Organotropic Engineering of Luminescent Gold Nanoclusters for In Vivo Imaging of Lung Orthotopic Tumors.

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are emerging as promising functional probes for bioapplications. However, because of rapid renal clearance, it is a challenge to tailor their biofate and improve their disease-targeting ability in vivo. Herein, we report an efficient strategy to tailor their organotropic actions by rationally designing AuNC assemblies.

Enhanced Stability of Melt-Processable Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Manganese Halides for X-Ray Imaging.

Mn-based metal halides scintillators with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) have recently emerged as promising large-size candidates for X-ray imaging but still remains as difficult challenge in stability and high processing temperatures. Here, three manganese halides are designed by introducing branched chains into organic cations and extending the carbon chains, namely (i-PrTPP)MnBr, (i-BuTPP)MnBr and (i-AmTPP)MnBr, successfully lowered the melting point of manganese halides to 120.2 °C.

Micro/Nano Engineering Advances Next-Generation Flexible X-ray Detectors.

The growing demands for X-ray imaging applications impose diverse and stringent requirements on advanced X-ray detectors. Among these, flexibility stands out as the most expected characteristic for next-generation X-ray detectors. Flexible X-ray detectors can spatially conform to nonflat surfaces, substantially improving the imaging resolution, reducing the X-ray exposure dosage, and enabling extended application opportunities that are hardly achievable by conventional rigid flat-panel detectors.

Visualization of Biomolecular Radiation Damage at the Single-Particle Level Using Lanthanide-Sensitized DNA Origami.

Precise monitoring of biomolecular radiation damage is crucial for understanding X-ray-induced cell injury and improving the accuracy of clinical radiotherapy. We present the design and performance of lanthanide-DNA-origami nanodosimeters for directly visualizing radiation damage at the single-particle level. Lanthanide ions (Tb or Eu) coordinated with DNA origami nanosensors enhance the sensitivity of X-ray irradiation.

Nanoscale octopus guiding telomere entanglement: An innovative strategy for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells.

Telomere length plays a crucial role in cellular aging and the risk of diseases. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can extend their own survival by maintaining telomere stability through telomere maintenance mechanism. Therefore, regulating the lengths of telomeres have emerged as a promising approach for anti-cancer treatment.

A multifunctional nanoplatform for chemotherapy and nanocatalytic synergistic cancer therapy achieved by amplified lipid peroxidation.

Traditional cancer chemotherapy suffers from low efficacy and severe side effects, limiting its use as a first-line treatment. To address this issue, we investigated a novel way to induce lipid peroxidation (LPO), which plays an essential role in ferroptosis and may be useful against cancer cells and tumors. In this study, a pH-responsive synergistic cancer therapy nanoplatform was prepared using CaCO co-loaded with oleanolic acid (OA) and lipoxygenase (LOX), resulting in the formation OLCaP NP.

Temperature-Activated Near-Infrared-II Fluorescence and SERS Dynamic-Reversible Probes for Long-Term Assessment of Osteoarthritis In Vivo.

The abnormal fluctuation of temperature in vivo usually reflects the progression of inflammatory diseases. Noninvasive, real-time, and accurate monitoring and imaging of temperature variation in vivo is advantageous for guiding the early diagnosis and treatment of disease, but it remains difficult to achieve. Herein, we developed a temperature-activated near-infrared-II fluorescence (NIR-II FL) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoprobe for long-term monitoring of temperature changes in rat arthritis and timely assessment of the status of osteoarthritis.

Probing Energy-Funneling Kinetics in Nanocrystal Sublattices for Superior X-Ray Imaging.

Long-lasting radioluminescence scintillators have recently attracted substantial attention from both research and industrial communities, primarily due to their distinctive capabilities of converting and storing X-ray energy. However, determination of energy-conversion kinetics in these nanocrystals remains unexplored. Here we present a strategy to probe and unveil energy-funneling kinetics in NaLuF:Mn/Gd nanocrystal sublattices through Gd-driven microenvironment engineering and Mn-mediated radioluminescence profiling.

Recent Advances in Photosensitizer Materials for Light-Mediated Tumor Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an emerging therapeutic method has drawn much attention in the treatment field for cancer. Photosensitizer, which can convert photon energy into cytotoxic species under light irradiation, is the core component in PDT. The design of photosensitizers still faces problems of light absorption, targeting, penetration and oxygen dependence.

Photoluminescent Characterization of Metal Nanoclusters: Basic Parameters, Methods, and Applications.

Metal nanoclusters (MNCs) can be synthesized with atomically precise structures and molecule formulae due to the rapid development of nanocluster science in recent decades. The ultrasmall size range (normally < 2 nm) endows MNCs with plenty of molecular-like properties, among which photoluminescent properties have aroused extensive attention. Tracing the research and development processes of luminescent nanoclusters, various photoluminescent analysis and characterization methods play a significant role in elucidating luminescent mechanism and analyzing luminescent properties.

Engineering customized nanovaccines for enhanced cancer immunotherapy.

Nanovaccines have gathered significant attention for their potential to elicit tumor-specific immunological responses. Despite notable progress in tumor immunotherapy, nanovaccines still encounter considerable challenges such as low delivery efficiency, limited targeting ability, and suboptimal efficacy. With an aim of addressing these issues, engineering customized nanovaccines through modification or functionalization has emerged as a promising approach.

Smart Nanocarriers for the Treatment of Retinal Diseases.

Retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinoblastoma, stand as the leading causes of irreversible vision impairment and blindness worldwide. Effectively administering drugs for retinal diseases poses a formidable challenge due to the presence of complex ocular barriers and elimination mechanisms. Over time, various approaches have been developed to fabricate drug delivery systems for improving retinal therapy including virus vectors, lipid nanoparticles, and polymers.

Engineering Logic DNA Nanoprobes on Live Cell Membranes for Simultaneously Monitoring Extracellular pH and Precise Drug Delivery.

It remains a challenge to use a single probe to simultaneously detect extracellular pH fluctuations and specifically recognize cancer cells for precise drug delivery. Here, we engineered a tetrahedral framework nucleic acid-based logic nanoprobe (isgc8-tFNA) on live cell membranes for simultaneously monitoring extracellular pH and targeted drug delivery. Isgc8-tFNA was anchored stably on the cell surface through three cholesterol molecules inserting into the bilayer of the cell membrane.

Bionic Bilayer Scaffold for Synchronous Hyperthermia Therapy of Orthotopic Osteosarcoma and Osteochondral Regeneration.

Large osseous void, postsurgical neoplastic recurrence, and slow bone-cartilage repair rate raise an imperative need to develop functional scaffold in clinical osteosarcoma treatment. Herein, a bionic bilayer scaffold constituting croconaine dye-polyethylene glycol@sodium alginate hydrogel and poly(l-lactide)/hydroxyapatite polymer matrix is fabricated to simultaneously achieve a highly efficient killing of osteosarcoma and an accelerated osteochondral regeneration. First, biomimetic osteochondral structure along with adequate interfacial interaction of the bilayer scaffold provide a structural reinforcement for transverse osseointegration and osteochondral regeneration, as evidenced by upregulated specific expressions of collagen type-I, osteopontin, and runt-related transcription factor 2.

DNA Origami-Based Letterpress Printing of Gold Nanostructures with Predesigned Morphologies.

Creating customizable metallic nanostructures in a simple and controllable manner has been a long-standing goal in nanoscience. In this study, we use DNA origami as a letterpress printing plate and gold nanoparticles as ink to produce predesigned gold nanostructures. The letterpress plate is reusable, enabling the repetitive production of predesigned gold nanostructures.

Quantitative detection of microRNA-21 using assembled photoacoustic and SERS nanoprobes.

Accurately quantifying microRNA levels is of great importance for cancer staging and prognosis. However, the low abundance of microRNAs and interference from the complex tumor microenvironment usually limit the real-time quantification of microRNAs . Herein, for the first time, we develop an ultrasensitive microRNA (miR)-21 activated ratiometric nanoprobe for quantification of the miR-21 concentration without signal amplification as well as dynamic tracking of its distribution.

High-Confidentiality X-Ray Imaging Encryption Using Prolonged Imperceptible Radioluminescence Memory Scintillators.

X-ray imaging plays an increasingly crucial role in clinical radiography, industrial inspection, and military applications. However, current X-ray imaging technologies have difficulty in protecting against information leakage caused by brute force attacks via trial-and-error. Here high-confidentiality X-ray imaging encryption by fabricating ultralong radioluminescence memory films composed of lanthanide-activated nanoscintillators (NaLuF : Gd or Ce ) with imperceptible purely-ultraviolet (UV) emission is reported.

Tailoring Oxidation Responsiveness of Gold Nanoclusters via Ligand Engineering for Imaging Acute Kidney Injury.

Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have shown great promise for in vivo imaging because of their definable structure, tunable photoluminescence (PL), and desired renal clearance. However, current understanding of the responsiveness of AuNCs to biological substances is still limited, which may hamper their biomedical applications. Herein, we explore the oxidation responsiveness of near-infrared II (NIR-II) luminescent AuNCs capped with two different ligands, which can be optimized for high-efficiency NIR-II PL imaging of mice acute kidney injury (AKI) featuring high-level peroxynitrite anions (ONOO).

Carbon network-hosted porphyrin as a highly biocompatible nanophotosensitizer for enhanced photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has the characteristics of being simple and non-invasive, and with on-demand light control. However, most photosensitizers exhibit strong hydrophobicity, low quantum yields in water and low tumor selectivity. In this study, carbon network-hosted porphyrins (CPs) with high biocompatibility and efficient singlet oxygen (O) generation were developed to reduce the biotoxicity of photosensitizers and avoid quenching caused by hydrophobic aggregation for enhanced PDT.

Progress in controllable bioorthogonal catalysis for prodrug activation.

Bioorthogonal catalysis, a class of catalytic reactions that are mediated by abiotic metals and proceed in biological environments without interfering with native biochemical reactions, has gained ever-increasing momentum in prodrug delivery over the past few decades. Albeit great progress has been attained in developing new bioorthogonal catalytic reactions and optimizing the catalytic performance of transition metal catalysts (TMCs), the use of TMCs to activate chemotherapeutics at the site of interest remains a challenging endeavor. To translate the bioorthogonal catalysis-mediated prodrug activation paradigm from flasks to animals, TMCs with targeting capability and stimulus-responsive behavior have been well-designed to perform chemical transformations in a controlled manner within highly complex biochemical systems, rendering on-demand drug activation to mitigate off-target toxicity.

Carrier-Free Nanovaccine: An Innovative Strategy for Ultrahigh Melanoma Neoantigen Loading.

In personalized cancer immunotherapy, developing an effective neoantigen nanovaccine with high immunogenicity is a significant challenge. Traditional nanovaccine delivery systems often require nanocarriers, which can hinder the delivery of the neoantigen and cause significant toxicity. In this study, we present an innovative strategy of carrier-free nanovaccine achieved through direct self-assembly of 2'-fluorinated CpG (2'F-CpG) with melanoma neoantigen peptide (Obsl1).

Targeting Pyroptosis through Lipopolysaccharide-Triggered Noncanonical Pathway for Safe and Efficient Cancer Immunotherapy.

Inducing pyroptosis in cancer cells holds great potential in cancer immunotherapy. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sensing noncanonical pathways are an important mechanism of pyroptosis to eliminate damaged cells, which has not yet been explored for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we utilize bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) as a natural LPS carrier to trigger a noncanonical pyroptosis pathway for immunotherapy.

Direct cytoplasmic delivery of RNAi therapeutics through a non-lysosomal pathway for enhanced gene therapy.

The first approved RNAi therapeutics, ONPATTRO, in 2017 moves the concept of RNA interference (RNAi) therapy from research to clinical reality, raising the hopes for the treatment of currently incurable diseases. However, RNAi therapeutics are still facing two main challenges-susceptibility to enzymatic degradation and low ability to escape from endo/lysosome into the cytoplasm. Therefore, we developed disulfide-based nanospheres (DBNPs) as universal vehicles to achieve efficient RNA delivery to address these problems.