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Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a versatile cytokine that plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system's homeostasis. It is involved in the development, proliferation, and differentiation of B and T cells, as well as being essential for the differentiation and survival of naïve T cells and the production and maintenance of memory T cells. Given its potent biological functions, IL-7 is considered to have the potential to be widely used in the field of anti-tumour immunotherapy. Notably, IL-7 can improve the tumour microenvironment by promoting the development of Th17 cells, which can in turn promote the recruitment of effector T cells and NK cells. In addition, IL-7 can also down-regulate the expression of tumour growth factor-β and inhibit immunosuppression to promote anti-tumour efficacy, suggesting potential clinical applications for anti-tumour immunotherapy. This review aims to discuss the origin of IL-7 and its receptor IL-7R, its anti-tumour mechanism, and the recent advances in the application of IL-7 in tumour therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of encapsulated cells for the in vivo delivery of biotherapeutics is a promising new technology to potentiate the effectiveness of cell-based therapies for veterinary and human application. One use of the technology is to locally activate chemotherapeutics to their short-lived highly active forms. We have previously shown that a stable clone of HEK293 cells overexpressing a cytochrome P450 enzyme that has been encapsulated in immunoprotective cellulose sulphate beads can be implanted near solid tumours in order to activate oxazaphosphorines such as ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide to the tumour-killing metabolite phosphoramide mustard. The efficacy of this approach has been shown in animal models as well as in human and canine clinical trials. In these previous studies, the oxazaphosphorine was only given twice. An analysis of the Kaplan–Meier plots of the results of the clinical trials suggest that repeated dosing might result in a significant clinical benefit. Aims: In this study, we aimed to (i) demonstrate the stable long-term expression of cytochrome P450 from a characterized, transfected cell clone, as well as (ii) demonstrate that one implanted dose of these encapsulated cytochrome P450-expressing cells is capable of activating multiple doses of ifosfamide in animal models. Methodology: We initially used cell and molecular methods to show cell line stability over multiple passages, as well as chemical and biological function in vitro. This was followed by a demonstration that encapsulated HEK293 cells are capable of activating multiple doses of ifosfamide in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer without being killed by the chemotherapeutic. Conclusion: A single injection of encapsulated HEK293 cells followed by multiple rounds of ifosfamide administration results in repeated anti-tumour activity and halts tumour growth but, in the absence of a functioning immune system, does not cause tumour regression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a versatile cytokine that plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system’s homeostasis. It is involved in the development, proliferation, and differentiation of B and T cells, as well as being essential for the differentiation and survival of naïve T cells and the production and maintenance of memory T cells. Given its potent biological functions, IL-7 is considered to have the potential to be widely used in the field of anti-tumour immunotherapy. Notably, IL-7 can improve the tumour microenvironment by promoting the development of Th17 cells, which can in turn promote the recruitment of effector T cells and NK cells. In addition, IL-7 can also down-regulate the expression of tumour growth factor-β and inhibit immunosuppression to promote anti-tumour efficacy, suggesting potential clinical applications for anti-tumour immunotherapy. This review aims to discuss the origin of IL-7 and its receptor IL-7R, its anti-tumour mechanism, and the recent advances in the application of IL-7 in tumour therapy.

Ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38) is a camptothecin derivative with significant anti-tumour therapeutic potential, while the clinical application of SN38 was limited by its poor water solubility and low stability. Herein, a core-shell polymer prodrug hyaluronic acid @chitosan-S-SN38 (HA@CS-S-SN38) was designed by CS-S-SN38 as the core and the HA as the shell, which aims to overcome the limitations of the clinical application of SN38, while realising the high tumour targeting of polymer prodrug and the controllable release of drug in tumour cells. HA@CS-S-SN38 showed the high responsiveness of the tumour microenvironment and the safe stability of blood circulation. Furthermore, HA@CS-S-SN38 exhibited the begin uptake efficiency and favourable apoptosis in the 4T1 cells. More importantly, compared with irinotecan hydrochloride trihydrate (CPT-11), HA@CS-S-SN38 significantly improved the conversion efficiency of the prodrug to SN38, and showed excellent tumour targeting and retention in vivo by combining passive and active targeting strategies. In tumour-bearing mice treatment, HA@CS-S-SN38 showed the perfect anti-tumour effect and therapeutic safety. These results indicated that the polymer prodrug designed by ROS-response/HA-modification strategy is a safe and efficient drug delivery system, which provides a new idea for clinical utilisation of SN38 and warrants further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Except for cell-surface receptors, a range of transporters have been exploited as targets for the delivery of novel anti-tumour nanomaterials. Transporters, which are essential for delivering nutrients for the biosynthesis of mammalian cells, are significantly expressed in a range of tumour types; their expression is mostly tissue- and site-specific. The unique functional and expression characteristics of transporters make them ideal targets for mediating the selective delivery of nanomaterials to cancer cells, thus promoting cell accumulation, and enhancing the penetration of nanomaterials into biological barriers before they can specifically target cancer cells. In this review, we discuss the unique function of cancer-related transporters in the initiation and development of tumours, as well as the use of transporter-targeted nanocarriers in tumour-targeting therapy. First, the expression of various transporters in tumorigenesis and development is reviewed; this is followed by a discussion of the latest advances in targeted drug delivery strategies based on transporter nanocarriers. Finally, we review the molecular mechanisms and targeting efficiency of transporter-mediated nanocarriers. This review provides a state-of-the-art synthesis of this discipline and will facilitate the generation of new concepts for the design of highly efficacious and tumour-targeting nanocarriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of encapsulated cells for the in vivo delivery of biotherapeutics is a promising new technology to potentiate the effectiveness of cell-based therapies for veterinary and human application. One use of the technology is to locally activate chemotherapeutics to their short-lived highly active forms. We have previously shown that a stable clone of HEK293 cells overexpressing a cytochrome P450 enzyme that has been encapsulated in immunoprotective cellulose sulphate beads can be implanted near solid tumours in order to activate oxazaphosphorines such as ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide to the tumour-killing metabolite phosphoramide mustard. The efficacy of this approach has been shown in animal models as well as in human and canine clinical trials. In these previous studies, the oxazaphosphorine was only given twice. An analysis of the Kaplan–Meier plots of the results of the clinical trials suggest that repeated dosing might result in a significant clinical benefit. Aims: In this study, we aimed to (i) demonstrate the stable long-term expression of cytochrome P450 from a characterized, transfected cell clone, as well as (ii) demonstrate that one implanted dose of these encapsulated cytochrome P450-expressing cells is capable of activating multiple doses of ifosfamide in animal models. Methodology: We initially used cell and molecular methods to show cell line stability over multiple passages, as well as chemical and biological function in vitro. This was followed by a demonstration that encapsulated HEK293 cells are capable of activating multiple doses of ifosfamide in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer without being killed by the chemotherapeutic. Conclusion: A single injection of encapsulated HEK293 cells followed by multiple rounds of ifosfamide administration results in repeated anti-tumour activity and halts tumour growth but, in the absence of a functioning immune system, does not cause tumour regression.

The hypoxic nature of tumours limits the efficiency of oxygen-dependent photodynamic therapy (PDT). Hence, in this study, indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded lipid-coated zinc peroxide (ZnO2) nanoparticles (ZnO2@Lip-ICG) was constructed to realize tumour microenvironment (TME)-responsive self-oxygen supply. Near infrared light irradiation (808 nm), the lipid outer layer of ICG acquires sufficient energy to produce heat, thereby elevating the localised temperature, which results in accelerated ZnO2 release and apoptosis of tumour cells. The ZnO2 rapidly generates O2 in the TME (pH 6.5), which alleviates tumour hypoxia and then enhances the PDT effect of ICG. These results demonstrate that ZnO2@Lip-ICG NPs display good oxygen self-supported properties and outstanding PDT/PTT characteristics, and thus, achieve good tumour proliferation suppression.

Several types of chemotherapeutic agents are used in cancer treatment. Among these agents, daunorubicin hydrochloride which is a cell-cycle non-specific antitumor agent is commonly used for treating various types of cancers. This work aims to design daunorubicin loaded polymeric fibre meshes with melt electrospinning using poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) polymer for potential localized antitumor application. The prepared meshes had smooth surface with uniform distribution of daunorubicin as indicated by fluorescent microscope. The meshes thickness increased by increasing the daunorubicin concentration loaded into the PCL fibres. The process of melt electrospinning did not result in any chemical interactions between PCL and daunorubicin neither changed the crystalline structure of these components. Concentration dependent slow-release profile of daunorubicin from the melt electrospun fibres was achieved. Cytotoxicity of the released daunorubicin was assessed on melanoma and ovarian cancer cells and revealed that the cytotoxicity was increased by increasing the time of meshes incubation due to the slow-release profile of daunorubicin. These results prove that PCL-based fibre meshes loaded with daunorubicin are a suitable therapeutic option for local application of antitumour agents. This can enhance the therapeutic outcomes and reduce the unwanted toxicities of these anticancer molecules. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles are functionally active, nanoscale, membrane-bound vesicles that can be secreted by all cells. They have a key role in most health and disease states and have gradually become a promising class of delivery vehicles for targeted therapies for a variety of diseases. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles have received increasing attention based on their easy availability, non-toxicity and high absorption. However, compared with mammalian extracellular vesicles, the role of these nanoparticles as nano-delivery systems in tumour therapy has been underestimated. In this paper, the application of plant-derived extracellular vesicles and their nano-derivatives as nano-delivery systems in tumour therapy is reviewed to illustrate their great application potential.

Malignant tumors are non-communicable diseases that affect human life health and quality of life. Anti-tumour-related research has also been the focus and difficulty in oncology research. With the rise of metabolomics, tumour biology, and the theory of tumour reprogramming, amino acid metabolic reprogramming has become a new target for antitumor research. Amino acids provide biomolecules such as nucleotides for tumour cell proliferation, invasion, and immune escape processes. They are also essential metabolites for immune cell activation and antitumor effects in the tumour microenvironment. Abnormal changes in amino acid metabolism are closely related to tumour development and immunity. Some essential proteins or critical enzymes in their metabolic pathways can be used for tumour diagnosis and prognosis assessment markers. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects of amino acid metabolism on tumour cell proliferation and the abnormal alterations of amino acid metabolism during the tumour metabolic cycle and analyzes and prospects the tumour therapeutic drugs targeting amino acid metabolism. This paper provides theoretical references for the in-depth study of the regulation of amino acid metabolism on tumour development and its possible therapeutic targets.

Nanocatalysts with enzyme-like catalytic activities, such as oxidase mimics, are extensively used in biomedicine and environmental treatment. Searching for enzyme-like nanomaterials, clarifying the origins of catalytic activity and developing activity assessment methodologies are therefore of great significance. Here, we report that oxidase catalysis and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysis can be well bridged based on their identical activity origins, which makes facile electrocatalytic ORR activity measurements intrinsically applicable to oxidase-like activity evaluations. Inspired by natural heme-copper oxidases, Cu/Fe-doped single-atom catalysts (SACs) were first synthesized and used as model catalysts. Chromogenic reactions, electrochemical voltammetric measurements and density functional theory calculations further verified the linear relationship between the oxidase-like and ORR catalytic activities of the catalysts; thus, an effective descriptor (⁠|$| {\overline {{j_{\rm{n}}}} } |$|⁠) is proposed for rapid enzymatic catalyst evaluation. Evidence suggests that the enhanced tumour therapeutic efficacy of SACs is a result of their oxidase-like/ORR activities, which proves that numerous ORR electrocatalysts are promising candidates for oxidase mimics and tumour therapy. The synergistic catalytic effect of the biomimetic heterobinuclear Cu-Fe centres has also been thoroughly probed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SERPINA5 belongs to the serine protease inhibitor superfamily and has been reported to be lowly expressed in a variety of malignancies. However, few report of SERPINA5 in gastric cancer has been found. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of SERPINA5 in GC and to investigate potential tumorigenic mechanisms. We performed qPCR to determine the level of SERPINA5 expression in GC. We used public databases to evaluate whether SERPINA5 could be utilized to predict overall survival and disease‐free survival in GC patients. We also knocked down the expression of SERPINA5 and evaluated its effect on cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, we explored the signal pathways and regulatory mechanisms related to SERPINA5 functions. According to our findings, SERPINA5 was shown to exhibit high expression in GC. Notably, SERPINA5 was prognostic in GC with high expression being unfavourable. SERPINA5 was further observed to promote GC tumorigenesis by modulating GC cell proliferation ability. Mechanically, SERPINA5 could inhibit CBL to regulate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway, thereby promoting GC carcinogenesis progression. These results highlight the important role of SERPINA5 in GC cell proliferation and suggest that SERPINA5 could be a novel target for GC treatment and a predictor for GC prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, and nearly 1 in 6 deaths each year is caused by cancer. Traditional cancer treatment strategies cannot completely solve cancer recurrence and metastasis. With the development of nanotechnology, the study of nanoparticles (NPs) has gradually become a hotspot of medical research. NPs have various advantages. NPs exploit the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) of tumour cells to achieve targeted drug delivery and can be retained in tumours long-term. NPs can be used as a powerful design platform for vaccines as well as immunization enhancers. Liposomes, as organic nanomaterials, are widely used in the preparation of nanodrugs and vaccines. Currently, most of the anticancer drugs that have been approved and entered clinical practice are prepared from lipid materials. However, the current clinical conversion rate of NPs is still extremely low, and the transition of NPs from the laboratory to clinical practice is still a substantial challenge. In this paper, we review the in vivo targeted delivery methods, material characteristics of NPs and the application of NPs in vaccine preparation. The application of nanoliposomes is also emphasized. Furthermore, the challenges and limitations of NPs are briefly discussed.

An innovative nanozyme, iron-doped polydopamine (Fe-PDA), which integrates iron ions into a PDA matrix, conferred peroxidase-mimetic activity and achieved a substantial photothermal conversion efficiency of 43.5 %. Fe-PDA mediated the catalysis of H 2 O 2 to produce toxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH), thereby facilitating lipid peroxidation in tumour cells and inducing ferroptosis. Downregulation of solute carrier family 7 no. 11 (SLC7A11) and solute carrier family 3 no. 2 (SLC3A2) in System Xc- resulted in decreased intracellular glutathione (GSH) production and inactivation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) pathway, contributing to ferroptosis. Moreover, the application of photothermal therapy (PTT) enhanced the effectiveness of chemodynamic therapy (CDT), accelerating the Fenton reaction for targeted tumour eradication while sparing adjacent non-cancerous tissues. In vivo experiments revealed that Fe-PDA significantly hampered tumour progression in mice, emphasizing the potential of the dual-modality treatment combining CDT and PTT for future clinical oncology applications. [Display omitted] • Fe-PDA exhibited peroxidase-like activity and high efficiency in photothermal conversion. • Fe-PDA effectively facilitated lipid peroxidation (LPO) within tumor cell. • Fe-PDA inhibits tumor growth through chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) self‐checking molecule, LET‐1052, for acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) turn‐on photothermal therapy (PTT), followed by viscosity based therapeutic efficacy evaluation by itself in two independent channels, denoted as "self‐checking" strategy. In acidic TME, LET‐1052 was protonated and turned on NIR‐II absorption for PTT under 1064 nm laser irradiation. Subsequently, PTT‐induced cellular death increases intracellular viscosity, which inhibited the intramolecular rotation of LET‐1052, resulting in the enhancement of NIR‐I fluorescence for real‐time evaluation of PTT efficacy. After PTT of tumor‐bearing mice for different periods of NIR‐II laser irradiation, NIR‐I fluorescence in the tumor region showed positive correlation with tumor growth inhibition rate, demonstrating reliable and prompt prediction of PTT efficacy. The strategy may be expanded for instant evaluation of other therapeutic modalities for personalized medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)‐T‐cell therapy is a promising anticancer treatment that exploits the host's immune system to fight cancer. CAR‐T cell therapy relies on immune cells being modified to express an artificial receptor targeting cancer‐specific markers, and infused into the patients where they will recognize and eliminate the tumour. Although CAR‐T cell therapy has produced encouraging outcomes in patients with haematologic malignancies, solid tumours remain challenging to treat, mainly due to the lack of cancer‐specific molecular targets and the hostile, often immunosuppressive, tumour microenvironment. CAR‐T cell therapy also depends on the quality of the injected product, which is closely connected to CAR design. Here, we explain the technology of CAR‐Ts, focusing on the composition of CARs, their application, and limitations in cancer therapy, as well as on the current strategies to overcome the challenges encountered. We also address potential future targets to overcome the flaws of CAR‐T cell technology in the treatment of cancer, emphasizing glycan antigens, the aberrant forms of which attain high tumour‐specific expression, as promising targets for CAR‐T cell therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyaluronic acid (HA), an important component of the extracellular matrix, has high water solubility and biocompatibility, and good application prospects in biomedicine. Especially in tumour treatment, prodrug polymer micelles prepared from HA and chemotherapeutics can increase water solubility, prolong drug release time, improve organ distribution and therapeutic effects, and show good tumour targeting and biocompatibility. Therefore, this study introduces strategies for using HA to prepare prodrug polymer micelles and discusses recent research on HA prodrug micelles for antitumor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive malignancy and therapeutic options are limited due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). RVG-29, a 29-amino-acid polypeptide derived from the rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG), has excellent brain-targeted capacity across the BBB. We reduced the size of this peptide to get a15-amino-acid polypeptide (RVG-15), while retaining its brain-targeted capacity across the BBB. First, we synthesized a novel nanocarrier RVG-15-PEG2000-DSPE. Next, DOX-loaded polymeric micelles (DOX RVG-15-PMs) were prepared in an electrostatic interaction-dependent manner. Finally, we evaluated its antitumor benefits in vitro at the cellular level and in vivo using an in situ tumour-bearing mouse model. MALDI-TOF-MS and FTIR spectra confirmed the successful synthesis of the novel nanocarrier. The prepared DOX RVG-15-PMs displayed even size distribution, a high entrapment efficiency and satisfactory in vitro release behaviour. In vitro blank RVG-15-PMs were excellent, safe and highly biocompatible as drug delivery carriers. DOX-loaded micelles were easily taken up by C6 cells and could effectively inhibit cancer development and metastasis. In vivo, DOX RVG-15-PMs delayed weight loss, prevented cancer cell metastasis and accelerated cancer cell apoptosis in tumour-bearing mice. Our novel brain-targeted nanocarrier is highly feasible, while DOX RVG-15-PMs exert significant antiglioma effects, both in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have reported that intestinal microbiota have an important effect on tumour immunity by affecting the tumour microenvironment (TME). The intestinal microbiota are closely associated with various immune cells, such as T lymphocytes, natural killer cells (NK cells) and macrophages. Some bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) and Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), have been shown to improve the effect of tumour immunity. Furthermore, microbial imbalance, such as the increased abundance of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) and Helicobacter hepaticus (H. hepaticus), generally causes tumour formation and progression. In addition, some microbiota also play important roles in tumour immunotherapy, especially PD‐L1‐related therapies. Therefore, what is the relationship between these processes and how do they affect each other? In this review, we summarize the interactions and corresponding mechanisms among the intestinal microbiota, immune system and TME to facilitate the research and development of new targeted drugs and provide new approaches to tumour therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of magnetic nanoparticles with a porous silica is a composite that has attracted significant attention for potential multifunctional theranostic applications. In this study, 30 wt % CuFe2O4 was impregnated into a matrix of monodispersed spherical hydrophilic silica (HYPS) nanoparticles through a simple dry impregnation technique. The chemotherapy drug cisplatin was loaded through electrostatic equilibrium adsorption over 24 h in normal saline solution. The presence of cubic spinel CuFe2O4 on HYPS was confirmed through powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy (DR UV–vis) analysis. The HYPS particles showed a surface area of 170 m2/g, pore size of 8.3 nm and pore volume of 0.35 cm3/g. The cisplatin/CuFe2O4/HYPS nanoformulation showed the accumulation of copper ferrite nanoparticles on the surface and in the pores of HYPS with a surface area of 45 m2/g, pore size of 16 nm and pore volume of 0.18 cm3/g. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping analysis showed the presence of homogeneous silica particles with nanoclusters of copper ferrite distributed on the HYPS support. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) analysis of CuFe2O4/HYPS showed paramagnetic behavior with a saturated magnetization value of 7.65 emu/g. DRS UV–vis analysis revealed the functionalization of cisplatin in tetrahedral and octahedral coordination in the CuFe2O4/HYPS composite. Compared to other supports such as mesocellular foam and silicalite, the release of cisplatin using the dialysis membrane technique was found to be superior when CuFe2O4/HYPS was applied as the support. An in vitro experiment was conducted to determine the potential of CuFe2O4/HYPS as an anticancer agent against the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. The results show that the nanoparticle formulation can effectively target cancerous cells and could be an effective tumor imaging guide and drug delivery system.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a biliary epithelial tumour that can emerge at any point in the biliary tree. It is commonly classified based on its anatomical site of development into intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PCC) and distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC), each of which is associated with varying patient demographics, molecular characteristics and treatment options. CCA patients have poor overall prognoses and 5‐year survival rates. Additionally, CCA is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, with surgical treatment restricted to early‐stage disease. Owing to an increase in the incidence of ICC, that of CCA is also on the rise, with a corresponding increase in the associated mortality, particularly in South America and Asia. Therefore, the development of an effective treatment is crucial to improve the survival of CCA patients. We aimed to systematically review the current understanding of advanced CCA treatment and discuss potential effective strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, malignant tumours have become one of the most serious diseases that endanger human health. According to a survey on causes of death in Chinese population in early 1990s, the malignant tumours were the second leading cause of death. In the treatment of tumours, the ideal situation is that drugs should target and accumulate at tumour sites and destroy tumour cells specifically, without affecting normal cells and stem cells with regenerative capacity. This requires drugs to be specifically transported to the target organs, tissues, cells, and even specific organelles, like mitochondria, nuclei, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and Golgi apparatus (GA). The nano drug delivery system can not only protect drugs from degradation but also facilitate functional modification and targeted drug delivery to the tumour site. This article mainly reviews the targeting of nano drug delivery systems to tumour cytoplasmic matrix, nucleus, mitochondria, ER, and lysosomes. Organelle-specific drug delivery system will be a major mean of targeting drug delivery with lower toxicity, less dosage and higher drug concentration in tumour cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug therapy towards tumours often causes adverse effects because of their non-specific nature. Membrane-coated technology and membrane-coated nanoparticles provide an advanced and promising platform of targeted and safe delivery. By camouflaging the nanoparticles with natural derived or artificially modified cell membranes, the nano-payloads are bestowed with properties from cell membranes such as longer circulation, tumour or inflammation-targeting, immune stimulation, augmenting the performance of traditional therapeutics. In this review, we review the development of membrane coating technology, and summarise the technical details, physicochemical properties, and research status of membrane-coated nanoparticles from different sources in tumour treatment. Finally, we also look forward to the prospects and challenges of transforming membrane coating technology from experiment into clinical use. Taken together, membrane-coated nanoparticles are bound to become one of the most potential anti-tumour strategies in the future., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest statement: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists. Editor note: Zengwu Shao and Zhidao Xia are Editorial Board members of Biomaterials Translational. They are blinded from reviewing or making decisions on the manuscript. The article was subject to the journal’s standard procedures, with peer review handled independently of Editorial Board members and their research groups.

This review investigates the revolutionary application of cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (CMNPs) as a promising avenue for cancer therapy within the embryonic landscape of nanotechnology. Nanoparticles, pivotal in cancer treatment, are systematically examined for their diverse physicochemical structures, categorized as organic (lipid-based, protein-based, and polymer-assisted) and inorganic (carbon-based and metal) varieties. A significant focus is placed on CMNPs, which serve as an innovative drug delivery vehicle, overcoming limitations associated with conventional nanoparticle therapies. This manuscript accurately explores the advantages and challenges of various cell membranes, including those derived from cancer cells, red blood cells, platelets, stem cells, and white blood cells. Importance is placed on their roles in enhancing drug delivery precision, immune system circumvention, and targeted recognition. Detailed insights into the crafting of CMNPs are provided, elucidating membrane extraction and fusion techniques, such as sonication, extrusion, co-extrusion, and microfluidic electroporation. Maintaining membrane integrity during extraction and the benefits of coating techniques in augmenting biocompatibility and targeted drug delivery are underscored. This comprehensive resource consolidates the latest advancements in targeted drug delivery, positioning itself at the forefront of nanotechnology and biomedicine research. Encapsulating various methodologies like membrane extrusion, electrospray, and chemical conjugation, this manuscript showcases the expanding toolbox available to researchers in this dynamic field. Focusing on the unique characteristics of CMNPs, this review explores their multifaceted applications in biomedical research, particularly in tumour therapy. It provides an indepth analysis of the biocompatibility of CMNPs, their stability, immune evasion capabilities, targeted drug delivery precision, increased payload capacity, and retained biological functionality. The manuscript outlines current applications and future prospects of CMNPs in targeted chemotherapy, photothermal and photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and innovative therapeutic methods. It concludes by highlighting the advantages of CMNPs in tumour therapy and their transformative potential in reshaping the landscape of cancer treatment., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Macrophages (Mø) are immune cells with natural phagocytic ability and play an important role in tumorigenesis, development and metastasis. Mø play a dual role of tumour inhibition and tumour promotion in tumour development due to their two different phenotypes. Mø in the tumour microenvironment have long been referred to as tumour-associated Mø (TAMs). Mø are mainly involved in tumour resistance, cancer metastasis and mediating immunosuppression. Nowadays, Mø and Mø membranes have been widely used in drug delivery systems (DDSs) because of their good biocompatibility, natural phagocytosis and their important role in tumour development. In this review, from the perspective of Mø's role in tumour development, we present strategies and drugs of Mø targeting and focusing on the several types of biomimetic nanoparticles constructed by Mø and Mø membranes in tumour therapy, and discuss the problem of this delivery system in present research and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Tumour cell proliferation requires high metabolism to meet the bioenergetics and biosynthetic needs. Dauer in Caenorhabditis elegans is characterized by lower metabolism, and we established an approach with C elegans to find potential tumour therapy targets. Materials and methods: RNAi screening was used to find dauer‐related genes, and these genes were further analysed in glp‐1(−) mutants for tumour‐suppressing testing. The identified tumour‐related genes were verified in clinical tumour tissues. Results: The lifespan of glp‐1(−) mutants was found to be extended by classical dauer formation signalling. Then, 61 of 287 kinase‐coding genes in Caenorhabditis elegans were identified as dauer‐related genes, of which 27 were found to be homologous to human oncogenes. Furthermore, 12 dauer‐related genes were randomly selected for tumour‐suppressing test, and six genes significantly extended the lifespan of glp‐1(−) mutants. Of these six genes, F47D12.9, W02B12.12 and gcy‐21 were newly linked to dauer formation. These three new dauer‐related genes significantly suppressed tumour cell proliferation and thus extended the lifespan of glp‐1(−) mutants in a longevity‐ or dauer‐independent manner. The mRNA expression profiles indicated that these dauer‐related genes trigged similar low metabolism pattern in glp‐1(−) mutants. Notably, the expression of homolog gene DCAF4L2/F47D12.9, TSSK6/W02B12.12 and NPR1/gcy‐21 was found to be higher in glioma compared with adjacent normal tissue. In addition, the high expression of TSSK6/W02B12.12 and NPR1/gcy‐21 correlated with a worse survival in glioma patients. Conclusions: Dauer gene screening in combination with tumour‐suppressing test in glp‐1(−) mutants provided a useful approach to find potential targets for tumour therapy via suppressing tumour cell proliferation and rewiring tumour cell metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green tea catechins have attracted much attention in the areas of biomedicine due to their natural antioxidant activity and numerous beneficial therapeutic effects. However, the chemically unstable in neutral and alkaline aqueous solutions have hindered their development. In this work, a nanosized non-toxic porous Fe-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) nanocomposites with a MIL-100(Fe) core and a silica shell was fabricated and applied for the loading of a typical green tea catechin, gallic acid (GA). The amount of GA loaded in the sample is shown to be 0.23 g g−1, and it took as long as 85 h to complete the GA release in PBS at 37 °C. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity results show that MIL-100(Fe)@SiO2-GA can highly enhance the antioxidant activity in PBS solution. Moreover, the obtained biocompatible MIL-100(Fe)@SiO2-GA displayed highly augmented anticancer effect on C6 cells. This work demonstrates that the prepared MIL-100(Fe)@SiO2 nanoparticles are potential green tea catechins carriers in terms of their good biocompatibility and effective performance in the antioxidant and anticancer activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectric ceramics, which exhibit the phenomenon of reversible spontaneous polarization, have been utilized in multiple conventional applications including sensors, actuators, nano-generators, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), memory storage systems, energy harvesting devices, etc. Recently, ferroelectric ceramics have been employed for catalysis-induced applications. One of such catalysis process is known as 'pyrocatalysis', which makes use of pyroelectric materials to execute catalysis reactions using temperature fluctuation-derived waste thermal energy/heat. This new and evolving pyrocatalysis process has shown promising potential in new and exciting applications including water-cleaning, water-splitting, bacterial disinfection, tooth whitening, carbon-dioxide reduction, tumor therapy, etc. In principle, ferroelectric ceramics are always pyroelectric in nature, which enables them to be utilized for pyrocatalytic applications. High pyrocatalytic performances of ferroelectric ceramics have been reported by various reports in multiple applications. This review starts with the basic introduction to ferroelectric ceramics, pyroelectric effect, and pyrocatalysis process. Further, it provides the review of recent studies utilizing ferroelectric ceramics for pyrocatalytic applications. The strategies to improve pyrocatalytic performance of ferroelectric ceramics are discussed in detail. At last, this review provides insights to new future directions for researchers working on ferroelectric pyrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent advances in cancer treatment through personalized and precision medicine and new avenues such as immunotherapy and chimeric antibodies, the induction of DNA damage either through irradiation or specific compounds remains the primary approach to kill tumour cells. Improvements in our understanding of how tumour cells respond to DNA damage, and especially how this response differs from that of normal cells, are crucial to the development of better and more efficient therapies. We have recently shown that the activity of the oncogenic transcription factor GFI1, which is required for the development and maintenance of T and B cell leukemia, increases the ability of tumour cells to repair their DNA following damage (Vadnais et al. Nat Commun 9(1):1418). GFI1 accomplishes this by regulating the post-translational modifications (PTM) of key DNA repair proteins, including MRE11 and 53BP1, by the methyltransferase PRMT1. Here, GFI1 acts as an accessory protein required for the interaction between the enzyme and its substrates. This has implications for the treatment response of tumour cells overexpressing GFI1, which includes T cell leukemia, neuroendocrine lung carcinomas and aggressive subtypes of medulloblastoma, and suggests that targeting GFI1’s activity and with this its capacity to aid DNA repair may open avenues for new therapeutic approaches.

Thermosensitive liposomes (TSLs) have been a prominent area of study in the discipline of tumour-targeted chemotherapeutics. The representative product of TSLs is ThermoDox® (DPPC/lyso-PC/PEG-lipid), which has advanced to Phase III clinical trials. Various groups have sought to develop a new TSL to improve upon the LTSL (lyso-lipid temperature-sensitive liposomes) formulation that is used to prepare ThermoDOX®. This review focuses on the development and recent update of an innovative TSL formulation, HaT-liposomes composed of DPPC and Brij78. Various parameters of LTSL and HaT-liposomes are compared, including size, loading efficiency, transition temperature, temperature-dependent release kinetics, stability, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and antitumour activity. Theranostic techniques involving HaT-liposomes are reported with regard to magnetic resonance imaging of drug delivery to tumours and identification of an early therapeutic biomarker in the treated tumour. The development of a further improved TSL formulation upon HaT-liposomes with improved stability and prolonged blood circulation is reported. Delivery of membrane impermeable drugs using HaT-liposomes is explored. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of this technology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gadolinium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles (GdIONP) with greater specific power adsorption rate (SAR) than Fe3O4 was developed and its potential application in tumour therapy and particle tracking were demonstrated in transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate C1 (TRAMP-C1) tumours. The GdIONPs accumulated in tumour region during the treatment could be clearly tracked and quantified by T2-weighted MR imaging. The therapeutic effects of GdIONP-mediated hyperthermia alone or in combination with radiotherapy (RT) were also evaluated. A significant increase in the tumour growth time was observed following the treatment of thermotherapy (TT) only group (2.5 days), radiation therapy only group (4.5 days), and the combined radio-thermotherapy group (10 days). Immunohistochemical staining revealed a reduced hypoxia region with vascular disruption and extensive tumour necrosis following the combined radio-thermotherapy. These results indicate that GdIONPmediated hyperthermia can improve the efficacy of RT by its dual functions in high temperature (temperature greater than 45 °C)-mediated thermal ablation and mild-temperature hyperthermia (MTH) (temperature between 39 and 42 °C)-mediated reoxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, our understanding of the Substance P (SP) and neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) system shows intricate relations between human physiology and disease occurrence or progression. Within the oncological field, overexpression of NK1R and this SP/NK1R system have been implicated in cancer cell progression and poor overall prognosis. This review focuses on providing an update on the current state of knowledge around the wide spectrum of NK1R ligands and applications of radioligands as radiopharmaceuticals. In this review, data concerning both the chemical and biological aspects of peptide and nonpeptide ligands as agonists or antagonists in classical and nuclear medicine, are presented and discussed. However, the research presented here is primarily focused on NK1R nonpeptide antagonistic ligands and the potential application of SP/NK1R system in targeted radionuclide tumour therapy.

Conventional biomaterials, such as metals, polymers, composites and ceramics, may not work well when facing certain tough medical challenges. As an alternative, body-temperature liquid metals, such as gallium, or its alloys are recently emerging as new generation functional materials which display many unconventional properties superior to traditional biomaterials, i.e. high fluidity, excellent electrical and thermal conductivities, good biocompatibility, sufficient radiopacity, controllable behaviour, easy manufacture and low cost. This article aims to outline a new biomedical category: liquid metal biomaterials. Representative applications enabled by liquid metal biomaterials from both therapeutic and diagnostic aspects were reviewed. Furthermore, related efforts and perspective for future development of employing liquid metals to resolve modern biomedical tough issues were discussed. With continuous technical progresses and fundamental discoveries, liquid metals are expected to offer more and more outstanding merits as a new class of biomaterials which are promising a generalised way towards resolving biomedical challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Malignant tumors are non-communicable diseases that affect human life health and quality of life. Anti-tumour-related research has also been the focus and difficulty in oncology research. With the rise of metabolomics, tumour biology, and the theory of tumour reprogramming, amino acid metabolic reprogramming has become a new target for antitumor research. Amino acids provide biomolecules such as nucleotides for tumour cell proliferation, invasion, and immune escape processes. They are also essential metabolites for immune cell activation and antitumor effects in the tumour microenvironment. Abnormal changes in amino acid metabolism are closely related to tumour development and immunity. Some essential proteins or critical enzymes in their metabolic pathways can be used for tumour diagnosis and prognosis assessment markers. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects of amino acid metabolism on tumour cell proliferation and the abnormal alterations of amino acid metabolism during the tumour metabolic cycle and analyzes and prospects the tumour therapeutic drugs targeting amino acid metabolism. This paper provides theoretical references for the in-depth study of the regulation of amino acid metabolism on tumour development and its possible therapeutic targets. [Display omitted] • The relationship between amino acid metabolic reprogramming and tumour development. • The relationship and mechanism of action of amino acid transporters with tumour progression and treatment. • Impact of amino acid metabolic reprogramming on tumour immunity and immunotherapy. • Review of recent research advances in targeted amino acid therapy for oncological diseases based on amino acid metabolic reprogramming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]