Cancer Nanotechnology

This work mainly focuses on the investigation of optical, structural and morphological characteristics of Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) synthesized using Papaya (Carica Papaya) leaf extract and to study the mechanisms involved in the formation.Papaya is a good reducing agent for the synthesis of Ag-NPs. Ag-NPs were synthesized using colloidal method from silver nitrate using aqueous leaf extract of Papaya as reducing agent. Spectral analysis of Ag-NPs was done using UV-Vis spectroscopy and optical characteristics were studied. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis was done to investigate the mechanisms involved in the reaction. A detailed study of structural and morphological properties was done using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).Spherical shaped Ag-NPs of Face Centered Cubic (FCC) structure were formed and the average particle size was in the range 25-35 nm. Since it is a plant with medicinal values, thus synthesized Ag-NPs can be used for medicinal implications.

Background Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest gynecological malignancies. While the overall survival of ovarian cancer patients has slightly improved in recent years in the developed world, it remains clinically challenging due to its frequent late diagnosis and the lack of reliable diagnostic and/or prognostic markers. The aim of this study was to identify potential new molecular target proteins (NMTPs) responsible for the poor outcomes. When nanoparticles (NP) are exposed to biological fluids, a protein coat, termed the protein corona (PC), forms around the NP, and the PC represents a tool to identify NMTPs. This study investigates the influence of pre-processing conditions, such as lysis conditions and serum/plasma treatment, on the PC composition and the resulting identification of NMTPs. Results Using gel electrophoresis, pre-processing conditions, including cell-lysis techniques and enrichment of low-abundance proteins (LAPs) by immunocentrifugation of serum/plasma, were s...

Cockle shell-derived aragonite calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CACNP) have demonstrated prospect as nano-sized drug carriers for targeting cancer cells. CACNP is biocompatible, biodegradable and its biomaterial is readily available and is of low cost. In addition, CACNP is highly porous, has a large surface area which confer a high loading capacity. The pH-dependent release properties as well as its potential for surface functionalization with targeting agents make CACNP useful in passive and active targeting of cancer cells and cancer stem cells. In this article, we reviewed the current state of CACNP as nano-sized drug carrier for targeting cancer cells, cancer stem cells and its biocompatibility.

Recent approvals of gene therapies by the FDA and the EMA for treatment of inherited disorders have further opened the door for assessment of nucleic acid pharmaceuticals for clinical usage. Arising from the presence of damaged or inappropriate DNA, cancer is a condition particularly suitable for genetic intervention. The RALA peptide has been shown to be a potent non-viral delivery platform for nucleic acids. This study examines the use of RALA to deliver a plasmid encoding inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as an anti-cancer treatment. The physiochemical properties of the RALA/DNA nanoparticles were characterized via dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The nanoparticles were labelled with fluorophores and tracked over time using confocal microscopy with orthogonal sections to determine cellular location. In vitro studies were employed to determine functionality of the nanoparticles both for pEGFP-N1 and CMV-iNOS. Nanoparticles were injected intraveno...

It has been almost 40 years since the “cancer war” had been declared. It is now generally believed that personalized medicine is the future for cancer patient management. Gold nanoparticles, nanospheres, nanorods, nanoshells will be discussed in detail regarding their uses in in–vitro assays, ex–vivo and in–vivo imaging, cancer therapy and drug delivery. Multifunctionality is the key feature of nanoparticle–based agents. Targeting ligands, imaging labels, therapeutic drugs, and other functionalities can all be integrated to allow for targeted molecular imaging and molecular therapy of cancer. Gold nanoshells, mainly composed of the silica and gold metal. The antibodies of Anti–Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor is chief component of Gold Nanoshells therapy used to target the cancer cells and to “guide” the Gold nanoshells to detect the cancer cells visually by microscope. The future looks brighter than every at many hurdles remain to be conquered. A multifunctional platform based on g...

Background Cancer constitutes group of diseases responsible for the second largest cause of global death, and it is currently considered one of the main public health concerns nowadays. Early diagnosis associated with the best choice of therapeutic strategy, is essential to achieve success in cancer treatment. In women, breast cancer is the second most common type, whereas ovarian cancer has the highest lethality when compared to other neoplasms of the female genital system. The present work, therefore, proposes the association of methylene blue with citrate-coated maghemite nanoparticles (MAGCIT–MB) as a nanocomplex for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer. Results In vitro studies showed that T-47D and A2780 cancer cell lines underwent a significant reduction in cell viability after treatment with MAGCIT–MB, an event not observed in non-tumor (HNTMC and HUVEC) cells and MDA-MB-231, a triple-negative breast cancer cell line. Flow cytometry experiments suggest that the main me...

We report a comparative study of synthesis, characteristics and in vitro tests of
two folate-conjugated gold nanoparticles (AuNP) differing in linkers and AuNP sizes for selective targeting of folate-receptor positive cancerous cells. The linkers chosen were 4-aminothiophenol (4Atp) and 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (MH) with nanoconjugate products named Folate-4Atp-AuNP and Folate-MH-AuNP. We report the folate-receptor tissue distribution and its endocytosis for targeted nanotechnology. Comparison of the two nanoconjugates’ syntheses and characterization is also reported, including materials and methods of synthesis, UV-visible absorption spectroscopic measurements, Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) measurements, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and size distributions, X-ray diffraction data, elemental analyses and chemical stability comparison. In addition to the analytical characterization of the nanoconjugates,  the cell lethality was measured in HeLa (high level of folate receptor expression) and MCF-7 (low level of folate receptor expression) cells. The nanoconjugates themselves, as well as the intense pulsed light (IPL) were not harmful to cell viability. However, upon stimulation of the folate targeted nanoconjugates with the IPL, ~98% cell killing was found in HeLa cells and only ~9% in MCF-7 cells after four hours incubation with the nanoconjugate. This demonstrates that folate targeting is effective in selecting for specific cell populations. Considering the various comparisons made, we conclude that Folate-4Atp-AuNP is superior to Folate-MH-AuNP for cancer therapy.

Small metallic nanoparticles are proposed as potential nanodrugs to optimize the performances of radiotherapy. This strategy, based on the enrichment of tumours with nanoparticles to amplify radiation effects in the tumour, aims at increasing the cytopathic effect in tumours while healthy tissue is preserved, an important challenge in radiotherapy. Another major cause of radiotherapy failure is the radioresistance of certain cancers. Surprisingly, the use of nanoparticles to overcome radioresistance has not, to the best of our knowledge, been extensively investigated. The mechanisms of radioresistance have been extensively studied using Deinococcus radiodurans, the most radioresistant organism ever reported, as a model. In this work, we investigated the impact of ultra-small platinum nanoparticles (1.7 nm) on this organism, including uptake, toxicity, and effects on radiation responses. We showed that the nanoparticles penetrate D. radiodurans cells, despite the 150 nm cell wall thi...

Background Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDSs) have attracted attention because of their effects on solubility and bioavailability of lipophilic compounds. Herein, a SEDDS loaded with lycopene purified from red guava (nanoLPG) was produced. The nanoemulsion was characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurement, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), lycopene content quantification, radical scavenging activity and colloidal stability in cell culture medium. Then, in vivo toxicity and tissue distribution in orally treated mice and cytotoxicity on human prostate carcinoma cells (DU-145) and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were evaluated. Results NanoLPG exhibited physicochemical properties with a size around 200 nm, negative zeta-potential, and spherical morphology. The size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential parameters suffered insignif...

Ultrafast soliton switching in a two-core fiber coupler is studied by controlling the coupling coefficients of the fiber. The numerical investigation of all optical soliton switching is done by using split step Fourier transformation algorithm. An extended study is done for coupled mode NLSE and the behaviour of the launched pulse is studied by controlling the coupling coefficient (k)and it is found that faster switching takes place by rightly controlling the coupling coefficient of the fiber coupler.

Background Disulfiram (DS), in the presence of copper (Cu), exhibited potent broad anticancer activity. However, its clinical application is limited due to the poor solubility and stability. Hence, a novel nanocombination of DS with bacterially synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) was prepared herein to improve the anticancer efficacy of the typical DS–Cu complex. Our design utilized the nanocharacterization and prooxidant effect-mediated anticancer activity of CuO NPs which may lead to enhanced cellular uptake and thus improved anticancer efficacy of this unique nanocomplex. Results The characterized DS–CuO NPs exhibited high stability in serum and the strongest selective anticancer activity, with the lowest half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50 10-fold, compared to DS–Cu, CuO NPs and Cu. Importantly, DS–CuO NPs revealed better synergistic anticancer effect and higher cellular uptake than DS–Cu. Moreover, this novel nanocomplex showed higher prooxidant effect-medi...

There has been growing interest in the use of nanomaterials for a range of biomedical applications over the last number of years. In particular, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) possess a number of unique properties that make them ideal candidates as radiosensitizers on the basis of their strong photoelectric absorption coefficient and ease of synthesis. However, despite promising preclinical evidence in vitro supported by a limited amount of in vivo experiments, along with advances in mechanistic understanding, GNPs have not yet translated into the clinic. This may be due to disparity between predicted levels of radiosensitization based on physical action, observed biological response and an incomplete mechanistic understanding, alongside current experimental limitations. This paper provides a review of the current state of the field, highlighting the potential underlying biological mechanisms in GNP radiosensitization and examining the barriers to clinical translation.

Despite being one of the most common cancers, bladder cancer is largely inefficiently and inaccurately staged and monitored. Current imaging methods detect cancer only when it has reached "visible" size and has significantly disrupted the structure of the organ. By that time, thousands of cells will have proliferated and perhaps metastasized. Repeated biopsies and scans are necessary to determine the effect of therapy on cancer growth. In this report, we describe a novel approach based on multimodal nanoparticle contrast agent technology and its application to a preclinical animal model of bladder cancer. The innovation relies on the engineering core of mesoporous silica with specific scanning contrast properties and surface modification that include fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast. The overall dimensions of the nano-device are preset at 80-180 nm, depending on composition with a pore size of 2 nm. To facilitate and expedite discoveries, we combi...