A red light-controlled probiotic bio-system for in-situ gut-brain axis regulation.

Microbes regulate brain function through the gut-brain axis, deriving the technology to modulate the gut-brain axis in situ by engineered probiotics. Optogenetics offers precise and flexible strategies for controlling the functions of probiotics in situ. However, the poor penetration of most frequently used short wavelength light has limited the application of optogenetic probiotics in the gut.

Hydrogel microcapsules containing engineered bacteria for sustained production and release of protein drugs.

Subcutaneous administration of sustained-release formulations is a common strategy for protein drugs, which avoids first pass effect and has high bioavailability. However, conventional sustained-release strategies can only load a limited amount of drug, leading to insufficient durability. Herein, we developed microcapsules based on engineered bacteria for sustained release of protein drugs.

Light-Sensitive for Microbe-Gut-Brain Axis Regulating via Upconversion Optogenetic Micro-Nano System.

The discovery of the gut-brain axis has proven that brain functions can be affected by the gut microbiota's metabolites, so there are significant opportunities to explore new tools to regulate gut microbiota and thus work on the brain functions. Meanwhile, engineered bacteria as oral live biotherapeutic agents to regulate the host's healthy homeostasis have attracted much attention in microbial therapy. However, whether this strategy is able to remotely regulate the host's brain function has not been investigated.

Precise Thermal Regulation of Engineered Bacteria Secretion for Breast Cancer Treatment .

For the biomedical application of engineered bacteria, strictly regulating the function of engineered bacteria has always been the goal pursued. However, the existing regulation methods do not meet the needs of the application of engineered bacteria. Therefore, the exploration of the precise regulation of engineered bacteria is necessary.

CRISPR-dcas9 Optogenetic Nanosystem for the Blue Light-Mediated Treatment of Neovascular Lesions.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the key regulator in neovascular lesions. The anti-VEGF injection is a major way to relieve retinal neovascularization and treat these diseases. However, current anti-VEGF therapeutics show significant drawbacks.

"Magnetism-Optogenetic" System for Wireless and Highly Sensitive Neuromodulation.

Neuromodulation is becoming more and more important in studying brain function, disease treatment, and brain-computer interfaces. However, traditional regulation methods cannot effectively achieve both wireless regulation and highly sensitive response, which are essential factors in neuromodulation. In this paper, a "magnetism-optogenetic" system is constructed, which uses a magnetic field to drive mechanoluminescent materials (ZnS:Cu) to generate light, thus stimulating photogenetic proteins.

NIR light-responsive bacteria with live bio-glue coatings for precise colonization in the gut.

Recombinant bacterial colonization plays an indispensable role in disease prevention, alleviation, and treatment. Successful application mainly depends on whether bacteria can efficiently spatiotemporally colonize the host gut. However, a primary limitation of existing methods is the lack of precise spatiotemporal regulation, resulting in uncontrolled methods that are less effective.

Optotheranostic Nanosystem with Phone Visual Diagnosis and Optogenetic Microbial Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis At-Home Care.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. However, the home care of UC based on remote monitoring, due to the operational complexity and time-consuming procedure, restrain its widespread applications. Here we constructed an optotheranostic nanosystem for self-diagnosis and long-acting mitigations of UC at home.

A Multichannel Flexible Optoelectronic Fiber Device for Distributed Implantable Neurological Stimulation and Monitoring.

Optical fibers made of polymeric materials possess high flexibility that can potentially integrate with flexible electronic devices to realize complex functions in biology and neurology. Here, a multichannel flexible device based on four individually addressable optical fibers transfer-printed with flexible electronic components and controlled by a wireless circuit is developed. The resulting device offers excellent mechanics that is compatible with soft and curvilinear tissues, and excellent diversity through switching different light sources.

Author Correction: Upconversion optogenetic micro-nanosystem optically controls the secretion of light-responsive bacteria for systemic immunity regulation.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Upconversion optogenetic micro-nanosystem optically controls the secretion of light-responsive bacteria for systemic immunity regulation.

Chemical molecules specifically secreted into the blood and targeted tissues by intestinal microbiota can effectively affect the associated functions of the intestine especially immunity, representing a new strategy for immune-related diseases. However, proper ways of regulating the secretion metabolism of specific strains still remain to be established. In this article, an upconversion optogenetic micro-nanosystem was constructed to effectively regulate the specific secretion of engineered bacteria.

Cyanobacteria-Based Bio-Oxygen Pump Promoting Hypoxia-Resistant Photodynamic Therapy.

Hypoxia not only alters tumor microenvironment but leads to the tumor progression and metastasis as well as drug resistance. As a promising strategy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) can inhibit tumor by catalyzing O to cytotoxic reactive oxygen species. However, its effects were limited by hypoxia and in turn deteriorate hypoxia due to O consumption.

An efficient delivery of photosensitizers and hypoxic prodrugs for a tumor combination therapy by membrane camouflage nanoparticles.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an oxygen-dependent, non-invasive cancer treatment. The hypoxia in the tumor environment limits the therapeutic effects of PDT. The combined delivery of photosensitizers and hypoxic prodrugs is expected to improve the efficacy of tumor treatment.

Near-infrared light remotely up-regulate autophagy with spatiotemporal precision via upconversion optogenetic nanosystem.

In vivo noninvasively manipulating biological functions by the mediation of biosafe near infrared (NIR) light is becoming increasingly popular. For these applications, upconversion rare-earth nanomaterial holds great promise as a novel photonic element, and has been widely adopted in optogenetics. In this article, an upconversion optogenetic nanosystem that was promised to achieve autophagy up-regulation with spatiotemporal precision was designed.

Near-Infrared Light-Excited Upconverting Persistent Nanophosphors in Vivo for Imaging-Guided Cell Therapy.

Optical imaging for biological applications is in need of more sensitive tool. Persistent luminescent nanophosphors enable highly sensitive in vivo optical detection and almost completely avoid tissue autofluorescence. Nevertheless, the actual persistent luminescent nanophosphors necessitate ex vivo activation before systemic operation, which severely restricted the use of long-term imaging in vivo.

Targeted delivery of tungsten oxide nanoparticles for multifunctional anti-tumor therapy via macrophages.

Tumor-associated macrophages are highly versatile effector cells that have been used to kill tumor cells. Herein, the macrophages as cell-based biocarriers are used for the targeted delivery of photothermal reagents for promoting the efficiency of killing tumor cells by activating the anti-tumor immune response and photothermal therapy (PTT). In this design, macrophages cause the phagocytosis of tumor cells and activate the anti-tumor immune response by secreting plenty of cytokines.

Materials and Techniques for Implantable Nutrient Sensing Using Flexible Sensors Integrated with Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The combination of novel materials with flexible electronic technology may yield new concepts of flexible electronic devices that effectively detect various biological chemicals to facilitate understanding of biological processes and conduct health monitoring. This paper demonstrates single- or multichannel implantable flexible sensors that are surface modified with conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) such as copper-MOF and cobalt-MOF with large surface area, high porosity, and tunable catalysis capability. The sensors can monitor important nutriments such as ascorbicacid, glycine, l-tryptophan (l-Trp), and glucose with detection resolutions of 14.

Near-Infrared Light Triggered Upconversion Optogenetic Nanosystem for Cancer Therapy.

In vivo the application of optogenetic manipulation in deep tissue is seriously obstructed by the limited penetration depth of visible light that is continually applied to activate a photoactuator. Herein, we designed a versatile upconversion optogenetic nanosystem based on a blue-light-mediated heterodimerization module and rare-earth upconversion nanoparticles (UCNs). The UCNs worked as a nanotransducer to convert external deep-tissue-penetrating near-infrared (NIR) light to local blue light to noninvasively activate photoreceptors for optogenetic manipulation in vivo.

A visual guide to gene/optothermal synergy therapy nanosystem using tungsten oxide.

Combination of gene therapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) has drawn much attention in cancer therapy in recent years. However, this joint treatment process lacks fluorescence imaging visualization guidance that limits its clinical applications in oncotherapy. Herein, we report the use of gene therapy and tungsten oxide (WO, WO) synthetized with template method for combined PTT of cancer.

Near-infrared persistent luminescence phosphors ZnGaO:Cr as an accurately tracker to photothermal therapy in vivo for visual treatment.

The photothermal therapy agents induced by 808 nm near infrared light laser have good potential for photothermal therapy (PTT) in vivo, with the advantages of harmless treatment, minimally invasion, high efficiency and deep tissue penetration. For the traditional photothermal therapy agents, however, it was impossible to track them in vivo because of the low signal-to-noise ratio, so we cannot conduct the extra near infrared light laser to radiate tumors sites accurately. Herein, we introduce a new complex: indocyanine green (ICG), near-infrared persistent luminescence (PL) phosphors ZnGaO:Cr (ZGC) and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) (ICG@mZGC nanoparticles) were assembled for long-lasting optical imaging to guide PTT.

Persistent Luminescent Nanocarrier as an Accurate Tracker in Vivo for Near Infrared-Remote Selectively Triggered Photothermal Therapy.

Optical imaging-guidance of indocyanine green (ICG) for photothermal therapy (PTT) has great latent capacity in cancer therapy. However, the conventional optical image-guidance mode has caused strong tissue autofluorescence of the living tissue, which leads to the accurate infrared light irradiation cannot be conducted. In this article, ICG and persistent luminescence phosphors (PLPs) coloaded mesoporous silica nanocarriers ((ICG+PLPs)@mSiO2) were first designed and prepared for persistent luminescent imaging-guided PTT.

NIR-Remote Selected Activation Gene Expression in Living Cells by Upconverting Microrods.

An NIR-controlled gene expression system based on upconverting rods (UCRs) is demonstrated. The UCRs can harvest the "biocompatible" NIR light and convert it into local UV light, resulting in cleavage of the photosensitive molecule (4-(hydroxymethyl)-3-nitrobenzoic acid, ONA) and on-demand release of gene carriers, thus realizing target gene expression at high spatial and temporal resolutions.