A Size‐Reducible Nanodrug with an Aggregation‐Enhanced Photodynamic Effect for Deep Chemo‐Photodynamic Therapy

Fluorescent dyes with multi‐functionality are of great interest for photo‐based cancer theranostics. However, their low singlet oxygen quantum yield impedes their potential applications for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Now, a molecular self‐assembly strategy is presented for a nanodrug with a remarkably enhanced photodynamic effect based on a dye‐chemodrug conjugate. The self‐assembled nanodrug possesses an increased intersystem crossing rate owing to the aggregation of dye, leading to a distinct singlet oxygen quantum yield (Φ(¹O₂)). Subsequently, upon red light irradiation, the generated singlet oxygen reduces the size of the nanodrug from 90 to 10 nm, which facilitates deep tumor penetration of the nanodrug and release of chemodrug. The nanodrug achieved in situ tumor imaging and potent tumor inhibition by deep chemo‐PDT. Our work verifies a facile and effective self‐assembly strategy to construct nanodrugs with enhanced performance for cancer theranostics.     

Tandem Molecular Self‐Assembly in Liver Cancer Cells

We herein describe the tandem molecular self‐assembly of a peptide derivative ( 1 ) that is controlled by a combination of enzymatic and chemical reactions. In phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS), compound 1 self‐assembles first into nanoparticles by phosphatase and then into nanofibers by glutathione. Liver cancer cells exhibit higher concentrations of both phosphatase and GSH than normal cells. Therefore, the tandem self‐assembly of 1 also occurs in the liver cancer cell lines HepG2 and QGY7703; compound 1 first forms nanoparticles around the cells and then forms nanofibers inside the cells. Owing to this self‐assembly mechanism, compound 1 exhibits large ratios for cellular uptake and inhibition of cell viability between liver cancer cells and normal liver cells. We envision that using both extracellular and intracellular reactions to trigger tandem molecular self‐assembly could lead to the development of supramolecular nanomaterials with improved performance in cancer diagnostics and therapy.     

Regulating the Rate of Molecular Self‐Assembly for Targeting Cancer Cells

Besides tight and specific ligand–receptor interactions, the rate regulation of the formation of molecular assemblies is one of fundamental features of cells. But the latter receives little exploration for developing anticancer therapeutics. Here we show that a simple molecular design of the substrates of phosphatases—tailoring the number of phosphates on peptidic substrates—is able to regulate the rate of molecular self‐assembly of the enzyme reaction product. Such a rate regulation allows selective inhibition of osteosarcoma cells over hepatocytes, which promises to target cancer cells in a specific organ. Moreover, our result reveals that the direct measurement of the rate of the self‐assembly in a cell‐based assay provides precise assessment of the cell targeting capability of self‐assembly. This work, as the first report establishing rate regulation of a multiple‐step process to inhibit cells selectively, illustrates a fundamentally new approach for controlling the fate of cells.     

A Molecular Dynamics Study on Controlling the Self‐Assembly of β‐Sheet Peptides with Designer Nanorings

Recently, a rational approach for constructing β‐barrel protein mimics by the self‐assembly of peptide‐based building blocks has been demonstrated. We performed molecular dynamics simulations of nanoring formation by means of the self‐assembly of designed β‐sheet‐forming peptides. Several factors contributing to the stability of the nanoring structures with respect to size were investigated. Our simulations predicted that an optimal nanoring size may be achieved by minimizing repulsions due to steric hindrance between bulky groups while maintaining favorable hydrogen‐bond interactions between neighboring β‐sheet chains. It was shown that mutations in a test peptide, in which all or half of the tryptophan residues were replaced by phenylalanine, could enable the assembly of stable nanoring structures with smaller pore sizes. Insights into the fundamental factors driving the formation of peptide‐based nanostructures are expected to facilitate the design of novel functional bionanostructures.     

Conjugated Polymer Nanomaterials for Phototherapy of Cancer

Due to the excellent properties including high specificity,low side-effect and good biocompatibility,conjugated polymer nanomaterials have been served as efficient anticancer reagents in die past decades.According to the developed anticancer systems based on conjugated polymer nanomaterials,it could be summarized into three main cancer therapy strategies:photodynamic therapy(PDT),photothermal therapy(PTT)and combination therapy.In this mini review,we provide a brief introduction to three different cancer therapy modes,their mechanisms and potential biological applications.Furthermore,some perspectives on the further development of conjugated polymer nanomaterials are proposed in the territory of anticancer precision medicine.     

Modular Synthesis of Functional Nanoscale Coordination Polymers

The coordination‐directed assembly of metal ions and organic bridging ligands has afforded a variety of bulk‐scale hybrid materials with promising characteristics for a number of practical applications, such as gas storage and heterogeneous catalysis. Recently, so‐called coordination polymers have emerged as a new class of hybrid nanomaterials. Herein, we highlight advances in the syntheses of both amorphous and crystalline nanoscale coordination polymers. We also illustrate how scaling down these materials to the nano‐regime has enabled their use in a broad range of applications including catalysis, spin‐crossover, templating, biosensing, biomedical imaging, and anticancer drug delivery. These results underscore the exciting opportunities of developing next‐generation functional nanomaterials based on molecular components.     

Simple Peptide‐Tuned Self‐Assembly of Photosensitizers towards Anticancer Photodynamic Therapy

Peptide‐tuned self‐assembly of functional components offers a strategy towards improved properties and unique functions of materials, but the requirement of many different functions and a lack of understanding of complex structures present a high barrier for applications. Herein, we report a photosensitive drug delivery system for photodynamic therapy (PDT) by a simple dipeptide‐ or amphiphilic amino‐acid‐tuned self‐assembly of photosensitizers (PSs). The assembled nanodrugs exhibit multiple favorable therapeutic features, including tunable size, high loading efficiency, and on‐demand drug release responding to pH, surfactant, and enzyme stimuli, as well as preferable cellular uptake and biodistribution. These features result in greatly enhanced PDT efficacy in vitro and in vivo, leading to almost complete tumor eradication in mice receiving a single drug dose and a single exposure to light.     

Intracellular Self‐Assembly of Taxol Nanoparticles for Overcoming Multidrug Resistance

Multidrug resistance (MDR) remains the biggest challenge in treating cancers. Herein we propose the intracellular self‐assembly of nanodrugs as a new strategy for overcoming MDR. By employing a biocompatible condensation reaction, we rationally designed a taxol derivative Ac‐Arg‐Val‐Arg‐Arg‐Cys(StBu)‐Lys(taxol)‐2‐cyanobenzothiazole (CBT‐Taxol) which could be subjected to furin‐controlled condensation and self‐assembly of taxol nanoparticles (Taxol‐NPs). In vitro and in vivo studies indicated that, compared with taxol, CBT‐Taxol showed a 4.5‐fold or 1.5‐fold increase in anti‐MDR effects, respectively, on taxol‐resistant HCT 116 cancer cells or tumors without being toxic to the cells or the mice. Our results demonstrate that structuring protease‐susceptible agents and assembling them intracellularly into nanodrugs could be a new optimal strategy for overcoming MDR.     

Calcium Phosphate Hybrid Nanoparticles: Self‐Assembly Formation,Characterization, and Application as an Anticancer Drug Nanocarrier

Calcium phosphate hybrid nanoparticles (CaP‐HNPs) have been synthesized in aqueous solution through self‐assembly by using two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(acrylate sodium) (PAS)) as dual templates. First, the PAS/Ca²⁺ and PDADMAC/PO₄^3? complexes form through electrostatic interactions and then two complexes self‐assemble into CaP‐HNPs after mixing them together. The as‐prepared CaP‐HNPs exhibit a spherical morphology with a narrow size distribution, good dispersibility, and high colloidal stability in water. The CaP‐HNPs are explored as a nanocarrier for the anticancer drug docetaxel (Dtxl). The CaP‐HNPs show excellent biocompatibility, high drug‐loading capacity, pH‐sensitive drug‐release behavior, and high anticancer effect after being loaded with Dtxl. Therefore, the as‐prepared CaP‐HNPs are promising drug nanocarriers for cancer therapy.     

Micro‐/Nanostructured Multicomponent Molecular Materials: Design,Assembly, and Functionality

Molecule‐based micro‐/nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention because their properties can vary greatly from the corresponding macro‐sized bulk systems. Recently, the construction of multicomponent molecular solids based on crystal engineering principles has emerged as a promising alternative way to develop micro‐/nanomaterials. Unlike single‐component materials, the resulting multicomponent systems offer the advantages of tunable composition, and adjustable molecular arrangement, and intermolecular interactions within their solid states. The study of these materials also supplies insight into how the crystal structure, molecular components, and micro‐/nanoscale effects can influence the performance of molecular materials. In this review, we describe recent advances and current directions in the assembly and applications of crystalline multicomponent micro‐/nanostructures. Firstly, the design strategies for multicomponent systems based on molecular recognition and crystal engineering principles are introduced. Attention is then focused on the methods of fabrication of low‐dimensional multicomponent micro‐/nanostructures. Their new applications are also outlined. Finally, we briefly discuss perspectives for the further development of these molecular crystalline micro‐/nanomaterials.     

Microenvironment‐Induced In Situ Self‐Assembly of Polymer–Peptide Conjugates That Attack Solid Tumors Deeply

In cancer treatment, the unsatisfactory solid‐tumor penetration of nanomaterials limits their therapeutic efficacy. We employed an in vivo self‐assembly strategy and designed polymer–peptide conjugates (PPCs) that underwent an acid‐induced hydrophobicity increase with a narrow pH‐response range (from 7.4 to 6.5). In situ self‐assembly in the tumor microenvironment at appropriate molecular concentrations (around the IC₅₀ values of PPCs) enabled drug delivery deeper into the tumor. A cytotoxic peptide KLAK, decorated with the pH‐sensitive moiety cis‐aconitic anhydride (CAA), and a cell‐penetrating peptide TAT were conjugated onto poly(β‐thioester) backbones to produce PT‐K‐CAA, which can penetrate deeply into solid tumors owing to its small size as a single chain. During penetration in vivo, CAA responds to the weak acid, leading to the self‐assembly of PPCs and the recovery of therapeutic activity. Therefore, a deep‐penetration ability for enhanced cancer therapy is provided by this in vivo assembly strategy.     

纳米材料在肿瘤光动力治疗中的研究进展

光动力治疗是新兴的非侵入性癌症治疗方法。纳米材料以其独特的结构以及光物理、光化学性质成为可用于光动力治疗的光敏剂。根据纳米材料的不同种类,分别对无机非金属纳米材料、无机金属纳米材料、有机小分子纳米材料以及有机聚合物纳米材料等的构建策略及其在光动力治疗肿瘤中的应用进行综述。展望了纳米材料在未来肿瘤光动力治疗中的挑战和发展方向。为新一代纳米光敏剂的构建提供创新思路,并扩展其在癌症治疗中的潜力。     

Carbon Nanosheets by Morphology‐Retained Carbonization of Two‐Dimensional Assembled Anisotropic Carbon Nanorings

Two‐dimensional (2D) carbon nanomaterials possessing promising physical and chemical properties find applications in high‐performance energy storage devices and catalysts. However, large‐scale fabrication of 2D carbon nanostructures is based on a few specific carbon templates or precursors and poses a formidable challenge. Now a new bottom‐up method for carbon nanosheet fabrication using a newly designed anisotropic carbon nanoring molecule, CPPhen, is presented. CPPhen was self‐assembled at a dynamic air–water interface with a vortex motion to afford molecular nanosheets, which were then carbonized under inert gas flow. Their nanosheet morphologies were retained after carbonization, which has never been seen for low‐molecular weight compounds. Furthermore, adding pyridine as a nitrogen dopant in the self‐assembly step successfully afforded nitrogen‐doped carbon nanosheets containing mainly pyridinic nitrogen species.     

纳米材料-蛋白质界面相互作用的分子机制

纳米材料由于其优异的性能在化工、电子、机械、环境、能源、航天等各个领域已经得到了广泛的应用,并且在生物医学方面的应用越来越受到重视。纳米材料-蛋白质界面相互作用是纳米生物医学领域重要的科学问题,对于纳米材料的生物医学应用以及生物安全性评价至关重要。蛋白质分子与纳米材料在界面的相互作用,一方面可以诱导蛋白质的构象、组装结构甚至功能的改变,另一方面可以引起纳米材料的表面亲疏水性、电荷性质等表面物理化学性质的改变。基于蛋白质与纳米材料相互作用检测技术及结果,本文从分子水平阐述了纳米材料与蛋白质分子在界面之间的相互作用机理及相应的结构与性质的变化,从而可以深化对两者之间复杂的相互作用机制的理解,对于推进纳米材料在生物医学的应用及健康、安全、持续发展具有重要意义。     

Antiadhesive Nanosomes Facilitate Targeting of the Lysosomal GlcNAc Salvage Pathway through Derailed Cancer Endocytosis

Activated endocytosis of extracellular macromolecules and their intracellular trafficking to lysosomes is an essential metabolic mechanism in cancer cells during their rapid proliferation. Cancer cells reuse a vast amount of N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) supplied from the GlcNAc salvage pathway for the accelerated synthesis of a pivotal uridine diphosphate (UDP)‐GlcNAc. A method to inactivate key glycosidases in lysosomes could critically contribute to the development of potent anticancer therapy. Here we demonstrate that “nanosomes” made of core metals covered by an antiadhesive mixed self‐assembled monolayer allow for avoiding nonspecific surface protein corona and targeted molecular delivery through activated endocytosis. Nanosomes carrying suicide substrates showed that lysosomal glycosidases such as β‐hexosaminidase and β‐galactosidase in cancer cells are promising targets for novel anticancer therapeutic nanomedicine that induce apoptotic cell death through lysosomal membrane permeabilization. The advantage of this method is evident because multivalent surface loading by antiadhesive nanosomes makes it possible to highlight “weak interactions” such as carbohydrate–lectin interactions independent of surface protein corona.     

A Hot‐Segment‐Based Approach for the Design of Cross‐Amyloid Interaction Surface Mimics as Inhibitors of Amyloid Self‐Assembly

The design of inhibitors of protein–protein interactions mediating amyloid self‐assembly is a major challenge mainly due to the dynamic nature of the involved structures and interfaces. Interactions of amyloidogenic polypeptides with other proteins are important modulators of self‐assembly. Here we present a hot‐segment‐linking approach to design a series of mimics of the IAPP cross‐amyloid interaction surface with Aβ (ISMs) as nanomolar inhibitors of amyloidogenesis and cytotoxicity of Aβ, IAPP, or both polypeptides. The nature of the linker determines ISM structure and inhibitory function including both potency and target selectivity. Importantly, ISMs effectively suppress both self‐ and cross‐seeded IAPP self‐assembly. Our results provide a novel class of highly potent peptide leads for targeting protein aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, or both diseases and a chemical approach to inhibit amyloid self‐assembly and pathogenic interactions of other proteins as well.     

Recent advancements in 2D nanomaterials for cancer therapy

Since mechanical exfoliation of graphene in 2004, unprecedented scientific and technological advances have been achieved in the development of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials. These 2D nanomaterials exhibit various unique mechanical, physical and chemical properties on account of their ultrathin thickness, which are highly desirable for many applications such as catalysis, optoelectronics, energy storage/conversion, as well as disease diagnosis and therapeutics. In this review, we summarized recent progress on the design and fabrication of functional 2D nanomaterials capable of being applied for the cancer treatment including drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy. Their anticancer mechanisms were discussed in detail, and the related safety concerns were analyzed based on current research developments. This review is expected to provide an insight in the field of 2D nanostructured materials for anticancer applications.     

Peptides as New Smart Bionanomaterials: Molecular‐Recognition and Self‐Assembly Capabilities

Biomolecules express exquisite properties that are required for molecular recognition and self‐assembly on the nanoscale. These smart capabilities have developed through evolution and such biomolecules operate based on smart functions in natural systems. Recently, these remarkable smart capabilities have been utilized in not only biologically related fields, but also in materials science and engineering. A peptide‐screening technology that uses phage‐display systems has been developed based on this natural smart evolution for the generation of new functional peptide bionanomaterials. We focused on peptides that specifically bound to synthetic polymers. These polymer‐binding peptides were screened by using a phage‐display peptide library to recognize nanostructures that were derived from polymeric structural features and were utilized for possible applications as new bionanomaterials. We also focused on self‐assembling peptides with β‐sheet structures that formed nanoscale, fibrous structures for applications in new bottom‐up nanomaterials. Moreover, nanofiber‐binding peptides were also screened to introduce the desired functionalities into nanofibers without the need for additional molecular design. Our approach to construct new bionanomaterials that employ peptides will open up excellent opportunities for the next generation of materials science and technology.     

Self‐Assembled Aptamer‐Based Drug Carriers for Bispecific Cytotoxicity to Cancer Cells

Monovalent aptamers can deliver drugs to target cells by specific recognition. However, different cancer subtypes are distinguished by heterogeneous biomarkers and one single aptamer is unable to recognize all clinical samples from different patients with even the same type of cancers. To address heterogeneity among cancer subtypes for targeted drug delivery, as a model, we developed a drug carrier with a broader recognition range of cancer subtypes. This carrier, sgc8c‐sgd5a (SD), was self‐assembled from two modified monovalent aptamers. It showed bispecific recognition abilities to target cells in cell mixtures; thus broadening the recognition capabilities of its parent aptamers. The self‐assembly of SD simultaneously formed multiple drug loading sites for the anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox). The Dox‐loaded SD (SD–Dox) also showed bispecific abilities for target cell binding and drug delivery. Most importantly, SD–Dox induced bispecific cytotoxicity in target cells in cell mixtures. Therefore, by broadening the otherwise limited recognition capabilities of monovalent aptamers, bispecific aptamer‐based drug carriers would facilitate aptamer applications for clinically heterogeneous cancer subtypes that respond to the same cancer therapy.     

Small molecule nanodrugs for cancer therapy

Nanoscale drug delivery systems (DDSs) have emerged as promising candidates for cancer therapy. However, traditional nanoscale DDSs suffer from several inherent drawbacks, including sophisticated synthesis, uncontrolled structure, low drug loading capacity, high reticuloendothelial system (RES) accumulation, unpredicted metabolic mechanism, and so on. In order to solve these problems, nanodrugs self-assembled from small molecules containing anticancer drugs have received great attention in recent years. Different from traditional nanoscale DDSs, small molecule nanodrugs (SMNs) exhibit unique advantages, such as simple synthesis, defined structure, high drug loading capacity, excellent tumor accumulation and low-toxic metabolism pathway. Hence, with rational design, SMNs can achieve excellent cancer therapeutic efficacy as well as low side effects, extremely promising for the clinic translation. Up to now, significant progress has been made for the exploration of SMNs for cancer therapy. In this review, we briefly summarize the design and synthesis, biological properties, as well as their wide range of applications for cancer therapy.