Publications by authors named "Zimai Liu"

Article Synopsis
  • - The study introduces a new nanoplatform, M-CNP/Mn@pPHS, designed to induce tumor-specific pyroptosis (a form of cell death) by utilizing a plasmid that targets specific tumor markers for effective cancer immunotherapy.
  • - This nanoplatform combines manganese-doped calcium carbonate nanoparticles with tumor-derived cell membranes, allowing for efficient targeting and release of the pyroptosis-inducing plasmid inside tumor cells.
  • - By implementing an "AND gate circuit" strategy, the system ensures gasdermin D, which triggers pyroptosis, is only produced in cells with high levels of tumor-specific markers, leading to significant tumor growth inhibition (79.8% regression) while minimizing side effects. *
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Pyroptosis, mediated by gasdermin proteins, has shown excellent efficacy in facilitating cancer immunotherapy. The strategies commonly used to induce pyroptosis suffer from a lack of tissue specificity, resulting in the nonselective activation of pyroptosis and consequent systemic toxicity. Moreover, pyroptosis activation usually depends on caspase, which can induce inflammation and metabolic disorders.

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Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer, and it is associated with a high recurrence rate, metastatic potential, and poor prognosis. Thus, effective therapeutic strategies for TNBC are urgently required. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is considered to be a potential therapeutic target for TNBC.

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Radiotherapy (RT) has been shown to cause immunogenic cell death (ICD) of cancer cells, which promote the release of tumor-associated antigens, and trigger the cancer-immunity cycle (CIC). However, ICD induced by RT usually does not occur in hypoxic tumor cells due to their resistance to radiation. Moreover, RT also induces programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) upregulation on tumor cells, which has an inhibitory effect on T lymphocytes.

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