Polymersomes in Drug Delivery─From Experiment to Computational Modeling.

Polymersomes, composed of amphiphilic block copolymers, are self-assembled vesicles that have gained attention as potential drug delivery systems due to their good biocompatibility, stability, and versatility. Various experimental techniques have been employed to characterize the self-assembly behaviors and properties of polymersomes. However, they have limitations in revealing molecular details and underlying mechanisms.

Photoallosteric Polymersomes toward On-Demand Drug Delivery and Multimodal Cancer Immunotherapy.

Allosteric transitions can modulate the self-assembly and biological function of proteins. It remains, however, tremendously challenging to design synthetic allosteric polymeric assemblies with spatiotemporally switchable hierarchical structures and functionalities. Here, a photoallosteric polymersome is constructed that undergoes a rapid conformational transition from β-sheet to α-helix upon exposure to near-infrared light irradiation.

Ordered Conformation-Regulated Vesicular Membrane Permeability.

In nature, the folding and conformation of proteins can control the cell or organelle membrane permeability and regulate the life activities. Here we report the first example of synthetic polypeptide vesicles that regulate their permeability via ordered transition of secondary conformations, in a manner similar to biological systems. The polymersomes undergo a β-sheet to α-helix transition in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to wall thinning without loss of vesicular integrity.

First Molecular Evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Rodent Populations of Nanchang, China.

In this study, systematic surveillance of rodent populations in Nanchang of China and determination of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in rodents were performed. Between 2011 and 2015, 110,084 rodent snap traps were set in 4 counties and in the city center of Nanchang, China. Finally, 942 rodents were captured, with a relative density of 0.

First molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in dogs from Jiangxi, China.

In this study, blood samples obtained from 162 dogs in Jiangxi, China, were employed in molecular screening of canine tick-borne pathogens by PCR and sequencing. Babesia spp. gene fragment was detected in 12 (7.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Relating to Avian Influenza (H10N8) among Farmers' Markets Workers in Nanchang, China.

Three cases of avian influenza virus H10N8 were reported in Nanchang, China, as of April 2014. To identify the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to H10N8 among farmers' market workers, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 63 farmers' markets in Nanchang. Using the resulting data, characteristics of poultry and non-poultry workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practice were described.