Nanosonotechnology: the next challenge in cancer sonodynamic therapy

AbstractSonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a newly developed anticancer treatment where ultrasound is used to trigger the cytotoxic effect of chemical compounds, known as sonosensitizers. Although SDT is similar to photodynamic therapy (PDT), SDT activates the chemical compounds through energy transfer using ultrasound rather than light. Moreover, SDT can focus the ultrasound energy onto malignant sites situa\xadted deeply within tissues, thus overcoming the main drawback linked to the use of PDT. Several physical and chemical mechanisms underlying ultrasound bioeffects and anticancer SDT take advantage of the non-thermal effect of acoustic cavitation generated by selected pulsed or continuous ultrasound. As the physical-chemical structure of the sonosentizer is essential for the success of SDT, we believe that the different aspects related to nanotechnology in medicine might well be able to improve the triggering effect ultrasound has on sonosensitizing agents. Therefore, the aim of this review is to focus on how nanotechnology might improve this innovative anticancer therapeutic approach.</jats:p

Targeted treatment of folate receptor-positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and companion diagnostics, with specific focus on vintafolide and etarfolatide

Among the gynecological malignancies, ovarian cancer is the leading cause of mortality in developed countries. Treatment of ovarian cancer is based on surgery integrated with chemotherapy. Platinum-based drugs (cisplatin and carboplatin) comprise the core of first-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer can be treated with cytotoxic chemotherapeutics such as paclitaxel, topotecan, PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin, or gemcitabine, but many patients eventually relapse on treatment. Targeted therapies based on agents specifically directed to overexpressed receptors, or to selected molecular targets, may be the future of clinical treatment. In this regard, overexpression of folate receptor-α on the surface of almost all epithelial ovarian cancers makes this receptor an excellent “tumor-associated antigen”. With appropriate use of spacers/linkers, folate-targeted drugs can be distributed within the body, where they preferentially bind to ovarian cancer cells and are released inside their target cells. Here they can exert their desired cytotoxic function. Based on this strategy, 12 years after it was first described, a folate-targeted vinblastine derivative has now reached Phase III clinical trials in ovarian cancer. This review examines the importance of folate targeting, the state of the art of a vinblastine folate-targeted agent (vintafolide) for treating platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, and its diagnostic companion (etarfolatide) as a prognostic agent. Etarfolatide is a valuable noninvasive diagnostic imaging agent with which to select ovarian cancer patient populations that may benefit from this specific targeted therapy

Biomedical Applications of Reactive Oxygen Species Generation by Metal Nanoparticles

The design, synthesis and characterization of new nanomaterials represents one of the most dynamic and transversal aspects of nanotechnology applications in the biomedical field. New synthetic and engineering improvements allow the design of a wide range of biocompatible nanostructured materials (NSMs) and nanoparticles (NPs) which, with or without additional chemical and/or biomolecular surface modifications, are more frequently employed in applications for successful diagnostic, drug delivery and therapeutic procedures. Metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) including metal NPs, metal oxide NPs, quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic NPs, thanks to their physical and chemical properties have gained much traction for their functional use in biomedicine. In this review it is highlighted how the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in many respects could be considered a negative aspect of the interaction of MNPs with biological matter, may be a surprising nanotechnology weapon. From the exchange of knowledge between branches such as materials science, nanotechnology, engineering, biochemistry and medicine, researchers and clinicians are setting and standardizing treatments by tuning ROS production to induce cancer or microbial cell death