Songwei Tan

Bio: Songwei Tan is an academic researcher from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Drug delivery & Tumor microenvironment. The author has an hindex of 24, co-authored 51 publications receiving 2991 citations. Previous affiliations of Songwei Tan include Zhejiang University.

Cell or Cell Membrane-Based Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract: Natural cells have been explored as drug carriers for a long period. They have received growing interest as a promising drug delivery system (DDS) until recently along with the development of biology and medical science. The synthetic materials, either organic or inorganic, are found to be with more or less immunogenicity and/or toxicity. The cells and extracellular vesicles (EVs), are endogenous and thought to be much safer and friendlier. Furthermore, in view of their host attributes, they may achieve different biological effects and/or targeting specificity, which can meet the needs of personalized medicine as the next generation of DDS. In this review, we summarized the recent progress in cell or cell membrane-based DDS and their fabrication processes, unique properties and applications, including the whole cells, EVs and cell membrane coated nanoparticles. We expect the continuing development of this cell or cell membrane-based DDS will promote their clinic applications.

Surface functionalization of porous coordination nanocages via click chemistry and their application in drug delivery.

Abstract: The discrete coordination-driven self assemblies have received continuous attention due to their molecular architecture esthetics and applications in recognition, catalysis, storage, etc. [ 1 ] Among these self assemblies, one species that has emerged recently is the porous coordination nanocages formed between carboxylate ligands and metal clusters, which are also known as metal-organic polyhedra (MOP). [ 2 ] Due to the robust porous structure and versatile functionality, they have found applications as plasticizer, gas sponge, ion channel, coatings, and building units. [ 3 ] Presumably, the porous shell and uniform yet tunable cavity make them good candidates for drug delivery purpose. However, almost all the coordination nanocages reported so far are hydrophobic, which greatly limits their applications in aqueous condition. We hypothesize this problem can be circumvented by turning these nanocages into colloids through surface functionalization with hydrophilic polymers. In this Communication, we report a porous coordination nanocage covered with alkyne groups and its surface functionalization by grafting with azide-terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG) through “click chemistry”. In addition, its drug load and release capacity has been evaluated using an anticancer drug 5-fl uorouracil as a model. The metal-organic cuboctahedron was chosen as the prototype of nanocage in this study. [ 2a , 2c ] It is composed of 12 dicopper paddlewheel clusters and 24 isophthalate moieties, with 8 triangular and 6 square windows that are roughly 8 and 12 Å across, respectively. The internal cavity has a diameter of around 15 Å. The 5-position of isophthalate moieties would be the reaction site for surface functionalization. The Cu(I)catalyzed Huisgen cycloaddition between azide and alkyne, a so-called “click reaction”, was chosen as the synthetic tool in

Erythrocyte Membrane-Enveloped Polymeric Nanoparticles as Nanovaccine for Induction of Antitumor Immunity against Melanoma.

Abstract: Cancer immunotherapy is mainly focused on manipulating patient’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Vaccine formulations based on nanotechnology have been developed to target delivery antigens to antigen presenting cells (APCs), especially dendritic cells (DCs) for efficiently induction of antigen–specific T cells response. To enhance DC targeting and antigen presenting efficiency, we developed erythrocyte membrane-enveloped poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles for antigenic peptide (hgp10025–33) and toll-like receptor 4 agonist, monophosphoryl lipid (MPLA). A Mannose-inserted membrane structure was constructed to actively target APCs in the lymphatic organ, and redox-sensitive peptide-conjugated PLGA nanoparticles were fabricated which prone to cleave in the intracellular milieu. The nanovaccine demonstrated the retained protein content in erythrocyte and enhanced in vitro cell uptake. An antigen-depot effect was observed in the administration site with promoted reten...

Nanoscale Metal–Organic Frameworks for Biomedical Imaging and Drug Delivery

Abstract: Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of hybrid materials formed by the self-assembly of polydentate bridging ligands and metal-connecting points, have been studied for a variety of applications. Recently, these materials have been scaled down to nanometer sizes, and this Account details the development of nanoscale metal–organic frameworks (NMOFs) for biomedical applications. NMOFs possess several potential advantages over conventional nanomedicines such as their structural and chemical diversity, their high loading capacity, and their intrinsic biodegradability. Under relatively mild conditions, NMOFs can be obtained as either crystalline or amorphous materials. The particle composition, size, and morphology can be easily tuned to optimize the final particle properties. Researchers have employed two general strategies to deliver active agents using NMOFs: by incorporating active agents into the frameworks or by loading active agents into the pores and channels of the NMOFs. The modification of NMOF s...

Metal–organic framework composites

Abstract: Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), also known as porous coordination polymers (PCPs), synthesized by assembling metal ions with organic ligands have recently emerged as a new class of crystalline porous materials. The amenability to design as well as fine-tunable and uniform pore structures makes them promising materials for a variety of applications. Controllable integration of MOFs and functional materials is leading to the creation of new multifunctional composites/hybrids, which exhibit new properties that are superior to those of the individual components through the collective behavior of the functional units. This is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary research area. This review provides an overview of the significant advances in the development of diverse MOF composites reported till now with special emphases on the synergistic effects and applications of the composites. The most widely used and successful strategies for composite synthesis are also presented.

New Developments in Liposomal Drug Delivery.

Abstract: Bhushan S. Pattni,† Vladimir V. Chupin,‡ and Vladimir P. Torchilin*,†,§,∥ †Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States ‡Laboratory for Advanced Studies of Membrane Proteins, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141700, Russia Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

Cell Membrane Coating Nanotechnology

Abstract: Nanoparticle-based therapeutic, prevention, and detection modalities have the potential to greatly impact how diseases are diagnosed and managed in the clinic. With the wide range of nanomaterials available, the rational design of nanocarriers on an application-specific basis has become increasingly commonplace. Here, a comprehensive overview is provided on an emerging platform: cell-membrane-coating nanotechnology. As a fundamental unit of biology, cells carry out a wide range of functions, including the remarkable ability to interface and interact with their surrounding environment. Instead of attempting to replicate such functions via synthetic techniques, researchers are now directly leveraging naturally derived cell membranes as a means of bestowing nanoparticles with enhanced biointerfacing capabilities. This top-down technique is facile, highly generalizable, and has the potential to greatly augment existing nanocarriers. Further, the introduction of a natural membrane substrate onto nanoparticles surfaces has enabled additional applications beyond those traditionally associated with nanomedicine. Despite its relative youth, there exists an impressive body of literature on cell membrane coating, which is covered here in detail. Overall, there is still significant room for development, as researchers continue to refine existing workflows while finding new and exciting applications that can take advantage of this developing technology.

Rethinking cancer nanotheranostics.

Abstract: Advances in nanoparticle synthesis and engineering have produced nanoscale agents affording both therapeutic and diagnostic functions that are often referred to by the portmanteau 'nanotheranostics'. The field is associated with many applications in the clinic, especially in cancer management. These include patient stratification, drug-release monitoring, imaging-guided focal therapy and post-treatment response monitoring. Recent advances in nanotheranostics have expanded this notion and enabled the characterization of individual tumours, the prediction of nanoparticle-tumour interactions, and the creation of tailor-designed nanomedicines for individualized treatment. Some of these applications require breaking the dogma that a nanotheranostic must combine both therapeutic and diagnostic agents within a single, physical entity; instead, it can be a general approach in which diagnosis and therapy are interwoven to solve clinical issues and improve treatment outcomes. In this Review, we describe the evolution and state of the art of cancer nanotheranostics, with an emphasis on clinical impact and translation.