Nanotechnology in Modern Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer: A Review of Cellular Resistance Patterns Affecting the Therapeutic Response

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for most localized cancers. Its high measure of specificity and minimal risk of side effects compared to other therapies has put PDT on the forefront of cancer research in the current era. The primary cause of treatment failure and high mortality rates is the occurrence of cancer resistance to therapy. Hence, PDT is designed to be selective and tumor-specific. However, because of complex biological characteristics and cell signaling, cancer cells have shown a propensity to acquire cellular resistance to PDT by modulating the photosensitization process or its products. Fortunately, nanotechnology has provided many answers in biomedical and clinical applications, and modern PDT now employs the use of nanomaterials to enhance its efficacy and mitigate the effects of acquired resistance. This review, therefore, sought to scrutinize the mechanisms of cellular resistance that affect the therapeutic response with an emphasis on the use of nanomaterials as a way of overriding cancer cell resistance. The resistance mechanisms that have been reported are complex and photosensitizer (PS)-specific. We conclude that altering the structure of PSs using nanotechnology is an ideal paradigm for enhancing PDT efficacy in the presence of cellular resistance.

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Implications of photodynamic cancer therapy: an overview of PDT mechanisms basically and practically

Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute ◽

10.1186/s43046-021-00093-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nafiseh Sobhani ◽

Ali Akbar Samadani

Keyword(s):

Photodynamic Therapy ◽

Cancer Therapy ◽

Malignant Tumors ◽

Early Stage ◽

Acquired Resistance ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Treatment Modalities ◽

Main Body ◽

Valuable Treatment ◽

Natural Tissue

Abstract Background Tumor eradication is one of the most important challengeable categories in oncological studies. In this account, besides the molecular genetics methods including cell therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and general cancer therapy procedures like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, photodynamic adjuvant therapy is of great importance. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a relatively noninvasive therapeutic method utilizes the irradiation of an appropriate wavelength which is absorbed by a photosensitizing agent in the presence of oxygen. Main body of the abstract In this procedure, a series of events lead to the direct death of malignant cells such as damage to the microvasculature and also the induction of a local inflammatory function. PDT has participated with other treatment modalities especially in the early stage of malignant tumors and has resulted in decreasing morbidity besides improving survival rate and quality of life. High spatial resolution of PDT has attracted considerable attention in the field of image-guided photodynamic therapy combined with chemotherapy of multidrug resistance cancers. Although PDT outcomes vary across the different tumor types, minimal natural tissue toxicity, minor systemic effects, significant reduction in long-term disease, lack of innate or acquired resistance mechanisms, and excellent cosmetic effects, as well as limb function, make it a valuable treatment option for combination therapies. Short conclusion In this review article, we tried to discuss the potential of PDT in the treatment of some dermatologic and solid tumors, particularly all its important mechanisms.

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Antimicrobial Peptides Derived From Insects Offer a Novel Therapeutic Option to Combat Biofilm: A Systematic Review

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.661195 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Alaka Sahoo ◽

Shasank Sekhar Swain ◽

Ayusman Behera ◽

Gunanidhi Sahoo ◽

Pravati Kumari Mahapatra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Peptides ◽

Therapeutic Option ◽

Acquired Resistance ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Docking Studies ◽

Resistance Factors ◽

Abiotic Surfaces ◽

Planktonic Form ◽

Eskape Pathogens

Biofilms form a complex layer with defined structures, that attach on biotic or abiotic surfaces, are tough to eradicate and tend to cause some resistance against most antibiotics. Several studies confirmed that biofilm-producing bacteria exhibit higher resistance compared to the planktonic form of the same species. Antibiotic resistance factors are well understood in planktonic bacteria which is not so in case of biofilm producing forms. This may be due to the lack of available drugs with known resistance mechanisms for biofilms. Existing antibiotics cannot eradicate most biofilms, especially of ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species). Insects produce complex and diverse set of chemicals for survival and defense. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), produced by most insects, generally have a broad spectrum of activity and the potential to bypass the resistance mechanisms of classical antibiotics. Besides, AMPs may well act synergistically with classical antibiotics for a double-pronged attack on infections. Thus, AMPs could be promising alternatives to overcome medically important biofilms, decrease the possibility of acquired resistance and treatment of multidrug-resistant pathogens including ESKAPE. The present review focuses on insect-derived AMPs with special reference to anti-biofilm-based strategies. It covers the AMP composition, pathways and mechanisms of action, the formation of biofilms, impact of biofilms on human diseases, current strategies as well as therapeutic options to combat biofilm with antimicrobial peptides from insects. In addition, the review also illustrates the importance of bioinformatics tools and molecular docking studies to boost the importance of select bioactive peptides those can be developed as drugs, as well as suggestions for further basic and clinical research.

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Photodynamic therapy of cancer — Challenges of multidrug resistance

Journal of Innovative Optical Health Sciences ◽

10.1142/s1793545815300025 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 08 (01) ◽

pp. 1530002 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Zheng Huang ◽

Yih-Chih Hsu ◽

Li-Bo Li ◽

Luo-Wei Wang ◽

Xiao-Dong Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reactive Oxygen Species ◽

Photodynamic Therapy ◽

Multidrug Resistance ◽

Clinical Setting ◽

Recent Progress ◽

Cancer Site ◽

Light Illumination ◽

Oxygen Species ◽

Cancer Resistance ◽

Photodynamic Therapy Of Cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer is a two-step drug-device combination modality, which involves the topical or systemic administration of a photosensitizer followed by light illumination of cancer site. In the presence of oxygen molecules, the light illumination of photosensitizer (PS) can lead to the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequently destroy cancer. Similar to many other anticancer therapies, PDT is also subject to intrinsic cancer resistance mediated by multidrug resistance (MDR) mechanisms. This paper will review the recent progress in understanding the interaction between MDR transporters and PS uptake. The strategies that can be used in a clinical setting to overcome or bypass MDR will also be discussed.

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Selection of photosensitisers for photodynamic therapy of cancer using time-resolved photothermal spectroscopy

Journal de Physique IV (Proceedings) ◽

10.1051/jp4:2005129045 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 129 ◽

pp. 217-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

D. Frackowiak ◽

A. Dudkowiak ◽

E. Staśkowiak

Keyword(s):

Photodynamic Therapy ◽

Photothermal Spectroscopy ◽

Time Resolved ◽

Photodynamic Therapy Of Cancer ◽

Selection Of

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A dual-labeled anti-FAP antibody for imaging and targeted photodynamic therapy of cancer associated fibroblasts in a pancreatic cancer mouse model

10.1055/s-0039-1683688 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

E Smeets ◽

D Dorst ◽

S van Lith ◽

A Freimoser-Grundschober ◽

C Klein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Photodynamic Therapy ◽

Mouse Model ◽

Cancer Associated Fibroblasts ◽

Photodynamic Therapy Of Cancer ◽

Targeted Photodynamic Therapy

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Cancer Treatment with Liposomes Based Drugs and Genes Co-delivery Systems

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867325666180111093937 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (28) ◽

pp. 3319-3332 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Chuanmin Zhang ◽

Shubiao Zhang ◽

Defu Zhi ◽

Jingnan Cui

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Synergistic Effects ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Delivery Systems ◽

Cell Cycle Checkpoints ◽

Drug Efflux ◽

Cancer Resistance ◽

Cancer Models ◽

Anti Cancer

There are several mechanisms by which cancer cells develop resistance to treatments, including increasing anti-apoptosis, increasing drug efflux, inducing angiogenesis, enhancing DNA repair and altering cell cycle checkpoints. The drugs are hard to reach curative effects due to these resistance mechanisms. It has been suggested that liposomes based co-delivery systems, which can deliver drugs and genes to the same tumor cells and exhibit synergistic anti-cancer effects, could be used to overcome the resistance of cancer cells. As the co-delivery systems could simultaneously block two or more pathways, this might promote the death of cancer cells by sensitizing cells to death stimuli. This article provides a brief review on the liposomes based co-delivery systems to overcome cancer resistance by the synergistic effects of drugs and genes. Particularly, the synergistic effects of combinatorial anticancer drugs and genes in various cancer models employing multifunctional liposomes based co-delivery systems have been discussed. This review also gives new insights into the challenges of liposomes based co-delivery systems in the field of cancer therapy, by which we hope to provide some suggestions on the development of liposomes based co-delivery systems.

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