Engineered Microalgae for Photo-Sonodynamic Synergistic Therapy in Breast Cancer Treatment.

Dynamic therapies such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) have potential in cancer treatment. Microalgae have attracted increasing attention because of their high active mobility, flexibility in terms of functionality, and good biocompatibility. In this study, surface-engineered microalgae Chlorella vulgaris (Chl) modified with metal‒organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles (denoted Chl-MOF) are successfully developed for synergistic photo-sonodynamic therapy and immunotherapy.

Active and passive material response of urinary bladder smooth muscle tissue in uniaxial and biaxial tensile testing.

The urinary bladder is a hollow organ that undergoes significant deformation as it receives, stores, and releases urine. To understand the organ mechanics, it is necessary to obtain information about the material properties of the tissues involved. In displacement-controlled tensile tests, tissue samples are mounted on a device that applies stretches to the tissue in one or more directions, resulting in a specific stress response.

A GSH-responsive oxidative stress nanoamplifier for self-augmented chemo/chemodynamic therapy to reverse cisplatin resistance.

Drug resistance and off-target toxicity of cisplatin (CDDP) pose significant challenges in effectively treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recently, chemodynamic therapy (CDT), an emerging reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated tumor-specific therapeutic modality, has shown great potential in sensitizing multidrug resistance tumor cells. Herein, a glutathione (GSH)-responsive Pt(IV) prodrug-based oxidative stress nanoamplifier (CuBSO@Pt) was developed for effective chemo/chemodynamic therapy to reverse CDDP resistance in NSCLC.

In-situ Oxygen-Supplying ROS Nanopurifier for Enhanced Healing of MRSA-Infected Diabetic Wounds via Microenvironment Modulation.

Hypoxia, high ROS levels and chronic inflammation are the main factors that hinder the healing of diabetic wounds. Long-term exposed wounds are prone to bacterial infection, especially MRSA infection, which exacerbates the complex wound microenvironment of diabetes and threatens patients' lives. Here, we developed a ROS nanopurifier (CSVNP), which was prepared by loading superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and vancomycin into nanogels through in-situ polymerization.

Antibacterial and antifouling materials for urinary catheter coatings.

Implantable medical devices have played a significant role in improving both medical care and patients' quality of life. Urinary Catheters (UCs) are commonly utilized as a substitute for bladder drainage and urine collection to prevent urinary retention in patients. However, bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on the catheter surface are prone to occur, leading to catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and other complications.

Impact of Nanoparticle Properties on Immune Cell Interactions in the Lymph Node.

The lymphatic system plays an important role in health and many diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune, cardiovascular, metabolic, hepatic, viral, and other infectious diseases. The lymphatic system is, therefore, an important treatment target site for a range of diseases. Lymph nodes (LNs), rich in T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, are also primary sites of action for vaccines and immunotherapies.

Cocktail strategy-based nanomedicine: A synergistic cascade of starvation, NIR-II photothermal, and gas therapy for enhanced tumor immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy has emerged as a highly promising strategy in the realm of cancer treatment, wherein immunogenic cell death (ICD) is considered a potential trigger for anti-tumor immunity by inducing adaptive immunity to dying cell antigens. This process is often accompanied by the exposure, active secretion, or passive release of a large number of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which activate dendritic cells (DCs) and enhance their antigen-presenting capacity. Subsequently, it promotes the recruitment and activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, ultimately leading to tumor growth inhibition.

Dually functionalized dendrimer for stimuli-responsive release of active ingredients into the skin.

The skin, our largest organ, protects against environmental dangers but is vulnerable to various conditions like infections, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, skin cancer, and age-related collagen and elastin degradation. Its outer layer, the water-impermeable epidermis, presents challenges for passive drug delivery to the lower living layers of the skin. An ideal dermal delivery system should penetrate the epidermis and release treatments over time.

Implications of compressive loading of the stomach wall: Interplay between mechanical deformation and microstructure.

During gastric surgery, the stomach wall is compressed with clamps and sutures or staple lines. These short- and long-term deformations can severely compromise the integrity of the tissue and make it difficult for the stomach wall to respond and remodel to the new loading conditions. Consequently, serious intra- and postoperative complications such as the formation of leaks during bariatric surgeries, can be associated with these immense tissue deformations.

Vascular Endothelial Cells Derived from Transgene-Free Pig Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Vascular Tissue Engineering.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases through cell-based therapies, but these therapies require extensive preclinical testing that is best done in species-in-species experiments. Pigs are a good large animal model for these tests due to the similarity of their cardiovascular system to humans. However, a lack of adequate pig iPSCs (piPSCs) that are analogous to human iPSCs has greatly limited the potential usefulness of this model system.

Bio-functional niobium-based metallic biomaterials: Exploring their physicomechanical properties, biological significance, and implant applications.

The significance of biomedical applications of bio-functional niobium (Nb)-based metallic biomaterials is underscored by their potential utilization in implant application. Nb-based metallic materials present reliable physicomechanical and biological properties, thus represent materials highly suitable for implant application. This review provides an overview on the advances of pure niobium and Nb-based metallic materials as implant materials over the past 20 years, and highlights the advantages of Nb-based metallic biomaterials for implant application in terms of their physicomechanical properties, corrosion resistance in biological media, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatibility, cell compatibility, blood compatibility, osteogenesis, and bioactivity.

The ultrastructure of the starfish skeleton is correlated with mechanical stress.

Echinoderms and vertebrates both possess mesodermal endoskeletons. In vertebrates, the response to mechanical loads and the capacity to remodel the ultrastructure of the skeletal system are fundamental attributes of their endoskeleton. To determine whether these characteristics are also inherent in Echinoderms, we conducted a comprehensive biomechanical and morphological study on the endoskeleton of Asterias rubens, a representative model organism for Echinoderm skeletons.

Super-hydrophilic and super-lubricating Zwitterionic hydrogel coatings coupled with polyurethane to reduce postoperative dura mater adhesions and infections.

The dura trauma or large defects due to neurosurgical procedures can result in potential complications. Dural replacements have proven effective to reduce the risk of seizures, meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, cerebral herniation, and infection. Although various artificial dural patches have been developed, addressing iatrogenic infections and cerebral adhesions resulting from patches implantation remains a challenge.

PIEZO1-Mediated Mechanotransduction Regulates Collagen Synthesis on Nanostructured 2D and 3D Models of Fibrosis.

Progressive fibrosis can lead to tissue malfunction and organ failure due to the pathologic accumulation of a collagen-rich extracellular matrix. In vitro models provide useful tools for deconstructing the roles of specific biomechanical or biological mechanisms, such as substrate micro- and nanoscale architecture, in these processes for identifying potential therapeutic targets. Here, we investigated how the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO1 influences fibrotic gene and protein expression in adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs).

Clinical challenges and opportunities related to the biological responses experienced by indwelling and implantable bioelectronic medical devices.

Implantable electrodes have been utilized for decades to stimulate, sense, or monitor a broad range of biological processes, with examples ranging from glucose monitoring devices to cochlear implants. While the underlying science related to the application of electrodes is a mature field, preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that there are still significant challenges in vivo associated with a lack of control over tissue-material interfacial interactions, especially over longer time frames. Herein we discuss the current challenges and opportunities for implantable electrodes and the associated bioelectronic interfaces across the clinical landscape with a focus on emerging technologies and the obstacles of biofouling, microbial colonization, and the foreign body response.

Broad-spectrum downregulation of inflammatory cytokines by polydopamine nanoparticles to protect the injured spinal cord.

Acute neuroinflammation, which is notably characterized by a significant elevation in pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, often rapidly develops following a traumatic spinal cord injury and exacerbates damage in the lesion area. This study addresses the limitations inherent in strategies that regulate only a single or a few cytokines, which are often insufficient to counteract the progression of secondary injuries. We explore the use of polydopamine nanoparticles as a broad-spectrum immunomodulator, capable of capturing by adsorption a wide range of cytokines and thereby effectively suppressing neuroinflammation.

Mechanistic insights into mosquito antennal architecture for auditory adaptations.

Unlike organisms equipped with tympanal ears, mosquitoes hear using their antennae, which are lightweight sensory structures capable of detecting sound. Here, we study the antennae of two species - Aedes aegypti and Uranotaenia lowii - known to use hearing for different functions. Through the use of geometrically comprehensive computational models, we find that architectural features in the mosquito antenna provide mechanisms that promote the detection of species and sex specific acoustic targets amidst the non-target signals produced by their own wingbeats.

X-ray triggered bimetallic nanoassemblies as radiosensitizers and STING agonists for a CDT/radio-immunotherapy strategy.

Radiotherapy (RT) is a cornerstone of cancer therapy, but its effectiveness is constrained by dose-limiting toxicity and inadequate systemic immune activation. To overcome these limitations, we have engineered an X-ray-responsive nanoassembly (sMnAu NAs) by cross-linking monodisperse MnAu nanoparticles (NPs) with radiation-responsive diselenide-containing linkers. MnAu alloy NPs not only provide Au NPs for radiosensitization, but also control Mn (0) release, which stimulates Fenton-like reaction for chemodynamic therapy and is transferred into Mn to activate the STING pathway for immunotherapy.

Incorporation of metal-doped silicate microparticles into collagen scaffolds combines chemical and architectural cues for endochondral bone healing.

Regeneration of large bone defects remains a clinical challenge until today. While existing biomaterials are predominantly addressing bone healing via direct, intramembranous ossification (IO), bone tissue formation via a cartilage phase, so-called endochondral ossification (EO) has been shown to be a promising alternative strategy. However, pure biomaterial approaches for EO induction are sparse and the knowledge how material components can have bioactive contribution to the required cartilage formation is limited.

Lysozyme-targeted liposomes for enhanced tubular targeting in the treatment of acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined by the release of pro-inflammatory factors, leading to structural damage in renal tubules and subsequent tubular cell injury and death. Delivering drugs specifically to renal tubules to mitigate tubular cell damage holds potential for AKI treatment. In this work, we developed functional liposomes (LZM-PLNPs-TP) designed to bypass the glomerular filtration barrier and target tubules by leveraging the unique structural and pathological characteristics of glomeruli and tubules.

TEVAR versus open aortic arch replacement in ex vivo perfused human thoracic aortas.

This study aims to assess the outcomes of therapeutic options for aortic arch pathologies by comparing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with open arch replacement (OAR) using woven polyester grafts from a mechanical and biomechanical perspective, with emphasis on ex vivo perfused human thoracic aortas reproducing heart rate and stroke volume conditions. Eleven non-diseased thoracic aortas from human cadavers were divided into TEVAR (n=5) and OAR (n=6) and tested using a custom-built mock circulation loop. Pressure, diameter, and stroke volume were monitored during perfusion before and after the intervention.

Molecular design of ternary copolymers with high photothermal performance in the near-infrared window for effective treatment of gliomas in vivo.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising approach for treating glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) with minimal invasiveness and favorable outcomes. Conjugated polymers as photothermal agents offer stability, biocompatibility, and adjustable absorption capacity. However, existing polymers face limitations in achieving high photothermal conversion efficiency and strong absorbance in the near-infrared (NIR) region, posing a risk of damaging healthy tissues surrounding GBM during precise PTT.

Mitochondrial transfer of drug-loaded artificial mitochondria for enhanced anti-Glioma therapy through synergistic apoptosis/ferroptosis/immunogenic cell death.

Mitochondrial targeting in gliomas represents a novel therapeutic strategy with significant potential to enhance drug sensitivity by effectively killing glioma cells at the mitochondrial level. In this study, we developed artificial mitochondria derived from mitochondrial membrane-based nanovesicles, enabling precise mitochondrial targeting of doxorubicin (Dox) to selectively eradicate cancer cells by amplifying multiple cell death pathways. It was found that Dox-encapsulating mitochondria-based nanovesicles (DOX-MitoNVs) exhibited an extraordinary ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), specifically targeting gliomas.

Development of Hemoglobin Microbubbles for Acoustic Blood Oxygen Sensing: A Study on PEGylation and Gas Core Modification for In vivo Applications.

The creation of innovative ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) with the ability to monitor oxygen levels in real-time holds immense potential for advancing early diagnosis of various medical conditions such as hypoxic/reperfusion injury. In this study, we propose the development of oxygen sensitive UCAs using microbubbles composed of hemoglobin (HbMBs), which can function as sensors for blood oxygen levels. Previously, we performed a study highlighting the initial proof-of-concept efficacy of air-filled HbMBs in detecting oxygenation changes in vitro, offering a promising tool for clinically detecting tissue hypoxia.

Substrate stiffness regulates the proliferation and inflammation of chondrocytes and macrophages through exosomes.

Osteoarthritis (OA) progression is characterized by decreased cartilage stiffness and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which significantly influence cartilage behavior and fate. In contrast, processes such as chondrocyte calcification and aging often result in increased stiffness. Despite extensive studies on how ECM stiffness regulates cellular functions, the impact of substrate stiffness on the cartilage microenvironment and intercellular communications remains not well understood.