Successful gene therapy depends on the design of effective gene delivery systems. A gene delivery system is considered a powerful tool for the release of genetic material within cells resulting in a change in cell functions and protein production. The release of genes in a controlled manner by using appropriate carriers facilitates their release without side effects and increases the expression of

Metronomic chemotherapy, giving low doses of chemotherapeutics (e.g., docetaxel) on a frequent schedule over a long time, may improve outcomes and reduce side effects for cancer patients. Oral medications are vital for applying metronomic chemotherapy. However, low solubility, low absorption, low drug availability in the targeted tissue, and side effects limit the development of oral chemotherapeutics

The current study aims to investigate the possibility of using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) colonography to diagnose colorectal cancer. Gd-FITC-SLNs were synthesized by loading gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) simultaneously. Twenty mice received azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) to induce

The goal of this study was to examine the impact of the mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant peptide, SS31, and its role in promoting autophagy in cone photoreceptor 661W cells that were subjected to oxidative damage. To do so, we examined the viability of 661W cells in the presence of increasing concentrations of H₂O₂ with or without SS31 pre-treatment using the MTT assay and by expression of autophagy

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and nano-sized titanium dioxide (nano-TiO₂), which are used in food production, may be harmful to the body. Long-term exposure to nano-TiO₂ can lead to hepatic injury; however, the effect of nano-TiO₂ on liver fibrosis and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. The TGF-β/Smad/MAPK/Wnt signaling pathway is important for tissue fibrosis. In this study, mice were fed nano-TiO₂

Glial cell line derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of glial cells, serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons. A positively therapeutic effect has been demonstrated on some animal neurodegenerative diseases. However, the inability to deliver the protein across blood brain barrier (BBB) into damaged brain region limits its clinical application. Here

Cellular starvation induced by glucose oxidase (GOx) had been extensively explored as a potential approach for tumor therapy. However, the therapeutic efficacy suffers daunting challenges due to the unsatisfactory intracellular transportation of GOx molecules. Herein for the first time, hydroxide nanoparticles with unique hollow microstructure (denoted as H-NiAl(OH) x ) were designed and synthesized

Fragrances are extensively applied in food, daily chemicals, tobacco and medicine industries. However, too strong volatility of fragrances results in a fast release rate, thereby reducing the usage time of aromatherapy products. Although loading fragrances into nanomaterials is capable of slowing their rates of release, the encapsulation efficiency of traditional nanomaterials is very low, and the

Nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO₂) has been widely used in food and cosmetic industries, and the medical sector. However, nano-TiO₂ is potentially toxic to the reproductive system. Previous research has shown that nano-TiO₂ can reduce sperm concentration but do not yet known whether this effect occurs because of dysfunctional meiosis in spermatogenic cells. In the present paper, we demonstrate that

The lack of neo-cartilage integration with host tissues is a great challenge for the clinical translation of new technologies for the repair of articular cartilage (AC) defect. Recently, we developed a promising double-layered collagen-based system for targeted delivery of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) to the subchondral bone for AC repair. The system effectively promoted the regeneration of both

Developments in the design of lanthanide oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have unleashed a wide variety of biomedical applications. Several types of hepatic cancer cells overexpress two proteins: the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPr), which specifically recognizes the bombesin (BN) peptide, and the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which specifically binds to several peptides that inhibit

Modern wound dressings not only play a covering role but also facilitate the function of the wound, contributing to a faster healing process. In this paper, we present a polyelectrolyte system with nanosized elements that could stimulate the growth of eukaryotic cells while providing antimicrobial properties, which may be recommended as a potential dressing material. The proposed platform consisted

Biomedical sensor that sense different molecules with a high refractive index sensitivity is proposed in this work. Plasmonic nanospiral antenna is mounted on a top surface of an optical fiber to reflect the incident optical signal back to the fiber. The reflected signal depends on the nanospiral antenna material, dimensions and the surrounding medium. Using streptavidin molecule, the nanospiral antenna

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common cancers in developing countries particularly in those aged over 50. Traditional treatment is with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these which often results in considerable discomfort to the patient. Here we describe a potential alternative which employs a near-infrared (NIR) responsive dissolvable microneedle system

Topical ocular drug administration aimed at providing a high drug concentration at the precorneal site accompanied with enhanced corneal permeability to avoid systemic side effects is a very important therapeutic goal in ocular disorder therapy. In the present study, the solubility of the poorly soluble drug celecoxib (CXB) was significantly improved using a facile strategy to generate a high drug

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a recently developed and promising strategy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, apoptosis has been extensively investigated as the mechanism of the underlying effect of PTT on cancer to date. Here, we explored alternative mechanisms of these therapeutic effects, including the activation of cell-cycle arrest and autophagy during PTT in addition

Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a serious challenge of CNS which may oftenly result in permanent paralysis and disability. The disruption of blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB) is a major step in the secondary injury of SCI. Until recently there are no restorative therapies for traumatic SCI. BSCB is considered to be a therapeutic target for SCI, however few biomaterials have been developed to restore

It is urgent to find an avian influenza A H7N9 detection simple method which is suitable for on-site detection. The Cas13a protein just likes a nanomachine, when specifically bound to target RNA by single-stranded RNA (crRNA), changes its protein structure and produces RNase activity, which degrades RNA non-specifically. Harnessing Cas13a, the paper aims to establish an underlying on-site H7N9 virus

The widespread application of nanoparticles causes extensive public concern on their biological safety. However, up to date, few reports have been associated with the impact of metal nanoparticles on gut microbiota in vivo. In this study, gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) were orally administered to BALB/c mice for 7 days, and the dynamic effects of AuNCs on gut microbiota were investigated at 0 h, 4 h, 8

Curcumin (CM) has multiple pharmacological activities including anti-fungal activity, but its clinical application is limited due to low solubility in aqueous media, poor bioavailability and extensive first pass metabolism. We aimed to resolve the limitation and enhance antifungal activity of CM using nanotechnology. Using silk fibroin (SF) as a carrier, we fabricated curcumin-silk fibroin nanoparticles

Chitosan-based hydrogels have been extensively used for tissue regeneration due to the excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. For lack of endogenous extracellular biomacromolecules, its application is obviously limited. Because of robust biological activity, porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) has been considered as promising candidates to increase the bioactivity of hydrogels. Herein

People have been looking for tissue engineering approaches to treat large segment bone defects as replacements of autologous bone method. Cell-seeded scaffolds are promising candidates, but lack of vascularization into the scaffolds has greatly hindered their applications. To address this problem, we used a co-culture of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and endothelial progenitor

ZrO₂-NPs are widely applied in industry, biomedicine and dentistry, e.g., foundry sands, refractories, ceramics dental prostheses, dental implant coatings and bone defect restorative materials. To date, little information is available on the potential adverse effects and toxic mechanism in human organs associated with exposure to ZrO₂-NPs. The biodistribution of ZrO₂-NPs and the consequent oxidative

Colorectal cancer has become the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, which has posed challenges to current conventional therapies. Hence, we propose an alternative approach to the existing therapeutics for colorectal cancer treatment. In this work, we prepared thermosensitive micelles based on poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(caprolactone)poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PCL-PEG, PECE) copolymers (PAL-micelles)

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of nosocomial intestinal diseases and produces considerable morbidity and mortality among inpatients globally. The increasing incidence of CDI, especially of its severe cases, creates a growing financial burden internationally. The pathogen responsible for CDI, C. difficile, is an anaerobic, spore-bearing Gram-positive bacillus that colonizes

In recent years, liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy (LC-TEM) has been developed as in-situ, dynamic characterization of nanoscale materials in the liquid, although the state-of-art focus is heavy materials such as metals, and alloys. Herein we present a practical and stable liquid cell fabricated with standard micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) processes on silicon wafers. The liquid cell is

An effective local drug delivery system remains an urgently needed product for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis in the clinic. In this study, we developed an antibacterial functionalization bone graft by immobilizing levofloxacin hydrochloride-loaded mesoporous silica microspheres (LFH @ MSNs) on the surface of a nanohydroxyapatite/polyurethane (n-HA/PU) bioactive composite scaffold. Through

Procedures for enrichment, isolation and purification of exosomes from complex biological samples are difficult, tedious, non-standardized, and require bulky instrumentation such as ultracentrifugation (UC). In this article, a simple method for isolating exosomes. Size-Selective Method (SSM) was established based on commercially available materials, and the UC and ExoQuick-TC kits (EQkit) methods were

In this study, was evaluated the chemical composition of a fraction from Syngonanthus nitens extract and its antimicrobial potential unloaded (Fr3) and loaded (F9Fr3) into a nanoemulsion (F9) composed of cholesterol as the oil phase (10%), polyoxyethylene 20-cetyl ether and soy phosphatidylcholine (2:1) as surfactant (20%), and a solution of phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) plus chitosan polymer dispersion

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common human pathogen that causes several nosocomial chronic infections. Many methods have been reported to detect Klebsiella pneumonia; however, a simple, rapid, and visual method remains to be developed. Here, we developed a rapid, visual detection method employing a nanoparticle immunosensor (NPIS) with a sensitivity of 8 CFU mL-1. Two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing

A primerless amplification suitable for enrichment of particular genotype cfDNA which is a one-dimensional material has been developed. This primerless amplification coordinated by two thermostable enzymes of endonuclease and proofreading polymerase, functions as a genotype switch in analyzing cfDNA. The endonuclease digests the wild-typed fragments into mega-primer and discriminately destroys the

The immune checkpoint molecule B7-H4 is highly expressed in various types of cancer, but little is known about its role in the development of cervical lesions associated with human papilloma virus (HPV). This study aimed to investigate the role of B7-H4 in cervical lesion progression and the relationship between B7-H4 and HPV infection. This was a retrospective study of tissue samples from 30 patients

In clinical diagnosis and treatment, it is very important to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells. Nuclear-selective fluorescent probe that specifically target tumors can not only make the difference in assessing tumor margins during surgery and then facilitating accurate resection of the tumor, but also can provide crucial biomedical information of tumor progress if it can be used for long-term

Dendritic cell (DC)-based tumor vaccines are a promising immunotherapeutic method of cancer treatment. However, their therapeutic applications are significantly limited by their weak immunogenicity, costly culturing steps, and easily degradable properties. Thus, the anti-tumor activity for the vaccines should be improved. In this study, a novel lipid nanoparticle (M/CpG-ODN-H22-Lipo) was developed

Scaffolds for stem cell-based therapy of cartilage defect require bioactivity and stiffness mimicking to the native cartilage matrix. In this study, we fabricated electrospun nanofibers composited of cartilage matrix components (collagen or chondroitin sulfate) and poly(ε-caprolactone)-polytetrahydrofuran (PCL-PTHF). PCL-PTHF with rat tail derived collagen was named PR and PCL-PTHF with chondroitin

Polyethylene glycol-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PEG-PLGA) nanoparticles coated with neutrophil membranes were fabricated to afford a bio-mimicking delivery system and achieve targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics towards malignant melanoma via systemic administration. Using celastrol as the model compound, celastrol-loaded PEG-PLGA nanoparticles coated with neutrophil membranes displayed significantly

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can turn human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection into a controllable chronic disease, but because of the presence of an HIV reservoir, it cannot completely eliminate the virus in HIV-infected patients. The activation of latent reservoirs is the key to the successful treatment of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). As a class of latency-reversing

Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) overexpression is found in various human tumors and has emerged as a promising new target for pancreatic cancer treatment. Recent research has found that most pancreatic cancers develop resistance to the current first-line chemotherapeutic drug, gemcitabine (Gem), and high expression of Mcl-1 can reduce the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to Gem chemotherapy.

Currently, there are approximately 170 million hyperuricemia patients in China. Conventional drug therapy has limited clinical benefits and may induce serious side effects. Enzyme replacement therapy has attracted much attention owing to its advantages of strong specificity, small dosage, and remarkable curative effect. Uricase is an efficient oxidase, which can oxidize uric acid to allantoin and hydrogen

In contrast to systemic chemotherapy, the local administration of chemotherapeutics potentially optimizes their accumulation in the tumor tissues and alleviates the associated systemic toxicity. However, the lack of control over the release of encapsulated drugs and their degradation represents a major challenge for local drug delivery systems. In this study, we developed a series of epirubicin (EPI)-loaded

In this work, we report an amperometric immunosensor for detecting Hepatitis B surface antigen based on ChitosanFerrocene-Ammoniated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CS-Fc-AMWNTs). The CS-Fc-AMWNTs nanocomposites were produced by Schiff base reaction, providing not only large specific surface area, but also favorable conductivity and outstanding biocompatibility. HBsAb was modified on electrode surface

Electrical or mechanical stimulation has been applied widely in bone fracture treatment or bone tissue construction. The effect of combined mechanical and electrical stimulation to osteoblasts or bone tissue has not been deeply studied, which would provide a more actual simulation of in vivo microenvironment. In this study, a cell culture device that can simultaneously load mechanical and electrical

The application of terahertz imaging in biomedical diagnostics is limited by the poor imaging contrast due to the strong absorption of terahertz waves by water molecules in the living body. To resolve this problem, gold nanorods (GNRs) have been considered as a possible contrast agent. However, the conventional preparation of GNRs requires using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a stabilizing

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs) were placed in the spotlight lately due to their excellent biocompatibility and the possibility to tailor their magnetic properties making them useful in a plethora of bioapplications, including magnetic resonance imaging and targeted nanoplatforms for anticancer drugs delivery. The aim of the present study consisted in achieving a toxicological profile of

The current study reports on a cross-priming amplification (CPA) scheme that utilizes antarctic thermal sensitive uracilDNA-glycosylase (AUDG) for simultaneous detection of nucleic acids and prevention of carryover contamination. Amplification products were applied in a nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor (LFB). The method shows attractive features in that it only requires the use of a labeled

The possibility of composite nanofibers being able to regenerate bone is an attractive proposition. Adenosine, which occurs naturally in humans, has been shown to promote the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoprogenitor cells. In this study, electrospun nanofibers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHBV) doped with adenosine were demonstrated to exhibit

The recent studies on fluorapatite and hydroxyapatite, in the context of their medical applications, have shown that the former has relatively higher thermal stability and better mechanical properties than the latter. Moreover, the presence of fluoride ions is relevant for protection of teeth from dental caries since they stimulate processes of mineralization and crystallization. In this report, a

Numerous studies have suggested that nano-TiO₂ can be translocated to the brain via the placental barrier and blood brain barrier, leading to brain damage and cognitive impairment in both mice and rat offspring. The mechanism of nanoTiO₂-induced neurotoxicity is still unclear, as is its role in the inhibition of hippocampal development. In this experiment, nano-TiO₂ was employed to investigate whether

Purpose: The aim of this study was to synthesize bevacizumab-loaded nanoparticles and evaluate their effects on the treatment of posterior segment diseases via subtenon injections. Methods: Bevacizumab-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (BLCNs) were synthesized by the ionic gelation method, and their physicochemical characteristics and in vitro release profile were studied. The BLCNs were characterized

Integrating the functions of bioimaging, targeting and controlled release of therapeutic agents into a single nanoparticle is of great interests in nanomedicine and nanobiology. Herein, a cis -diol/pH dual-responsive upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based theranostic platform has been developed for delivery of the anticancer drug to cancer cells. This nanoplatform is based on the strategic design of

Development of bone tissue engineering has provided a promising method for bone rehabilitation. Tissue engineering scaffolds with magnetic or conductive properties may conduct electric or magnetic signals and bring out synergetic promoting effect to cells growth. In this work, polypyrrole (PPy)/Fe₃O₄/polylactic acid-glycolic acid (PLGA) magnetic-conductive bifunctional fibrous scaffolds were prepared

Upconverting Gd₂O₃:Yb, Tm nanoparticles that can provide photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer cells upon 980 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation are prepared. The nanoparticles emit bright blue upconversion fluorescence (470∼520 nm) when excited by a 980 nm laser. A well-selected PDT drug, merocyanine 540 (MC540), which shows an absorption maximum within the 495∼540 nm band, is loaded onto the

In this study, the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO-NP) exposure on the endothelial barrier and the pathway of ZnO-NPs to cross the endothelial barrier were examined. C57 mice were exposed to ZnO-NPs (1.2 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg body weight) and ZnSO₄ (3.6 mg/kg). Zinc biodistribution and toxicity tests, including H&E staining, TUNEL and 8-OHdG IHC staining of highly vascularized organs (liver, kidney

Human Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (hWIF-1), as an anti-oncogene, holds great promise for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy. However, the clinical application of hWIF-1 in cancer therapy is limited by elimination and degradation of free hWIF-1 in vivo. Therefore, it is necessary to develop safe and effective gene delivery vectors for hWIF-1 delivery in vivo. In this paper, we synthesized a novel

In this study, a cell-penetrating peptide named Acylated Steric acid-9 poly-arginine (r9-SA) was sucessfully synthesized. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) were used to characterize the structural formula of r9-SA. Diclofenac sodium was chosen as a model drug, and the transdermal permeation-enhancing effect of r9-SA was estimated in vitro. Skin irritation experiment

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide and the third most common in Asia, with a high mortality. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new treatment for cancer. With advantages of minimum invasiveness, small adverse side effects and high selectivity, PDT can be used as palliative treatment for patients with advanced gastric cancer. YLG I, also known as 2-(1 hexyloxyethyl)-2-devinyl porphin

The treatments of oral candidiasis involve azole-based antifungals; however, the fungal resistance of these drug compounds has been detected in worldwide. Therefore, the discovery of new molecules from natural sources, such as curcumin, has been reported for the treatment of fungal diseases. However, this drug has poor solubility in aqueous solvents and presents low bioavailability. Thus, the system

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal tumor that is characterized by a marked fibro-inflammatory microenvironment, presence of which can promote cancer progression. Few therapeutic options exist for pancreatic cancer, thus identification of pathways for targeting remains paramount. Specific p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors have been believed to improve prognosis of cancer, but

The increasing demand of organ transplantation and the frequent occurrence of transplant rejection necessitate the development of new therapies. Immunosuppressant marks an effective therapeutic strategy but is usually impeded by its toxicity, untargeted delivery to draining lymph node. The emergence of nanoformulations provides a possibly way to address these challenges. In this work, we prepared a

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious threat to human health. Stem cells can serve as ideal seed cells for myocardial repair and regeneration; however, insufficient homing to the infarcted areas and poor myocardial differentiation limit their further clinical application. Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12) is an important stem cell homing factor, and Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2)