Selection and application of aptamers for p-hydroxybenzyl hydrogen sulfite after Gastrodia elata Bl. fumigated with sulfur.

Gastrodia elata Bl. is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine known for its medicinal properties. However, during the drying process, G. elata is often fumigated with sulfur to prevent corrosion and improve its appearance. Sulfur-fumigation can result in a reduction in the effective components of the herb and can also be hazardous to human health due to the remaining sulfur dioxide. Sulfur-fumigation of G. elata poses a significant challenge to both end-users and researchers. The detection of p-hydroxybenzyl hydrogen sulfite (p-HS) is a useful tool in determining whether G. elata has been fumigated with sulfur. Unfortunately, the current method for detecting p-HS is costly and requires sophisticated instruments. Therefore, there is a need to develop a more cost-effective and user-friendly method for the detection of p-HS. This study utilized the Capture-SELEX technique to screen high-affinity aptamers for p-HS, which were subsequently characterized by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). An aptamer sequence (seq 6) with a high affinity of Kd = 26.5 µM was obtained following 8 rounds of selection against p-HS. With the aptamer serving as the recognition element and gold nanoparticles as the colorimetric indicator, a simple and efficient colorimetric sensor was developed for the specific detection of p-HS. This detection method exhibited a limit of detection of 1 µg/ml, while the p-HS recoveries demonstrated a range of between 88.5 % and 105 % for samples of G. elata obtained in the market. In summary, the aptamer exhibited a high affinity for p-HS, and the sensor developed through the use of a colloidal gold detector based on nucleic acid aptamer can be utilized for rapid detection of sulfur-fumigated G. elata. With these findings, this research paper provides valuable scientific insights and highlights significant potential for future studies in this area.

Effect of different cooking methods on saponin content and hematopoietic effects of Panax notoginseng-steamed chicken on mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Panax notoginseng-steamed chicken (PNSC) is a medicinal food with ethnic characteristics developed by the Miao ethnic group in the southeast of Yunnan Province, China. PNSC has been eaten for hundreds of years, and its tonic effect has been widely recognized by the people. However, its cooking conditions and scientific connotation of its effect of toning blood and supplementing deficiency are also lack of in-depth analysis. AIM OF THE STUDY: To optimize the cooking conditions of Panax notoginseng-steamed chicken (PNSC) and to explore its anemia-improving effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ratio of P. notoginseng (PN) to chicken and the steaming time were systematically altered, and the PNSC cooking conditions was optimized with the response surface method. By establishing animal models of postpartum blood-deficiency anemia, acute hemorrhagic anemia and myelosuppressive anemia, the blood replenishing effect of PNSC was explored, and the blood replenishing mechanism of PNSC on myelosuppressive anemia was revealed by immunoblotting analyses and histopathological sectioning. RESULTS: The optimal processing conditions included a ratio of chicken to P. notoginseng of 100:5 and a steaming time of 5.5 h. The amounts of P. notoginseng polysaccharides (PNPS), total protein and blood-enriching P. notoginseng saponins were 44.3 mg/g, 2.48% and 2.04%, respectively. Freeze-dried powder of P. notoginseng steamed chicken soup (FPSC) was found to promote the recovery of routine blood factors and organ indexes in the three models of anemia and to activate the JAK2-STAT5 signaling pathway, induce phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT5 and normalize the secretion of hematopoietic regulators EPO, IL-3, and TNF-α. CONCLUSION: FPSC improves the symptoms of anemia in mice, and it plays a role in tonifying blood by activating the JAK2-STAT5 signaling pathway and altering the expression of hematopoiesis-related factors.

Deep eutectic solvents-Hydrogels for the topical management of rheumatoid arthritis.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have demonstrated their ability to facilitate skin penetrability of rigid nanoparticles (NPs). Here, we reported a feasible and simple transdermal delivery strategy using mesoporous silica nanoparticles impregnated in DES hydrogels for topical management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To achieve this goal, nanoceria was immobilized within a silica nanoparticle matrix (MSN) and encapsulated with methotrexate (MTX). The functionalized nanoparticles were first engineered in an Arginine (Arg)-citric acid (CA) DES and then transferred to the carbomer hydrogel matrix. Due to the strong affinity of DES hydrogels to the skin, combined with solvent-driven "Drag" effects, the prepared DES-MSNs hydrogels produced dynamic mobility of MSNs through skin layers, resulting in high skin penetrability. After application to the skin, the hydrogel solvent drove the rigid NPs across the skin barrier in a nonintrusive manner, resulting in sustained penetration and accumulation of MSNs at subcutaneous inflammation sites. Subsequently, the MTX payload exerted a direct therapeutic effect, while nanoceria moderated the inflammatory microenvironment by initiating reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and transformation of the macrophage phenotype. In this way, the synergistic action of the combination of immuno- and chemotherapy of the drug and its carrier on RA was achieved. Our work provides a novel strategy for multisite regulation and controlled management of RA in a noninvasive way.

Cell Membrane-Derived Nanovehicles for Targeted Therapy of Ischemic Stroke: From Construction to Application.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a prevalent form of stroke and a leading cause of mortality and disability. Recently, cell membrane-derived nanovehicles (CMNVs) derived from erythrocytes, thrombocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, neural stem cells, and cancer cells have shown great promise as drug delivery systems for IS treatment. By precisely controlling drug release rates and targeting specific sites in the brain, CMNVs enable the reduction in drug dosage and minimization of side effects, thus significantly enhancing therapeutic strategies and approaches for IS. While there are some reviews regarding the applications of CMNVs in the treatment of IS, there has been limited attention given to important aspects such as carrier construction, structural design, and functional modification. Therefore, this review aims to address these key issues in CMNVs preparation, structural composition, modification, and other relevant aspects, with a specific focus on targeted therapy for IS. Finally, the challenges and prospects in this field are discussed.

Deep Eutectic Systems as Novel Vehicles for Assisting Drug Transdermal Delivery.

In recent years, deep eutectic systems (DES) emerged as novel vehicles for facilitating the transdermal delivery of various drugs, including polysaccharides, proteins, insulin, vaccine, nanoparticles, and herb extracts. The objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive review of the application of DES to transdermal drug delivery, based on previous work and the reported references. Following a brief overview, the roles of DES in TDDS, the modes of action, as well as the structure-activity relationship of DES are discussed. Particularly, the skin permeation of active macromolecules and rigid nanoparticles, which are the defining characteristics of DES, are extensively discussed. The objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current investigation and development of DES-based transdermal delivery systems, as well as a framework for the construction of novel DES-TDDS in the future.

Herb Polysaccharide-Based Drug Delivery System: Fabrication, Properties, and Applications for Immunotherapy.

Herb polysaccharides (HPS) have been studied extensively for their healthcare applications. Though the toxicity was not fully clarified, HPS were widely accepted for their biodegradability and biocompatibility. In addition, as carbohydrate polymers with a unique chemical composition, molecular weight, and functional group profile, HPS can be conjugated, cross-linked, and functionally modified. Thus, they are great candidates for the fabrication of drug delivery systems (DDS). HPS-based DDS (HPS-DDS) can bypass phagocytosis by the reticuloendothelial system, prevent the degradation of biomolecules, and increase the bioavailability of small molecules, thus exerting therapeutic effects. In this review, we focus on the application of HPS as components of immunoregulatory DDS. We summarize the principles governing the fabrication of HPS-DDS, including nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, microemulsions, hydrogels, and microneedles. In addition, we discuss the role of HPS in DDS for immunotherapy. This comprehensive review provides valuable insights that could guide the design of effective HPS-DDS.

Overexpression of phosphomannomutase increases the production and bioactivities of Ganoderma exopolysaccharides.

In this study, we explored a novel approach to enhancing the production and bioactivities of Ganoderma exopolysaccharides. The homologous phosphomannomutase gene (PMM1) was cloned and overexpressed in Ganoderma for the first time. As a result, the maximum production of exopolysaccharides by the PMM1 transformant was 1.53 g/L, which was 1.41-fold higher than of a wild-type (WT) strain in a 5-L bioreactor. The transcription levels of PMM1 and PMM2 increased 40.5- and 2.4-fold, respectively, whereas the value of the GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase gene did not change significantly in this transgenic strain. Furthermore, the major exopolysaccharide fractions from PMM1 transformants contained higher amounts of mannose (56.5 % and 21.1 %) than those from a WT strain (26.7 % and 9.3 %). Moreover, the major fractions from PMM1 transformants exhibited stronger regulation effects on macrophage. In conclusion, this study is helpful for the efficient production and application of Ganoderma exopolysaccharides and facilitates an understanding of polysaccharide biosynthesis regulation.

Novel Deep Eutectic Solvent-Hydrogel Systems for Synergistic Transdermal Delivery of Chinese Herb Medicine and Local Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

In this study, a novel hydrogel system incorporating an amino acid-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) was prepared, and the skin-permeation enhancement of traditional Chinese herb medicine was evaluated using "sanwujiaowan" extract as the model formula. Briefly, a DES-extract complex was constructed by co-heating the herb formula extracts with the amino acid as the hydrogen receptor and citric acid as the hydrogen donor. The DES-extract complex demonstrated excellent dissolution and skin permeability of the complicated ingredients in the extracts. Consequently, the DES-extract complex was introduced to a hydrogel system, which showed better mechanical properties and viscoelasticity performance. Using a collagen-induced arthritis rat model, the DES-hydrogels exerted an enhanced therapeutic effect that significantly reduced the inflammatory response with systemic toxicity of the extracts. Therefore, our work suggests a novel strategy for synergistic transdermal delivery of Chinese herb medicine and local treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.

A multiple functional supramolecular system for synergetic treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma.

In the current times, achieving specific targeted and controllable drug delivery remains one of the major challenges in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study reported the development of a multiple functional indocyanine green (ICG)-cyclodextrin (CD) system, wherein loaded etoposide (EPS) was used as the model chemotherapeutic drug. In the developed system, ICG segment served as a photosensitizer for photothermal therapy (PTT) and the targeting moiety, which was primarily attributed to the specific retention properties in HCC tissues. The Ex vivo evaluation showed that ICG-CD@EPS exhibited a laser-triggered release profile with the photothermal efficiency and cytotoxicity towards HepG2 cells. In vivo evaluation suggested that ICG could navigate the systems to HCC tissues and retained at the site for 48 h, producing a drug accumulation in HCC. Further, laser irradiation boosted EPS release and local hyperthermia effects in HCC. Thus, the present study explored a novel and specific HCC targeting mechanism, and provided a feasible and controllable strategy for synergistic PTT and chemotherapy treatments for HCC.

[Research progress on pesticide residues of Panax notoginseng].

Panax notoginseng is a perennial Chinese medicinal plant, which has serious continuous cropping obstacles and is prone to a variety of diseases and insect pests during the growth process. At present, the prevention and control of pests and diseases is mainly carried out through chemical pesticides, and the consequent pesticide residues of P. notoginseng have attracted much attention. This study reviewed the types and detection methods of pesticide residues in P. notoginseng from 1981 to 2021, and compared the limits of pesticide residues in P. notoginseng in China and abroad to provide a reference for rational application of pesticides in P. notoginseng and quality control of medicinal materials, thereby promoting the sustainable development of the P. notoginseng industry in China. Currently, there are only 40 published papers on pesticide residues of P. notoginseng, which is indicative of a serious problem of insufficient research. At present, hundreds of pesticide residues in P. notoginseng can be detected simultaneously by using chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The pesticides detected have gradually changed from early prohibited ones, such as dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane(DDT), benzene hexachloride(BHC), and parathion, to low toxic ones(e.g., dimethomorph, procymidone, propicona-zole, and difenoconazole). The dietary risk from pesticide residues in P. notoginseng is low, which would not cause harm to consu-mers. This study concluded that in the future, the development of the quality standard for pesticide residues of P. notoginseng should be actively carried out. To increase the pesticides used in actual production in the quality standard based on the existing ones and to guide farmers to use pesticides scientifically will be the focus of future work.

Rapid determination and dietary intake risk assessment of 249 pesticide residues in Panax notoginseng.

UPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS were used to establish a method to simultaneously determine various pesticide residues in Panax notoginseng. Results showed that the limits of detection of 249 pesticides were all 5-10 µg/kg. The detection rate of pesticides in 121 P. notoginseng samples was 93.39%, and 19 pesticides were detected. According to the US Code of Federal Regulations, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia recommended algorithm, and the Japanese "positive list system", the pass rates of pesticide residues were 100%, 99.17%, and 89.26%, respectively. The chronic risk quotient (ADI%) and acute risk quotient (ARfD%) of P. notoginseng were 0.00-0.12% and 0.00-0.15%, respectively. In summary, the detection method established in this study can be used for routine analysis of various P. notoginseng pesticide residues. The pesticide residues in the main root samples of P. notoginseng were at a safe level and unlikely pose health risks to consumers.

Noninvasive transdermal delivery of mesoporous silica nanoparticles using deep eutectic solvent.

Transdermal delivery of solid nanoparticles remains a big problem. Microneedle administration and subcutaneous injection are the only two feasible approaches. Here, we developed a noninvasive strategy for the transdermal delivery of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) using deep eutectic solvent (DES) from amino acid (AA) and citric acid (CA), which showed a substantial enhancement in skin penetration ability. MSNs were surface modified by CA and then reacted with Lysine (Lys) to form the DES-MSNs system. The covalent linkage of MSNs to the surrounding DES immobilized the nanoparticles and provided strong interactions. We used intradermal and transdermal penetration assays to identify that the AACA DES could synchronously drive the MSNs to penetrate across the entire skin via a "Drag" effect. Furthermore, this is the first study to detect the nanoparticles in the blood by topical administration routes. Thus, we achieved the transdermal delivery of the MSNs into blood circulation. This work would extend the application of the MSNs drug carrier system and provide a novel strategy for the controlled and sustained delivery of nanoparticles.

The remediation effects of microbial organic fertilizer on soil microorganisms after chloropicrin fumigation.

Soil fumigation with chloropicrin (CP) is an effective means of overcoming continuous cropping obstacles (CCO) in Panax notoginseng and improving its yield and quality. CP fumigation can change the microbial community of soil. Therefore, a key step after CP fumigation is the rapid restoration of soil microorganisms and the promotion of beneficial microorganism proliferation as the dominant flora. In this study, continuously cropped soil of P. notoginseng was fumigated with CP, and general organic fertilizer (GOF) or microbial organic fertilizer (MOF) was used to restore soil microorganisms after fumigation. Soil physical and chemical properties, soil microorganisms, and quality of P. notoginseng were investigated. The application of MOF and GOF after CP fumigation promoted increases in soil nitrogen (9.88% and 8.21%, respectively), phosphorus (21.39% and 11.57%, respectively), potassium (7.99% and 2.75%, respectively), and the quality of P. notoginseng; it also promoted the accumulation of saponins in the main roots (23.62% and 9.12%, respectively). Application of MOF and GOF can restore the diversity of microorganisms in the soil. MOF increased the relative abundance of the beneficial soil microorganisms Glomeromycota, Mortierellomycota, Humicola and Bacillus, thereby lowering the relative abundance of the harmful Ascomycota and Fusarium relative to GOF. In summary, CP fumigation reduces the diversity of microorganisms in the soil. The addition of organic fertilizer can promote microbial diversity and increase the relative abundance of beneficial species. Moreover, the promotion effect of MOF is better than that of GOF, thereby improving soil fertility and ultimately promoting the quality and yield of P. notoginseng.

Evaluate how steaming and sulfur fumigation change the microstructure, physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of Gastrodia elata Bl. starch.

The sulfur dioxide gas (SO2) generated by sulfur burning can improve the appearance quality of food and enhance the storage time. However, excessive sulfur dioxide will pollute the environment and cause deterioration of food quality, and even the high residual levels can increase the risk of cancer. As Gastrodia elata Blume is prone to corruption during processing, sulfur fumigation is often used for preservation. In this study, spectral analysis and Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) were used to investigate the effects of traditional sulfur fumigation processing on the morphology quality, edible quality and structural characteristics of G. elata. The results showed that compared with direct drying, the pH decreased by 0.399 of the sulfur fumigated after steamed treatment G. elata, and the morphology quality, pasting ability and gel edible quality of the starch were significantly improved. In addition, it was suggested that sulfur fumigation after steaming could promote the release of molecular chains from starch granules and thus enhance the cross-linking between molecules, which explained the reason for the improve of starch edible quality. This study can provide technical and theoretical support for improving the quality of starch rich foods, replacing sulfur fumigation and reducing potential environmental hazards.

Applications for natural deep eutectic solvents in Chinese herbal medicines.

Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), with a wide range of bioactive components, are considered to be an important source for new drug discovery. However, the process to isolate and obtain those bioactive components to develop new drugs always consumes a large amount of organic solvents with high toxicity and non-biodegradability. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES), a new type of green and designable solvents composed of primary plant-based metabolites, have been used as eco-friendly substitutes for traditional organic solvents in various fields. Due to the advantages of easy preparation, low production cost, low toxicity, and eco-friendliness, NADES have been also applied as extraction solvents, media, and drug delivery agents in CHMs in recent years. Besides, the special properties of NADES have been contributed to elucidating the traditional processing (also named Paozhi in Chinese) theory of CHMs, especially processing with honey. In this paper, the development process, preparation, classification, and applications for NADES in CHMs have been reviewed. Prospects in the future applications and challenges have been discussed to better understand the possibilities of the new solvents in the drug development and other uses of CHMs.

Micelle nanovehicles for co-delivery of Lepidium meyenii Walp. (maca) polysaccharide and chloroquine to tumor-associated macrophages for synergistic cancer immunotherapy.

Here, we fabricated amphiphilic polysaccharide micelles for synergistic cancer immunotherapy targeting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Lepidium meyenii Walp. (maca) polysaccharide (MP), a naturally derived macromolecule with a strong TAM-remodeling effect, was grafted on a hydrophobic poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) segment, with a disulfide bond for redox-sensitive linkage. The amphiphilic polysaccharide derivatives could self-assemble into core (PLGA)-shell (MP)-structured micelles and encapsulate chloroquine (CQ) into the hydrophobic core. By using a 4T1-M2 macrophage co-culture model and a 4T1 tumor xenograft mouse model, we showed that the prepared micelles could co-deliver MP and CQ to the tumor sites and selectively accumulate at TAMs because of the specific properties of MP. Furthermore, the nanoparticles exerted synergistic tumor immunotherapeutic and antimetastatic effects, which might be attributable to the enhanced cell internalization of the micelles and the multiple regulatory mechanisms of MP and CQ. Thus, immunomodulatory MP may be a promising biomaterial for cancer immunotherapy.

Simultaneous Detection of Viability and Concentration of Microalgae Cells Based on Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Bright Field Dual Imaging.

Ship ballast water contains high concentration of plankton, bacteria, and other microorganisms. If the huge amount of ballast water is discharged without being inactivated, it will definitely spell disaster to the marine environment. Microalgae is the most common species exiting in ballast water, so the detection of the concentration and viability of microalgae is a very important issue. The traditional methods of detecting microalgae in ballast water were costly and need the help of bulky equipment. Herein, a novel method based on microalgae cell intracellular chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) imaging combines with cell bright field (BF) microscopy was proposed. The geometric features of microalgae cells were obtained by BF image, and the cell viability was obtained by CF image. The two images were fused through the classic image registration algorithm to achieve simultaneous detection of the viability and concentration of microalgae cells. Furthermore, a low-cost, miniaturized CF/BF microscopy imaging prototype system based on the above principles was designed. In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, four typical microalgae in ballast water (Platymonas, Pyramimonas sp., Chrysophyta, and Prorocentrum lima) were selected as the samples. The experimental results show that the self-developed prototype can quickly and accurately determine the concentration and the viability of microalgae cells in ship ballast water based on the dual images of BF and CF, and the detection accuracy is equivalent to that of commercial microscope. It was the first time to simultaneously detect the viability and concentration of microalgae cells in ship ballast water using the method that combining the fluorescence and bright field images; moreover, a miniaturized microscopic imaging prototype was developed. Those findings expected to contribute to the microalgae detection and ship ballast water management.

Dissolvable microneedles based on Panax notoginseng polysaccharide for transdermal drug delivery and skin dendritic cell activation.

This work explored the feasibility of using biological polysaccharide to fabricate dissolvable microneedles (MNs) for the purpose of transdermal drug delivery and skin dendritic cell (DC) activation. Panax notoginseng polysaccharide (PNPS), a naturally derived immunoactive macromolecule, was used to fabricate dissolvable MNs. The prepared PNPS MNs showed a satisfactory mechanical strength and a skin penetration depth. By Franz diffusion cell assay, the PNPS MNs demonstrated a high transdermal delivery amount of model drugs. Furthermore, with the assistance of MNs, PNPS easily penetrated across the stratum corneum and target ear skin DCs, activating the maturation and migration of immunocytes by increasing the expressions of CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC II of skin DCs. Consequently, the matured DCs migrated to the auricular draining lymph nodes and increased the proportions of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells. Thus, PNPS might be a promising biomaterial for transdermal drug delivery, with adjuvant potential.

Structure and Function of Rhizosphere Soil and Root Endophytic Microbial Communities Associated With Root Rot of Panax notoginseng.

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen is a Chinese medicinal plant of the Araliaceae family used for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in Asia. P. notoginseng is vulnerable to root rot disease, which reduces the yield of P. notoginseng. In this study, we analyzed the rhizosphere soil and root endophyte microbial communities of P. notoginseng from different geographical locations using high-throughput sequencing. Our results revealed that the P. notoginseng rhizosphere soil microbial community was more diverse than the root endophyte community. Rhodopseudomonas, Actinoplanes, Burkholderia, and Variovorax paradoxus can help P. notoginseng resist the invasion of root rot disease. Ilyonectria mors-panacis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudopyrenochaeta lycopersici are pathogenic bacteria of P. notoginseng. The upregulation of amino acid transport and metabolism in the soil would help to resist pathogens and improve the resistance of P. notoginseng. The ABC transporter and gene modulating resistance genes can improve the disease resistance of P. notoginseng, and the increase in the number of GTs (glycosyltransferases) and GHs (glycoside hydrolases) families may be a molecular manifestation of P. notoginseng root rot. In addition, the complete genomes of two Flavobacteriaceae species and one Bacteroides species were obtained. This study demonstrated the microbial and functional diversity in the rhizosphere and root microbial community of P. notoginseng and provided useful information for a better understanding of the microbial community in P. notoginseng root rot. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanism underlying P. notoginseng root rot and other plant rhizosphere microbial communities.

Lepidium meyenii Walpers polysaccharide and its cationic derivative re-educate tumor-associated macrophages for synergistic tumor immunotherapy.

In the current study, we developed a synergistic chemo-immunotherapy using doxorubicin (Dox) and a natural polysaccharide as immunomodulator. First, we isolated a polysaccharide (MPW) from the root of Lepidium meyenii Walp. (maca) and characterized its chemical properties. MPW contains → 4) -α-D-Glcp- (1 → glycosidic bonds, while the terminal α-D-Glcp- (1 → group is connected to the main chain through an O-6 bond. This polysaccharide was then modified by cationization (C-MPW) to enhance immunoregulatory activity. MPW and C-MPW were combined with Dox and their chemo-immunotherapy effects on 4T1 tumor-bearing mice were assessed. Results indicated that the combination of MPW/C-MPW exerted a stronger anti-tumor effect than Dox alone, while reducing systemic toxicity and inhibiting tumor metastasis. In addition, MPW and C-MPW exerted tumor immunotherapy effects through the NF-κB, STAT1, and STAT3 signaling pathways, redirecting TAMs to the M1 phenotype that facilitates immunological responses against tumors. As a result, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment was remodeled into an immune-activated state due to enhanced secretion of IL-12, TNF-α, and INF-γ. Moreover, C-MPW exerted a stronger immunomodulatory effect than MPW. In conclusion, MPW and its cationic derivative are promising tools for cancer immunotherapy.