The Chemo-Immunotherapeutic Roles of Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicle-Based Paclitaxel Delivery System in Hepatocarcinoma.

As a first-line chemotherapeutic agent, albumin-bound paclitaxel (PA) has a considerable effect on the treatment of various cancers. However, in chemotherapy for hepatocarcinoma, the sensitivity to PA is low owing to the innate resistance of hepatocarcinoma cells; the toxicity and side effects are severe, and the clinical treatment impact is poor. In this study, we present a unique nanodrug delivery system. The ultraviolet (UV)-induced tumor-cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) were isolated and purified by differential centrifugation. Then, PA was loaded by coextrusion to create a vesicle drug delivery system (EVPA). By employing the EV-dependent enhanced retention effect and specific homing effect, EVPA would passively and actively target tumor tissues, activate the immune response to release PA, and achieve the combination therapeutic effect of chemo-immunotherapy on hepatocarcinoma. We demonstrated that the tumor-killing effect of EVPA is superior to that of PA, both in vivo and in vitro and that EVPA can be effectively taken up by hepatocarcinoma and dendritic cells, activate the body's specific immune response, promote the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in tumor tissues, and exert a precise killing effect on hepatocarcinoma cells via chemo-immunotherapy.

Enhanced-permeability delivery system for hydroxyl radical-responsive NIR-II fluorescence-monitored thrombolytic therapy.

Pathological thrombus can cause serious acute diseases that present a significant threat to human health, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Challenges remain in achieving effective thrombolysis and real-time monitoring of therapeutic effects while minimizing side effects. Herein,a multifunctional nanoplatform (TG-OPDEA@UK/MnO2-H1080) with enhanced thrombus-permeability was developed to monitor the therapeutic effect of antioxidant-thrombolysis by hydroxyl radical-responsive NIR-II fluorescence imaging. The polyzwitterion poly (oxidized N,N-Diethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl methacrylate) (OPDEA) was prepared as the matrix of nanoparticles to simultaneously loading urokinase (UK) and MnO2 QDs, as well as NIR-II fluorescent molecule, H-1080. Subsequently, the fibrin targeted peptide CREKA was modified on the surface of the nanoparticles. OPDEA exhibits efficient loading capacity while endowing nanoparticles with the ability to effectively increased penetration depth of UK by 94.1 % into the thrombus, for extensive thrombolysis and fluorescence monitoring. The loaded UK exhibited good thrombolytic effect and greatly reduced the risk of bleeding by 82.6 %. TG-OPDEA@UK/MnO2-H1080 showed good thrombolytic efficacy and specific thrombus monitoring in the mouse carotid artery thrombosis model induced by ferric chloride (FeCl3). This work prepares a nanoplatform for thrombolytic therapy and real-time efficacy assessment based on an independent externally forced thrombus penetration delivery strategy.

Novel Metal-Free Nanozyme for Targeted Imaging and Inhibition of Atherosclerosis via Macrophage Autophagy Activation to Prevent Vulnerable Plaque Formation and Rupture.

Atherosclerosis is a primary cause of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, with the unpredictable rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques enriched with lipid-laden macrophages being able to lead to heart attacks and strokes. Activating macrophage autophagy presents itself as a promising strategy for preventing vulnerable plaque formation and reducing the risk of rupture. In this study, we have developed a novel metal-free nanozyme (HCN@DS) that integrates the functions of multimodal imaging-guided therapy for atherosclerosis. HCN@DS has demonstrated high macrophage-targeting abilities due to its affinity toward scavenger receptor A (SR-A), along with excellent photoacoustic and photothermal imaging capabilities for guiding the precise treatment. It combines mild photothermal effects with moderate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to treat atherosclerosis. This controlled approach activates autophagy in atherosclerotic macrophages, inhibiting foam cell formation by reducing the uptake of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) and promoting efferocytosis and cholesterol efflux in macrophages. Additionally, it prevents plaque rupture by inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation within the plaque. Therefore, this metal-free nanozyme holds great potential for reducing the risk of atherosclerosis due to its high biosafety, excellent targeting ability, dual-modality imaging capability, and appropriate modulation of autophagy.

Development of a Controllable Intelligent Drug Delivery System for Efficient Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex inflammatory disease of the joints, which is often accompanied by degeneration of articular cartilage and bone erosion, seriously affecting the quality of life and psychological state of patients. RA is difficult to be cured completely, and currently the main purpose of relief is through the use of anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic drugs, hormones, and biological agents. Tofacitib is a new type of small molecule inhibitor, which has a good effect in the treatment of RA. The current direct drug delivery method has serious side effects caused by the systemic distribution of the drug, so there is a need to develop an intelligent drug delivery system to realize precise treatment. In this work, tofacitib, gallic acid, targeted molecule folic acid, and Fe(III) were selected to assemble a novel type of artificial controllable nanodrug GF-TF. The self-photoacoustic/magnetic resonance imaging (self-PA/MRI) monitored the enrichment of GF-TF in the lesion in real-time, and artificially regulated the addition of deferoxamine (DFO) at the optimal enrichment. DFO strongly chelates Fe(III) in GF-TF and causes its structure to disintegrate gradually, and the self-PA/MRI signal of GF-TF became weaker while tofacitib began to be released, thus realizing the precise and artificially controlled release of the drug under the guidance of imaging. This nanodrug not only achieves efficient aggregation of drugs in inflamed joints, but also achieves real-time monitoring and precise control of drug release through self-PA/MRI, providing a new strategy for the precise treatment of RA.

Ce12V6 Clusters with Multi-Enzymatic Activities for Sepsis Treatment.

Artificial enzymes, especially nanozymes, have attracted wide attention due to their controlled catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. The rising Cerium-based nanozymes exhibit unique SOD-like activity, and Vanadium-based nanozymes always hold excellent GPx-like activity. However, most inflammatory diseases involve polymerase biocatalytic processes that require multi-enzyme activities. The nanocomposite can fulfill multi-enzymatic activity simultaneously, but large nanoparticles (>10 nm) cannot be excreted rapidly, leading to biosafety challenges. Herein, atomically precise Ce12V6 clusters with a size of 2.19 nm are constructed. The Ce12V6 clusters show excellent glutathione peroxidase (GPx) -like activity with a significantly lower Michaelis-Menten constant (Km, 0.0125 mM versus 0.03 mM of natural counterpart) and good activities mimic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). The Ce12V6 clusters exhibit the ability to scavenge the ROS including O2 ·- and H2O2 via the cascade reactions of multi-enzymatic activities. Further, the Ce12V6 clusters modulate the proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and consequently rescue the multi-organ failure in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis mouse model. With excellent biocompatibility, the Ce12V6 clusters show promise in the treatment of sepsis.

Soft Crawling Microrobot Based on Flexible Optoelectronics Enabling Autonomous Phototaxis in Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments.

Many organisms move directly toward light for prey hunting or navigation, which is called phototaxis. Mimicking this behavior in robots is crucially important in the energy industry and environmental exploration. However, the phototaxis robots with rigid bodies and sensors still face challenges in adapting to unstructured environments, and the soft phototaxis robots often have high requirements for light sources with limited locomotion performance. Here, we report a 3.5 g soft microrobot that can perceive the azimuth angle of light sources and exhibit rapid phototaxis locomotion autonomously enabled by three-dimensional flexible optoelectronics and compliant shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators. The optoelectronics is assembled from a planar patterned flexible circuit with miniature photodetectors, introducing the self-occlusion to light, resulting in high sensing ability (error < 3.5°) compared with the planar counterpart. The actuator produces a straightening motion driven by an SMA wire and is then returned to a curled shape by a prestretched elastomer layer. The actuator exhibits rapid actuation within 0.1 s, a significant degree of deformation (curvature change of ∼87 m-1) and a blocking force of ∼0.4 N, which is 68 times its own weight. Finally, we demonstrated the robot is capable of autonomously crawling toward a moving light source in a hybrid aquatic-terrestrial environment without human intervention. We envision that our microrobot could be widely used in autonomous light tracking applications.

Multienzyme Active Nanozyme for Efficient Sepsis Therapy through Modulating Immune and Inflammation Inhibition.

Sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated immune response to infection, leads to systemic inflammation, immune dysfunction, and multiorgan damage. Various oxidoreductases play a very important role in balancing oxidative stress and modulating the immune response, but they are stored inconveniently, environmentally unstable, and expensive. Herein, we develop multifunctional artificial enzymes, CeO2 and Au/CeO2 nanozymes, exhibiting five distinct enzyme-like activities, namely, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxidase, and oxidase. These artificial enzymes have been used for the biocatalytic treatment of sepsis via inhibiting inflammation and modulating immune responses. These nanozymes significantly reduce reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory cytokines, achieving multiorgan protection. Notably, CeO2 and Au/CeO2 nanozymes with enzyme-mimicking activities can be particularly effective in restoring immunosuppression and maintaining homeostasis. The redox nanozyme offers a promising dual-protective strategy against sepsis-induced inflammation and organ dysfunction, paving the way for biocatalytic-based immunotherapies for sepsis and related inflammatory diseases.

Color-coded parametric imaging support display of vessel hemorrhage-an in vitro experiment and clinical validation study.

Background: Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) is currently the most effective diagnostic method for vascular diseases, but it is still subject to various factors, resulting in uncertain diagnosis. Therefore, a new technology is needed to help clinical doctors improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. Purpose: The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of utilizing color-coded parametric imaging techniques on the accuracy of identifying active bleeding through DSA, the widely accepted standard for diagnosing vascular disorders. Methods: Several variables can delay the diagnosis and treatment of active bleeding with DSA. To resolve this, we carried out an in vitro simulation experiment to simulate vascular hemorrhage and utilized five color-coded parameters (area under curve, time to peak, time-of-arrival, transit time, and flow rate of contrast agent) to determine the optimal color coding parameters. We then verified it in a clinical study. Results: Five different color-coded parametric imaging methods were compared and the time-of-arrival color coding was the most efficient technique for diagnosing active hemorrhage, with a statistically significant advantage (P < 0.001). In clinical study, 135 patients (101 with confirmed bleeding and 34 with confirmed no bleeding) were collected. For patients whose bleeding could not be determined using DSA alone (55/101) and whose no bleeding could not be diagnosed by DSA alone (35/55), the combination of time-of-arrival color parametric imaging was helpful for diagnosis, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01). Conclusions: The time-of-arrival color coding imaging method is a valuable tool for detecting active bleeding. When combined with DSA, it improves the visual representation of active hemorrhage and improves the efficiency of diagnosis.

Corrigendum to "Hypoxia-triggered degradable porphyrinic covalent organic framework for synergetic photodynamic and photothermal therapy of cancer" [Mater. Today Bio 25, 2024, 100981].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.100981.].

Deep learning for colorectal cancer detection in contrast-enhanced CT without bowel preparation: a retrospective, multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-enhanced CT scans provide a means to detect unsuspected colorectal cancer. However, colorectal cancers in contrast-enhanced CT without bowel preparation may elude detection by radiologists. We aimed to develop a deep learning (DL) model for accurate detection of colorectal cancer, and evaluate whether it could improve the detection performance of radiologists. METHODS: We developed a DL model using a manually annotated dataset (1196 cancer vs 1034 normal). The DL model was tested using an internal test set (98 vs 115), two external test sets (202 vs 265 in 1, and 252 vs 481 in 2), and a real-world test set (53 vs 1524). We compared the detection performance of the DL model with radiologists, and evaluated its capacity to enhance radiologists' detection performance. FINDINGS: In the four test sets, the DL model had the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) ranging between 0.957 and 0.994. In both the internal test set and external test set 1, the DL model yielded higher accuracy than that of radiologists (97.2% vs 86.0%, p < 0.0001; 94.9% vs 85.3%, p < 0.0001), and significantly improved the accuracy of radiologists (93.4% vs 86.0%, p < 0.0001; 93.6% vs 85.3%, p < 0.0001). In the real-world test set, the DL model delivered sensitivity comparable to that of radiologists who had been informed about clinical indications for most cancer cases (94.3% vs 96.2%, p > 0.99), and it detected 2 cases that had been missed by radiologists. INTERPRETATION: The developed DL model can accurately detect colorectal cancer and improve radiologists' detection performance, showing its potential as an effective computer-aided detection tool. FUNDING: This study was supported by National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (No. 81925023); Regional Innovation and Development Joint Fund of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U22A20345); National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82072090 and No. 82371954); Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Image Analysis and Application (No. 2022B1212010011); High-level Hospital Construction Project (No. DFJHBF202105).

Melanin Nanoparticle-Modified Probiotics for Targeted Synergistic Therapy of Ulcerative Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent chronic mucosal inflammation disease whose most significant pathological characteristics are intestinal inflammation and damaged mucosal barrier induced by reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, abnormal immune microenvironment, and intestinal microecological imbalance. Oral probiotics are a living therapy for intestinal diseases, but their clinical application is hindered by poor bacterial biological activity and insufficient intestinal retention. Here, we developed a targeted oral formulation, functionalized probiotic Lf@MPB, with Lactobacillus fermentum (Lf) as the core and modified melanin nanoparticles (MNPs) on its surface through a click reaction of tricarboxyphenylboronic acid for synergistic therapy of UC. In vitro experiments showed that Lf@MPB not only possessed strong free radical scavenging ability, reduced cellular mitochondrial polarization, and inhibited apoptosis but also significantly enhanced the viability of Lf probiotics in simulated gastrointestinal fluid. Fluorescence imaging in vivo revealed the high accumulation of Lf@MPB at the site of intestinal inflammation in dextran sulfate sodium-induced UC mice. Moreover, in vivo results demonstrated that Lf@MPB effectively alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory response and restored the intestinal barrier. In addition, 16S rRNA gene sequencing verified that Lf@MPB could increase the abundance and diversity of intestinal microbial communities and optimize microbial composition to inhibit the progression of UC. This work combines effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory strategies with the oral administration of functionalized probiotics to provide a promising alternative for UC treatment.

Biodegradable Cascade-Amplified Nanotheranostics for Photoacoustic-Guided Synergistic PTT/CDT/Starvation Antitumor in the NIR-II Window.

The development of nanoassemblies, activated by the tumor microenvironment, capable of generating photothermal therapy (PTT) and amplifying the "ROS (·OH) storm," is essential for precise and effective synergistic tumor treatment. Herein, an innovative cascade-amplified nanotheranostics based on biodegradable Pd-BSA-GOx nanocomposite for NIR-II photoacoustic imaging (PAI) guides self-enhanced NIR-II PTT/chemodynamic therapy (CDT)/starvation synergistic therapy. The Pd-BSA-GOx demonstrates the ability to selectively convert overexpressed H2O2 into strongly toxic ·OH by a Pd/Pd2+-mediated Fenton-like reaction at a lower pH level. Simultaneously, the GOx generates H2O2 and gluconic acid, effectively disrupting nutrient supply and instigating tumor starvation therapy. More importantly, the heightened levels of H2O2 and increased acidity greatly enhance the Fenton-like reactivity, generating a significant "·OH storm," thereby achieving Pd2+-mediated cascade-amplifying CDT. The specific PTT facilitated by undegraded Pd accelerates the Fenton-like reaction, establishing a positive feedback process for self-enhancing synergetic PTT/CDT/starvation therapy via the NIR-II guided-PAI. Therefore, the multifunctional nanotheranostics presents a simple and versatile strategy for the precision diagnosis and treatment of tumors.

Smartphone Imaging Device for Multimodal Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide Using Cu-Doped MOF Sensors.

Multimodal sensing platforms may offer reliable, fast results, but it is still challenging to incorporate biosensors with high discriminating ability in complex biological samples. Herein, we established a highly sensitive dual colorimetric/electrochemical monitoring approach for the detection of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) utilizing Cu-doped In-based metal-organic frameworks (Cu/In-MOFs) combined with a versatile color selector software-based smartphone imaging device. H2S can result in the enhancement of the electrochemical signal because of the electroactive substance copper sulfide (CuxS), the decrease of the colorimetric signal of the characteristic absorption response caused by the strong coordination effect on Cu/In-MOFs, and the obvious changes of red-green-blue (RGB) values of images acquired via an intelligent smartphone. Attractively, the Cu/In-MOFs-based multimodal detection guarantees precise and sensitive detection of H2S with triple-signal detection limits of 0.096 µM (electrochemical signals), 0.098 µM (colorimetric signals), and 0.099 µM (smartphone signals) and an outstanding linear response. This analytical toolkit provides an idea for fabricating a robust, sensitive, tolerant matrix and reliable sensing platform for rapidly monitoring H2S in clinical disease diagnosis and visual supervision.

Fabrication of a ß-CD-functionalized magnetic microporous organic network for effective enrichment and detection of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in water samples.

Fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics, one of the leading environmental pollutants, have ecotoxic effects that can accumulate through ecosystems and harm human health. The determination of FQs is still difficult due to the complex matrix, many interfering factors, and low concentration. Hence, a magnetic microporous organic network (MON) composite denoted as Fe3O4@MON-NH2@CM-ß-CD with excellent FQ adsorption performance was prepared by ß-CD covalent modification of a MON. Based on the existence of π-π packing, hydrophobic interaction, and hydrogen bonding between Fe3O4@MON-NH2@CM-ß-CD and FQs, a new magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) method for the enrichment of FQs was developed. Under optimized MSPE conditions, five FQs were detected by HPLC-UV with good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.9989) in the range of 0.02-1 µg mL-1, and detection limits (S/N = 3) in the range of 0.0014-0.0023 µg mL-1. The satisfactory recoveries ranged from 93.1 to 116.2% with RSDs lower than 8.39% when applied to actual environmental water samples. These results revealed that Fe3O4@MON-NH2@CM-ß-CD as an adsorbent for MSPE had excellent performance for FQ extraction from real samples, and the MON material types were expanded through the functionalization of MONs, which would have great potential for further application in various analytical methods.

Long duration sodium hyaluronate hydrogel with dual functions of both growth prompting and acid-triggered antibacterial activity for bacteria-infected wound healing.

Conventional wound dressings are monolithically designed to cover the injured areas as well as absorb the exudates at injured site. Furthermore, antibacterial drugs and growth prompting factors are additionally appended to realize sensible and omnibearing wound management, exhibiting long and tedious treatment process in practice. Consequently, the creation of multifunctional wound dressings that combines wound repair enhancement with antibacterial properties turns out to be significant for simplifying wound managements. In our investigation, electronegative human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) was combined with the positively charged Zn-Al layered double hydroxides (Zn-Al LDHs) via electrostatic interaction while the obtained hEGF/LDH was integrated with sodium hyaluronate hydrogel (SH) hydrogel, forming a composite hydrogel with synergistic benefits for wound management. The innovative hEGF/LDH@SH hydrogel equipped with fine biocompatibility was designed to optimize wound healing in which hEGF stimulates epithelial cell growth while LDH released antibacterial factor Zn2+ against Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E.coli) under acidic wound environment. Additionally, the SH hydrogel constructed a three-dimensional structure that not only safeguarded the wound area but also maintained a moist environment conducive to recovery. The synthesized hEGF/LDH was confirmed via fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermo-gravimetry (TG) measurements. The release of Zn2+ from Zn-Al LDH under acid circumstance was detected via inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and the in vitro bactericidal experiments endowed the antibacterial property of hEGF/LDH@SH hydrogel. In vitro drug release experiments illustrated the controlled-release of hEGF from hEGF/LDH which promoted the long-term affect of hEGF at wound site. In vitro cell experiments verified that the hEGF/LDH@SH hydrogel motivated the promotion on cell proliferation and migration without cytotoxicity. An in vivo study of the repairing of MRSA-infected wound in mice indicated that hEGF/LDH@SH hydrogel serves as a simple and novel, innoxious and efficient wound healing approach. This brand new hydrogel possesses properties of promoting the regeneration of skin tissue, achieving antimicrobial therapy without any accessional antibacterial drugs as well as realizing controlled release of hEGF.

Microenvironment-Responsive Targeted Nanomedicine for a Collaborative Integration of Tumor Theranostics and Bone Defect Repair.

Despite advancements in breast cancer treatment, bone metastases remain a significant concern for advanced breast cancer patients. Current theranostics strategies face challenges in integrating tumor theranostics and bone formation. Herein, this work develops an activatable targeted nanomedicine AuMnCO@BSA-N3 (AMCBN) to enable a novel collaborative integration of second near-infrared (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging guided precise theranostics for breast cancer bone metastases and osteogenic microenvironment remolding. This strategy employs a chemical coordination between noble metal complex and metal carbonyl (MnCO), with surface modification of azide groups to enhance tumor affinity through passive and active targeting. The initiated respondent behavior of AMCBN by tumor microenvironment accelerate the degradation of coordinated MnCO, resulting in a rapid release of multifunctional agents for efficient chemodynamic therapy (CDT)/gas synergistic therapy. Meanwhile, the exceptional bone-binding properties enable the efficient and controlled release of Mn2+ ions and carbon monoxide (CO) in the bone microenvironment, thereby facilitating the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins and establishing a novel synchronous theranostics process for tumor-bone repair.

Whole-exome sequencing as the first-tier test for patients in neonatal intensive care unit: a Chinese single-center study.

BACKGROUND: Genetic disorders significantly affect patients in neonatal intensive care units, where establishing a diagnosis can be challenging through routine tests and supplementary examinations. Whole-exome sequencing offers a molecular-based approach for diagnosing genetic disorders. This study aimed to assess the importance of whole-exome sequencing for neonates in intensive care through a retrospective observational study within a Chinese cohort. METHODS: We gathered data from neonatal patients at Tianjin Children's Hospital between January 2018 and April 2021. These patients presented with acute illnesses and were suspected of having genetic disorders, which were investigated using whole-exome sequencing. Our retrospective analysis covered clinical data, genetic findings, and the correlation between phenotypes and genetic variations. RESULTS: The study included 121 neonates. Disorders affected multiple organs or systems, predominantly the metabolic, neurological, and endocrine systems. The detection rate for whole-exome sequencing was 52.9% (64 out of 121 patients), identifying 84 pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic variants in 64 neonates. These included 13 copy number variations and 71 single-nucleotide variants. The most frequent inheritance pattern was autosomal recessive (57.8%, 37 out of 64), followed by autosomal dominant (29.7%, 19 out of 64). In total, 40 diseases were identified through whole-exome sequencing. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the value and clinical utility of whole-exome sequencing as a primary diagnostic tool for neonates in intensive care units with suspected genetic disorders. Whole-exome sequencing not only aids in diagnosis but also offers significant benefits to patients and their families by providing clarity in uncertain diagnostic situations.

NIR-II Absorption/Emission Dual Function Based 2D Targeted Nanotheranostics for Tunable Hydrogenothermal Therapy.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising approach for treating tumors that offers multiple advantages. Nevertheless, its practical use in clinical settings faces several limitations, such as suboptimal delivery efficiency, uneven heat distribution, and challenges in predicting optimal treatment duration. In addition, the localized hyperthermia generated by the PTT method to induce cell apoptosis can result in the production of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the release of inflammatory cytokines, which can pose a threat to the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor. To address the above challenges, this work designs an integrated H2 delivery nanoplatform for multimodal imaging H2 thermal therapy. The combination of the second near-infrared window (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging (FL) agent (CQ4T) and the photothermal and photoacoustic (PA) properties of Ti3C2 (TC) enables real-time monitoring of the tumor area and guides photothermal treatment. Simultaneously, due to the acid-responsive H2 release characteristics of the nanoplatform, H2 can be utilized for synergistic photothermal therapy to eradicate tumor cells effectively. Significantly, acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, Ti3C2-BSA-CQ4T-H2 (TCBCH) protects peritumoral normal cells from damage. The proposed technique utilizing H2 gas for combination therapies and multimodal imaging integration exhibits prospects for effective and secure treatment of tumors in future clinical applications.

Tumor targeted porphyrin-based metal-organic framework for photodynamic and checkpoint blockade immunotherapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a promising approach and non-invasive modality for cancer treatment, however the therapeutic effect of PDT is limited in tumor metastasis and local recurrence. Herein, a tumor targeted nanomedicine (designated as PCN@HA) is constructed for enhanced PDT against tumors. By modified with hyaluronic acid (HA), which could target the CD44 receptor that expressed on the cancer cells, the targeting ability of PCN@HA has been enhanced. Under light irradiation, PCN@HA can produce cytotoxic singlet oxygen (1O2) and kill cancer cells, then eliminate tumors. Furthermore, PCN@HA exhibits fluorescence (FL)/ photoacoustic (PA) effects for multimodal imaging-guided cancer treatment. And PCN@HA-mediated PDT also can induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) and stimulate adaptive immune responses by releasing of tumor antigens. By combining with anti-PD-L1 checkpoint blockade therapy, it can not only effectively suppress the growth of primary tumor, but also inhibit the metastatic tumor growth.