containing inorganic precursors, precipitation of preformed polymers in the presence of inorganic constituents through solvent displacement techniques, and grafting polymerization onto, from or through natural macromolecules. Characterization, properties, and applications of hybrid nanoparticles are also discussed.     

Synthesis and antitumoral activity of gelatin/polyoxometalate hybrid nanoparticles

Surfactant-free gelatin/heptamolybdate (HM) hybrid nanoparticles are prepared by a simple and environmentally friendly approach utilizing the electrostatic interaction between anionic HM and the zwitterionic gelatin. The obtained nanoparticles have a tunable size and very high HM loading content up to about 70%. In vitro and in vivo experiments prove that the gelatin/HM hybrid nanoparticles exhibit significantly better antitumor activity than plain ammonium heptamolybdate solution. Therefore, the gelatin/HM hybrid nanoparticles reported here may serve as a prototype platform for polymer/polyoxometalate (POM) hybrid nanoparticles as cancer treatment agents and hence open up more opportunities to maximize the potential of POM-based pharmaceutical agents.     

Study on luminescence characteristic of the ZnO/polymer hybrid films

The cyclohexane solution of PS (polystyrene) and the ethyl acetate solution of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) were used as flowing liquid; the ZnO/polymer hybrid colloids were successively produced by focused pulsed laser ablation of ZnO target in interface of solid and flowing liquid. As solvent in the hybrid colloids has volatized, the ZnO/polymer hybrid films were obtained. The hybrid colloids were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and select-area electron diffraction (SEAD). The results show a good dispersion of the ZnO nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. The hybrid films were characterized by fluorescence spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry with FTIR (TG/FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectrum. The results show the ZnO/polymer hybrid films can radiate strong blue light under ultraviolet. Meanwhile, the ZnO/polymer hybrid films have higher chemical stability than ZnO nanoparticles because nano-ZnO nanoparticles were enwrapped by polymers. In addition, the ZnO hybrid films have higher thermal stability then the related pure polymers because of strong interaction among ZnO nanoparticles and polymers.     

Electrochemical study of nitrobenzene reduction using novel Pt nanoparticles/macroporous carbon hybrid nanocomposites

Novel Pt nanoparticles (PN) ensemble on macroporous carbon (MPC) hybrid nanocomposites (PNMPC) were prepared through a rapidly and simple one-step microwave-assisted heating procedure. The obtained PNMPC was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and electrochemical methods. The electrochemical reduction of nitrobenzene (NB) was thoroughly investigated at the PNMPC modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode, and the catalytic rate constant was calculated to be 3.14 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for NB. A sensitive NB sensor was developed based on the PNMPC/GC electrode, which showed a wide linear range (1–200 μM), low detection limit (50 nM), high sensitivity (6.93 μA μM⁻¹), excellent anti-interference ability and good stability. And moreover, the electrode was successfully applied to the determination of NB in real samples.     

Green synthesis of Zn nanoparticles and in situ hybridized with BSA nanoparticles for Baicalein targeted delivery mediated with glutamate receptors to U87-MG cancer cell lines

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant tumor of the brain. It has different glutamate receptor types. So, these receptors can be a suitable target for GBM treatment. The current study investigated the anticancer effects of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-Baicalein @Zn-Glu nanostructure mediated-GluRs in human glioblastoma U87 cells. BSA-Ba@Zn-Glu hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) were set and considered transporters for Baicalein (Ba) active compound delivery. BSA-Ba@Zn-Glu NPs were synthesized by a single-step reduction process. The successful production was confirmed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and hemolysis test. The cytotoxic efficacy and apoptosis rate of the nanostructures on U87 glioblastoma cells were investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthialzol-a-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry assays, respectively. The synthesized BSA-Ba@Zn-Glu nanostructures with a diameter of 142.40 ± 1.91 to 177.10 ± 1.87 nm and zeta potential of −10.57 ± 0.71 to −35.77 ± 0.60 mV are suitable for extravasation into tumor cells. The drug release from the BSA-Ba@Zn NPs showed controlled and pH-dependent behavior. In vitro results indicated that the BSA-Ba@Zn-Glu NPs significantly reduce cell viability and promote apoptosis of U87 cancer cells. It revealed the cytotoxic effect of the Baicalein and an increase in cellular uptake of nanoparticles by Glu receptors. Zn NPs were synthesized based on a green synthesis method. BSA NPs were used as a nano-platform for Glu conjugation and Ba drug delivery. BSA-Ba@Zn-Glu NPs induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human brain cancer cells (U87) in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, this nanostructure could be served in targeted drug delivery in vivo studies and applied along with other strategies such as X-ray irradiation as combinational therapies in future studies.     

Synthesis of a novel multivalent galactoside with high hepatocyte targeting for gene delivery

A novel bifunctional glycolipid which carded a cluster of thiogalactosides as the hepatocyte targeting ligand for gene delivery was prepared. Hexa-antennary alcohol 1 was used as the core scaffold to attach a cholesterol molecule by a poly（ethylene glycol） chain, while its remaining branches were linked with five acetylgalactosides, which would be deacetylated later to produce pentaantennary galactoside. Liposome containing the galactoside showed high affinity and transfection activity in hepatoma cells HepG2.     

Self-assembly strategy for the preparation of polymer-based nanoparticles for drug and gene delivery

Nanoparticulate drug-delivery systems have attained much importance because of their injectable property, the possibility to achieve passive targeting and active targeting, and unique advantages to realize stimuli tailored delivery. Molecular self-assembly is a powerful method for fabricating polymer-based nanoparticles, which involves various driving forces, such as hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic interactions, stereocomplexation, host/guest interactions and hydrogen bonding. By fine tuning one or many types of these interactions, self-assemblies with a wide range of structures and functions could be fabricated. In this article, recent developments in different self-assembly strategies for the preparation of polymer-based nanoparticulate delivery systems are discussed.     

Precise modulation of spatially distributed inorganic nanoparticles in block copolymers-based self-assemblies with diverse morphologies

Block copolymers (BCPs)-based self-assemblies with various morphological and compartmental structures can serve as universal polymeric scaffolds for the incorporation of diverse inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) within the disparate polymer domains of the formed aggregates. The properties and performance of the resulting BCPs–NPs hybrids depend not only on the organic and inorganic building moieties, but also on the spatial distribution of inorganic NPs within organic aggregates. However, few publications have so far made a systematical clarification of the effect of the critical parameters on the morphological control of BCPs–NPs hybrids and the spatial localization of NPs within the BCPs-based aggregates as well as their properties for potential applications. For this purpose, we summarized the co-operative assembly of BCPs and NPs in solution and emulsion with an emphasis on the precisely modulated localization of NPs in different domains of BCP aggregates with various morphologies. Specifically, we made detailed discussion on the effect of size, shape and surface property of NPs on the loading number and selective localization of NPs within BCP aggregates. The important guidelines drawn herein on the precise modulation of spatially distributed NPs in BCP aggregates are believed to inspire the generation of more novel hybrid materials for various applications.