High-sensitivity x-ray/optical cross-correlator for next generation free-electron lasers.

We design and realize an arrival time diagnostic for ultrashort X-ray pulses achieving unprecedented high sensitivity in the soft X-ray regime via cross-correlation with a ≈1550 nm optical laser. An interferometric detection scheme is combined with a multi-layer sample design to greatly improve the sensitivity of the measurement. We achieve up to 275% of relative signal change when exposed to 1.6 mJ/cm2 of soft X-rays at 530 eV, more than a hundred-fold improvement in sensitivity as compared to previously reported techniques. The resolution of the arrival time measurement is estimated to around 2.8 fs (rms). The demonstrated X-ray arrival time monitor paves the way for sub-10 fs-level timing jitter at high repetition rate X-ray facilities.

Gap junctions mediate glucose transfer to promote colon cancer growth in three-dimensional spheroid culture.

In vivo tumor growth is characterized by a necrotic core generated by oxygen and nutrients gradients, which is replicated by in vitro three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroids but not traditional two-dimensional cell monolayers. Gap junctions provide direct communication between adjacent cells and play a critical role in cancer development, but their effects are still debatable. In this study, we found that connexin 43 (Cx43) reduced the area of necrotic core in colon cancer 3D spheroids, thus providing a growth advantage. This impact is dependent on gap junction channel functions, as the channel blocker carbenoxolone or connexin channel death mutant reverses this effect. Additionally, enhanced glucose uptake was detected in Cx43-overexpressing spheroids, along with upregulated mTOR, downregulated AMPK signaling, increased ATP content, and enhanced oxygen consumption rate. Furthermore, the xenograft mouse model confirmed the growth advantage of Cx43 in vivo. RNAseq data and clinical information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database indicated a more heterogeneous expression pattern of Cx43 in colon cancer compared to normal colon tissue, and higher Cx43 level is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Our data suggest a novel function of connexin in tumor growth, that gap junctions may provide nutrients transmitting routes in lieu of vasculature to meet the increasing metabolic requirement of solid tumors.

Green design "bioinspired disassembly-reassembly strategy" applied for improved tumor-targeted anticancer drug delivery.

In this study, a simple and green approach 'bioinspired disassembly-reassembly strategy' was employed to reconstitute lipoprotein nanoparticles (RLNs) using whole-components of endogenous ones (contained dehydrated human lipids and native apolipoproteins). These RLNs were engineered to mimic the configuration and properties of natural lipoproteins for efficient drug delivery. In testing therapeutic targeting to microtubules, paclitaxel (PTX) was reassembled into RLNs to achieve improved targeted anti-carcinoma treatment and minimize adverse effects, demonstrating ultimately more applicable than HDL-like particles which are based on exogenous lipid sources. We have characterized that apolipoprotein-decoration of PTX-loaded RLNs (RLNs-PTX) led to favoring uniformly dispersed distribution, increasing PTX-encapsulation with a sustained-release pattern, while enhancing biostability during blood circulation. The innate biological RLNs induced efficient intracellular trafficking of cargos in situ via multi-targeting mechanisms, including scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)-mediated direct transmembrane delivery, as well as other lipoprotein-receptors associated endocytic pathways. The resulting anticancer treatment from RLNs-PTX was demonstrated a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.20µg/mL, cell apoptosis of 18.04% 24h post-incubation mainly arresting G2/M cell cycle in vitro, and tumor weight inhibition of 70.51% in vivo. Collectively, green-step assembly-based RLNs provided an efficient strategy for mediating tumor-targeted accumulation of PTX and enhanced anticancer efficacy.

Self-assembled nanoparticles from hyaluronic acid-paclitaxel prodrugs for direct cytosolic delivery and enhanced antitumor activity.

A prodrug-based nanosystem obtained by formulating prodrug and nanotechnology into a system is one of the most promising strategies to enhance drug delivery for disease treatment. Herein, we report a new nanosystem based on HA-PTX conjugates (HA-PTX Ns), which penetrated across cell membranes into cytosol, thus enhancing paclitaxel (PTX) delivery. HA-PTX Ns were successfully obtained based on HA-PTX, and their average particle size was approximately 200 nm. Importantly, unlike other prodrug-based nanosystems, HA-PTX Ns obtained cellular entry without entrapment within the lysosomal-endosomal system by using pathways including clathrin-mediated endocytosis, microtubule-associated internalization, macropinocytosis and cholesterol-dependence. Due to significant accumulation in tumors, HA-PTX Ns had more than a 4-fold decrease in tumor volume on day 14 in contrast with PTX alone. In conclusion, HA-PTX Ns could enter cells, bypass the lysosomal-endosomal system and improve PTX delivery.

Dual-functional bio-derived nanoparticulates for apoptotic antitumor therapy.

The application of bio-derived nanoparticulates has gained a remarkable degree of interest as a promising sustained-release, site-targeted and completely biodegradable delivery system for chemotherapeutics. We hereby introduce a dual-functionalized biomimetic nanovector, cell-penetrating peptide (CPP)-anchored recombinant high density lipoproteins (cp-rHDL), which affords high payload and improved targeting of gambogic acid (GA), a therapeutic agent for apoptotic antitumor therapy. GA-loaded cp-rHDL nanoparticles (cp-rHDL/GA) consisted of hydrophobic core modulating GA, apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) for attractive integrating and tumor-homing, and lipophilic anchored R6H4 (RRRRRRHHHH, a pH-responsive CPP) offering a pH-controlled penetrating potential. Upon stepwise incubation with apo A-I and R6H4, cp-rHDL/GA presented several merits, including desirable physicochemical properties, superior biostability, and favorable buffering capacity resulting in proton sponge effect. Synergistic intracellular mechanism for scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)-mediated direct transmembrane delivery, and pH-responsive R6H4 associated endocytotic pathway with rapid endo-lysosomal escape was also observed. This tailored cp-rHDL/GA displayed remarkable cytotoxicity and apoptotic effect via triggering p53 pathway, and provided approximately 5-fold increase in IC50 compared to free GA. Moreover, this rational biomimetic therapeutic strategy attained superior tumor accumulation and significant inhibition of tumor growth in HepG2 xenograft tumor animal models without measurable adverse effect. Results of this study demonstrated that bio-derived cp-rHDL/GA presents pH-responsive penetrating potential and efficient cellular internalization. This dual-functionalization model will open an avenue for exploration of multi-functional bio-derived drug delivery, thereby rendering potential broad applications in apoptotic anticancer therapy.