Chlorin e6-1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran polymer hybrid nanoparticles for singlet oxygen-detection photodynamic abaltion.

A dual-functional nanosysterm is developed by means of Chlorin e6 (Ce6) as photosensitizer and 1,3-Diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) as fluorescent singlet oxygen (1O2) probe. Under 660 nm laser irradiation, Ce6 exhibites efficient 1O2 generation, and subsequently the production of 1O2 is assessed by the ratiometric fluorescence of PFO and DPBF under one-photon and two-photon excitation mode. The nanoparticles with excellent biocompatibility can be internalized into Hela cells and applied for tumor treatment. For intracellular PDT, the nanoparticles perform a high phototoxicity, while the PDT proccess can be evaluated in time by monitoring fluorescence signals of DPBF. This theranostic nanosysterm provides a facile strategy to fabricate 1O2-detection PDT, which can realize accurate and efficient photodynamic therapy based on singlet oxygen detection.

Efficacy of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation therapy in patients with refractory diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Owing to the multifactorial nature of the pathogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), conventional drug therapies have not been effective. The application of stem cells transplantation may be useful for the treatment of DPN. This study was designed to assess the safety and therapeutic effects of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) transplantation on the treatment of refractory DPN. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-eight patients with refractory DPN were recruited and enrolled in the study. They received intramuscular injection of BMMNCs and followed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months after the transplantation. Clinical data, Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS), and nerve conduction studies (NCSs) were compared before and after the transplantation. RESULTS: The signs and symptoms of neuropathy were significantly improved after BMMNCs transplantation. The values of the TCSS scores at 1 month (9.68 ±â€Š2.49 vs. 12.55 ±â€Š2.19, P < 0.001) and 3 months (8.47 ±â€Š2.39 vs. 12.55 ±â€Š2.19, P < 0.001) after the treatment reduced significantly compared with the baseline value. This decrement remained persistent until the end of the study. The conduction velocity and action potential and sensory nerves were significantly improved after transplantation (3 and 12 months after the treatment vs. the baseline: motor nerve conduction velocity, 40.24 ±â€Š2.80 and 41.00 ±â€Š2.22 m/s vs. 38.21 ±â€Š2.28 m/s, P < 0.001; sensory nerve conduction velocity, 36.96 ±â€Š2.26 and 39.15 ±â€Š2.61 m/s vs. 40.41 ±â€Š2.22 m/s, P < 0.001; compound muscle action potential, 4.67 ±â€Š1.05 and 5.50 ±â€Š1.20 µV vs. 5.68 ±â€Š1.08 µV, P < 0.001; sensory nerve action potential, 4.29 ±â€Š0.99 and 5.14 ±â€Š1.26 µV vs. 5.41 ±â€Š1.14 µV, P < 0.001). No adverse event associated with the treatment was observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous transplantation of BMMNCs may be an effective and promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of refractory DPN.

Self-assembly of tetrapod-shaped CdS nanostructures into 3D networks by a transverse growth process.

Spontaneous formation of 3D tetrapod-shaped CdS nanostructure networks has been achieved for the first time by vapor diffusion-deposition growth from CdS powders. The growth mechanism of the hexagonal and preferentially oriented CdS tetrapod-shaped nanostructures is a combination of the classic vapor-liquid-solid and vapor-solid processes, and the formation of a 3D network results from the spontaneous growths along the longitudinal and across the axial directions of the primarily formed CdS nanorods. Micro-photoluminescence measurements and near-field scanning optical microscopy investigations show that the synthesized CdS tetrapod networks have an excellent luminescence property and can be used as an optical waveguide cavities in which the guided light can be extremely confined.