Pro-efferocytic nanoparticles are specifically taken up by lesional macrophages and prevent atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is the process that underlies heart attack and stroke. A characteristic feature of the atherosclerotic plaque is the accumulation of apoptotic cells in the necrotic core. Prophagocytic antibody-based therapies are currently being explored to stimulate the phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells; however, these therapies can cause off-target clearance of healthy tissues, which leads to toxicities such as anaemia.

Quantitative Drug Release Monitoring in Tumors of Living Subjects by Magnetic Particle Imaging Nanocomposite.

drug release monitoring provides accurate and reliable information to guide drug dosing. Image-based strategies for monitoring are advantageous because they are non-invasive and provide visualization of the spatial distribution of drug, but those imaging modalities in use (e.g.

Nanoparticle Therapy for Vascular Diseases.

Nanoparticles promise to advance strategies to treat vascular disease. Since being harnessed by the cancer field to deliver safer and more effective chemotherapeutics, nanoparticles have been translated into applications for cardiovascular disease. Systemic exposure and drug-drug interactions remain a concern for nearly all cardiovascular therapies, including statins, antithrombotic, and thrombolytic agents.

Ultra-low voltage triggered release of an anti-cancer drug from polypyrrole nanoparticles.

We have synthesized polypyrrole nanoparticles using three different oxidizing agents (hydrogen peroxide, chloroauric acid and ferric chloride) and shown that films assembled from these nanoparticles have significantly different drug release profiles. When ferric chloride is used as the oxidizing agent, it is possible to release drugs at voltages as low as -0.05 V, almost an order of magnitude lower than typically used voltages.

Cancer Immunotherapy Getting Brainy: Visualizing the Distinctive CNS Metastatic Niche to Illuminate Therapeutic Resistance.

The advent of cancer immunotherapy (CIT) and its success in treating primary and metastatic cancer may offer substantially improved outcomes for patients. Despite recent advancements, many malignancies remain resistant to CIT, among which are brain metastases, a particularly virulent disease with no apparent cure. The immunologically unique niche of the brain has prompted compelling new questions in immuno-oncology such as the effects of tissue-specific differences in immune response, heterogeneity between primary tumors and distant metastases, and the role of spatiotemporal dynamics in shaping an effective anti-tumor immune response.

Electrically controlled release of insulin using polypyrrole nanoparticles.

Conducting polymers present an opportunity for developing programmable, adjustable, spatially, and temporally controllable drug delivery systems. While several small molecule drugs have been released from thin conductive polymeric films successfully, delivering large molecule therapeutics, such as polypeptides and nucleic acids, has remained a significant challenge. Poor drug loading (∼ng cm) of thin films coupled with film instability has, in many cases, made conducting polymer films refractory to clinical development.

Electroresponsive nanoparticles for drug delivery on demand.

The potential of electroresponsive conducting polymer nanoparticles to be used as general drug delivery systems that allow electrically pulsed, linearly scalable, and on demand release of incorporated drugs is demonstrated. As examples, facile release from polypyrrole nanoparticles is shown for fluorescein, a highly water-soluble model compound, piroxicam, a lipophilic small molecule drug, and insulin, a large hydrophilic peptide hormone. The drug loading is about 13 wt% and release is accomplished in a few seconds by applying a weak constant current or voltage.

Observation of electrochemically generated nitrenium ions by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

We report the observation of the electrochemically generated nitrenium ions of 4,4'-dimethyoxydiphenylamine and di--tolylamine in solution by mass spectrometry. This setup takes inspiration from desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to sample directly from the surface of a rotating waterwheel working electrode for mass spectrometric analysis. Detection of the 4,4'-dimethyoxydiphenylamine nitrenium ion was expected based upon -methoxy resonance stabilization, whereas observation of the di--tolylamine nitrenium ion might be unexpected because resonance stabilization from the -substituted position is unavailable.

An ultrasonically powered implantable device for targeted drug delivery.

A wirelessly powered implantable device is proposed for fully programmable and localized drug delivery. The implant is powered using an external ultrasonic transmitter and operates at <; 5% of the FDA diagnostic ultrasound intensity limit. Drug release is achieved through electrical stimulation of drug-loaded polypyrrole nanoparticles.