3D bioprinting by reinforced bioink based on photocurable interpenetrating networks for cartilage tissue engineering.

Cartilage has a limited ability to repair itself, highlighting the urgent need for suitable materials for cartilage regeneration. Achieving a balance between cell survival environment and hydrogel crosslinking density is crucial for photosensitive cell-laden cartilage repair materials to achieve both high strength and good cell viability. Here, an interpenetrating hydrogel consisted of methacrylate gelatin (GelMA) and glycidyl methacrylate silk fibroin (SG) was introduced.

Sequential Anti-Infection and Proangiogenesis of DMOG@ZIF-8/Gelatin-PCL Electrospinning Dressing for Chronic Wound Healing.

Bacterial infection and insufficient neovascularization are two major obstacles to the healing of chronic wounds. Here, we present an antibacterial and proangiogenic dressing by encapsulating dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) in zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and electrospinning it with gelatin-polycaprolactone (Gel-PCL). As Gel-PCL nanofibers degrade, ZIF-8 nanoparticles decompose, sequentially releasing bactericidal zinc ions and angiogenic DMOG molecules.

Lipid-assisted PEG--PLA nanoparticles with ultrahigh SN38 loading capability for efficient cancer therapy.

The topoisomerase I inhibitor, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38), has demonstrated potent anticancer activity. However, its clinical application is hindered by its low solubility and high crystallization propensity, which further complicates its encapsulation into nanoparticles for systemic delivery. Herein, we explore the utilization of lipid-assisted poly(ethylene glycol)--poly(D,L-lactide) (PEG--PLA) nanoparticles to achieve ultrahigh loading capability for SN38.

More Is Better: Dual-Acceptor Engineering for Constructing Second Near-Infrared Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens to Boost Multimodal Phototheranostics.

The manipulation of electron donor/acceptor (D/A) shows an endless impetus for innovating optical materials. Currently, there is booming development in electron donor design, while research on electron acceptor engineering has received limited attention. Inspired by the philosophical idea of "more is different", two systems with D'-D-A-D-D' (1A system) and D'-D-A-A-D-D' (2A system) structures based on acceptor engineering were designed and studied.

Promoting the Recruitment, Engagement, and Reinvigoration of Effector T Cells via an Injectable Hydrogel with a Supramolecular Binding Capability for Cancer Immunotherapy.

T cells play a basic and key role in immunotherapy against solid tumors, and efficiently recruiting them into neoplastic foci and sustaining long-term effector function are consistent goals that remain a critical challenge. Here, an injectable alginate-based hydrogel with abundant β-cyclodextrin (ALG-βCD) sites is developed and intratumorally injected to recruit CCR9 CD8 T cells (a subset of T cells with robust antitumor activity) via the trapped chemokine CCL25. In the meantime, an intravenously injected adamantane-decorated anti-PD1 antibody (Ad-aPD1) would hitchhike on recruited CCR9 CD8 T cells to achieve the improved intratumoral accumulation of Ad-aPD1.

Marriage of High-Throughput Gradient Surface Generation With Statistical Learning for the Rational Design of Functionalized Biomaterials.

Functional biomaterial is already an important aspect in modern therapeutics; yet, the design of novel multi-functional biomaterial is still a challenging task nowadays. When several biofunctional components are present, the complexity that arises from their combinations and interactions will lead to tedious trial-and-error screening. In this work, a novel strategy of biomaterial rational design through the marriage of gradient surface generation with statistical learning is presented.

Near-Infrared-II Visualization and Quantitative Tracking of Micro/Nanoplastics in Fish.

As emerging contaminants, micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) are widely present in aquatic environments and are often ingested by aquatic organisms. However, the trafficking and fate of MNPs remain largely unknown. Here, we developed near-infrared (NIR) aggregated-induced emission (AIE) fluorophore-labeled microplastics (2 μm) and nanoplastics (100 nm) as models of MNPs.

Nanoassembly of doxorubicin-conjugated polyphosphoester and siRNA simultaneously elicited macrophage- and T cell- mediated anticancer immune response for cancer therapy.

Efficiently reawakening immune cells, including T cells and macrophages, to eliminate tumor cells is a promising strategy for cancer treatment, but remains a huge challenge nowadays. Herein, a nanoassembly formed by doxorubicin (DOX)-conjugated polyphosphoester (PP-(hDOX)) and CD47-targeting siRNA (siCD47) via electrostatic and π-π stacking interactions, termed as PP-(hDOX&siCD47), was developed to reawaken the T cell and macrophage-mediated anticancer activity. The PP-(hDOX&siCD47) could efficiently blockade antiphagocytic signal by downregulation of CD47 expression to reactive macrophage-mediated anticancer immunotherapy.

Electro-mechanical coupling directs endothelial activities through intracellular calcium ion deployment.

Conversion between mechanical and electrical cues is usually considered unidirectional in cells with cardiomyocytes being an exception. Here, we discover a material-induced external electric field () triggers an electro-mechanical coupling feedback loop in cells other than cardiomyocytes, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), by opening their mechanosensitive Piezo1 channels. When HUVECs are cultured on patterned piezoelectric materials, the materials generate (confined at the cellular scale) to polarize intracellular calcium ions ([Ca]), forming a built-in electric field () opposing .

Suppression of LPS-activated inflammatory responses and chromosomal histone modifications in macrophages by micropattern-induced nuclear deformation.

Macrophages are important immune effector cells which participate various physiological and pathological conditions. Numerous studies have demonstrated the regulation of macrophage phenotype by micropatterns. It is well accepted that micropatterns affect cellular behaviors through changing cell shape and modulating the associated mechanical sensors on the plasma membrane and cytoskeleton.

Red/NIR emissive aggregation-induced emission-active photosensitizers with strong donor-acceptor strength for image-guided photodynamic therapy of cancer.

Light-mediated therapies such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) are considered emerging cancer treatment strategies. However, there are still lots of defect with common photosensitizers (PSs), such as short emission wavelength, weak photostability, poor cell permeability, and low PDT efficiency. Therefore, it is very important to develop high-performance PSs.

Functional nano drug delivery system with dual lubrication and immune escape for treating osteoarthritis.

Local drug delivery via inter-articular injection offers a promising scenario to treat the most common joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA), which is closely associated with the increased friction or cartilage degeneration and the inflammatory syndrome of synovium. Therefore, it is quite necessary to improve the retention of drug delivery system within synovial joint, simultaneously restore the lubrication of degraded cartilage and meanwhile alleviate the inflammation. In this study, we propose a hydrophilic coating modified nano-liposome drug carrier (PMPC-Lipo) to achieve these functions.

Powerful Synergy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Aggregation-Induced Emission-Active Photosensitizer in Photodynamic Therapy.

Breast cancer (BC) remains a significant global health challenge for women despite advancements in early detection and treatment. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a compound derived from traditional Chinese medicine, has shown potential as an anti-BC therapy, but its low bioavailability and poor water solubility restrict its effectiveness. In this study, we created theranostic nanoparticles consisting of ISL and a near-infrared (NIR) photosensitizer, TBPI, which displays aggregation-induced emission (AIE), with the goal of providing combined chemo- and photodynamic therapies (PDT) for BC.

Blood Circulation Assessment by Steadily Fluorescent Near-Infrared-II Aggregation-Induced Emission Nano Contrast Agents.

The dysfunction of the blood circulation system typically induces acute or chronic ischemia in limbs and vital organs, with high disability and mortality. While conventional tomographic imaging modalities have shown good performance in the diagnosis of circulatory diseases, multiple limitations remain for real-time and precise hemodynamic evaluation. Recently, fluorescence imaging in the second region of the near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) has garnered great attention in monitoring and tracing various biological processes due to its advantages of high spatial-temporal resolution and real-time feature.

Nongenetic surface engineering of mesenchymal stromal cells with polyvalent antibodies to enhance targeting efficiency.

Systemic infusion is a prevalent administration method for mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in clinical trials. However, the inability to deliver a large number of therapeutic cells to diseased tissue is a substantial barrier. Here, we demonstrate that surface engineering of MSCs with polyvalent antibodies can effectively improve the targeting efficiency of MSCs to diseased tissue.

A Polymeric Nanosponge as a Broad-Spectrum Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenger for Acute Kidney Injury Treatment.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is closely associated with the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause multiple organ dysfunctions without timely treatment. However, only supportive treatments are currently available for AKI in clinics. Here, we developed nanomaterials of hyperbranched polyphosphoester (PPE) containing abundant thioether (S-PPE NP) and thioketal bonds (TK-PPE NP).

Progress in nanoparticle-based regulation of immune cells.

Immune cells are indispensable defenders of the human body, clearing exogenous pathogens and toxicities or endogenous malignant and aging cells. Immune cell dysfunction can cause an inability to recognize, react, and remove these hazards, resulting in cancers, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, and infections. Immune cells regulation has shown great promise in treating disease, and immune agonists are usually used to treat cancers and infections caused by immune suppression.

Excited-State Odd-Even Effect in Through-Space Interactions.

The odd-even effect is a fantastic phenomenon in nature, which has been applied in diverse fields such as organic self-assembled monolayers and liquid crystals. Currently, the origin of each odd-even effect remains elusive, and all of the reported odd-even effects are related to the ground-state properties. Here, we discover an excited-state odd-even effect in the through-space interaction (TSI) of nonconjugated tetraphenylalkanes (TPAs).

Effects of Zinc and Strontium Doping on In Vitro Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis of Calcium Silicate/Calcium Phosphate Cement.

Based on multiple biological functions (mainly osteogenesis and angiogenesis) of bioactive ions, Zn/Sr-doped calcium silicate/calcium phosphate cements (Zn/Sr-CS/CPCs, including 10Zn-CS/CPC, 20Sr-CS/CPC, and 10Zn/20Sr-CS/CPC) were prepared by the addition of Zn and Sr dual active ions into CS/CPC to further accelerate its bone regeneration in this study. The physicochemical and biological properties of the Zn/Sr-CS/CPCs were systematically investigated. The results showed that the setting time was slightly prolonged, the compressive strength and porosity did not change much, and all groups maintained good injectability after the doping of Zn and Sr.

X-ray-controllable release of carbon monoxide potentiates radiotherapy by ultrastable hybrid nanoreservoirs.

Carbon monoxide (CO) exhibits unique abilities in sensitizing cancer radiotherapy (RT). However, the development of a highly stable CO-delivery nanosystem with sustained CO release in tumor tissues and the prevention of CO leakage into normal tissues remains a challenge. Herein, an organic-inorganic hybrid strategy is proposed to create ultrastable CO nanoreservoirs by locking an unstable iron carbonyl (FeCO) prodrug in a stable mesoporous silica matrix.

Sulindac selectively induces autophagic apoptosis of GABAergic neurons and alters motor behaviour in zebrafish.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs compose one of the most widely used classes of medications, but the risks for early development remain controversial, especially in the nervous system. Here, we utilized zebrafish larvae to assess the potentially toxic effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and found that sulindac can selectively induce apoptosis of GABAergic neurons in the brains of zebrafish larvae brains. Zebrafish larvae exhibit hyperactive behaviour after sulindac exposure.

Integration of AIEgens into covalent organic frameworks for pyroptosis and ferroptosis primed cancer immunotherapy.

Immunogenic programmed cell death, such as pyroptosis and ferroptosis, efficiently induces an acute inflammatory response and boosts antitumor immunity. However, the exploration of dual-inducers, particularly nonmetallic inducers, capable of triggering both pyroptosis and ferroptosis remains limited. Here we show the construction of a covalent organic framework (COF-919) from planar and twisted AIEgen-based motifs as a dual-inducer of pyroptosis and ferroptosis for efficient antitumor immunity.

The synergetic effect of hierarchical pores and micro-nano bioactive glass on promoting osteogenesis and angiogenesis in vitro.

Hierarchical pores are important structural components of the bone tissue and are closely related to angiogenesis, nutrient transport, and metabolism involved in the repair of a bone defect. Here, we fabricated a composite scaffold having a hierarchical structure, based on micro-nano bioactive glass (MNBG) incorporated into poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and with camphene as a pore-forming agent for bone repair. The results showed that camphene formed abundant micropores in the walls of large pores, resulting in hierarchical pore structures ranging from a few microns to a hundred microns.

All-Polymer Piezoelectric Elastomer with High Stretchability, Low Hysteresis, Self-Adhesion, and UV-Blocking as Flexible Sensor.

All-polymer piezoelectric elastomers that integrate self-powered, soft, and elastic performance are attractive in the fields of flexible wearable electronics and human-machine interfaces. However, a lack of adhesion and UV-blocking performances greatly hinders the potential applications of elastomers in these emerging fields. Here, a high-performance piezoelectric elastomer with piezoelectricity, mechanical robustness, self-adhesion, and UV-resistance was developed by using poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), acrylonitrile (AN), acrylamide (AAm), and oxidized tannic acid (OTA) (named PPO).