A Biodegradable Janus Sponge for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is effective in repairing serious skin injury. The dressing used in the NPWT is important for wound healing. In this paper, we develop biodegradable amphiphilic polyurethanes (PUs) and fabricate the PUs into sponges as wound dressings (Bi@e) with Janus pore architectures for NPWT. The Bi@e is adaptive to all the stages of the wound healing process. The Janus Bi@e sponge consists of two layers: the dense hydrophobic upper layer with small pores provides protection and support during negative pressure drainage, and the loose hydrophilic lower layer with large pores absorbs large amounts of wound exudate and maintains a moist environment. Additionally, antibacterial agent silver sulfadiazine (SSD) is loaded into the sponge against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with a concentration of 0.50 wt%. The Janus sponge exhibits a super absorbent capacity of 19.53 times its own water weight and remarkable resistance to compression. In a rat skin defect model, the Janus Bi@e sponge not only prevents the conglutination between regenerative skin and dressing but also accelerates wound healing compared to commercially available NPWT dressing. The Janus Bi@e sponge is a promising dressing for the NPWT.

Hybrid Hydrogels of Polyacrylamide and Self-assembly Photodynamic Nanoparticles with Diverse Adhesion for Infected Chronic Wound Healing.

The healing of infected wounds is challenging for patients. In this paper, a hybrid hydrogel with strong tissue adhesion, self-healing, and antibiosis without antibiotics was developed as a dressing to promote the healing of infected chronic wounds. Acrylamide (PAM) was polymerized with N,N-methylene bis(acrylamide) (BIS) as the substrate, and self-assembled nanoparticles of carboxymethyl chitosan and chlorin e6 (CMCS/Ce6 NPs) trapped with magnesium (Mg2+) ions were dispersed in the hydrogel substrate. CMCS/Ce6 NPs provided favorable photodynamic antibiosis via the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under NIR irradiation. The hybrid hydrogels exhibited excellent self-healing properties, diverse adhesion, and biocompatibility. The in vivo results indicated that the hybrid hydrogel accelerated wound healing significantly via comprehensive factors of photodynamic antibiosis of CMCS/Ce6 NPs, cell proliferation promotion by Mg2+, good bioadhesion, and moisture retention of the PAM hydrogel, which promoted collagen deposition and blood vessel maturation.

Recent Advances in Boosting EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors-Based Cancer Therapy.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a key role in signal transduction pathways associated with cell proliferation, growth, and survival. Its overexpression and aberrant activation in malignancy correlate with poor prognosis and short survival. Targeting inhibition of EGFR by small-molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is emerging as an important treatment model besides of chemotherapy, greatly reshaping the landscape of cancer therapy. However, they are still challenged by the off-targeted toxicity, relatively limited cancer types, and drug resistance after long-term therapy. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of oral, pulmonary, and injectable drug delivery systems for enhanced and targeting TKI delivery to tumors and reduced side effects. Importantly, EGFR-TKI-based combination therapies not only greatly broaden the applicable cancer types of EGFR-TKI but also significantly improve the anticancer effect. The mechanisms of TKI resistance are summarized, and current strategies to overcome TKI resistance as well as the application of TKI in reversing chemotherapy resistance are discussed. Finally, we provide a perspective on the future research of EGFR-TKI-based cancer therapy.

Orally Administrated Olsalazine-Loaded Multilayer Pectin/Chitosan/Alginate Composite Microspheres for Ulcerative Colitis Treatment.

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease is extremely cloudy. Maintaining the level of remission lesions in colitis is the default treatment attitude at present. Epithelial barrier restoration is considered as the same important strategy as colonic targeted drug delivery in UC treatment. In this paper, we developed a multilayer natural polysaccharide microsphere (pectin/chitosan/alginate) with pH and enzyme dual sensitivity to reduce the loss of medication in the upper digestive tract and preferentially adhere to exposed epithelial cells in colonic tissues by electrostatic forces for efficiently targeted UC treatment. Olsalazine as an inflammatory drug was efficiently loaded in the chitosan layer and realized a colonic pH-responsive drug release. Furthermore, the multilayer microspheres exhibited excellent capability in suppressing harmful flora and a bio-adhesion effect to extend the duration of local medicine. In the in vivo anti-colitis study, the downregulated levels of pro-inflammatory factors and the increase of tight junction protein indicated the excellent anti-inflammation effect of the olsalazine-loaded microspheres. In summary, these results showed that the multilayer natural polysaccharide microspheres could be a powerful candidate in the targeted drug delivery system for UC therapy.

Co-Delivery of Doxorubicin and Anti-PD-L1 Peptide in Lipid/PLGA Nanocomplexes for the Chemo-Immunotherapy of Cancer.

The combined delivery of chemotherapeutics with checkpoint inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway provides a new approach for cancer treatment. Small-molecule peptide inhibitors possess short production cycle, low immunogenicity, and fewer side effects; however, their potential in cancer therapy is hampered by the rapid biodegradation and a nanocarrier is needed for efficient drug delivery. Herein, anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and PD-L1 inhibitor peptide P-12 are co-loaded by a lipid polymer nanocomplex based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and DSPE-PEG. Octaarginine (R8)-conjugated DSPE-PEG renders the LPN efficient internalization by cancer cells. The optimal nanomedicine LPN-30-R82K@DP shows a diameter of 125 nm and a DOX and P-12 loading content of 5.0 and 6.2%, respectively. LPN-30-R82K@DP exhibits good physiological stability and enhanced cellular uptake by cancer cells. It successfully induces immunogenic cell death and PD-L1 blockade in CT26 cancer cells. The in vivo antitumor study further suggests that co-loaded nanomedicine efficiently suppresses CT26 tumor growth and elicits antitumor immune response. This study manifests that lipid polymer nanocomplexes are promising drug carriers for the efficient chemo-immunotherapy of cancer.

Multifunctional thermo-sensitive hydrogel for modulating the microenvironment in Osteoarthritis by polarizing macrophages and scavenging RONS.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease that can lead to disability. Blocking the complex malignant feedback loop system dominated by oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory factors is the key to treating OA. Here, we develop a multifunctional composite thermo-sensitive hydrogel (HPP@Cu gel), which is utilized by Poloxamer 407 (P407) and hyaluronic acid (HA) mixture as the gel matrix, then physically mixed with copper nanodots (Cu NDs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Cu NDs is a novel nano-scavenger of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) with efficient free radical scavenging activity. HPP@Cu gel is injected into the articular cavity, where it form an in situ gel that slowly released Cu NDs, HA, and PRP, prolonging the duration of drug action. Our results indicate that HPP@Cu gel could efficiently remove RONS from inflammatory sites and promote repolarization of macrophages to an anti-inflammatory phenotype. The HPP@Cu gel therapy dramatically reduces cartilage degradation and inflammatory factor production in OA rats. This study provides a reliable reference for the application of injectable hydrogels in inflammatory diseases associated with oxidative stress.

PDT-Enhanced Ferroptosis by a Polymer Nanoparticle with pH-Activated Singlet Oxygen Generation and Superb Biocompatibility for Cancer Therapy.

In this study, we reported a nanocomplex (PAF) of PEGylated polygalacturonic acid, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-aminophenyl) porphyrin (TAPP), and Fe3+ for photodynamic therapy (PDT)-enhanced ferroptosis in cancer treatment. PAF exhibited a size of 135 nm and a TAPP and Fe3+ loading content of 6.99 and 0.77%, respectively. The singlet oxygen (1O2) generation capacity of TAPP can be activated and significantly enhanced at acidic pH (4.5-5.0). Besides, the enhanced near-infrared absorption of TAPP at acidic pH enabled a further increase in 1O2 generation capability by a near-infrared laser (760 nm). The polysaccharide-based polymer carrier offers excellent biocompatibility, and PAF displayed a proliferative effect in both normal (L929) and cancer (B16) cells. However, upon light irradiation, PAF exhibited high toxicity to B16 melanoma cells by intracellular reactive oxygen species elevation, glutathione depletion, and lipid peroxidation. PAF displayed a much better anticancer effect than the nanocomplex containing Fe3+ or TAPP alone, indicating the PDT-enhanced ferroptosis in PAF. This study suggested that PDT-enhanced ferroptosis could be a facile and robust strategy of nanotherapeutics with high potency, tumor selectivity, and excellent biocompatibility.

Polymeric micelles amplify tumor oxidative stresses through combining PDT and glutathione depletion for synergistic cancer chemotherapy.

Cancer has been one of the major healthcare burdens, which demands innovative therapeutic strategies to improve the treatment outcomes. Combination therapy hold great potential to leverage multiple synergistic pathways to improve cancer treatment. Cancer cells often exhibit an increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant species compared with normal cells, and the levels of these species can be further elevated by common therapeutic modalities such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) or chemotherapy. Taking advantage that cancer cells are vulnerable to further oxidative stress, we aim to design a drug delivery system by simultaneously increasing the cellular ROS level, reducing antioxidative capacity, and inducing anticancer chemotherapy in cancer cells. Here, we designed a star-shape polymer, PEG(-b-PCL-Ce6)-b-PBEMA, based on the Passerini three-component reaction, which can both enhance ROS generation during PDT and decrease the GSH level in cancer cells. The polycaprolactone conjugated with photosensitizer Ce6 served as hydrophobic segments to promote micelle formation, and Ce6 was used for PDT. The H2O2-labile group of arylboronic esters pendent on the third segment was designed for H2O2-induced quinone methide (QM) release for GSH depletion. We thoroughly investigated the spectral properties of blank micelle during its assembling process, ROS generation, and H2O2-induced QM release in vitro. Moreover, this polymeric micelle could successfully load hydrophobic anticancer drug Doxorubicin (DOX) and efficiently deliver DOX into cancer cells. The triple combination of ROS generation, GSH elimination, and chemotherapy dramatically improved antitumor efficiency relative to each of them alone in vitro and in vivo.

Highly Stable, Coordinated Polymeric Nanoparticles Loading Copper(II) Diethyldithiocarbamate for Combinational Chemo/Chemodynamic Therapy of Cancer.

Disulfiram (DSF) has excellent in vitro anticancer activity in the presence of Cu(II). The anticancer mechanism studies have demonstrated that copper(II) diethyldithiocarbamate, Cu(DDC)2, is the crucial DSF's metabolite exhibiting anticancer activity. In this paper, highly stable polymeric nanoparticles were fabricated via a coordination strategy between Cu(II) and carboxylic groups in poly(ethylene glycol)- b-poly(ester-carbonate) (PEC) for efficient loading of Cu(DDC)2, which was generated by the in situ reaction of DSF and Cu(II). The properties of nanoparticles such as drug loading contents, sizes, and morphologies could be tuned by varying the feeding ratios of DSF, Cu(II), and PEC. These Cu(II)/DDC-loaded nanoparticles showed excellent stability in both neutral and weak acidic solutions and under dilution. In vitro anticancer study established that Cu(II)/DDC-loaded nanoparticles could enable a combination therapy of Cu(DDC)2-based chemotherapy and chemodynamic therapy mediated by bioavailable Cu(II) that was not in the form of Cu(DDC)2. The in vivo antitumor results demonstrated that the Cu(II)/DDC-loaded nanoparticles showed superior antitumor efficacy to DSF/Cu(II). Our study provided a facile and effective strategy of highly stable coordination-mediated polymeric nanoparticles for combinational therapy of cancer.

Tumor-pH-Sensitive PLLA-Based Microsphere with Acid Cleavable Acetal Bonds on the Backbone for Efficient Localized Chemotherapy.

Nanoparticle- and microsphere-based drug delivery systems (DDSs) have attracted wide attention in cancer therapy; those DDSs that are responsive to tumor environment can selectively identify tumor and normal tissues and therefore have shown enhanced anticancer efficacy and alleviated systemic toxicity. Here, tumor-pH-sensitive polymeric microspheres, which are prepared by multiblock poly(l-lactide) with pH-sensitive acetal bonds in the backbone, are employed to efficiently load water-soluble anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl, drug loading content: ∼10%). The pH-sensitive DOX-loaded hollow microspheres were in the size range 2-10 µm and exhibited acid-accelerated degradation of polymer matrix and drug release, and thereby efficient in vitro cancer cell inhibition. The microspheres were further intratumorally injected into breast-tumor-bearing mice, and the in vivo anticancer experiment showed that pH-sensitive DOX-loaded microsphere showed better antitumor efficiency and prolonged life-span than its counterpart that does not have pH-responsive property. Moreover, negligible organ toxicity, especially cardiotoxicity that generally exists in DOX-involved chemotherapy where DOX is administrated by intravenous injection, was observed for DOX-loaded microspheres. Hence, tumor-pH-sensitive polymeric microspheres have appeared to be a simple and efficient platform for delivering hydrophilic anticancer drug with excellent anticancer efficacy and low systemic toxicity.

Cinnamaldehyde-Based Poly(ester-thioacetal) To Generate Reactive Oxygen Species for Fabricating Reactive Oxygen Species-Responsive Nanoparticles.

Due to the high oxidative stress of the tumor microenvironment, more and more researchers have been devoted to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive nanodrug delivery systems for anticancer therapy. Herein, a ROS-responsive moiety, thioacetal, was synthesized, and cinnamaldehyde (CA) was introduced in the polymer chain to trigger the generation of ROS to expect the enhancement of the ROS-responsive effect. The poly(ester-thioacetal) mPEG2k - b-(NTA-HD)12 polymer, its self-assembled micelles, and the ROS-responsive behavior were characterized by 1H NMR and DLS. The anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was adopted to prepare DOX-loaded poly(ester-thioacetal) micelles. The intracellular ROS detection indicated that the mPEG2k - b-(NTA-HD)12 polymer could degrade via the high concentration of ROS in cancer cells, and the released CA stimulated mitochondria to regenerate additional ROS. The flow cytometry results indicated that the ROS-responsive polymeric micelles showed faster cellular uptake compared to the control mPEG2k - b-PCL5k micelles. The ROS responsive DOX/mPEG2k - b-(NTA-HD)12 micelles exhibited much better anticancer efficiency on both 4T1 and HeLa cancer cells than DOX/mPEG2k - b-PCL5k micelles.

Synthesis and Antibacterial Study of Sulfobetaine/Quaternary Ammonium-Modified Star-Shaped Poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]-Based Copolymers with an Inorganic Core.

Cationic polymethacrylates are interesting candidates for bacterial disinfectants since they can be made in large-scale by various well-established polymerization techniques such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). However, they are usually toxic or ineffective in serum and various strategies to improve their biocompatibility or nonfouling property have often resulted in compromised bactericidal activity. Also, star-shaped polymers are less explored than linear polymers for application as antibacterial compounds. In this paper, star polymers with poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMA) as the arms and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) as the core (POSS-g-PDMA) were successfully synthesized by ATRP. The minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) of the synthesized POSS-g-PDMA are in the range of 10-20 µg/mL. POSS-g-PDMA was further modified by various hydrophilization strategies in attempting to reduce hemolysis. With quaternization of POSS-g-PDMA, the antibacterial activities of the obtained quaternary polymers are almost unchanged and the copolymers become relatively nonhemolytic. We also copolymerized sulfobetaine (SB) with POSS-g-PDMA to obtain random and block PDMA-co-PSB arm structures, where the PDMA and poly(sulfobetaine) were the cationic and zwitterionic blocks, respectively. The random cationic-zwitterionic POSS-g-(PDMA-r-PSB) copolymers showed poor antibacterial activity, while the block POSS-g-(PDMA-b-PSB) copolymers retained the antibacterial and hemolytic activity of the pristine POSS-g-PDMA. Further, the block copolymers of POSS-g-(PDMA-b-PSB) showed enhanced antifouling property and serum stability as seen by their nanoparticle size stability in the presence of serum and reduced red blood cell aggregation; the POSS-g-(PDMA-b-PSB) also somewhat retained its MIC in blood unlike the quaternized or random zwitterionic copolymers. The antibacterial kinetics study showed that Escherichia coli can be killed within 30 min by both random and block copolymers of POSS-g-(PDMA-co-PSB). Finally, our POSS star polymers showed low toxicity to zebrafish embryo and could be potentially used in aquaculture antibacterial applications.

A ROS-responsive polymeric micelle with a π-conjugated thioketal moiety for enhanced drug loading and efficient drug delivery.

As the implications of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are elucidated in many diseases, ROS-responsive nanoparticles are attracting great interest from researchers. In this work, a ROS sensitive thioketal (TK) moiety with a π-conjugated structure was introduced into biodegradable methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-thioketal-poly(ε-caprolactone)mPEG-TK-PCL micelles as a linker, which was designed to speed up the drug release and thus enhance the therapeutic efficacy. The micelle showed a high drug loading content of 12.8% and excellent stability under physiological conditions because of the evocation of π-π stacking and hydrophobic interactions with the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). The polymeric micelle presented a better drug carrier capacity and higher in vitro anticancer efficacy towards cancer cells. The in vivo study showed that DOX-loaded mPEG-TK-PCL micelles displayed lower toxicity towards normal cells and remarkably enhanced antitumor efficacy. This research provides a way to design potential drug carriers for efficient cancer chemotherapy.

Using Diphenylphosphoryl Azide (DPPA) for the Facile Synthesis of Biodegradable Antiseptic Random Copolypeptides.

A facile method has been developed for the large-scale synthesis of random copolypeptides composed of multiple (i.e., cationic, hydrophobic, and hydrophilic) amino acids and their relative ratios have been optimized for broad-spectrum antibacterial effect. The copolypeptides obtained have measured compositions close to the design ratios in spite of the differing reactivities of the different amino acids. An optimized random copolypeptide of lysine, leucine, and serine (denoted as KLS-3) mimicking the composition of LL-37 host defense peptide gives broad spectrum antibacterial activity against clinically relevant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1) with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 32-64 µg mL-1 , as well as good MICs against multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria of Escherichia coli EC 958 (64 µg mL-1 ) and Klebseilla pneumoniae PTR3 (128 µg mL-1 ). This method can be applied to the facile large-scale copolymerization of multiple amino acids, including unnatural amino acids, to make effective antibacterial copolypeptides.

A mitochondria-targeted anticancer copper dithiocarbamate amplifies immunogenic cuproptosis and macrophage polarization.

The way that cancer cells die inspires treatment regimens and cytolytic cuproptosis induced by copper complexes, like copper(II) bis(diethyldithiocarbamate) (CuET), has emerged as a novel therapeutic target. Herein, a triphenylphosphonium-modified CuET (TPP-CuET) is designed to target mitochondrial metabolism, triggering intense immunogenic cuproptosis in breast cancer cells and remodeling tumor-associated macrophages. TPP-CuET enables an enhanced mitochondrial copper accumulation in comparison to CuET (29.0% vs. 19.4%), and severely disrupts the morphology and functions of mitochondria, encompassing the tricarboxylic acid cycle, ATP synthesis, and electron transfer chain. Importantly, it triggers amplified immunogenic death of cancer cells, and the released damage-associated molecular patterns effectively induce M1 polarization and migration of macrophages. Transcriptome analysis further reveals that TPP-CuET promotes antigen processing and presentation in cancer cells through the MHC I pathway, activating the immune response of CD8 T cells and natural killer cells. To the best of our knowledge, TPP-CuET is the first mitochondrial targeted immunogenic cuproptosis inducer and is expected to flourish in antitumor immunotherapy.

Recent advances in phototherapeutic nanosystems for oral cancer.

Oral cancer is a significant global health challenge, with conventional treatments often resulting in substantial side effects and limited effectiveness. Phototherapy, encompassing photodynamic and photothermal therapy, presents a promising alternative by selectively targeting and destroying cancer cells with minimal systemic toxicity. However, issues such as insufficient light penetration and limited tumor specificity have restricted their clinical use. Recent advancements in nanosystems have addressed these challenges by enhancing the solubility, stability, and tumor-targeting capabilities of phototherapy agents. This review delves into the latest advancements in phototherapeutic nanosystems for oral cancer, focusing on the design of innovative nanoformulations and targeted delivery strategies. Additionally, it summarizes recent approaches to enhance the efficacy of photodynamic therapy for oral cancer and examines phototherapy-based combination treatments. These advancements hold the promise of significantly improving treatment outcomes while minimizing side effects in oral cancer therapy.

An Engineered Butyrate-Derived Polymer Nanoplatform as a Mucosa-Healing Enhancer Potentiates the Therapeutic Effect of Magnolol in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Colonic epithelial damage and dysregulated immune response are crucial factors in the progression and exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nanoenabled targeted drug delivery to the inflamed intestinal mucosa has shown promise in inducing and maintaining colitis remission, while minimizing side effects. Inspired by the excellent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory efficacy of naturally derived magnolol (Mag) and gut homeostasis regulation of microbiota-derived butyrate, we developed a pH/redox dual-responsive butyrate-rich polymer nanoparticle (PSBA) as an oral Mag delivery system for combinational therapy of IBD. PSBA showed a high butyrate content of 22% and effectively encapsulated Mag. The Mag-loaded nanoparticles (PSBA@Mag) demonstrated colonic pH and reduction-responsive drug release, ensuring efficient retention and adhesion in the colon of colitis mice. PSBA@Mag not only normalized the level of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory effectors in inflamed colonic mucosa but also restored the epithelial barrier function in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease mouse models. Importantly, PSBA promoted the migration and healing ability of intestinal epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo, sensitizing the therapeutic efficacy of Mag in animal models. Moreover, transcriptomics and metabolism analyses revealed that PSBA@Mag mitigated inflammation by suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and restoring the lipid metabolism. Additionally, this nanomedicine modulated the gut microbiota by inhibiting pathogenic Proteus and Escherichia-Shigella and promoting the proliferation of beneficial probiotics, including Lachnoclostridium, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and norank_f_Ruminococcaceae. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of butyrate-functionalized polymethacrylates as versatile and effective nanoplatforms for colonic drug delivery and mucosa repair in combating IBD and other gastrointestinal disorders.

Acid-Resistant Nano-antioxidants Based on Epigallocatechin Gallate Alleviate Acute Intestinal and Kidney Inflammation.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-based nanosystems have garnered significant attention for their ability to alleviate inflammation due to their excellent anti-inflammatory properties and enhanced drug delivery capabilities. However, the degradation of EGCG in strongly acidic environments poses a challenge for potential administration, particularly in oral formulations, where gastric resistance is essential. In this study, we develop a "disintegration and reorganization" strategy to create acid-resistant antioxidant nanoparticles (EGA NPs) based on EGCG and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) for mitigating inflammation in colitis and acute kidney injury. At acidic pH, the ester bond in EGCG breaks down, producing two building blocks. These, together with 5-ASA and formaldehyde, form oligomers through a combination of phenol-aldehyde condensation and the Mannich reaction. The resulting oligomers self-assemble into EGA NPs, which exhibit significant stability under both acidic and neutral pH conditions. This stability makes them suitable for oral administration, allowing them to withstand harsh gastric conditions, as well as for intravenous injection. Importantly, these oligomers retain the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of EGCG, effectively scavenging reactive oxygen species and reducing intracellular oxidative stress. Additionally, EGA shows potential as a drug carrier, efficiently loading the anti-inflammatory agent curcumin (Cur) to form Cur@EGA NPs. In vivo studies demonstrate the efficacy of Cur@EGA and EGA in alleviating acute colitis and kidney injury following oral and intravenous administration, respectively. These nanoparticulate formulations exhibit superior inflammation reduction compared to free Cur in vivo. Overall, our findings introduce a novel acid-resistant nanoplatform based on EGCG for the treatment of acute inflammation.

A Double Network Composite Hydrogel with Self-Regulating Cu2+/Luteolin Release and Mechanical Modulation for Enhanced Wound Healing.

Designing adaptive and smart hydrogel wound dressings to meet specific needs across different stages of wound healing is crucial. Here, we present a composite hydrogel, GSC/PBE@Lut, that offers self-regulating release of cupric ions and luteolin and modulates mechanical properties to promote chronic wound healing. The double network hydrogel, GSC, is fabricated through photo-cross-linking of gelatin methacrylate, followed by Cu2+-alginate coordination cross-linking. On one hand, GSC allows for rapid Cu2+ release to eliminate bacteria in the acidic pH environment during inflammation and reduces the hydrogel's mechanical strength to minimize tissue trauma during early dressing changes. On the other hand, GSC enables slow Cu2+ release during the proliferation stage, promoting angiogenesis and biocompatibility. Furthermore, the inclusion of pH- and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive luteolin nanoparticles (PBE@Lut) in the hydrogel matrix allows for controlled release of luteolin, offering antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and promoting anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization. In a murine model of Staphylococcus aureus infected wounds, GSC/PBE@Lut demonstrates exceptional therapeutic benefits in antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and tissue regeneration. Overall, our results suggest that smart hydrogels with controlled bioactive agent release and mechanical modulation present a promising solution for treating chronic wounds.

Triune Nanomodulator Enables Exhausted Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Rejuvenation for Cancer Epigenetic Immunotherapy.

Oncogene activation and epigenome dysregulation drive tumor initiation and progression, contributing to tumor immune evasion and compromising the clinical response to immunotherapy. Epigenetic immunotherapy represents a promising paradigm in conquering cancer immunosuppression, whereas few relevant drug combination and delivery strategies emerge in the clinic. This study presents a well-designed triune nanomodulator, termed ROCA, which demonstrates robust capabilities in tumor epigenetic modulation and immune microenvironment reprogramming for cancer epigenetic immunotherapy. The nanomodulator is engineered from a nanoscale framework with epigenetic modulation and cascaded catalytic activity, which self-assembles into a nanoaggregate with tumor targeting polypeptide decoration that enables loading of the immunogenic cell death (ICD)-inducing agent. The nanomodulator releases active factors specifically triggered in the tumor microenvironment, represses oncogene expression, and initiates the type 1 T helper (TH1) cell chemokine axis by reversing DNA hypermethylation. This process, together with ICD induction, fundamentally reprograms the tumor microenvironment and significantly enhances the rejuvenation of exhausted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs, CD8+ T cells), which synergizes with the anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade and results in a boosted antitumor immune response. Furthermore, this strategy establishes long-term immune memory and effectively prevents orthotopic colon cancer relapse. Therefore, the nanomodulator holds promise as a standalone epigenetic immunotherapy agent or as part of a combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors in preclinical cancer models, broadening the array of combinatorial strategies in cancer immunotherapy.