Delineating the Potential Therapeutic Effects of Lobaric Acid as a Novel Strategy in the Treatment of Melanoma.

Introduction: Melanoma is one of the most dangerous and common types of cancer in humans. In order to minimize the toxicity and side effects of melanoma treatment, it is important to identify drug candidates that have strong anti-cancer activity and fewer side effects. Lobaric acid is a small molecule that has been found to have significant anti-cancer effects on various types of cancer cells.

Nanoplastics: Immune Impact, Detection, and Internalization after Human Blood Exposure by Single-Cell Mass Cytometry.

The increasing exposure to nanoplastics (NPs) raises significant concerns for human health, primarily due to their potential bioaccumulative properties. While NPs have recently been detected in human blood, their interactions with specific immune cell subtypes and their impact on immune regulation remain unclear. In this proof-of-concept study, model palladium-doped polystyrene NPs (PS-Pd NPs) are utilized to enable single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) detection.

Omic Evaluation of Nanomaterial-Based Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a noninvasive cancer treatment, relies on three components: light source, oxygen, and photosensitizer (PS). When PS is excited by a specific wavelength of light in the presence of oxygen, it leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which results in targeted destruction of cancer cells. The success of PDT mainly depends on the properties of the chosen PS, emphasizing selectivity, high absorbance, drug conjugation, controlled biodistribution, and low toxicity.

Small Warriors of Nature: Novel Red Emissive Chlorophyllin Carbon Dots Harnessing Fenton-Fueled Ferroptosis for In Vitro and In Vivo Cancer Treatment.

The appeal of carbon dots (CDs) has grown recently, due to their established biocompatibility, adjustable photoluminescence properties, and excellent water solubility. For the first time in the literature, copper chlorophyllin-based carbon dots (Chl-D CDs) are successfully synthesized. Chl-D CDs exhibit unique spectroscopic traits and are found to induce a Fenton-like reaction, augmenting photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacies via ferroptotic and apoptotic pathways.

Selective ablation of thymic and peripheral Foxp3 regulatory T cell development.

Foxp3 regulatory T (Treg) cells of thymic (tTreg) and peripheral (pTreg) developmental origin are thought to synergistically act to ensure immune homeostasis, with self-reactive tTreg cells primarily constraining autoimmune responses. Here we exploited a Foxp3-dependent reporter with thymus-specific GFP/Cre activity to selectively ablate either tTreg (ΔtTreg) or pTreg (ΔpTreg) cell development, while sparing the respective sister populations. We found that, in contrast to the tTreg cell behavior in ΔpTreg mice, pTreg cells acquired a highly activated suppressor phenotype and replenished the Treg cell pool of ΔtTreg mice on a non-autoimmune C57BL/6 background.

Synergized photothermal therapy and magnetic field induced hyperthermia via bismuthene for lung cancer combinatorial treatment.

Thanks to its intrinsic properties, two-dimensional (2D) bismuth (bismuthene) can serve as a multimodal nanotherapeutic agent for lung cancer acting through multiple mechanisms, including photothermal therapy (PTT), magnetic field-induced hyperthermia (MH), immunogenic cell death (ICD), and ferroptosis. To investigate this possibility, we synthesized bismuthene from the exfoliation of 3D layered bismuth, prepared through a facile method that we developed involving surfactant-assisted chemical reduction, with a specific focus on improving its magnetic properties. The bismuthene nanosheets showed high and anti-cancer activity after simultaneous light and magnetic field exposure in lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Application of scanning acoustic microscopy for evaluation of MMP activation in multiple cancer cell lines with a smart probe.

Background/aim: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the evaluation of many cancer types; however, the detection usually presents a challenge. Further assays for a better understanding of the fundamental roles of MMPs in pathophysiology are still needed. We aimed to use an activatable probe in scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) to evaluate acoustically if the probe can aid the visualization of the effects of in vitro MMP activity.

V C MXene Immune Profiling and Modulation of T Cell-Dendritic Cell Function and Interaction.

Although vanadium-based metallodrugs are recently explored for their effective anti-inflammatory activity, they frequently cause undesired side effects. Among 2D nanomaterials, transition metal carbides (MXenes) have received substantial attention for their promise as biomedical platforms. It is hypothesized that vanadium immune properties can be extended to MXene compounds.

Low Dose of Ti C MXene Quantum Dots Mitigate SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

MXene QDs (MQDs) have been effectively used in several fields of biomedical research. Considering the role of hyperactivation of immune system in infectious diseases, especially in COVID-19, MQDs stand as a potential candidate as a nanotherapeutic against viral infections. However, the efficacy of MQDs against SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been tested yet.

Genetic Tools for Analyzing Foxp3 Treg Cells: Fluorochrome-Based Transcriptional Reporters and Genetic Fate-Mapping.

The lack of unambiguous Foxp3 Treg cell-specific surface markers has prompted the development of various transgenic mouse lines with Foxp3-dependent reporter activity, which involved different fluorochromes and transgenic strategies, including coexpression of multiple transgenes, such as Cre recombinase. Since then, Foxp3 transcriptional reporter has proven to be an indispensable tool to identify and isolate viable Foxp3 Treg cell populations. However, the physiologic Treg cell pool is functionally heterogeneous and consists of intrathymically (tTreg) and peripherally (pTreg) induced Treg cells, which may confound interpretation of data relying on indiscriminatory Foxp3-fluorochrome reporter expressed in all Treg cells.

Lateral dimension and amino-functionalization on the balance to assess the single-cell toxicity of graphene on fifteen immune cell types.

Given the wide variety of potential applications of graphene oxide (GO), its consequent release into the environment poses serious concerns on its safety. The future production and exploitation of graphene in the years to come should be guided by its specific chemical-physical characteristics. The unparalleled potential of single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) to dissect by high-dimensionality the specific immunological effects of nanomaterials, represents a turning point in nanotoxicology.

2D Materials for Cardiac Tissue Repair and Regeneration.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a massive impact on human health. Due to the limited regeneration capacity of adult heart tissue, CVDs are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Even though there are surgical and pharmacological treatments for CVDs, regenerative strategies are the most promising approaches and have the potential to benefit millions of people.

Emerging 2D materials for antimicrobial applications in the pre- and post-pandemic era.

Infectious diseases caused by viral or bacterial pathogens are one of the most serious threats to humanity. Moreover, they may lead to pandemics, as we have witnessed severely with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nanotechnology, including technological developments of nano-sized materials, has brought great opportunities to control the spreading of such diseases.

Graphene oxide activates B cells with upregulation of granzyme B expression: evidence at the single-cell level for its immune-modulatory properties and anticancer activity.

We recently found by single-cell mass cytometry that human B cells internalize graphene oxide (GO). The functional impact of such uptake on B cells remains unexplored. Here, we disclosed the effects of GO and amino-functionalized GO (GONH) interacting with human B cells and at the protein and gene expression levels.

An experimental study on the pathophysiology of rectal prolapse.

Objectives: For decades, rectal prolapse has been hypothesized to be caused due to laxity or weakness of the pelvic floor muscles which is often sup- posed to be related to childbearing in females. However, 50% of females with rectal prolapse have been reported to be nulliparous and this hypothesis does not explain the incidence of rectal prolapse in males. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of rectal redundancy in rectal prolapse patho- physiology.

Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Interact and Interfere with SARS-CoV-2 Surface Proteins and Cell Receptors to Inhibit Infectivity.

Nanotechnology can offer a number of options against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) acting both extracellularly and intracellularly to the host cells. Here, the aim is to explore graphene oxide (GO), the most studied 2D nanomaterial in biomedical applications, as a nanoscale platform for interaction with SARS-CoV-2. Molecular docking analyses of GO sheets on interaction with three different structures: SARS-CoV-2 viral spike (open state - 6VYB or closed state - 6VXX), ACE2 (1R42), and the ACE2-bound spike complex (6M0J) are performed.

2D MXenes with antiviral and immunomodulatory properties: A pilot study against SARS-CoV-2.

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides/carbonitrides known as MXenes are rapidly growing as multimodal nanoplatforms in biomedicine. Here, taking SARS-CoV-2 as a model, we explored the antiviral properties and immune-profile of a large panel of four highly stable and well-characterized MXenes - TiCT, TaCT , MoTiCT and NbCT . To start with antiviral assessment, we first selected and deeply analyzed four different SARS-CoV-2 genotypes, common in most countries and carrying the wild type or mutated spike protein.

Ribavirin shows antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and downregulates the activity of TMPRSS2 and the expression of ACE2 in vitro.

Ribavirin is a guanosine analog with broad-spectrum antiviral activity against RNA viruses. Based on this, we aimed to show the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of this drug molecule via in vitro, in silico, and molecular techniques. Ribavirin showed antiviral activity in Vero E6 cells following SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas the drug itself did not show any toxic effect over the concentration range tested.

Bioinspired Scaffold Action Under the Extreme Physiological Conditions of Simulated Space Flights: Osteogenesis Enhancing Under Microgravity.

Prolonged exposure to microgravity (MG) during long-duration space flights is known to induce severe dysregulation of osteoblast functions connected to a significant bone loss, similar to the condition induced by osteoporosis. Hence, we here present MG as a promising model to challenge the effectiveness of new scaffolds designed for bone regeneration in counteracting bone loss. To this end, we carried out an integrative study aimed to evaluate, in the extreme condition of Random Positioning Machine-simulated MG, the osteoinductive potential of nanocrystalline magnesium-doped hydroxyapatite/type I collagen composite scaffold (MHA/Coll), that we previously demonstrated to be an excellent tool for bone tissue engineering.

An Evaluation of Oxidative Stress With Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis in Patients With Persistent Allergic Rhinitis.

Background: We evaluated the efficacy of medical treatment on thiol-disulfide balance despite ongoing allergic stimulation.

Methods: The research design was a prospective observational study that included 35 persistent allergic rhinitis (AR) patients. All patients who were diagnosed with persistent AR were included.

Understanding factors affecting human chondrocyte culturing: an experimental study.

Over the years, surgical strategies have been developed in hope of full regeneration of the injured cartilage. In our study, we aimed to develop an optimized chondrocyte culture isolation technique as an active ingredient of a standardized autologous chondrocte implantation product, which is able to maintain the phenotype along with the molecular features of the cartilage. We compared different enzymes, which suggested optimal performance with collagenase type II at 5 mg/ml concentration.

A novel Turkish instrument for assessing quality of life in chronic otitis media –translation and validation of Zurich chronic middle ear inventory.

Background/aim: The Zurich Chronic Middle Ear Questionnaire (ZCMEI-21) is a newly-developed German-language questionnaire. The purpose of this study was to analyze the quality of life (QoL) of chronic otitis media (COM) patients and translate, transculturally adapt, and validate the ZCMEI-21 into Turkish.

Materials And Methods: Based on internationally accepted guidelines, the ZCMEI-21 was translated into Turkish.

Toward Nanotechnology-Enabled Approaches against the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 outbreak has fueled a global demand for effective diagnosis and treatment as well as mitigation of the spread of infection, all through large-scale approaches such as specific alternative antiviral methods and classical disinfection protocols. Based on an abundance of engineered materials identifiable by their useful physicochemical properties through versatile chemical functionalization, nanotechnology offers a number of approaches to cope with this emergency. Here, through a multidisciplinary Perspective encompassing diverse fields such as virology, biology, medicine, engineering, chemistry, materials science, and computational science, we outline how nanotechnology-based strategies can support the fight against COVID-19, as well as infectious diseases in general, including future pandemics.