Tumor-associated neutrophil extracellular
traps (NETs) play a critical
role in promoting tumor growth and assisting tumor metastasis. Herein,
a smart nanocarrier (designated as mP-NPs-DNase/PTX) based on regulating
tumor-associated NETs has been developed, which consists of a paclitaxel
(PTX) prodrug nanoparticle core and a poly-l-lysine (PLL)
conjugated with the matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9)-cleavable Tat-peptide-coupled
deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) shell. After accumulating at the site
of the tumor tissue, the nanocarrier can release DNase I in response
to MMP-9 to degrade the structure of NETs. Then, the remaining moiety
can uptake the tumor cells via the mediation of exposed
cell penetrating peptide, and the PTX prodrug nanoparticles will lyse
in response to the high intracellular concentration of reduced glutathione
to release PTX to exert a cytotoxic effect of tumor cells. Through in vitro and in vivo evaluations, it has
been proven that mP-NPs-DNase/PTX could serve as potential NET-regulated
nanocarrier for enhanced inhibition of malignant tumor growth and
distant metastasis.
From the global perspective, stroke refers to a highly common cause of disability and death. Ischemic stroke (IS), attributed to blood vessel blockage, preventing the flow of blood to brain, acts as the most common form of stroke. Thus far, thrombolytic therapy is the only clinical treatment for IS with the approval from the FDA. Moreover, the physiology barrier complicates therapeutically and diagnostically related intervention development of IS. Accordingly, developing efficient and powerful curative approaches for IS diagnosis and treatment is urgently required. The advent of nanotechnology has brought dawn and hope to better curative and imaging forms for the management of IS. This work reviews the recent advances and challenges correlated with the nano drug delivery system for IS therapy and diagnosis. The overview of the current knowledge of the important molecular pathological mechanisms in cerebral ischemia and how the drugs cross the blood brain barrier will also be briefly summarized.
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