A two-photon fluorescence self-reporting black phosphorus nanoprobe for the in situ monitoring of therapy response.

The in situ and real-time supervision of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during photodynamic therapy (PDT) is of great significance for lessening nonspecific damage and guiding personalized therapy. However, photosensitizers frequently fail to deliver successful treatment accompanying the ROS-related imaging signals produced, impeding simple treatment outcome predictions and therapeutic schedule adjustments. Here, we report a two-photon fluorescence self-reporting strategy for the in situ and real-time monitoring of treatment response via a novel black phosphorus-based two-photon nanoprobe (TPBP). TPBP effectively generated singlet oxygen (1O2) under near-infrared laser irradiation for PDT, and 1O2 stimulated a two-photon molecule to emit fluorescence signals for feedback of 1O2 generation, which facilitated the regulation of treatment parameters to achieve precise and personalized medicine in deep tissue.

pH stimulus-disaggregated BODIPY: an activated photodynamic/photothermal sensitizer applicable to tumor ablation.

Herein, we report a pH stimulus-disaggregated BODIPY sensitizer (PTS) with low background-toxicity for achieving activated photodynamic/photothermal tumor therapy. Both the photodynamic and photothermal properties of PTS can be activated under acidic conditions, and PTS exhibits excellent antitumor properties, which is revealed by both in vitro and in vivo tests.

A red emitting two-photon fluorescent probe for dynamic imaging of redox balance meditated by a superoxide anion and GSH in living cells and tissues.

Cellular self-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress via antioxidant repair plays an important role in maintaining the redox balance. The redox balance between reducing and oxidizing species within cells is significant in the regulation of a signal pathway and is achieved by a series of elaborate mechanisms. In this work, we employed our previously reported D-π-A-structured naphthalene-BODIPY TBET platform to design an efficient two-photon fluorescent probe for dynamic monitoring of superoxide anion oxidative stress and the GSH reducing repair process. The probe displayed high energy transfer efficiency (91.4%), large pseudo-Stokes shifts upon one-photon excitation, and red fluorescence emission (λem = 596 nm), which is highly desirable for bioimaging applications. The probe exhibits reversibility, rapid response, good photostability, high selectivity and sensitivity for the superoxide anion and GSH. More importantly, the probe was successfully applied for visualizing the redox changes in living cells and tissues.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of comprehensive therapy on optic atrophy complicated by cerebral palsy].

OBJECTIVE: To assess therapeutic effect of combined treatment of Chinese medicine and western medicine on optic atrophy complicated by cerebral palsy. METHODS: One hundred and seventeen cases were divided into an observation group (n = 79) and a control group (n = 38). The control group were treated with routine western medicine treatment including neurotrophic drugs and high pressure oxygen, etc. and the observation group with acupuncture at Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Chengqi (ST 1), etc. and injection of 0.2-0.3 mL Compound Danshen Injectio into Qiuhou (EX-HN 7), on the basis of the same treatment of western medicine as that in the control group. Fundus examination and the tracing body angle detection were conducted before and after treatment and the therapeutic effects were assessed in the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 91.1% in the observation group and 60.5% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001); after treatment the angle of tracing body significantly increased in the two groups (P < 0.01) with the observation group better than the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The combined treatment of Chinese medicine and western medicine is an effective therapy for optic atrophy complicated by cerebral palsy.

Sho-saiko-to (Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang) and crude saikosaponins inhibit hepatitis B virus in a stable HBV-producing cell line.

To search for an effective antiviral agent, this study tested the hypothesis that sho-saiko-to (Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang) and crude saikosaponins possess the activity directly against HBV and could affect the expressions of viral antigens, HBeAg and HBsAg, in HepG(2) 2.2.15 cell model. The viral amount and viral antigens in the suspension were estimated by quantitative real time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The results showed that sho-saiko-to could inhibit the production of HBV (p < 0.0001), 20 microg/ml sho-saiko-to was efficacious at day-3 of treatment and 10 microg/ml at day-6. The calculated IC(50) and CC(50) of sho-saiko-to were 55.76 microg/ml and 372 microg/ml, respectively, with a selectivity index of 6.67. Crude saponin of B. chinense could also inhibit the replication of HBV (p < 0.0001). Owing to the anti-neoplastic activity of sho-saiko-to and saikosaponin, their calculated CC(50) and selectivity index might be under-estimated. Sho-saiko-to also decreased the expression of HBeAg with the minimal effective concentration of 20 microg/ml. Sho-saiko-to contained too little saikosaponin. Therefore, the anti-HBV activity of sho-saiko-to might not be mediated by saikosaponin. Sho-saiko-to could be supplementary to nucleotide analogues to minimize the recurrence of viremia after its discontinuation.

Ethanol extract of Polygonum cuspidatum inhibits hepatitis B virus in a stable HBV-producing cell line.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Asia and its consequences are among the major public health problems in the world. Unfortunately, the therapeutic efficacies of present strategies are still unsatisfactory with a major concern about viral mutation. In search of effective antiviral agent, we examined the efficacy of extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. (P. cuspidatum) against HBV in HepG2 2.2.15 cells by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. The expressions of viral antigens, HBeAg and HBsAg, were also determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The ethanol extract of P. cuspidatum could inhibit dose-dependently the production of HBV (p<0.0001) with an effective minimal dosage of 10 microg/ml. The water extract of P. cuspidatum might also inhibit the production of HBV at a higher dosage. The expression of HBsAg was significantly increased by both ethanol extract and water extract of P. cuspidatum dose-dependently (p<0.0001) and time-dependently (p<0.0001). Higher dose of water extract of P. cuspidatum (30 microg/ml) could inhibit the expression of HBeAg (p<0.05). The extract of P. cuspidatum might contain compounds that would contribute to the control of HBV infection in the future. However, its promoting effect on the expression of HBsAg and its cytotoxicity should be monitored. Further purification of the active compounds, identification and modification of their structures to improve the efficacy and decrease the cytotoxicity are required.