Glucose-Functionalized Liposomes for Reducing False Positives in Cancer Diagnosis.

Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) is a powerful tool for cancer detection, staging, and follow-up. However, 18F-FDG-PET imaging has high rates of false positives, as it cannot distinguish between tumor and inflammation regions that both feature increased glucose metabolic activity. In the present study, we engineered liposomes coated with glucose and the chelator dodecane tetraacetic acid (DOTA) complexed with copper, to serve as a diagnostic technology for differentiating between cancer and inflammation. This liposome technology is based on FDA-approved materials and enables complexation with metal cations and radionuclides. We found that these liposomes were preferentially uptaken by cancer cell lines with high metabolic activity, mediated via glucose transporter-1. In vivo, these liposomes were avidly uptaken by tumors, as compared to liposomes without glucose coating. Moreover, in a combined tumor-inflammation mouse model, these liposomes accumulated in the tumor tissue and not in the inflammation region. Thus, this technology shows high specificity for tumors while evading inflammation and has potential for rapid translation to the clinic and integration with existing PET imaging systems, for effective reduction of false positives in cancer diagnosis.

Ultra-small natural product based coordination polymer nanodots for acute kidney injury relief.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and causes high mortality in clinics annually, and nanotechnology-mediated antioxidative therapy is emerging as a novel strategy for AKI treatment. Herein, four kinds of natural antioxidants are able to coordinate with iron (Fe) ions to form ultra-small coordination polymer nanodots (CPNs) with good water dispersibility and strong ROS scavenging ability. In particular, Fe-curcumin CPNs (Fe-Cur CPNs) are applied for cellular ROS scavenging and rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI relief.

Ultrasmall Oxygen-Deficient Bimetallic Oxide MnWOX Nanoparticles for Depletion of Endogenous GSH and Enhanced Sonodynamic Cancer Therapy.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) triggered by ultrasound (US) has attracted increasing attention owing to its abilities to overcome critical limitations including low tissue-penetration depth and phototoxicity in photodynamic therapy. Herein, the design of a new type of sonosensitizer is revealed, namely, ultrasmall oxygen-deficient bimetallic oxide MnWOX nanoparticles, for multimodal imaging-guided enhanced SDT against cancer. As-made MnWOX nanoparticles with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) modification show high physiological stability and biocompatibility. Interestingly, such MnWOX -PEG nanoparticles exhibit highly efficient US-triggered production of 1 O2 and •OH, higher than that of previously reported sonosensitizers (e.g., protoporphyrin IX and titanium dioxide), because the oxygen-deficient structure of MnWOX serves as an electron trap site to prevent electron-hole recombination. The glutathione depletion capability of MnWOX -PEG can also further favor SDT-triggered cancer cell killing. With efficient tumor homing as illustrated by computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, MnWOX -PEG enables effective destruction of mouse tumors under US stimulation. After accomplishing its therapeutic functions, MnWOX -PEG can be metabolized by the mouse body without any long-term toxicity. Herein, a new type of sono-sensitizing agent with high SDT efficacy, multimodal imaging functions, and rapid clearance is presented, an agent which is promising for noninvasive SDT cancer treatment.