Clindamycin-Loaded Polyhydroxyalkanoate Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Infected Wounds.

Owing to the growing resistance of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) to conventional antibiotics, the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for the treatment of MRSA-infected cutaneous wounds poses a significant challenge. Here, by using polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), emerging biodegradable and biocompatible polymers naturally produced by various microorganisms, we developed clindamycin-loaded PHA nanoparticles (Cly-PHA NPs) as a novel approach for the treatment of MRSA-infected cutaneous wounds. Cly-PHA NPs were characterized in terms of mean particle size (216.

Local drug delivery from surgical thread for area-specific anesthesia.

The application of surgical suture-thread and the systemic analgesics regimens for pain control in the postoperative surgery remain the criterion standard. However, these medications have daunting adverse effects on the body's innate pain management system. To address this issue, we have developed a local analgesic-loaded suture system which could be efficiently used for surgical repair with localized sedation effect.

Inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Inflammatory cytokines are highly inducible small glycoproteins or regulatory proteins of low molecular weight secreted by different cell types. They regulate intercellular communication and mediate a number of physiological functions in the human immune system. Numerous prospective studies report that inflammatory cytokines strongly predict coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure and other adverse cardiac events.

Annexin-A1 enhances breast cancer growth and migration by promoting alternative macrophage polarization in the tumour microenvironment.

Macrophages are potent immune cells with well-established roles in the response to stress, injury, infection and inflammation. The classically activated macrophages (M1) are induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and express a wide range of pro-inflammatory genes. M2 macrophages are induced by T helper type 2 cytokines such as interleukin-4 (IL4) and express high levels of anti-inflammatory and tissue repair genes.

Formyl peptide receptor 2 is regulated by RNA mimics and viruses through an IFN-β-STAT3-dependent pathway.

The regulation of host factors is a key strategy employed by viruses to suppress host defense systems and enhance their propagation; however, the mechanisms that underlie this regulation is still unclear. Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) recognizes numerous proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory stimuli, and emerging reports indicate elevated levels of FPR2 in several disease conditions. Although studies have implicated FPR2 in a myriad of inflammatory conditions, how viruses exploit this cell-surface receptor to facilitate disease progression remains unknown.