Harnessing nanomaterials for copper-induced cell death.

Copper (Cu), an essential micronutrient with redox properties, plays a pivotal role in a wide array of pathological and physiological processes across virtually all cell types. Maintaining an optimal copper concentration is critical for cellular survival: insufficient copper levels disrupt respiration and metabolism, while excess copper compromises cell viability, potentially leading to cell death. Similarly, in the context of cancer, copper exhibits a dual role: appropriate amount of copper can promote tumor progression and be an accomplice, yet beyond befitting level, copper can bring about multiple types of cell death, including autophagy, apoptosis, ferroptosis, immunogenic cell death, pyroptosis, and cuproptosis. These forms of cell death are beneficial against cancer progression; however, achieving precise copper regulation within tumors remains a significant challenge in the pursuit of effective cancer therapies. The emergence of nanodrug delivery systems, distinguished by their precise targeting, controlled release, high payload capacity, and the ability to co-deliver multiple agents, has revitalized interest in exploiting copper's precise regulatory capabilities. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of comprehensive review of copper's bidirectional effects on tumorigenesis and the role of copper-based nanomaterials in modulating tumor progression. This paper aims to address this gap by elucidating the complex role in cancer biology and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. Through an exploration of copper's dualistic nature and the application of nanotechnology, this review seeks to offer novel insights and guide future research in advancing cancer treatment.

Oxygen-defect bismuth oxychloride nanosheets for ultrasonic cavitation effect enhanced sonodynamic and second near-infrared photo-induced therapy of breast cancer.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) relies heavily on the presence of oxygen to induce cell death. Its effectiveness is thus diminished in the hypoxic regions of tumor tissue. To address this issue, the exploration of ultrasound-based synergistic treatment modalities has become a significant research focus. Here, we report an ultrasonic cavitation effect enhanced sonodynamic and 1208 nm photo-induced cancer treatment strategy based on thermoelectric/piezoelectric oxygen-defect bismuth oxychloride nanosheets (BNs) to realize the high-performance eradication of tumors. Upon ultrasonic irradiation, the local high temperature and high pressure generated by the ultrasonic cavitation effect combined with the thermoelectric and piezoelectric effects of BNs create a built-in electric field. This facilitates the separation of carriers, increasing their mobility and extending their lifetimes, thereby greatly improving the effectiveness of SDT and NIR-Ⅱ phototherapy on hypoxia. The Tween-20 modified BNs (TBNs) demonstrate ∼88.6 % elimination rate against deep-seated tumor cells under hypoxic conditions. In vivo experiments confirm the excellent antitumor efficacy of TBNs, achieving complete tumor elimination within 10 days with no recurrences. Furthermore, due to the high X-ray attenuation of Bi and excellent NIR-Ⅱ absorption, TBNs enable precise cancer diagnosis through photoacoustic (PA) imaging and computed tomography (CT).

An explore method for quick screening biomarkers based on effective enrichment capacity and data mining.

Protein glycosylation acts as a crucial role in regulating protein function and maintaining cellular homeostasis. Efficient peptide enrichment can be utilized to effectively solve the inherent challenges of protein glycosylation analysis to search unknown cancer biomarkers. In this research, a low dimensional porous hydrophilic nanosheets with a multi-level porous structure (Co-MOF-SiO2@HA) was synthetized via an easy one-pot method for the efficient enrichment of the N-glycopeptides in the digests of complex biosamples. The synthetized nanosheets Co-MOF-SiO2@HA demonstrated excellent enriching performances including a high enrichment capacity (300 mg g-1 calculated), a spectacular selectivity (IgG digests and BSA digests at the molar ratio of 1/1200), and an excellent spatial confinement ability (IgG digests, IgG and BSA at the molar ratio of 1/1000/1000). As an explore result, after the enrichment of human colorectal cancer tissue and human healthy tissue by the nanosheets, several proteins related to cancers and one protein directly related to well-known human colorectal cancer were identified by detecting the corresponding glycopeptides. It presented the potential value of the feasibility of this analysis mode by nanosheets Co-MOF-SiO2@HA in proteomic analysis.

The application of bacteria-nanomaterial hybrids in antitumor therapy.

Adverse effects and multidrug resistance remain significant obstacles in conventional cancer therapy. Nanomedicines, with their intrinsic properties such as nano-sized dimensions and tunable surface characteristics, have the potential to mitigate the side effects of traditional cancer treatments. While nanomaterials have been widely applied in cancer treatment, challenges such as low targeting efficiency and poor tumor penetration persist. Recent research has shown that anaerobic bacteria exhibit high selectivity for primary tumors and metastatic cancers, offering good safety and superior tumor penetration capabilities. This suggests that combining nanomaterials with bacteria could complement their respective limitations, opening vast potential applications in cancer therapy. The use of bacteria in combination with nanomaterials for anticancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and photothermal/photodynamic therapy, has contributed to the rapid development of the field of bacterial oncology treatments. This review explores the mechanisms of bacterial tumor targeting and summarizes strategies for synthesizing bacterial-nanomaterial and their application in cancer therapy. The combination of bacterial-nanomaterial hybrids with modern therapeutic approaches represents a promising avenue for future cancer treatment research, with the potential to improve treatment outcomes for cancer patients.

Screen-Printed Electrodes as Low-Cost Sensors for Breast Cancer Biomarker Detection.

This review explores the emerging role of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) in the detection of breast cancer biomarkers. We discuss the fundamental principles and fabrication techniques of SPEs, highlighting their adaptability and cost-effectiveness. The review examines various modification strategies, including nanomaterial incorporation, polymer coatings, and biomolecule immobilization, which enhance sensor performance. We analyze the application of SPEs in detecting protein, genetic, and metabolite biomarkers associated with breast cancer, presenting recent advancements and innovative approaches. The integration of SPEs with microfluidic systems and their potential in wearable devices for continuous monitoring are explored. While emphasizing the promising aspects of SPE-based biosensors, we also address current challenges in sensitivity, specificity, and real-world applicability. The review concludes by discussing future perspectives, including the potential for early screening and therapy monitoring, and the steps required for clinical implementation. This comprehensive overview aims to stimulate further research and development in SPE-based biosensors for improved breast cancer management.

A Comprehensive Review on the Importance of Sustainable Synthesized Coinage Metal Nanomaterials and Their Diverse Biomedical Applications.

From a historical perspective, coinage metals (CMNMs) are most renowned for their monetary, ornamental, and metallurgical merits; nevertheless, as nanotechnology's potential has only just come to light, their metal nanostructures and uses may be viewed as products of modern science. Notable characteristics of CMNMs include visual, electrical, chemical, and catalytic qualities that depend on shape and size. Due diligence on the creation and synthesis of CMNMs and their possible uses has been greatly promoted by these characteristics. This review focuses on solution-based methods and provides an overview of the latest developments in CMNMs and their bimetallic nanostructures. It discusses a range of synthetic techniques, including conventional procedures and more modern approaches used to enhance functionality by successfully manipulating the CMNMs nanostructure's size, shape, and composition. To help with the design of new nanostructures with improved capabilities in the future, this study offers a brief assessment of the difficulties and potential future directions of these intriguing metal nanostructures. This review focuses on mechanisms and factors influencing the synthesis process, green synthesis, and sustainable synthesis methods. It also discusses the wide range of biological domains in which CMNMs are applied, including antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer. Researchers will therefore find the appropriateness of both synthesizing and using CMNMS keeping in mind the different levels of environmental effects.

Harnessing Gene Editing Technology for Tumor Microenvironment Modulation: An Emerging Anticancer Strategy.

Cancer is a multifaceted disease influenced by both intrinsic cellular traits and extrinsic factors, with the tumor microenvironment (TME) being crucial in its progression. To satisfy their high proliferation and aggressiveness, cancer cell always plunders large amounts of nutrition and releases various signals to the surrounding, forming a dynamic TME with special metabolic, immune, microbial and physical characteristics. Due to the neglect of interactions between tumor cell and TME, traditional cancer therapies often struggle with challenges such as drug resistance, low efficacy, and recurrence. Importantly, with the development of gene editing technologies, particularly the CRISPR-Cas system, offers promising new strategies for cancer treatment. Combined with nanomaterials strategies, CRISPR-Cas technology exhibits precision, affordability, and user-friendliness with reduced side effects, which holds great promise for profoundly altering the TME at a genetic level, potentially leading to lasting anticancer outcomes. This review will delve into how CRISPR-Cas can be leveraged to manipulate the TME, examining its potential as a transformative anticancer therapy.

Development of Graphene-Based Materials with the Targeted Action for Cancer Theranostics.

The review summarises the prospects in the application of graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) in nanomedicine, including drug delivery, photothermal and photodynamic therapy, and theranostics in cancer treatment. The application of GBNs in various areas of science and medicine is due to the unique properties of graphene allowing the development of novel ground-breaking biomedical applications. The review describes current approaches to the production of new targeting graphene-based biomedical agents for the chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and photodynamic therapy of tumors. Analysis of publications and FDA databases showed that despite numerous clinical studies of graphene-based materials conducted worldwide, there is a lack of information on the clinical trials on the use of graphene-based conjugates for the targeted drug delivery and diagnostics. The review will be helpful for researchers working in development of carbon nanostructures, material science, medicinal chemistry, and nanobiomedicine.

Research trends on nanomaterials in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC): a bibliometric analysis from 2010 to 2024.

Breast cancer (BC) is an important cause of cancer-related death in the world. As a subtype of BC with the worst prognosis, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a serious threat to human life and health. In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of research aimed at designing and developing nanomaterials for the diagnosis and treatment of TNBC. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the current status and trend of the application of nanomaterials in TNBC through bibliometric analysis. Studies focusing on nanomaterials and cancer were searched from the Web of Science core collection (WOSCC) database, and relevant literature meeting the inclusion criteria was selected for inclusion in the study. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to perform bibliometric and visual analysis of the included publications. A total of 2338 studies were included. Annual publications have increased from 2010 to 2024. China, the United States and India were the leading countries in the field, accounting for 66.1%, 11.5% and 7.2% of publications, respectively. The Chinese Academy of Sciences and Li Yaping were the most influential institutions and authors, respectively. Journal of Controlled Release was considered the most productive journal. Cancer Research was considered to be the most co-cited journal. Drug delivery and anti-cancer mechanisms related to nanomaterials were considered to be the most widely studied aspects, and green synthesis and anti-cancer mechanisms were also recent research hotspots. In this study, the characteristics of publications were summarized, and the most influential countries, institutions, authors, journals, hot spots and trends in the application of nanomaterials in cancer were identified. These findings provide valuable insights into the current state and future direction of this dynamic field.

The corncobs-loaded iron nanoparticles enhanced mechanism of denitrification performance in microalgal-bacterial aggregates system when treating low COD/TN wastewater.

To improve denitrification efficiency of microalgal-bacterial aggregates (MABAs) when treating low carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio wastewater, CK (the biological control), C1 (untreated corncobs), C2 (alkali-treated corncobs), CFe1 (C1 loaded iron nanoparticles) and CFe2 (C2 loaded iron nanoparticles) five groups of experiments were installed under artificial light (1600 lm). After 36 h of experiment, NO3--N was almost completely converted in CFe1 following by CFe2 when the initial concentration was 60.1 mg/L, whose NO3--N conversion rates were 6.2 and 3.4 times faster than the CK group, respectively. The result showed that the corncobs-loaded iron nanoparticles (CFe1, CFe2) had the potential to promote denitrification process and the CFe1 was more effective. Meanwhile, the CFe1 and CFe2 resulted in a decreased content in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secretion because iron nanoparticles (Fes) promoted electron transport and alleviated the nitrate stress. Moreover, the electrochemical analysis of EPS showed that the corncobs and corncobs-loaded iron nanoparticles improved the electron transport rate and redox active substances production. The increase in electron transport activity (ETSA), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) also indicated that the CFe1 and CFe2 promoted microbial metabolic activity and the electron transport rate in MABAs. In addition, the CFe1 group enhanced the enrichment of Proteobacteria, Patescibacteria, Chlorophyta and Ignavibacteriae, which was contributed to the nitrogen removal performance of MABAs. In summary, the enhancement mechanism of corncobs-loaded iron nanoparticles on denitrification process of MABAs was depicted through EPS secretion, electrochemical characteristics, microbial metabolic activity and microbial community. The article provides a viable program for enhancing the denitrification performance of MABAs when treating low C/N wastewater.

Engineering carbon-based nanomaterials for the delivery of platinum compounds: An innovative cancer disarming frontier.

Carbon-based nanomaterials have been frequently used as one of the most advanced and fascinating nanocarriers for drug delivery applications due to their unique physicochemical properties. Varying types of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) including carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxides, carbon nanohorns, fullerenes, carbon nanodots, and carbon nanodiamonds are promising candidates for designing novel systems to deliver platinum compounds. CNMs modification with various moieties renders vast bio-applications in the area of targeted and organelle-specific cancer therapy. This review featured an updated and concise summarizations of various types of CNMs, their synthesis, advantages and disadvantages including potential bio-toxicity for biomedical applications. The therapeutic utility of CNMs and their efficacy have been noticed and for the first time, this review addressed CNMs-focused applications on the delivery of platinum-derivatives to the cancer site. Collectively, the contents of this review will assist researchers to focus on the possible fabrication, bio-functionalization and designing methods of CNMs to the further development of their future biomedical implementations.

Persistent Luminescent Nanoparticle-Loaded Filaments for Identification of Fabrics in the Visible and Infrared.

Persistent luminescent materials are those which can store an amount of energy locally and release it slowly in the form of light. In this work, persistent luminescent nanoparticles (PLNPs) were synthesized and incorporated into polypropylene (PP) filaments at various loading percentages. We investigated the optical properties of both the as-prepared PLNPs and the PLNP-loaded filaments, focusing on any changes resulting from the integration into the filaments. Specifically, visible and near-infrared spectroscopy were used to analyze the emission, excitation, and persistent luminescence of the PLNPs and PLNP-loaded filaments. The tensile properties of the extruded filaments were also investigated through breaking tenacity, elongation at break, Young's modulus, and secant modulus. All PLNP-loaded filaments were shown to exhibit persistent luminescence when exposed to ultraviolet light. While there were no significant changes in the elongation at break or Young's modulus for the loading percentages tested, there was a slight increase in breaking tenacity and a decrease in the secant modulus. Finally, the filaments were shown to maintain their optical properties and persistent luminescence even after abrasion testing used to simulate the normal wear and tear that fabric experiences during use. These results show that PLNPs can be successfully incorporated into filaments which can be used in fabrics and will maintain the persistent luminescent properties.

A Review of Gas Sensors for CO2 Based on Copper Oxides and Their Derivatives.

Buildings worldwide are becoming more thermally insulated, and air circulation is being reduced to a minimum. As a result, measuring indoor air quality is important to prevent harmful concentrations of various gases that can lead to safety risks and health problems. To measure such gases, it is necessary to produce low-cost and low-power-consuming sensors. Researchers have been focusing on semiconducting metal oxide (SMOx) gas sensors that can be combined with intelligent technologies such as smart homes, smart phones or smart watches to enable gas sensing anywhere and at any time. As a type of SMOx, p-type gas sensors are promising candidates and have attracted more interest in recent years due to their excellent electrical properties and stability. This review paper gives a short overview of the main development of sensors based on copper oxides and their composites, highlighting their potential for detecting CO2 and the factors influencing their performance.

Platelet-cloaked alginate-poly (ß-amino ester) a novel platform bioinspired polyelectrolyte nanoparticle for targeted delivery of carboplatin in breast cancer: An in vitro/in vivo study.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has poor prognosis. Carboplatin (Crb) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, in TNBC but with serious systemic toxicity and poor tumor targeting. Bioinspired drug-loaded platelets (Plt) and Plt-coated nanocarriers evade macrophage phagocytosis by membrane proteins like CD47. The goal of this study was preparation of a novel alginate-poly (ß-amino ester) (PßAE) nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted delivery of Crb to TNBC cells by developing and comparison of two bioinspired carriers of Plt membrane (PltM) coated Crb-loaded alginate-poly (ß-amino ester) nanoparticles (PltM@Crb-PßAE-ALG NPs) and Plt loaded Crb (Plt@Crb). The NPs were prepared by ionic gelation and subsequently were coated by platelet membrane using ultra-sonication method. The loading efficiency, release profile, and in vitro cytotoxicity of both formulations were evaluated on HUVEC and 4 T1 cells. Additionally, the in vivo tumor targeting, therapeutic efficacy, and organ toxicity of the two formulations were assessed in a murine tumor model. Results showed both Plt@Crb and (PltM@Crb-PßAE-ALG NPs) exhibited high drug loading efficiency, sustained release, enhanced cytotoxicity against 4 T1 cells, and decreased cytotoxicity in normal cells (HUVEC) in vitro. In vivo studies revealed that although both formulations considerably improved tumor inhibition compared to free Crb, but the PltM@Crb-PßAE-ALG NPs demonstrated superior cytotoxicity and therapeutic efficacy, thanks to improved Crb's internalization efficiency, enhanced stability, and controlled release properties.

The use of nanomaterials as drug delivery systems and anticancer agents in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer: an updated review (year 2005 to date).

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterised by the lack or low expression of estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 receptors. TNBC has a high recurrence rate, swiftly metastasizes, and has a high mortality rate. Subsequently, the increase in cases of TNBC has signaled the need for treatment strategies with improved drug delivery systems. New diagnostic approaches, chemical entities, formulations particular those in the nanometric range have emerged after extensive scientific research as alternative strategies for TNBC treatment. As compared to contemporary cancer therapy, nanoparticles offer peculiar tunable features namely small size, shape, electrical charge, magnetic and fluorescent properties. Specifically in targeted drug delivery, nanoparticles have been demonstrated to be highly efficient in encapsulating, functionalization, and conjugation. Presently, nanoparticles have ignited and transformed the approach in photodynamic therapy, bioimaging, use of theranostics and precision medicine delivery in breast cancer. Correspondingly, recent years have witnessed a drastic rise in literature pertaining to treatment of TNBC using nanomaterials. Subsequently, this manuscript aims to present a state-of-the-art of nanomaterials advance on TNBC treatment; the ubiquitous utility use of nanomaterials such as liposomes, dendrimers, solid lipid nanomaterials, gold nanomaterials and quantum dots as anticancer agents and drug delivery systems in TNBC.

Unveiling the potential of molecular imprinting polymer-based composites in the discovery of advanced drug delivery carriers.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are polymeric matrices that can mimic natural recognition entities, such as antibodies and biological receptors. Molecular imprinting of therapeutics is very appealing in the design of drug delivery systems since the specific and selective binding sites created within the polymeric matrix turn these complex structures into value-added carriers with tunable features, notably high drug-loading capacity and good control of payload release. MIPs possess considerable promise as synthetic recognition elements in 'theranostics'. Moreover, the high affinity and specificity of MIPs make them more advantageous than other polymer-based nanocomposites. This review summarizes the present state-of-the-art of MIP-based delivery systems for the targeted delivery of bioactives, with current challenges and future perspectives.

Dual-mode detection of α-fetoprotein using the photothermal effect and peroxidase-like activity of Au@Cu/Cu2O-rGO.

α-Fetoprotein (AFP) is widely recognized as an important marker for monitoring hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and its monitoring using two different transduction mechanisms is an effective way to avoid the risk of false positives or false negatives. In this paper, Au@Cu/Cu2O-rGO was used as a photothermal converter as well as an actuator to promote the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which was further designed as a probe for dual-mode detection to quantitatively assess AFP. The composite nanomaterials possessed photothermal conversion efficiencies (η) of up to 54.9 % and catalytically generated signals up to 1.6 times greater, relative to a single material. Based on the generated temperature and current signals, AFP has been sensitively detected in the range of 0.01-100 ng/mL, with limits of detection (LOD) of 5.62 pg/mL and 1.23 pg/mL, respectively. The dual-mode assay combines portability with high accuracy for the detection of human health systems.

Recent development of nanomaterials-based PDT to improve immunogenic cell death.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved therapeutic modality for treating oncological and non-oncological disorders. PDT has proclaimed multiple benefits over further traditional cancer therapies including its minimal systemic toxicity and selective ability to eliminate irradiated tumors. In PDT, a photosensitizing substance localizes in tumor tissues and becomes active when exposed to a particular wavelength of laser light. This produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce neoplastic cells to die and lead to the regression of tumors. The contributions of ROS to PDT-induced tumor destruction are described by three basic processes including direct or indirect cell death, vascular destruction, and immunogenic cell death. However, the efficiency of PDT is significantly limited by the inherent nature and tumor microenvironment. Combining immunotherapy with PDT has recently been shown to improve tumor immunogenicity while decreasing immunoregulatory repression, thereby gently modifying the anticancer immune response with long-term immunological memory effects. This review highlights the fundamental ideas, essential elements, and mechanisms of PDT as well as nanomaterial-based PDT to boost tumor immunogenicity. Moreover, the synergistic use of immunotherapy in combination with PDT to enhance immune responses against tumors is emphasized.

Biodegradable hafnium-doped CaCO3 nanoparticles as a dual-modality radiosensitizer for cancer radiotherapy.

Aim: Radiotherapy employs high-energy ionizing radiation to inflict DNA damage on cancer cells, thereby causing their demise. However, this procedure can inadvertently harm healthy tissue. Thus, this study aimed to develop biodegradable radiosensitizers that counteract these adverse effects by enhancing the radiation sensitivity of tumor cells and safeguarding normal cells.Materials & methods: A biodegradable radiosensitizer was engineered by incorporating hafnium ions (Hf) into calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles via a chemical precipitation technique, resulting in the formation of Hf:CaCO3 nanoparticles.Results & conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that Hf:CaCO3 nanoparticles exhibit pH-dependent solubility and can augment the efficacy of radiotherapy in treating cancer cells. This research underscores the potential of Hf:CaCO3 nanoparticles as a dual-modality radiosensitizer in radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy is a common cancer treatment that uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. However, it can also harm healthy cells. To protect healthy cells and make the treatment more effective, we use something called radiosensitizers. In our study, we made a new kind of radiosensitizer using hafnium ions (Hf) and CaCO₃ nanoparticles. We made these nanoparticles using a method called chemical precipitation. Our tests showed that these nanoparticles are safe for the body and can make radiotherapy more effective against cancer cells, which could be a useful tool in cancer treatment.

Ferroptosis in Renal Cancer Therapy: A Narrative Review of Drug Candidates.

Renal cancer is a common and serious malignant tumor of the urinary system. While surgery effectively treats early-stage renal cancer, advanced cases pose a significant challenge due to poor treatment outcomes and chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop alternative therapeutic strategies. Ferroptosis is a newly defined form of programmed cell death characterized by the accumulation of iron-dependent lipid peroxides, which plays a critical role in tumor progression and drug resistance. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis is involved in the occurrence and development of renal cancer, and ferroptosis-related genes can induce cell apoptosis and can be used as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of renal cancer and participate in drug resistance of renal cancer chemotherapy. With the continuous improvement of the mechanism of ferroptosis, drugs targeting ferroptosis for the treatment of renal cancer are emerging in an endless stream. Based on the theoretical basis of the occurrence of ferroptosis, this paper reviewed drug-induced ferroptosis in renal cancer cells from the aspects of herbal medicine, natural compounds, drug resistance mechanisms, and nanomaterials, and delves into the clinical application potential of ferroptosis-related drugs in the treatment of renal cancer.