A mitochondria targeted cascade reaction nanosystem for improved therapeutic effect by overcoming cellular resistance.

Mitigating cellular resistance, which could enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to treatment, is a promising approach for obtaining better therapeutic outcomes. However, the present designs of materials generally disregard this point, or only focus on a single specific resistance. Herein, a strategy based on a series of cascade reactions aiming to suppress multiple cellular resistances is designed by integrating photothermal and chemotherapy into a mitochondria targeted nanosystem (AuBPs@TD).

Plasmon-Enhanced Four-Wave Mixing Imaging for Microdroplet-Based Single-Cell Analysis.

A high-throughput single-cell analytical technique based on the microdroplet array integrated with the plasmon-enhanced-four-wave mixing (PE-FWM) imaging was developed, which is applicable for the highly sensitive and automatic assessment of the surface receptors of cells. The metal nanoprobes were prepared by simply decorating metal nanoparticles with capturing molecules (antibody or molecules with surface identification function). Owing to the multifrequency selection of lasers via resonating their plasmonic bands, these metal nanoprobes are highly recognizable under the FWM imaging and display high photostability above fluorescent dyes.

Lattice complex assembled by noncompetitive anti-EGFR antibodies regulates actin cytoskeletal reorganization.

Background: Recent evidence of clinical trials highlights that the combination of two noncompetitive anti-EGFR antibodies can benefit patients with several cancers. Previous studies propose that a lattice complex assembled by antibodies and EGFR down-regulates surface EGFR by rapid internalization of the complex. However, there remains a paucity of evidence and understanding on the existence of a lattice complex on cell surface and its cellular processes of internalization.

An Epitope on EGFR Loading Catastrophic Internalization Serve as a Novel Oncotarget for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy.

The precise role of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells is unknown and EGFR inhibitors have not achieved positive clinical results. The rapid and drastic internalization of EGFR has been proved to successfully treat EGFR inhibitor-resistant patients in recent clinical trials. Here, the anti-tumor efficacy of a protein (rLZ-8) from was evaluated, it was demonstrated that rLZ-8 could bind to EGFR specifically, drastically enter into Hepatoma cells, abrogate endosomal recycling and induce HCC cell death.

Intracellular pH-propelled assembly of smart carbon nanodots and selective photothermal therapy for cancer cells.

A kind of smart carbon nanodots (CNDs) with the pH response feature was prepared by the one-pot hydrothermal treatment of citric acid and dicyandiamide, which was used for the differentiation of cancer/normal cells and the selective photothermal therapy (PTT) of cancer cells. When the smart CNDs were cultured with cells, they were highly internalized in the lysosomes of cells. Since the small-sized CNDs (about 5 nm) tends to form aggregation (as large as about 20 nm or even larger) under an acid condition (pH = 4.

In situ exploration of characteristics of macropinocytosis and size range of internalized substances in cells by 3D-structured illumination microscopy.

Background: Macropinocytosis can occur in various types of cells and displays multiple functions. However, real-time observation and characterization of the structures of macropinocytosis on the surface of the cell membrane is not yet possible.

Materials And Methods: Here, we establish a real-time live cell surface imaging method using three-dimensional-structured illumination microscopy.

Organelle-Targeting Gold Nanorods for Macromolecular Profiling of Subcellular Organelles and Enhanced Cancer Cell Killing.

Subcellular organelles, for example, nucleus, mitochondria, and lysosome, are the vital organelles with responsibilities that maintain cell operation and metabolism. Owing to their roles in energy production and programmed cell death, these organelles have become prime therapeutic targets in different diseases and states. In this study, biocompatible, organelle-targeting nanoprobes were developed by modifying gold nanorods (AuNRs) with specific targeting peptides.

Organelle-targeting surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanosensors for subcellular pH sensing.

The pH value of subcellular organelles in living cells is a significant parameter in the physiological activities of cells. Its abnormal fluctuations are commonly believed to be associated with cancers and other diseases. Herein, a series of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanosensors with high sensitivity and targeting function was prepared for the quantification and monitoring of pH values in mitochondria, nucleus, and lysosome.

In situ, accurate, surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of cancer cell nucleus with synchronous location by an alkyne-labeled biomolecular probe.

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method for in situ detection and analysis of the intranuclear biomolecular information of a cell has been developed based on a small, biocompatible, nuclear-targeting alkyne-tagged deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe (5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, EDU) that can specially accumulate in the cell nucleus during DNA replications to precisely locate the nuclear region without disturbance in cell biological activities and functions. Since the specific alkyne group shows a Raman peak in the Raman-silent region of cells, it is an interior label to visualize the nuclear location synchronously in real time when measuring the SERS spectra of a cell. Because no fluorescent-labeled dyes were used for locating cell nuclei, this method is simple, nondestructive, non- photobleaching, and valuable for the in situ exploration of vital physiological processes with DNA participation in cell organelles.

Tracing the Therapeutic Process of Targeted Aptamer/Drug Conjugate on Cancer Cells by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectroscopy.

Targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to pathology areas can improve drug efficiency and reduce serious side effects on normal regions. However, their treatment mechanism on cells or cell nuclei is still mysterious due to the lack of in situ characterization methods. In this paper, the specific diagnosis and treatment processes of a targeted antitumor agent (doxorubicin, Dox) functionalized aptamer complex (TLS11a-GC-Dox) toward HepG2 cells, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, were tracked in real time by the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopic technique and dark-field imaging with the assistance of gold nanorod-based nuclear targeted probes, which possess remarkable SERS enhancement ability, specific targeting, and excellent biological compatibility.

In situ surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy exploring molecular changes of drug-treated cancer cell nucleus.

Investigating the molecular changes of cancer cell nucleus with drugs treatment is crucial for the design of new anticancer drugs, the development of novel diagnostic strategies, and the advancement of cancer therapy efficiency. In order to better understand the action effects of drugs, accurate location and in situ acquisition of the molecular information of the cell nuclei are necessary. In this work, we report a microspectroscopic technique called dark-field and fluorescence coimaging assisted surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy, combined with nuclear targeting nanoprobes, to in situ study Soma Gastric Cancer (SGC-7901) cell nuclei treated with two model drugs, e.

Note: Raman microspectroscopy integrated with fluorescence and dark field imaging.

A Raman detection platform integrated with both fluorescence and dark field microscopes was built for in situ Raman detection with the assistance of fluorescence and dark field imaging to locate the target micro regions. Cells and organelles can be easily found via fluorescence imaging with labeling techniques. Besides, nano-sized particles could be observed and located by dark field microscopes.