Aim: Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, and current treatments are limited to palliative cares. The present study proposes a nanotechnology-based solution able to impr... Graphical abstract

The lack of efficient targeting strategies poses significant limitations on the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic treatments. This issue also affects drug-loaded nanocarriers, reducing nanoparticles cancer cell uptake. We report on the fabrication and in vitro characterization of doxorubicin-loaded magnetic liposomes for localized treatment of liver malignancies. Colloidal stability, superparamagnetic behavior and efficient drug loading of our formulation were demonstrated. The application of an external magnetic field guaranteed enhanced nanocarriers cell uptake under cell medium flow in correspondence of a specific area, as we reported through in vitro investigation. A numerical model was used to validate experimental data of magnetic targeting, proving the possibility of accurately describing the targeting strategy and predict liposomes accumulation under different environmental conditions. Finally, in vitro studies on HepG2 cancer cells confirmed the cytotoxicity of drug-loaded magnetic liposomes, with cell viability reduction of about 50% and 80% after 24 h and 72 h of incubation, respectively. Conversely, plain nanocarriers showed no anti-proliferative effects, confirming the formulation safety. Overall, these results demonstrated significant targeting efficiency and anticancer activity of our nanocarriers and superparamagnetic nanoparticles entrapment could envision the theranostic potential of the formulation. The proposed magnetic targeting study could represent a valid tool for pre-clinical investigation regarding the effectiveness of magnetic drug targeting.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria), well known for their pro- and antioxidant features, have been recently proposed for the treatment of several pathologies, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. However, interaction between nanoceria and biological molecules such as proteins and lipids, short blood circulation time, and the need of a targeted delivery to desired sites are some aspects that require strong attention for further progresses in the clinical application of these nanoparticles. The aim of this work is the encapsulation of nanoceria into a liposomal formulation in order to improve their therapeutic potentialities. After the preparation through a reverse-phase evaporation method, size, Z-potential, morphology, and loading efficiency of nanoceria-loaded liposomes were investigated. Finally, preliminary in vitro studies were performed to test cell uptake efficiency and preserved antioxidant activity. Nanoceria-loaded liposomes showed a good colloidal stability, an excellent biocompatibility, and strong antioxidant properties due to the unaltered activity of the entrapped nanoceria. With these results, the possibility of exploiting liposomes as carriers for cerium oxide nanoparticles is demonstrated here for the first time, thus opening exciting new opportunities for in vivo applications.

Owing to their abilities to identify diseased conditions, to modulate biological processes, and to control cellular activities, magnetic nanoparticles have become one of the most popular nanomaterials in the biomedical field. Targeted drug delivery, controlled drug release, hyperthermia treatment, imaging, and stimulation of several biological entities are just some of the several tasks that can be accomplished by taking advantage of magnetic nanoparticles in tandem with magnetic fields. The huge interest towards this class of nanomaterials arises from the possibility to physically drive their spatiotemporal localization inside the body, and to deliver an externally applied stimulation at a target site. They in fact behave as actual nanotransducers, converting energy stemming from the external magnetic field into heat and mechanical forces, which act as signals for therapeutic processes such as hyperthermia and controlled drug release. Magnetic nanoparticles are a noninvasive tool that enables the remote activation of biological processes, besides behaving as formidable tracers for different imaging modalities, thus allowing to simultaneously carry out diagnosis and therapy. In view of all this, owing to their multifunctional and multitasking nature, magnetic nanoparticles are already one of the most important nanotechnological protagonists in medicine and biology, enabling an actual theranostic approach in many pathological conditions. In this Concept, we first provide a brief introduction on some physical properties of magnetic materials and on important features that determine the physical properties of magnetic nanoparticles. Thereafter, we will consider some major biomedical applications: hyperthermia, drug delivery/release, and nanoparticle‐mediated control of biological processes, even at subcellular level.