A potentially valuable nano graphene oxide/USPIO tumor diagnosis and treatment system.

Due to increased requirements for precision cancer treatment, cancer chemotherapy and combination therapies have gradually developed in the direction of diagnosis and treatment integration. In this study, a non-toxic nano carrier that demonstrates integrated MRI signal enhancing performance, as well as better chemotherapy and photothermal conversion performance, was prepared and characterized. Furthermore, the carrier was used to construct an integrated system of tumor diagnosis and treatment. Our in vitro studies showed that this system has a considerable inhibition effect on tumor cells during the treatment of chemotherapy when combined with PTT, and in vivo studies showed that the system could improve the MRI signal of the tumor site with application of a safe dosage. Thus, this system based on NGO/USPIO has the potential to be a multi-functional nano drug delivery system integrating diagnosis and treatment benefits and applications that are worthy of further research.

Functionalized Graphene Oxide as Drug Delivery Systems for Platinum Anticancer Drugs.

Graphene Oxide, prepared by the modified Hummer's method, was modified with a series of high polymers (polyethyleneimine, polyethylene glycol, chitosan) and Folic Acid for the delivery of platinum anticancer drugs including Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Oxaliplatin and Eptaplatin. Nanocarriers were successfully prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Measurement of drug loading efficiency showed that these nanocarriers had the ability for effective delivery of the platinum anticancer drugs. The Maximum loading ratios of Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Oxaliplatin and Eptaplatin were 25.72, 161.08, 345.21 and 67.80 µg/mg. Drug release experiments in the acid environment showed that the cumulative release rate of platinum anticancer drugs from nanocarriers was higher than that in the neutral environment. The cumulative release of all three nanocarriers in the acid environment reached above 60%. In vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that those nanocarriers had a low toxicity. The cell viability rates were above 80% for all three nanocarriers. Investigation of the anticancer activity in vitro showed that those drug delivery systems had the ability to inhibit the growth of the SKOV3 cell line. These results showed that those nanocarriers were suitable for the delivery of platinum anticancer drugs. Providing preliminary advice on the potential application of the combination of platinum anticancer drugs and the functionalized Graphene Oxide nanocarriers.

Functionalised molybdenum disulfide nanosheets for co-delivery of doxorubicin and siRNA for combined chemo/gene/photothermal therapy on multidrug-resistant cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been developed for medical uses due to its excellent medically beneficial characteristics. This research was designed to develop a multifunctional nano-drug delivery system based on the nano-structure of MoS2 for combined chemo/gene/photothermal therapy targeting multidrug-resistant cancer. METHODS: MoS2 nanosheets were prepared by a hydrothermal reaction and modified. Afterward, the nanocarrier was characterised. In vitro cytotoxicity of the drug delivery systems on human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines was assessed. KEY FINDINGS: The nanocarrier was a flake-like structure with a uniform hydrodynamic diameter and possessing good colloidal stability. The nanocarrier showed the capacity to be deployed for co-delivery of Doxorubicin (DOX) and siRNA. The release of DOX could be triggered and enhanced by pH and application of near-infrared (NIR) laser. The nanocarrier had a good photothermic response and stability. The nanocarrier had little effect on the cells and exhibited good biocompatibility. Measurement of the therapeutic efficacy showed that synergistic therapy combining chemo-, gene- and photothermal therapy deploying this drug delivery system will achieve a better anticancer effect on drug-resistant cancer cells than DOX alone. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that this drug delivery system has potential application in the therapeutic strategy for drug-resistant cancer.

Preparation and anti-cancer activity of transferrin/folic acid double-targeted graphene oxide drug delivery system.

In this study, a transferrin/folic acid double-targeting graphene oxide drug delivery system loaded with doxorubicin was designed. Graphene oxide was prepared by ultrasound improved Hummers method and was modified with Pluronic F68, folic acid, and transferrin to decrease its toxicity and to allow dual-targeting. The results show that the double target drug delivery system (TFGP*DOX) has good and controllable drug delivery performance with no toxicity. Moreover, TFGP*DOX has a better inhibitory effect on SMMC-7721 cells than does a single target drug delivery system (FGP*DOX). The results of drug release analysis and cell inhibition studies showed that TFGP*DOX has a good sustained release function that can reduce the drug release rate in blood circulation over time and improve the local drug concentration in or near a targeted tumor. Therefore, the drug loading system (TFGP*DOX) has potential application value in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.