Recent Advances in Exosomal miRNA Biosensing for Liquid Biopsy.

As a noninvasive detection technique, liquid biopsy plays a valuable role in cancer diagnosis, disease monitoring, and prognostic assessment. In liquid biopsies, exosomes are considered among the potential biomarkers because they are important bioinformation carriers for intercellular communication. Exosomes transport miRNAs and, thus, play an important role in the regulation of cell growth and function; therefore, detection of cancer cell-derived exosomal miRNAs (exo-miRNAs) gives effective information in liquid biopsy. The development of sensitive, convenient, and reliable exo-miRNA assays will provide new perspectives for medical diagnosis. This review presents different designs and detection strategies of recent exo-miRNA assays in terms of signal transduction and amplification, as well as signal detection. In addition, this review outlines the current attempts at bioassay methods in liquid biopsies. Lastly, the challenges and prospects of exosome bioassays are also considered.

Treatment principles of ovarian teratoma with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.

PURPOSE: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a recently discovered paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis. Ovarian teratoma is the only tumor clearly related to anti-NMDAR encephalitis occurrence. This study aimed to assess ovarian teratoma for neurological and mental symptoms highly related with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, treatment principles, and prognosis. METHODS: Between June 2011 and October 2014, in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, ten patients with ovarian teratoma associated with anti-NMDAR encephalitis were enrolled. All patients underwent laparoscopic oophorocystectomy followed by immunotherapy. RESULTS: In nine patients, mental and neurological symptoms were significantly relieved 13.7 ± 5.5 days after surgery; however, symptoms persisted in one patient, who was still hospitalized when writing this paper. During the postoperative follow-up period, seven patients showed no mental symptoms or tumor recurrence; one subject had symptom recurrence 28 days after surgery, while another patient showed suspected tumor recurrence 273 days after operation. CONCLUSIONS: Ovarian teratoma associated with anti-NMDAR encephalitis is usually associated with neurological and mental symptoms at onset. Its manifestations are complex, and nursing care is difficult. Laparoscopic oophorocystectomy followed by immunotherapy led to symptom resolution in most patients.

Engineered aptamers for molecular imaging.

Molecular imaging, including quantification and molecular interaction studies, plays a crucial role in visualizing and analysing molecular events occurring within cells or organisms, thus facilitating the understanding of biological processes. Moreover, molecular imaging offers promising applications for early disease diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation. Aptamers are oligonucleotides that can recognize targets with a high affinity and specificity by folding themselves into various three-dimensional structures, thus serving as ideal molecular recognition elements in molecular imaging. This review summarizes the commonly employed aptamers in molecular imaging and outlines the prevalent design approaches for their applications. Furthermore, it highlights the successful application of aptamers to a wide range of targets and imaging modalities. Finally, the review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on future advancements in aptamer-based molecular imaging.

Tumor-associated macrophages in nanomaterial-based anti-tumor therapy: as target spots or delivery platforms.

Targeting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) has emerged as a promising approach in cancer therapy. This article provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in the field of nanomedicines targeting TAMs. According to the crucial role of TAMs in tumor progression, strategies to inhibit macrophage recruitment, suppress TAM survival, and transform TAM phenotypes are discussed as potential therapeutic avenues. To enhance the targeting capacity of nanomedicines, various approaches such as the use of ligands, immunoglobulins, and short peptides are explored. The utilization of live programmed macrophages, macrophage cell membrane-coated nanoparticles and macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles as drug delivery platforms is also highlighted, offering improved biocompatibility and prolonged circulation time. However, challenges remain in achieving precise targeting and controlled drug release. The heterogeneity of TAMs and the variability of surface markers pose hurdles in achieving specific recognition. Furthermore, the safety and clinical applicability of these nanomedicines requires further investigation. In conclusion, nanomedicines targeting TAMs hold great promise in cancer therapy, offering enhanced specificity and reduced side effects. Addressing the existing limitations and expanding our understanding of TAM biology will pave the way for the successful translation of these nano-therapies into clinical practice.