Cell membrane-specific self-assembly of peptide nanomedicine induces tumor immunogenic death to enhance cancer therapy.

Immunogenic cell death (ICD), as an unusual cell death pattern, mediates cancer cells to release a series of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and is widely used in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Injuring the cell membrane can serve as a novel ICD initiation strategy. In this study, a peptide nanomedicine (PNpC) is designed using the fragment CM11 of cecropin, which is effective in disrupting cell membranes because of its α-helical structure.

Skin-like wound dressings with on-demand administration based on peptide self-assembly for skin regeneration.

Burn injuries without the normal skin barrier usually cause skin wound infections, and wound dressings are necessary. Although various dressings with antibacterial ability have already been developed, the biosafety and administration mode are still bottleneck problems for further application. Herein, we designed skin-like wound dressings based on silk fibroin (SF), which are modified with the gelatinase-cleavable self-assembled/antibacterial peptide (GPLK) and epidermal growth factor (EGF).

Bridging micro/nano-platform and airway allergy intervention.

Allergic airway diseases, with incidence augmenting visibly as industrial development and environmental degradation, are characterized by sneezing, itching, wheezing, chest tightness, airway obstruction, and hyperresponsiveness. Current medical modalities attempt to combat these symptoms mostly by small molecule chemotherapeutants, such as corticosteroids, antihistamines, etc., via intranasal approach which is one of the most noninvasive, rapid-absorbed, and patient-friendly routes.

In Vivo Self-Assembly Induced Cell Membrane Phase Separation for Improved Peptide Drug Internalization.

Therapeutic peptides have been widely concerned, but their efficacy is limited by the inability to penetrate cell membranes, which is a key bottleneck in peptide drugs delivery. Herein, an in vivo self-assembly strategy is developed to induce phase separation of cell membrane that improves the peptide drugs internalization. A phosphopeptide KYp is synthesized, containing an anticancer peptide [KLAKLAK] (K) and a responsive moiety phosphorylated Y (Yp).

Chitosan-centered nanosystems as sustained therapeutics for allergic rhinitis intervention: Inhibition of histamine-induced cascades.

Allergic rhinitis (AR), histamine-mediated upper airway inflammatory disorder, is characterized by sneezing, itching, airway hyperreactivity, etc. Though it is clinically well-managed by non-invasive inhaled antihistamines, for example, ketotifen (KT, histamine release inhibitor) and cetirizine (CTZ, histamine receptor antagonist), inherent defects of short mucosal in situ retention, frequent administration resulting in irritation to mucosa, and lack of target-specific sequential release of dual drug systems which have been proven to be more effective are inevitable, urging for alternative therapeutic strategies. Recent advances in nanotechnology may be pivotal to generating muco-adhesive nanosystems, which is desirable to prolong local retention, reduce dosing frequency and relieve mucosal irritation.

Multilayer calcium alginate beads containing Diatom Biosilica and Bacillus subtilis as microecologics for sewage treatment.

Organic matter pollution and heavy metal pollution have become one of the main problems in water recycling, and the strategy to simultaneously remove soluble organic matter and metal ions is crucial for sewage treatment. In this study, multilayer calcium Alginate beads (n-Alg-DBs-Bas) containing Diatom Biosilica (DBs) and Bacillus subtilis (Bas) were designed as microecologics for sewage treatment. The introduction of DBs in beads and the multilayer structure could promote Bas growth, prolong the stability of the beads, and enhance the adsorption of beads, further improve the sewage treatment efficiency.

Nanosystems as curative platforms for allergic disorder management.

Allergy, IgE-mediated inflammatory disorders including allergic rhinitis, asthma, and conjunctivitis, affects billions of people worldwide. Conventional means of allergy management include allergen avoidance, pharmacotherapy, and emerging therapies. Among them, chemotherapeutant intake via oral, intravenous, and intranasal routes is always the most common mean.