Discovery of Cell‐Permeable Inhibitors That Target the BRCT Domain of BRCA1 Protein by Using a Small‐Molecule Microarray

BRCTs are phosphoserine‐binding domains found in proteins involved in DNA repair, DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation. BRCA1 is a BRCT domain‐containing, tumor‐suppressing protein expressed in the cells of breast and other human tissues. Mutations in BRCA1 have been found in ca. 50 % of hereditary breast cancers. Cell‐permeable, small‐molecule BRCA1 inhibitors are promising anticancer agents, but are not available currently. Herein, with the assist of microarray‐based platforms, we have discovered the first cell‐permeable protein–protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors against BRCA1. By targeting the (BRCT)₂ domain, we showed compound 15 a and its prodrug 15 b inhibited BRCA1 activities in tumor cells, sensitized these cells to ionizing radiation‐induced apoptosis, and showed synergistic inhibitory effect when used in combination with Olaparib (a small‐molecule inhibitor of poly‐ADP‐ribose polymerase) and Etoposide (a small‐molecule inhibitor of topoisomerase II). Unlike previously reported peptide‐based PPI inhibitors of BRCA1, our compounds are small‐molecule‐like and could be directly administered to tumor cells, thus making them useful for future studies of BRCA1/PARP‐related pathways in DNA damage and repair response, and in cancer therapy.     

Artificial Accelerators of the Molecular Chaperone Hsp90 Facilitate Rate‐Limiting Conformational Transitions

The molecular chaperone Hsp90 undergoes an ATP‐driven cycle of conformational changes in which large structural rearrangements precede ATP hydrolysis. Well‐established small‐molecule inhibitors of Hsp90 compete with ATP‐binding. We wondered whether compounds exist that can accelerate the conformational cycle. In a FRET‐based screen reporting on conformational rearrangements in Hsp90 we identified compounds. We elucidated their mode of action and showed that they can overcome the intrinsic inhibition in Hsp90 which prevents these rearrangements. The mode of action is similar to that of the co‐chaperone Aha1 which accelerates the Hsp90 ATPase. However, while the two identified compounds influence conformational changes, they target different aspects of the structural transitions. Also, the binding site determined by NMR spectroscopy is distinct. This study demonstrates that small molecules are capable of triggering specific rate‐limiting transitions in Hsp90 by mechanisms similar to those in protein cofactors.     

Tumor Microenvironment Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescence Imaging and Synergistic Cancer Therapy by Carbon-Dot–Cu2+ Nanoassemblies

A method is developed to fabricate tumor microenvironment (TME) stimuli-responsive nanoplatform for fluorescence (FL) imaging and synergistic cancer therapy via assembling photosensitizer (chlorine e6, Ce6) modified carbon dots (CDs-Ce6) and Cu²⁺. The as-obtained nanoassemblies (named Cu/CC nanoparticles, NPs) exhibit quenched FL and photosensitization due to the aggregation of CDs-Ce6. Their FL imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) functions are recovered efficiently once they entering tumor sites by the stimulation of TME. Introducing of Cu²⁺ not only provides extra chemodynamic therapy (CDT) function through reaction with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), but also depletes GSH in tumors by a redox reaction, thus amplifying the intracellular oxidative stress and enhancing the efficacy of reactive oxygen species (ROS) based therapy. Cu/CC NPs can act as a FL imaging guided trimodal synergistic cancer treatment agent by photothermal therapy (PTT), PDT, and thermally amplified CDT.     

Cationic Lipid-based Intracellular Delivery of Bacterial Effectors for Rewiring Malignant Cell Signaling

The abundance of bacterial effectors have inspired us to explore their potential in rewiring malignant cell signaling. Their incapability for entering cells, however, hinders such application. Herein we developed a cationic lipid-based high throughput library screening platform for effective intracellular delivery of bacterial effectors. As the misregulated MAPK signaling is a hallmark of many types of cancer, we turned to the Shigella effector OspF which irreversibly inactivates ERK, the terminal component of MAPK cascade. We created a function-based screening assay to obtain AMPA-O16B lipid nanoparticles for effective OspF intracellular delivery, which inhibited the malignant MAPK signaling and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the optimized lipid nanoparticle formulation can deliver OspF to modulate the immunosuppressive responses in macrophages. Our work is a general strategy to explore the therapeutic potentials of naturally evolved bacterial effectors.     

Multiple functions of microfluidic platforms: Characterization and applications in tissue engineering and diagnosis of cancer

Microfluidic system, or lab-on-a-chip, has grown explosively. This system has been used in research for the first time and then entered in the clinical section. Due to economic reasons, this technique has been used for screening of laboratory and clinical indices. The microfluidic system solves some difficulties accompanied by clinical and biological applications. In this review, the interpretation and analysis of some recent developments in microfluidic systems in biomedical applications with more emphasis on tissue engineering and cancer will be discussed. Moreover, we try to discuss the features and functions of microfluidic systems.     

An Activatable Polymeric Reporter for Near-Infrared Fluorescent and Photoacoustic Imaging of Invasive Cancer

Discriminative detection of invasive and noninvasive breast cancers is crucial for their effective treatment and prognosis. However, activatable probes able to do so in vivo are rare. Herein, we report an activatable polymeric reporter (P-Dex) that specifically turns on near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent and photoacoustic (PA) signals in response to the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) overexpressed in invasive breast cancer. P-Dex has a renal-clearable dextran backbone that is linked with a NIR dye caged with an uPA-cleavable peptide substrate. Such a molecular design allows P-Dex to passively target tumors, activate NIR fluorescence and PA signals to effectively distinguish invasive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer from noninvasive MCF-7 breast cancer, and ultimately undergo renal clearance to minimize the toxicity potential. Thus, this polymeric reporter holds great promise for the early detection of malignant breast cancer.     

新型丁烯内酯衍生物的设计合成及诱导胃癌细胞凋亡研究

开发了一条合成天然产物Uncinine的新方法,基于此设计合成了一系列新型的丁烯内酯衍生物.通过噻唑蓝(MTT)法评价了目标化合物对胃癌细胞的增殖抑制活性,分析了其构效关系.其中,3-吗啉甲基-4-(4-叔丁基苯基)亚基丁烯内酯(9l)对MGC803的IC50为2.9μmol/L,对胃癌细胞MGC803、HGC27以及SGC7901具有明显的选择性增殖抑制作用,而对正常的胃粘膜上皮细胞GES1具有较小的毒性.初步的作用机制研究表明,化合物9l诱导胃癌细胞MGC803凋亡依赖Caspase 9/3激活.     

用于细胞和组织中弗林蛋白酶特异性成像的双光子荧光探针研究

弗林蛋白酶是前体蛋白转化酶家族中最具特色的酶之一,具有重要的生物学功能,其表达量水平与许多疾病有密切的关系,如癌症的发生和发展与弗林蛋白酶表达水平有着密切关联.目前文献中报道了一些单光子荧光探针用于弗林蛋白酶的检测,但这些探针不能应用于深层组织成像,且弗林蛋白酶在肿瘤发展过程的作用仍没有得到很好地研究.针对这些问题,本工作构建了一种新型双光子荧光探针Nap-F用于细胞和肿瘤组织内弗林蛋白酶的检测与双光子成像.Nap-F是由经典双光子荧光染料1,8-萘酰亚胺、弗林蛋白酶特异性多肽序列RVRR和自消除连接体整合而成.实验结果表明Nap-F对弗林蛋白酶具有很好的特异性,能够定量检测弗林蛋白酶的活性.在飞秒激光820 nm激发下,Nap-F能有效降低生物背景,并提高组织穿透深度,适用于细胞和组织的双光子成像.Nap-F成功地实现了几种活细胞中弗林蛋白酶的双光子成像,揭示了癌细胞和表达缺陷细胞中弗林蛋白酶含量的差异.更重要的是,我们将该探针用于CoCl₂固定HIF-1构建的肿瘤细胞缺氧模型成像,实验结果表明弗林蛋白酶的表达与肿瘤细胞缺氧程度存在正相关性.     

Two‐Dimensional Nanomaterials for Photothermal Therapy

Two‐dimensional (2D) nanomaterials are currently explored as novel photothermal agents because of their ultrathin structure, high specific surface area, and unique optoelectronic properties. In addition to single photothermal therapy (PTT), 2D nanomaterials have demonstrated significant potential in PTT‐based synergistic therapies. In this Minireview, we summarize the recent progress in 2D nanomaterials for enhanced photothermal cancer therapy over the last five years. Their unique optical properties, typical synthesis methods, and surface modification are also covered. Emphasis is placed on their PTT and PTT‐synergized chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy. The major challenges of 2D photothermal agents are addressed and the promising prospects are also presented.     

Responsive Exosome Nano‐bioconjugates for Synergistic Cancer Therapy

Exosomes hold great potential in therapeutic development. However, native exosomes usually induce insufficient effects in vivo and simply act as drug delivery vehicles. Herein, we synthesize responsive exosome nano‐bioconjugates for cancer therapy. Azide‐modified exosomes derived from M1 macrophages are conjugated with dibenzocyclooctyne‐modified antibodies of CD47 and SIRPα (aCD47 and aSIRPα) through pH‐sensitive linkers. After systemic administration, the nano‐bioconjugates can actively target tumors through the specific recognition between aCD47 and CD47 on the tumor cell surface. In the acidic tumor microenvironment, the benzoic‐imine bonds of the nano‐bioconjugates are cleaved to release aSIRPα and aCD47 that can, respectively, block SIRPα on macrophages and CD47, leading to abolished “don't eat me” signaling and improved phagocytosis of macrophages. Meanwhile, the native M1 exosomes effectively reprogram the macrophages from pro‐tumoral M2 to anti‐tumoral M1.