Professor Jianping Liu, Associated Professor Wenli Zhang and their research group form the school of pharmacy recently published three articles on international top journals in pharmaceutical science: Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews (IF 17.87) and Journal of Controlled Release (IF 11.47). One review reported the strategies for tumour targeted delivery via enhanced EPR effect and non EPR mechanisms. The other review paper reported the double-edged effect of protein crowns on nanomedicines for tumor treatment and diagnosis which was selected as the inside back cover of Journal of Controlled Release. The research paper reported the latest progress of their research on application of platelet carriers to improve the safety and efficacy of tumoral delivery.
There is great discrepancy in enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects for clinical tumours. Quantified evaluation of EPR effect provides guidance for clinical use of EPR based anticancer nanodrugs. Strategies for EPR and non-EPR mediated delivery to tumour were reviewed to provide a prospective direction for the development of antitumour nanodrugs. The progress of preclinical tumor models and application of EPR effect in other diseases were also summarized in this review. The article has been published in Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews with the title of Strategies to enhance drug delivery to solid tumors by harnessing the EPR effects and alternative targeting mechanisms (article link https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2022.114449). The first-authors are Yixuan Zi (2016 undergraduate student in CPU), Kaiyun Yang (doctoral student under academic cooperation program between CPU and The University of Auckland, New Zealand), Jianhua He (postdoctoral fellow in CPU). The corresponding authors are Associated Professor Wenli Zhang, Professor Jianping Liu (CPU) and Professor Zimei Wu (The University of Auckland). The first corresponding organization is China Pharmaceutical University.
To overcome the defects of EPR effect, the research group has designed a micron platelet ghost (PGs) carrier for tumour targeted delivery of gold nanoparticles (HGNs). This biomimic micro-nano switchable delivery system (PG@HGNs) with high biocompatibility can overcome the leakage of nanodrug in some normal tissues from inter-endothelial gaps. Compared with nano-sized, platelet membrane coated carriers, the uptake and cytotoxicity of PG@HGNs on 4T1 cells were significantly enhanced. Study on breast cancer model in mice observed less accumulation of PG@HGNs in normal tissues and improved anti-tumor effect of PG@HGNs for photo-thermal therapy. The article has been published in Journal of Controlled Release with the title of Glycoprotein Ib regulated micro platelet ghost for biosafe distribution and photographic oncotherapy.(article link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.09.036). The first author is Jiahui Zou (2019 Master student in CPU). The corresponding authors are Associated Professor Wenli Zhang and Professor Jianping Liu. The first corresponding organization is China Pharmaceutical University.
In vivo distribution and anti-tumor mechanism of platelet ghost-based biomimetic micro-nano switchable delivery system
In biological environment, protein adsorption on the surface of nanodrug leads to formation of protein crowns which affects the fate of nanodrugs in vivo. The protein crown was referred as the Janus in this review to reveal the complex impact of protein crown on nanomedicine. The review summarized the influence of protein crown on nanodrugs for tumor targeting and immunotherapy as well as the application of protein crowns as biomarkers for tumor diagnosis. This provides a comprehensive perspective for the design of antitumor nanodrugs based on protein crowns. The article has been published in Journal of Controlled Release as inside back cover with the title of The Janus of Protein Corona on nanoparticles for television targeting, simultaneity and diagnosis. (article link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.03.056). The first author is Xiaobo Wang (2016 undergraduate student in CPU). The corresponding author is Associated Professor Wenli Zhang. The first corresponding organization is China Pharmaceutical University.
Inside back cover
The above researches on tumor targeted nanodrugs were supported by “National Natural Science Foundation” in China and “Six Talent Peaks Project” in Jiangsu Province.
