Hybrid magneto-fluorescent nano-probe for live apoptotic cells monitoring at brain cerebral ischemia

Affinity probes based on small-molecule inhibitors for tumor imaging

Methods for molecular imaging of target areas, including optical imaging, radionuclide imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and other imaging technologies, are helpful for the early diagnosis and precise treatment of cancers. In addition to cancer management, small-molecule inhibitors are also used for developing cancer target probes since they act as the tight-binding ligands of overexpressed proteins in cancer cells. This review aims to summarize the structural designs of affinity probes based on small-molecule inhibitors from the aspects of the inhibitor, linker, dye and radionuclide, and discusses the influence of the modification of these structures on affinity and pharmacokinetics. We also present examples of inhibitor affinity probes in clinical applications, and these summaries will provide insights for future research and clinical translations.

Recent advances on drug delivery nanocarriers for cerebral disorders

Pharmacotherapies for brain disorders are generally faced with obstacles from the blood-brain barrier (BBB). There are a variety of drug delivery systems that have been put forward to cross or bypass the BBB with the access to the central nervous system. Brain drug delivery systems have benefited greatly from the development of nanocarriers, including lipids, polymers and inorganic materials. Consequently, various kinds of brain drug delivery nano-systems have been established, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs), nanomicelles, nanohydrogels, dendrimers, mesoporous silica nanoparticles and magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The characteristics of their carriers and preparations usually differ from each other, as well as their transportation mechanisms into intracerebral lesions. In this review, different types of brain drug delivery nanocarriers are classified and summarized, especially their significant achievements, to present several recommendations and directions for future strategies of cerebral delivery.

Towards precision nanomedicine for cerebrovascular diseases with emphasis on Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM)

Introduction: Cerebrovascular diseases encompass various disorders of the brain vasculature, such as ischemic/hemorrhagic strokes, aneurysms, and vascular malformations, also affecting the central nervous system leading to a large variety of transient or permanent neurological disorders. They represent major causes of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, and some of them can be inherited, including Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM), an autosomal dominant cerebrovascular disease linked to mutations in CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2, or CCM3/PDCD10 genes.Areas covered: Besides marked clinical and etiological heterogeneity, some commonalities are emerging among distinct cerebrovascular diseases, including key pathogenetic roles of oxidative stress and inflammation, which are increasingly recognized as major disease hallmarks and therapeutic targets. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the different clinical features and common pathogenetic determinants of cerebrovascular diseases, highlighting major challenges, including the pressing need for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, and focusing on emerging innovative features and promising benefits of nanomedicine strategies for early detection and targeted treatment of such diseases.Expert opinion: Specifically, we describe and discuss the multiple physico-chemical features and unique biological advantages of nanosystems, including nanodiagnostics, nanotherapeutics, and nanotheranostics, that may help improving diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases and neurological comorbidities, with an emphasis on CCM disease.

Smart diagnostic nano-agents for cerebral ischemia

A summary of the latest developments on imaging techniques and smart nano-diagnostics used for ischemic stroke.

Iron oxide nanoparticles as multimodal imaging tools

In medicine, obtaining simply a resolute and accurate image of an organ of interest is a real challenge.