SpyGlass-Guided Photodynamic Therapy for Unresectable Cholangiocarcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and biliary stent placement are standard palliative care procedures for patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma. However, the bile duct mucosa cannot be observed directly during the placement of a light diffuser in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and biopsy. SpyGlass can solve the above two problems.

Improvement in optical properties of CsPbBr nanocrystals using aprotic polar purification solvent.

We demonstrate the influence mechanism on the optical property of CsPbBr during purification of solution with different protonated levels and polarities. During the purification process, organic groups originating from oleic acid (OA) and PbBr impurity on the surface of CsPbBr nanocrystals can be removed using high polarity aprotic and protonic solvents, and the number of Br vacancies ( ) can be reduced. The protonic polar solvent can not only etch the organic groups on the surface of nanocrystals, causing surface reconstruction and particle growth of nanocrystals, but also enter into the lattice of CsPbBr and react with the embedded CsPbBr.

Ligand and adjuvant dual-assisted synthesis of highly luminescent and stable CsPbBr nanoparticles used in LEDs.

We developed a new ligand and adjuvant dual-assisted room temperature colloidal method for the synthesis of highly luminescent and stable CsPbBr nanoparticles, in which acetone, oleamine (OM) and oleic acid (OA) were used as precursors, while water and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were used as adjuvants. In this process, we explored the influencing factors of process parameters (such as the amount of water, the standing time of precursors, and the molar ratio of raw materials), and found that CsPbBr synthesized by water + DMSO can not only change the morphology and promote crystallization but also improve the lattice strain, reduce the lattice defects and optimize the passivation effect, so as to improve the luminescence properties. Simultaneously, we also found that the pc-LED made of CsPbBr can still emit bright green light after 4344 h of operation, showing excellent stability and making it promising for solid-state lighting application.

Copper-Cysteamine Nanoparticles as a Heterogeneous Fenton-Like Catalyst for Highly Selective Cancer Treatment.

Herein, for the first time, we report copper-cysteamine (Cu-Cy) nanoparticles having Cu instead of Cu as an efficient heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst for highly selective cancer treatment. Initial measurements of Cu-Cy's hydroxyl radical generation ability show that it behaves as a Fenton-like reagent in the presence of HO (100 μM) at pH 7.4, and that its Fenton-like activity is dramatically enhanced under acidic conditions (pH 6.

A facile method for the synthesis of copper-cysteamine nanoparticles and study of ROS production for cancer treatment.

Copper-cysteamine (Cu-Cy) is a novel sensitizer that can be excited by ultraviolet (UV) light, microwave (MW), ultrasound, and X-rays to generate highly toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for cancer cell destruction. The purpose of this study is to present a facile method for the synthesis of Cu-Cy nanoparticles. Interestingly, we were able to decrease both the stirring and heating time by about 24 and 6 times, respectively, thus making Cu-Cy nanoparticles more economical than what was reported before.

3D modeling of cancer stem cell niche.

Cancer stem cells reside in a distinct microenvironment called niche. The reciprocal interactions between cancer stem cells and niche contribute to the maintenance and enrichment of cancer stem cells. In order to simulate the interactions between cancer stem cells and niche, three-dimensional models have been developed.

Facile synthesis and excellent microwave absorption properties of FeCo-C core-shell nanoparticles.

FeCo-C core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) with diameters of 10-50 nm have been fabricated on a large scale by one-step metal-organic chemical vapor deposition using the mixture of cobalt acetylacetonate and iron acetylacetonate as the precursor. The Fe/Co molar ratio of the alloy nanocores and graphitization degree of C shells, and thus the magnetic and electric properties of the core-shell NPs, can be tuned by the deposition temperature ranging from 700 °C to 900 °C. Comparative tests reveal that a relatively high Fe/Co molar ratio and low graphitization degree benefit the microwave absorption (MA) performance of the core-shell NPs.

Investigation of Copper Cysteamine Nanoparticles as a New Type of Radiosensitiers for Colorectal Carcinoma Treatment.

Copper Cysteamine (Cu-Cy) is a new photosensitizer and a novel radiosensitizer that can be activated by light, X-ray and microwave to produce singlet oxygen for cancer treatment. However, the killing mechanism of Cu-Cy nanoparticles on cancer cells is not clear yet and Cu-Cy nanoparticles as novel radiosensitizers have never been tested on colorectal cancers. Here, for the first time, we investigate the treatment efficiency of Cu-Cy nanoparticles on SW620 colorectal cells and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the effects.

Autophagy inhibition enhances photocytotoxicity of Photosan-II in human colorectal cancer cells.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as an attractive therapeutic treatment for colorectal cancer because of its accessibility through endoscopy and its ability to selectively target tumors without destroying the anatomical integrity of the colon. We therefore investigated the therapeutic relevance of the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis in Photosan-II (PS-II)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PS-PDT) in in vitro and in vivo models for human colorectal cancer. We observed that PS-PDT-induced dose-dependently triggered apoptosis and autophagy in both SW620 and HCT116 cells.

Nanoscale Photodynamic Agents for Colorectal Cancer Treatment: A Review.

Colorectal cancer is the most common form of gastroenteric cancer worldwide. Photodynamic therapy is emerging as an attractive method to treat cancers. Candidate targets of photodynamic therapy include epidermal growth factor receptors, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, estrogen receptors, the nucleus and DNA, folic acid receptors, cholecystokinin A receptors, lectin saccharide receptors, and tumor-specific antibodies.

Active Targeting of Nano-Photosensitizer Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer Stem Cells.

Cancer stem cells are believed to be the basis for tumor initiation, development, metastasis and recurrence; are resistant to most traditional therapies (e.g., chemotherapy and radiotherapy); and have the ability to self-renew, proliferate and differentiate.

Fracture strain of SiC nanowires and direct evidence of electron-beam induced amorphisation in the strained nanowires.

SiC nanowires with diameters ranging from 29 to 270 nm exhibit an average strain of 5.5% with a maximum of up to 7.0%.

In vivo and in vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic effects of Photosan-loaded hollow silica nanoparticles on liver cancer.

This study aimed to compare the inhibitory effects of photosensitizers loaded in hollow silica nanoparticles and conventional photosensitizers on HepG2 human hepatoma cell proliferation and determine the underlying mechanisms. Photosensitizers (conventional Photosan-II or nanoscale Photosan-II) were administered to in vitro cultured HepG2 hepatoma cells and treated by photodynamic therapy (PDT) with various levels of light exposure. To assess photosensitizers' effects, cell viability was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Cytotoxicity of hollow silica nanoparticles loaded with photosensitizes on huh-7 cells.

To observe the cytotoxic effect of the photodynamic therapy mediated by the traditional photosensitizer polyhematoporphyrin (C(34)H(38)N(4)NaO(5), Photosan-II Photosan-II was loaded into HSNP by one-step wet chemical, PS) and hollow silica nanoparticles (HSNP) loaded PS on Huh-7 cells and compare the cytotoxic effects. -based synthetic route. The cellular viability was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Photosan-II loaded hollow silica nanoparticles: preparation and its effect in killing for QBC939 cells.

Background: Nanoparticles have been explored recently as an efficient means to deliver photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. However, it is largely unknown if polyhematoporphyrin (C34H38N4NaO5, Photosan-II, PS) or other photosensitizers can be efficiently delivered by hollow silica nanoparticles (HSNP).

Methods: Polyhematoporphyrin (C34H38N4NaO5, Photosan-II, PS) was loaded into hollow silica nanoparticles (HSNP) by one-step wet chemical-based synthetic route.

Sol-hydrothermal synthesis and optical properties of Eu3+, Tb(3+)-codoped one-dimensional strontium germanate full color nano-phosphors.

Novel near-UV and blue excited Eu(3+), Tb(3+)-codoped one dimensional strontium germanate full-color nano-phosphors have been successfully synthesized by a simple sol-hydrothermal method. The morphologies, internal structures, chemical constitution and optical properties of the resulting samples were characterized using FE-SEM, TEM, HRTEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, XPS, PL and PLE spectroscopy and luminescence decay curves. The results suggested that the obtained Eu(3+), Tb(3+)-codoped strontium germanate nanowires are single crystal nanowires with a diameter ranging from 10 to 80 nm, average diameter of around 30 nm and the length ranging from tens to hundreds micrometers.

Luminescence behavior of Li2 Sr1-3x/2 Eux SiO4 red phosphors for LED applications.

Red-emitting Li(2)Sr(1-3x/2)Eux SiO4 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) phosphors were synthesized at 900 °C in air by a solid-state reaction. The synthesized phosphors were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, photoluminescence (PL) excitation (PLE) and PL spectra.

Synthesis and luminescent properties of novel BaGd2O4:Eu3+ scintillating phosphor.

BaGd2-x O4:xEu(3+) and Ba1-y Gd1.79-2y Eu0.21 Na3y O4 phosphors were synthesized at 1300°C in air by conventional solid-state reaction method.

Synthesis and optical property of large-scale centimetres-long silicon carbide nanowires by catalyst-free CVD route under superatmospheric pressure conditions.

Large-scale centimetres-long single-crystal β-SiC nanowires have been prepared using CH(4) as the carbon source and SiO or the mixture of Si and SiO(2) as the silicon source by a simple catalyst-free CVD route under superatmospheric pressure conditions. The nanowries grown on ceramic boat or corundum substrates, with lengths of several centimetres and the average diameters of around 40 nm, were composed of single-crystal β-SiC core along the [111] direction and amorphous SiO(2) shell of about 1-30 nm thick depending on the growth position along the flowing direction of the carrier gas. The total gas pressure is an important factor for the synthesis of the large-scale centimetres-long β-SiC nanowires, which can easily adjust the pressure of the vapors to supersaturation condition.

[X-ray absorption spectroscopy study on nanowires and nanotubes of carbon and silicon].

Due to the different sampling depth, the total electron yield (TEY) is sensitive to the surface and near surface region, while the fluorescence yield (FLY) probes the information of the bulk. Thus the combined use of TEY and FLY provides a powerful evidence for identifying the whole sample whether or not it is a nanoscale material, and is a supplement of the conventional methods for characterizing nanoscale materials, such as TEM and XRD. With analyses of X-ray absorption spectra recorded in TEY and FLY mode, it could be used for studying the mechanism of growth, orientation, chemical bonding, defect and helicity of nanowires and nanotubes exactly and reliably.