Two-Step Assembling of Near-Infrared "OFF-ON" Fluorescent Nanohybrids for Synchronous Tumor Imaging and MicroRNA Modulation-Based Therapy.

Theranostic nanoparticles with combined imaging and therapy functions show great promise in cancer precision medicine. In this study, we constructed near-infrared (NIR) "OFF-ON" fluorescent nanohybrids (F-PNDs) for synchronous tumor imaging and microRNA (miRNA) modulation therapy against esophageal cancer. Nanodiamond clusters (NDs) were first functionalized for protamine sulfate immobilization (PNDs) on their surfaces via a noncovalent self-assembling approach and simultaneous encapsulation of NIR emitting fluorescence dye cyanine 5 (Cy-5) (F-PNDs).

miR-100 suppresses the proliferation and tumor growth of esophageal squamous cancer cells via targeting CXCR7.

MicroRNAs are highly conserved non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, and play pivotal roles in cancer development and progression. miR-100 has been reported to be significantly downregulated in a variety of cancers, including esophageal cancer. However, the role of miR-100 in human esophageal cancer has not been fully elucidated.

MiR-203 suppresses tumor growth and invasion and down-regulates MiR-21 expression through repressing Ran in esophageal cancer.

The expression of miR-203 has been reported to be significantly down-regulated in esophageal cancer. We showed here that overexpression of miR-203 in esophageal cancer cells dramatically increased cell apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion as well as tumor growth and down-regulated miR-21 expression. We subsequently identified that small GTPase Ran was a target gene of miR-203.

Chondrogenic differentiation of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in type I collagen-hydrogel for cartilage engineering.

Introduction: A potent mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) population was recently isolated from the Wharton's jelly of human umbilical cord (UC). The aim of the current experiments was to determine the potential of human UC-derived MSC (UC-MSC) in cartilage healing.

Materials And Methods: Chondrogenic differentiation of collagen hydrogel-embedded cells was induced in standard chondrocyte conditioning medium and further detected by real-time PCR, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry analyses.