Biomaterial-based strategies: a new era in spinal cord injury treatment

Enhancing neurological recovery and improving the prognosis of spinal cord injury have gained research attention recently. Spinal cord injury is associated with a complex molecular and cellular microenvironment. This complexity has prompted researchers to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and changes and to identify effective treatment strategies. Traditional approaches for spinal cord injury repair include surgery, oral or intravenous medications, and administration of neurotrophic factors; however, the efficacy of these approaches remains inconclusive, and serious adverse reactions continue to be a concern. With advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, emerging strategies for spinal cord injury repair now involve nanoparticle-based nanodelivery systems, scaffolds, and functional recovery techniques that incorporate biomaterials, bioengineering, stem cell, and growth factors as well as three-dimensional bioprinting. Ideal biomaterial scaffolds should not only provide structural support for neuron migration, adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation but also mimic the mechanical properties of natural spinal cord tissue. Additionally, these scaffolds should facilitate axon growth and neurogenesis by offering adjustable topography and a range of physical and biochemical cues. The three-dimensionally interconnected porous structure and appropriate physicochemical properties enabled by three-dimensional biomimetic printing technology can maximize the potential of biomaterials used for treating spinal cord injury. Therefore, correct selection and application of scaffolds, coupled with successful clinical translation, represent promising clinical objectives to enhance the treatment efficacy for and prognosis of spinal cord injury. This review elucidates the key mechanisms underlying the occurrence of spinal cord injury and regeneration post-injury, including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, axon regeneration, and angiogenesis. This review also briefly discusses the critical role of nanodelivery systems used for repair and regeneration of injured spinal cord, highlighting the influence of nanoparticles and the factors that affect delivery efficiency. Finally, this review highlights tissue engineering strategies and the application of biomaterial scaffolds for the treatment of spinal cord injury. It discusses various types of scaffolds, their integrations with stem cells or growth factors, and approaches for optimization of scaffold design.

Development of transgenic wheat plants withstand salt stress via the MDAR1 gene

In light of the fact that climate change has emerged as one of the difficulties confronting the global food system, researchers are obligated to work toward developing fundamental crops, particularly wheat, to combat environmental stress, including drought and salt. In the present study, genetic engineering was used to transfer the Arabidopsis MDAR1 gene, which controls the buildup of ascorbic acid (AsA) to make bread wheat less likely to be sensitive to salt stress. The biolistic bombardment was used to transfer cDNA from the Arabidopsis thaliana plant that encodes MDAR1 into Bobwhite 56 cultivar wheat plants. A molecular investigation was performed on six different transgenic lines to confirm the integration of the transgene, the copy number, and the expression of the transgene. There were one to three copies of the transgene, and there was no association found between the number of copies of the transgene and All the data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].the presence of its expression. Compared to plants that were not transgenic, the amount of ascorbic acid (AsA) that accumulated in the transgenic plants was twice as high. ROS concentrations are significantly lower in transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic plants under both control and salt stress conditions, effectively reducing oxidative stress. By cultivating transgenic T2 plants in a greenhouse, we were able to determine whether they were able to tolerate the potentially damaging effects of salt stress (200 mm). The study concluded that transgenic wheat plants that consistently expressed the MDAR1 gene become tolerant to salt stress with improvement in growth characteristics.

Stemness regulation in prostate cancer: prostate cancer stem cells and targeted therapy

BACKGROUND

Increasing evidence indicates that cancer stem cells (CSCs) and cancer stem-like cells form a special subpopulation of cells that are ubiquitous in tumors. These cells exhibit similar characteristics to those of normal stem cells in tissues; moreover, they are capable of self-renewal and differentiation, as well as high tumorigenicity and drug resistance. In prostate cancer (PCa), it is difficult to kill these cells using androgen signaling inhibitors and chemotherapy drugs. Consequently, the residual prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) mediate tumor recurrence and progression.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of PCSCs, with a particular emphasis on potential therapeutic strategies targeting these cells.

METHODS

After searching in PubMed and Embase databases using 'prostate cancer' and 'cancer stem cells' as keywords, studies related were compiled and examined.

RESULTS

In this review, we detail the origin and characteristics of PCSCs, introduce the regulatory pathways closely related to CSC survival and stemness maintenance, and discuss the link between epithelial-mesenchymal transition, tumor microenvironment and tumor stemness. Furthermore, we introduce the currently available therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs, including signaling pathway inhibitors, anti-apoptotic protein inhibitors, microRNAs, nanomedicine, and immunotherapy. Lastly, we summarize the limitations of current CSC research and mention future research directions.

CONCLUSION

A deeper understanding of the regulatory network and molecular markers of PCSCs could facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting these cells. Previous preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of this treatment approach. In the future, this may offer alternative treatment options for PCa patients.

Potential of ultrasound stimulation and sonogenetics in vision restoration: a narrative review

Vision restoration presents a considerable challenge in the realm of regenerative medicine, while recent progress in ultrasound stimulation has displayed potential as a non-invasive therapeutic approach. This narrative review offers a comprehensive overview of current research on ultrasound-stimulated neuromodulation, emphasizing its potential as a treatment modality for various nerve injuries. By examining of the efficacy of different types of ultrasound stimulation in modulating peripheral and optic nerves, we can delve into their underlying molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, the review underscores the potential of sonogenetics in vision restoration, which involves leveraging pharmacological and genetic manipulations to inhibit or enhance the expression of related mechanosensitive channels, thereby modulating the strength of the ultrasound response. We also address how methods such as viral transcription can be utilized to render specific neurons or organs highly responsive to ultrasound, leading to significantly improved therapeutic outcomes.

PEGylation technology: addressing concerns, moving forward

PEGylation technology, that is grafting of poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) to biologics, vaccines and nanopharmaceuticals, has become a cornerstone of modern medicines with over thirty products used in the clinic. PEGylation of therapeutic proteins, nucleic acids and nanopharmaceuticals improves their stability, pharmacokinetic and biodistribution. While PEGylated medicines are safe in the majority of patients, there are growing concerns about the emergence of anti-PEG antibodies and their impact on the therapeutic efficacy of PEGylated medicines as well as broader immune responses, particularly in complement activation and hypersensitivity reactions. These concerns are beginning to scrutinize the future viability of PEGylation technology in medicine design. Here, we outline these concerns, encourage more efforts into looking for comprehensive scientific evidence on the role of anti-PEG antibodies in hypersensitivity reactions, discuss alternatives to PEG and propose strategies for moving PEGylation technology forward.

The characterization of technical design of a virus-like structure (VLS) nanodelivery system as vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 variants

The constant mutation of SARS-CoV-2 has led to the continuous appearance of viral variants and their pandemics and has improved the development of vaccines with a broad spectrum of antigens to curb the spread of the virus. The work described here suggested a novel vaccine with a virus-like structure (VLS) composed of combined mRNA and protein that is capable of stimulating the immune system in a manner similar to that of viral infection. This VLS vaccine is characterized by its ability to specifically target dendritic cells and/or macrophages through S1 protein recognition of the DC-SIGN receptor in cells, which leads to direct mRNA delivery to these innate immune cells for activation of robust immunity with a broad spectrum of neutralizing antibodies and immune protective capacity against variants. Research on its composition characteristics and structural features has suggested its druggability. Compared with the current mRNA vaccine, the VLS vaccine was identified as having no cytotoxicity at its effective application dosage, while the results of safety observations in animals revealed fewer adverse reactions during immunization.

Incorporation of doxorubicin into plant-derived nanovesicles: process monitoring and activity assessment

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an experimental class of drug carriers. Alternative sources of EVs are currently being explored to overcome limitations related to their manufacturing from mesenchymal stem cells. In this work, Citrus limon-derived EVs were tested as carriers for the widely used chemotherapeutic drug - doxorubicin (DOX). Capillary electrophoresis (CE) and nanoplasmonic sensing (NPS) were developed for the quality control of DOX-EV preparations. It was found that the CE method enables simultaneous detection of free and incorporated DOX and allows assessing the stability of the preparations and the drug leakage. NPS, on the other hand, demonstrated that DOX is accumulated in the interfacial region of the carrier. The activity of DOX-loaded EVs was tested on HeLa (cervical cancer cells) and HEK293T (human embryonic kidney cells) cell lines. It was found that DOX incorporation into plant-derived EVs virtually does not affect the drug's cytotoxicity to HeLa cells but significantly decreases DOX activity against HEK293T cell line.

Perspectives on label-free microscopy of heterogeneous and dynamic biological systems

Significance

Advancements in label-free microscopy could provide real-time, non-invasive imaging with unique sources of contrast and automated standardized analysis to characterize heterogeneous and dynamic biological processes. These tools would overcome challenges with widely used methods that are destructive (e.g., histology, flow cytometry) or lack cellular resolution (e.g., plate-based assays, whole animal bioluminescence imaging).

Aim

This perspective aims to (1) justify the need for label-free microscopy to track heterogeneous cellular functions over time and space within unperturbed systems and (2) recommend improvements regarding instrumentation, image analysis, and image interpretation to address these needs.

Approach

Three key research areas (cancer research, autoimmune disease, and tissue and cell engineering) are considered to support the need for label-free microscopy to characterize heterogeneity and dynamics within biological systems. Based on the strengths (e.g., multiple sources of molecular contrast, non-invasive monitoring) and weaknesses (e.g., imaging depth, image interpretation) of several label-free microscopy modalities, improvements for future imaging systems are recommended.

Conclusion

Improvements in instrumentation including strategies that increase resolution and imaging speed, standardization and centralization of image analysis tools, and robust data validation and interpretation will expand the applications of label-free microscopy to study heterogeneous and dynamic biological systems.

Nanovaccine loaded with seno-antigen target senescent cells to improve metabolic disorders of adipose tissue and cardiac dysfunction

The buildup of senescent cells exacerbates metabolic disorders in adipose tissue and contributes to aging-related cardiac dysfunction. Targeted clearance of senescent cells can markedly ameliorate these aging-related diseases. Here, we developed a novel nanovaccine (GK-NaV) loaded with seno-antigen that is self-assembled from the fusion of cationic protein (K36) and seno-antigen peptide (Gpnmb). The GK-NaV could be highly engulfed by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and efficiently present antigens on the cellular surface, thereby promoting DCs maturation and activation of CD8+T cells in vitro. Following subcutaneous immunization, GK-NaV not only exhibited a noticeable antigen depot effect but also markedly activated specific cellular immune responses, enhancing the immunoreactivity and cytotoxic effects of CD8+T cells. Consequently, the targeted anti-aging immunity triggered by GK-NaV demonstrated the ability to selectively eliminate senescent adipocytes and cardiomyocytes in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced progeroid mice, leading to a significant improvement in age-related metabolic disorders in adipose tissue and cardiac dysfunction. Hence, our findings indicate that immunization with GK-NaV targeting seno-antigens may represent a promising strategy for novel senolytic therapies.

Photoregulation of the biosynthetic activity of fungus Inonotus obliquus using colloidal solutions of biogenic metal nanoparticles and low-intensity laser radiation

This article presents new data on the integrated use of colloidal solutions of nanoparticles and low-intensity laser radiation on the biosynthetic activity of the medicinal mushroom Inonotus obliquus in vitro. Traditional mycological methods, colloidal solutions of biogenic metals, and unique photobiological methods have also been used. It was found that colloidal solutions of nanoparticles of all metals used increased the growth characteristics of I. obliquus (55-60%), while irradiation of the fungal inoculum with laser light in a medium with nanoparticles reduced the growth activity of I. obliquus mycelia by 12.3-35.4%. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in a nutrient medium suppressed the biosynthesis of extracellular polysaccharides, whereas laser irradiation in the same medium increased the synthesis of intracellular polysaccharides by 9.7 times. Magnesium nanoparticles (MgNPs) and iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) inhibited the synthesis of intracellular polysaccharides in the mycelial mass of I. obliquus. At the same time, laser irradiation of the inoculum with MgNPs, on the contrary, induced a sharp increase in the amount of polysaccharides in the culture liquid (20 times). Treatment of the inoculum in a medium with nanoparticles with a laser caused an intensification of the synthesis of flavonoids in the mycelial mass and an increase in the synthesis of melanin pigments (25-140%). The results obtained suggest the possibility of the complex use of colloidal solutions of Fe, Ag, and Mg nanoparticles and low-intensity laser radiation as environmentally friendly factors for regulating biosynthetic activity in the biotechnology of cultivating the valuable medicinal mushroom I. obliquus.

Targeted nanoliposomes for precision rheumatoid arthritis therapy: a review on mechanisms and in vivo potential

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory immune-triggered disease that causes synovitis, cartilage degradation, and joint injury. In nanotechnology, conventional liposomes were extensively investigated for RA. However, they frequently undergo rapid clearance, reducing circulation time and therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, their stability in the bloodstream is often compromised, resulting in premature drug release. The current review explores the potential of targeted liposomal-based nanosystems in the treatment of RA. It highlights the pathophysiology of RA, explores selective targeting sites, and elucidates diverse mechanisms of novel liposomal types and their applications. Furthermore, the targeting strategies of pH-sensitive, flexible, surface-modified, PEGylated, acoustic, ROS-mediated, and biofunctionalized liposomes are addressed. Targeted nanoliposomes showed potential in precisely delivering drugs to CD44, SR-A, FR-β, FLS, and toll-like receptors through the high affinity of ligands. In vitro studies interpreted stable release profiles and improved stability. Ex vivo studies on skin demonstrated that ultradeformable and glycerol-conjugated liposomes enhanced drug penetrability. In vivo experiments for liposomal types in the arthritis rat model depicted remarkable efficacy in reducing joint swelling, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and synovial hyperplasia. In conclusion, these targeted liposomes represented a significant leap forward in drug delivery, offering effective therapeutic options for RA. In the future, integrating these advanced liposomes with artificial intelligence, immunotherapy, and precision medicine holds great promise.

Advancing the understanding of the role of apoptosis in lung cancer immunotherapy: Global research trends, key themes, and emerging frontiers

Apoptosis is vital for improving the efficacy of lung cancer (LC) immunotherapy by targeting cancer cell elimination. Despite its importance, there is a lack of comprehensive bibliometric studies analyzing global research on apoptosis in LC immunotherapy. This analysis aims to address this gap by highlighting key trends, contributors, and future directions. A total of 969 publications from 1996 to 2024 were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection. Analysis was conducted using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package 'bibliometrix.' The study included contributions from 6,894 researchers across 1,469 institutions in 61 countries, with research published in 356 journals. The volume of publications has steadily increased, led by China and the United States, with Sichuan University as the top contributor. The journal Cancers published the most articles, while Cancer Research had the highest co-citations. Yu-Quan Wei was the leading author, and Jemal, A. was the most frequently co-cited. Key research themes include "cell death mechanisms," "immune regulation," "combination therapies," "gene and nanomedicine applications," and "traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)." Future research is likely to focus on "coordinated regulation of multiple cell death pathways," "modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment," "optimization of combination therapies," "novel strategies in gene regulation," and the "integration of TCM" for personalized treatment. This is the first bibliometric analysis on the role of apoptosis in LC immunotherapy, providing an landscape of global research patterns and emerging therapeutic strategies. The findings offer insights to guide future research and optimize treatment approaches.

Advances in therapies using mesenchymal stem cells and their exosomes for treatment of peripheral nerve injury: state of the art and future perspectives

"Peripheral nerve injury" refers to damage or trauma affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Peripheral nerve injury results in movements or sensation impairments, and represents a serious public health problem. Although severed peripheral nerves have been effectively joined and various therapies have been offered, recovery of sensory or motor functions remains limited, and efficacious therapies for complete repair of a nerve injury remain elusive. The emerging field of mesenchymal stem cells and their exosome-based therapies hold promise for enhancing nerve regeneration and function. Mesenchymal stem cells, as large living cells responsive to the environment, secrete various factors and exosomes. The latter are nano-sized extracellular vesicles containing bioactive molecules such as proteins, microRNA, and messenger RNA derived from parent mesenchymal stem cells. Exosomes have pivotal roles in cell-to-cell communication and nervous tissue function, offering solutions to changes associated with cell-based therapies. Despite ongoing investigations, mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome-based therapies are in the exploratory stage. A comprehensive review of the latest preclinical experiments and clinical trials is essential for deep understanding of therapeutic strategies and for facilitating clinical translation. This review initially explores current investigations of mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in peripheral nerve injury, exploring the underlying mechanisms. Subsequently, it provides an overview of the current status of mesenchymal stem cell and exosome-based therapies in clinical trials, followed by a comparative analysis of therapies utilizing mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes. Finally, the review addresses the limitations and challenges associated with use of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes, offering potential solutions and guiding future directions.

A ROS-Responsive nanoparticle for nuclear gene delivery and autophagy restoration in Parkinson's disease therapy

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the pathological aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) and neuroinflammation. Current gene therapies face challenges in nuclear delivery and resolving pre-existing α-syn aggregates. Here, we developed glucose-and trehalose-functionalized carbonized polymer dots (GT-PCDs) loaded with plasmid DNA (pDNA) for targeted gene delivery and autophagy restoration. The GT-PCDs@pDNA nanoparticles exhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive behavior, enabling efficient nuclear entry under oxidative stress conditions. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that GT-PCDs@pDNA effectively silenced SNCA gene expression, reduced α-syn aggregates, and restored autophagic flux by promoting transcription factor EB (TFEB) nuclear translocation. Moreover, GT-PCDs@pDNA enhanced blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability via glucose transporter 1 (Glut-1)-mediated transcytosis, significantly improving motor deficits and reducing neuroinflammation in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mouse model. This multifunctional nanocarrier system offers a promising strategy for combined gene therapy and autophagy modulation in neurodegenerative diseases.

A remotely controlled nanotherapeutic with immunomodulatory property for MRSA-induced bone infection

Osteomyelitis is a deep bone tissue infection caused by pathogenic microorganisms, with the primary pathogen being methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Due to the tendency of the infection site to form biofilms that shield drugs and immune cells to kill bacteria, combined with the severe local inflammatory response causing bone tissue destruction, the treatment of osteomyelitis poses a significant challenge. Herein, we developed a remotely controlled nanotherapeutic (TLBA) with immunomodulatory to treat MRSA-induced osteomyelitis. TLBA, combined with baicalin and gold nanorods, is positively charged to actively target and penetrate biofilms. Near-infrared light (808 nm) triggers spatiotemporal, controllable drug release, while bacteria are eliminated through synergistic interaction of non-antibiotic drugs and photothermal therapy, enhancing bactericidal efficiency and minimizing drug resistance. TLBA eliminated nearly 100 % of planktonic bacteria and dispersed 90 % of biofilms under NIR light stimulation. In MRSA-induced osteomyelitis rat models, laser irradiation raised the infection site temperature to 50 °C, effectively eradicating bacteria, promoting M2 macrophage transformation, inhibiting bone inflammation, curbing bone destruction, and fostering bone tissue repair. In summary, TLBA proposes a more comprehensive treatment strategy for the two characteristic pathological changes of bacterial infection and bone tissue damage in osteomyelitis.

Improved immunocompatibility of active targeting liposomes by attenuating nucleophilic attack of cyclic RGD peptides on complement 3

One of the challenges for the clinical translation of active targeting nanomedicines is the adverse interactions between targeting ligands and blood components. Herein, a novel regularity, which reveals the interactions between cyclic RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) peptide-modified liposomes and complement components in blood, is reported. As the nucleophilicity of arginine guanidine group within the cyclic RGD-like peptide increases, targeting liposomes potentiate complement cascade via the amplification loop of complement 3 (C3), ultimately leading to accelerated blood clearance, increased deposition in the reticuloendothelial system (RES) organs, enhanced immune responses, and potential side effects. By appropriately reducing the nucleophilicity of guanidine group, cyclic R2 peptide is designed for modification of liposomes to target integrin αvβ3. Compared to the widely used targeting molecule c(RGDyK), R2 eliminates the negative effects of C3 opsonization and specific antibody production, significantly improves the in vivo immunocompatibility of targeting liposomes, and demonstrates superior anti-tumor efficacy in mouse models of orthotopic breast cancer and glioma. Thus, the proposed regularity of interactions between guanidine nucleophilicity and C3, along with the successful application of the low complement activation capacity targeting ligand R2, provides new insights for addressing challenges related to complement activation in the clinical translation of active targeting nanomedicines.

Living therapeutics: Precision diagnosis and therapy with engineered bacteria

Bacteria-based therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment, offering the potential for targeted tumor delivery, immune activation, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. However, the unpredictable behavior, safety concerns, and limited efficacy of wild-type bacteria pose significant challenges to their clinical translation. Recent advancements in synthetic biology and chemical engineering have enabled the development of precisely engineered bacterial platforms with enhanced controllability, targeted delivery, and reduced toxicity. This review summarize the current progress of engineered bacteria in cancer therapy. We first introduce the theoretical underpinnings and key advantages of bacterial therapies in cancer. Subsequently, we delve into the applications of genetic engineering and chemical modification techniques to enhance their therapeutic potential. Finally, we address critical challenges and future prospects, with a focus on improving safety and efficacy. This review aims to stimulate further research and provide valuable insights into the development of engineered bacterial therapies for precision oncology.

Overcoming radiation-induced PD-L1 and COX-2 upregulation by nitric oxide gas nanogenerator to sensitize radiotherapy of lung cancer

Currently, certain lung cancer patients exhibit resistance to radiotherapy due to reduced DNA damage under hypoxic conditions and the cytoprotective and immune-resistance effect caused by increased programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression after radiotherapy. At present, existing nanoparticles or drugs could hardly effectively, and easily address these obstacles faced by highly effective radiotherapy simultaneously, especially the simultaneous depression of PD-L1 and COX-2. In this study, it is newly proved that some typical nitric oxide (NO) gas donors could co-inhibit PD-L1 and COX-2 expression, revealing the possible not fully proven role of NO in reversing tumor immunotherapy resistance. Then, to realize selective NO generation in tumors, a simple tumor glutathione (GSH) responsive NO gas nanogenerator named SAB-NO nanoparticles was designed and prepared, which was composed of the NO donor Isoamyl Nitrite conjugated with serum albumin (SAB). By doing this, SAB-NO nanoparticles more effectively sensitized radiotherapy through breaking the cytoprotective effects faced by radiotherapy in vitro by generating more DNA damage through reversing tumor hypoxia and impairing the DNA damage repair process through decreasing PD-L1 expression. Then, the combination therapy of SAB-NO nanoparticles and radiotherapy effectively transformed cold tumors into hot ones through avoiding some potential immune-resistance effects induced by radiotherapy treatment alone through PD-L1 and COX-2 co-inhibition. In conclusion, the combined treatment of radiotherapy and SAB-NO nanoparticles finally almost completely suppressed the growth of lung tumors, revealing the novel role of NO donors in sensitizing tumor immunotherapy by avoiding the potential cytoprotective and immune-resistance effects.

Gel@CAT-L hydrogel mediates mitochondrial unfolded protein response to regulate reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial homeostasis in osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the role of Gelatin-Catalase (Gel@CAT)-L hydrogel in mediating reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis through SIRT3-mediated unfolded protein response (UPRmt), while exploring its involvement in the molecular mechanism of osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Self-assembled Gel@CAT-L hydrogels were fabricated and characterized using transmission electron microscopy, mechanical testing, external release property evaluation, and oxygen production measurement. Biocompatibility was assessed via live/dead cell staining and CCK8 assays. An OA mouse model was established using destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. X-ray and micro-CT imaging were employed to evaluate the structural integrity of the mouse knee joints, while histological staining was used to assess cartilage degeneration. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the expression of proteins including Col2a1, Aggrecan, MMP13, ADAMTS5, SIRT3, PINK1, and Parkin. Multi-omics analyses-encompassing high-throughput sequencing, proteomics, and metabolomics-were conducted to identify key genes and metabolic pathways targeted by Gel@CAT-L hydrogel intervention in OA. Immunofluorescence techniques were utilized to measure ROS levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the expression of SIRT3, PINK1, Parkin, LYSO, LC3B, Col2a1, and MMP13 in primary mouse chondrocytes and mouse knee joints. Flow cytometry was applied to quantify ROS-positive cells. RT-qPCR analysis was conducted to determine mRNA levels of Aggrecan, Col2a1, ADAMTS5, MMP13, SIRT3, mtDNA, HSP60, LONP1, CLPP, and Atf5 in primary mouse chondrocytes, mouse knee joints, and human knee joints. Western blotting was performed to measure protein expression levels of SIRT3, HSP60, LONP1, CLPP, and Atf5 in both primary mouse chondrocytes and mouse knee joints. Additionally, 20 samples each from the control (CON) and OA groups were collected for analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to evaluate cartilage degeneration in human knee joints. The Mankin histological scoring system quantified the degree of cartilage degradation, while immunofluorescence analyzed SIRT3 protein expression in human knee joints.

RESULTS

In vitro experiments demonstrated that self-assembled Gel@CAT-L hydrogels exhibited excellent biodegradability and oxygen-releasing capabilities, providing a stable three-dimensional environment conducive to cell viability and proliferation while reducing ROS levels. Multi-omics analysis identified SIRT3 as a key regulatory gene in mitigating OA and revealed its central role in the UPRmt pathway. Furthermore, Gel@CAT-L was confirmed to regulate mitochondrial homeostasis. Both in vitro experiments and in vivo mouse model studies confirmed that Gel@CAT-L significantly reduced ROS levels and regulated mitochondrial autophagy by activating the SIRT3-mediated UPRmt pathway, thereby improving the pathological state of OA. Clinical trials indicated downregulation of SIRT3 and UPRmt-related proteins in OA patients.

CONCLUSION

Gel@CAT-L hydrogel activates SIRT3-mediated UPRmt to regulate ROS and mitochondrial homeostasis, providing potential therapeutic benefits for OA.

Engineered gold nanoparticles for accurate and full-scale tumor treatment via pH-dependent sequential charge-reversal and copper triggered photothermal-chemodynamic-immunotherapy

Current anti-tumor strategies majorly rely on the targeted delivery of functional nanomedicines to tumor region, neglecting the importance of effective infiltration of these nanomedicines in whole tumor tissue. This process normally causes the quick endocytosis by the tumor cells at surface layer of tumor tissue, resulting in the restriction of the penetration of these nanomedicines and limited therapeutic region, which would not be able to treat the entire tumor tissue. Herein, we prepared a series of engineered gold nanoparticles (Au-MBP NPs) with step-wise charge reversal in different acid environments that could entirely infiltrate into the whole tumor tissue and then perform tumor-specific photothermal-chemodynamic-immunotherapy to achieve the complete and accurate tumor treatment. These Au-MBP NPs consisted of AuNPs, thiol modified piperidine (SH-PD, charge reversal group), thiol modified benzoyl thiourea (SH-BTU, copper chelator) and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) with different proportions. Once these Au-MBP NPs arrived tumor tissue, the decreasing pH values from shallow to deep region of tumor tissue separately induced the charge reversal of these nanoparticles from negative to positive, allowing them to bind with negatively charged tumor cells at designed area to occupy the whole tumor for further therapy. Following with the internalization by tumor cells, these Au-MBP NPs would selectively capture the excessive Cu2+ to decrease the available copper in tumor cells, resulting in the inhibition of tumor metastasis via the copper metabolism blockade. On one hand, the captured Cu2+ also induced the aggregation of Au-MBP NPs, which in situ generated the photothermal agents in tumor cells for tumor-specific photothermal therapy (PTT). On the other hand, the chelated Cu2+ ions were reduced to Cu+, which catalyzed the high concentration of intracellular H2O2 to produce cytotoxic hydroxyl radical (•OH), exerting tumor-specific chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Furthermore, the immune-associated tumor antigens were also generated during PTT and CDT processes via immunogenic cell death (ICD), which further matured the dendritic cells (DCs) and then activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to turn on the immunotherapy, resulting in additional anti-tumor and anti-metastasis effects. Both in vitro and in vivo results indicated that these Au-MBP NPs possessed enormous potential for effectively suppressing primary and metastatic tumors.

A heterojunction-engineering nanodrug with tumor microenvironment responsiveness for tumor-specific cuproptosis and chemotherapy amplified sono-immunotherapy

Cuproptosis has recently identified as a unique copper-dependent cell death mechanism that may provide new opportunities for improving the therapeutic effect of tumor therapy through triggering efficient adaptive immune responses. However, the poor delivery efficiency and non-tumor-specific release of Cu ions would restrict the potential clinical applications of cuproptosis inducers. Herein, we report for the first time the development of hollow Cu2-xSe nanocubes as the tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive drug delivery systems and cuproptosis inducers for tumor-specific chemotherapy and cuproptosis. The presence of Cu vacancy endows Cu2-xSe with excellent sonodynamic and chemodynamic activity. The hollow Cu2-xSe nanocubes with TME-responsive degradation behaviors are further utilized to load graphene quantum dot (GQD) nanodrugs to form GQD/Cu2-xSe heterojunctions for achieving tumor-specific chemotherapy. The heterojunction-fabrication GQD/Cu2-xSe exhibits amplified ROS generation capabilities and improved TME regulation ability owing to the optimized electron-hole separation kinetics. More importantly, the significant increase in ROS levels and efficient cuproptosis could reverse the immunosuppressive TME and induce immunogenic cell death that stimulates strong systemic immune responses to eliminate tumors. Collectively, this work presents an innovative strategy for the utilization of TME-responsive cuproptosis inducers for tumor-specific chemotherapy and cuproptosis augmented sono-immunotherapy.

Glucose-triggered NO-evolving coating bestows orthopedic implants with enhanced anti-bacteria and angiectasis for safeguarding diabetic osseointegration

As a common chronic metabolic disease, diabetes mellitus (DM) features a hyperglycemic micromilieu around implants, resulting in the critical implantation failure and high complications such as peri-implantitis and angiectasis disorder. To address the plaguing issue, we devise and develop a glucose-unlocked NO-evolving orthopedic implant consisted of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), glucose oxidase (GOx) and l-arginine (Arg) with enhanced angiogenesis for boosting diabetic osseointegration. Upon hyperglycemic niche, GOx on implants catalytically exhaust glucose to H2O2, which immediately reacts with Arg to in situ liberate nitric oxide (NO), resulting in enhanced angiogenesis and angiectasis around PEEK implant. Besides, the engineered implant exhibits great anti-bacterial properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fortifies osteogenicity of osteoblasts in terms of cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium matrix mineralization. Intriguingly, in vivo evaluations utilizing diabetic infectious bone defect models of rat further authenticate that the engineered implants substantially augment bone remodeling and osseointegration at weeks 4 and 8 through dampening pathogens, anti-inflammatory as well as promoting angiectasis. Altogether, this work proposed a new tactic to remedy stalled diabetic osseointegration with hyperglycemic micromilieu-responsive therapeutic gas-evolving orthopedic implants.

An "all-in-one" therapeutic platform for programmed antibiosis, immunoregulation and neuroangiogenesis to accelerate diabetic wound healing

Pathological microenvironment of diabetes induces a high risk of bacterial invasion, aggressive inflammatory response, and hindered neuroangiogenesis, leading to retarded ulcer healing. To address this, an "all-in-one" therapeutic platform, named MZZ, was constructed by loading maltodextrin onto a MOF-on-MOF structure (with ZIF-67 as the core and ZIF-8 as the shell) through a hybrid process of solvent treatment and electrostatic adsorption. Maltodextrin acts as a target to bind surrounding bacteria, and ZIF-8 as well as ZIF-67 responsively release Zn and Co ions, which not only kill most bacteria, but also improve the phagocytosis and xenophagy of M1 macrophages by up-regulating the expression levels of ATG5, Bcl1 and FLT4, helping the residual bacterial clearance. In inflammatory stage, MZZ scavenges extracellular and intracellular ROS by valence transition between Co2+ and Co3+, and promote M1 macrophages to transform into M2 phenotype. In tissue reconstruction stage, the synergistic effect of Zn and Co ions as well as cytokines secreted by macrophages up-regulates cell vitality and biofunctions of endotheliocytes, neurocytes and fibroblasts. The programmed effects of MZZ on antibiosis, anti-inflammatory and neuroangiogenesis to accelerate wound repair are further confirmed in an infected diabetic model, and this "all-in-one" platform shows great clinical application potential.

Engineering adeno-associated viral vectors for CRISPR/Cas based in vivo therapeutic genome editing

The recent approval of the first gene editing therapy for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demonstrates the immense potential of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technologies to treat patients with genetic disorders that were previously considered incurable. While significant advancements have been made with ex vivo gene editing approaches, the development of in vivo CRISPR/Cas gene editing therapies has not progressed as rapidly due to significant challenges in achieving highly efficient and specific in vivo delivery. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors have shown great promise in clinical trials as vehicles for delivering therapeutic transgenes and other cargos but currently face multiple limitations for effective delivery of gene editing machineries. This review elucidates these challenges and highlights the latest engineering strategies aimed at improving the efficiency, specificity, and safety profiles of AAV-packaged CRISPR/Cas systems (AAV-CRISPR) to enhance their clinical utility.

Strategies to enhance the penetration of nanomedicine in solid tumors

Nanomedicine was previously regarded as a promising solution in the battle against cancer. Over the past few decades, extensive research has been conducted to exploit nanomedicine for overcoming tumors. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, nanomedicine has not yet demonstrated its ability to cure tumors, and the research on nanomedicine has reached a bottleneck. For a significant period of time, drug delivery strategies have primarily focused on targeting nanomedicine delivery to tumors while neglecting its redistribution within solid tumors. The uneven distribution of nanomedicine within solid tumors results in limited therapeutic effects on most tumor cells and significantly hampers the efficiency of drug delivery and treatment outcomes. Therefore, this review discusses the challenges faced by nanomedicine in penetrating solid tumors and provides an overview of current nanotechnology strategies (alleviating penetration resistance, size regulation, tumor cell transport, and nanomotors) that facilitate enhanced penetration of nanomedicine into solid tumors. Additionally, we discussed the potential role of nanobionics in promoting effective penetration of nanomedicine.

Engineered extracellular vesicles with surface FGF21 and enclosed miR-223 for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a progressive liver disorder with a complex pathogenesis that requires combination therapies rather than monotherapies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) exhibit inherently efficient delivery to the liver and can be engineered to carry various therapeutic substances, making them promising agents. In this study, EVs were engineered to display fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) on their surface and encapsulate miR-223 (223/F-EVs), aiming to improve steatosis and alleviate inflammation and fibrosis, respectively. Introducing the 223/F-EVs into human liver cell lines significantly reduced both basal and induced levels of lipid storage, inflammation, and fibrosis markers. Furthermore, using an FGF21-blocking antibody or miR-223 inhibitor effectively diminished the efficacy of the 223/F-EVs, confirming the essential roles of FGF21 and miR-223 in these processes. In a Choline-Deficient, l-Amino acid-defined, High-Fat Diet (CDAHFD)-fed mouse model, intravenously administered 223/F-EVs demonstrated liver-preferential delivery and a marked reduction in the MASH phenotype without compromising bone density, unlike conventional FGF21 treatment. Collectively, 223/F-EVs convey FGF21 and miR-223 exclusively to the liver, offering strategic advantages by mitigating MASH progression via multiple pathways. This study lays a solid foundation for further investigation of engineered EVs as a transformative therapeutic approach for treating MASH.

Advances in the application of smart materials in the treatment of ophthalmic diseases

Smart materials dynamically sense and respond to physiological signals like reactive oxygen species (ROS), pH, and light, surpassing traditional materials such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), which have high drug loss rates and limited spatiotemporal control. These innovative materials offer new strategies for ophthalmic treatments, with core advantages including targeted delivery via ROS-sensitive nanocarriers, precise regulation through microvalves, and multifunctional integration, such as glucose-responsive contact lenses that create a "sensing-treatment" loop. However, challenges remain, like pathological microenvironment interference with material response specificity, and the need to address long-term biocompatibility and energy dependence issues. This article systematically examines three key treatment barriers: the blood-ocular barrier, immune rejection, and physiological fluctuations, while reviewing innovative smart material design strategies. Future research should focus on biomimetic interface engineering, for example, cornea mimicking nanostructures, AI-driven dynamic optimization like causal network-regulated drug release, and multidisciplinary approaches combining gene editing with smart materials. These efforts aim to shift from structural replacement to physiological function simulation, enabling precise treatment of ophthalmic diseases. Clinical translation must balance innovation with safety, prioritizing clinical value to ensure reliable, widespread application of smart materials in ophthalmology.

Development of an innovative extracellular vesicle mimetic delivery platform for efficient miRNA delivery to tumours

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) display high degree of tissue tropism and therefore represent promising carriers for tissue-specific delivery of genes or drugs for the treatment of human diseases. However, current approaches for the loading of therapeutics into EVs have low entrapment efficiency and also do not adequately deplete endogenous EV content; thus, more effective approaches are needed. Here, we report an innovative EXtraCElluar vesicle surface Ligand-NanoParticles (EXCEL NPs), generated by transferring moieties of EVs onto the surface of synthetic nanoparticles. EXCEL NPs facilitate the efficient entrapment of therapeutics (89 % efficiency) and are completely devoid of pre-existing unwanted EV internal content. Importantly, we show that EXCEL NPs formulated using EVs derived from endothelial cells, astrocytes and macrophages retain the delivery characteristics of the original EVs. Using miRNA-146a as a model anti-cancer therapeutic, we further demonstrated successful delivery of miRNA-146a to IG10 orthotopic ovarian tumours in immune competent mice using EXCEL NPs formulated with macrophage-derived EVs. Our findings establish a new clinically translatable approach to leverage characteristics of endogenous EVs for therapeutic delivery. The versatility of the platform enables future application to different target cell types and therapeutic modalities.

Dual-miRNA guided in-vivo imaging and multimodal nanomedicine approaches for precise hepatocellular carcinoma differentiation and synergistic cancer theranostics using DNA hairpins and dual-ligand functionalized zirconium-MOF nanohybrids

As one of the most common and heterogeneous liver malignancies, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a significant clinical challenge due to the lack of biomarkers for early diagnosis, challenges in accurate subtyping, and limitations of current therapeutic strategies with poor efficacy. Herein, based on DNA hairpin probes and dual-ligand zirconium (Zr)-based metal-organic frameworks (DMOFs), the multifunctional nanohybrids (DMOF@MnCO@CuS@Hairpin probe, DMCH) were developed to overcome these diagnostic and therapeutic obstacles. Two improved DNA molecular beacons and APE1 enzyme within HCC cells were utilized for sensitive miRNA imaging in vivo with high accuracy to differentiate HCC subtypes precisely. Furthermore, this "all-in-one" theranostic platform not only facilitates the generation of active oxygen species and conversion of near-infrared light into heat, but also releases carbon monoxide to inhibit the expression of HSP70 protein to improve photothermal (PTT) therapy efficiency during laser radiation, which enables PTT, photodynamic (PDT), chemodynamic (CDT), and gas therapy (GAT) for HCC treatment simultaneously. The developed nano-theranostics platform provides a novel way for efficient early screening, diagnosis, and intervention of HCC, and paves the path for future "bench-to-bedside" design of theranostics.

Time-resolved T1 and T2 contrast for enhanced accuracy in MRI tumor detection

Stimuli-responsive contrast agents (CAs) have shown great promise in enhancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for more accurate tumor diagnosis. However, current CAs still face challenges in achieving high accuracy due to their low specificity and contrast signals being confounded by potential endogenous MRI artifacts. Herein, an extremely small iron oxide nanoparticle (ESIONP)-based smart responsive MRI contrast agent (LESPH) is proposed, which is meticulously designed with sequential dual biochemical stimuli-initiated, time-resolved T1 and T2 contrast presentation, ensuring high tumor specificity while minimizing interference from endogenous artifacts. LESPH is constructed using emulsion solvent evaporation by assembling poly(2-(hexamethyleneimino) ethyl methacrylate) terminally conjugated with a disulfide bond-linked catechol group (DSPH)-modified ESIONPs, with lauryl betaine serving as a surfactant. When LESPH undergoes sequential responses to the weak acidity and high-concentration glutathione (GSH) in the tumor microenvironment, it experiences an extremely rapid transition from sparse ESIONP assemblies to dispersed ESIONPs, followed by a slower transition to closely aggregated ones, concomitantly providing distinguishable brightening and darkening contrast enhancement at the tumor location on different time scales. By virtue of its sequential dual responsiveness and time-resolved distinguishable contrast enhancements, LESPH successfully detects tumors with extremely high accuracy, providing a novel paradigm for the precise medical diagnosis of cancer.

Immunomodulatory bioadhesive technologies

Bioadhesives have found significant use in medicine and engineering, particularly for wound care, tissue engineering, and surgical applications. Compared to traditional wound closure methods such as sutures and staples, bioadhesives offer advantages, including reduced tissue damage, enhanced healing, and ease of implementation. Recent progress highlights the synergy of bioadhesives and immunoengineering strategies, leading to immunomodulatory bioadhesives capable of modulating immune responses at local sites where bioadhesives are applied. They foster favorable therapeutic outcomes such as reduced inflammation in wounds and implants or enhanced local immune responses to improve cancer therapy efficacy. The dual functionalities of bioadhesion and immunomodulation benefit wound management, tissue regeneration, implantable medical devices, and post-surgical cancer management. This review delves into the interplay between bioadhesion and immunomodulation, highlighting the mechanobiological coupling involved. Key areas of focus include the modulation of immune responses through chemical and physical strategies, as well as the application of these bioadhesives in wound healing and cancer treatment. Discussed are remaining challenges such as achieving long-term stability and effectiveness, necessitating further research to fully harness the clinical potential of immunomodulatory bioadhesives.

Nanomaterial technologies for precision diagnosis and treatment of brain hemorrhage

Brain hemorrhage events present complex clinical challenges due to their rapid progression and the intricate interplay of oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuronal damage. Traditional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches often struggle to meet the demands for timely and effective intervention. This review explores the cutting-edge role of nanomaterials in transforming cerebral hemorrhage management, focusing on both diagnostic and therapeutic advancements. Nanomaterial-enabled imaging techniques, such as optical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic particle imaging, significantly enhance the accuracy of hemorrhage detection by providing real-time, high-resolution assessments of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, cerebral perfusion, and hemorrhage progression, which is critical for guiding intervention strategies. On the therapeutic front, nanomaterial-based systems enable the precise delivery of drugs and bioactive molecules, fostering neural repair and functional recovery while minimizing systemic side effects. Furthermore, multifunctional nanomaterials not only address the primary injury but also offer precise control over secondary injuries, such as edema and oxidative stress. Their ability to enhance neuroprotection, prevent re-bleeding, and stimulate brain tissue regeneration provides a holistic approach and marks a significant advancement in brain hemorrhage therapy. As the field continues to advance, nanotechnology is set to fundamentally reshape the clinical management and long-term outcomes of brain hemorrhages, presenting a paradigm shift towards personalized and highly effective neurological care.

Aminated fullerene for comprehensive dry eye therapy: Promoting epithelial-barrier reconstruction and nerve regeneration by suppressing oxidation and inflammation

Dry eye disease (DED) affects up to 50 % of the global population, leading to serious discomforts that affect patients' quality of life. In the multifactorial etiology of DED, oxidative stress is at the core, initiating a sequence of inflammatory responses and surface damage via a vicious cycle. However, current therapies merely have a narrow focus on inflammation. In this study, we developed a novel antioxidative eye drop, ethylenediamine (EDA)-modified C70 fullerene derivatives (abbreviated as FN-EDA), to break this vicious cycle. FN-EDA was successfully synthesized by modifying C70 fullerene with multiple ethylenediamine (EDA) groups, resulting in enhanced water solubility and a positive charge. This modification significantly improved ocular surface retention time, cellular uptake, and lysosomal escape in vitro. Therapeutically, FN-EDA significantly alleviated dry eye disease (DED) in a mouse model. It reduced corneal epithelial damage by 3.8-fold compared to 0.05 % cyclosporine A (CsA) and restored tear secretion to approximately 65 % of the normal level. Mechanistically, both in vivo and in vitro results demonstrate that FN-EDA is endowed with superior biological activity in effectively scavenging excessive oxidative stress, down-regulating proinflammatory cytokines expression, and promoting epithelial barrier reconstruction, even recovering corneal innervation. Thus, our findings open an avenue to make this multi-functional eye drop a promising candidate for DED.

Metal-free antioxidant nanozyme incorporating bioactive hydrogel as an antioxidant scaffold for accelerating bone reconstruction

Oxidative stress at bone defect sites mediates inflammation and even osteoblast apoptosis, severely hindering the repair process. While current antioxidant bone tissue engineering (BTE) scaffolds lack broad-spectrum reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capability and structure-activity elucidation. Herein, we report a three-dimensional nitrogen-doped carbon antioxidant nanozyme (ZIFC) derived from metal-organic frameworks, which exhibits cascading superoxide dismutase- and catalase-like activities, along with the ability to scavenge other harmful free radicals. Through the experimental studies and theoretical calculations, we reveal that the catalase-like activity arises from the synergistic catalytic interaction between graphitized pyridinic nitrogen and its adjacent carbon atom. Moreover, hybrid double network hydrogel integrated with ZIFC is utilized to construct composite scaffold (Gel/ZIFC) by 3D printing. In vivo transcriptome analysis confirms that Gel/ZIFC can rapidly activate antioxidant defense system and suppress local inflammation under oxidative stress microenvironment, thereby protecting cells from oxidative damage. Subsequently, owing to the unique osteoinductive property of carbon nanomaterials and the osteoconductive property of 3D-printed scaffold, Gel/ZIFC composite scaffold exhibits desirable bone repair efficacy. The elucidation of structure-activity relationship and therapeutic mechanism provides new insights and guidance for devising antioxidant BTE scaffolds, and demonstrates their feasibility for clinical application.

A PEG-based strategy to improve detection of clinical microRNA 155 by bio-Field Effect Transistor in high ionic strength environment

microRNAs are small oligonucleotides involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation whose alteration is found in several diseases, including cancer, and therefore their detection is crucial for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment purposes. Field-Effect Transistor-based biosensors (bioFETs) represent a promising technology for the clinical detection of microRNAs. However, one of the main challenges associated with this technology is the Debye screening, becoming significant at the high ionic strengths required for effective hybridization. We aimed at detecting oncogenic microRNA-155 by using a bioFET system using as capture element a complementary RNA probe (antimiR-155) combined with the introduction of PEG molecules (20 kDa, PEG20), at an ionic strength of 300 mM. We optimized the co-immobilization ratio between antimiR-155 and PEG20 and assessed its impact on the interactions between the oligonucleotides. The kinetics can be well described by the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm with an affinity constant within the range typical of nucleic acid interactions. The introduction of PEG20 significantly enhanced the detection sensitivity of miR-155 by reaching a level of less than 200 pM, together with excellent discrimination against other clinically relevant microRNAs. Our findings demonstrate that the incorporation of PEG20 constitutes an effective strategy to mitigate the Debye screening effects and facilitates bioFET-based clinical applications at physiological ionic strengths.

A robust metal-organic framework-based nanozyme with multienzyme-like properties for synergistic tumor therapy via efficient and sustainable Nitric oxide generation

Nitric oxide (NO)-based gas therapy represents an emerging strategy for cancer treatment, which, however, still suffers from insufficient intracellular NO production for compromised therapeutic efficiency due to limited endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration and relatively slow NO generation rate. The use of metal-organic framework (MOF) with highly ordered porous structure and functional adjustability to design a multienzyme-like nanozyme provides a simple yet reliable approach for efficient and sustainable NO generation. Herein, a MOF-based nanozyme with multienzyme-like properties is constructed by depositing ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and subsequently loading a NO donor, l-arginine (l-Arg) on an iron porphyrin integrated MOF, which enables efficient and sustainable NO generation for synergistic tumor therapy. Two notable merits of this design are (i) incorporation of Au NPs with glucose oxidase (GOx)-like property for effectively depleting intratumoral glucose, and simultaneously generating large amounts of H2O2, which is further utilized to initiate the effective production of NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS) by taking advantage of the peroxidase (POD)/NO synthase (NOS)-like activities of iron porphyrin, and (ii) deposition of ultrasmall Au NPs on the MOF for remarkably improving the structural stability of nanocomposites to circumvent the low catalytic efficiency associated with serious aggregation. This nanozyme achieves a high tumor inhibitory rate of 87.3 % with negligible systemic effects in a 4T1-tumor-bearing mice model by integrating NO, and ROS generation and starvation therapy with synergistic efficiency. Such an ingenious integration of multienzyme-like nanozyme and MOF paves a new way for NO-based gas therapy.

Acid and phosphatase-triggered release and trapping of a prodrug on cancer cell enhance its chemotherapy

Using anticancer drug-encapsulated nanocarriers to actively target tumors is a promising chemotherapy strategy. Nevertheless, premature release of the drugs in tumor microenvironment (TME) or low tumor targeting efficiency of the nanocarriers significantly reduces its therapeutic efficiency. Herein, we propose a release-and-trapping strategy that significantly enhances the chemotherapeutic efficiency of an anticancer drug camptothecin. TME acid triggers the release of its prodrug from the nanocarrier and thereafter phosphatase instructs the prodrug to form hydrogel to trap the nanocarrier on cancer cell membrane. As trapped nanocarrier facilitates cell uptake of the prodrug and its intracellular carboxylesterase-mediated hydrolysis to release camptothecin. In vitro studies showed that the prodrug release from nanocarrier was maximized at pH 6.5. In tumor-bearing mice, our release-and-trapping strategy significantly prolonged the retention of the nanocarrier in tumor and significantly enhanced the anticancer efficacy of camptothecin. We propose that our release-and-trapping strategy be applied for more efficient cancer treatment in the future.

Advances in total antioxidant capacity detection based on nanozyme

Nanozymes, a class of nanomaterials mimicking natural enzymatic functions, have gained significant attention due to their exceptional biocatalytic properties and wide-ranging applications in biosensing. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) can serve as a crucial parameter for assessing food quality, guiding dietary choices, and monitoring health conditions. In recent years, various nanomaterials with peroxidase (POD)-like and oxidase (OXD)-like activity have been widely used for TAC determination. This review discusses the enzyme-mimicking catalytic activities of nanozymes related to TAC determination, the construction principles of nanozyme-based TAC sensors and systematically classifies the application of nanozyme sensors in TAC determination. Furthermore, the potential opportunities and challenges in the development of nanozyme-based sensors are evaluated, aiming to provide valuable insights for researchers in related fields.

Development of an electroconductive Heart-on-a-chip model to investigate cellular and molecular response of human cardiac tissue to gold nanomaterials

To date, various strategies have been developed to construct biomimetic and functional in vitro cardiac tissue models utilizing human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Among these approaches, microfluidic-based Heart-on-a-chip (HOC) models are promising, as they enable the engineering of miniaturized, physiologically relevant in vitro cardiac tissues with precise control over cellular constituents and tissue architecture. Despite significant advancements, previously reported HOC models often lack the electroconductivity features of the native human myocardium. In this study, we developed a 3D electroconductive HOC (referred to as eHOC) model through the co-culture of isogenic hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiCMs) and cardiac fibroblasts (hiCFs), embedded within an electroconductive hydrogel scaffold in a microfluidic-based chip system. Functional and gene expression analyses demonstrated that, compared to non-conductive HOC, the eHOC model exhibited enhanced contractile functionality, improved calcium transients, and increased expression of structural and calcium handling genes. The eHOC model was further leveraged to investigate the underlying electroconduction-induced pathway(s) associated with cardiac tissue development through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Notably, scRNA-seq analyses revealed a significant downregulation of a set of cardiac genes, associated with the fetal stage of heart development, as well as upregulation of sarcomere- and conduction-related genes within the eHOC model. Additionally, upregulation of the cardiac muscle contraction and motor protein pathways were observed in the eHOC model, consistent with enhanced contractile functionality of the engineered cardiac tissues. Comparison of scRNA-seq data from the 3D eHOC model with published datasets of adult human hearts demonstrated a similar expression pattern of fetal- and adult-like cardiac genes. Overall, this study provides a unique eHOC model with improved biomimcry and organotypic features, which could be potentially used for drug testing and discovery, as well as disease modeling applications.

A cancer theranostic nanoplatform for second near-infrared fluorescence imaging-guided carbon monoxide-sensitized mild photothermal therapy with ICD induction

Mild-temperature photothermal therapy (mild PTT), utilizing photothermal agents to convert external light into mild heat (<45 °C), holds significant potential as a localized treatment modality to induce cellular thermal damage. This therapeutic strategy not only directly eliminates targeted cells but also induces immunogenic cell death (ICD), activating the immune response. However, the presence of heat shock proteins (HSPs) can significantly reduce the effectiveness of photothermal therapy. Therefore, it is crucial to inhibit HSP repair and minimize damage to surrounding normal cells in order to enhance the efficiency of low-temperature PTT. Additionally, carbon monoxide (CO) has been shown to suppress the upregulation of HSPs in cancer cells under heat treatment. Furthermore, the utilization of second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence particles can improve the precision and suitability of PTT due to their increased penetration depth and novel imaging capabilities. In this study, we developed a NIR-light-activated CO release system using CO-loaded mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (CO-MON) for enhancing the effectiveness of mild PTT by suppressing HSPs repair through selectively targeted CO delivery. Triiron dodecacarbonyl (Fe3(CO)12), as the source of CO was employed for encapsulation within the pores of the MON. These MON showed emission in the NIR-II range, while also displaying remarkable photostability and a high efficiency in photothermal conversion (34.7 %). Through intratumoral administration, the CO-MON platform demonstrated efficient tumor accumulation and localized photothermal efficacy in vivo. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that this exceptional photothermal effect not only effectively eliminated tumor but also augmented tumor ICD.

Structure modification of P2-Na0.67Ni0.15Fe0.2Mn0.65O2 cathode by incorporation of cerium for high-performance sodium-ion batteries

The P2-type transition metal oxides hold promise for the cathode of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, the prevailing irreversible phase transition and Jahn-Teller effects of this kind of metal oxides lead to low capacity and poor cycling stability of SIBs. To address these challenges, in this study, the rare-earth metal element cerium (Ce) is successfully introduced into P2-Na0.67Ni0.15Fe0.2Mn0.65O2 (NFM), achieving a synergistic bulk doping and surface modification for NFM. Upon incorporating larger Ce3+ into the lattice, the interlayer spacing of P2- NFM is increased, facilitating the diffusion of Na+. The substitution of Ce for Mn sites suppresses the Jahn-Teller effect caused by Mn3+ in P2-NFM. The concurrently formed CeO2 on the surface effectively inhibits the corrosion and degradation of P2-NFM by the electrolyte. Benefitting from the dual-modification, P2-Na0.67Ni0.15Fe0.2Mn0.61Ce0.04O2 (NFMC-0.04) exhibits an increased discharge capacity of 171.6 mAh g-1 at 0.1C as compared to that of NFM (142.9 mAh g-1), and a higher capacity retention of 57.40 % after 200 cycles than that of NFM (37.97 %). Impressively, it can deliver a capacity retention of 58.41 % after 250 cycles at 1C, while the discharge capacity of un-modified NFM is close to zero. In-situ XRD analysis reveals that the successful doping of Ce into the bulk phase of NFM suppresses the structural distortion of NFM from P2 to OP4 phase. Density Functional Theory calculations disclose that the substitution of Mn sites by Ce elements is energetically most favorable in NFM. Ce doping not only improves the electronic conductivity of NFM by enhancing the degree of electron localization, but also suppresses the Jahn-Teller effect by modulating the electronic structure of Mn. This study provides a new approach for engineering of layered transition metal oxides toward the high-performance cathode of SIBs.

Manganese-based virus-mimicking nanomedicine with triple immunomodulatory functions inhibits breast cancer brain metastasis

Hindered by the challenges of blood-brain barrier (BBB) hindrance, tumor heterogeneity and immunosuppressive microenvironment, patients with breast cancer brain metastasis have yet to benefit from current clinical treatments, experiencing instead a decline in quality of life due to radiochemotherapy. While virus-mimicking nanosystems (VMN) mimicking viral infection processes show promise in treating peripheral tumors, the inability to modulate the immunosuppressive microenvironment limits the efficacy against brain metastasis. Accordingly, a VMN-based triple immunomodulatory strategy is initially proposed, aiming to activate innate and adaptive immune responses and reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Here, manganese-based virus-mimicking nanomedicine (Vir-HD@HM) with intratumoral drug enrichment is engineered. Vir-HD@HM can induce the immune response through the activation of cGAS-STING by mimicking the in vivo infection process of herpesviruses. Meanwhile, DNAzyme mimicking the genome can rescue the epigenetic silencing of PTEN with the assistance of Mn2+, thus ameliorating the immunosuppressive metastatic microenvironment and achieving synergistic sensitizing therapeutic efficacy. In vivo experiments substantiate the efficacy of Vir-HD@HM in recruiting NK cells and CD8+ T cells to metastatic foci, inhibiting Treg cells infiltration, and prolonging murine survival without adjunctive radiochemotherapy. This study demonstrates that Vir-HD@HM with triple immunomodulation offers an encouraging therapeutic option for patients with brain metastasis.

Silicified-montmorillonite assisted in-situ construction of LiF-rich phase for enhanced interfacial stability in solid-state lithium batteries

The interfacial failure of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with Li anode, particularly those containing succinonitrile (SN) types, has significantly hindered the practical development of solid-state lithium-metal batteries. Herein, we introduce silicified montmorillonite (SiO2-MMT) into polyethylene oxide (PEO)/SN-based SPEs to facilitate the in-situ formation of a LiF-rich phase, thereby significantly enhancing the electrolyte/Li anode interface stability. Specifically, the SiO2-MMT strongly anchors the SN molecules, preventing their migration to the Li anode side. Meanwhile, the TFSI- reacts competitively with Li to generate a dense LiF phase, further blocking the SN chemical corrosion of Li metal. Furthermore, the SiO2-MMT greatly accelerates the Li+ transportability and enhances the thermal stability and mechanical strength of the composite electrolyte. Consequently, the composite electrolyte has a high ionic conductivity of 1.2 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 30 °C, which almost twice as higher as the counterpart. As for the solid-state battery, the LiFePO4||Li cell demonstrates remarkable cycling stability, achieving a high discharge capacity of 141.7 mA h g-1 with a remarkable capacity retention of 90.2 % after 350 cycles at 0.5C. Additionally, the high electrochemical window (4.6 V) ensures compatibility with high-voltage cathode materials. The NCM83||Li cell demonstrates a satisfactory initial discharge capacity and excellent capacity retention of 179.2 mA h g-1 and 81.8 % at 0.2 C after 100 cycles. This work offers a new insight for achieving a highly stable electrolyte/Li anode interface in SN-containing SPEs, facilitating the practical application of solid-state lithium metal batteries with enhanced safety and lifespan.

Kidney-targeting DNA tetrahedral molecular cage synergistically inhibits acute kidney injury by clearing ROS and activating HO-1

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major cause of mortality in hospitalized patients, yet effective therapeutic interventions remain underdeveloped. To address this critical need, we have employed tetrahedral framework nucleic acid (tFNA) as a carrier to self-assemble a complex incorporating G-quadruplex and hemin (G4/Hemin). This novel formulation exhibits uniform particle size, targeted delivery, and significant therapeutic efficacy for AKI. In a chemotherapy-induced AKI model, G4/Hemin-tFNA preferentially accumulated in the renal tubules, significantly mitigating drug-induced renal tubular injury. In healthy mice, G4/Hemin-tFNA was rapidly cleared from circulation due to efficient renal filtration. Safety evaluations conducted over a continuous 30-day period indicated minimal side effects associated with G4/Hemin-tFNA administration. Mechanistic studies elucidated three primary molecular mechanisms through which G4/Hemin-tFNA exerts its therapeutic effects in AKI: 1) Enhanced Renal Targeting. G4/Hemin-tFNA facilitates effective renal targeting and protection during blood circulation, leading to significant accumulation of drug within the kidneys. 2) Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Clearance. The complex exhibits peroxidase-like activity, enabling the rapid clearance of ROS at the site of AKI lesions, thereby inhibiting the oxidative stress progression. 3) Activation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). G4/Hemin-tFNA selectively activates HO-1, enhancing the concentration of anti-inflammatory factors at inflamed sites and promoting an anti-inflammatory microenvironment. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that G4/Hemin-tFNA is a safe and effective therapeutic agent for AKI. By activating HO-1 and clearing ROS, G4/Hemin-tFNA inhibits disease progression, offering a promising approach for the development of future AKI therapies.

Single-atom catalysts confined in shell layer achieved by a modified top-down strategy for efficient CO2 reduction

High-temperature pyrolysis is a primary method for synthesizing single-atom catalysts (SACs). However, this method accelerates the migration of metal atoms within the solid support, leading to low atom utilization. Herein, we report a novel top-down synthesis strategy wherein surface-sintered nickel sulfide (NiS2) nanoparticles (NPs) are in situ atomized into single atoms, achieving confinement of the single-atom catalyst within the shell layer and synthesizing a high-performance single-atom catalyst. Systematic investigations indicate that driven by strong interactions between metal atoms and the support, the NiS2 NPs on the surface of the support atomize into single Ni atoms, which are predominantly distributed on the support surface, thus enhancing the accessibility of the active sites. Furthermore, theoretical calculations indicate that introducing S atoms into the second coordination shell around Ni atoms significantly reduces the activation energy of the CO2 reduction reaction, thereby enhancing the catalytic performance of the single-atom catalyst. In the flow cell, the Ni single-atom catalyst achieving nearly 100% Faradaic efficiency for CO (FECO) over a wide potential range of -0.5 to -1.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE). At -1.6 V vs. RHE, the partial current density for CO reaches a maximum of 709 mA cm-2 (turnover frequency of 28.67 s-1) with a FECO of 95.9%.

Molecular fluorination towards deep eutectic amide-based electrolyte for stable high voltage lithium-metal batteries

Currently, non-flammable deep eutectic electrolytes (DEEs), typically based on N-methylacetamide (NMAC), have been deemed as high-quality electrolytes employed in lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). However, the unstable interphase chemistry derived from high reactivity of amide groups towards aggressive electrodes (Li and NCM cathode) and tight Li+-amide coordination still exists as the unavoidable "sore point" for DEEs innovation as yet. Herein, inspired by fluorinated solvent strategy, N-Methyl-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide (FNMAC), is proposed to design the FNMAC-based DEE (F-DEE-1:n, n = 2 ∼ 8) solely containing lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salt. Introducing electron-withdrawing -CF3 group is conducive to realizing excellent oxidation resistance as well as stable interphase chemistry, which impairs Li+-amide strong coordination bringing forth anion-rich solvation sheath and robust solid electrolyte interface (SEI) with high inorganic content, together with promoting the fast desolvation of Li+. Consequently, the F-DEE-1:4 endows NCM622||Li cells with excellent rate capability and outstanding long lifespan along with high capacity retention of ∼91.3 % after cycling 420 times, much superior to those using NMAC-based DEE (N-DEE-1:4). This work is instructive for high-quality DEEs innovation and emphasizes the close correlation between Li+ coordination environment and stable interphase chemistry within LMBs.

Autologous tumoral esterase-driven therapeutic polymers sequentially orchestrated antigen-induction, STING activation and anti-angiogenesis for systemic cancer immune therapy

Effective cancer immune therapy requires the orchestration of antigen induction, presentation and T-cell activation, further enhanced by anti-angiogenesis treatment; therefore, multiple therapeutics are generally used for such combination therapy. Herein, we report esterase-hydrolysable cationic polymers, N-[3-((4-acetoxy benzyl) oxy)-3-oxopropyl]-N-methyl-quaternized PEI (ERP) and poly{N-[2-(acryloyl-oxy) ethyl]-N-[p-acetyloxyphenyl]-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride} (PQDMA), capable of simultaneously inducing tumor cell immunogenic cell death (ICD) to release antigens, activating the cGAS-STING pathways of tumor macrophages and dendritic cells, and releasing antiangiogenic agent p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA). Thus, intratumoral injection of ERP or PQDMA systemically boosted the anti-cancer immunities and inhibited tumor angiogenesis in mouse hepatocellular carcinoma and melanoma bilateral tumor models, leading to more effective tumor growth inhibition of both treated and abscopal untreated tumors than ICD alone induced by mitoxantrone and control cationic polymers. Further study using gene knockout mice and transcriptome sequencing analysis confirmed the involvement of cGAS-STING and type I IFN signaling pathways. This work demonstrates ERP and PQDMA as the first examples of inherent therapeutic polymers, accomplishing systemic tumor inhibition without combining other therapeutic agents.

Engineering multifunctional high-entropy oxide nanozymes for robust marine antifouling

High-performance interfacial antifouling coatings are crucial for sustainable marine resource utilization. This work reports a novel high-entropy oxide (HEO) nanozyme, CrMnFeNiCuOX nanoparticles, where the synergistic interplay of polymetallic cations and defect engineering yield remarkable multi-enzyme mimetic activity combined with a photothermal conversion efficiency of 40.06%. Under simulated solar irradiation, the HEO nanozyme exhibited complete (100%) bactericidal activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and effectively suppresses biofilm formation in a simulated marine environment. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that the HEO nanozyme exhibits a tailored electronic structure and adsorption properties, enabling disruption of bacterial membrane integrity, perturbation of intracellular redox homeostasis, and suppression of quorum sensing signaling. This multifaceted approach offers a promising strategy for developing durable and environmentally friendly antifouling coatings for diverse marine applications.