Theranostic multimodular potential of zinc-doped ferrite-saturated metal-binding protein-loaded novel nanocapsules in cancers

The present study successfully developed orally deliverable multimodular zinc (Zn) iron oxide (Fe3O4)-saturated bovine lactoferrin (bLf)-loaded polymeric nanocapsules (NCs), and evaluated their theranostic potential (antitumor efficacy, magnetophotothermal efficacy and imaging capability) in an in vivo human xenograft CpG-island methylator phenotype (CIMP)-1(+)/CIMP2(-)/chromosome instability-positive colonic adenocarcinoma (Caco2) and claudin-low, triple-negative (ER(-)/PR(-)/HER2(-); MDA-MB-231) breast cancer model. Mice fed orally on the Zn-Fe-bLf NC diet showed downregulation in tumor volume and complete regression in tumor volume after 45 days of feeding. In human xenograft colon cancer, vehicle-control NC diet-group (n=5) mice showed a tumor volume of 52.28±11.55 mm(3), and Zn-Fe-bLf NC diet (n=5)-treated mice had a tumor-volume of 0.10±0.073 mm(3). In the human xenograft breast cancer model, Zn-Fe-bLf NC diet (n=5)-treated mice showed a tumor volume of 0.051±0.062 mm(3) within 40 days of feeding. Live mouse imaging conducted by near-infrared fluorescence imaging of Zn-Fe-bLf NCs showed tumor site-specific localization and regression of colon and breast tumor volume. Ex vivo fluorescence-imaging analysis of the vital organs of mice exhibited sparse localization patterns of Zn-Fe-bLf NCs and also confirmed tumor-specific selective localization patterns of Zn-Fe-bLf NCs. Dual imaging using magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography scans revealed an unprecedented theranostic ability of the Zn-Fe-bLf NCs. These observations warrant consideration of multimodular Zn-Fe-bLf NCs for real-time cancer imaging and simultaneous cancer-targeted therapy

Targeting survivin in cancer : patent review

Importanceof the field: Survivin is a prominent anti-apoptotic molecule expressed widely in the majority of cancers. Overexpression of survivin leads to uncontrolled cancer cell growth and drug resistance. Efficient downregulation of survivin expression and its functions can sensitise the tumour cells to various therapeutic interventions such as chemotherapeutic agents leading to cell apoptosis.Areas covered in this review: The article thoroughly analyses up-to-date information on the knowledge generated from the survivin patents. Various key areas of research in terms of understanding survivin biology and its targeting are discussed in detail.What the reader will gain: The article clearly gives an insight on the recent developments undertaken to understand the roles of survivin in cancer and in validating various treatment paradigms that suppress survivin expression in cancer cells.Take home message:&nbsp; Most recent developments are helpful for effectively downregulating survivin expression by using various therapeutic platforms such as chemotherapeutic drugs, immunotechnology, antisense, dominant negative survivin mutant, RNA interference and peptide-based methods. However, selective and specific targeting of survivin in cancer cells still poses a major challenge. Nanotechnology-based platforms are currently under development to enable site-specific targeting of survivin in tumour cells.<br /

Nanotheranostic based iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) saturated lactoferrin nanocapsules for colonic adenocarcinoma

Efficient early detection of cancer and its simultaneous therapy can improve the survival of cancer patients significantly. Recently there is great interest for the development of nanotheranostic systems with multimodal live real-time imaging ability. Novel multimodal multifunctional iron oxide (Fe3O4) saturated lactoferrin (FebLf) nanocapsules/nanocarriers (FebLf NCs) nanoformulation was fabricated. Anti-cancer nanotheranostic ability in human xenograft colonic adenocarcinoma model was conducted in vivo by employing near infrared flouroscence (NIRF) real time live mice imaging technology. FebLf NCs showed spherical morphology with 50 to 80 nm size with super paramagnetic property and exhibited profound in vivo anti-tumour efficacy, leading to regression of the xenograft colonic tumour growth over a 90 day trial period. NIRF real time imaging revealed selective localisation patterns of the FebLf NCs at the tumour site causing tumour growth inhibition. In turn, ex vivo NIRF imaging of mice organs showed enhanced tumoural uptake and biodistribution at the vital organs including spleen, intestine, kidney, and intestine. Low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLRs), ferroportin, ferritin receptor based in vivo internalisation mechanisms and iron metabolism regulation were observed. Histopathological analysis revealed obsolute non-toxic nature of FebLf NCs in mice tissues. These observations summate biocompatible, multimodal anticancer activity of novel FebLf NCs for real time cancer therapeutic imaging leading to targeted colonic adenocarcinoma therapy