MUC1 Aptamer Targeted SERS Nanoprobes

Recently, surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoprobes (NPs) have shown promise in the field of cancer imaging due to their unparalleled signal specificity and high sensitivity. This study reports the development of a DNA aptamer targeted SERS NP. Recently, aptamers are being investigated as a viable alternative to more traditional antibody targeting due to their low immunogenicity and low cost of production. A strategy is developed to functionalize SERS NPs with DNA aptamers, which target Mucin1 (MUC1) in human breast cancer (BC). Thorough in vitro characterization studies demonstrate excellent serum stability and specific binding of the targeted NPs to MUC1. In order to test their in vivo targeting capability, MUC1‐targeted SERS NPs are coinjected with nontargeted or blocked MUC1‐targeted SERS NPs in BC xenograft mouse models. A two‐tumor mouse model with differential expression of MUC1 (MDA‐MB‐468 and MDA‐MB‐453) is used to control for active versus passive targeting in the same animals. The results show that the targeted SERS NPs home to the tumors via active targeting of MUC1, with low levels of passive targeting. This strategy is expected to be an advantageous alternative to antibody‐based targeting and useful for targeted imaging of tumor extent, progression, and therapeutic response.     

Multimeric cyclic RGD peptides as potential tools for tumor targeting: solid-phase peptide synthesis and chemoselective oxime ligation

The alpha v beta 3 integrin receptor plays an important role in human metastasis and tumor-induced angiogenesis. Targeting this receptor may provide information about the receptor status of the tumor and enable specific therapeutic planning. Solid-phase peptide synthesis of multimeric cyclo(-RGDfE-)-peptides is described, which offer the possibility of enhanced integrin targeting due to polyvalency effects. These peptides contain an aminooxy group for versatile chemoselective oxime ligation. Conjugation with para-trimethylstannylbenzaldehyde results in a precursor for radioiododestannylation, which would allow them to be used as potential tools for targeting and imaging alpha v beta 3-expressing tumor cells. The conjugates were obtained in good yield without the need of a protection strategy and under mild conditions.     

Studies on Hepatocyte-Targeting Magnetic Resonance Imaging Macromolecular Contrast Media

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Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Galactosylated Cholesterol

Mammalian hepatocytes (parenchymal cells) exclusively possess large number ofasialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPr), which can recognize terminal D-galactose orN-acetylgalactosamine residues. Lactobionic acid 1, bearing a galactosyl group, isusually used as…     

Influence of valence and concentration of electrolytes on the ζ-potential of polyacrylic lattices

The -potential of copolymer particles of acrylic amide, acrylic acid, acrylic butyl ester, and styrene were measured in different electrolyte solutions. In an isotonic solution of sodium chloride, they vary with the content of acrylic acid between –36 mV and –49 mV. In the presence of 21-electrolytes, the -potential could be correlated with the logarithm of the electrolyte concentration. The 21-electrolytes predominantly determine the -potential of the particles not only in the solutions of these electrolytes, but also in mixed electrolyte solutions. In the presence of human serum, the electrophoretic mobility increases with increasing acrylic acid content of the polymer.     

High Nonlinear Optic Activity Chromophore-Design and Synthesis

Chromophores are the center piece of second order nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. The common chromophore consists of a Donor-Bridge-Acceptor structure. Donors and acceptors are connected by a bridge and together they make a fully conjugated system. Based on our previously synthesized novel acceptors [1], we have synthesized a large number of high electro-optic chromophores. In this paper, we report four general types of chromophore that were synthesized during the last few years in our l…     

Multistage Nanovehicle Delivery System Based on Stepwise Size Reduction and Charge Reversal for Programmed Nuclear Targeting of Systemically Administered Anticancer Drugs

The nucleus is the final target of many first‐line chemotherapeutics, but the need to overcome multiple physiological barriers imposes conflicting requirements for size and charge on systemically administered drug delivery systems. Here, an N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) polymer‐based nanovehicle (PNV) that self‐assembles from anionic HPMA copolymers with charge‐reversal ability and cationic HPMA copolymers with intracellularly detachable subgroups (IDS) is described. The IDS, bearing an anticancer drug and nuclear‐homing cell‐penetrating peptide (R8NLS ligand), is grafted onto the HPMA copolymer via hydrazone linkage. The large, neutrally charged, self‐assembled PNV (≈55 nm) shows good blood persistence and preferential tumor accumulation. After tumoral arrival, the extracellular milieu actuates the disassembly of PNV to linear conjugates (≈10 nm/39 kDa). This first‐stage size reduction exposes R8NLS and allows for deeper tissue penetration and greater cellular internalization. After endocytosis, a second‐stage size reduction occurs when the more acidic endolysosomal pH cleaved the ≈2.4 kDa IDS off the HPMA copolymer backbone and guaranteed the successful nuclear entry via nuclear localization signal assistance. Based on the stepwise size reduction and on‐demand R8NLS exposure, the PNV inhibits growth of HeLa tumors in nude mice by 75%. This work gives important insights into the design of systemic nuclear‐targeted delivery via a multistage size/charge changing way.     

A Sequentially Triggered Nanosystem for Precise Drug Delivery and Simultaneous Inhibition of Cancer Growth,Migration, and Invasion

The rational design of cancer‐targeted and bioresponsive drug delivery vehicles can enhance the anticancer efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutics and reduce their adverse side effects. However, the complexity of precise delivery and the ability to trigger drug release in specific tumor sites remain a challenging puzzle. Here, a sequentially triggered nanosystem composed of HER2 antibody with disulfide linkage as a surface decorator (HER2@NPs) is constructed for precise drug delivery and the simultaneous inhibition of cancer growth, migration, and invasion. The nanosystem actively accumulates in cancer cells, undergoes self‐immolative cleavage in response to biological thiols, and is degraded to form small nanoparticles. After internalization by receptor‐mediated endocytosis, the nanoparticles further disassemble under acidic conditions in the presence of lysozymes and cell lysates, leading to sequentially triggered drug release. The released payload triggers overproduction of reactive oxygen species and activates p53 and MAPKs pathways to induce cancer cell apoptosis. Moreover, HER2@NPs markedly suppress the migration and invasion of human bladder cancer cells at nontoxic concentrations. HER2@NPs demonstrate potent in vivo anticancer efficacy, but show no obvious histological damage to the major organs. Taken together, this study provides a valid tactic for the rational design of sequentially triggered nanosystems for precise drug delivery and cancer therapy.     

Real-time monitoring in fabrication of PPKTP crystals utilizing electro-optical effect

Compared with other nonlinear optical materials, KTP crystals have prominent advantages.However, they also have a high conductivity and become difficult to efficiently control domain-reverse with the conventional method, due to the existence of ionic current. To conquer the difficulty, it is necessary to monitor the polarization-reversal process of KTP crystals in real time. The real-time monitoring method in the fabrication of PPKTP, short for periodically-poled KTiOPO4, is carried out by utilizing electro-optical effect. The principle is analyzed theoretically and the result demonstrates the validity of the method experimentally. Compared with the result without using the monitoring method, the conversion efficiency of PPKTP crystal increases by many times. It is proved that this method can be used to enhance the quality and repeatability of PPKTP fabrication, and is also effective to examine the quality of PPKTP crystals.