2D Hetero-Nanoconstructs of Black Phosphorus for Breast Cancer Theragnosis: Technological Advancements.

As per global cancer statistics of 2020, female breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and also the foremost cause of cancer death in women. Traditional treatments include a number of negative effects, making it necessary to investigate novel smart drug delivery methods and identify new therapeutic approaches. Efforts for developing novel strategies for breast cancer therapy are being devised worldwide by various research groups. Currently, two-dimensional black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs) have attracted considerable attention and are best suited for theranostic nanomedicine. Particularly, their characteristics, including drug loading efficacy, biocompatibility, optical, thermal, electrical, and phototherapeutic characteristics, support their growing demand as a potential substitute for graphene-based nanomaterials in biomedical applications. In this review, we have explained different platforms of BP nanomaterials for breast cancer management, their structures, functionalization approaches, and general methods of synthesis. Various characteristics of BP nanomaterials that make them suitable for cancer therapy and diagnosis, such as large surface area, nontoxicity, solubility, biodegradability, and excellent near-infrared (NIR) absorption capability, are discussed in the later sections. Next, we summarize targeting approaches using various strategies for effective therapy with BP nanoplatforms. Then, we describe applications of BP nanomaterials for breast cancer treatment, which include drug delivery, codelivery of drugs, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, combined therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and multidrug resistance reversal strategy. Finally, the present challenges and future aspects of BP nanomaterials are discussed.

Advancements in cell membrane camouflaged nanoparticles: A bioinspired platform for cancer therapy.

The idea of employing natural cell membranes as a coating medium for nanoparticles (NPs) endows man-made vectors with natural capabilities and benefits. In addition to retaining the physicochemical characteristics of the NPs, the biomimetic NPs also have the functionality of source cell membranes. It has emerged as a promising approach to enhancing the properties of NPs for drug delivery, immune evasion, imaging, cancer-targeting, and phototherapy sensitivity. Several studies have been reported with a multitude of approaches to reengineering the surface of NPs using biological membranes. Owing to their low immunogenicity and intriguing biomimetic properties, cell-membrane-based biohybrid delivery systems have recently gained a lot of interest as therapeutic delivery systems. This review summarises different kinds of biomimetic NPs reported so far, their fabrication aspects, and their application in the biomedical field. Finally, it briefs on the latest advances available in this biohybrid concept.

Stimuli responsive and receptor targeted iron oxide based nanoplatforms for multimodal therapy and imaging of cancer: Conjugation chemistry and alternative therapeutic strategies.

Cancer being one of the most precarious and second most fatal diseases evokes opportunities for multimodal delivery platforms which will act synergistically for efficient cancer treatment. Multifunctional iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (IONPs) are being studied for few decades and still attracting increasing attention for several biomedical applications owing to their multifunctional design and intrinsic magnetic properties that provide a multimodal theranostic platform for cancer therapy, monitoring and diagnosis. The review article aims to provide brief information on various surface chemistries involved in modulating IONPs properties to exhibit potential therapy in cancer treatment. The review addresses structural, magnetic, thermal and optical properties of IONPs which aids in the fabrication of efficient multimodal nanoplatform in cancer therapy. The review discussed the pharmacokinetics of IONPs and attributes influencing them. This review inculcates recent advancements in therapies, focused on tumor-microenvironment-responsive and targeted therapy along with their eminent role in cancer diagnosis. The concept of stimuli-responsive including endogenous, exogenous and dual/multi stimuli-based delivery platform demonstrated significantly enhanced anticancer therapy. Several therapeutic approaches viz. chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, hyperthermia, gene therapy, sonodynamic therapy, photothermal, photodynamic-based therapy along with biosensing and several toxicity aspects of IONPs have been addressed in this review for effective cancer treatment.

Liposomes as Versatile Platform for Cancer Theranostics: Therapy, Bio-imaging, and Toxicological Aspects.

Liposomes are nano-sized formulations having the benefits of site-specificity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, which make them useful for the therapy and diagnosis of major diseases like cancer. In this review, various synthetic strategies of liposomes and their biomedical application in special concern to cancer are discussed. In context to the biomedical application, this article gives a detailed insight into subcellular targeted therapy and several therapeutic modifications like immunotherapy, receptor-based therapy, phototherapy, and combination therapy. The review also describes the liposome-based imaging platforms and the toxicity associated with liposomes. Owing to a significant amount of benefits of this carrier system, several products have been approved to be launched in the market and several others have already been marketed for clinical use.

Heterogeneous surface-modified nanoplatforms for the targeted therapy of haematological malignancies.

Here, we focus on nanoparticle (NP)-based platforms for the targeted therapy of haematological malignancies (HMs), providing an overview of surface-modified nanoplatforms, such as aptamer-, metal-, nucleic acid-, toxin, and peptide-modified NPs, for the efficient targeting of tumor cells. We discuss NPs targeting subcellular compartments, including mitochondria, nucleus and Golgi apparatus, for enhanced therapy of HMs. We also review stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms for modulating site-specific release of drugs. We provide insight into alternative modes of therapy, such as phototherapy, gene therapy, dendritic cell (DC) therapy, and radiotherapy, highlighting recent advances in the treatment of HMs.

Hyaluronic acid tethered pH-responsive alloy-drug nanoconjugates for multimodal therapy of glioblastoma: An intranasal route approach.

In the present investigation, FePt alloy nanoparticles were synthesized with controlled size and elemental composition followed by surface modification using (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). Lenalidomide was covalently bound to FePt-NH2 by pH sensitive hydrazone bonding. Hyaluronic acid was conjugated to amino groups of APTES while lactoferrin (Lf) was directly conjugated to excess carboxylic group present on hyaluronic acid (HA) to form surface modified pH sensitive alloy-drug nanoconjugates (SPANs). The multifunctional nanoconjugates were characterized and evaluated using extensive in vitro and in vivo techniques. The nanoconjugates demonstrated excellent heating ability on exposure to alternating magnetic field and near-infrared laser irradiation. The acidic microenvironment of lysozome triggered release of LND from SPANs. Owing to leaching of Fe and Pt contents, SPANs demonstrated ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in U87MG cell line which further enhanced therapeutic effect of SPANs. Significant difference in cell viability suppression was observed in in vitro photothermal, chemo-photothermal and chemo-magnetophotothermal killing of cancer cells using SPANs in U87MG cell lines. Significant difference in heating ability and cell cytotoxicity of SPANs in comparison to alternative magnetic field and NIR irradiation was observed for DUAL-mode exposure of SPANs. The results of cellular internalization study showed efficient internalization of SPANs inside U87MG cells. The in vivo results (both qualitative and quantitative) confirmed enhanced uptake of SPANs in brain after intranasal administration with enhanced nasal and mucus penetration owing to presence of Lf. No significant interaction was observed with ECM and mucin due to presence of carboxyl group on SPANs.