Enhanced efficacy of propranolol therapy for infantile hemangiomas based on a mesoporous silica nanoplatform through mediating autophagy dysfunction

Recent advances in nanomaterial-driven strategies for diagnosis and therapy of vascular anomalies

Nanotechnology has demonstrated immense potential in various fields, especially in biomedical field. Among these domains, the development of nanotechnology for diagnosing and treating vascular anomalies has garnered significant attention. Vascular anomalies refer to structural and functional anomalies within the vascular system, which can result in conditions such as vascular malformations and tumors. These anomalies can significantly impact the quality of life of patients and pose significant health concerns. Nanoscale contrast agents have been developed for targeted imaging of blood vessels, enabling more precise identification and characterization of vascular anomalies. These contrast agents can be designed to bind specifically to abnormal blood vessels, providing healthcare professionals with a clearer view of the affected areas. More importantly, nanotechnology also offers promising solutions for targeted therapeutic interventions. Nanoparticles can be engineered to deliver drugs directly to the site of vascular anomalies, maximizing therapeutic effects while minimizing side effects on healthy tissues. Meanwhile, by incorporating functional components into nanoparticles, such as photosensitizers, nanotechnology enables innovative treatment modalities such as photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy. This review focuses on the applications and potential of nanotechnology in the imaging and therapy of vascular anomalies, as well as discusses the present challenges and future directions.

Blocked Autophagy is Involved in Layered Double Hydroxide-Induced Repolarization and Immune Activation in Tumor-Associated Macrophages

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are important immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The polar plasticity of TAMs makes them important targets for improving the immunosuppressive microenvironment of tumors. The previous study reveals that layered double hydroxides (LDHs) can effectively promote the polarization of TAMs from the anti-inflammatory M2 type to the pro-inflammatory M1 type. However, their mechanisms of action remain unexplored. This study reveals that LDHs composed of different cations exhibit distinct abilities to regulate the polarity of TAMs. Compared to Mg-Fe LDH, Mg-Al LDH has a stronger ability to promote the repolarization of TAMs from M2 to M1 and inhibit the formation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). In addition, Mg-Al LDH restrains the growth of tumors in vivo and promotes the infiltration of activated immune cells into the TME more effectively. Interestingly, Mg-Al LDH influences the autophagy of TAMs; this negatively correlates with the pro-inflammatory ability of TAMs. Therefore, LDHs exert their polarization ability by inhibiting the autophagy of TAMs, and this mechanism might be related to the ionic composition of LDHs. This study lays the foundation for optimizing the performance of LDH-based immune adjuvants, which display excellent application prospects for tumor immunotherapy.

Prospects and hazards of silica nanoparticles: Biological impacts and implicated mechanisms

With the thrive of nanotechnology, silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have been extensively adopted in the agriculture, food, cosmetic, and even biomedical industries. Due to the mass production and use, SiNPs inevitably entered the environment, resulting in ecological toxicity and even posing a threat to human health. Although considerable investigations have been conducted to assess the toxicity of SiNPs, the correlation between SiNPs exposure and consequent health risks remains ambiguous. Since the biological impacts of SiNPs can differ from their design and application, the toxicity assessment for SiNPs may be extremely difficult. This review discussed the application of SiNPs in different fields, especially their biomedical use, and documented their potential release pathways into the environment. Meanwhile, the current process of assessing SiNPs-related toxicity on various model organisms and cell lines was also detailed, thus estimating the health threats posed by SiNPs exposure. Finally, the potential toxic mechanisms of SiNPs were also elaborated based on results obtained from both in vivo and in vitro trials. This review generally summarizes the biological effects of SiNPs, which will build up a comprehensive perspective of the application and toxicity of SiNPs.

Shikonin reverses pyruvate kinase isoform M2-mediated propranolol resistance in infantile hemangioma through reactive oxygen species-induced autophagic dysfunction

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common benign tumor in infancy. Propranolol, a nonselective β-adrenergic receptor blocker, is now the first-line therapy for IH. Recently, low sensitivity to propranolol therapy has become one major reason for the failure of IH treatment. However, the exact underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we reported that pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2), an essential glycolytic enzyme, played a critical role in regulating the progression of IH and the therapeutic resistance of propranolol treatment. Shikonin reversed the propranolol resistance in hemangioma-derived endothelial cells and in hemangioma animal models. Moreover, shikonin combined with propranolol could induce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and lead to autophagic dysfunction, which is essential for the enhanced therapeutic sensitivity of propranolol treatment. Taken together, our results indicated that PKM2 has a significant role in hemangiomas progression and therapeutic resistance; it could be a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for those hemangiomas with poor propranolol sensitivity combined with shikonin.

Targeting the β2 -adrenergic receptor increases chemosensitivity in multiple myeloma by induction of apoptosis and modulating cancer cell metabolism

While multi-drug combinations and continuous treatment have become standard for multiple myeloma, the disease remains incurable. Repurposing drugs that are currently used for other indications could provide a novel approach to improve the therapeutic efficacy of standard multiple myeloma treatments. Here, we assessed the anti-tumor effects of cardiac drugs called β-blockers as a single agent and in combination with commonly used anti-myeloma therapies. Expression of the β2 -adrenergic receptor correlated with poor survival outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma. Targeting the β2 -adrenergic receptor (β2 AR) using either selective or non-selective β-blockers reduced multiple myeloma cell viability, and induced apoptosis and autophagy. Blockade of the β2 AR modulated cancer cell metabolism by reducing the mitochondrial respiration as well as the glycolytic activity. These effects were not observed by blockade of β1 -adrenergic receptors. Combining β2 AR blockade with the chemotherapy drug melphalan or the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib significantly increased apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells. These data identify the therapeutic potential of β2 AR-blockers as a complementary or additive approach in multiple myeloma treatment and support the future clinical evaluation of non-selective β-blockers in a randomized controlled trial. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Toxicity mechanism of nanomaterials: Focus on endoplasmic reticulum stress

Over the years, although the broad application of nanomaterials has not brought convenience to people's life, growing concern surrounds their safety. Recently, much emphasis has been placed on exploring the toxicity mechanism of nanoparticles. Currently established toxic mechanisms include oxidative stress, inflammatory response, autophagy, and DNA damage. In recent years, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) has gained widespread attention as another toxic mechanism of nanomaterials. It is widely acknowledged that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an important site for protein synthesis, and lipids and Ca⁺ storage, playing an esseential role in the normal operation of the body functions. When the body's internal environment is damaged, the structure and function of the endoplasmic reticulum are destroyed, leading to a series of biological reactions called endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS.) This paper reviews the mechanism of ERS in nanomaterial-associated toxicity. The process of ERS and its related unfolded protein response were briefly introduced, summarizing the factors affecting the nanoparticle ability to induce ERS and expounding on the changes of ER morphology after exposure to nanoparticles. Finally, the specific role and molecular mechanism of ERS under the action of different nanoparticles were comprehensively analyzed, including the relationship between ERS and inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism and apoptosis. This review provides a foothold for future studies on the toxic mechanism of nanoparticles, and provides novel insights into the safe application of nanoparticles and the treatment of diseases.

Nanodrugs Manipulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress for Highly Effective Antitumor Therapy

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide due to high morbidity and mortality. Many attempts and efforts have been devoted to fighting cancer. Owing to the significant role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in cell function, inducing ER stress can be promising for cancer treatment. However, the sustained activation of cytoprotective unfolded protein response (UPR) presents a tremendous obstacle for drugs in inducing unsolved ER stress in tumor cells, especially small-molecule drugs with poor bioavailability. Therefore, many emerging nanodrugs inducing and amplifying ER stress have been developed for efficient cancer treatment. More importantly, the novel discovery of ER stress in immunogenic cell death (ICD) makes it possible to repurpose antitumor drugs for immunotherapy through nanodrug-based strategies amplifying ER stress. Therefore, this mini-review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest developments of the strategies underlying nanodrugs in the treatment of cancer via manipulating ER stress. Meanwhile, the prospects of ER stress–inducing nanodrugs for cancer treatment are systematically discussed, which provide a sound platform for novel therapeutic insights and inspiration for the design of nanodrugs in treating cancer.

Cytotoxicity of mesoporous silica modified by amino and carboxyl groups on vascular endothelial cells

Mesoporous silica is widely used because of its unique and excellent properties, especially it can be used as a drug carrier and gene carrier in the biomedical field. After the mesoporous silica is put into clinical use, it is more likely to be exposed in human body. Therefore, the effect of mesoporous silica on human body cannot be ignored. The injury of vascular endothelial cells is a prerequisite for the occurrence of many cardiovascular diseases. As a drug and gene carrier, mesoporous silica increases its contact with vascular endothelial cells, so its toxic effect on cardiovascular system cannot be ignored. In this study, amino (NH₂ ) and carboxyl (COOH) were modified on mesoporous silica SBA-15 by post-grafting. The results showed that it still maintained the one-dimensional hexagonal mesoporous structure of SBA-15 and had typical mesoporous structure. Then human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were infected with SBA-15, NH₂ -SBA-15, and COOH-SBA-15. The results showed that the functionalized mesoporous silica SBA-15 had cytotoxicity to HUVECs and damaged the cell membrane, but compared with the unmodified mesoporous silica SBA-15 the cytotoxicity of functionalized mesoporous silica SBA-15 was lower and the toxicity of carboxyl modified group was the lowest. By comparing the cell inhibition rate and the expression level of lactate dehydrogenate and reactive oxygen species induced by the three materials, oxidative damage and cell membrane damage may be two mechanisms of cytotoxicity. Mesoporous silica SBA-15 has an effect on cardiovascular system by inducing the high expression of nitric oxide, intercellular adhesive molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesive molecule-1 in HUVECs. In summary, our results show that mesoporous silica is toxic to vascular endothelial cells.

Evaluation of Chitosan Derivatives Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Delivery Carrier

Chitosan is a non-toxic biological material, but chitosan is insoluble in water, which hinders the development and utilization of chitosan. Chitosan derivatives N-2-Hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (N-2-HACC) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) with good water solubility were synthesized by our laboratory. In this study, we synthesized mesoporous SiO₂ nanoparticles by the emulsion, and then the mesoporous SiO₂ nanoparticles were modified with γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to synthesize aminated mesoporous SiO₂ nanoparticles; CMCS and N-2-HACC was used to cross-link the aminated mesoporous SiO₂ nanoparticles to construct SiO₂@CMCS-N-2-HACC nanoparticles. Because the aminated mesoporous SiO₂ nanoparticles with positively charged can react with the mucous membranes, the virus enters the body mainly through mucous membranes, so Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was selected as the model drug to evaluate the performance of the SiO₂@CMCS-N-2-HACC nanoparticles. We prepared the SiO₂@CMCS-N-2-HACC nanoparticles loaded with inactivated NDV (NDV/SiO₂@CMCS-N-2-HACC). The SiO₂@CMCS-N-2-HACC nanoparticles as delivery carrier had high loading capacity, low cytotoxicity, good acid resistance and bile resistance and enteric solubility, and the structure of NDV protein encapsulated in the nano vaccine was not destroyed. In addition, the SiO₂@CMCS-N-2-HACC nanoparticles could sustain slowly released NDV. Therefore, the SiO₂@CMCS-N-2-HACC nanoparticles have the potential to be served as delivery vehicle for vaccine and/or drug.

Morphological, genetic and clinical correlations in infantile hemangiomas and their mimics

Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most frequent pediatric benign vascular tumors, with a reported incidence of 5% to 10%. They have self-limiting evolution pattern divided into a growth phase in the first 12 months and a regression one, that may take up to 10 years. Occasionally, hemangiomas might lead to local or systemic complications, depending on their morphological characteristics. The first line of treatment is β-blockers, such as Propranolol, Timolol, Nadolol, administered either locally or systemically. Newer therapeutic strategies involving laser therapy and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are being studied, while older treatment modalities like corticosteroids, Imiquimod, Vincristine, Bleomycin and Interferon-α have become second line therapy options. Before establishing the appropriate treatment, clinical, histological, and imaging investigations are required.

Immobilization of bioactive complex on the surface of magnesium alloy stent material to simultaneously improve anticorrosion, hemocompatibility and antibacterial activities

Magnesium alloy represents one of the most potential biodegradable vascular stent materials due to its good biodegradability, biocompatibility and suitable mechanical properties, whereas the rapid degradation in physiological environment and the limited biocompatibility remain the challenges. In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was firstly functionalized by chitosan (GOCS), followed by loading zinc ions and propranolol to obtain GOCS@Zn/Pro complex, which was finally covalently immobilized on the self-assembled modified magnesium alloy surface to enhance the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. The multi-functional coating can significantly improve the corrosion resistance and reduce the degradation rate of the magnesium alloy. Furthermore, the coating can significantly inhibit platelet adhesion and activation, reduce hemolysis rate, prolong activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thus improve the blood compatibility of the magnesium alloy. In addition, the modified magnesium alloy can not only significantly promote the endothelial cell adhesion and proliferation, up-regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO), but also endow the materials with good antibacterial properties. Therefore, the method of the present study can be used to modify magnesium alloy stent materials to simultaneously enhance corrosion resistance and blood compatibility, promote endothelialilization, and inhibit infections.