Disulfiram-loaded hollow copper sulfide nanoparticles show anti-tumor effects in preclinical models of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies causing the majority of cancer-related deaths. There is an urgent need to develop new anticancer modalities. Recently, efforts have been made to turn clinically approved drugs into anticancer agents in specific tumor microenvironments via NPs. Disulfiram (DSF) as an effective copper (Cu2+)-dependent anti-tumour drug, which has been more widely used in antitumor research. Here, we constructed a novel therapeutic nanoplatforms, DSF@CuS, by encapsulating DSF in hollow CuS NPs to enable in situ chemoselective activation of DSF and hyperthermal amplified chemotherapy. The anticancer effect of DSF was enhanced by the thermal energy generated under NIR irradiation through the intrinsic photothermal conversion of CuS. As a result, significant apoptosis was induced in vitro, and tumor elimination was achieved in vivo. Collectively, DSF@CuS combined with photothermal therapy can significantly promote the apoptosis of CT26 colorectal cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, providing a potential theoretical agent for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Recent Advances in DNA-Based Cell Surface Engineering for Biological Applications.

Due to its excellent programmability and biocompatibility, DNA molecule has unique advantages in cell surface engineering. Recent progresses provide a reliable and feasible way to engineer cell surfaces with diverse DNA molecules and DNA nanostructures. The abundant form of DNA nanostructures has greatly expanded the toolbox of DNA-based cell surface engineering and gave rise to a variety of novel and fascinating applications. In this review, we summarize recent advances in DNA-based cell surface engineering and its biological applications. We first introduce some widely used methods of immobilizing DNA molecules on cell surfaces and their application features. Then we discuss the approaches of employing DNA nanostructures and dynamic DNA nanotechnology as elements for creating functional cell surfaces. Finally, we review the extensive biological applications of DNA-based cell surface engineering and discuss the challenges and prospects of DNA-based cell surface engineering.

Recent advances in nanomaterial-mediated bacterial molecular action and their applications in wound therapy.

Because of the multi-pathway antibacterial mechanisms of nanomaterials, they have received widespread attention in wound therapy. However, owing to the complexities of bacterial responses toward nanomaterials, antibacterial molecular mechanisms remain unclear, making it difficult to rationally design highly efficient antibacterial nanomaterials. Fortunately, molecular dynamics simulations and omics techniques have been used as effective methods to further investigate the action targets of nanomaterials. Therefore, the review comprehensively analyzes the antibacterial mechanisms of nanomaterials from the morphology-dependent antibacterial activity and physicochemical/optical properties-dependent antibacterial activity, which provided guidance for constructing excellently efficient and broad-spectrum antibacterial nanomaterials for wound therapy. More importantly, the main molecular action targets of nanomaterials from the membranes, DNA, energy metabolism pathways, oxidative stress defense systems, ribosomes, and biofilms are elaborated in detail. Furthermore, nanomaterials used in wound therapy are reviewed and discussed. Finally, future directions of nanomaterials from mechanisms to nanomedicine are further proposed.

Based on multi-omics technology study the antibacterial mechanisms of pH-dependent N-GQDs beyond ROS.

Currently, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are widely used as antibacterial agents, and their effects are dependent on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by photodynamic and peroxidase activities. Nevertheless, the supply of substrates or light greatly limits GQDs application. Besides, due to compensatory mechanisms in bacteria, comprehensive analysis of the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of GQDs based on cellular-level experiments is insufficient. Therefore, N-GQDs with inherent excellent, broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy under acidic conditions were successfully synthesized. Then, via multi-omics analyses, the antibacterial mechanisms of the N-GQDs were found to not only involve generation ROS but also be associated with changes in osmotic pressure, interference with nucleic acid synthesis and inhibition of energy metabolism. More surprisingly, the N-GQDs could destroy intracellular acid-base homeostasis, causing bacterial cell death. In conclusion, this study provides important insights into the antibacterial mechanism of GQDs, offering a basis for the engineering design of antibacterial nanomaterials.

Construction Of High Loading Natural Active Substances Nanoplatform and Application in Synergistic Tumor Therapy.

Background: Natural bioactive substances have been widely studied for their superior anti-tumor activity and low toxicity. However, natural bioactive substances suffer from poor water-solubility and poor stability in the physiological environment. Therefore, to overcome the drawbacks of natural bioactive substances in tumor therapy, there is an urgent need for an ideal nanocarrier to achieve high bioactive substance loading with low toxicity. Materials and Methods: Face-centered cubic hollow mesoporous Prussian Blue (HMPB) NPs were prepared by stepwise hydrothermal method. Among them, PVP served as a protective agent and HCl served as an etching agent. Firstly, MPB NPs were obtained by 0.01 M HCl etching. Then, the highly uniform dispersed HMPB NPs were obtained by further etching with 1 M HCl. Results: In this work, we report a pH-responsive therapeutic nanoplatform based on HMPB NPs. Surprisingly, as-prepared HMPB NPs with ultra-high bioactive substances loading capacity of 329 µg mg-1 owing to the large surface area (131.67 m2 g-1) and wide internal pore size distribution (1.8-96.2 nm). Moreover, with the outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency of HMPB NPs (30.13%), natural bioactive substances were released in the tumor microenvironment (TME). HMPB@PC B2 achieved excellent synergistic therapeutic effects of photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy (CT) in vivo and in vitro without causing any extraneous side effects. Conclusion: A biocompatible HMPB@PC B2 nanoplatform was constructed by simple physical adsorption. The in vitro and in vivo experiment results demonstrated that the synergy of PTT/CT provided excellent therapeutic efficiency for cervical cancer without toxicity. Altogether, as-designed nanomedicines based on natural bioactive substances may be provide a promising strategy for cancer therapy.

High Stability Au NPs: From Design to Application in Nanomedicine.

In recent years, Au-based nanomaterials are widely used in nanomedicine and biosensors due to their excellent physical and chemical properties. However, these applications require Au NPs to have excellent stability in different environments, such as extreme pH, high temperature, high concentration ions, and various biomatrix. To meet the requirement of multiple applications, many synthetic substances and natural products are used to prepare highly stable Au NPs. Because of this, we aim at offering an update comprehensive summary of preparation high stability Au NPs. In addition, we discuss its application in nanomedicine. The contents of this review are based on a balanced combination of our studies and selected research studies done by worldwide academic groups. First, we address some critical methods for preparing highly stable Au NPs using polymers, including heterocyclic substances, polyethylene glycols, amines, and thiol, then pay attention to natural product progress Au NPs. Then, we sum up the stability of various Au NPs in different stored times, ions solution, pH, temperature, and biomatrix. Finally, the application of Au NPs in nanomedicine, such as drug delivery, bioimaging, photothermal therapy (PTT), clinical diagnosis, nanozyme, and radiotherapy (RT), was addressed concentratedly.