Novel NF-κB Inhibitor-Conjugated Pt(IV) Prodrug to Enable Cancer Therapy through ROS/ER Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Overcome Multidrug Resistance.

Although cisplatin has been widely used for clinical purposes, its application is limited due to its obvious side effects. To mitigate the defects of cisplatin, here, six "multitarget prodrugs" were synthesized by linking cisplatin and NF-κB inhibitors. Notably, complex 9 demonstrated a 63-fold enhancement in the activity against A549/CDDP cells with lower toxicity toward normal LO2 cells compared to cisplatin. Additionally, complex 9 could effectively cause DNA damage, induce mitochondrial dysfunction, generate reactive oxygen species, and induce cell apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway and ER stress. Remarkably, complex 9 effectively inhibited the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway and disrupted the PI3K/AKT signaling transduction. Importantly, complex 9 showed superior in vivo antitumor efficiency compared to cisplatin or the combination of cisplatin/4, without obvious systemic toxicity in A549 or A549/CDDP xenograft models. Our results demonstrated that the dual-acting mechanism endowed the complexes with high efficiency and low toxicity, which may represent an efficient strategy for cancer therapy.

An all-in-one tetrazine reagent for cysteine-selective labeling and bioorthogonal activable prodrug construction.

The prodrug design strategy offers a potent solution for improving therapeutic index and expanding drug targets. However, current prodrug activation designs are mainly responsive to endogenous stimuli, resulting in unintended drug release and systemic toxicity. In this study, we introduce 3-vinyl-6-oxymethyl-tetrazine (voTz) as an all-in-one reagent for modular preparation of tetrazine-caged prodrugs and chemoselective labeling peptides to produce bioorthogonal activable peptide-prodrug conjugates. These stable prodrugs can selectively bind to target cells, facilitating cellular uptake. Subsequent bioorthogonal cleavage reactions trigger prodrug activation, significantly boosting potency against tumor cells while maintaining exceptional off-target safety for normal cells. In vivo studies demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of this prodrug design approach. Given the broad applicability of functional groups and labeling versatility with voTz, we foresee that this strategy will offer a versatile solution to enhance the therapeutic range of cytotoxic agents and facilitate the development of bioorthogonal activatable biopharmaceuticals and biomaterials.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of folic acid-rotenol conjugate as a potent targeted anticancer prodrug.

Rotenone, a plant-based agricultural insecticide, has been shown to have anti-tumor activity through targeting mitochondrial complex I in cancer cells. However, off-target toxic side effect on nervous systems have greatly restricted the application of rotenone as anticancer drugs. Here, a folic acid-rotenol (FA-rotenol) conjugate was prepared by covalent coupling of the tumor-targeting ligand folic acid with rotenone derivative-rotenol to enhance its accumulation at tumor site. FA-rotenol conjugates present high in vitro cytotoxicties against several cell lines by inducing mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and increasing the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) to activate the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis and enhance the G2/M cell cycle arrest. Because of the high affinity with over-expressed folate receptors, FA-rotenol conjugate demonstrated more effective in vivo therapeutic outcomes in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice than rotenone and rotenol. In addition, FA-rotenol conjugate can markedly inhibit the cell migration and invasion of HepG-2 cells. These studies confirm the feasibility of tumor-targeted ligand conjugated rotenone derivatives for targeted antitumor therapy; likewise, they lay the foundations for the development of other rotenol-conjugates with antitumor potential.

Tumor Microenvironment Activatable Nanoprodrug System for In Situ Fluorescence Imaging and Therapy of Liver Cancer.

The development of new imaging and treatment nanoprodrug systems is highly demanded for diagnosis and therapy of liver cancer, a severe disease characterized by a high recurrence rate. Currently, available small molecule drugs are not possible for cancer diagnosis because of the fast diffusion of imaging agents and low efficacy in treatment due to poor water solubility and significant toxic side effects. In this study, we report the development of a tumor microenvironment activatable nanoprodrug system for the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. This nanoprodrug system can accumulate in the tumor site and be selectively activated by an excess of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the tumor microenvironment, releasing near-infrared solid-state organic fluorescent probe (HPQCY-1) and phenylboronic acid-modified camptothecin (CPT) prodrug. Both HPQCY-1 and CPT prodrugs can be further activated in tumor sites for achieving more precise in situ near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging and treatment while reducing the toxic effects of drugs on normal tissues. Additionally, the incorporation of hydrophilic multivalent chitosan as a carrier effectively improved the water solubility of the system. This research thus provides a practical new approach for the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.

Stimulant prodrugs: A pharmacological and clinical assessment of their role in treating ADHD and binge-eating disorder.

In this review, we critically evaluate the contribution of prodrugs to treating two related psychiatric disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and binge-eating disorder (BED). ADHD is characterized by inattentiveness, distractibility, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. BED is also an impulse-control disorder which leads to frequent, compulsive episodes of excessive eating (binges). Lisdexamfetamine (LDX; prodrug of d-amphetamine) is approved to treat both ADHD and BED. Serdexmethylphenidate (SDX; prodrug of d-threo-methylphenidate) is not clinically approved as monotherapy but, in a fixed-dose combination with immediate release d-threo-methylphenidate (Azstarys™), SDX is approved for managing ADHD in children/adolescents. The pharmacological actions of a stimulant mediate both its efficacy and side-effects. Therefore, daily management of ADHD or BED to maintain optimum efficacy and tolerability places highly restrictive requirements on the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) characteristics of stimulant medications, especially prodrugs. Prodrugs must have good bioavailability and rapid metabolism to provide therapeutic efficacy soon after morning dosing combined with providing stimulant coverage throughout the day/evening. A wide selection of dosages and linear PK for the prodrug and its active metabolite are essential requirements for treatment of these conditions. The proposed neurobiological causes of ADHD and BED are described. The chemical, pharmacological and PK/PD properties responsible for the therapeutic actions of the prodrugs, LDX and SDX, are compared and contrasted. Finally, we critically assess their contribution as ADHD and BED medications, including advantages over their respective active metabolites, d-amphetamine and d-threo-methylphenidate, and also their potential for misuse and abuse.

Hypoxia-activated selectivity-improved anti-PKM2 antibody combined with prodrug TH-302 for potentiated targeting therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hypoxia induces hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) malignancies; yet it also offers treatment opportunities, exemplified by developing hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs). Although HAP TH-302 combined with therapeutic antibody (Ab) has synergistic effects, the clinical benefits are limited by the on-target off-tumor toxicity of Ab. Here, we sought to develop a hypoxia-activated anti-M2 splice isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) Ab combined with TH-302 for potentiated targeting therapy. Methods: Codon-optimized and hypoxia-activation strategies were used to develop H103 Ab-azo-PEG5k (HAP103) Ab. Hypoxia-activated HAP103 Ab was characterized, and hypoxia-dependent antitumor and immune activities were evaluated. Selective imaging and targeting therapy with HAP103 Ab were assessed in HCC-xenografted mouse models. Targeting selectivity, systemic toxicity, and synergistic therapeutic efficacy of HAP103 Ab with TH-302 were evaluated. Results: Human full-length H103 Ab was produced in a large-scale bioreactor. Azobenzene (azo)-linked PEG5k conjugation endowed HAP103 Ab with hypoxia-activated targeting features. Conditional HAP103 Ab effectively inhibited HCC cell growth, enhanced apoptosis, and induced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) functions. Analysis of HCC-xenografted mouse models showed that HAP103 Ab selectively targeted hypoxic HCC tissues and induced potent tumor-inhibitory activity either alone or in combination with TH-302. Besides the synergistic effects, HAP103 Ab had negligible side effects when compared to parent H103 Ab. Conclusion: The hypoxia-activated anti-PKM2 Ab safely confers a strong inhibitory effect on HCC with improved selectivity. This provides a promising strategy to overcome the on-target off-tumor toxicity of Ab therapeutics; and highlights an advanced approach to precisely kill HCC in combination with HAP TH-302.

A redox-responsive prodrug for tumor-targeted glutamine restriction.

Modulating the metabolism of cancer cells, immune cells, or both is a promising strategy to potentiate cancer immunotherapy in the nutrient-competitive tumor microenvironment. Glutamine has emerged as an ideal target as cancer cells highly rely on glutamine for replenishing the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the process of aerobic glycolysis. However, non-specific glutamine restriction may induce adverse effects in unconcerned tissues and therefore glutamine inhibitors have achieved limited success in the clinic so far. Here we report the synthesis and evaluation of a redox-responsive prodrug of 6-Diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (redox-DON) for tumor-targeted glutamine inhibition. When applied to treat mice bearing subcutaneous CT26 mouse colon carcinoma, redox-DON exhibited equivalent antitumor efficacy but a greatly improved safety profile, particularly, in spleen and gastrointestinal tract, as compared to the state-of-the-art DON prodrug, JHU083. Furthermore, redox-DON synergized with checkpoint blockade antibodies leading to durable cures in tumor-bearing mice. Our results suggest that redox-DON is a safe and effective therapeutic for tumor-targeted glutamine inhibition showing promise for enhanced metabolic modulatory immunotherapy. The approach of reversible chemical modification may be generalized to other metabolic modulatory drugs that suffer from overt toxicity.

Tetrasulfide bond boosts the anti-tumor efficacy of dimeric prodrug nanoassemblies.

Dimeric prodrug nanoassemblies (DPNAs) stand out as promising strategies for improving the efficiency and safety of chemotherapeutic drugs. The success of trisulfide bonds (-SSS-) in DPNAs makes polysulfide bonds a worthwhile focus. Here, we explore the comprehensive role of tetrasulfide bonds (-SSSS-) in constructing superior DPNAs. Compared to trisulfide and disulfide bonds, tetrasulfide bonds endow DPNAs with superlative self-assembly stability, prolonged blood circulation, and high tumor accumulation. Notably, the ultra-high reduction responsivity of tetrasulfide bonds make DPNAs a highly selective "tumor bomb" that can be ignited by endogenous reducing agents in tumor cells. Furthermore, we present an "add fuel to the flames" strategy to intensify the reductive stress at tumor sites by replenishing exogenous reducing agents, making considerable progress in selective tumor inhibition. This work elucidates the crucial role of tetrasulfide bonds in establishing intelligent DPNAs, alongside the combination methodology, propelling DPNAs to new heights in potent cancer therapy.

Thermoresponsive Polymeric Hydromorphone Prodrug Provides Sustained Local Analgesia without Apparent Adverse Effects.

The extensive use of opioids for chronic pain management has contributed significantly to the current opioid epidemic. While many alternative nonopioid analgesics are available, opioids remain the most potent analgesics for moderate to severe pain management. In addition to the implementation of multimodal analgesia, there is a pressing need for the development of more effective and safer opioids. In this study, we developed a thermoresponsive N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-based hydromorphone (HMP) prodrug (ProGel-HMP, HMP content = 16.2 wt %, in base form). The aqueous solution of ProGel-HMP was free-flowing at 4 °C but became a hydrogel when the temperature was raised to ≥37 °C, allowing sustained local retention when administered in vivo. When tested in the destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model of osteoarthritis (OA), ProGel-HMP was retained after intra-articular injection in the OA knee joint for at least 2 weeks postinjection, with low extra-articular distribution. ProGel-HMP was not detected in the central nervous system (CNS). A single dose of ProGel-HMP produced rapid and sustained joint pain resolution for greater than 14 days when compared to saline and dose-equivalent HMP controls, likely mediated through peripheral µ-opioid receptors in the knee joint. Systemic analgesia effect was absent in the DMM mice treated with ProGel-HMP, as evident in the lack of difference in tail flick response between the ProGel-HMP-treated mice and the controls (i.e., Healthy, Saline, and Sham). Repeated dosing of ProGel-HMP did not induce tolerance. Collectively, these data support the further development of ProGel-HMP as a potent, safe, long-acting and nonaddictive analgesic for better clinical pain management.

Pt(IV) Complexes in the Search for Novel Platinum Prodrugs with Promising Activity.

The kinetically inert, six coordinated, octahedral Pt(IV) complexes are termed dual-, triple-, or multi-action prodrugs based on the nature of the axially substituted ligands. These ligands are either inert or biologically active, where the nature of these axial ligands provides additional stability, synergistic biological activity or cell-targeting ability. There are many literature reports from each of these classes, mentioning the varied nature of these axial ligands. The ligands comprise drug molecules such as chlorambucil, doxorubicin, valproic acid, ethacrynic acid, biologically active chalcone, coumarin, combretastatin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and many more, potentiating the anti-proliferative profile or reducing the side effects associated with cisplatin therapy. The targeting and non-targeting nature of these moieties exert additive or synergistic effects on the anti-cancer activity of Pt(II) moieties. Herein, we discuss the effects of these axially oriented ligands and the changes in the non-leaving am(m)ine groups and in the leaving groups on the biological activity. In this review, we have presented the latest developments in the field of Pt(IV) complexes that display promising activity with a reduced resistance profile. We have discussed the structure activity relationship (SAR) and the effects of the ligands on the biological activity of Pt(IV) complexes with cisplatin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin and the Pt core other than approved drugs. This literature work will help researchers to get an idea about Pt(IV) complexes that have been classified based on the aspects of their biological activity.

Stimuli-responsive biotin-anchored prodrug for the targeted delivery of anti-cancer agent NBDHEX with turn-on NIR fluorescence.

Biothiol-activatable prodrug RK-296 was designed for the delivery of potent anti-cancer agent NBDHEX with concomitant turn-on near infrared (NIR) fluorescence. NBDHEX exhibits anti-cancer activity by selectively inhibiting glutathione-S-transferase pi (GSTP1), which is overexpressed in cancer cells and responsible for the inactivation of chemotherapeutic drugs. The sustained release of NBDHEX from the prodrug would be useful for ameliorating the off-target side-effects of NBDHEX.

Bioorthogonal "Click and Release" Reaction-Triggered Aggregation of Gold Nanoparticles Combined with Released Lonidamine for Enhanced Cancer Photothermal Therapy.

Cancer has been the most deadly disease, and 13 million cancer casualties are estimated to occur each year by 2030. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-based photothermal therapy (PTT) has attracted great interest due to its high spatiotemporal controllability and noninvasiveness. Due to the trade-off between particle size and photothermal efficiency of AuNPs, rational design is needed to realize aggregation of AuNPs into larger particles with desirable NIR adsorption in tumor site. Exploiting the bioorthogonal "Click and Release" (BCR) reaction between iminosydnone and cycloalkyne, aggregation of AuNPs can be achieved and attractively accompanied by the release of chemotherapeutic drug purposed to photothermal synergizing. We synthesize iminosydnone-lonidamine (ImLND) as a prodrug and choose dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO) as the trigger of BCR reaction. A PEGylated AuNPs-based two-component nanoplatform consisting of prodrug-loaded AuNPs-ImLND and tumor-targeting peptide RGD-conjugated AuNPs-DBCO-RGD is designed. In the therapeutic regimen, AuNPs-DBCO-RGD are intravenously injected first for tumor-specific enrichment and retention. Once the arrival of AuNPs-ImLND injected later at tumor site, highly photothermally active nanoaggregates of AuNPs are formed via the BCR reaction between ImLND and DBCO. The simultaneous release of lonidamine further enhanced the therapeutic performance by sensitizing cancer cells to PTT.

Polymer-Drug Conjugates Codeliver a Temozolomide Intermediate and Nitric Oxide for Enhanced Chemotherapy against Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Polymer-drug conjugates (PDCs) provide possibilities for the development of multiresponsive drug delivery and release platforms utilized in cancer therapy. The delivery of Temozolomide (TMZ, a DNA methylation agent) by PDCs has been developed to improve TMZ stability under physiological conditions for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM); however, with inefficient chemotherapeutic efficacy. In this work, we synthesized an amphiphilic triblock copolymer (P1-SNO) with four pendant functionalities, including (1) a TMZ intermediate (named MTIC) as a prodrug moiety, (2) a disulfide bond as a redox-responsive trigger to cage MTIC, (3) S-nitrosothiol as a light/heat-responsive donor of nitric oxide (NO), and (4) a poly(ethylene glycol) chain to enable self-assembly in aqueous media. P1-SNO was demonstrated to liberate MTIC in the presence of reduced glutathione and release gaseous NO upon exposure to light or heat. The in vitro results revealed a synergistic effect of released MTIC and NO on both TMZ-sensitive and TMZ-resistant GBM cells. The environment-responsive PDC system for codelivery of MTIC and NO is promising to overcome the efficacy issue in TMZ-based cancer therapy.

Recent advances in hypoxia-activated compounds for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Hypoxia, as a prevalent feature of solid tumors, is correlated with tumorigenesis, proliferation, and invasion, playing an important role in mediating the drug resistance and affecting the cancer treatment outcomes. Due to the distinct oxygen levels between tumor and normal tissues, hypoxia-targeted therapy has attracted significant attention. The hypoxia-activated compounds mainly depend on reducible organic groups including azo, nitro, N-oxides, quinones and azide as well as some redox-active metal complex that are selectively converted into active species by the increased reduction potential under tumor hypoxia. In this review, we briefly summarized our current understanding on hypoxia-activated compounds with a particular highlight on the recently developed prodrugs and fluorescent probes for tumor treatment and diagnosis. We have also discussed the challenges and perspectives of small molecule-based hypoxia-activatable prodrug for future development.

Shaping the future of antiviral Treatment: Spotlight on Nucleobase-Containing drugs and their revolutionary impact.

Nucleobases serve as essential molecular frameworks present in both natural and synthetic compounds that exhibit notable antiviral activity. Through molecular modifications, novel nucleobase-containing drugs (NCDs) have been developed, exhibiting enhanced antiviral activity against a wide range of viruses, including the recently emerged SARS­CoV­2. This article provides a detailed examination of the significant advancements in NCDs from 2015 till current, encompassing various aspects concerning their mechanisms of action, pharmacology and antiviral properties. Additionally, the article discusses antiviral prodrugs relevant to the scope of this review. It fills in the knowledge gap by examining the structure-activity relationship and trend of NCDs as therapeutics against a diverse range of viral diseases, either as approved drugs, clinical candidates or as early-stage development prospects. Moreover, the article highlights on the status of this field of study and addresses the prevailing limitations encountered.

Immunomodulatory Prodrug Micelles Imitate Mild Heat Effects to Reshape Tumor Microenvironment for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy.

Physical stimulation with mild heat possesses the notable ability to induce immunomodulation within the tumor microenvironment (TME). It transforms the immunosuppressive TME into an immune-active state, making tumors more receptive to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), which can be activated by mild heat, holds the potential to induce these alterations in the TME. However, achieving precise temperature control within tumors while protecting neighboring tissues remains a significant challenge when using external heat sources. Taking inspiration from the heat sensation elicited by capsaicin-containing products activating TRPV1, this study employs capsaicin to chemically stimulate TRPV1, imitating immunomodulatory benefits akin to those induced by mild heat. This involves developing a glutathione (GSH)-responsive immunomodulatory prodrug micelle system to deliver capsaicin and an ICI (BMS202) concurrently. Following intravenous administration, the prodrug micelles accumulate at the tumor site through the enhanced permeability and retention effect. Within the GSH-rich TME, the micelles disintegrate and release capsaicin and BMS202. The released capsaicin activates TRPV1 expressed in the TME, enhancing programmed death ligand 1 expression on tumor cell surfaces and promoting T cell recruitment into the TME, rendering it more immunologically active. Meanwhile, the liberated BMS202 blocks immune checkpoints on tumor cells and T cells, activating the recruited T cells and ultimately eradicating the tumors. This innovative strategy represents a comprehensive approach to fine-tune the TME, significantly amplifying the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy by exploiting the TRPV1 pathway and enabling in situ control of immunomodulation within the TME.

Engineering Dual-Responsive Prodrug-MOFs as Immunogenic Cell Death Initiator for Enhancing Cancer Immunotherapy.

In recent years, the anticancer effects of disulfiram, a clinical drug for anti-alcoholism, are confirmed. However, several defects limit the clinical translation of disulfiram obviously, such as Cu(II)-dependent anticancer activity, instability, and non-selectivity for cancer cells. Herein, a phosphate and hydrogen peroxide dual-responsive nanoplatform (PCu-HA-DQ) is reported, which is constructed by encapsulating disulfiram prodrug (DQ) and modifying hyaluronic acid (HA) on copper doping metal-organic frameworks (PCu MOFs). PCu-HA-DQ is expected to accumulate in tumor by targeting CD-44 receptors and enable guidance with magnetic resonance imaging. Inside the tumor, Cu(DTC)2 will be generated in situ based on a dual-responsive reaction. In detail, the high concentration of phosphate can induce the release of DQ, after that, the intracellular hydrogen peroxide will further mediate the generation of Cu(DTC)2 . In vitro and in vivo results indicate PCu-HA-DQ can induce the apoptosis as well as immunogenic cell death (ICD) of tumor cells distinctly, leading to enhanced immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy by combining the anti-programmed death-1 antibody. This work provides a portable strategy to construct a dual-responsive nanoplatform integrating tumor-targeted ability and multi-therapy, and the designed nanoplatform is also an ICD inducer, which presents a prospect for boosting systemic antitumor immunity and ICI efficacy.

A Novel Leu-Enkephalin Prodrug Produces Pain-Relieving and Antidepressant Effects.

Persistent pain is a significant healthcare problem with limited treatment options. The high incidence of comorbid chronic pain and depression significantly reduces life quality and complicates the treatment of both conditions. Antidepressants are less effective for pain and depression than for depression alone and they induce severe side effects. Opioids are highly efficacious analgesics, but rapid development of tolerance, dependence, and debilitating side effects limit their efficacy and safe use. Leucine-enkephalin (Leu-ENK), the endogenous delta opioid receptor agonist, controls pain and mood and produces potent analgesia with reduced adverse effects compared to conventional opioids. High proteolytic instability, however, makes Leu-ENK ineffective after systemic administration and limits its clinical usefulness. KK-103, a Leu-ENK prodrug, was developed to overcome these limitations of Leu-ENK via markedly increased plasma stability in mice. We showed rapid and substantially increased systemic adsorption and blood plasma exposure of KK-103 compared to Leu-ENK. We also observed brain uptake of radiolabeled KK-103 after systemic administration, indicating a central effect of KK-103. We then established KK-103's prolonged antinociceptive efficacy in the ramped hot plate and formalin test. In both models, KK-103 produced a comparable dose to the maximum antinociceptive-effect relationship. The pain-alleviating effect of KK-103 primarily resulted from activating the delta opioid receptor after the likely conversion of KK-103 to Leu-ENK in vivo. Finally, KK-103 produced an antidepressant-like activity comparable to the antidepressant desipramine, but with minimal gastrointestinal inhibition and no incidence of sedation.

Single dose thermoresponsive dexamethasone prodrug completely mitigates joint pain for 15 weeks in a murine model of osteoarthritis.

In this study, we aimed to assess the analgesic efficacy of a thermoresponsive polymeric dexamethasone (Dex) prodrug (ProGel-Dex) in a mouse model of osteoarthritis (OA). At 12 weeks post model establishment, the OA mice received a single intra-articular (IA) injection of ProGel-Dex, dose-equivalent Dex, or Saline. Comparing to Saline and Dex controls, ProGel-Dex provided complete and sustained pain relief for >15 weeks according to incapacitance tests. In vivo optical imaging confirmed the continuous presence of ProGel-Dex in joints for 15 weeks post-injection. According to micro-CT analysis, ProGel-Dex treated mice had significantly lower subchondral bone thickness and medial meniscus bone volume than Dex and Saline controls. Except for a transient delay of body weight increase and slightly lower endpoint liver and spleen weights, no other adverse effect was observed after ProGel-Dex treatment. These findings support ProGel-Dex's potential as a potent and safe analgesic candidate for management of OA pain.

Supramolecular prodrug-like nanotheranostics with dynamic and activatable nature for synergistic photothermal immunotherapy of metastatic cancer.

Synergistic photothermal immunotherapy has attracted widespread attention due to the mutually reinforcing therapeutic effects on primary and metastatic tumors. However, the lack of clinical approval nanomedicines for spatial, temporal, and dosage control of drug co-administration underscores the challenges facing this field. Here, a photothermal agent (Cy7-TCF) and an immune checkpoint blocker (NLG919) are conjugated via disulfide bond to construct a tumor-specific small molecule prodrug (Cy7-TCF-SS-NLG), which self-assembles into prodrug-like nano-assemblies (PNAs) that are self-delivering and self-formulating. In tumor cells, over-produced GSH cleaves disulfide bonds to release Cy7-TCF-OH, which re-assembles into nanoparticles to enhance photothermal conversion while generate reactive oxygen species (ROSs) upon laser irradiation, and then binds to endogenous albumin to activate near-infrared fluorescence, enabling multimodal imaging-guided phototherapy for primary tumor ablation and subsequent release of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). These TAAs, in combination with the co-released NLG919, effectively activated effector T cells and suppressed Tregs, thereby boosting antitumor immunity to prevent tumor metastasis. This work provides a simple yet effective strategy that integrates the supramolecular dynamics and reversibility with stimuli-responsive covalent bonding to design a simple small molecule with synergistic multimodal imaging-guided phototherapy and immunotherapy cascades for cancer treatment with high clinical value.