A tumor-targeted and enzyme-responsive gold nanorod-based nanoplatform with facilitated endo-lysosomal escape for synergetic photothermal therapy and protein therapy.

To tackle the obstacles related to tumor targeting and overcome the limitations of single treatment models, we have developed a nanoplatform that is both tumor-targeted and enzyme-responsive. This nanoplatform integrates photothermal gold nanorods (AuNRs) and protein drugs into a single system. This nanosystem, known as AuNRs@HA-mPEG-Deta-LA, was fabricated by modifying gold nanorods (AuNRs) with a polymeric ligand called hyaluronic acid-grafted-(mPEG/diethylenetriamine-conjugated-lipoic acid). The purpose of this fabrication was to load cytochrome c (CC) and utilize it for the synergetic protein-photothermal therapy of cancer. The resulting nanoplatform exhibited a high efficiency in loading proteins and demonstrated excellent stability in different biological environments. Additionally, CC-loaded AuNRs@HA-mPEG-Deta-LA not only enabled localized hyperthermia for photothermal therapy (PTT) with laser irradiation but also facilitated the release of CC under the action of hyaluronidase, an enzyme known to be overexpressed in tumor cells. The confocal imaging results demonstrated that the presence of a specific polymeric ligand on this nanoparticle enhances the internalization of CD44-positive cancer cells, accelerates endo/lysosomal escape, and facilitates the controlled release of CC within the cells. Furthermore, the results of the MTT assay also showed that AuNRs@HA-mPEG-Deta-LA as a protein nanocarrier demonstrated excellent biocompatibility. Importantly, this synergistic therapeutic strategy effectively induced apoptosis in A549 cancer cells by increasing the intracellular concentration of CC and utilizing the photothermal conversion of AuNRs, which was observed to be more effective compared to using only protein therapy or PTT. Therefore, this study showcased a nanoplatform based on AuNRs that has great potential for tumor-targeted protein delivery in combination with PTT in cancer treatment.

[Adjuvant rice optimization of rice-steamed Rehmanniae Radix and its anti-osteoporosis effect].

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of various adjuvant rice on the quality of rice-steamed Rehmanniae Radix(RSRR) with Japonica rice, millet, yellow rice, black rice, and glutinous rice as raw materials, and analyze the anti-osteoporosis effect of RSRR by the optimal adjuvant rice. On the basis of the established UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of the content of catalpol and rehmannioside D, comprehensive weighted scoring method was employed to evaluate the effect of various auxiliary rice on the quality of RSRR with the content of catalpol and rehmannioside D, character score, and taste score as indicators to optimize adjuvant rice. The osteoporosis model was induced by ovariectomy in rats. SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a positive control group, and low-dose and high-dose groups of Rehmanniae Radix, RSRR, steamed Rehmanniae Radix, and Epimedii Folium-RSRR. After treatment for 12 weeks, body weight, bone calcium content, and bone mineral density were mea-sured. The results showed that Japonica rice was selected as the optimal adjuvant due to the highest comprehensive score of RSRR steamed by Japonica rice. Rehmanniae Radix, RSRR, steamed Rehmanniae Radix, as well as Epimedii Folium-RSRR, could improve osteoporosis by increasing bone calcium content and bone mineral density. RSRR was superior to Rehmanniae Radix in improving osteo-porosis. However, there was no significant difference between RSRR and steamed Rehmanniae Radix. This study confirmed that Japo-nica rice was the optimal adjuvant rice of RSRR and verified the anti-osteoporosis effect of RSRR, which laid a foundation for further research on the pharmacological action and mechanism of RSRR.

Tumor acidity and CD44 dual targeting hyaluronic acid-coated gold nanorods for combined chemo- and photothermal cancer therapy.

In this work, tumor acidity and CD44 dual targeting hyaluronic acid-coated gold nanorods (AuNRs) are investigated for combined chemo- and photothermal cancer therapy. Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMWHA) is conjugated with pH-sensitive groups for pH-induced aggregation and lipoic acid for coating of AuNRs. By changing pH-sensitive groups with different pKa values, pH-sensitivity of modified LMWHA can be tuned. After coating modified LMWHA onto AuNRs, biocompatibility of the AuNRs is significantly improved. These LMWHA-coated AuNRs can gradually aggregate under slightly acidic conditions, making them favorable for accumulation at acidic tumor sites. Surface LMWHA allows the nanocomposites to be selectively uptaken by CD44-expressing cancer cells, and AuNRs endows the nanocomposites with excellent photothermal ability. Loading of doxorubicin, a chemical drug, provides the LMWHA-coated AuNRs synergistic cancer cell-killing (in vitro) and tumor growth inhibiting (in vivo) ability. Taken together, these results demonstrate that this multifunctional nanosystem with pH-induced aggregation and CD44 targeting has potential for combined chemo- and photothermal cancer therapy.

Salvianolic acid A inhibits calpain activation and eNOS uncoupling during focal cerebral ischemia in mice.

BACKGROUND: Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is obtained from Chinese herb Salviae Miltiorrhizae Bunge (Labiatae), has been reported to have the protective effects against cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of present study was to investigate the relationship between the effectiveness of SAA against neurovascular injury and its effects on calpain activation and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling. STUDY DESIGN: SAA or vehicle was given to C57BL/6 male mice for seven days before the occlusion of middle cerebral artery (MCAO) for 60min. METHODS: High-resolution positron emission tomography scanner (micro-PET) was used for small animal imaging to examine glucose metabolism. Rota-rod time and neurological deficit scores were calculated after 24h of reperfusion. The volume of infarction was determined by Nissl-staining. The calpain proteolytic activity and eNOS uncoupling were determined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: SAA administration increased glucose metabolism and ameliorated neuronal damage after brain ischemia, paralleled with decreased neurological deficit and volume of infarction. In addition, SAA pretreatment inhibited eNOS uncoupling and calpain proteolytic activity. Furthermore, SAA inhibited peroxynitrite (ONOO-) generation and upregulates AKT, FKHR and ERK phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: These findings strongly suggest that SAA elicits a neurovascular protective role through the inhibition of eNOS uncoupling and ONOO- formation. Moreover, SAA attenuates spectrin and calcineurin breakdown and therefore protects the brain against ischemic/reperfusion injury.