Tailoring bismuth-based nanoparticles for enhanced radiosensitivity in cancer therapy.

Achieving a complete response to cancer treatment is a severe challenge, and has puzzled humans for a long time. Fortunately, radiotherapy (RT) gives rise to a common clinical treatment method, during which the usage of radiosensitizers is essential. Among preclinical radiosensitizers, bismuth-based nanoparticles (Bi-based NPs) are widely explored in cancer diagnosis and treatment, because they share favourable properties, such as low toxicity, strong X-ray absorption and facile preparation. However, pure Bi alone cannot achieve both efficient and safe RT outcomes, mainly due to poor targeting of tumor sites, long retention-induced systemic toxicity and immune resistance. This work provides an overview of recent advances and developments in Bi-based NPs that are tailored to enhance radiosensitivity. For the fabrication process, surface modification of Bi-based NPs is essential to achieve tumor-targeted delivery and penetration. Moreover, the incorporation of other elements, such as Fe ions, can increase diagnostic accuracy with optimal theranostic efficacy. Meanwhile, the structure-activity relationship can also be manipulated to maximize the chemotherapeutic drug loading capability of Bi-based NPs, to enhance X-ray attenuation by means of a large surface area or to achieve safer metabolic routes with rapid clearance from the human body. In addition, Bi-based NPs exhibit synergistic antitumor potential when combined with diverse therapies, such as photothermal therapy (PTT) and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). To summarize, the latest research on Bi-based NPs as radiosensitizers is described in the review, including both their advantages and disadvantages for improving treatment, thus providing a useful guide for future clinical application.

[Identification of sulphur residue in chrysanthemum by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy].

Qi and Huai chrysanthemum samples processed in different ways were discriminated by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. It was shown that different processing methods may result in the variation of relative content of effective components in chrysanthemum. The variation of chemical structure may also occur. And the variations can be reflected differently on the transform infrared spectra. The dry chrysanthemum smoked with sulphur had different characters in the vibration frequency and shape of IR from other samples at 1 600 and 1 060 cm(-1), and showed static characteristic absorptions at 922, 818 and 777 cm(-1), which were stronger than others. The chrysanthemum processed in different ways showed differences in the Fourier transform infrared spectra. The sulphur residue in chrysanthemum can be identified by FTIR without separation and abstraction. This method is not only quick and precise but also convenient and direct. Different sorts of chrysanthemum can be identified in this way.

[Study of flos lonicerae in local herbs and other areas by FTIR spectrum].

The FTIR spectra of flos lonicerae(FL) in four different areas are analysed by FTIR and the comparison of local(Henan) FL and FL in other areas is also studied. The result shows that the FL in different areas have the different content of main effective substance, so their absorption frequency and form in FTIR spectra are different as well. There is an obvious difference between Sichuan and local FL in wave number and form. Although FL in Shandong is famous as local herbs, their spectra are different slightly. The FL in Hebei and Shandong have almost the same spectrum. The local FL has a weak peak at 1 734 cm(-1), however, the FL in Shandong and Hebei don't have. The local FL has a group of weak peaks at 1 522 cm(-1) and others have stronger and independent absorption or split peaks at the same point. The peak forms of local herbs are sharp from 1 155 to 1 045 cm(-1) while those of Shandong and Hebei are flat and split ones. Therefore, FTIR can be not only a fast and reliable method to identify local herbs, but also a method to monitor the cultivating process and to purify and restore the Chinese medicine.