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Responsively Aggregatable Sub-6 nm Nanochelators Induce Simultaneous Antiangiogenesis and Vascular Obstruction for
Yannan Yang1, Jie Tang1, Min Zhang1,2
1Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology , The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Brisbane , Queensland 4072 , Australia.
Abstract:
Inhibiting the formation of new tumor blood vessels (so-called antiangiogenesis) and obstructing the established ones are two primary strategies in tumor vasculature targeted therapy. However, the therapeutic outcome of conventional methodologies relying on only one mechanism is rather limited. Herein, the first example of ultrasmall responsively aggregatable nanochelators that can intrinsically fulfill both antivasculature functions as well as high renal clearable efficiency is introduced. The nanochelators with sub-6 nm sizes exhibit not only systemic copper depletion activity for tumor antiangiogenesis but also, more surprisingly, the capability to transform from a "dispersed" state to an "aggregated" state to form large secondary particles in response to tumor microenvironment with elevated copper and phosphate levels for blood vessel obstruction. Compared to a benchmark antiangiogenic agent that can only inhibit the formation of tumor blood vessels, the nanochelators with unprecedented synergistic functions demonstrate significantly enhanced tumor inhibition activity in both breast cancer and colon cancer tumor models. Moreover, these ultrasmall nanochelators are noncytotoxic and renal clearable, ensuring superior biocompatibility. It is envisaged that the design of nanomaterials with ground-breaking properties and the synergistic antivasculature functions would offer a substantial conceptual advance for tumor vasculature targeted therapy and may provide vast opportunities for developing advanced nanomedicines.
Insights
Researchers developed novel nanochelators that target tumor blood vessels. These ultrasmall nanoparticles offer dual antiangiogenesis and blood vessel obstruction functions, improving tumor inhibition with enhanced biocompatibility.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Targeted cancer therapy often employs antiangiogenesis or direct vessel obstruction.
- Conventional methods using a single mechanism show limited therapeutic efficacy.
- Developing dual-action strategies is crucial for effective tumor vasculature targeting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the first ultrasmall, responsively aggregatable nanochelators for dual tumor vasculature targeting.
- To achieve high renal clearable efficiency alongside synergistic antivasculature functions.
- To enhance tumor inhibition compared to existing antiangiogenic agents.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of ultrasmall (sub-6 nm) nanochelators.
- Evaluation of systemic copper depletion for antiangiogenesis.
- Assessment of nanoparticle aggregation in response to tumor microenvironment cues (elevated copper and phosphate).
- In vivo studies using breast and colon cancer models.
Main Results:
- Nanochelators exhibited both systemic copper depletion and aggregation-induced blood vessel obstruction.
- Synergistic functions led to significantly enhanced tumor inhibition compared to benchmark agents.
- Ultrasmall nanochelators demonstrated noncytotoxicity and efficient renal clearance.
- The nanoparticles showed superior biocompatibility.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasmall responsively aggregatable nanochelators offer a dual-action approach to tumor vasculature targeted therapy.
- This design represents a conceptual advance for nanomedicine in oncology.
- The synergistic antivasculature functions hold promise for developing next-generation cancer treatments.
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