Self-Assembled CuCo2S4 Nanoparticles for Efficient Chemo-Photothermal Therapy of Arterial Inflammation

Cardiovascular disease caused by atherosclerosis (AS) seriously affects human health. Photothermal therapy (PTT) brings hope to the diagnosis and treatment of AS, with the development of nanotechnology. To improve treatment efficiency, self-assembled CuCo₂S₄ nanocrystals (NCs) were developed as a drug-delivery nanocarrier, triggered by near-infrared (NIR) light for efficient chemophotothermal therapy of arterial inflammation. The as-prepared self-assembled CuCo₂S₄ NCs exhibited excellent biocompatibility and a very high chloroquine (CL)-loading content. In addition, the self-assembled CuCo₂S₄ NCs/CL nanocomposites showed good photothermal performance, due to strong absorption in the NIR region, and the release of CL from the NCs/CL nanocomposites was driven by NIR light. When illuminated by NIR light, both PTT from the NCs and chemotherapy from the CL were simultaneously triggered, resulting in killing macrophages with a synergistic effect. Moreover, chemo-photothermal therapy with CuCo₂S₄ NCs/CL nanocomposites showed an effective therapeutic effect for arterial inflammation, in vivo. Our work demonstrated that chemo-photothermal therapy could be a promising strategy for the treatment of arterial inflammation against atherosclerosis.     

Efficacy of Biologically Active Food Supplements for People with Atherosclerotic Vascular Changes

The current paper deals with the development of a new biologically active food supplement (BAFS) aimed at treating atherosclerosis. Since atherosclerosis is considered to be a disease of aging, the composition of the supplement includes such essential minerals as magnesium and potassium, which are commonly used to prevent atherosclerosis, as well as vitamins C, E and the B-group vitamins in order to address the needs of the elderly. The authors outline the supplement-manufacturing technology and discuss the clinical trial undertaken by patients, aged about 60 years, with peripheral atherosclerosis. The research methodology focuses on studying the effectiveness of the developed supplement by assessing the influence of the active ingredients on treating metabolic disorders. To establish the efficacy of the supplement, blood tests, ultrasound and physical examinations were applied. The combination therapy resulted in improved metabolism and an overall better performance of the cardiovascular system; therefore, the BASF can be recommended as part of combination therapy to prevent and treat atherosclerotic and age-related changes in blood vessels.     

Application of Cleavable Linkers to Improve Therapeutic Index of Radioligand Therapies

Radioligand therapy (RLT) is an emergent drug class for cancer treatment. The dose administered to cancer patients is constrained by the radiation exposure to normal tissues to maintain an appropriate therapeutic index. When a radiopharmaceutical or its radiometabolite is retained in the kidneys, radiation dose deposition in the kidneys can become a dose-limiting factor. A good exemplar is [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTATATE, where patients receive a co-infusion of basic amino acids for nephroprotection. Besides peptides, there are other classes of targeting vectors like antibody fragments, antibody mimetics, peptidomimetics, and small molecules that clear through the renal pathway. In this review, we will review established and emerging strategies that can be used to mitigate radiation-induced nephrotoxicity, with a focus on the development and incorporation of cleavable linkers for radiopharmaceutical designs. Finally, we offer our perspectives on cleavable linkers for RLT, highlighting future areas of research that will help advance the technology.     

Recent Progress in Type I Aggregation-Induced Emission Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy

In modern medicine, precision diagnosis and treatment using optical materials, such as fluorescence/photoacoustic imaging-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT), are becoming increasingly popular. Photosensitizers (PSs) are the most important component of PDT. Different from conventional PSs with planar molecular structures, which are susceptible to quenching effects caused by aggregation, the distinct advantages of AIE fluorogens open up new avenues for the development of image-guided PDT with improved treatment accuracy and efficacy in practical applications. It is critical that as much of the energy absorbed by optical materials is dissipated into the pathways required to maximize biomedical applications as possible. Intersystem crossing (ISC) represents a key step during the energy conversion process that determines many fundamental optical properties, such as increasing the efficiency of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production from PSs, thus enhancing PDT efficacy. Although some review articles have summarized the accomplishments of various optical materials in imaging and therapeutics, few of them have focused on how to improve the phototherapeutic applications, especially PDT, by adjusting the ISC process of organic optics materials. In this review, we emphasize the latest advances in the reasonable design of AIE-active PSs with type I photochemical mechanism for anticancer or antibacterial applications based on ISC modulation, as well as discuss the future prospects and challenges of them. In order to maximize the anticancer or antibacterial effects of type I AIE PSs, it is the aim of this review to offer advice for their design with the best energy conversion.     

聚乙烯醇载银海绵的制备及界面光热驱动水蒸发性能

利用光热材料的太阳能水蒸发技术是一种绿色、 环保地解决淡水资源短缺的重要技术, 但光热材料的制备成本、 蒸发效率和热损失等因素限制了其推广应用. 本文采用一锅法制备了聚乙烯醇载银海绵(AgNPs/PVA)太阳能界面蒸发器, 并研究了AgNPs含量对AgNPs/PVA在太阳能驱动水蒸发过程中光热性能的影响. 研究结果表明, 当AgNPs的质量为PVA的10%时, 制备的AgNPs/PVA在1 kW/m ²的太阳光强度下具有最优的蒸发速率, 水蒸发速率可达1.62 kg?m ^?2?h ^?1, 为纯水(0.42 kg?m ^?2?h ^?1)的3.9倍. 本文制备的AgNPs/PVA具有制备工艺简单、 亲水性能优良和蒸发性能良好的特点, 在太阳能驱动水蒸发领域具有较大的应用前景.     

小分子基温敏聚合物纳米粒子的制备及在近红外二区荧光成像与光热治疗中的应用

以有机小分子4,9-二(5-9H-芴-2-基-噻吩-2-基)-6',7-联苯[1,2,5]噻二唑并[3,4-g]喹喔啉(TQF)为前驱体, 通过化学方法将其修饰为可引发可逆加成-断裂链转移聚合(RAFT)反应的小分子链转移剂TQF-苯基硫代链 转移剂（CTA）. 以TQF-CTA为链转移剂, 以偶氮二异丁腈为引发剂, 引发N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPAAm)和 甲基丙烯酸寡聚乙二醇酯(OEGMA)发生RAFT聚合反应, 合成了具有良好水溶性和较低临界溶解温度(LCST)的小分子基共聚物[TQF-P(NIPAAm-co-OEGMA), TPNO]. 将其直接溶于水中可制备成温敏的球形纳米粒子 TPNO NPs. 研究结果表明, TPNO NPs在温度大于LCST(35 ℃)时表现出一个明显的粒径变化和显著的荧光 增强行为(2.2倍), 并成功实现了对活体小鼠血管与肿瘤的明亮近红外二区(NIR-Ⅱ)荧光成像(FI). 同时, TPNO NPs有着良好的光热转换效率(PCE=29.8%), 通过体外细胞实验证明了其对细胞具有较好的光热治疗(PTT)效果.     

Natural Polyphenols for Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent and serious gastrointestinal malignancy with high mortality and morbidity. Chemoprevention refers to a newly emerged strategy that uses drugs with chemopreventive properties to promote antioxidation, regulate cancer cell cycle, suppress proliferation, and induce cellular apoptosis, so as to improve cancer treatment outcomes. Natural polyphenols are currently recognized as a class of chemopreventive agents that have shown remarkable anticarcinogenic properties. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have elucidated the anti-CRC mechanisms of natural polyphenols, such as regulation of various molecular and signaling pathways. Natural polyphenols are also reportedly capable of modulating the gut microbiota and cancer stem cells (CSCs) to suppress tumor formation and progression. Combined use of different natural polyphenols is recommended due to their low bioavailability and instability, and combination treatment can exert synergistical effects, reduce side effects, and avoid drug resistance in CRC treatment. In summary, the application of polyphenols in the chemoprevention and treatment of CRC is promising. Further clinical evaluation of their effectiveness is warranted and anticipated.     

抗肿瘤缺氧诱导因子-1的小分子抑制剂

肿瘤的缺氧微环境与其增殖、分化、血管生成、能量代谢、耐药性的发生以及患者预后状况密切相关。缺氧诱导因子1(Hypoxia-inducible factor 1, HIF-1)是细胞适应缺氧环境的重要转录因子和调控蛋白,通过调控下游靶基因如EPO、VEGF、GLUT等的表达,促进血管新生及有氧糖酵解以适应缺氧的环境,进而影响肿瘤细胞代谢、血管生成和肿瘤转移等。因此,开发以HIF-1为靶标的小分子抑制剂药物有望成为一种有效的肿瘤治疗方法。本文就HIF-1小分子抑制剂在肿瘤学研究中的进展进行综述,旨在为靶向HIF-1抗肿瘤药物的研发提供新思路。     

Advances in photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) combine light and photosensitizers to treat cancers and microbial infections, respectively. In PACT, the excitation of a photosensitizer drug with appropriate light generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that kill pathogens in the proximity of the drug. PACT has considerably advanced with new light sources, biocompatible photosensitizers, bioconjugate methods, and efficient ROS production. The PACT technology has evolved to compete with or replace antibiotics, reducing the burden of antibiotic resistance. This review updates recent advances in PACT, with special references to light sources, photosensitizers, and emerging applications to microbial infestations. We also discuss PACT applied to COVID-19 causing SARS-CoV-2 treatment and disinfecting food materials and water. Finally, we discuss the pathogen selectivity and efficiency of PACT.