Photothermal therapy (PTT) can overcome cancer treatment resistance by enhancing the cell membrane permeability, facilitating drug accumulation, and promoting drug release within the tumor tissue. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have emerged as effective agents for PTT due to their unique properties and biocompatibility. Approved for the treatment of anemia, as MRI contrast agents, and as magnetic hyperthermia mediators, IONPs also offer excellent light-to-heat conversion and can be manipulated using external magnetic fields for targeted accumulation in specific tissue. Optimizing parameters such as the laser wavelength, power density, shape, size, iron oxidation state, functionalization, and concentration is crucial for IONPs’ effectiveness. In addition to PTT, IONPs enhance other cancer treatment modalities. They improve tumor oxygenation, enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy. IONPs can also trigger ferroptosis, a programmed cell death pathway mediated by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Their magneto-mechanical effect allows them to exert a mechanical force on cancer cells to destroy tumors, minimizing the damage to healthy tissue. This review outlines strategies for the management of the photothermal performance and PTT efficiency with iron oxide nanoparticles, as well as synergies with other cancer therapies.

In the present work, we studied the interactions of three types of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with human serum albumin (HSA) by fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The determined binding parameters of the reactions and the thermodynamic parameters, including ΔHo, ΔSo, and ΔGo indicated that electrostatic forces play a major role in the interaction of IONPs with HSA. These measurements indicate a fluorescent quenching mechanism based on IONPs-HSA static complex formation. Our study shows that the interaction between HSA and IONPs depends on the nanoparticle structure. The interaction between IONPs and HSA was found to be spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy-driven. HSA was shown to interact moderately with IONPs obtained with plant extracts of Uncaria tomentosa L. (IONP@UT) and Clinopodium vulgare L. (IONP@CV), and firmly with IONPs prepared with Ganoderma lingzhi (Reishi) extract (IONP@GL), via ground-state association. Analysis by modified Stern-Volmer approximation indicates that the quenching mechanism is static. Our study significantly improves our understanding of the mechanisms of interaction, distribution, and transport involved in the interaction between proteins and IONPs. It provides crucial insights into the functional perturbations of albumin binding capacity and the effects of IONPs on the stability and structural modifications of plasma carrier proteins.

Multilayered polyelectrolyte films are promising structures in the biomedical field. In order to meet the demands for biomedical applications, the structures have to be built from biocompatible and/or biodegradable, nontoxic starting materials, possessing some specific functional properties, depending on the particular application. In the present study, the multilayered polyelectrolyte films with potential use as buccal bioadhesive drug delivery systems were investigated. They were prepared via layer-by-layer deposition of successive nanolayers onto substrate. Three different biopolymers were used. The substrate, from poly(lactic acid), was solvent casted. After that, it was subjected to corona treatment, which ensures surface charge excess for the multilayer deposition. The nanolayers were prepared either from 0.01 g/L solutions of chitosan or 0.05 g/L xanthan. Acetate buffer (pH 4.5 and ionic strength 1 M) was used as a solvent. The substrate was dipped successively into one of the solutions, allowing formation of polyelectrolyte complexes of chitosan (polycation) and xanthan (polyanion). The substrates was treated in negative corona. The multilayered structures consisted of 8, 9, 14, 15 or 20 nanolayers. Number of techniques, such refractive index measurements, FT- IR spectroscopy and SEM morphology were employed in order to monitor the properties of the so prepared multilayered polyelectrolyte films.

The research presents the effect of novel edible coatings based on low molecular weight chitosan on some properties of fresh-cut melon fruits – weight loss, total soluble solids, total acidity, mechanical strength and bacteria growth. Three different compositions were used as coatings – pure chitosan, chitosan and Ca lactate and alginate/chitosan multilayers. It was shown that the additional alginate layer substantially improves the protective properties of pure chitosan coating, resulting in preservation of cell structure. Negligible negative effect on the antibacterial activity of pure chitosan is demonstrated.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) can overcome cancer treatment resistance by enhancing cell membrane permeability, facilitating drug accumulation, and promoting drug release within the tumor tissue. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have emerged as effective agents for PTT due to their unique properties and biocompatibility. Approved for the treatment of anemia, as MRI contrast agents, and as magnetic hyperthermia mediators, IONPs also offer excellent light-to-heat conversion and can be manipulated using external magnetic field for targeted accumulation in specific tissues. Optimizing parameters such as laser wavelength, power density, shape, size, iron oxidation state, functionalization, and concentration is crucial for IONPs effectiveness. In addition to PTT, IONPs enhance other cancer treatment modalities. They improve tumor oxygenation enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy. IONPs can also trigger ferroptosis, a programmed cell death pathway mediated by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Their magneto-mechanical effect can exert mechanical force on cancer cells to destroy tumors, minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This review outlines strategies for managing photothermal performance and PTT efficiency with iron oxide nanoparticles, as well as synergies with other cancer therapies.

In the present paper the effect of the substrate type and the corona polarity were investigated. Various biopolymer substrates (poly lactic acid (PLA), PLA with chitosan and lyophilized PLA) were prepared. These substrates were charged in a positive and in a negative corona and time dependences of the normalized surface potential were studied. After that multilayer films were formed by alternative dipping the substrates into chitosan and xanthan polyelectrolyte solutions. For this purpose 0.1% chitosan solution and 0.05% xanthan solution in acetate buffers with pH 4.5 and ionic strength 0.1 mol/l were used. The films’ morphology was investigated by FTIR and SEM methods. А comparative analysis of the experimental results was presented and the most appropriate substrate type for the irreversible binding of the chitosan/ xanthan polyelectrolytes was determined.