As the most common cancer in women, efforts have been made to develop novel nanomedicine-based therapeutics for breast cancer. In the present study, the in silico curcumin (Cur) properties were investigated, and we found some important drawbacks of Cur. To enhance cancer therapeutics of Cur, three different nonionic surfactants (span 20, 60, and 80) were used to prepare various Cur-loaded niosomes (Nio-Cur). Then, fabricated Nio-Cur were decorated with folic acid (FA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) for breast cancer suppression. For PEG-FA@Nio-Cur, the gene expression levels of Bax and p53 were higher compared to free drug and Nio-Cur. With PEG-FA-decorated Nio-Cur, levels of Bcl2 were lower than the free drug and Nio-Cur. When MCF7 and 4T1 cell uptake tests of PEG-FA@Nio-Cur and Nio-Cur were investigated, the results showed that the PEG-FA-modified niosomes exhibited the most preponderant endocytosis. In vitro experiments demonstrate that PEG-FA@Nio-Cur is a promising strategy for the delivery of Cur in breast cancer therapy. Breast cancer cells absorbed the prepared nanoformulations and exhibited sustained drug release characteristics.

Nano-based drug delivery systems hold significant promise for cancer therapies. Presently, the poor accumulation of drug-carrying nanoparticles in tumors has limited their success. In this study, based on a combination of the paradigms of intravascular and extravascular drug release, an efficient nanosized drug delivery system with programmable size changes is introduced. Drug-loaded smaller nanoparticles (secondary nanoparticles), which are loaded inside larger nanoparticles (primary nanoparticles), are released within the microvascular network due to temperature field resulting from focused ultrasound. This leads to the scale of the drug delivery system decreasing by 7.5 to 150 times. Subsequently, smaller nanoparticles enter the tissue at high transvascular rates and achieve higher accumulation, leading to higher penetration depths. In response to the acidic pH of tumor microenvironment (according to the distribution of oxygen), they begin to release the drug doxorubicin at very slow rates (i.e., sustained release). To predict the performance and distribution of therapeutic agents, a semi-realistic microvascular network is first generated based on a sprouting angiogenesis model and the transport of therapeutic agents is then investigated based on a developed multi-compartment model. The results show that reducing the size of the primary and secondary nanoparticles can lead to higher cell death rate. In addition, tumor growth can be inhibited for a longer time by enhancing the bioavailability of the drug in the extracellular space. The proposed drug delivery system can be very promising in clinical applications. Furthermore, the proposed mathematical model is applicable to broader applications to predict the performance of drug delivery systems.

Introduction: Breast cancer is among the most prevalent mortal cancers in women worldwide. In the present study, an optimum formulation of letrozole, letrozole-loaded niosome, and empty niosome was developed, and the anticancer effect was assessed in in vitro MCF-7, MCF10A and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: Various niosomal formulations of letrozole were fabricated through thin-film hydration method and characterized in terms of size, polydispersity index (PDI), morphology, entrapment efficiency (EE%), release kinetics, and stability. Optimized niosomal formulation of letrozole was achieved by response surface methodology (RSM). Antiproliferative activity and the mechanism were assessed by MTT assay, quantitative real-time PCR, and flow cytometry. Furthermore, cellular uptake of optimum formulation was evaluated by confocal electron microscopy. Results: The formulated letrozole had a spherical shape and showed a slow-release profile of the drug after 72 h. The size, PDI, and eEE% of nanoparticles showed higher stability at 4°C compared with 25°C. The drug release from niosomes was in accordance with Korsmeyer–Peppa’s kinetic model. Confocal microscopy revealed the localization of drug-loaded niosomes in the cancer cells. MTT assay revealed that all samples exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells. The IC₅₀ of mixed formulation of letrozole with letrozole-loaded niosome (L + L₃) is the lowest value among all prepared formulations. L+L₃ influenced the gene expression in the tested breast cancer cell lines by down-regulating the expression of Bcl ₂ gene while up-regulating the expression of p53 and Bax genes. The flow cytometry results revealed that L + L₃ enhanced the apoptosis rate in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines compared with the letrozole (L), letrozole-loaded niosome (L₃), and control sample. Conclusion: Results indicated that niosomes could be a promising drug carrier for the delivery of letrozole to breast cancer cells. Graphical Abstract:

Vinblastine (VB), as a chemotherapeutic agent, is widely used in treatment of different types of cancer. However, its clinical application is limited due to its low water solubility, side effects, and multidrug resistance. The aim of this study was to increase the therapeutic efficacy of VB using drug delivery systems. For this purpose, a PEGylated niosomal formulation of vinblastine (Pn-VB) was prepared by thin film hydration method and physicochemically characterized. Drug release pattern was performed by dialysis diffusion method. The cytotoxicity of Pn-VB was investigated against murine lung cancer TC-1 cells using MTT assay and its tumor inhibitory effect was evaluated in lung tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice. Mean particle size, zeta potential, entrapment, and loading efficiency of niosomes were obtained to be about 234.3 ± 11.4 nm, -34.6 ± 4.2 mV, 99.92 ± 1.6%, and 2.673 ± 0.30%, respectively. While, the mean particle size and zeta potential for non-PEGylated niosomes were obtained about 212.4 nm and -31.4 mV, respectively. The in vitro release pattern of drug from niosomes showed a sustained release behavior. Pn-VB indicated a significant increase in toxicity against TC-l cells as compared to free VB. In animal model, Pn-VB exhibited stronger tumor inhibitory effect and longer life time in comparison to free VB. In conclusion, Pn-VB showed appropriate stability, high-entrapment efficacy, lower releasing rate, and stronger cytotoxic activity against lung cancer TC-1 cells as compared to free drug. Thus, the Pn-VB could be a promising formulation for delivery of vinblastine to tumor cells with enhanced drug bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.

Following the announcement of the outbreak of COVID-19 by the World Health Organization, unprecedented efforts were made by researchers around the world to combat the disease. So far, various methods have been developed to combat this “virus” nano enemy, in close collaboration with the clinical and scientific communities. Nanotechnology based on modifiable engineering materials and useful physicochemical properties has demonstrated several methods in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. Here, based on what has been clarified so far from the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2, through an interdisciplinary perspective based on computational science, engineering, pharmacology, medicine, biology, and virology, the role of nano-tools in the trio of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment is highlighted. The special properties of different nanomaterials have led to their widespread use in the development of personal protective equipment, anti-viral nano-coats, and disinfectants in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 out-body. The development of nano-based vaccines acts as a strong shield in-body. In addition, fast detection with high efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 by nanomaterial-based point-of-care devices is another nanotechnology capability. Finally, nanotechnology can play an effective role as an agents carrier, such as agents for blocking angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, gene editing agents, and therapeutic agents. As a general conclusion, it can be said that nanoparticles can be widely used in disinfection applications outside in vivo. However, in in vivo applications, although it has provided promising results, it still needs to be evaluated for possible unintended immunotoxicity. Reviews like these can be important documents for future unwanted pandemics.