Overview of recent advances in liposomal nanoparticle-based cancer immunotherapy.

The clinical performance of conventional cancer therapy approaches (surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy) has been challenged by tumor metastasis and recurrence that is mainly responsible for cancer-caused mortalities. The cancer immunotherapy is being emerged nowadays as a promising therapeutic modality in order to achieve a highly efficient therapeutic performance while circumventing tumor metastasis and relapse. Liposomal nanoparticles (NPs) may serve as an ideal platform for systemic delivery of the immune modulators. In this review, we summarize the cutting-edge progresses in liposomal NPs for cancer immunotherapy, with focus on dendritic cells, T cells, tumor cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages. The review highlights the major challenges and provides a perspective regarding the clinical translation of liposomal nanoparticle-based immunotherapy.

Codelivery of dihydroartemisinin and doxorubicin in mannosylated liposomes for drug-resistant colon cancer therapy.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major hurdle in cancer chemotherapy and makes the treatment benefits unsustainable. Combination therapy is a commonly used method for overcoming MDR. In this study we investigated the anti-MDR effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of artemisinin, in combination with doxorubicin (Dox) in drug-resistant human colon tumor HCT8/ADR cells. We developed a tumor-targeting codelivery system, in which the two drugs were co-encapsulated into the mannosylated liposomes (Man-liposomes). The Man-liposomes had a mean diameter of 158.8 nm and zeta potential of -15.8 mV. In the HCT8/ADR cells that overexpress the mannose receptors, the Man-liposomes altered the intracellular distribution of Dox, resulting in a high accumulation of Dox in the nuclei and thus displaying the highest cytotoxicity (IC50=0.073 µg/mL) among all the groups. In a subcutaneous HCT8/ADR tumor xenograft model, administration of the Man-liposomes resulted in a tumor inhibition rate of 88.59%, compared to that of 47.46% or 70.54%, respectively, for the treatment with free Dox or free Dox+DHA. The mechanisms underlying the anti-MDR effect of the Man-liposomes involved preferential nuclear accumulation of the therapeutic agents, enhanced cancer cell apoptosis, downregulation of Bcl-xl, and the induction of autophagy.