Nanofibrous scaffolds for the healing of the fibrocartilaginous enthesis: advances and prospects.

With the current developmental advancements in nanotechnology, nanofibrous scaffolds are being widely used. The healing of fibrocartilaginous enthesis is a slow and complex process, and while existing treatments have a certain effect on promoting their healing, these are associated with some limitations. The nanofibrous scaffold has the advantages of easy preparation, wide source of raw materials, easy adjustment, easy modification, can mimic the natural structure and morphology of the fibrocartilaginous enthesis, and has good biocompatibility, which can compensate for existing treatments and be combined with them to promote the repair of fibrocartilaginous enthesis. The nanofibrous scaffold can promote the healing of fibrocartilaginous enthesis by controlling the morphology and ensuring controlled drug release. Hence, the use of nanofibrous scaffold with stimulative response features in the musculoskeletal system has led us to imagine its potential application in fibrocartilaginous enthesis. Therefore, the healing of fibrocartilaginous enthesis based on a nanofibrous scaffold may be a novel therapeutic approach.

Biodegradable Polymer Electrospinning for Tendon Repairment.

With the degradation after aging and the destruction of high-intensity exercise, the frequency of tendon injury is also increasing, which will lead to serious pain and disability. Due to the structural specificity of the tendon tissue, the traditional treatment of tendon injury repair has certain limitations. Biodegradable polymer electrospinning technology with good biocompatibility and degradability can effectively repair tendons, and its mechanical properties can be achieved by adjusting the fiber diameter and fiber spacing. Here, this review first briefly introduces the structure and function of the tendon and the repair process after injury. Then, different kinds of biodegradable natural polymers for tendon repair are summarized. Then, the advantages and disadvantages of three-dimensional (3D) electrospun products in tendon repair and regeneration are summarized, as well as the optimization of electrospun fiber scaffolds with different bioactive materials and the latest application in tendon regeneration engineering. Bioactive molecules can optimize the structure of these products and improve their repair performance. Importantly, we discuss the application of the 3D electrospinning scaffold's superior structure in different stages of tendon repair. Meanwhile, the combination of other advanced technologies has greater potential in tendon repair. Finally, the relevant patents of biodegradable electrospun scaffolds for repairing damaged tendons, as well as their clinical applications, problems in current development, and future directions are summarized. In general, the use of biodegradable electrospun fibers for tendon repair is a promising and exciting research field, but further research is needed to fully understand its potential and optimize its application in tissue engineering.

Advanced hydrogels: New expectation for the repair of organic erectile dysfunction.

Organic erectile dysfunction (ED) is a type of sexual disorder in men that is usually associated with illness, surgical injury, normal aging and has a high incidence across the globe. And the essence of penile erection is a neurovascular event regulated by a combination of factors. Nerve and vascular injury are the main causes of erectile dysfunction. Currently, the main treatment options for ED include phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is), intracorporeal injections and vacuum erection devices (VEDs), which are ineffective. Therefore, it is essential to find an emerging, non-invasive and effective treatment for ED. The histopathological damage causing ED can be improved or even reversed with hydrogels, in contrast to current therapies. Hydrogels have many advantages, they can be synthesized from various raw materials with different properties, possess a definite composition, and have good biocompatibility and biodegradability. These advantages make hydrogels an effective drug carrier. In this review, we began with an overview of the underlying mechanisms of organic erectile dysfunction, discussed the dilemmas of existing treatments for ED, and described the unique advantages of hydrogel over other approaches. Then emphasizing the progress of research on hydrogels in the treatment of ED.

Air pollution: A culprit of lung cancer.

Air pollution is a global health problem, especially in the context of rapid economic development and the expansion of urbanization. Herein, we discuss the harmful effects of outdoor and indoor pollution on the lungs. Ambient particulate matters (PMs) from industrial and vehicle exhausts is associated with lung cancer. Workers exposed to asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and toxic metals are also likely to develop lung cancer. Indoors, cooking fumes, second-hand smoke, and radioactive products from house decoration materials play roles in the development of lung cancer. Bacteria and viruses can also be detrimental to health and are important risk factors in lung inflammation and cancer. Specific effects of lung cancer caused by air pollution are discussed in detail, including inflammation, DNA damage, and epigenetic regulation. In addition, advanced materials for personal protection, as well as the current government policies to prevent air pollution, are summarized. This review provides a basis for future research on the relationship between lung cancer and air pollution.

Combinational application of metal-organic frameworks-based nanozyme and nucleic acid delivery in cancer therapy.

The rapid development of nanotechnology has generated numerous ideas for cancer treatment, and a wide variety of relevant nanoparticle platforms have been reported. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely investigated as an anti-cancer drug delivery vehicle owing to their unique porous hybrid structure, biocompatibility, structural tunability, and multi-functionality. MOF materials with catalytic activity, known as nanozymes, have applications in photodynamic and chemodynamic therapy. Nucleic acids have also attracted increasing research attention owing to their programmability, ease of synthesis, and versatility. A variety of functional DNAs and RNAs have been applied both therapeutically (gene-targeting drugs for cancer treatment) and nontherapeutically (used as modified materials to enhance the therapeutic effects of other nanomedicines). The combined use of MOFs and functional nucleic acids have been extensively investigated and has been associated with excellent tumor-suppressor activity in various treatment methods. In this review, we summarize the progress in the research and development of tumor therapy based on MOFs and nucleic acid delivery over recent years, focusing on the combinational use of different delivery and design strategies for MOF/therapeutic nucleic acid platforms. We further summarize the strategies for combining MOFs (universal carrier, functional carrier) and nucleic acids (therapeutic nucleic acids, nontherapeutic nucleic acids) and discuss the corresponding therapeutic effects in cancer treatment. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies.

PM2.5 induces the distant metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma via promoting the stem cell properties of cancer cells.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in China and second worldwide, of which the incidence of lung adenocarcinoma is rising. As an independent factor, air pollution has drawn the attention of the public. An increasing body of studies has focused on the effect of PM2.5 on lung adenocarcinoma; however, the mechanism remains unclear. We collected the PM2.5 in two megacities, Beijing (BPM) and Shijiazhuang (SPM), located in the capital of China, and compared the different components and sources of PM2.5 in the two cities. Vehicle emissions are the primary sources of BPM, whereas SPM is industrial emissions. We found that chronic exposure to PM2.5 promotes the tumorigenesis and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, as well as the migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. SPM has more severe effects in vivo and in vitro. The underlying mechanisms are related to the stem cell properties of cancer cells, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, and the corresponding miRNAs. It is hopeful to provide a theoretical basis for improving air pollution in China, especially in the capital area, and is of the significance of long-term survival of lung cancer patients.

Nanotechnology: Breaking the Current Treatment Limits of Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is one of the most rapidly growing malignancies in terms of morbidity and mortality. Although traditional treatments have been used for more than 50 years, it is still far from solving the problems of postoperative risks and systemic toxicity. Emerging targeting and immunotherapy are developing continuously and are gaining recognition; eventually, they face the inevitable challenge of drug resistance. Nanotechnology has several important effects on lung cancer treatment, owing to its unique properties. Several nanoparticle-based treatments have successfully become cancer treatments. Good biocompatibility with higher specific surface area can carry substantial amounts of lung cancer treatment medications while avoiding medication toxicity; editable and modified characteristics give rise to multifunctional nanomedicines; excellent photoelectric effects make lung cancer a multimodal treatment. This article summarizes the breakthroughs achieved by nanotechnology, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, reflecting the importance and necessity of nanotechnology in the treatment of lung cancer.