An in-situ peptide-antibody self-assembly to block CD47 and CD24 signaling enhances macrophage-mediated phagocytosis and anti-tumor immune responses.

Targeted immunomodulation for reactivating innate cells, especially macrophages, holds great promise to complement current adaptive immunotherapy. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of high-performance therapeutics for blocking macrophage phagocytosis checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors. Herein, a peptide-antibody combo-supramolecular in situ assembled CD47 and CD24 bi-target inhibitor (PAC-SABI) is described, which undergoes biomimetic surface propagation on cancer cell membranes through ligand-receptor binding and enzyme-triggered reactions. By simultaneously blocking CD47 and CD24 signaling, PAC-SABI enhances the phagocytic ability of macrophages in vitro and in vivo, promoting anti-tumor responses in breast and pancreatic cancer mouse models. Moreover, building on the foundation of PAC-SABI-induced macrophage repolarization and increased CD8+ T cell tumor infiltration, sequential anti-PD-1 therapy further suppresses 4T1 tumor progression, prolonging survival rate. The in vivo construction of PAC-SABI-based nano-architectonics provides an efficient platform for bridging innate and adaptive immunity to maximize therapeutic potency.

Adaptive enzyme-responsive self-assembling multivalent apelin ligands for targeted myocardial infarction therapy.

Microvascular dysfunction following myocardial infarction exacerbates coronary flow obstruction and impairs the preservation of ventricular function. The apelinergic system, known for its pleiotropic effects on improving vascular function and repairing ischemic myocardium, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for myocardial infarction. Despite its potential, the natural apelin peptide has an extremely short circulating half-life. Current apelin analogs have limited receptor binding efficacy and poor targeting, which restricts their clinical applications. In this study, we utilized an enzyme-responsive peptide self-assembly technique to develop an enzyme-responsive small molecule peptide that adapts to the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases in myocardial infarction lesions. This peptide is engineered to respond to the high concentration of matrix metalloproteinases in the lesion area, allowing for precise and abundant presentation of the apelin motif. The changes in hydrophobicity allow the apelin motif to self-assemble into a supramolecular multivalent peptide ligand-SAMP. This self-assembly behavior not only prolongs the residence time of apelin in the myocardial infarction lesion but also enhances the receptor-ligand interaction through increased receptor binding affinity due to multivalency. Studies have demonstrated that SAMP significantly promotes angiogenesis after ischemia, reduces cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and improves cardiac function. This novel therapeutic strategy offers a new approach to restoring coronary microvascular function and improving damaged myocardium after myocardial infarction.

De Novo Assembly and Comparative Analysis of Mitochondrial Genomes of Two Pueraria montana Varieties.

Pueraria montana is a species with important medicinal value and a complex genetic background. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the mitochondrial (mt) genomes of two varieties of P. montana. The mt genome lengths of P. montana var. thomsonii and P. montana var. montana were 457,390 bp and 456,731 bp, respectively. Both P. montana mitogenomes showed a multi-branched structure consisting of two circular molecules, with 56 genes annotated, comprising 33 protein-coding genes, 18 tRNA genes (trnC-GCA and trnM-CAU are multi-copy genes), and 3 rRNA genes. Then, 207 pairs of long repeats and 96 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected in the mt genomes of P. montana, and 484 potential RNA-editing sites were found across the 33 mitochondrial protein-coding genes of each variety. Additionally, a syntenic sequence analysis showed a high collinearity between the two mt genomes. This work is the first to analyze the mt genomes of P. montana. It can provide information that can be used to analyze the structure of mt genomes of higher plants and provide a foundation for future comparative genomic studies and evolutionary biology research in related species.

In silico bioactivity prediction of proteins interacting with graphene-based nanomaterials guides rational design of biosensor.

Graphene-based nanomaterials have attracted significant attention for their potentials in biomedical and biotechnology applications in recent years, owing to the outstanding physical and chemical properties. However, the interaction mechanism and impact on biological activity of macro/micro biomolecules still require more concerns and further research in order to enhance their applicability in biosensors, etc. Herein, an integrated method has been developed to predict the protein bioactivity performance when interacting with nanomaterials for protein-based biosensor. Molecular dynamics simulation and molecular docking technique were consolidated to investigate several nanomaterials: C60 fullerene, single-walled carbon nanotube, pristine graphene and graphene oxide, and their effect when interacting with protein. The adsorption behavior, secondary structure changes and protein bioactivity changes were simulated, and the results of protein activity simulation were verified in combination with atomic force spectrum, circular dichroism spectrum fluorescence and electrochemical experiments. The best quantification alignment between bioactivity obtained by simulation and experiment measurements was further explored. The two proteins, RNase A and Exonuclease III, were regarded as analysis model for the proof of concept, and the prediction accuracy of protein bioactivity could reach up to 0.98. The study shows an easy-to-operate and systematic approach to predict the effects of graphene-based nanomaterials on protein bioactivity, which holds guiding significance for the design of protein-related biosensors. In addition, the proposed prediction model is not limited to carbon-based nanomaterials and can be extended to other types of nanomaterials. This facilitates the rapid, simple, and low-cost selection of efficient and biosafe nanomaterials candidates for protein-related applications in biosensing and biomedical systems.

Multi-stage development process and model of steam chamber for SAGD production in a heavy oil reservoir with an interlayer.

Steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) is an efficient thermal recovery technique for oil sands and extra heavy oil exploitation. The development of steam chamber goes through multi-stage physical processes for SAGD production in a heavy oil reservoir with an interlayer. In this study, considering the situation that an interlayer is located directly above a pair of horizontal wells, we analyzed the whole process of steam chamber development. We divided the whole process into stages I-V, which are the first rising stage, the first lateral expansion stage, the second rising stage, the second lateral expansion stage and the confinement stage, respectively. Particularly, we further divided stage II into 2 periods and stage IV into 3 periods. These stages and periods can help us understand the development process of steam chamber dominated by an interlayer more profoundly. Based on the divided stages and periods, we established different models of SAGD production by assuming different geometric shapes of steam chamber in different stages and periods. Oval shape was assumed in stages I and III, and inverse triangle shape was hypothesized in stages II, IV and V. The formulas of the front distance of steam chamber and the oil production rate of SAGD were deduced from the established models for different development stages. At the end, we performed two example applications to SAGD production in heavy oil reservoirs with an interlayer. The real oil production rates were matched very well with the theoretical oil production rates calculated by the deduced formulas, which implies the multi-stage development model of steam chamber is of reliability and utility.

Precise Determination of Selenium Forms and Contents in Selenium-Enriched Rapeseed Seedlings and Flowering Stalks by HPLC-ICP-MS.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) has the ability of selenium (Se) enrichment. Identification of selenides in Se-rich rapeseed products will promote the development and utilization of high value. By optimizing the Se species extraction process (protease type, extraction reagent, enzyme sample ratio, extraction time, etc.) and chromatographic column, an efficient, stable, and accurate method was established for the identification of Se species and content in rapeseed seedlings and flowering stalks, which were cultured by inorganic Se hydroponics. Five Se compounds, including selenocystine (SeCys2), methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys), selenomethionine (SeMet), selenite (SeIV), and selenate (SeVI) were qualitatively and quantitatively identified. Organoselenium was absolutely dominant in both seedlings and flowering stalks among the detected rapeseed varieties, with 64.18-90.20% and 94.38-98.47%, respectively. Further, MeSeCys, a highly active selenide, predominated in rapeseed flowering stalks with a proportion of 56.36-72.93% and a content of 1707.3-5030.3 µg/kg. This study provides a new source of MeSeCys supplementation for human Se fortification.

Velocity field and turbulence structure of the meandering flow produced by alternating deflectors.

Meandering flow can be formed during the advance of natural rivers by the scouring of river banks. However, this phenomenon is not common in artificial cement channels. This study used experimental scouring terrain data for a numerical simulation to study the meandering flow pattern formed between double alternating deflectors in a straight channel. The numerical results showed that the path of the accelerated flow generated by the upstream deflector was changed by installing a downstream deflector while the flow rate remained unchanged. Thus, a meandering flow formed, and a stable, narrow, high-speed zone formed in the downstream area. The accelerated flow between the two deflectors hit the channel bank soon after its direction changed. Then, a strong downward flow formed in this area, which may have produced an elliptical scour hole. A large-scale vortex structure was formed in the elliptical scour hole, which was influenced by the horseshoe vortex system before the downstream deflector.

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective 1,2-Allylation of Azadienes with Allylboronates.

Catalytic asymmetric 1,2-allylation of aurone-derived azadienes is very difficult to achieve due to the driving force for aromatization and the greater steric hindrance of 1,2-addition compared with 1,4-addition. By taking advantage of the ability of nitrogen ligated metal complexes, we successfully demonstrated the first example of copper-catalyzed 1,2-allylation of azadienes with allylboronates for the highly enantioselective synthesis of homoallylic amines. Meanwhile, the enantioenriched 1,4-addition products could also be obtained through a subsequent 3,3-sigmatropic rearrangement of the 1,2-addition products. Extensive DFT calculations were carried out to elucidate the origins of high regioselectivity (1,2- vs 1,4-) and enantioselectivity.

Application of Aptamer-SERS Nanotags for Unveiling the PD-L1 Immunomarker Progression Correlated to the Cell Metabolic Bioprocess.

In recent years, the expression and progression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) as an immunomarker in the context of a cell metabolic environment has gained significant attention in cancer research. However, intercellular bioprocesses that control the dynamics of PD-L1 have been largely unexplored. This study aimed to explore the cell metabolic states and conditions that govern dynamic variations of PD-L1 within the cell metabolic environment using an aptamer-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) approach. The aptamer-SERS technique offers a sensitive, rapid, and powerful analytical tool for targeted and nondestructive detection of an immunomarker with high sensitivity and specificity. By combining aptamer-SERS with cell state profiling, we investigated the modulation in PD-L1 expression under different metabolic states, including glucose deprivation, metabolic coenzyme activity, and altered time/concentration-based cytokine availability. The most intriguing features in our findings include the cell-specific responses, cell differentiation by revealing distinct patterns, and dynamics of PD-L1 in different cell lines. Additionally, the time-dependent variations in PD-L1 expression, coupled with the dose-dependent relationship between glucose concentration and PD-L1 levels, underscore the complex interplay between immune checkpoint regulation and cellular metabolism. Therefore, this work demonstrates the advantages of using highly-sensitive and specific aptamer-SERS nanotags for investigating the immune checkpoint dynamics and related metabolic bioprocess.

Flexible and Robust Core-Shell PANI/PVDF@PANI Nanofiber Membrane for High-Performance Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

Developing high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials that are lightweight and flexible and have excellent mechanical properties is an ideal choice for modern integrated electronic devices and microwave protection. Herein, we report the preparation of core-shell polyaniline (PANI)-based nanofiber membranes for EMI shielding through seed polymerization. Electrospinning a PANI solution leads to homogeneously dispersed PANI on the nanofiber surface, with abundant attachment sites for aniline through electrostatic adsorption and hydrogen bonding interaction, allowing PANI to grow on the nanofiber surfaces. This stable core-shell heterostructure provides more interfaces for reflecting and absorbing microwaves. The PANI/PVDF@PANI membranes achieved a shielding efficiency (SE) of 44.7 dB at a thickness of only 1.2 mm, exhibiting an exceptionally high specific EMI shielding effectiveness (SE/t) of 372.5 dB cm-1. Furthermore, the composite membrane exhibits outstanding mechanical stability, durability, air permeability, and moisture permeability, also making it suitable for applications such as EM shielding clothing.

Abnormal temporal variability of thalamo-cortical circuit in patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea.

This study investigated the abnormal dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) variability of the thalamo-cortical circuit in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and explored the relationship between these changes and the clinical characteristics of patients with OSA. A total of 91 newly diagnosed patients with moderate-to-severe OSA and 84 education-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included. All participants underwent neuropsychological testing and a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. We explored the thalamo-cortical dFC changes by dividing the thalamus into 16 subregions and combining them using a sliding-window approach. Correlation analysis assessed the relationship between dFC variability and clinical features, and the support vector machine method was used for classification. The OSA group exhibited increased dFC variability between the thalamic subregions and extensive cortical areas, compared with the HCs group. Decreased dFC variability was observed in some frontal-occipital-temporal cortical regions. These dFC changes positively correlated with daytime sleepiness, disease severity, and cognitive scores. Altered dFC variability contributed to the discrimination between patients with OSA and HCs, with a classification accuracy of 77.8%. Our findings show thalamo-cortical overactivation and disconnection in patients with OSA, disrupting information flow within the brain networks. These results enhance understanding of the temporal variability of thalamo-cortical circuits in patients with OSA.

Fever clinic construction and management targeted to prevention and control of healthcare-associated respiratory viral infections in Jiangsu, China: A cross-sectional observational study.

To analyze the post-COVID-19 construction and management of fever clinics targeted to prevention and control of healthcare-associated respiratory viral infections in medical institutions at all levels in China, and to provide a basis for promoting their standardized construction, we conducted this survey on the construction of fever clinics in 429 medical institutions of Jiangsu Province from July to December 2020. Contents of the questionnaire included the general situation of medical institutions, the construction status and future construction plans of fever clinics. We find the construction rate of fever clinic in medical institutions of Jiangsu province was 75.3%. All construction indicators, quality management systems and processes fail to fully meet the requirements of documents and standards. Jiangsu province actively promotes the construction of fever clinic layout, but there is still a gap with the construction standard. As a result, it is necessary to further promote standardized construction of fever clinic, and necessary financial input should be increased to expand all constructions of fever clinic in primary medical institutions.

Further investigation of the lateral approach for the resection of Knosp grade 4 pituitary adenomas in endoscopic endonasal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The authors performed a further in-depth study of the lateral compartment of the cavernous sinus (LCCS) by the endoscopic endonasal approach to improve the safety and efficacy of the lateral approach for the removal of Knosp grade 4 pituitary adenomas (KG4PAs). METHODS: Twenty-three cadaveric specimens were used for endoscopic endonasal dissection, and the LCCS was exposed to observe the neurovascular and fibrous structures within. A subclassification of the lateral approach based on further knowledge of the LCCS was proposed and used to resect 86 KG4PAs, and the surgical outcomes of these cases were reviewed. Type A KG4PAs represent tumor that was mainly distributed in the posterosuperior and superolateral compartments, type B KG4PAs represent tumor that was mainly distributed in the anteroinferior compartments, and type AB KG4PAs represent tumor that extended into each compartment with characteristics of types 4A and 4B. RESULTS: The authors identified multiple fibers that anchored the horizontal segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) to the abducens nerve. The fibers, the sympathetic nerve, and the inferior lateral trunk form a partition-like structure in the LCCS named the abducens nerve-ICA complex (AIC), and the LCCS can be divided into the superolateral and inferolateral compartments by the AIC. Accordingly, the lateral approach was subclassified into the lateral superior (LS) approach and the anterior inferior (AI) approach. The LS approach was mainly used to resect type A KG4PAs, whereas the AI approach was used to resect type B KG4PAs, and a combination of the two was used to resect type AB KG4PAs. The gross-total, subtotal, and partial resection rates were 81.4%, 12.8%, and 5.8%, respectively. The numbers of cases of postoperative transient cranial nerve palsy, postoperative permanent cranial nerve palsy, ICA injury, and CSF leakage were 6 (6.9%), 2 (2.3%), 1 (1.2%), and 1 (1.2%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the LCCS is divided by the AIC into the superolateral and inferolateral compartments, avoiding the misconception that the LCCS has vertical communication. Therefore, the lateral approach was subclassified into the LS approach and the AI approach for the resection of KG4PAs, which allowed a high gross-total resection rate with acceptable safety in the surgical treatment of KG4PAs.

Histological features of chronic hepatitis B patients with normal alanine aminotransferase according to different criteria.

BACKGROUND: The upper limits of normal (ULNs) for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are different among international guidelines for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We aimed to investigate the proportion of significant histological disease in Asian patients with CHB with detectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA under diverse ALT ULNs. METHODS: Consecutive patients with CHB and detectable HBV DNA who underwent liver biopsy were retrospectively included from four tertiary hospitals. Above grade 2 inflammation and stage 2 fibrosis were defined as significant inflammation and significant fibrosis, respectively. Significant histological disease was defined as above grade 2 inflammation or stage 2 fibrosis. RESULTS: Among the 414 patients with detectable HBV DNA and normal ALT, the proportion of those with significant histological disease was lower (59.7%) according to the ULN for ALT at 30/19 U/L (male/female), while the corresponding proportions were 66.7% and 62.3% according to the ULNs of 40 U/L and 35/25 U/L (male/female), respectively. In patients with detectable HBV DNA and normal ALT levels without significant fibrosis, the proportions of significant inflammation were comparable among different ULNs of ALT at 40 U/L (30.7%), 35/25 U/L (27.3%) and 30/19 U/L (25.0%). The proportion of significant histological disease was significantly lower in patients with normal ALT for 2 determinations at least 6 months apart compared to patients with normal ALT once. CONCLUSIONS: Although a more stringent ALT ULN may reduce the risk of the presence of significant histological disease in patients with detectable HBV DNA, the rates of significant histological disease remain high. Persistently normal ALT levels are more important for excluding patients with CHB with a high probability of significant histological disease.

Adsorption of Zn(II) from aqueous solution and separation of zinc isotopes by displacement chromatography using chelating adsorbent.

The removal of zinc ions (Zn(II)) in water and the separation of zinc isotopes were fully investigated in this study. Imidodiacetic acid (IDA) type adsorbent (named PSGI) based on polystyrene spheres (PS) was synthesized by simultaneous irradiation grafting. By adsorption method, the removal of Zn(II) from water by the chelating adsorbent was studied in batch experiments. Under optimized condition, PSGI showed the removal efficiency of more than 98 % for Zn(II) and the adsorption capacity of 70.1 mg/g. Langmuir isothermal and pseudo-second-order kinetic model fitted the experimental results better, indicating that the adsorption is dominated by chemical adsorption. The spent adsorbent (PSGI-Zn) was used for further zinc isotope separation by displacement chromatography using EDTA-NH4 solution as eluent. Due to the mass effect of isotopes, 70Zn was found to preferentially fractionated into the front-end effluents with the highest front enrichment values of 70Zn/64Zn. By extending the migration distance to 20 m, we obtained the best isotope enrichment with the front maximum enrichment values as 1.0949, 1.0739 and separation coefficient values as 1.977 × 10-3, 8.33 × 10-3 corresponding to the isotope pairs 66Zn/64Zn, 68Zn/64Zn.

Mutator-like transposable element 9A interacts with metacaspase 1 and modulates the incidence of Al-induced programmed cell death in peanut.

The toxicity of aluminum (Al) in acidic soil inhibits plant root development and reduces crop yields. In the plant response to Al toxicity, the initiation of programmed cell death (PCD) appears to be an important mechanism for the elimination of Al-damaged cells to ensure plant survival. In a previous study, the type I metacaspase AhMC1 was found to regulate the Al stress response and to be essential for Al-induced PCD. However, the mechanism by which AhMC1 is altered in the peanut response to Al stress remained unclear. Here, we show that a nuclear protein, mutator-like transposable element 9A (AhMULE9A), directly interacts with AhMC1 in vitro and in vivo. This interaction occurs in the nucleus in peanut and is weakened during Al stress. Furthermore, a conserved C2HC zinc finger domain of AhMULE9A (residues 735-751) was shown to be required for its interaction with AhMC1. Overexpression of AhMULE9A in Arabidopsis and peanut strongly inhibited root growth with a loss of root cell viability under Al treatment. Conversely, knock down of AhMULE9A in peanut significantly reduced Al uptake and Al inhibition of root growth, and alleviated the occurrence of typical hallmarks of Al-induced PCD. These findings provide novel insight into the regulation of Al-induced PCD.

NAFLD is associated with less severe liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B: A multi-center, retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) may progress to more serious liver diseases and it is often accompanied by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD and CHB share risk factors for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, but the influence of NAFLD on fibrosis progression is controversial. This retrospective study evaluated the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with CHB and investigated associations between NAFLD and liver fibrosis in a large multi-center cohort of hepatitis B patients submitted to liver biopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Treatment-naïve patients with CHB who underwent liver biopsy were analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to adjust the confounders between patients with and without NAFLD. RESULTS: A total of 1496 CHB patients were included. Two hundred and ninety (19.4%) patients were diagnosed with NAFLD by liver biopsy. The proportions of significant liver fibrosis (52.8% vs. 63.9%, P<0.001), advanced liver fibrosis (27.2% vs. 36.5%, P=0.003), and cirrhosis (13.4% vs. 19.7%, P=0.013) was considerably lower in CHB patients with NAFLD compared to those without NAFLD. 273 patients were included in each group after PSM adjusted for age, sex, hepatitis B envelope antigen status, and hepatitis B virus DNA. Liver fibrosis remained less severe in CHB patients with NAFLD than those without NAFLD (P<0.05) after PSM. The presence of NAFLD was considered an independent negative factor of significant liver fibrosis (odds ratio (OR) 0.692, P=0.013) and advanced liver fibrosis (OR 0.533, P = 0.002) in CHB patients. CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is not uncommon in CHB patients with the prevalence of 19.4%. The presence of NAFLD is associated with less severe liver fibrosis in CHB patients. OF THE STUDY/TRIAL: NCT03097952.

Survival Benefit of Primary Tumor Resection Combined With Chemotherapy in Patients With Unresectable Colorectal Mucinous Adenocarcinoma With Liver Metastasis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the survival benefit of combining primary tumor resection (PTR) and chemotherapy in patients with unresectable colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis (UCR-MAC-LM). METHODS: We obtained data from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database for patients with UCR-MAC-LM from 2010 to 2017. Clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed using the χ2 test. Propensity score matching was performed to balance baseline characteristics. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests were used to estimate and compare survival outcomes. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify the prognostic factors. RESULTS: A total of 10,178 patients with unresectable colorectal adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis were included, of whom 6.01% (n=612) had UCR-MAC-LM. The UCR-MAC-LM group had a higher proportion of female patients, a greater number of elderly patients, an increased incidence of right colon localization, larger tumor size, and higher T and N staging than the unresectable colorectal non-mucinous adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis group (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified several independent prognostic factors (P<0.05). Patients with unresectable colorectal adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis who underwent PTR+C had superior survival rates compared with those who received PTR/C alone or no treatment (cancer-specific survival, P<0.05; overall survival, P<0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that 17 of 22 groups of patients with UCR-MAC-LM who received PTR+C had significantly prolonged long-term survival compared with those who received PTR/C alone. CONCLUSIONS: This surveillance, epidemiology, and end results-based study indicates that PTR+C may offer a survival advantage for a specific subgroup of patients with UCR-MAC-LM compared with PTR/C alone. Nonetheless, additional clinical trials are necessary to validate these findings.

Baicalin-peptide supramolecular self-assembled nanofibers effectively inhibit ferroptosis and attenuate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Doxorubicin, an anthracycline chemotherapeutic agent, elicits a deleterious cardiotoxicity known as doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC) that circumscribes its chemotherapy utility for malignancies. Recent empirical evidence implicates ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, as playing a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of DIC. We postulated that anti-ferroptosis agents may constitute a novel therapeutic strategy for mitigating DIC. To test this hypothesis, we engineered baicalin-peptide supramolecular self-assembled nanofibers designed to selectively target the angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R), which is upregulated in doxorubicin-damaged cardiomyocytes. This enabled targeted delivery of baicalin, a natural antioxidant compound, to inhibit ferroptosis in the afflicted myocardium. In vitro, the nanofibers ameliorated cardiomyocyte death by attenuating peroxide accumulation and suppressing ferroptosis. In a murine model of DIC, AT1R-targeted baicalin delivery resulted in efficacious cardiac accumulation and superior therapeutic effects compared to systemic administration. This investigation delineates a promising framework for developing targeted therapies that alleviate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting the ferroptosis pathway in cardiomyocytes.

Dual-crosslinking immunostimulatory hydrogel synchronously suppresses pancreatic fistula and pancreatic cancer relapse post-resection.

In pancreatic cancer (PC), surgical resection remains the sole curative option, albeit patients undergoing resection are susceptible to postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF) formation and tumor recurrence. An unmet need exists for a unified strategy capable of concomitantly averting PF and tumor relapse to mitigate morbidity in PC patients after surgery. Herein, an original dual crosslinked biological sealant hydrogel (methacrylate-hyaluronic acid-dopamine (MA-HA-DA) and sulfhydryl-hyaluronic acid-dopamine (SH-HA-DA)) was engineered as a drug depot and loaded with polydopamine-cloaked cytokine interleukin-15 and platelets conjugated with anti-TIGIT. In vitro analyses validated favorable tissue adhesion, cytocompatibility, and stability of the hydrogels. In a PF rodent model, the hydrogel effectively adhered to the pancreatic stump, sealing the severed pancreatic end and impeding post-operative elevations in amylase and lipase. In PC murine models, hydrogels potently stimulated CD8+ T and NK cells to deter residual tumor re-growth and distant metastasis. This innovative hydrogel strategy establishes a new framework for concomitant prevention of PF and PC recurrence.