Cascade-catalysed nanocarrier degradation for regulating metabolism homeostasis and enhancing drug penetration on breast cancer.

The abnormal structure of tumor vascular seriously hinders the delivery and deep penetration of drug in tumor therapy. Herein, an integrated and tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive nanocarrier is designed, which can dilate vessle and improve the drug penetration by in situ releasing nitric oxide (NO). Briefly, S-nitroso-glutathione (GSNO) and curcumin (Cur) were encapsulatd into the Cu-doped zeolite imidazole framework-8 (Cu-ZIF-8) and modified with hyaluronic acid.

M1 macrophage-derived exosome for reprograming M2 macrophages and combining endogenous NO gas therapy with enhanced photodynamic synergistic therapy in colorectal cancer.

Reprogramming immunosuppressive M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages in tumor site provides a new strategy for the immunotherapy of colorectal cancer. In this study, M1 macrophage-derived exosome nanoprobe (M1UC) with Ce6-loaded upconversion material is designed to enhance the photodynamic performance of Ce6 while reprogramming M2 macrophages at tumor site and producing NO gas for three-mode synergistic therapy. Under the excitation of near-infrared light at 808 nm, the probe can generate 660 nm up-conversion fluorescence, which enables the photosensitizer Ce6 to produce ROS efficiently.

Carbon quantum dot fluorescent probe for labeling and imaging of stellate cell on liver frozen section below freezing point.

The targeted labeling imaging of stellate cells on liver frozen section by immunofluorescence is a very promising visualization technique to study the distribution of stellate cells in the liver. In this study, water soluble carbon quantum dots that can emit blue, green and yellow fluorescence are synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and their sizes are 3.2, 3.

Simultaneous labeling and multicolor fluorescence imaging of multiple immune cells on liver frozen section by polychromatic quantum dots below freezing points.

A method for simultaneous labeling and multicolor fluorescence imaging of different hepatic immune cells below freezing point is established based on quantum dots. In the experiment, carbon quantum dots with emission wavelength of 435 nm, CdTe@CdS quantum dots at 542 nm and CdSe@ZnS quantum dots at 604 nm are synthesized respectively, it is found that when the mass fractions of KCl (as antifreeze) are 12 %, 14 %, and 12 %, respectively, the three quantum dot dispersion systems remain liquid state at -20 °C. After they are conjugated with the corresponding secondary antibodies, agarose gel electrophoresis, circular dichroism and capillary electrophoresis confirm the effectiveness of conjugation.

Ischemic colitis after receiving the second dose of a COVID-19 inactivated vaccine: A case report.

Background: The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has been the most important clinical challenge worldwide since January 2020. COVID-19 inactivated vaccines play a crucial role in reducing the rates of morbidity and mortality.

Case Summary: We presented a 48-year-old woman from Haidian District, Beijing, China who developed ischemic colitis after receiving the second dose of COVID-19 inactivated vaccine.

Multifunctional nanocarrier with self-catalytic production of nitric oxide for photothermal and gas-combined therapy of tumor.

Single treatment often faces the problem that it cannot completely eradicate tumor and inhibit the tumor metastasis. In order to overcome this shortcoming, multi-modal tumor treatment has attracted widespread attention. In the present article, based on ascorbyl palmitate (PA) and l-arginine (l-Arg), a multifunctional nanocarrier is designed for synergetic treatment of tumor with photothermal and nitric oxide (NO) gas therapy.

CdTe@CdS quantum dots for labeling and imaging macrophages in liver frozen sections below the freezing point.

CdTe@CdS core-shell quantum dots with different particle sizes are synthesized by an aqueous method, and coating them with a CdS shell layer improves the quantum yield (36% → 59%) and fluorescence stability (37% → 77%) of CdTe@CdS quantum dots. When the KCl concentration (mass fraction) in the system is 15%, the CdTe@CdS quantum dot dispersion system remains in the liquid state at -20 °C, and the low temperature increases the fluorescence intensity. A QD-Ab probe is obtained after CdTe@CdS quantum dots are coupled with IgG; the circular dichroism shows that the IgG protein structure is not destroyed, while capillary electrophoresis, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry verify the conjugation efficiency.

A self-assembled nanoplatform based on AgS quantum dots and tellurium nanorods for combined chemo-photothermal therapy guided by HO-activated near-infrared-II fluorescence imaging.

A nanoplatform based on AgS quantum dots (QDs) and tellurium nanorods (TeNRs) was developed for combined chemo-photothermal therapy guided by HO-activated near-infrared (NIR)-II fluorescence imaging. Polypeptide PCAGRD-modified TeNRs and AgS QDs were co-encapsulated in 4T1 cell membrane to prepare a nanoplatform (CCM@AT). AgS QDs and TeNRs in the CCM@AT were used as a fluorescence probe and photosensitizer, and a chemotherapeutic prodrug and quenching agent to quench the fluorescence of AgS QDs, respectively.

Tumor Microenvironment-Activated Theranostics Nanozymes for Fluorescence Imaging and Enhanced Chemo-Chemodynamic Therapy of Tumors.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is widely explored for tumor-specific therapy by converting endogenous HO to lethal ·OH to destroy cancer cells. However, ·OH scavenging by glutathione (GSH) and insufficient intratumoral HO levels seriously hinder the application of CDT. Herein, we reported the fabrication of copper ion-doped ZIF-8 loaded with gold nanozymes and doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) for the chemotherapy and CDT synergistic treatment of tumors with the assistance of tumor microenvironment (TME)-activated fluorescence imaging.

Labeling of liver cells with CdSe/ZnS quantum dot-based fluorescence probe below freezing point.

In this paper, CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with particle size of 5.5 ~ 9.3 nm were synthesized, and the fluorescence emission ranged from 545 ~ 616 nm.

Injectable polypeptide-engineered hydrogel depot for amplifying the anti-tumor immune effect induced by chemo-photothermal therapy.

The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment has caused great obstacles to tumor immunotherapy, especially where less tumor-associated antigens are released from tumor sites. Herein, a Ag2S QD/DOX/Bestatin@PC10ARGD genetically engineered polypeptide hydrogel PC10ARGD as a sustained-release material was developed for mammary carcinoma treatment. A near-infrared silver sulfide (Ag2S) QD as a photosensitizer was encapsulated into the hydrophobic cavity formed by the self-assembly of the polypeptide nanogel (PC10ARGD) for photothermal therapy.

Response of Protective Enzymes in Western Flower Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to Two Leguminous Plants.

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, is a major invasive pest of commercially important crops worldwide. We compared the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) and the expressions of two putative SOD and two putative POD sequences in second instar larvae and adults after three generations of adaptation to kidney bean and broad bean plants. The results showed that the SOD, POD, and CAT activities in adults were significantly higher than those in the second instar larvae.

In situ aqueous synthesis of genetically engineered polypeptide-capped AgS quantum dots for second near-infrared fluorescence/photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy.

AgS quantum dots have received extensive attention as theranostic agents for second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence and photoacoustic dual-mode imaging, and photothermal therapy. However, it is still greatly challenging to synthesize AgS quantum dots using aqueous synthesis. In this study, genetically engineered polypeptide-capped AgS quantum dots were successfully synthesized.

ROS-augmented and tumor-microenvironment responsive biodegradable nanoplatform for enhancing chemo-sonodynamic therapy.

Nanocarrier for augmenting the efficacy of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by tumor microenvironment (TME) has become an emerging strategy for cancer treatment. Herein, a smart biodegradable drug delivery nanoplatform with mitochondrial-targeted ability, pH-responsive drug release and enzyme-like catalytic function is designed. This efficient ROS-generating platform uses ultrasound with deeper penetration capability as excitation source for combined chemotherapy and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) of tumor.

Red blood cell membrane-enveloped O self-supplementing biomimetic nanoparticles for tumor imaging-guided enhanced sonodynamic therapy.

Non-invasive sonodynamic therapy (SDT) was developed because of its advantages of high penetration depth and low side effects; however, tumor hypoxia greatly restricts its therapeutic effect. In this study, we aimed to develop ideal O self-supplementing nanoparticles for imaging-guided enhanced sonodynamic therapy of tumors with the adept coalescence of biology with nanotechnology. Based on the natural enzyme system of red blood cells (RBC), biomimetic nanoparticles (QD@P)Rs were fabricated by encapsulating AgS quantum dots (QD) in RBC vesicle membranes.

A pH/Ultrasound dual-response biomimetic nanoplatform for nitric oxide gas-sonodynamic combined therapy and repeated ultrasound for relieving hypoxia.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has rapidly developed as a powerful alternative to traditional photodynamic therapy due to its intrinsically deeper tissue-penetration. However, single SDT dose is incapable of radical cure because the long-term hypoxia of tumor limits its therapeutic effect. Herein, we developed a biomimetic nanoplatform with dual pH/ultrasound response, homologous targeting and low phototoxicity for combined nitric oxide (NO) gas therapy with SDT to solve the problem.

A near-infrared light-controlled smart nanocarrier with reversible polypeptide-engineered valve for targeted fluorescence-photoacoustic bimodal imaging-guided chemo-photothermal therapy.

Despite burgeoning development of nanoplatform made in the past few years, it remains a challenge to produce drug nanocarrier that enables requested on/off drug release. Thus, this study aimed to develop an ideal near-infrared light-triggered smart nanocarrier for targeted imaging-guided treatment of cancer that tactfully integrated photothermal therapy with chemotherapy to accurately control drug release time and dosage. This delivery system was composed of AgS QD coating with dendritic mesoporous silica (DMSN), which acted as nanocarrier of doxorubicin localized inside pores.

Hollow gold nanoshells-incorporated injectable genetically engineered hydrogel for sustained chemo-photothermal therapy of tumor.

Background: Combined therapy has demonstrated to be an effective strategy for cancer therapy. Herein, an injectable hydrogel based on the genetically engineered polypeptide and hollow gold nanoshells (HAuNS) has been developed for chemo-photothermal therapy of HepG2 tumor.

Methods: PCA/DOX/HAuNS nanogel was prepared with layer-by-layer through the adsorption of DOX and PCA successively.

Targeting N-doped graphene quantum dot with high photothermal conversion efficiency for dual-mode imaging and therapy in vitro.

A graphene quantum dot (GQD) is a novel carbon nanomaterial with the advantages of low cost and no pollution. It has attracted serious attention in the biomedical fields because of its stabilities and tunable fluorescence wavelength. In this manuscript, an N-doped graphene quantum dot (N-GQD) was synthesized by a hydrothermal method using citric acid as the carbon source and urea as the nitrogen source.

A multifunctional targeting probe with dual-mode imaging and photothermal therapy used in vivo.

Background: AgS has the characteristics of conventional quantum dot such as broad excitation spectrum, narrow emission spectrum, long fluorescence lifetime, strong anti-bleaching ability, and other optical properties. Moreover, since its fluorescence emission is located in the NIR-II region, has stronger penetrating ability for tissue. AgS quantum dot has strong absorption during the visible and NIR regions, it has good photothermal and photoacoustic response under certain wavelength excitation.

Folic acid modified Pluronic F127 coating AgS quantum dot for photoacoustic imaging of tumor cell-targeting.

In this study, an oil-soluble AgS quantum dot (QD) was synthesized through thermal decomposition using the single-source precursor method, and Pluronic F127 (PF127), a triblock copolymer functionalized with folic acid (FA), was deposited on the surface of the QD, then a water-soluble PF127-FA@AgS nanoprobe with targeting ability was fabricated. The as-prepared PF127-FA@AgS exhibited spheroidal morphology and high dispersibility, with average diameters of 115 ± 20.7 nm (as observed by transmission electron microscopy).

In Vivo Computed Tomography/Photoacoustic Imaging and NIR-Triggered Chemo-Photothermal Combined Therapy Based on a Gold Nanostar-, Mesoporous Silica-, and Thermosensitive Liposome-Composited Nanoprobe.

Safe multifunctional nanoplatforms that have multiple therapeutic functions integrated with imaging capabilities are highly desired for biomedical applications. In this paper, targeted chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy and photoacoustic/computed tomography imaging of tumors were achieved by one novel multifunctional nanoprobe (GMS/DOX@SLB-FA); it was composed of a gold nanostar core and a doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded mesoporous silica shell (GMS), which was coated with a folic acid (FA)-modified thermosensitively supported lipid bilayer (SLB-FA) as a gatekeeper. The multifunctional probe had perfect dispersion and stability; 2.