Delivery of biomimetic liposomes via meningeal lymphatic vessels route for targeted therapy of Parkinson’s disease

Interactions between nanoparticles and lymphatic systems: Mechanisms and applications in drug delivery

The lymphatic system has garnered significant attention in drug delivery research due to the advantages it offers, such as enhancing systemic exposure and enabling lymph node targeting for nanomedicines via the lymphatic delivery route. The journey of drug carriers involves transport from the administration site to the lymphatic vessels, traversing the lymph before entering the bloodstream or targeting specific lymph nodes. However, the anatomical and physiological barriers of the lymphatic system play a pivotal role in influencing the behavior and efficiency of carriers. To expedite research and subsequent clinical translation, this review begins by introducing the composition and classification of the lymphatic system. Subsequently, we explore the routes and mechanisms through which nanoparticles enter lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. The review further delves into the interactions between nanomedicine and body fluids at the administration site or within lymphatic vessels. Finally, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in lymphatic delivery systems, addressing the challenges and opportunities inherent in current systems for delivering macromolecules and vaccines.

Macrophages and Natural Killers Degrade α-Synuclein Aggregates

Amyloid oligomers and fibrils are protein aggregates that exert a high cell toxicity. Efficient degradation of these protein aggregates can minimize the spread and progression of neurodegeneration. In this study, we investigate the properties of natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages in the degradation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates grown in a lipid-free environment and in the presence of phosphatidylserine and cholesterol (PS/Cho), which are lipids that are directly associated with the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease. We found that both types of α-Syn aggregates were endocytosed by neurons, which caused strong damage to cell endosomes. Our results also indicated that PS/Cho vesicles drastically increased the toxicity of α-Syn fibrils formed in their presence compared to the toxicity of α-Syn aggregates grown in a lipid-free environment. Both NK cells and macrophages were able to degrade α-Syn and α-Syn/Cho monomers, oligomers, and fibrils. Quantitative analysis of protein degradation showed that macrophages demonstrated substantially more efficient internalization and degradation of amyloid aggregates in comparison to NK cells. We also found that amyloid aggregates induced the proliferation of macrophages and NK cells and significantly changed the expression of their cytokines and chemokines.

The application strategy of liposomes in organ targeting therapy

Liposomes-microscopic phospholipid bubbles with bilayered membrane structure-have been a focal point in drug delivery research for the past 30 years. Current liposomes possess a blend of biocompatibility, drug loading efficiency, prolonged circulation and targeted delivery. Tailored liposomes, varying in size, charge, lipid composition, and ratio, have been developed to address diseases in specific organs, thereby enhancing drug circulation, accumulation at lesion sites, intracellular delivery, and treatment efficacy for various organ-specific diseases. For further successful development of this field, this review summarized liposomal strategies for targeting different organs in series of major human diseases, including widely studied cardiovascular diseases, liver and spleen immune diseases, chronic or acute kidney injury, neurodegenerative diseases, and organ-specific tumors. It highlights recent advances of liposome-mediated therapeutic agent delivery for disease intervention and organ rehabilitation, offering practical guidelines for designing organ-targeted liposomes. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Lipid-Based Structures.

Cell Membrane-Derived Nanovehicles for Targeted Therapy of Ischemic Stroke: From Construction to Application

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a prevalent form of stroke and a leading cause of mortality and disability. Recently, cell membrane-derived nanovehicles (CMNVs) derived from erythrocytes, thrombocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, neural stem cells, and cancer cells have shown great promise as drug delivery systems for IS treatment. By precisely controlling drug release rates and targeting specific sites in the brain, CMNVs enable the reduction in drug dosage and minimization of side effects, thus significantly enhancing therapeutic strategies and approaches for IS. While there are some reviews regarding the applications of CMNVs in the treatment of IS, there has been limited attention given to important aspects such as carrier construction, structural design, and functional modification. Therefore, this review aims to address these key issues in CMNVs preparation, structural composition, modification, and other relevant aspects, with a specific focus on targeted therapy for IS. Finally, the challenges and prospects in this field are discussed.

Biomimetic Theranostic Agents with Superior NIR-II Photoacoustic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Performance for Targeted Photothermal Therapy of Prostate Cancer

The accurate diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer at an early stage is crucial to reduce mortality rates. However, the limited availability of theranostic agents with active tumor-targeting abilities hinders imaging sensitivity and therapeutic efficiency. To address this challenge, we have developed biomimetic cell membrane-modified Fe₂O₃ nanoclusters implanted in polypyrrole (CM-LFPP), achieving photoacoustic/magnetic resonance dual-modal imaging-guided photothermal therapy of prostate cancer. The CM-LFPP exhibits strong absorption in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm), showing high photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 78.7% under 1064 nm laser irradiation, excellent photoacoustic imaging capabilities, and good magnetic resonance imaging ability with a T2 relaxivity of up to 48.7 s^-1 mM^-1. Furthermore, the lipid encapsulation and biomimetic cell membrane modification enable CM-LFPP to actively target tumors, leading to a high signal-to-background ratio of ~30.2 for NIR-II photoacoustic imaging. Moreover, the biocompatible CM-LFPP enables low-dose (0.6 W cm^-2) photothermal therapy of tumors under 1064 nm laser irradiation. This technology offers a promising theranostic agent with remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency in the NIR-II window, providing highly sensitive photoacoustic/magnetic resonance imaging-guided prostate cancer therapy.