Insights on functionalized carbon nanotubes for cancer theranostics.

Despite the exciting breakthroughs in medical technology, cancer still accounts for one of the principle triggers of death and conventional therapeutic modalities often fail to attain an effective cure. Recently, nanobiotechnology has made huge advancement in cancer therapy with gigantic application potential because of their ability in achieving precise and controlled drug release, elevating drug solubility and reducing adverse effects. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), one of the most promising carbon-related nanomaterials, have already achieved much success in biomedical field. Due to their excellent optical property, thermal and electronic conductivity, easy functionalization ability and high drug loading capacity, CNTs can be applied in a multifunctional way for cancer treatment and diagnosis. In this review, we will give an overview of the recent progress of CNT-based drug delivery systems in cancer theranostics, which emphasizes their targetability to intracellular components of tumor cells and extracellular elements in tumor microenvironment. Moreover, a detailed introduction on how CNTs penetrate inside the tumor cells to reach their sites of action and achieve the therapeutic effects, as well as their diagnostic applications will be highlighted.

Zwitterionic materials for nucleic acid delivery and therapeutic applications.

Nucleic acid therapeutics have demonstrated substantial potential in combating various diseases. However, challenges persist, particularly in the delivery of multifunctional nucleic acids. To address this issue, numerous gene delivery vectors have been developed to fully unlock the potential of gene therapy. The advancement of innovative materials with exceptional delivery properties is critical to propel the clinical translation of nucleic acid drugs. Cationic vector materials have received extensive attention, while zwitterionic materials remain relatively underappreciated in delivery. In this review, we outline a diverse range of zwitterionic material nucleic acid carriers, predominantly encompassing zwitterionic lipids, polymers and peptides. Their respective chemical structures, synthesis approaches, properties, advantages, and therapeutic applications are summarized and discussed. Furthermore, we highlight the challenges and future opportunities associated with the development of zwitterionic vector materials. This review will aid to understand the zwitterionic materials in aiding gene delivery, contributing to the continual progress of nucleic acid therapeutics.

Smart and Sustainable Crop Protection: Design and Evaluation of a Novel α-Amylase-Responsive Nanopesticide for Effective Pest Control.

In this study, an α-amylase-responsive controlled-release formulation was developed by capping polydopamine onto ß-cyclodextrin-modified abamectin-loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles. The prepared Aba@HMS@CD@PDA were subjected to characterization using various analytical techniques. The findings revealed that Aba@HMS@CD@PDA, featuring a loading rate of 18.8 wt %, displayed noteworthy release behavior of abamectin in the presence of α-amylase. In comparison to abamectin EC, Aba@HMS@CD@PDA displayed a significantly foliar affinity and improved rainfastness on lotus leaves. The results of field trail demonstrated a significantly higher control efficacy against Spodoptera litura Fabricius compared to abamectin EC at all concentrations after 7, 14, and 21 days of spaying, showcasing the remarkable persistence of Aba@HMS@CD@PDA. These results underscore the potential of Aba@HMS@CD@PDA as a novel and persistently effective strategy for sustainable on-demand crop protection. The application of nanopesticides can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of pesticide utilization, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices.

Dual stimuli-responsive fungicide carrier based on hollow mesoporous silica/hydroxypropyl cellulose hybrid nanoparticles.

The controlled release of pesticides based on nanoparticle platforms has emerged as a new technology for increasing the efficiency of pesticides and for reducing environmental pollution because of their size-dependent and target-modifying properties. In the present study, pH/cellulase dual stimuli-responsive controlled-release formulations (PYR-HMS-HPC) were designed by grafting hydroxypropyl cellulose onto pyraclostrobin-loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles via an ester linkage. The PYR-HMS-HPC formulations were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyzer, transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results demonstrated that PYR-HMS-HPC with a loading capacity of 12.1 wt% showed excellent pyraclostrobin release behaviors in response to acidic environments and the introduction of cellulase, could effectively prevented pyraclostrobin from photolysis. Compared with commercial pyraclostrobin formulations, the PYR-HMS-HPC formulations showed much stronger and statistically significant fungicidal activity against Magnaporthe oryzae from 7 to 21 days. Furthermore, the Allium cepa chromosome aberration assay demonstrated that the PYR-HMS-HPC formulations reduced the genotoxicity of pyraclostrobin. These pH/cellulase dual stimuli-responsive controlled-release formulations are of great interest for sustainable on-demand crop disease protection.

The youngest split in sympatric schizothoracine fish (Cyprinidae) is shaped by ecological adaptations in a Tibetan Plateau glacier lake.

Although new empirical evidence shows that sympatric speciation has occurred in some species, there are few indisputable model organisms for this process of speciation. The two subspecies (Gymnocypris eckloni eckloni and G. e. scoliostomus) of the schizothoracine Gymnocypris fish species complex from a small glacier lake in the Tibetan Plateau, Lake Sunmcuo, fit several of the key characteristics of the sympatric speciation model. We used combined mitochondrial control region sequences and the cytochrome b gene (1894 bp) to address the phylogenetics and population genetics of 232 specimens of G. e. eckloni and G. e. scoliostomus, as well as all of its closely related sister species. We found that: (i) a total of four old lineages were uncovered in the widespread G. e. eckloni, of which only one was shown to be shared with all G. e. scoliostomus individuals and (ii) the new subspecies (G. e. scoliostomus) evolved in Lake Sunmcuo from the ancestral G. e. eckloni population within approximately 0.057 Ma. These two taxa of the species complex are morphologically distinct, and reproductive isolation is further suggested. Ecological disruptive selection based on morphological traits (e.g. mouth cleft characters) and food utilization may be a mechanism of incipient speciation of two sympatric populations within Lake Sunmcuo. This study provides the first genetic evidence for sympatric speciation in the schizothoracine fish.

[Evaluation of a new closure technique of large defects after endoscopic full-thickness resection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the security and efficacy of a new endoscopic closure method of large defects after endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) double purse-string suture using two endoloops and metallic clips via single-channel endoscopy. METHODS: Clinical data of 23 cases with submucosal tumors (SMT) who received endoscopic resection from June 2015 to July 2016 in our National Cancer Center were collected. For gastric and esophageal SMTs or the mucosa layer injured during submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER), double purse-string suture was conducted after EFTR. The key steps of closure were as follows: the endoloop was installed onto the delivery system and inserted into the gastric cavity to the defect location with endoscopy and then opened; the clips were transported into the gastric cavity from the biopsy channel; the endoloop was fixed onto the full thickness of gastric wall along the edge of the defect by clips one by one between the interval of about 5 mm; the endoloop was tightened slowly till the entire circumference of the defect was sutured, thus, one purse-string suture was done; in accordance with the operation above, another endoloop was released, and the second endoloop was fixed at 5-10 mm to the outer edge of the original one, and tied the endoloop gently; this sequence was continued till there was no gap, thus, the double-purse string suture was finished. A total of 23 patients were enrolled in the study, including 18 with gastric tumor and 5 with esophageal tumor, 15 males and 8 females, with the average age of 56 (19 to 76) years. RESULTS: Eighteen cases of gastric SMT were successfully treated by endoscopic EFTR and double purse-string suture. The esophageal mucosa layer of all the 5 cases of esophageal SMT, including tumors of 3 cases located in cervical esophagus at 15-20 cm from the fore-tooth, 1 esophageal leiomyoma case complicated with squamous cell carcinoma in situ, and 1 case of mucosal layer injury during submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER), was successfully repaired by using double purse-string suture. The mean maximum diameter of tumor was 2.3 cm, and the average suture time was 22.8 min. Postoperative pathology showed that 13 cases were gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), 7 cases were leiomyoma, 2 cases were neurilemmoma, and 1 case was leiomyoma complicated with early squamous cell carcinoma in situ. No severe complications occurred during or after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: The double purse-string suture by using metallic clips and endoloops with single channel endoscope is a relatively safe, easy, and reliable technique for repairing large gastric defect after EFTR. For cervical esophageal SMT, or the SMT combined with superficial mucosal lesions, and for the mucosa layer injury during submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection(STER), double purse-string suture is helpful to perform the closure.