Idarubicin-loaded chitosan nanobubbles to improve survival and decrease drug side effects in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Drug delivery strategies using chitosan nanobubbles (CS-NBs) could be used to reduce drug side effects and improve outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. To enhance their action, a targeting agent, such as the humanized anti-GPC3 antibody GC33 (condrituzumab), could be attached to their surface. Here, we investigated the use of idarubicin-loaded CS-NBs for HCC treatment and a GC33-derived minibody (that we named 4A1) to enhance CS-NB delivery.

A novel complement-fixing IgM antibody targeting GPC1 as a useful immunotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers with a very low survival rate at 5 years. The use of chemotherapeutic agents results in only modest prolongation of survival and is generally associated with the occurrence of toxicity effects. Antibody-based immunotherapy has been proposed for the treatment of PDAC, but its efficacy has so far proved limited.

Plasminogen activator-coated nanobubbles targeting cellbound β2-glycoprotein I as a novel thrombus-specific thrombolytic strategy.

β2-glycoprotein I (β2-GPI) is a serum protein widely recognized as the main target of antibodies present in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). β2-GPI binds to activated endothelial cells, platelets and leukocytes, key players in thrombus formation. We developed a new targeted thrombolytic agent consisting of nanobubbles (NB) coated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) and a recombinant antibody specific for cell-bound β2-GPI.

Multiple-Organ Complement Deposition on Vascular Endothelium in COVID-19 Patients.

Increased levels of circulating complement activation products have been reported in COVID-19 patients, but only limited information is available on complement involvement at the tissue level. The mechanisms and pathways of local complement activation remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the deposition of complement components in the lungs, kidneys, and liver in patients with COVID-19 patients and to determine the pathway/s of complement activation.

Multi-organ complement deposition in COVID-19 patients.

Background: Increased levels of circulating complement activation products have been reported in COVID-19 patients, but only limited information is available on complement involvement at tissue level. The mechanisms and pathways of local complement activation remain unclear.

Methods: We performed immunofluorescence analyses of autopsy specimens of lungs, kidney and liver from nine COVID-19 patients who died of acute respiratory failure.