Ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoparticles self-assembly induced dual-mode T1/T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and enhanced tumor synergetic theranostics.

Individual theranostic agents with dual-mode MRI responses and therapeutic efficacy have attracted extensive interest due to the real-time monitor and high effective treatment, which endow the providential treatment and avoid the repeated medication with side effects. However, it is difficult to achieve the integrated strategy of MRI and therapeutic drug due to complicated synthesis route, low efficiency and potential biosafety issues. In this study, novel self-assembled ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoclusters were developed for tumor-targeted dual-mode T1/T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided synergetic chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and chemotherapy. The self-assembled ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoclusters synthesized by facilely modifying ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoparticles with 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) molecule possess long-term stability and mass production ability. The proposed ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoclusters shows excellent dual-mode T1 and T2 MRI capacities as well as favorable CDT ability due to the appropriate size effect and the abundant Fe ion on the surface of ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoclusters. After conjugation with the tumor targeting ligand Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (Dox), the functionalized Fe3O4 nanoclusters achieve enhanced tumor accumulation and retention effects and synergetic CDT and chemotherapy function, which serve as a powerful integrated theranostic platform for cancer treatment.

Surface ligand-regulated renal clearance of MRI/SPECT dual-modality nanoprobes for tumor imaging.

BACKGROUND: The general sluggish clearance kinetics of functional inorganic nanoparticles tend to raise potential biosafety concerns for in vivo applications. Renal clearance is a possible elimination pathway for functional inorganic nanoparticles delivered through intravenous injection, but largely depending on the surface physical chemical properties of a given particle apart from its size and shape. RESULTS: In this study, three small-molecule ligands that bear a diphosphonate (DP) group, but different terminal groups on the other side, i.e., anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic groups, were synthesized and used to modify ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoparticles for evaluating the surface structure-dependent renal clearance behaviors. Systematic studies suggested that the variation of the surface ligands did not significantly increase the hydrodynamic diameter of ultrasmall Fe3O4 nanoparticles, nor influence their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement effects. Among the three particle samples, Fe3O4 nanoparticle coated with zwitterionic ligands, i.e., Fe3O4@DMSA, exhibited optimal renal clearance efficiency and reduced reticuloendothelial uptake. Therefore, this sample was further labeled with 99mTc through the DP moieties to achieve a renal-clearable MRI/single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) dual-modality imaging nanoprobe. The resulting nanoprobe showed satisfactory imaging capacities in a 4T1 xenograft tumor mouse model. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of Fe3O4@DMSA was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo through safety assessment experiments. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the current investigations offer a simple and effective strategy for constructing renal-clearable nanoparticles for precise disease diagnosis.

Tissue clearing method in visualization of cancer progression and metastasis.

Since various imaging modalities have been developed, cancer metastasis can be detected from an early stage. However, limitations still exist, especially in terms of spatial resolution. Tissue-clearing technology has emerged as a new imaging modality in cancer research, which has been developed and utilized for a long time mainly in neuroscience field. This method enables us to detect cancer metastatic foci with single-cell resolution at whole mouse body/organ level. On top of that, 3D images of cancer metastasis of whole mouse organs make it easy to understand their characteristics. Recently, further applications of tissue clearing methods were reported in combination with reporter systems, labeling, and machine learning. In this review, we would like to provide an overview of this technique and current applications in cancer research and discuss their potentials and limitations.

Advantages and Challenges of Total-Body PET/CT at a Tertiary Cancer Center: Insights from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.

In recent decades, researchers worldwide have directed their efforts toward enhancing the quality of PET imaging. The detection sensitivity and image resolution of conventional PET scanners with a short axial field of view have been constrained, leading to a suboptimal signal-to-noise ratio. The advent of long-axial-field-of-view PET scanners, exemplified by the uEXPLORER system, marked a significant advancement. Total-body PET imaging possesses an extensive scan range of 194 cm and an ultrahigh detection sensitivity, and it has emerged as a promising avenue for improving image quality while reducing the administered radioactivity dose and shortening acquisition times. In this review, we elucidate the application of the uEXPLORER system at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, including the disease distribution, patient selection workflow, scanning protocol, and several enhanced clinical applications, along with encountered challenges. We anticipate that this review will provide insights into routine clinical practice and ultimately improve patient care.

Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor Tracers and Their Preclinical, Translational, and Clinical Status in China.

Quinoline-based fibroblast activation protein (FAP) inhibitors (FAPIs) have recently emerged as a focal point in global nuclear medicine, underscored by their promising applications in cancer theranostics and the diagnosis of various nononcological conditions. This review offers an in-depth summary of the existing literature on the evolution and use of FAPI tracers in China, tracing their journey from preclinical to clinical research. Moreover, this review also assesses the diagnostic accuracy of FAPI PET for the most common cancers in China, analyzes its impact on oncologic management paradigms, and investigates the potential of FAP-targeted radionuclide therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic cancer. This review also summarizes studies using FAPI PET for nononcologic disorders in China. Thus, this qualitative overview presents a snapshot of China's engagement with FAPI tracers, aiming to guide future research endeavors.

Translational PET Imaging of Nectin-4 Expression in Multiple Different Cancers with 68Ga-N188.

Nectin cell adhesion molecule 4 (nectin-4) is a transmembrane protein overexpressed on a variety of cancers and plays an important role in oncogenic and metastatic processes. The nectin-4-targeted antibody-drug conjugate enfortumab vedotin has been approved for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer, but the efficacy in other types of cancer remains to be explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of nectin-4-targeted PET imaging with 68Ga-N188 as a noninvasive method to quantify membranous nectin-4 expression in multiple tumor types-an approach that may provide insight for patient stratification and treatment selection. Methods: Sixty-two patients with 16 types of cancer underwent head-to-head 68Ga-N188 and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging for initial staging or detection of recurrence and metastases. Correlation between lesion SUVmax and nectin-4 expression determined by immunohistochemistry staining was analyzed in 36 of 62 patients. Results: The SUVmax of 68Ga-N188 had a positive correlation with membranous nectin-4 expression in the various tumor types tested (r = 0.458; P = 0.005), whereas no association was observed between the SUVmax and cytoplasmic nectin-4 expression. The detection rates for patient-based analysis of 68Ga-N188 and 18F-FDG PET/CT examinations were comparable (95.00% [57/60] vs. 93.33% [56/60]). In patients with pancreatic cancer, 68Ga-N188 exhibited a potential advantage for detecting residual or locally recurrent tumors; this advantage may assist in clinical decision-making. Conclusion: The correlation between nectin-4-targeted 68Ga-N188 PET imaging and membranous nectin-4 expression indicates the potential of 68Ga-N188 as an effective tool for selecting patients who may benefit from enfortumab vedotin treatment. The PET imaging results provided evidence to explore nectin-4-targeted therapy in a variety of tumors. 68Ga-N188 may improve the restaging of pancreatic cancer but requires further evaluation in a powered, prospective setting.

Recent Advances in Radiotracers Targeting Novel Cancer-Specific Biomarkers in China: A Brief Overview.

Radiopharmaceuticals play a critical role in nuclear medicine, providing novel tools for specifically delivering radioisotopes for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers. As the starting point for developing radiopharmaceuticals, cancer-specific biomarkers are important and receive worldwide attention. This field in China is currently experiencing a rapid expansion, with multiple radiotracers targeting novel targets being developed and translated into clinical studies. This review provides a brief overview of the exploration of novel imaging targets, preclinical evaluation of their targeting ligands, and translational research in China from 2020 to 2023, for detecting cancer, guiding targeted therapy, and visualizing the immune microenvironment. We believe that China will play an even more important role in the development of nuclear medicine in the world in the future.

A review of recent advances in the use of complex metal nanostructures for biomedical applications from diagnosis to treatment.

Complex metal nanostructures represent an exceptional category of materials characterized by distinct morphologies and physicochemical properties. Nanostructures with shape anisotropies, such as nanorods, nanostars, nanocages, and nanoprisms, are particularly appealing due to their tunable surface plasmon resonances, controllable surface chemistries, and effective targeting capabilities. These complex nanostructures can absorb light in the near-infrared, enabling noteworthy applications in nanomedicine, molecular imaging, and biology. The engineering of targeting abilities through surface modifications involving ligands, antibodies, peptides, and other agents potentiates their effects. Recent years have witnessed the development of innovative structures with diverse compositions, expanding their applications in biomedicine. These applications encompass targeted imaging, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, near-infrared II imaging, catalytic therapy, photothermal therapy, and cancer treatment. This review seeks to provide the nanomedicine community with a thorough and informative overview of the evolving landscape of complex metal nanoparticle research, with a specific emphasis on their roles in imaging, cancer therapy, infectious diseases, and biofilm treatment. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices.

Advancements and future directions in positron emission tomography-guided radiotherapy: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has been useful in delineating tumor volumes and allowing for improved radiation treatment. The field of PET-guided radiotherapy is rapidly growing and will have significant impact on radiotherapy delivery in the future. This narrative review provides an overview of the current state of PET-guided radiotherapy as well as the future directions of the field. METHODS: For this narrative review, PubMed was searched for articles from 2010-2023. A total of 18 keywords or phrases were searched to provide an overview of PET-guided radiotherapy, radiotracers, the role of PET-guided radiotherapy in oligometastatic disease, and biology-guided radiotherapy (BgRT). The first 300 results for each keyword were searched and relevant articles were extracted. The references of these articles were also reviewed for relevant articles. KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS: In radiotherapy, 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-FDG or FDG) is the major radiotracer for PET and when combined with computed tomography (CT) scan allows for anatomic visualization of metabolically active malignancy. Novel radiotracers are being explored to delineate certain cell types and numerous tumor metrics including metabolism, hypoxia, vascularity, and cellular proliferation. This molecular and functional imaging will provide improved tumor characterization. Through these radiotracers, radiation plans can employ dose painting by creating different dose levels based upon specific risk factors of the target volume. Additionally, biologic imaging during radiotherapy can allow for adaptation of the radiation plan based on response to treatment. Dose painting and adaptive radiotherapy should improve the therapeutic ratio through more selective dose delivery. The novel PET-linear accelerator hopes to combine these techniques and more by using radiotracers to deliver BgRT. The areas of radiotracer uptake will serve as fiducials to guide radiotherapy to themselves. This technique may prove promising in the growing area of oligometastatic radiation treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Significant challenges exist for the future of PET-guided radiotherapy. However, with the advancements being made, PET imaging is set to change the delivery of radiotherapy.

Safety and Tolerability of Online Adaptive High-Field Magnetic Resonance-Guided Radiotherapy.

Importance: In 2018, the first online adaptive magnetic resonance (MR)-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) system using a 1.5-T MR-equipped linear accelerator (1.5-T MR-Linac) was clinically introduced. This system enables online adaptive radiotherapy, in which the radiation plan is adapted to size and shape changes of targets at each treatment session based on daily MR-visualized anatomy. Objective: To evaluate safety, tolerability, and technical feasibility of treatment with a 1.5-T MR-Linac, specifically focusing on the subset of patients treated with an online adaptive strategy (ie, the adapt-to-shape [ATS] approach). Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included adults with solid tumors treated with a 1.5-T MR-Linac enrolled in Multi Outcome Evaluation for Radiation Therapy Using the MR-Linac (MOMENTUM), a large prospective international study of MRgRT between February 2019 and October 2021. Included were adults with solid tumors treated with a 1.5-T MR-Linac. Data were collected in Canada, Denmark, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the US. Data were analyzed in August 2023. Exposure: All patients underwent MRgRT using a 1.5-T MR-Linac. Radiation prescriptions were consistent with institutional standards of care. Main Outcomes and Measures: Patterns of care, tolerability, and technical feasibility (ie, treatment completed as planned). Acute high-grade radiotherapy-related toxic effects (ie, grade 3 or higher toxic effects according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0) occurring within the first 3 months after treatment delivery. Results: In total, 1793 treatment courses (1772 patients) were included (median patient age, 69 years [range, 22-91 years]; 1384 male [77.2%]). Among 41 different treatment sites, common sites were prostate (745 [41.6%]), metastatic lymph nodes (233 [13.0%]), and brain (189 [10.5%]). ATS was used in 1050 courses (58.6%). MRgRT was completed as planned in 1720 treatment courses (95.9%). Patient withdrawal caused 5 patients (0.3%) to discontinue treatment. The incidence of radiotherapy-related grade 3 toxic effects was 1.4% (95% CI, 0.9%-2.0%) in the entire cohort and 0.4% (95% CI, 0.1%-1.0%) in the subset of patients treated with ATS. There were no radiotherapy-related grade 4 or 5 toxic effects. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of patients treated on a 1.5-T MR-Linac, radiotherapy was safe and well tolerated. Online adaptation of the radiation plan at each treatment session to account for anatomic variations was associated with a low risk of acute grade 3 toxic effects.

Assessment of tumor hypoxia in spontaneous canine tumors after treatment with OMX, a novel H-NOX oxygen carrier, with [18F]FMISO PET/CT.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia is a detrimental factor in solid tumors, leading to aggressiveness and therapy resistance. OMX, a tunable oxygen carrier from the heme nitric oxide/oxygen-binding (H-NOX) protein family, has the potential to reduce tumor hypoxia. [18F]Fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) positron emission tomography (PET) is the most widely used and investigated method for non-invasive imaging of tumor hypoxia. In this study, we used [18F]FMISO PET/CT (computed tomography) to assess the effect of OMX on tumor hypoxia in spontaneous canine tumors. RESULTS: Thirteen canine patients with various tumors (n = 14) were randomly divided into blocks of two, with the treatment groups alternating between receiving intratumoral (IT) OMX injection (OMX IT group) and intravenous (IV) OMX injection (OMX IV group). Tumors were regarded as hypoxic if maximum tumor-to-muscle ratio (TMRmax) was greater than 1.4. In addition, hypoxic volume (HV) was defined as the region with tumor-to-muscle ratio greater than 1.4 on [18F]FMISO PET images. Hypoxia was detected in 6/7 tumors in the OMX IT group and 5/7 tumors in the OMX IV injection group. Although there was no significant difference in baseline hypoxia between the OMX IT and IV groups, the two groups showed different responses to OMX. In the OMX IV group, hypoxic tumors (n = 5) exhibited significant reductions in tumor hypoxia, as indicated by decreased TMRmax and HV in [18F]FMISO PET imaging after treatment. In contrast, hypoxic tumors in the OMX IT group (n = 6) displayed a significant increase in [18F]FMISO uptake and variable changes in TMRmax and HV. CONCLUSIONS: [18F]FMISO PET/CT imaging presents a promising non-invasive procedure for monitoring tumor hypoxia and assessing the efficacy of hypoxia-modulating therapies in canine patients. OMX has shown promising outcomes in reducing tumor hypoxia, especially when administered intravenously, as evident from reductions in both TMRmax and HV in [18F]FMISO PET imaging.

Perspective on quantitative phase imaging to improve precision cancer medicine.

Significance: Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) offers a label-free approach to non-invasively characterize cellular processes by exploiting their refractive index based intrinsic contrast. QPI captures this contrast by translating refractive index associated phase shifts into intensity-based quantifiable data with nanoscale sensitivity. It holds significant potential for advancing precision cancer medicine by providing quantitative characterization of the biophysical properties of cells and tissue in their natural states. Aim: This perspective aims to discuss the potential of QPI to increase our understanding of cancer development and its response to therapeutics. It also explores new developments in QPI methods towards advancing personalized cancer therapy and early detection. Approach: We begin by detailing the technical advancements of QPI, examining its implementations across transmission and reflection geometries and phase retrieval methods, both interferometric and non-interferometric. The focus then shifts to QPI's applications in cancer research, including dynamic cell mass imaging for drug response assessment, cancer risk stratification, and in-vivo tissue imaging. Results: QPI has emerged as a crucial tool in precision cancer medicine, offering insights into tumor biology and treatment efficacy. Its sensitivity to detecting nanoscale changes holds promise for enhancing cancer diagnostics, risk assessment, and prognostication. The future of QPI is envisioned in its integration with artificial intelligence, morpho-dynamics, and spatial biology, broadening its impact in cancer research. Conclusions: QPI presents significant potential in advancing precision cancer medicine and redefining our approach to cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Future directions include harnessing high-throughput dynamic imaging, 3D QPI for realistic tumor models, and combining artificial intelligence with multi-omics data to extend QPI's capabilities. As a result, QPI stands at the forefront of cancer research and clinical application in cancer care.

Electrosprayable Levan-Coated Nanoclusters and Ultrasound-Responsive Drug Delivery for Cancer Therapy.

In this study, we synthesized levan shell hydrophobic silica nanoclusters encapsulating doxorubicin (L-HSi-Dox) and evaluated their potential as ultrasound-responsive drug delivery systems for cancer treatment. L-HSi-Dox nanoclusters were successfully fabricated by integrating a hydrophobic silica nanoparticle-doxorubicin complex as the core and an amphiphilic levan carbohydrate polymer as the shell by using an electrospray technique. Characterization analyses confirmed the stability, size, and composition of the nanoclusters. In particular, the nanoclusters exhibited a controlled release of Dox under aqueous conditions, demonstrating their potential as efficient drug carriers. The levanic groups of the nanoclusters enhanced the targeted delivery of Dox to specific cancer cells. Furthermore, the synergism between the nanoclusters and ultrasound effectively reduced cell viability and induced cell death, particularly in the GLUT5-overexpressing MDA-MB-231 cells. In a tumor xenograft mouse model, treatment with the nanoclusters and ultrasound significantly reduced the tumor volume and weight without affecting the body weight. Collectively, these results highlight the potential of the L-HSi-Dox nanoclusters and ultrasound as promising drug delivery systems with an enhanced therapeutic efficacy for biomedical applications.

Tumor-Targeted Perfluorinated Micelles as Efficient Theranostic Agents Combining Positron Emission Tomography and Radiosensitization.

We report the synthesis of biocompatible perfluorinated micelles designed to improve radiotherapeutic efficacy in a radioresistant tumor environment. In vitro and in vivo behaviors of perfluorinated micelles were assessed at both cellular and tissular levels. The micellar platform offers key advantages as theranostic tool: (i) small size, allowing deep tissue penetration; (ii) oxygen transport to hypoxic tissues; (iii) negligible toxicity in the absence of ionizing radiation; (iv) internalization into cancer cells; (v) potent radiosensitizing effect; and (vi) excellent tumor-targeting properties, as monitored by positron emission tomography. We have demonstrated strong in vitro radiosensitizing effects of the micelle and in vivo tumor targeting, making this nanometric carrier a promising tool for the potentiation of focused radiotherapy.

Endogenous AND Logic DNA Nanomachine for Highly Specific Cancer Cell Imaging.

Intracellular cancer-related biomarker imaging strategy has been used for specific identification of cancer cells, which was of great importance to accurate cancer clinical diagnosis and prognosis studies. Localized DNA circuits with improved sensitivity showed great potential for intracellular biomarkers imaging. However, the ability of localized DNA circuits to specifically image cancer cells is limited by off-site signal leakage associated with a single-biomarker sensing strategy. Herein, we integrated the endogenous enzyme-powered strategy with logic-responsive and localized signal amplifying capability to construct a self-assembled endogenously AND logic DNA nanomachine (EDN) for highly specific cancer cell imaging. When the EDN encountered a cancer cell, the overexpressed DNA repairing enzyme apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) and miR-21 could synergistically activate a DNA circuit via cascaded localized toehold-mediated strand displacement (TMSD) reactions, resulting in amplified fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signal. In this strategy, both endogenous APE1 and miR-21, served as two "keys" to activate the AND logic operation in cancer cells to reduce off-tumor signal leakage. Such a multiplied molecular recognition/activation nanomachine as a powerful toolbox realized specific capture and reliable imaging of biomolecules in living cancer cells.

An AND-Gate Photoacoustic Probe for Cys and H2S Precise Photoacoustic Sensing in Localized Tumors.

Photoacoustic (PA) tomography has shown many promising aspects in noninvasive and precise imaging of deep-localized biomarkers. However, these traditional single-locked PA probes always face challenges in precise PA imaging with high specificity. Here, we report a novel AND-gate photoacoustic probe, BAE, to improve tumor imaging accuracy via the combination of two tumor-associated biomarkers, cysteine (Cys) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Only when Cys and H2S are concurrently introduced into the detection system does the absorption of BAE red-shift from the initial 680 to 810 nm, thereby showing a 5.29-fold enhancement in its PA signal at 810 nm. The good specificity of BAE is proven, since an obvious PA signal could be observed only in the solution containing both Cys and H2S and was not affected by other reactive sulfur species. After being taken up by tumors with the assistance of a nanomicelle, the AND-gate PA probe BAE was applied for dynamic real-time monitoring of Cys and H2S in vivo, achieving precise identification of tumors. This AND-gate PA probe provides a potential technical tool for precise sensing analysis of deep-seated diseases.

Light-Driven Mitochondrion-to-Nucleus DNA Cascade Fluorescence Imaging and Enhanced Cancer Cell Photoablation.

Nucleic acids are mainly found in the mitochondria and nuclei of cells. Detecting nucleic acids in the mitochondrion and nucleus in cascade mode is crucial for understanding diverse biological processes. This study introduces a novel nucleic acid-based fluorescent styrene dye (SPP) that exhibits light-driven cascade migration from the mitochondrion to the nucleus. By introducing N-arylpyridine on one side of the styrene dye skeleton and a bis(2-ethylsulfanyl-ethy)-amino unit on the other side, we found that SPP exhibits excellent DNA specificity (16-fold, FDNA/Ffree) and a stronger binding force to nuclear DNA (-5.09 kcal/mol) than to mitochondrial DNA (-2.59 kcal/mol). SPP initially accumulates in the mitochondrion and then migrates to the nucleus within 10 s under light irradiation. By tracking the damage to nucleic acids in apoptotic cells, SPP allows the successful visualization of the differences between apoptosis and ferroptosis. Finally, a triphenylamine segment with photodynamic effects was incorporated into SPP to form a photosensitizer (MTPA-SPP), which targets the mitochondria for photosensitization and then migrates to the nucleus under light irradiation for enhanced photodynamic cancer cell treatment. This innovative nucleic acid-based fluorescent molecule with light-triggered mitochondrion-to-nucleus migration ability provides a feasible approach for the in situ identification of nucleic acids, monitoring of subcellular physiological events, and efficient photodynamic therapy.

Manganese Dioxide-Based Nanomaterials for Medical Applications.

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanomaterials can react with trace hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to produce paramagnetic manganese (Mn2+) and oxygen (O2), which can be used for magnetic resonance imaging and alleviate the hypoxic environment of tumors, respectively. MnO2 nanomaterials also can oxidize glutathione (GSH) to produce oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to break the balance of intracellular redox reactions. As a consequence of the sensitivity of the tumor microenvironment to MnO2-based nanomaterials, these materials can be used as multifunctional diagnostic and therapeutic platforms for tumor imaging and treatment. Importantly, when MnO2 nanomaterials are implanted along with other therapeutics, synergetic tumor therapy can be achieved. In addition to tumor treatment, MnO2-based nanomaterials display promising prospects for tissue repair, organ protection, and the treatment of other diseases. Herein, we provide a thorough review of recent progress in the use of MnO2-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications, which may be helpful for the design and clinical translation of next-generation MnO2 nanomaterials.

Self-Assembly of Peptides as an Alluring Approach toward Cancer Treatment and Imaging.

Cancer is a severe threat to humans, as it is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and still poses the biggest challenge in the world of medicine. Due to its higher mortality rates and resistance, it requires a more focused and productive approach to provide the solution for it. Many therapies promising to deliver favorable results, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have come up with more negatives than positives. Therefore, a new class of medicinal solutions and a more targeted approach is of the essence. This review highlights the alluring properties, configurations, and self-assembly of peptide molecules which benefit the traditional approach toward cancer therapy while sparing the healthy cells in the process. As targeted drug delivery systems, self-assembled peptides offer a wide spectrum of conjugation, biocompatibility, degradability-controlled responsiveness, and biomedical applications, including cancer treatment and cancer imaging.