Biomimetic nanovaccine-mediated multivalent IL-15 self-transpresentation (MIST) for potent and safe cancer immunotherapy.

Cytokine therapy, involving interleukin-15 (IL-15), is a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. However, clinical application has been limited due to severe toxicity and the relatively low immune response rate, caused by wide distribution of cytokine receptors, systemic immune activation and short half-life of IL-15. Here we show that a biomimetic nanovaccine, developed to co-deliver IL-15 and an antigen/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) selectively targets IL-15 to antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), thereby reducing off-target toxicity.

Lipid bilayer-based biological nanoplatforms for sonodynamic cancer therapy.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has been developed as a promising alternative therapeutic modality for cancer treatment, involving the synergetic application of sonosensitizers and low-intensity ultrasound. However, the antitumor efficacy of SDT is significantly limited due to the poor performance of conventional sonosensitizers in vivo and the constrained tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent breakthroughs in lipid bilayer-based nanovesicles (LBBNs), including multifunctional liposomes, exosomes, and isolated cellular membranes, have brought new insights into the advancement of SDT.

Self-adaptive nanoassembly enabling turn-on hypoxia illumination and periphery/center closed-loop tumor eradication.

Solid tumors are regarded as complex evolving systems rather than simple diseases. Self-adaptive synthetic therapeutics are required to cope with the challenges of entire tumors; however, limitations in accurate positioning and destruction of hypoxic niches seriously hinder complete tumor eradication. In this study, we engineer a molecular nanoassembly of sorafenib and a hypoxia-sensitive cyanine probe (CNO) to facilitate periphery/center synergistic cancer therapies.

Surface-anchored tumor microenvironment-responsive protein nanogel-platelet system for cytosolic delivery of therapeutic protein in the post-surgical cancer treatment.

Nanoparticle-anchored platelet systems hold great potential to act as drug carriers in post-surgical cancer treatment due to their intrinsic ability to target the bleeding sites. However, rational design is still needed to further improve its cargo release profiles to meet the cytosolic delivery of therapeutic proteins with intracellular targets. Herein, we developed a tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive backpack-conjugated platelet system to enhance intracellular protein delivery, thereby significantly inhibiting tumor recurrence after surgery.

Linking the chemical nature of soil organic carbon and biological binding agent in aggregates to soil aggregate stability following biochar amendment in a rice paddy.

Changes in soil aggregation with biochar amendment have been investigated extensively, but how biochar affects the chemical composition of organic carbon (C) and biological binding agents in aggregates and their linkage with soil aggregate stability remains unclear. Soil samples were collected in a rice paddy treated with 0 (C0, control), 10 t ha (C10), 20 t ha (C20) and 40 t ha (C40) biochar for twenty months. The amount and chemical composition of soil organic C (SOC), microbial abundances and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) were determined in bulk soil and four fractions: large macroaggregates (>2000 μm), small macroaggregates (250-2000 μm), microaggregates (53-250 μm), and silt + clay (<53 μm).

[Effects of combined application of biochar with organic amendments on enzyme activity and microbial metabolic function of carbon sources in infertile red soil].

To improve carbon (C) sequestration and soil fertility of red soil, a two-year (2017 and 2018) field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of two organic amendments (, corn straw and sheep manure) applied alone or combined with biochar on soil nutrient content, enzyme activities involved in C cycling, and microbial substrate utilization rate in infertile red soil. There were six treatments, including control (non-amendment), corn straw, sheep manure and across biochar treatments (without and with biochar amendment, respectively). The organic amendments and biochar were applied in 2017 and 2018.

Artificial tumor microenvironment regulated by first hemorrhage for enhanced tumor targeting and then occlusion for synergistic bioactivation of hypoxia-sensitive platesomes.

The unique characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME) could be exploited to develop antitumor nanomedicine strategies. However, in many cases, the actual therapeutic effect is far from reaching our expectations due to the notable tumor heterogeneity. Given the amplified characteristics of TME regulated by vascular disrupting agents (VDAs), nanomedicines may achieve unexpected improved efficacy.

[Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer Management on CH and NO Emissions in Paddy Field].

Methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO) are two extremely important greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Nitrogen fertilizer is an important factor affecting CH and NO emissions in rice fields. Rational application of nitrogen fertilizer can not only promote high yields of rice but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Apoptotic body-mediated intercellular delivery for enhanced drug penetration and whole tumor destruction.

Chemotherapeutic nanomedicines can exploit the neighboring effect to increase tumor penetration. However, the neighboring effect is limited, likely by the consumption of chemotherapeutic agents and resistance of internal hypoxic tumor cells. Here, we first propose and demonstrate that apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs) could carry the remaining drugs to neighboring tumor cells after apoptosis.

Light-triggered dual-modality drug release of self-assembled prodrug-nanoparticles for synergistic photodynamic and hypoxia-activated therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) leads to tumor hypoxia which could be utilized for the activation of hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs). However, conventional photosensitizer-loaded nanoformulations suffer from an aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect, which limits the efficiency of PDT and synergistic therapy. Herein, prodrug-nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by the self-assembly of heterodimeric prodrugs composed of pyropheophorbide a (PPa), hypoxia-activated prodrug PR104A, and a thioether or thioketal linkage.

Human Lacrimal Production Rates from Modified Schirmer-Tear Test.

Significance: A simple methodology is presented to quantify basal tear production with a modified Schirmer-tear test.

Purpose: We introduce a simple clinical procedure to measure quantitative basal tear-production flowrates, QL, from a modified Schirmer-tear test (STT).

Methods: Eight healthy subjects aged at least 18 years underwent modified STTs on both eyes for two visits each.

Response of microbial community structure and function to short-term biochar amendment in an intensively managed bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox) plantation soil: Effect of particle size and addition rate.

Biochar incorporated into soil has been known to affect soil nutrient availability and act as a habitat for microorganisms, both of which could be related to its particle size. However, little is known about the effect of particle size on soil microbial community structure and function. To investigate short-term soil microbial responses to biochar addition having varying particle sizes and addition rates, we established a laboratory incubation study.

[Effects of bamboo charcoal on the growth of Trifolium repens and soil bacterial community structure].

The effects of addition rates (0, 3% and 9%) and particle sizes (0.05, 0.05-1.