Targeting de novo lipogenesis as a novel approach in anti-cancer therapy.

Background: Although altered membrane physiology has been discussed within the context of cancer, targeting membrane characteristics by drugs being an attractive therapeutic strategy has received little attention so far.

Methods: Various acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), and fatty acid synthase (FASN) inhibitors (like Soraphen A and Cerulenin) as well as genetic knockdown approaches were employed to study the effects of disturbed phospholipid composition on membrane properties and its functional impact on cancer progression. By using state-of-the-art methodologies such as LC-MS/MS, optical tweezers measurements of giant plasma membrane vesicles and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis, membrane characteristics were examined.

Validating Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles for Their Nanosafety in Diverse Biomedical Applications.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising platforms for the synthesis of nanoparticles for diverse medical applications. Their fundamental design principles allow for significant control of the framework architecture and pore chemistry, enabling directed functionalization for nanomedical applications. However, before applying novel nanomaterials to patients, it is imperative to understand their potential health risks.