Black Phosphorus Nanosheets Assist Nanoerythrosomes for Efficient mRNA Vaccine Delivery and Immune Activation.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines have enormous potential in infectious disease prevention and tumor neoantigen application. However, developing an advanced delivery system for efficient mRNA delivery and intracellular release for protein translation remains a challenge. Herein, a biocompatible biomimetic system is designed using red blood cell-derived nanoerythrosomes (NER) and black phosphorus nanosheets (BP) for mRNA delivery. BP is covalently modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI), serving as a core to efficiently condense mRNA via electrostatic interactions. To facilitate the spleen targeting of the mRNA-loaded BP (BPmRNA ), NER is co-extruded with BPmRNA to construct a stable "core-shell" nanovaccine (NER@BPmRNA ). The mRNA nanovaccine exhibits efficient protein expression and immune activation via BP-mediated adjuvant effect and enhanced lysosomal escape. In vivo evaluation demonstrates that the system delivery of mRNA encoding coronavirus receptor-binding domain (RBD) significantly increases the antibody titer and pseudovirus neutralization effect compared with that of NER without BP assistance. Furthermore, the mRNA extracted from mouse melanoma tissues is utilized to simulate tumor neoantigen delivered by NER@BPmRNA . In the vaccinated mice, BP-assisted NER for the delivery of melanoma mRNA can induce more antibodies that specifically recognize tumor antigens. Thus, BP-assisted NER can serve as a safe and effective delivery vehicle in mRNA-based therapy.

Directional conjugation of Trop2 antibody to black phosphorus nanosheets for phototherapy in orthotopic gastric carcinoma.

Tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (Trop2) is highly specific expressed in gastric carcinoma (GC). The combination of Trop2 antibody and phototherapy agents could exhibit synergetic antitumor activity. Black phosphorus nanosheets (BP) are covalently modified with Trop2 IgG antibodies via heterobifunctional linker of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Then the Trop2 antibody was directionally conjugated to BP via Schiff base reaction between aldehyde group from oxidized Trop2 antibody and amino group of PEG. The Trop2-functionalzied BP can significantly increase the endocytosis of BP in Trop2-positive GC cells exhibiting a reinforced antitumor activity under near infrared (NIR) irradiation. More importantly, a murine orthotopic GC model demonstrates that Trop2 antibody modification can significantly promote the accumulation of BP at tumor tissues and strengthen antitumoral activity of phototherapy. Directional conjugation of Trop2 antibody to BP facilitates the BP with superior stability, tumor targeting ability and excellent anti-tumor activity under NIR irradiation without systemic toxicity.

Zhenbao pill protects against acute spinal cord injury via miR-146a-5p regulating the expression of GPR17.

The aim of the present study was to observe the effect of zhenbao pill on the motor function of acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) rats and the molecular mechanisms involving miR-146a-5p and G-protein-coupled receptor 17 (GPR17). ASCI rat model was established by modified Allen method, and then the rats were divided into three groups. SH-SY5Y cells were cultured overnight in hypoxia condition and transfected with miR-146a-5p mimic or miR-146a-5p inhibitor. The hind limb motor function of the rats was evaluated by Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) scoring system. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expression of miR-146a-5p, GPR17, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Neuronal apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry assay. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the regulation of miR-146a-5p on GPR17. Zhenbao pill could enhance hind limb motor function and attenuate the inflammatory response caused by ASCI. Moreover, zhenbao pill increased the level of miR-146a-5p and decreased GPR17 expression in vivo and in vitro Bioinformatics software predicted that GPR17 3'-UTR had a binding site with miR-146a-5p Luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-146a-5p had a negative regulatory effect on GPR17 expression. Knockdown of miR-146a-5p could reverse the effect of zhenbao pill on the up-regulation of GPR17 induced by hypoxia, reversed the inhibitory effect of zhenbao pill on the cell apoptosis induced by hypoxia and the recovery of zhenbao pill on hind limb motor function in ASCI rats. Zhenbao pill could inhibit neuronal apoptosis by regulating miR-146a-5p/GPR17 expression, and then promoting the recovery of spinal cord function.

Zhenbao Pill reduces the percentage of Treg cells by inducing HSP27 expression.

CONTEXT: Zhenbao pill containing Nacre, Safflower, Musk and Cornu Bubahas has been proved to have a good therapeutic effect on the repair of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, its complex mechanism of repairing SCI is not yet known. OBJECTIVE: This study attempts to investigate the role of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the mechanism of the action of Zhenbao pill, and further explore the relationship between Tregs and HSP27 expression in repair mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Treatment of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with different concentrations (0, 0.5, 2.5, 5, 10mg/mL) of Zhenbao pill, flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of the specific factors CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ in Tregs, and detection of Tregs related regulatory factor TGF-ß content was performed with ELISA assay. The relationship between miR-214 and HSP27 was assessed by Luciferase assay, and the level of miR-214 was detected by qPCR. The expression of HSP27 was examined with qPCR and western blotting. RNA interference technology and gene recombination were used to inhibit and up-regulate the expression of HSP27. RESULTS: Zhenbao pill with 11.61mg/mL of IC50 for Tregs can significantly inhibit the differentiation into Tregs in human PBMCs and up-regulate by more than 1-fold of HSP27 expression. Essentially, it enhanced the expression of HSP27 by inhibiting miR-214 expression (50%). Inhibition of HSP27 expression, followed by the differentiation into Tregs, was promoted in human PBMCs. When the HSP27 expression was up-regulated, the differentiation into Tregs was decreased by 30%. It indicated that the expression of HSP27 regulated the differentiation into Tregs. Inhibition of HSP27 expression and Zhenbao pill treatment, the differentiation into Tregs was decreased but remained at a higher level than that of the group was only treated with pill. Under the action of Zhenbao pill, the expression of HSP27 was not completely interfered, and its expression level was still increased. CONCLUSIONS: In the process of repairing the SCI, Zhenbao pill inhibits reduces numbers of Treg lymphocytes as well as TGF-ß levels by inducing HSP27 expression.