Unidirectional Presentation of Membrane Proteins in Nanoparticle-Supported Liposomes

Engineering live cell surfaces with polyphenol-functionalized nanoarchitectures

Cell surface functionalization has emerged as a powerful strategy for modulating cellular behavior and expanding cellular capabilities beyond their intrinsic biological limits. Natural phenolic molecules present as 'green' and versatile building blocks for constructing cell-based biomanufacturing and biotherapeutic platforms. Due to the abundant catechol or galloyl groups, phenolic molecules can dynamically and reversibly bind to versatile substrates via multiple molecular interactions. A range of self-assembled cytoadhesive polyphenol-functionalized nanoarchitectures (cytoPNAs) can be formed via metal coordination or macromolecular self-assembly that can rapidly attach to cell surfaces in a cell-agnostic manner. Additionally, the cytoPNAs attached on the cell surface can also provide active sites for the conjunction of bioactive payloads, further expanding the structural repertoire and properties of engineered cells. This Perspective introduces the wide potential of cytoPNA-mediated cell engineering in three key applications: (1) creating inorganic-organic biohybrids as cell factories for efficient production of high-value chemicals, (2) constructing engineered cells for cell-based therapies with enhanced targeting specificity and nano-bio interactions, and (3) encapsulating microbes as biotherapeutics for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract-related diseases. Collectively, the rapid, versatile, and modular nature of cytoPNAs presents a promising platform for next-generation cell engineering and beyond.

Large Language Model-Assisted Genotoxic Metal-Phenolic Nanoplatform for Osteosarcoma Therapy

Osteosarcoma, a leading primary bone malignancy in children and adolescents, is associated with a poor prognosis and a low global fertility rate. A large language model-assisted phenolic network (LLMPN) platform is demonstrated that integrates the large language model (LLM) GPT-4 into the design of multifunctional metal-phenolic network materials. Fine-tuned GPT-4 identified gossypol as a phenolic compound with superior efficacy against osteosarcoma after evaluating across a library of 60 polyphenols based on the correlation between experimental anti-osteosarcoma activity and multiplexed chemical properties of polyphenols. Subsequently, gossypol is then self-assembled into Cu2+-gossypol nanocomplexes with a hyaluronic acid surface modification (CuGOS NPs). CuGOS NPs has demonstrated the ability to induce genetic alterations and cell death in osteosarcoma cells, offering significant therapeutic benefits for primary osteosarcoma tumors and reducing metastasis without adverse effects on major organs or the genital system. This work presents an LLM-driven approach for engineering metal-organic nanoplatform and broadening applications by harnessing the capabilities of LLMs, thereby improving the feasibility and efficiency of research activities.

Progress in oncolytic viruses modified with nanomaterials for intravenous application

In oncolytic virus (OV) therapy, a critical component of tumor immunotherapy, viruses selectively infect, replicate within, and eventually destroy tumor cells. Simultaneously, this therapy activates immune responses and mobilizes immune cells, thereby eliminating residual or distant cancer cells. However, because of OVs' high immunogenicity and immune clearance during circulation, their clinical applications are currently limited to intratumoral injections, and their use is severely restricted. In recent years, numerous studies have used nanomaterials to modify OVs to decrease virulence and increase safety for intravenous injection. The most commonly used nanomaterials for modifying OVs are liposomes, polymers, and albumin, because of their biosafety, practicability, and effectiveness. The aim of this review is to summarize progress in the use of these nanomaterials in preclinical experiments to modify OVs and to discuss the challenges encountered from basic research to clinical application.

SARS-CoV-2 virus-like-particles via liposomal reconstitution of spike glycoproteins

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, implicated in the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizes and binds host cells using its spike glycoprotein through an angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor-mediated pathway. Recent research suggests that spatial distributions of the spike protein may influence viral interactions with target cells and immune systems. The goal of this study has been to develop a liposome-based virus-like particle (VLP) by reconstituting the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein within a synthetic nanoparticle membrane, aiming to eventually establish tunability in spike protein presentation on the nanoparticle surface. Here we report on first steps to this goal, wherein liposomal SARS-CoV-2 VLPs were successfully produced via detergent mediated spike protein reconstitution. The resultant VLPs are shown to successfully co-localize in vitro with the ACE-2 receptor on lung epithelial cell surfaces, followed by internalization into these cells. These VLPs are the first step toward the overall goal of this research which is to form an understanding of the relationship between spike protein surface density and cell-level immune response, eventually toward creating better vaccines and anti-viral therapeutics.

Alloyed nanostructures integrated metal-phenolic nanoplatform for synergistic wound disinfection and revascularization

New materials for combating bacteria-caused infection and promoting the formation of microvascular networks during wound healing are of vital importance. Although antibiotics can be used to prevent infection, treatments that can disinfect and accelerate wound healing are scarce. Herein, we engineer a coating that is both highly compatible with current wound dressing substrates and capable of simultaneously disinfecting and revascularizing wounds using a metal-phenolic nanoplatform containing an alloyed nanostructured architecture (Ag@Cu-MPN_NC). The alloyed nanostructure is formed by the spontaneous co-reduction and catalytic disproportionation reaction of multiple metal ions on a foundation metal-phenolic supramolecular layer. This synergistic presence of metals greatly improves the antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, while demonstrating negligible cytotoxicity to normal tissue. In infected rat models, the Ag@Cu-MPN_NC could kill bacteria efficiently, promoting revascularization and accelerate wound closure with no adverse side effects in infected in vivo models. In other words, this material acts as a combination therapy by inhibiting bacterial invasion and modulating bio-nano interactions in the wound.

Effect of phenolic compounds-capped AgNPs on growth inhibition of Aspergillus niger

An exponential increase of scientific works dealing with the use of polyphenol-rich 'natural products' for the synthesis of bioactive AgNPs is in progress. However, a lack of fundamental studies on phytochemical compounds involved, and their role is evident. In this work, a comprehensive study of the antifungal performances of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized exclusively with phenolic compounds (PCs) with different structures and different antioxidant capacity is presented. The experimental hypothesis is that AgNPs@PCs produced with different PCs can exert different toxicity. In particular, di-hydroxylic and tri-hydroxylic phenolic acids (caffeic acid and gallic acid) and flavonoids (catechin and myricetin) were compared. A room temperature rapid and simple AgNPs synthesis was carefully optimized, obtaining stable and reproducible colloids. AgNPs@PCs suspensions were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, ς-potential, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. AgNPs@PCs radical scavenging capacity was also assessed. Finally, the AgNPs@PCs antifungal effect was tested against Aspergillus niger, particularly on spore germination and mycelial growth. The different antifungal activity was attributed to the different PCs' ability to generate/stabilize AgNPs with different shells, residual antioxidant capacity, and capacity to interact and aggregate during their 'attack' to A. niger hyphae. This work paves the way for the rational use of PCs and PCs rich-products for AgNPs-based applications.

Loureirin B activates GLP-1R and promotes insulin secretion in Ins-1 cells

Loureirin B (LB) is a natural product derived from Sanguis draconis, which has hypoglycaemic effects. In order to research the possible target of LB in the treatment of diabetes, molecular docking was used to simulate the interaction between LB and potential targets, and among them, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor (GLP‐1R) had the optimal results. Further, spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments were applied to detect the interaction between LB and GLP‐1R. Ultimately, after GLP‐1R siRNA interfering the expression of GLP‐1R in Ins‐1 cell, the promoting insulin secretion of LB was weaken, which directly proved that GLP‐1R plays an important role. These results show that LB promotes insulin secretion of Ins‐1 cells through GLP‐1R. Hence, the strategy of LB as a prodrug will provide a potential approach for non‐peptide GLP‐1R agonist.

A Glucose/Oxygen-Exhausting Nanoreactor for Starvation- and Hypoxia-Activated Sustainable and Cascade Chemo-Chemodynamic Therapy

Fenton reaction-mediated chemodynamic therapy (CDT) can kill cancer cells via the conversion of H₂ O₂ to highly toxic HO•. However, problems such as insufficient H₂ O₂ levels in the tumor tissue and low Fenton reaction efficiency severely limit the performance of CDT. Here, the prodrug tirapazamine (TPZ)-loaded human serum albumin (HSA)-glucose oxidase (GOx) mixture is prepared and modified with a metal-polyphenol network composed of ferric ions (Fe³⁺ ) and tannic acid (TA), to obtain a self-amplified nanoreactor termed HSA-GOx-TPZ-Fe³⁺ -TA (HGTFT) for sustainable and cascade cancer therapy with exogenous H₂ O₂ production and TA-accelerated Fe³⁺ /Fe²⁺ conversion. The HGTFT nanoreactor can efficiently convert oxygen into HO• for CDT, consume glucose for starvation therapy, and provide a hypoxic environment for TPZ radical-mediated chemotherapy. Besides, it is revealed that the nanoreactor can significantly elevate the intracellular reactive oxygen species content and hypoxia level, decrease the intracellular glutathione content, and release metal ions in the tumors for metal ion interference therapy (also termed "ion-interference therapy" or "metal ion therapy"). Further, the nanoreactor can also increase the tumor's hypoxia level and efficiently inhibit tumor growth. It is believed that this tumor microenvironment-regulable nanoreactor with sustainable and cascade anticancer performance and excellent biosafety represents an advance in nanomedicine.

The Cooperative Effect between Polybasic Region (PBR) and Polysialyltransferase Domain (PSTD) within Tumor-Target Polysialyltranseferase ST8Sia II

ST8Sia II (STX) is a highly homologous mammalian polysialyltransferase (polyST), which is a validated tumor-target in the treatment of cancer metastasis reliant on tumor cell polysialylation. PolyST catalyzes the synthesis of α2,8-polysialic acid (polySia) glycans by carrying out the activated CMP-Neu5Ac (Sia) to N- and O-linked oligosaccharide chains on acceptor glycoproteins. In this review article, we summarized the recent studies about intrinsic correlation of two polybasic domains, Polysialyltransferase domain (PSTD) and Polybasic region (PBR) within ST8Sia II molecule, and suggested that the critical amino acid residues within the PSTD and PBR motifs of ST8Sia II for polysialylation of Neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAM) are related to ST8Sia II activity. In addition, the conformational changes of the PSTD domain due to point mutations in the PBR or PSTD domain verified an intramolecular interaction between the PBR and the PSTD. These findings have been incorporated into Zhou's NCAM polysialylation/cell migration model, which will provide new perspectives on drug research and development related to the tumor-target ST8Sia II.