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International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2023Cancer is a result of abnormal cell proliferation. This pathology is a serious health problem since it is a leading cause of death worldwide. Current anti-cancer... (Review)
Review
Cancer is a result of abnormal cell proliferation. This pathology is a serious health problem since it is a leading cause of death worldwide. Current anti-cancer therapies rely on surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. However, these treatments still present major associated problems, namely the absence of specificity. Thus, it is urgent to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Nanoparticles, particularly dendrimers, have been paving their way to the front line of cancer treatment, mostly for drug and gene delivery, diagnosis, and disease monitoring. This is mainly derived from their high versatility, which results from their ability to undergo distinct surface functionalization, leading to improved performance. In recent years, the anticancer and antimetastatic capacities of dendrimers have been discovered, opening new frontiers to dendrimer-based chemotherapeutics. In the present review, we summarize the intrinsic anticancer activity of different dendrimers as well as their use as nanocarriers in cancer diagnostics and treatment.
Topics: Humans; Dendrimers; Precision Medicine; Nanoparticles; Drug Carriers; Neoplasms; Drug Delivery Systems
PubMed: 36982503
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065430 -
Theranostics 2018Mitochondrial oxidative stress is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI). Targeted delivery of antioxidants to...
Mitochondrial oxidative stress is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI). Targeted delivery of antioxidants to mitochondria has failed to translate into clinical success due to their nonspecific cellular localization, poor transport properties across multiple biological barriers, and associated side effects. These challenges, coupled with the complex function of the mitochondria, create the need for innovative delivery strategies. Neutral hydroxyl-terminated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers have shown significant potential as nanocarriers in multiple brain injury models. -acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a clinically used antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent which has shown significant potency when delivered in a targeted manner. Here we present a mitochondrial targeting hydroxyl PAMAM dendrimer-drug construct (TPP-D-NAC) with triphenyl-phosphonium (TPP) for mitochondrial targeting and NAC for targeted delivery to mitochondria in injured glia. Co-localization and mitochondrial content of mitochondria-targeted and unmodified dendrimer were assessed in microglia and macrophages via immunohistochemistry and fluorescence quantification. Therapeutic improvements of TPP-D-NAC over dendrimer-NAC conjugate (D-NAC) and free NAC were evaluated in microglia under oxidative stress challenge. neuroinflammation targeting was confirmed in a rabbit model of TBI. TPP-conjugated dendrimer co-localized significantly more with mitochondria than unmodified dendrimer without altering overall levels of cellular internalization. This targeting capability translated to significant improvements in the attenuation of oxidative stress by TPP-D-NAC compared to D-NAC and free NAC. Upon systemic administration in a rabbit TBI model, TPP-conjugated dendrimer co-localized specifically with mitochondria in activated microglia and macrophages in the white matter of the ipsilateral/injured hemisphere, confirming its BBB penetration and glial targeting capabilities. D-NAC has shown promising efficacy in many animal models of neurodegeneration, and this work provides evidence that modification for mitochondrial targeting can further enhance its therapeutic efficacy, particularly in diseases where oxidative stress-induced glial cell death plays a significant role in disease progression.
Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Dendrimers; Dynamic Light Scattering; Immunohistochemistry; Macrophages; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mass Spectrometry; Microglia; Mitochondria; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 30555562
DOI: 10.7150/thno.29039 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2017Dendrimers are highly branched polymers with easily modifiable surfaces. This makes them promising structures for functionalization and also for conjugation with drugs... (Review)
Review
Dendrimers are highly branched polymers with easily modifiable surfaces. This makes them promising structures for functionalization and also for conjugation with drugs and DNA/RNA. Their architecture, which can be controlled by different synthesis processes, allows the control of characteristics such as shape, size, charge, and solubility. Dendrimers have the ability to increase the solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs. The drugs can be entrapped in the intramolecular cavity of the dendrimers or conjugated to their functional groups at their surface. Nucleic acids usually form complexes with the positively charged surface of most cationic dendrimers and this approach has been extensively employed. The presence of functional groups in the dendrimer's exterior also permits the addition of other moieties that can actively target certain diseases and improve delivery, for instance, with folate and antibodies, now widely used as tumor targeting strategies. Dendrimers have been investigated extensively in the medical field, and cancer treatment is one of the greatest areas where they have been most used. This review will consider the main types of dendrimer currently being explored and how they can be utilized as drug and gene carriers and functionalized to improve the delivery of cancer therapy.
Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Dendrimers; Drug Carriers; Drug Delivery Systems; Gene Transfer Techniques; Humans; Molecular Weight; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Nucleic Acids; Particle Size
PubMed: 28832535
DOI: 10.3390/molecules22091401 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2023Gene therapy is extensively studied as a realistic and promising therapeutic approach for treating inherited and acquired diseases by repairing defective genes through... (Review)
Review
Gene therapy is extensively studied as a realistic and promising therapeutic approach for treating inherited and acquired diseases by repairing defective genes through introducing (transfection) the "healthy" genetic material in the diseased cells. To succeed, the proper DNA or RNA fragments need efficient vectors, and viruses are endowed with excellent transfection efficiency and have been extensively exploited. Due to several drawbacks related to their use, nonviral cationic materials, including lipidic, polymeric, and dendrimer vectors capable of electrostatically interacting with anionic phosphate groups of genetic material, represent appealing alternative options to viral carriers. Particularly, dendrimers are highly branched, nanosized synthetic polymers characterized by a globular structure, low polydispersity index, presence of internal cavities, and a large number of peripheral functional groups exploitable to bind cationic moieties. Dendrimers are successful in several biomedical applications and are currently extensively studied for nonviral gene delivery. Among dendrimers, those derived by 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propanoic acid (b-HMPA), having, unlike PAMAMs, a neutral polyester-based scaffold, could be particularly good-looking due to their degradability in vivo. Here, an overview of gene therapy, its objectives and challenges, and the main cationic materials studied for transporting and delivering genetic materials have been reported. Subsequently, due to their high potential for application in vivo, we have focused on the biodegradable dendrimer scaffolds, telling the history of the birth and development of b-HMPA-derived dendrimers. Finally, thanks to a personal experience in the synthesis of b-HMPA-based dendrimers, our contribution to this field has been described. In particular, we have enriched this work by reporting about the b-HMPA-based derivatives peripherally functionalized with amino acids prepared by us in recent years, thus rendering this paper original and different from the existing reviews.
Topics: Dendrimers; Propionates; Hempa; Transfection; Gene Transfer Techniques; Genetic Therapy
PubMed: 37958989
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242116006 -
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews.... 2009This paper provides a synopsis of the advancements made in advancing a dendrimer-based nanomedicine towards human clinical trials by the Michigan Nanotechnology... (Review)
Review
This paper provides a synopsis of the advancements made in advancing a dendrimer-based nanomedicine towards human clinical trials by the Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences. A brief description of the synthesis and characterization of a targeted multifunctional therapeutic will demonstrate the simple yet delicate task of producing novel chemotherapeutic agents. The results obtained from in vitro and in vivo studies not only authenticate the potential of using nanoparticles to target therapeutics but also provide valuable insight towards the future directions of this technology. A fundamental, cross-disciplinary collaboration was necessary to achieve the synthesis and testing of this technology, and was the keystone to establishing this innovative invention. Throughout this paper, we will stress that the unique collaboration that facilitated the evolution of this technology is vital to the success of future developments in nanomedicine.
Topics: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Dendrimers; Drug Delivery Systems; Folic Acid; Humans; Methotrexate; Mice; Nanomedicine
PubMed: 20049813
DOI: 10.1002/wnan.37 -
International Journal of Nanomedicine 2024Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common cancer and the fifth most frequent cause of cancer death among men. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression...
INTRODUCTION
Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common cancer and the fifth most frequent cause of cancer death among men. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression is associated with aggressive PC, with expression in over 90% of patients with metastatic disease. Those characteristics have led to its use for PC diagnosis and therapies with radiopharmaceuticals, antibody-drug conjugates, and nanoparticles. Despite these advancements, none of the current therapeutics are curative and show some degree of toxicity. Here we present the synthesis and preclinical evaluation of a multimodal, PSMA-targeted dendrimer-drug conjugate (PT-DDC), synthesized using poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers. PT-DDC was designed to enable imaging of drug delivery, providing valuable insights to understand and enhance therapeutic response.
METHODS
The PT-DDC was synthesized through consecutive conjugation of generation-4 PAMAM dendrimers with maytansinoid-1 (DM1) a highly potent antimitotic agent, Cy5 infrared dye for optical imaging, 2,2',2"-(1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetic acid (NOTA) chelator for radiolabeling with copper-64 and positron emission tomography tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), lysine-urea-glutamate (KEU) PSMA-targeting moiety and the remaining terminal primary amines were capped with butane-1,2-diol. Non-targeted control dendrimer-drug conjugate (Ctrl-DDC) was formulated without conjugation of KEU. PT-DDC and Ctrl-DDC were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry and dynamic light scattering. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of PT-DDC and Ctrl-DDC were carried out in isogenic human prostate cancer PSMA PC3 PIP and PSMA PC3 flu cell lines, and in mice bearing the corresponding xenografts.
RESULTS
PT-DDC was stable in 1×PBS and human blood plasma and required glutathione for DM1 release. Optical, PET/CT and biodistribution studies confirmed the in vivo PSMA-specificity of PT-DDC. PT-DDC demonstrated dose-dependent accumulation and cytotoxicity in PSMA PC3 PIP cells, and also showed growth inhibition of the corresponding tumors. PT-DDC did not accumulate in PSMA PC3 flu tumors and did not inhibit their growth. Ctrl-DDC did not show PSMA specificity.
CONCLUSION
In this study, we synthesized a multimodal theranostic agent capable of delivering DM1 and a radionuclide to PSMA tumors. This approach holds promise for enhancing image-guided treatment of aggressive, metastatic subtypes of prostate cancer.
Topics: Dendrimers; Male; Humans; Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II; Prostatic Neoplasms; Antigens, Surface; Cell Line, Tumor; Animals; Mice; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Drug Delivery Systems
PubMed: 38832336
DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S454128 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2017Recent advances in nuclear medicine have explored nanoscale carriers for targeted delivery of various radionuclides in specific manners to improve the effect of... (Review)
Review
Recent advances in nuclear medicine have explored nanoscale carriers for targeted delivery of various radionuclides in specific manners to improve the effect of diagnosis and therapy of diseases. Due to the unique molecular architecture allowing facile attachment of targeting ligands and radionuclides, dendrimers provide versatile platforms in this filed to build abundant multifunctional radiolabeled nanoparticles for nuclear medicine applications. This review gives special focus to recent advances in dendrimer-based nuclear medicine agents for the imaging and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases. Radiolabeling strategies for different radionuclides and several challenges involved in clinical translation of radiolabeled dendrimers are extensively discussed.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Dendrimers; Drug Carriers; Humans; Isotope Labeling; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Nuclear Medicine; Optical Imaging; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radioisotopes; Radionuclide Imaging; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
PubMed: 28841180
DOI: 10.3390/molecules22091350 -
Biomaterials Advances Sep 2022Lapatinib (L) and fulvestrant (F) are used in targeted anticancer therapies, in particular, against phenotypically different breast cancer cells. L, a dual inhibitor of...
Lapatinib (L) and fulvestrant (F) are used in targeted anticancer therapies, in particular, against phenotypically different breast cancer cells. L, a dual inhibitor of EGFR and HER2 tyrosine kinases, is active against HER2-positive breast cancer cells, while F, a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), is active against ER-positive breast cancer cells. However, the action of L and F can be limited due to their relatively low water solubility and bioavailability. In the present study, poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer G3 was functionalized with L or F or L and F to compare their effects with free L or F against breast cancer cells with different receptor status (ER-positive MCF-7, triple negative MDA-MB-231 and HER2-positive SK-BR-3 cells). L-PAMAM and F-PAMAM conjugates potentiated cytostatic and cytotoxic action of L and F that was accompanied by elevated levels of autophagy. TRDMT1, RNA methyltransferase, was also involved in this response as judged by TRDMT1 nuclear translocation and nano-drug resistance of TRDMT1 gene knockout cells. Nano-drugs also promoted elimination of doxorubicin-induced senescent breast cancer cells by apoptosis-mediated senolysis regardless of receptor status. In conclusion, we propose a novel anticancer approach based on L-PAMAM and F-PAMAM nanoplatforms being effective, at least, against breast cancer cells with different phenotypic features.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Dendrimers; Female; Fulvestrant; Humans; Lapatinib
PubMed: 35917687
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213047 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024This review describes the two-photon absorption properties of dendrimers, which are arborescent three-dimensional macromolecules differing from polymers by their... (Review)
Review
This review describes the two-photon absorption properties of dendrimers, which are arborescent three-dimensional macromolecules differing from polymers by their perfectly defined structure. The two-photon absorption process is a third order non-linear optical property that is attractive because it can be used in a wide range of applications. In this review, dendrimers that were studied for their two-photon absorption properties are first described. Then, the use of dendritic TPA chromophores for light harvesting, photopolymerization, optical power limitation, cell imaging, singlet oxygen generation, and photodynamic therapy is described. This review thus proposes an overview of the properties and possible applications of two-photon absorbing dendrimers.
Topics: Dendrimers; Photosensitizing Agents; Photochemotherapy; Photons; Polymers
PubMed: 38542106
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063132 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2021Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) has been intensively studied as a promising new strategy of prodrug delivery, with its main advantages being represented by... (Review)
Review
Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) has been intensively studied as a promising new strategy of prodrug delivery, with its main advantages being represented by an enhanced efficacy and a reduced off-target toxicity of the active drug. In recent years, numerous therapeutic systems based on GDEPT strategy have entered clinical trials. In order to deliver the desired gene at a specific site of action, this therapeutic approach uses vectors divided in two major categories, viral vectors and non-viral vectors, with the latter being represented by chemical delivery agents. There is considerable interest in the development of non-viral vectors due to their decreased immunogenicity, higher specificity, ease of synthesis and greater flexibility for subsequent modulations. Dendrimers used as delivery vehicles offer many advantages, such as: nanoscale size, precise molecular weight, increased solubility, high load capacity, high bioavailability and low immunogenicity. The aim of the present work was to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advances regarding the use of dendrimers as non-viral carriers in the GDEPT therapy.
Topics: Animals; Dendrimers; Enzyme Therapy; Enzymes; Gene Transfer Techniques; Genetic Therapy; Genetic Vectors; Humans; Nanoparticles; Prodrugs
PubMed: 34641519
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195976