Recent Advances of Fe(III)/Fe(II)-MPNs in Biomedical Applications.

Metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) are a new type of nanomaterial self-assembled by metal ions and polyphenols that have been developed rapidly in recent decades. They have been widely investigated, in the biomedical field, for their environmental friendliness, high quality, good bio-adhesiveness, and bio-compatibility, playing a crucial role in tumor treatment. As the most common subclass of the MPNs family, Fe-based MPNs are most frequently used in chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and phototherapy (PTT), where they are often used as nanocoatings to encapsulate drugs, as well as good Fenton reagents and photosensitizers to improve tumor therapeutic efficiency substantially. In this review, strategies for preparing various types of Fe-based MPNs are first summarized. We highlight the advantages of Fe-based MPNs under the different species of polyphenol ligands for their application in tumor treatments. Finally, some current problems and challenges of Fe-based MPNs, along with a future perspective on biomedical applications, are discussed.

Efficacy of nimodipine in the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an uncommon and serious subtype of stroke, which leads to the loss of the patient's ability to produce and live for many years. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of nimodipine in the treatment of SAH. METHODS: Electronic databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, SinoMed, China Master's Theses Full-text Database (CMFD), China Doctoral Dissertations Full-text Database (CDFD), Cochrane Library, PubMed and Embase were searched from 2010 and 2021. All randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of nimodipine in the treatment of SAH were included in our meta-analysis. The patients were divided into control group and treatment group. Meta-analysis was performed with Stata16.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies were included. Compared with the control group, the treatment group had higher effective rate (OR = 3.21, 95% CI: 2.25, 4.58; p < 0.001), and lower incidence of adverse reactions (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.67; p = 0.001). Before treatment, no significant differences were identified in middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score between the two groups. However, after treatment, the middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (SMD = -1.36, 95% CI: -2.28, -0.49; p = 0.002) and GCS score (SMD = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.58, 1.89; p < 0.001) in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Nimodipine is effective in the treatment of SAH, lowering incidence of adverse reactions and therefore improving the prognosis of patients.

ANTECEDENTES: Hemorragia subaracnóidea (SAH) é um subtipo raro e grave de acidente vascular cerebral (AVC), o que leva à perda da capacidade do paciente de produzir e viver por muitos anos. OBJETIVO: Investigar o efeito clínico da nimodipina no tratamento da SAH. MéTODOS: As bases de dados eletrônicas, incluindo a China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, SinoMed, Masters Theses Full-text Database (CMFD), China Doctoral Dissertations Full-text Database (CDFD), Cochrane Library, PubMed e Embase foram pesquisadas no período de 2010 a 2021. Todos os ensaios controlados aleatorizados que avaliam a eficácia da nimodipina no tratamento da SAH foram incluídos na nossa meta-análise. Os pacientes foram divididos em grupo controle e grupo de tratamento. Meta-análise foi realizada com o software Stata 16.0. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos um total de dez estudos. Em comparação com o grupo controle, o grupo de tratamento tinha uma taxa mais elevada (OR = 3,21, 95% CI: 2,25, 4,58; p < 0,001), e menor incidência de reações adversas (OR = 0,35, 95% CI: 0,19, 0,67; p = 0,001). Antes do tratamento, não foram identificadas diferenças significativas na velocidade média do fluxo sanguíneo da artéria cerebral e na pontuação de Glasgow coma scale (GCS) entre os dois grupos. No entanto, após o tratamento, a velocidade média do fluxo sanguíneo da artéria cerebral (SMD = −1,36, 95% CI: −2,28, 0,49; p = 0,002) e a pontuação do GCS (SMD = 1,24, 95% CI: 0,58, 1,89; p < 0,001) no grupo de tratamento foram significativamente melhores do que os do grupo controle. CONCLUSõES: A nimodipina é eficaz no tratamento da SAH, diminuindo a incidência de reações adversas e, consequentemente, melhorando o prognóstico dos doentes.

Recent advances of the core-shell MOFs in tumour therapy.

Coordination chemistry has always been vital to explore the material prominence of metal-organic systems. The metal-organic chemistry plays a fundamental role in decisive structural features, which are accountable for tuning the properties of materials. Tumour therapy has become an important research field of medical treatment in the world. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted extensive interest in medical science research due to their large effective surface area, clear pore network, and critical catalytic performance. Compared with traditional MOF materials, MOF materials with core-shell structures have a higher loading rate and better stability, which can overcome a single function. They have been successfully used in tumour medical research and have excellent prospects for diagnosing and treating various tumours. The current review article thoroughly describes the various synthetic approaches for engineering core-shell MOF materials, the structural types, and the potential functional applications. We also discussed core-shell MOF materials for the various treatment of tumours, such as tumour chemotherapy, tumour phototherapy and tumour microenvironment anti-hypoxia therapy. In this paper, the synthesized procedures of core-shell MOFs and their applications for tumour treatment have been discussed, and their future research has prospected. The current improved strategies, challenges, and prospects are also presented because of the metal-organic chemistry governing the structural modification of core-shell MOFs for tumour therapy applications. Therefore, the present review article opens a new door for medicinal chemists to tune the structural features of the core-shell MOF materials to modulate tumour therapy with simple, low-cost materials for better human lives.

Study on the Mechanism of Treating Femoral Head Necrosis with Drynariae Rhizoma Based on Network Pharmacology.

Through the network pharmacology thought, the action target of the active ingredients of Drynariae Rhizoma was predicted, and the mapping was combined with the related targets of ONFH, and the key nodes of interaction were identified for enrichment analysis, so as to comprehensively explore the pharmacological mechanism of Drynariae Rhizoma against ONFH. The main active ingredients of Drynariae Rhizoma were screened based on pharmacokinetic characteristics in pharmacokinetic database and analysis platform of TCM system (TCMSP). We used the organic small molecule bioactivity database (PubChem) and Swiss target prediction database to predict related targets based on 2D or 3D structural similarity and then mined the known ONFH therapeutic targets through the Human Mendelian Genetic Database (OMIM) and Pubmed texts. Combined with the predicted targets, String database was imported to construct the OP target interaction network diagram of bone fracture therapy. CytoNCA software was used to topology the key nodes of interaction according to relevant node parameters, and String was imported again to construct the protein interaction network diagram. Finally, biological functions and metabolic pathways of key nodes were analyzed through DAVID database. It was revealed that Drynariae Rhizoma may regulate stem cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and immune cells through multiple pathways, including proliferation, differentiation, immunity, and oxidative stress. Conclusion: Pharmacological studies based on network indicate that Drynariae Rhizoma may participate in the regulation of several major signaling pathways through direct or indirect action targets and affect the proliferation and differentiation of multiple types of cells, thus playing an anti-ONFH role, which provides a scientific basis for explaining the material basis and mechanism of its anti- ONFH.

Melatonin Suppresses Apoptosis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells through Inhibiting Autophagy via the PI3K/Akt Pathway in a High-Glucose Culture.

Diabetes mellitus- (DM-) associated hyperglycemia promotes apoptosis of disc nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, which is a contributor to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Melatonin is able to protect against cell apoptosis. However, its effects on apoptosis of NP cell in a high-glucose culture remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects and molecular mechanism of melatonin on NP cell apoptosis in a high-glucose culture. NP cells were cultured in the baseline medium supplemented with a high-glucose concentration (0.2 M) for 3 days. The control cells were only cultured in the baseline medium. Additionally, the pharmaceutical inhibitor LY294002 was added along with the culture medium to investigate the possible role of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Apoptosis, autophagy, and activity of the PI3K/Akt pathway of NP cells among these groups were evaluated. Compared with the control NP cells, high glucose significantly increased cell apoptosis ratio and caspase-3/caspase-9 activity and decreased mRNA expression of Bcl-2, whereas it increased mRNA or protein expression of Bax, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, and autophagy-related molecules (Atg3, Atg5, Beclin-1, and LC3-II) and decreased protein expression of p-Akt compared with the control cells. Additionally, melatonin partly inhibited the effects of high glucose on those parameters of cell apoptosis, autophagy, and activation of PI3K/Akt. In conclusion, melatonin attenuates apoptosis of NP cells through inhibiting the excessive autophagy via the PI3K/Akt pathway in a high-glucose culture. This study provides new theoretical basis of the protective effects of melatonin against disc degeneration in a DM patient.

Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-based Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications.

BACKGROUND: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new class of porous organic-inorganic crystalline hybrid materials that governed by the self-assembled of metal atoms and organic struts have attracted tremendous attention because of their special properties. Recently, some more documents have reported different types of nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (NMOFs) as biodegradable and physiological pH-responsive systems for photothermal therapy and radiation therapy in the body. DISCUSSION: In this review paper aims at describing the benefits of using MOF nanoparticles in the field of biomedicine, and putting into perspective their properties in the context of the ones of other NPs. The first section briefly reviews the biomaterial scaffolds of MOFs. The second section presents the main types of stimuli-responsive mechanisms and strategies from two categories: intrinsic (pH, redox state) and extrinsic (temperature, light irradiation and magnetic field) ones. The combinations of photothermal therapy and radiation therapy have been concluded in detail. Finally, clinical applications of MOFs, future challenges and perspectives are also mentioned. CONCLUSION: This review outlines the most recent advances MOFs design and biomedical applications, from different synthesis to their use as smart drug delivery systems, bioimaging technology or a combination of both.

Static magnetic fields enhanced the potency of cisplatin on k562 cells.

PURPOSE: This study investigates whether 8.8 mT static magnetic fields (SMFs) can enhance the killing potency of cisplatin (DDP) on human leukemic cells (K562). METHODS: The cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, DNA damage, and the change in cell surface ultrastructure after K562 cells were exposed to 8.8 mT SMFs with or without DDP were analyzed. RESULTS: The results show that SMFs enhanced the killing effect of DDP on K562 cells, reducing the efficient killing concentration of DDP on K562 cells from 20 to 10 microg/mL. Atomic force microscope observation showed that the cell surface ultrastructure was altered. The results of fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis indicated that K562 cells treated with SMF plus DDP were arrested at the S phase. The SMF exposure induced DNA to become thicker than controls, and breakage of DNA occurred in the DDP group; however, DNA breakage was increased in the SMF + DDP group. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that SMFs enhanced the anticancer effect of DDP on K562 cells. The mechanism correlated with the DNA damage model. This study also shows the potentiality of SMFs as an adjunctive treatment method for chemotherapy.