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Cancer remains an obstacle to be surmounted by humans. As an FDA-approved biocompatible drug excipient, d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) has been widely applied in drug delivery system (DDS). Along with in-depth analyses of TPGS-based DDS, increasingly attractive results have revealed that TPGS is able to act not only as a simple drug carrier but also as an assistant molecule with various bio-functions to improve anticancer efficacy. In this review, recent advances in TPGS-based DDS are summarized. TPGS can inhibit P-glycoprotein, enhance drug absorption, induce mitochondrial-associated apoptosis or other apoptotic pathways, promote drug penetration and tumor accumulation, and even inhibit tumor metastasis. As a result, many formulations, by using original TPGS, TPGS-drug conjugates or TPGS copolymers, were prepared, and as expected, an enhanced therapeutic effect was achieved in different tumor models, especially in multidrug resistant and metastatic tumors. Although the mechanisms by which TPGS participates in such functions are not yet very clear, considering its effectiveness in tumor treatment, TPGS-based DDS appears to be one of the best candidates for future clinical applications.

Metastasis is one of the most threatening aspects of cervical cancer. We developed a method to intraoperatively map the primary tumor, metastasis and metastatic sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs), providing real-time intraoperative guidance in cervical cancer.Methods: TMTP1, a tumor metastasis targeting peptide, was employed to modify the indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded poly (ethylene glycol)- poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PEG-PLGA) micelles. The cervical cancer subcutaneous tumor model and lung metastasis model were established to determine the active targeting of ICG-loaded TMTP1-PEG-PLGA micelles (ITM) for the primary tumor and occult metastasis of cervical cancer. Human cervical cancer HeLa cells engineered by firefly luciferase were injected into the right hocks of BALB/c nude mice to develop the SLN metastasis model. The ITM and control ICG-loaded PEG-PLGA micelles (IM) were injected into the right hind footpads in the SLN metastasis model, and the migration and retention of micelles were recorded under near-infrared fluorescence. K14-HPV16 transgenic mice were also used to detect the image capability of ITM to target cancerous lesions.Results: ITM could actively target imaging of the primary tumor and cervical cancer metastasis. ITM quickly diffused from the injection site to SLNs along lymphatic capillaries and remained in the SLNs for 12 h. Moreover, ITM specifically accumulated in the tumor metastatic SLNs (T-SLNs), which could be successfully distinguished from normal SLNs (N-SLNs).Conclusion: ITM could achieve active targeting of the primary tumor, metastasis and T-SLNs, providing precise and real-time intraoperative guidance for cervical cancer.

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Despite being one of the most potent anticancer agents, cisplatin (CDDP) clinical usage is limited owing to the acquired resistance and severe adverse effects including nephrotoxicity.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is the main cause of modern low back pain, leading to high societal economic costs. To find an effective medical treatment for this disease, oxymatrine liposomes (OMT-LIP) were prepared with the pH-gradient method. Materials and Methods: Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells from Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the cell experiments. Kunming mice were used for in vivo imaging. LIP were employed to deliver OMT, and the particle size, ζ-potential, morphology, in vitro stability and in vitro release characteristics were evaluated. The OMT-LIP targeting effect was measured by in vivo imaging. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays were used to detect the cytotoxicity of OMT and OMT-LIP on NP cells. Therapeutic efficacy was measured by Western blot, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and apoptosis assays. Radiologic analysis was performed to evaluate the therapeutic effects in vivo. Results: Orthogonal test results revealed that the mass ratio of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine to cholesterol was the key factor to effectively trap OMT in LIP. Optimal OMT-LIP showed multivesicular structure with entrapment efficiency of 73.4 ± 4.1%, particle size of 178.1 ± 2.9 nm, and ζ-potential of -13.30 ± 2.34 mV. OMT-LIP manifested excellent stability in vitro and presented significantly longer sustained release compared to OMT solution in phosphatebuffered saline (pH 7.4). OMT-LIP conspicuously increased OMT accumulation in the degenerative disc, attenuated NP cell apoptosis, reduced the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 3/9 and interleukin-6, and decreased degradation of type II collagen. In in vivo study, X-ray demonstrated that OMT-LIP inhibited IVDD. Conclusion: OMT-LIP may be a useful treatment to alleviate disc inflammation and IVDD.

Background and Purpose Cisplatin–paclitaxel (TP) combination chemotherapy as the first-line therapy for numerous cancers is hindered by its inadequate accumulation in tumors and severe side effects resulting from non-specific distribution. The aim of this study is to explore whether TMTP1-modified, cisplatin and paclitaxel prodrugs co-loaded nanodrug could improve cervical cancer chemotherapy and relieve its side effects through active and passive tumor targeting accumulation and controlled drug release. Methods TDNP, with capacities of active targeting for tumors and controlled drug release, was prepared to co-deliver cisplatin and paclitaxel prodrugs. The characteristics were investigated, including the diameter, surface zeta potential, stability and tumor microenvironment (TME) dependent drug release profiles. Cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, drug accumulation in tumors, antitumor effects and safety analysis were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results The oxidized cisplatin and the paclitaxel linked to the polymer achieved a high loading effciency of over 80% and TME-dependent sustained drug release. Moreover, TMTP1 modification enhanced cellular uptake of TDNP and further improved the cytotoxicity of TDNP in vitro. In vivo, TDNP showed an extended blood circulation and increased accumulation in SiHa xenograft models with the aid of TMTP1. More importantly, TDNP controlled tumor growth without life-threatening side effects. Conclusion Our study provided a novel TP co-delivery platform for targeted chemotherapy of cervical cancer, which was promising to improve the therapeutic effcacy of TP and may also have application in other tumors.