Emerging Biomaterials‐Based Strategies for Inhibiting Vasculature Function in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Figure 2. A) Schematic demonstrating embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma; B) Types of hydrogels used for vascular embolization.

Exploring the Potential of Nanogels: From Drug Carriers to Radiopharmaceutical Agents

“…These applications are based on the cell permeability, inclusion ability, and environmental responsiveness of nanogels. Research on nanogels for medical purposes has been extremely active, and a number of review articles [23][24][25]27,29,[51][52][53][54][55][56] have been published in recent years. In this chapter, we introduce recently published articles (after 2021) categorized according to their intended use, mainly therapeutic applications and tissue engineering (other applications such as foods, agrochemical delivery system, and other unique materials lies beyond the scope of this review).…”

“…Research on nanogels for medical purposes has currently gained significantly in importance, and a number of review articles have been published in recent years. [14,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] Most medically relevant nanogels that have been studied so far have a size range of ten to a few hundred nanometers, which is significantly smaller than biological objects, for example, bacteria or prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (Figure 1). Derived from that, such nanogels represent ideal transport units in living systems and offer ideal prerequisites for the development of drug delivery systems due to the possibility of encapsulating and releasing drugs and/or diagnostic compounds in a targeted manner.…”

Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Nanovaccines Toward Next-Generation Immunotherapy

“…Despite the similar composition, nanovaccines can be categorized into several different groups depending on material features, including lipid, polymer, inorganic and biomimetic nanovaccines. − Polymers, in particular, could be a superior option owing to their low systemic toxicity, ease of synthesis, flexible in surface modification, and tailored design. − Notably, polymers have recently been studied as adjuvant and antigen delivery carriers and offer the potential to codeliver antigens and adjuvants to improve effectiveness and reduce dose. , The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a list of polymeric carrier materials for their exceptional safety and biocompatibility, contributing to the creation of polymeric nanovaccine formulations, including poly­(lactic-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly­(lactic acid) (PLA), poly­(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly­(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly­(caprolactone) (PCL), chitosan, etc. − Polymeric nanovaccines are being studied not only for cancer therapy but also for antiviral immunotherapy and antimicrobial medications . For instance, Lin et al developed a safe and efficient prophylactic against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus by employing a synthetic biodegradable PLGA polymer to distribute subunit viral antigens, STING (stimulator of interferon genes) agonists, and adjuvants in a virus-like fashion. , In addition, Brucella abortus ( B. abortus ), a selective pathogen that causes brucellosis, may infect humans by direct contact with or consumption of animal products by unintentional hosts .…”

Upconversion-Nanoparticle-Based Smart Drug-Delivery Platforms for Multimodal Imaging-Guided Cancer Therapies

“…Angiogenesis inhibition and nutrient depletion at the tumor site can achieve tumor starvation therapy (ST), which is a promising strategy for cancer treatment, especially for suppressing the metastasis of tumor cells. − The rapid division of tumor cells leads to a lack of O 2 at the tumor site, which leads to the tumor inducing the overexpression of HIF-1α, which, in turn, triggers the upregulation of proangiogenic mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). − In tumors, overexpressed VEGF provides not only a rich nutrient and growth matrix for tumors but also important channels for tumor metastasis; therefore, the inhibition of HIF-1α is essential for tumor treatment . Moreover, the nonenergy consumption of nutrients (e.g., Glu) at the tumor site causes tumor cells to suffer from energy deficiency, which is not conducive to tumor growth and metastasis. , Therefore, ST is a potential method to improve the survival rate of advanced breast cancer by simultaneously suppressing tumor growth and metastasis.…”