Hydrogel Surface/Coating for Smart Drug Delivery and Medical Devices.

In recent years, multifunctional hydrogels have been used to develop emerging medical platforms and become an alternative approach in targeting therapies and tissue regeneration [...

NIR laser-activated phthalocyanine loaded lipid nanoparticles targeting M2 macrophage for improved photoacoustic imaging-guided photothermal therapy.

The development of novel phototheranostic agents with significant potential in bioimaging-guided therapy is highly desirable for precise tumor therapy. Herein, NIR laser-activated ruthenium phthalocyanine (PcRu) loaded sub-30 nm targeting lipid nanoparticles (α-PcRu-NPs) were fabricated for photoacoustic imaging (PAI)-guided photothermal therapy (PTT). Due to the formation of -type aggregation of PcRu in the core of the nanostructure, the α-PcRu-NPs exhibited high stability, efficient NIR absorption, reduced singlet oxygen generation, high photothermal activity, and intense photoacoustic signal.

Effective treatment of metastatic sentinel lymph nodes by dual-targeting melittin nanoparticles.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis is an important promoter of distant metastasis in breast cancer. Therefore, the timely diagnosis and precise treatment are crucial for patient staging and prognosis. However, the simultaneous diagnosis of metastasis and the implementation of imaging-guided SLN therapy is challenging.

Rational Design of High-Performance Hemithioindigo-Based Photoswitchable AIE Photosensitizer and Enabling Reversible Control Singlet Oxygen Generation.

A photosensitizer furnishing with reversible control singlet oxygen generation (O) is highly desirable for precise photodynamic therapy (PDT), lessening non-specific harm to healthy tissues. Here, a novel photoswitchable aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer based on a triarylamine (TPA)-modified hemithioindigo (HTI), 6Br-HTI-TPA-OMe, was rationally designed. The triarylamine AIE photosensitizing moiety and HTI switch unit were covalently linked in one molecule, permitting reversible regulation of O production.

Nanoparticle-based approaches to target the lymphatic system for antitumor treatment.

Immunotherapies have been established as safe and efficient modalities for numerous tumor treatments. The lymphatic system, which is an important system, can modulate the immune system via a complex network, which includes lymph nodes, vessels, and lymphocytes. With the deepening understanding of tumor immunology, a plethora of immunotherapies, which include vaccines, photothermal therapy, and photodynamic therapy, have been established for antitumor treatments.

Clinical impact of uncommon epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 insertion-deletion variants on epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor efficacy in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Aim: Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and resistance mechanisms of first-line epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor therapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harbouring uncommon EGFR exon 19 deletion-insertion (19delins) variants.

Methods: Targeted sequencing data of 2467 treatment-naive patients with NSCLC from January 2015 to August 2018 were retrospectively screened for EGFR exon 19 deletion (19del) variants. Clinical outcomes of 93 patients with uncommon EGFR 19delins and 93 patients with common EGFR 19del were selected through propensity score matching at a ratio of 1:1.

Shape-Programmable Architectured Hydrogels Sensitive to Ultrasound.

On-demand motion of highly swollen polymer systems can be triggered by changes in pH, ion concentrations, or by heat. Here, shape-programmable, architectured hydrogels are introduced, which respond to ultrasonic-cavitation-based mechanical forces (CMF) by directed macroscopic movements. The concept is the implementation and sequential coupling of multiple functions (swellability in water, sensitivity to ultrasound, shape programmability, and shape-memory) in a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (s-IPN).

Synthesis of Well-Defined Dihydroxy Telechelics by (Co)polymerization of Morpholine-2,5-Diones Catalyzed by Sn(IV) Alkoxide.

Well-defined dihydroxy telechelic oligodepsipeptides (oDPs), which have a high application potential as building blocks for scaffold materials for tissue engineering applications or particulate carrier systems for drug delivery applications are synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of morpholine-2,5-diones (MDs) catalyzed by 1,1,6,6-tetra-n-butyl-1,6-distanna-2,5,7,10-tetraoxacyclodecane (Sn(IV) alkoxide). In contrast to ROP catalyzed by Sn(Oct) , the usage of Sn(IV) alkoxide leads to oDPs, with less side products and well-defined end groups, which is crucial for potential pharmaceutical applications. A slightly faster reaction of the ROP catalyzed by Sn(IV) alkoxide compared to the ROP initiated by Sn(Oct) /EG is found.

Ultrasonic Cavitation Induced Shape-Memory Effect in Porous Polymer Networks.

Inspired by the application of ultrasonic cavitation based mechanical force (CMF) to open small channels in natural soft materials (skin or tissue), it is explored whether an artificial polymer network can be created, in which shape-changes can be induced by CMF. This concept comprises an interconnected macroporous rhodium-phosphine (Rh-P) coordination polymer network, in which a CMF can reversibly dissociate the Rh-P microphases. In this way, the ligand exchange of Rh-P coordination bonds in the polymer network is accelerated, resulting in a topological rearrangement of molecular switches.