Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are promising tools for a wide array of biomedical applications. One of their most outstanding properties is the ability to generate heat when exposed to alternating magnetic fields, usually exploited in magnetic hyperthermia therapy of cancer. In this contribution, we provide a critical review of the use of MNPs and magnetic hyperthermia as drug release and gene expression triggers for cancer therapy. Several strategies for the release of chemotherapeutic drugs from thermo-responsive matrices are discussed, providing representative examples of their application at different levels (from proof of concept to in vivo applications). The potential of magnetic hyperthermia to promote in situ expression of therapeutic genes using vectors that contain heat-responsive promoters is also reviewed in the context of cancer gene therapy.
Herein, we summarise the recent efforts to bring together the unique properties of nanoparticles and the remarkable features of bioorthogonal reactions for creating a toolbox of new or improved biomedical applications.
In this work, we report the use of bioorthogonal chemistry,
specifically
the strain-promoted click azide–alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC)
for the covalent attachment of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) on living
cell membranes. Four types of MNPs were prepared, functionalized with
two different stabilizing/passivation agents (a polyethylene glycol
derivative and a glucopyranoside derivative, respectively) and two
types of strained alkynes with different reactivities: a cyclooctyne
(CO) derivative and a dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO) derivative. The MNPs
were extensively characterized in terms of physicochemical characteristics,
colloidal stability, and click reactivity in suspension. Then, the
reactivity of the MNPs toward azide-modified surfaces was evaluated
as a closer approach to their final application in a living cell scenario.
Finally, the DBCO-modified MNPs, showing superior reactivity in suspension
and on surfaces, were selected for cell membrane immobilization via
the SPAAC reaction on the membranes of cells engineered to express
azide artificial reporters. Overall, our work provides useful insights
into the appropriate surface engineering of nanoparticles to ensure
a high performance in terms of bioorthogonal reactivity for biological
applications.
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