Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Pharmaceutics Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Targeted Delivery of Anticancer Agents Engaging Cell Specific Mechanisms

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Gene and Cell Therapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 10212

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Alexander S. Sobolev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow 119234, Russia
2. Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 34/5 Vavilov St., Moscow 119334, Russia
Interests: subcellular drug delivery; drug delivery carriers; delivery of auger-electron emitters; cell-penetrating antibody mimetics

Dr. Katerina Gurova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
Interests: target discovery and validation; drug discovery and development; assay design and optimization; chemogenomics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of anticancer therapy is to kill tumor cells with minimal harm to non-tumor cells. Cell determinants located on the surface of tumor cells can be used for specific recognition of these cells in cases where these determinants differ qualitatively or quantitatively from those of non-tumor cells. Transport machinery of tumor cells is also often exploited for the purposes of internalization of anticancer agents and/or for their delivery to specific subcellular structures and macromolecules. This Special Issue is devoted to the newest achievements in the field of engagement of cell mechanisms for tumor-specific delivery of anticancer agents and aims to consider targeted delivery of toxic agents with the help of antibodies/antibody mimetics or ligands to specific tumor cell receptors, non-toxic agents metabolized in tumor cells into toxic agents, as well as targeted delivery utilizing cell transport systems, cell metabolism, DNA repair systems, and defective vasculature of tumors.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Alexander S. Sobolev
Dr. Katerina Gurova
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

anticancer agents
antibodies
antibody mimetics
cell determinants
cellular transport
gene delivery
subcellular drug delivery
targeted drug delivery
targeted delivery of radionuclides
internalization
molecular recognition
receptor-mediated endocytosis

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 2945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modular Nanotransporters Delivering Biologically Active Molecules to the Surface of Mitochondria

by Yuri V. Khramtsov, Alexey V. Ulasov, Tatiana A. Slastnikova, Andrey A. Rosenkranz, Tatiana N. Lupanova, Georgii P. Georgiev and Alexander S. Sobolev

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(12), 2687; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15122687 - 27 Nov 2023

Viewed by 774

Abstract

Treatment of various diseases, in particular cancer, usually requires the targeting of biologically active molecules at a selected subcellular compartment. We modified our previously developed modular nanotransporters (MNTs) for targeting mitochondria. The new MNTs are capable of binding to the protein predominantly localized on the outer mitochondrial membrane, Keap1. These MNTs possessing antiKeap1 monobody co-localize with mitochondria upon addition to the cells. They efficiently interact with Keap1 both in solution and within living cells. A conjugate of the MNT with a photosensitizer, chlorin e₆, demonstrated significantly higher photocytotoxicity than chlorin e₆ alone. We assume that MNTs of this kind can improve efficiency of therapeutic photosensitizers and radionuclides emitting short-range particles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Targeted Delivery of Anticancer Agents Engaging Cell Specific Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2788 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nucleoside Analog 2′,3′-Isopropylidene-5-Iodouridine as Novel Efficient Inhibitor of HIV-1

by Ksenia Glumakova, Georgy Ivanov, Valeria Vedernikova, Lena Shyrokova, Timofey Lebedev, Andrei Stomakhin, Anastasia Zenchenko, Vladimir Oslovsky, Mikhail Drenichev, Vladimir Prassolov and Pavel Spirin

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(10), 2389; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15102389 - 27 Sep 2023

Viewed by 895

Abstract

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are the first class of drugs to be approved by the FDA for the suppression of HIV-1 and are widely used for this purpose in combination with drugs of other classes. Despite the progress in HIV-1 treatment, there is still the need to develop novel efficient antivirals. Here the efficiency of HIV-1 inhibition by a set of original 5-substituted uridine nucleosides was studied. We used the replication deficient human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)-based lentiviral particles and identified that among the studied compounds, 2′,3′-isopropylidene-5-iodouridine was shown to cause anti-HIV-1 activity. Importantly, no toxic action of this compound against the cells of T-cell origin was found. We determined that this compound is significantly more efficient at suppressing HIV-1 compared to Azidothymidine (AZT) when taken at the high non-toxic concentrations. We did not find any profit when using AZT in combination with 2′,3′-isopropylidene-5-iodouridine. 2′,3′-Isopropylidene-5-iodouridine acts synergistically to repress HIV-1 when combined with the CDK4/6 inhibitor Palbociclib in low non-toxic concentration. No synergistic antiviral action was detected when AZT was combined with Palbociclib. We suggest 2′,3′-isopropylidene-5-iodouridine as a novel perspective non-toxic compound that may be used for HIV-l suppression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Targeted Delivery of Anticancer Agents Engaging Cell Specific Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 3610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of the Composition of Cationic Liposomes on the Performance of Cargo Immunostimulatory RNA

by Ali Bishani, Darya M. Makarova, Elena V. Shmendel, Mikhail A. Maslov, Aleksandra V. Sen‘kova, Innokenty A. Savin, Daniil V. Gladkikh, Marina A. Zenkova and Elena L. Chernolovskaya

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(9), 2184; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15092184 - 23 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1513

Abstract

In this study, the impact of different delivery systems on the cytokine-inducing, antiproliferative, and antitumor activities of short immunostimulatory double-stranded RNA (isRNA) was investigated. The delivery systems, consisting of the polycationic amphiphile 1,26-bis(cholest-5-en-3-yloxycarbonylamino)-7,11,16,20 tetraazahexacosan tetrahydrochloride (2X3), and the lipid-helper dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), were equipped with polyethylene glycol lipoconjugates differing in molecular weight and structure. The main findings of this work are as follows: (i) significant activation of MCP-1 and INF-α, β, and γ production in CBA mice occurs under the action of isRNA complexes with liposomes containing lipoconjugates with long PEG chains, while activation of MCP-1 and INF-γ, but not INF-α or β, was observed under the action of isRNA lipoplexes containing lipoconjugates with short PEG chains; (ii) a pronounced antiproliferative effect on B16 melanoma cells in vitro, as well as an antitumor and hepatoprotective effect in vivo, was induced by isRNA pre-complexes with non-pegylated liposomes, while complexes containing lipoconjugates with long-chain liposomes were inactive; (iii) the antitumor activity of isRNA correlated with the efficiency of its accumulation in the cells and did not explicitly depend on the activation of cytokine and interferon production. Thus, the structure of the delivery system plays a vital role in determining the response to isRNA and allows for the choice of a delivery system depending on the desired effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Targeted Delivery of Anticancer Agents Engaging Cell Specific Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 2056 KiB

Open AccessReview

Targeting Mitochondria for Cancer Treatment

by Ljubava D. Zorova, Polina A. Abramicheva, Nadezda V. Andrianova, Valentina A. Babenko, Savva D. Zorov, Irina B. Pevzner, Vasily A. Popkov, Dmitry S. Semenovich, Elmira I. Yakupova, Denis N. Silachev, Egor Y. Plotnikov, Gennady T. Sukhikh and Dmitry B. Zorov

Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(4), 444; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics16040444 - 23 Mar 2024

Viewed by 728

Abstract

There is an increasing accumulation of data on the exceptional importance of mitochondria in the occurrence and treatment of cancer, and in all lines of evidence for such participation, there are both energetic and non-bioenergetic functional features of mitochondria. This analytical review examines three specific features of adaptive mitochondrial changes in several malignant tumors. The first feature is characteristic of solid tumors, whose cells are forced to rebuild their energetics due to the absence of oxygen, namely, to activate the fumarate reductase pathway instead of the traditional succinate oxidase pathway that exists in aerobic conditions. For such a restructuring, the presence of a low-potential quinone is necessary, which cannot ensure the conventional conversion of succinate into fumarate but rather enables the reverse reaction, that is, the conversion of fumarate into succinate. In this scenario, complex I becomes the only generator of energy in mitochondria. The second feature is the increased proliferation in aggressive tumors of the so-called mitochondrial (peripheral) benzodiazepine receptor, also called translocator protein (TSPO) residing in the outer mitochondrial membrane, the function of which in oncogenic transformation stays mysterious. The third feature of tumor cells is the enhanced retention of certain molecules, in particular mitochondrially directed cations similar to rhodamine 123, which allows for the selective accumulation of anticancer drugs in mitochondria. These three features of mitochondria can be targets for the development of an anti-cancer strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Targeted Delivery of Anticancer Agents Engaging Cell Specific Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

39 pages, 773 KiB

Open AccessReview

Targeted Glioma Therapy—Clinical Trials and Future Directions

by Aleksandr Shikalov, Igor Koman and Natalya M. Kogan

Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(1), 100; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics16010100 - 11 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1657

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common type of glioma, with a median survival of 14.6 months post-diagnosis. Understanding the molecular profile of such tumors allowed the development of specific targeted therapies toward GBM, with a major role attributed to tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Targeted therapeutics are drugs that work by specific binding to GBM-specific or overexpressed markers on the tumor cellular surface and therefore contain a recognition moiety linked to a cytotoxic agent, which produces an antiproliferative effect. In this review, we have summarized the available information on the targeted therapeutics used in clinical trials of GBM and summarized current obstacles and advances in targeted therapy concerning specific targets present in GBM tumor cells, outlined efficacy endpoints for major classes of investigational drugs, and discussed promising strategies towards an increase in drug efficacy in GBM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Targeted Delivery of Anticancer Agents Engaging Cell Specific Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 2549 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

DNA Repair Inhibitors: Potential Targets and Partners for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy

by Honoka Obata, Mikako Ogawa and Michael R. Zalutsky

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(7), 1926; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15071926 - 11 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1927

Abstract

The present review aims to explore the potential targets/partners for future targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) strategies, wherein cancer cells often are not killed effectively, despite receiving a high average tumor radiation dose. Here, we shall discuss the key factors in the cancer genome, especially those related to DNA damage response/repair and maintenance systems for escaping cell death in cancer cells. To overcome the current limitations of TRT effectiveness due to radiation/drug-tolerant cells and tumor heterogeneity, and to make TRT more effective, we propose that a promising strategy would be to target the DNA maintenance factors that are crucial for cancer survival. Considering their cancer-specific DNA damage response/repair ability and dysregulated transcription/epigenetic system, key factors such as PARP, ATM/ATR, amplified/overexpressed transcription factors, and DNA methyltransferases have the potential to be molecular targets for Auger electron therapy; moreover, their inhibition by non-radioactive molecules could be a partnering component for enhancing the therapeutic response of TRT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Targeted Delivery of Anticancer Agents Engaging Cell Specific Mechanisms)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 4208 KiB

Open AccessReview

Prospects of Using Protein Engineering for Selective Drug Delivery into a Specific Compartment of Target Cells

by Andrey A. Rosenkranz and Tatiana A. Slastnikova

Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 987; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030987 - 19 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2116

Abstract

A large number of proteins are successfully used to treat various diseases. These include natural polypeptide hormones, their synthetic analogues, antibodies, antibody mimetics, enzymes, and other drugs based on them. Many of them are demanded in clinical settings and commercially successful, mainly for cancer treatment. The targets for most of the aforementioned drugs are located at the cell surface. Meanwhile, the vast majority of therapeutic targets, which are usually regulatory macromolecules, are located inside the cell. Traditional low molecular weight drugs freely penetrate all cells, causing side effects in non-target cells. In addition, it is often difficult to elaborate a small molecule that can specifically affect protein interactions. Modern technologies make it possible to obtain proteins capable of interacting with almost any target. However, proteins, like other macromolecules, cannot, as a rule, freely penetrate into the desired cellular compartment. Recent studies allow us to design multifunctional proteins that solve these problems. This review considers the scope of application of such artificial constructs for the targeted delivery of both protein-based and traditional low molecular weight drugs, the obstacles met on the way of their transport to the specified intracellular compartment of the target cells after their systemic bloodstream administration, and the means to overcome those difficulties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Targeted Delivery of Anticancer Agents Engaging Cell Specific Mechanisms)

► Show Figures