Anticancer Activity of Bitter Melon-Derived Vesicles Extract against Breast Cancer.

Due to their low immunogenicity, high biocompatibility and ready availability in large quantities, plant-derived vesicles extracts have attracted considerable interest as a novel nanomaterial in tumor therapy. Bitter melon, a medicinal and edible plant, has been reported to exhibit excellent antitumor effects. It is well-documented that breast cancer gravely endangers women's health, and more effective therapeutic agents must be urgently explored. Therefore, we investigated whether bitter melon-derived vesicles extract (BMVE) has antitumor activity against breast cancer. Ultracentrifugation was used to isolate BMVE with a typical "cup-shaped" structure and an average size of approximately 147 nm from bitter melon juice. The experimental outcomes indicate that 4T1 breast cancer cells could efficiently internalize BMVE, which shows apparent anti-proliferative and migration-inhibiting effects. In addition, BMVE also possesses apoptosis-inducing effects on breast cancer cells, which were achieved by stimulating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupting mitochondrial function. Furthermore, BMVE could dramatically inhibit tumor growth in vivo with negligible adverse effects. In conclusion, BMVE exhibits a pronounced antitumor effect on 4T1 breast cancer cells, which has great potential for use in tumor therapy.

3D printing of hydrogel scaffolds for future application in photothermal therapy of breast cancer and tissue repair.

Surgical removal remains the main clinical approach to treat breast cancer, although risks including high local recurrence of cancer and loss of breast tissues are the threats for the survival and quality of life of patients after surgery. In this study, bifunctional scaffold based on dopamine-modified alginate and polydopamine (PDA) was fabricated using 3D printing with an aim to treat breast cancer and fill the cavity, thereby achieving tissue repair. The as-prepared alginate-polydopamine (Alg-PDA) scaffold exhibited favorable photothermal effect both in vitro and in vivo upon 808 nm laser irradiation. Further, the Alg-PDA scaffold showed great flexibility and similar modulus with normal breast tissues and facilitated the adhesion and proliferation of normal breast epithelial cells. Moreover, the in vivo performance of the Alg-PDA scaffold could be tracked by magnetic resonance and photoacoustic dual-modality imaging. The scaffold that was fabricated using simple and biocompatible materials with individual-designed structure and macropores, as well as outstanding photothermal effect and enhanced cell proliferation ability, might be a potential option for breast cancer treatment and tissue repair after surgery. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, a three-dimensional porous scaffold was developed using 3D printing for the treatment of local recurrence of breast cancer and the following tissue repair after surgery. In this approach, easily available materials (dopamine-modified alginate and PDA) with excellent biocompatibility were selected and prepared as printing inks. The fabricated scaffold showed effective photothermal effects for cancer therapy, as well as matched mechanical properties with breast tissues. Furthermore, the scaffold supported attachment and proliferation of normal breast cells, which indicates its potential ability for adipose tissue repair. Together, the 3D-printed scaffold might be a promising option for the treatment of locally recurrent breast cancer cells and the following tissue repair after surgery.