In vivo NMR imaging and T1 measurements of water protons in the human brain

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) proton density images of the human brain have been made by the FONAR method. Spin-lattice relaxation times, T₁, of water hydrogen protons have been determined at random positions within frontal and temporal regions of the human brain. The primary purpose of this ongoing research is to accumulate a large data base of normal T₁ values for water protons in normal human brain tissue. Our experience to data includes 31 measurements on 18 volunteer subjects, and the mean value ± standard deviation is 215 ± 42 msec. In addition, two metastatic lesions of the brain were studied and found to have T₁ values longer than those for normal brain tissue.     

MR动态增强联合扩散加权成像技术在乳腺疾病诊断中的价值

目的探讨乳腺MR动态增强扫描联合扩散加权成像技术在乳腺疾病影像诊断中的价值。方法对48例女性乳腺患者进行MRI检查,先进行双侧乳腺常规MRI平扫,再进行双侧乳腺扩散加权平面回波（EPI）序列扫描,最后行乳腺动态增强扫描。通过后处理,得到病灶处表观弥散系数（ADC）值及时间-信号强度曲线。结果根据时间-信号强度曲线特点及ADC值,结合常规MRI形态学特点进行良、恶性病变诊断。MRI诊断为恶性肿瘤19例,良性病变29例。手术或活检病理结果证实MRI诊断为恶性肿瘤的19例患者中,18例为恶性肿瘤,另外1例为良性肿瘤（旺炽性腺瘤）;MRI诊断为良性病变的29例患者,手术或病理活检均证实为良性病变。MRI区分乳腺良、恶性病变的准确率为97.9%（47/48）,与手术或病理活检准确率（100%）比较差异无统计学意义（字2=0.044,P=0.834）。结论动态增强扫描联合扩散加权成像技术,可提高乳腺疾病影像诊断准确率。     

Photoacoustic microscopy

Photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) is a hybrid in vivo imaging technique that acoustically detects optical contrast via the photoacoustic effect. Unlike pure optical microscopic techniques, PAM takes advantage of the weak acoustic scattering in tissue and thus breaks through the optical diffusion limit (∼1 mm in soft tissue). With its excellent scalability, PAM can provide high‐resolution images at desired maximum imaging depths up to a few millimeters. Compared with backscattering‐based confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography, PAM provides absorption contrast instead of scattering contrast. Furthermore, PAM can image more molecules, endogenous or exogenous, at their absorbing wavelengths than fluorescence‐based methods, such as wide‐field, confocal, and multi‐photon microscopy. Most importantly, PAM can simultaneously image anatomical, functional, molecular, flow dynamic and metabolic contrasts in vivo. Focusing on state‐of‐the‐art developments in PAM, this Review discusses the key features of PAM implementations and their applications in biomedical studies.     

An Injectable,Bifunctional Hydrogel with Photothermal Effects for Tumor Therapy and Bone Regeneration

Significant attention has been focused on bone tumor therapy recently. At present, the treatment in clinic typically requires surgical intervention. However, a few tumor cells remain around bone defects after surgery and subsequently proliferate within several days. Thus, fabrication of biomaterials with dual functions of tumor therapy and bone regeneration is significant. Herein, the injectable hydrogel containing cisplatin (DDP) and polydopamine‐decorated nano‐hydroxyapatite is prepared via Schiff base reaction between the aldehyde groups on oxidized sodium alginate and amino groups on chitosan. The hydrogel exhibits sustained release properties for DDP due to the immobilization of DDP via abundant functional groups on polydopamine (PDA). Additionally, given the intense absorption of PDA in the near‐infrared region, the hydrogel exhibits excellent photothermal effects when exposed to the NIR laser (808 nm). Based on the properties, the hydrogel effectively ablates tumor cells (4T1 cells) in vitro and suppresses tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, the hydrogel promotes the adhesion and proliferation of bone mesenchymal stem cells in vitro due to the abundant functional groups on PDA and further induces bone regeneration in vivo. Therefore, the study extends research on novel biomaterials with dual functions of tumor therapy and bone regeneration.     

Sliding mode control for a diffuse interface tumor growth model coupling a Cahn–Hilliard equation with a reaction–diffusion equation

We consider the sliding mode control (SMC) problem for a diffuse interface tumor growth model coupling a Cahn–Hilliard equation with a reaction–diffusion equation perturbed by a maximal monotone nonlinearity. We prove existence and regularity of strong solutions and, under further assumptions, a uniqueness result. Then, we show that the chosen SMC law forces the system to reach within finite time a sliding manifold that we chose in order that the tumor phase remains constant in time.     

Artificial nano‐pin as a temporal molecular glue for the targeting of acidic tumor cells

Highly precise control of molecular structure for developing efficient anticancer drug delivery is challenging. Our method reported herein can satisfy the need for building novel hybrid molecule; this molecule serves as a built‐in transformer that changes its molecular configuration from a pin‐shaped arrangement to a dog bone‐shaped arrangement. This approach led to a significant increase in the efficiency of tumor inhibition. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermo‐triggered Release of CRISPR‐Cas9 System by Lipid‐Encapsulated Gold Nanoparticles for Tumor Therapy

CRISPR/Cas9 system is a powerful toolbox for gene editing. However, the low delivery efficiency is still a big hurdle impeding its applications. Herein, we report a strategy to deliver Cas9‐sgPlk‐1 plasmids (CP) by a multifunctional vehicle for tumor therapy. We condensed CPs on TAT peptide‐modified Au nanoparticles (AuNPs/CP, ACP) via electrostatic interactions, and coated lipids (DOTAP, DOPE, cholesterol, PEG2000‐DSPE) on the ACP to form lipid‐encapsulated, AuNPs‐condensed CP (LACP). LACP can enter tumor cells and release CP into the cytosol by laser‐triggered thermo‐effects of the AuNPs; the CP can enter nuclei by TAT guidance, enabling effective knock‐outs of target gene (Plk‐1) of tumor (melanoma) and inhibition of the tumor both in vitro and in vivo. This AuNPs‐condensed, lipid‐encapsulated, and laser‐controlled delivery system provides a versatile method for high efficiency CRISPR/Cas9 delivery and targeted gene editing for treatment of a wide spectrum of diseases.