Equipping Natural Killer Cells with Specific Targeting and Checkpoint Blocking Aptamers for Enhanced Adoptive Immunotherapy in Solid Tumors

Herein, we propose an aptamer‐equipping strategy to generate specific, universal and permeable (SUPER) NK cells for enhanced immunotherapy in solid tumors. NK cells were chemically equipped with TLS11a aptamer targeting HepG2 cells and PDL1‐specific aptamer without genetic alteration. The dual aptamer‐equipped NK cells exhibited high specificity to tumor cells, resulting in higher cytokine secretion and apoptosis/necrosis compared to parental or single aptamer‐equipped NK cells. Interestingly, dual aptamer‐equipped NK cells induced remarkable upregulation of PDL1 expression in HepG2 cells, enhancing checkpoint blockade. Furthermore, in vivo intravital imaging demonstrated high infiltration of aptamer‐equipped NK cells into deep tumor region, leading to enhanced therapeutic efficacy in solid tumors. This work offers a straightforward chemical strategy to equip NK cells with aptamers, holding considerable potential for enhanced adoptive immunotherapy in solid tumors.     

Biodegradable Black-Phosphorus-Nanosheet-Based Nanoagent for Enhanced Chemo-Photothermal Therapy

Black phosphorus nanosheet (BPNS) is a promising multifunctional material in the biomedical field with biodegradability and low side effects, however its features are always weakened severely owing to its poor stability. Here, a novel method is developed for improving the defect of BPNS based on the effective protection of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), which preserves the stable photothermal therapy (PTT) effect of BPNS and biodegradability of the material. Meanwhile, doxorubicin (DOX) is loaded on BPNS/PLGA to get BPNS/PLGA/DOX for further chemotherapy and preventing the recurrence of tumor after PTT. The presented combined therapeutic strategy exploits the strengths and improves the defects of BPNS, thus developing an efficient and safe nanoagent for cancer therapy, which affords and reveals the great potential of BPNS in nanomedicine.     

Analysis of chloroacetanilide herbicides in water samples by solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method has been developed for the determination of 3 chloroacetanilide herbicides in both fresh and seawater samples. The extracted sample was analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS), and parameters affecting SPME operation including fibre type, sample pH, sample temperature, mixing speed and extraction time have been evaluated and optimized. The amount of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the salt content both affected SPME extraction efficiency, but the presence of other competitive extractants such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the matrix showed no insignificance interference. The limit of detection (LOD) for acetochlor, metolachlor and butachlor were 1.2, 1.6 and 2.7 ng L⁻¹, respectively. The recoveries for the herbicides ranged from 79 to 102%, and the linear dynamic range was from 10 to 1000 ng L⁻¹. The developed method has been used to monitor herbicides contaminations in coastal water samples collected around Laizhou bay and Jiaozhou bay in Shandong peninsula, China. The concentrations of acetochlor and metolachlor ranged from undetectable to 78.5 ng L⁻¹ and undetectable to 35.6 ng L⁻¹, respectively. Butachlor was not observed but in only one sample and the concentration is lower than the limit of quantification (LOQ). The concentrations of the three herbicides in this study are low compared to most of the other places reported.     

加速溶剂萃取技术在中药有效成分分析中的应用

以两种药材为研究实例,对加速溶剂萃取法（ASE）在中药材有效成分提取研究中的应用进行了简要介绍。采用正交试验法考察了提取丹参中丹酚酸B的提取条件（萃取温度、静态萃取时间、萃取溶剂以及料液比）,确定了较好的实验条件。比较了ASE、水蒸气蒸馏法、超声波提取法及索氏提取法对木香挥发油的提取效果,结果表明ASE对木香挥发油的提取效果最好。     

Logic‐Gate‐Actuated DNA‐Controlled Receptor Assembly for the Programmable Modulation of Cellular Signal Transduction

Programming cells to sense multiple inputs and activate cellular signal transduction cascades is of great interest. Although this goal has been achieved through the engineering of genetic circuits using synthetic biology tools, a nongenetic and generic approach remains highly demanded. Herein, we present an aptamer‐controlled logic receptor assembly for modulating cellular signal transduction. Aptamers were engineered as “robotic arms” to capture target receptors (c‐Met and CD71) and a DNA logic assembly functioned as a computer processor to handle multiple inputs. As a result, the DNA assembly brings c‐Met and CD71 into close proximity, thus interfering with the ligand–receptor interactions of c‐Met and inhibiting its functions. Using this principle, a set of logic gates was created that respond to DNA strands or light irradiation, modulating the c‐Met/HGF signal pathways. This simple modular design provides a robust chemical tool for modulating cellular signal transduction.     

四磺基铁酞菁做为过氧化物模拟酶在过氧化氢及葡萄糖测定中的应用

以四磺基铁酞菁（ＦｅＴＳＰｅ）作为过氧化物模拟酶催化Ｈ２Ｏ２与Ｌ－酪氨酸的荧光反应,建立了测定宽含量范围的Ｈ２Ｏ２及葡萄糖的方法。该法的线性范围为０．０－８．０×１０＾５ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,Ｈ２Ｏ２及０．０￣２．０×１０＾－４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ葡萄糖,检测限分别为５．０×１０＾－８ｍｏｌ／Ｌ及６．０×１０＾－６ｍｏｌ／Ｌ,将该经酶催化反应偶联,测定人血清中葡萄糖的含量,取得了满意的结果。     

Nucleic acids analysis

Nucleic acids are natural biopolymers of nucleotides that store, encode, transmit and express genetic information, which play central roles in diverse cellular events and diseases in living things. The analysis of nucleic acids and nucleic acids-based analysis have been widely applied in biological studies, clinical diagnosis, environmental analysis, food safety and forensic analysis.During the past decades, the field of nucleic acids analysis has been rapidly advancing with many technological breakthroughs.In this review, we focus on the methods developed for analyzing nucleic acids, nucleic acids-based analysis, device for nucleic acids analysis, and applications of nucleic acids analysis. The representative strategies for the development of new nucleic acids analysis in this field are summarized, and key advantages and possible limitations are discussed. Finally, a brief perspective on existing challenges and further research development is provided.     

An Ultrasound Activated Vesicle of Janus Au‐MnO Nanoparticles for Promoted Tumor Penetration and Sono‐Chemodynamic Therapy of Orthotopic Liver Cancer

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has the advantages of high penetration, non‐invasiveness, and controllability, and it is suitable for deep‐seated tumors. However, there is still a lack of effective sonosensitizers with high sensitivity, safety, and penetration. Now, ultrasound (US) and glutathione (GSH) dual responsive vesicles of Janus Au‐MnO nanoparticles (JNPs) were coated with PEG and a ROS‐sensitive polymer. Upon US irradiation, the vesicles were disassembled into small Janus Au‐MnO nanoparticles (NPs) with promoted penetration ability. Subsequently, GSH‐triggered MnO degradation simultaneously released smaller Au NPs as numerous cavitation nucleation sites and Mn²⁺ for chemodynamic therapy (CDT), resulting in enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This also allowed dual‐modality photoacoustic imaging in the second near‐infrared (NIR) window and T₁‐MR imaging due to the released Mn²⁺, and inhibited orthotopic liver tumor growth via synergistic SDT/CDT.     

Ultrasound‐Activated Sensitizers and Applications

Modalities for photo‐triggered anticancer therapy are usually limited by their low penetrative depth. Sonotheranostics especially sonodynamic therapy (SDT), which is different from photodynamic therapy (PDT) by the use of highly penetrating acoustic waves to activate a class of sound‐responsive materials called sonosensitizers, has gained significant interest in recent years. The effect of SDT is closely related to the structural and physicochemical properties of the sonosensitizers, which has led to the development of new sound‐activated materials as sonosensitizers for various biomedical applications. This Review provides a summary and discussion of the types of novel sonosensitizers developed in the last few years and outlines their specific designs and the potential challenges. The applications of sonosensitizers with various functions such as for imaging and drug delivery as well as in combination with other treatment modalities would provide new strategies for disease therapy.