ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering

Modeling Uterine Fibroids Using Bioengineered Hydrogels

Uterine fibroids are the most common gynecological tumors, characterized by excessive production of extracellular matrix. Despite their prevalence, the cellular mechanisms governing fibroid growth remain poorly understood. Current in vitro models for fibroids do not replicate the complex 3D tissue mechanics, structure, and extracellular matrix components of fibroids, which may limit our understanding of fibroid pathogenesis. To address this gap, we aimed to develop a 3D in vitro model to mimic aspects of the fibroid microenvironment. By encapsulating human uterine fibroblasts in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels comprising collagen- and fibronectin-derived peptides, this model allows for incorporation of fibroid cellular components, extracellular matrix components, and fibroid or myometrial tissue stiffness. Due to its mechanistic role in fibroblast activation and subsequent extracellular matrix production seen in fibroids, we treated uterine fibroblasts with transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-β3) to demonstrate quantification of fibrotic markers observed in fibroids. Here, we establish that human uterine fibroblasts increase α smooth muscle actin, extracellular matrix proteins, and cell elongation, as well as high metabolic activity and matrix remodeling in PEG-based hydrogels in response to TGF-β3. This research represents a physiologically relevant in vitro platform to investigate uterine fibroblast function within a 3D environment that mimics uterine fibroids, with the potential to advance our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving fibroid growth and development.

Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis of Ovarian Carcinoma

The leading cause of gynecological cancer-related morbidity and mortality is ovarian cancer (OC), which is dubbed a silent killer. Currently, OC is a target of intense biomarker research, because it is often not discovered until the disease is advanced. The goal of OC research is to develop effective tests using biomarkers that can detect the disease at the earliest stages, which would eventually decrease the mortality, thereby preventing recurrence. Therefore, there is a pressing need to revisit the existing biomarkers to recognize the potential biomarkers that can lead to efficient predictors for the OC diagnosis. This Perspective covers an update on the currently available biomarkers used in the triaging of OC to gain certain insights into the potential role of these biomarkers and their estimation that are crucial to the understanding of neoplasm progression, diagnostics, and therapy.

Alantolactone-Loaded Pegylated Prodrug Nanocarriers for Synergistic Treatment of Cisplatin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer via Reactivating Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway

Ovarian cancer (OV) seriously damages women's health because of refractory OV and the development of platinum (Pt) resistance. New treatment strategies are urgently needed to deal with the treatment of cisplatin-resistant OV. Here, a reduction-sensitive pegylated Pt(IV) prodrug was synthesized by amidation of methoxy polyethylene glycol amine (PEG

Activation of Ibuprofen via Ultrasonic Complexation with Silver in N-Doped Oxidized Graphene Nanoparticles for Microwave Chemotherapy of Cervix Tumor Tissues

An ultrasonic method (20 kHz) is introduced to activate pristine ibuprofen organic molecular crystals via complexation with silver in nitrogen-doped oxidized graphene nanoplatforms (∼50 nm). Ultrasonic complexation occurs in a single-step procedure through the binding of the carboxylic groups with Ag and H-bond formation, involving noncovalent π

A Three-Dimensional Printable Hydrogel Formulation for the Local Delivery of Therapeutic Nanoparticles to Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy among women. Compared to other types of cancer, therapeutic agents can be administrated locally at the mucosal vaginal membrane. Thermosensitive gels have been developed over the years for contraception or for the treatment of bacterial, fungal, and sexually transmitted infections. These formulations often carry therapeutic nanoparticles and are now being considered in the arsenal of tools for oncology. They can also be three-dimensionally (3D) printed for a better geometrical adjustment to the anatomy of the patient, thus enhancing the local delivery treatment. In this study, a localized delivery system composed of a Pluronic F127-alginate hydrogel with efficient nanoparticle (NP) release properties was prepared for intravaginal application procedures. The kinetics of hydrogel degradation and its NP releasing properties were demonstrated with ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (∼80% of encapsulated AuNPs released in 48 h). The mucoadhesive properties of the hydrogel formulation were assayed by the periodic acid/Schiff reagent staining, which revealed that 19% of mucins were adsorbed on the gel's surface. The hydrogel formulation was tested for cytocompatibility in three cell lines (HeLa, CRL 2616, and BT-474; no sign of cytotoxicity revealed). The release of AuNPs from the hydrogel and their accumulation in vaginal membranes were quantitatively measured

Ex Vivo Microfluidic Model Identifies a Role for Shear Stress during Ovarian Tumor Cell Attachment to Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells

Temperature-Controlled pNIB/PTX Micelles for Improved Paclitaxel Delivery in Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a widely used anticancer drug for ovarian cancer treatment, but its clinical application is limited by poor water solubility and dose-limiting toxicities. To overcome these challenges, we developed a thermoresponsive, multistep drug delivery system, pNIB/PTX, designed to improve PTX solubility and provide controlled drug release. The pNIB/PTX-3 complex exhibited an initial rapid drug release phase followed by sustained slow release, optimizing both short-term and long-term therapeutic efficacy. At physiological temperatures, the complex demonstrated a precisely controlled drug release mechanism driven by changes in the polymeric micelle structure.

Covalent Organic Frameworks as Potential Drug Carriers and Chemotherapeutic Agents for Ovarian Cancers

Anticancer drugs are often associated with limitations such as poor stability in aqueous solutions, limited cell membrane permeability, nonspecific targeting, and irregular drug release when taken orally. One possible solution to these problems is the use of nanocarriers of drug molecules, particularly those with targeting ability, stimuli-responsive properties, and high drug loading capacity. These nanocarriers can improve drug stability, increase cellular uptake, allow specific targeting of cancer cells, and provide controlled drug release. While improving the therapeutic efficacy of cancer drugs, contemporary researchers also aim to reduce their associated side effects, such that cancer patients are offered with a more effective and targeted treatment strategy. Herein, a set of nine porous covalent organic frameworks (COFs) were tested as drug delivery nanocarriers. Among these, paclitaxel loaded in COF-3 was most effective against the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. This study highlights the emerging potential of COFs in the field of therapeutic drug delivery. Due to their biocompatibility, these porous COFs provide a viable substrate for controlled drug release, making them attractive candidates for improving drug delivery systems. This work also demonstrates the potential of COFs as efficient drug delivery agents, thereby opening up new opportunities in the field of sarcoma therapy.

Expansion of Ovarian Cancer Stem-like Cells in Poly(ethylene glycol)-Cross-Linked Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) and Alginate Double-Network Hydrogels

A better understanding of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is essential for research on cancer therapy and drug resistance. Currently, increasingly more investigations are focused on obtaining CSCs to study the mechanism of their enhanced malignancy. In this work, three kinds of double-network hydrogels (PEMM/alginate), consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) covalently cross-linked poly(methyl vinyl ether-

Ultrasound-Mediated Long-Circulating Nanopolymer Delivery of Therapeutic siRNA and Antisense MicroRNAs Leads to Enhanced Paclitaxel Sensitivity in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Chemotherapy

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the leading malignant tumors that seriously threaten women's health. The development of new drugs or increasing the sensitivities of current chemotherapy drugs is critically needed. The purpose of this study was to assess the synergistic effects of two silencing RNAs [salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) siRNA and antisense-microRNA21 (anti-miR21)] encapsulated in long-circulating folate-lipid-poly(lactic-

Biodegradable Mg Implants Suppress the Growth of Ovarian Tumor

The common treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer is aggressive surgery followed by platinum-based cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, residual tumor cells are resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs during postoperative recurrence. The treatment of ovarian cancer requires breakthroughs and advances. In recent years, magnesium alloy has been widely developed as a new biodegradable material because of its great potential in the field of medical devices. From the degradation products of magnesium, biodegradable magnesium implants have great potential in antitumor. According to the disease characteristics of ovarian cancer, we choose it to study the antitumor characteristics of biodegradable magnesium. We tested the anti-ovarian tumor properties of Mg through both in vivo and in vitro experiments. According to the optical in vivo imaging and relative tumor volume statistics of mice, high-purity Mg wires significantly inhibited the growth of SKOV3 cells in vivo. We find that the degradation products of Mg, Mg

Tumor-Targeting Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles with Codelivery of Paclitaxel and IR780 for Combinational Therapy of Drug-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Synergetic treatments that combine chemotherapy with photothermal/photodynamic therapy have been developed as promising new strategies for cancer therapy, especially for drug-resistant cancers. To achieve optimized synergetic outcomes for cancer therapy, it is highly desirable to selectively and simultaneously deliver both chemotherapeutics and near-infrared photosensitizers to the cancer tissues and cells, enhancing local accumulation. Here we report the preparation of poly-ε-caprolactone nanoparticles (PCL NPs) using bovine albumin as a stabilizer; the nanoparticles are loaded with IR780 and paclitaxel (PTX) for combinational phototherapy and chemotherapy. Moreover, in order to enable active targeting toward ovarian cancer, a specific peptide recognizing luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone receptors (LHRH) on ovarian cancer cells was covalently grafted onto the surface of the as-prepared NPs. As a result, LHRH peptide modified PCL (PCL-LHRH) NPs demonstrated increased internalization in ovarian tumor cells in vitro and selective targeting in tumor xenografts in vivo. PTX and IR780 can be efficiently encapsulated into PCL-LHRH NPs by an oil-in-water emulsion and solvent evaporation method. The systematic administration of ovarian tumor targeting PCL-LHRH/IR780-PTX can efficiently hinder the growth of drug-resistant xenografts in vivo with the assistance of an 808 nm near-infrared laser. These findings indicate that peptide mediated tumor targeting multifunctional nanomaterials may have remarkable profits in controlled drug delivery and synergistic therapy on drug-resistant cancer.