Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Based Nanomedicine

Innovative Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery Systems for Advanced Treatment of Posterior Segment Ocular Diseases

Funduscopic diseases, including diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), significantly impact global visual health, leading to impaired vision and irreversible blindness. Delivering drugs to the posterior segment of the eye remains a challenge due to the presence of multiple physiological and anatomical barriers. Conventional drug delivery methods often prove ineffective and may cause side effects. Nanomaterials, characterized by their small size, large surface area, tunable properties, and biocompatibility, enhance the permeability, stability, and targeting of drugs. Ocular nanomaterials encompass a wide range, including lipid nanomaterials, polymer nanomaterials, metal nanomaterials, carbon nanomaterials, quantum dot nanomaterials, and so on. These innovative materials, often combined with hydrogels and exosomes, are engineered to address multiple mechanisms, including macrophage polarization, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Compared to conventional modalities, nanomedicines achieve regulated and sustained delivery, reduced administration frequency, prolonged drug action, and minimized side effects. This study delves into the obstacles encountered in drug delivery to the posterior segment and highlights the progress facilitated by nanomedicine. Prospectively, these findings pave the way for next-generation ocular drug delivery systems and deeper clinical research, aiming to refine treatments, alleviate the burden on patients, and ultimately improve visual health globally.

Regulating Reactive Oxygen Intermediates of Fe-N-C SAzyme via Second-Shell Coordination for Selective Aerobic Oxidation Reactions

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation for single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes), e.g., Fe-N-C, is a key scientific issue that determines the activity, selectivity, and stability of aerobic reaction. However, the poor understanding of ROS formation mechanism on SAzymes greatly hampers their wider deployment. Herein, inspired by cytochromes P450 affording bound ROS intermediates in O2 activation, we report Fe-N-C containing the same FeN4 but with tunable second-shell coordination can effectively regulate ROS production pathways. Remarkably, compared to the control Fe-N-C sample, the second-shell sulfur functionalized Fe-N-C delivered a 2.4-fold increase of oxidase-like activity via the bound Fe=O intermediate. Conversely, free ROS (⋅O2 -) release was significantly reduced after functionalization, down to only 17 % of that observed for Fe-N-C. The detailed characterizations and theoretical calculations revealed that the second-shell sulfur functionalization significantly altered the electronic structure of FeN4 sites, leading to an increase of electron density at Fermi level. It enhanced the electron transfer from active sites to the key intermediate *OOH, thereby ultimately determining the type of ROS in aerobic oxidation process. The proposed Fe-N-Cs with different second-shell anion were further applied to three aerobic oxidation reactions with enhanced activity, selectivity, and stability.

ROS-responsive hydrogels: from design and additive manufacturing to biomedical applications

Hydrogels with intricate 3D networks and high hydrophilicity have qualities resembling those of biological tissues, making them ideal candidates for use as smart biomedical materials. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsive hydrogels are an innovative class of smart hydrogels, and are cross-linked by ROS-responsive modules through covalent interactions, coordination interactions, or supramolecular interactions. Due to the introduction of ROS response modules, this class of hydrogels exhibits a sensitive response to the oxidative stress microenvironment existing in organisms. Simultaneously, due to the modularity of the ROS-responsive structure, ROS-responsive hydrogels can be manufactured on a large scale through additive manufacturing. This review will delve into the design, fabrication, and applications of ROS-responsive hydrogels. The main goal is to clarify the chemical principles that govern the response mechanism of these hydrogels, further providing new perspectives and methods for designing responsive hydrogel materials.

Unraveling the impact of water deficit stress on nutritional quality and defense response of tomato genotypes

Water deficit stress triggers various physiological and biochemical changes in plants, substantially affecting both overall plant defense response and thus nutritional quality of tomatoes. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant defense response and nutritional quality of different tomato genotypes under water deficit stress. In this study, six tomato genotypes were used and subjected to water deficit stress by withholding water for eight days under glass house conditions. Various physiological parameters from leaves and biochemical parameters from tomato fruits were measured to check the effect of antioxidant defense response and nutritional value. Multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI) was used for the selection of genotypes with improved defense response and nutritional value under water deficit stress condition. Results indicated that all physiological parameters declined under stress conditions compared to the control. Notably, NBH-362 demonstrated resilience to water deficit stress, improving both defense response and nutritional quality which is evident by an increase in proline (16.91%), reducing sugars (20.15%), total flavonoids (10.43%), superoxide dismutase (24.65%), peroxidase (14.7%), and total antioxidant capacity (29.9%), along with a decrease in total oxidant status (4.38%) under stress condition. Overall, the findings suggest that exposure to water deficit stress has the potential to enhance the nutritional quality of tomatoes. However, the degree of this enhancement is contingent upon the distinct genetic characteristics of various tomato genotypes. Furthermore, the promising genotype (NBH-362) identified in this study holds potential for future utilization in breeding programs.

Multifunctional fluorescence probe for simultaneous detection of viscosity, polarity, and ONOO- and its bioimaging in vitro and vivo

Intracellular microenvironment (viscosity and polarity) and peroxynitrite ions (ONOO-) are involved in maintaining cell morphology, cell function, and signaling so that it is crucial to explore their level changes in vitro and vivo. In this work, we designed and synthesized a mitochondria-targeted fluorescence probe XBL for monitoring the dynamic changes of viscosity, polarity, and ONOO- based on TICT and ICT mechanism. The fluorescence spectra showed obvious changes for polarity at 500 nm as well as ONOO- and viscosity at 660 nm, respectively. The XBL can image simultaneously viscosity, polarity, and ONOO- in cells, and the results showed excess ONOO- leaded to the increase of viscosity in mitochondrial. The ferroptosis process was accompanied by increase of intracellular viscosity and ONOO- levels (or decrease of polarity), which allowed us to better understand the relevant physiological and pathological processes. The XBL can distinguish normal cells and cancerous cells by the fluorescence intensity changes in green and red channels, and image viscosity in inflamed mice. Thus, XBL can provided the chemical tool to understand the physiological and pathological mechanisms of disease by simultaneous detection of viscosity, polarity and ONOO-.

Homogentisic acid metabolism inhibits papillary thyroid carcinoma proliferation through ROS and p21-induced cell cycle arrest

Thyroid cancer is one of the most common primary endocrine malignancies worldwide, and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the predominant histological type observed therein. Although PTC has been studied extensively, our understanding of the altered metabolism and metabolic profile of PTC tumors is limited. We identified that the content of metabolite homogentisic acid (HGA) in PTC tissues was lower than that in adjacent non-cancerous tissues. We evaluated the potential of HGA as a novel molecular marker in the diagnosis of PTC tumors, as well as its ability to indicate the degree of malignancy. Studies have further shown that HGA contributes to reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated oxidative stress, leading to toxicity and inhibition of proliferation. In addition, HGA caused an increase in p21 expression levels in PTC cells and induced G1 arrest. Moreover, we found that the low HGA content in PTC tumors was due to the low expression levels of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate hydroxylase (HPD), which catalyze the conversion of tyrosine to HGA. The low expression levels of TAT and HPD are strongly associated with a higher probability of PTC tumor invasion and metastasis. Our study demonstrates that HGA could be used to diagnose PTC and provides mechanisms linking altered HGA levels to the biological behavior of PTC tumors.

Unlocking the potential of pyroptosis in tumor immunotherapy: a new horizon in cancer treatment

Background

The interaction between pyroptosis-a form of programmed cell death-and tumor immunity represents a burgeoning field of interest. Pyroptosis exhibits a dual role in cancer: it can both promote tumor development and counteract it by activating immune responses that inhibit tumor evasion and encourage cell death. Current tumor immunotherapy strategies, notably CAR-T cell therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), alongside the potential of certain traditional Chinese medicinal compounds, highlight the intricate relationship between pyroptosis and cancer immunity. As research delves deeper into pyroptosis mechanisms within tumor therapy, its application in enhancing tumor immune responses emerges as a novel research avenue.

Purpose

This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying pyroptosis, its impact on tumor biology, and the advancements in tumor immunotherapy research.

Methods

A comprehensive literature review was conducted across PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang Database from the inception of the study until August 22, 2023. The search employed keywords such as "pyroptosis", "cancer", "tumor", "mechanism", "immunity", "gasdermin", "ICB", "CAR-T", "PD-1", "PD-L1", "herbal medicine", "botanical medicine", "Chinese medicine", "traditional Chinese medicine", "immunotherapy", linked by AND/OR, to capture the latest findings in pyroptosis and tumor immunotherapy.

Results

Pyroptosis is governed by a complex mechanism, with the Gasdermin family playing a pivotal role. While promising for tumor immunotherapy application, research into pyroptosis's effect on tumor immunity is still evolving. Notably, certain traditional Chinese medicine ingredients have been identified as potential pyroptosis inducers, meriting further exploration.

Conclusion

This review consolidates current knowledge on pyroptosis's role in tumor immunotherapy. It reveals pyroptosis as a beneficial factor in the immunotherapeutic landscape, suggesting that leveraging pyroptosis for developing novel cancer treatment strategies, including those involving traditional Chinese medicine, represents a forward-looking approach in oncology.

A Unique Hybridization Route to Access Hydrazylnaphthalimidols as Novel Structural Scaffolds of Multitargeting Broad-Spectrum Antifungal Candidates

This study developed a class of novel structural antifungal hydrazylnaphthalimidols (HNs) with multitargeting broad-spectrum potential via multicomponent hybridization to confront increasingly severe fungal invasion. Some prepared HNs exhibited considerable antifungal potency; especially nitrofuryl HN 4a (MIC = 0.001 mM) exhibited a potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans, which is 13-fold higher than that of fluconazole. Furthermore, nitrofuryl HN 4a displayed low cytotoxicity, hemolysis and resistance, as well as a rapid fungicidal efficacy. Preliminary mechanistic investigations revealed that nitrofuryl HN 4a could inhibit lactate dehydrogenase to decrease metabolic activity and promote the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative stress. Moreover, nitrofuryl HN 4a did not exhibit membrane-targeting ability; it could embed into DNA to block DNA replication but could not cleave DNA. These findings implied that HNs are promising as novel structural scaffolds of potential multitargeting broad-spectrum antifungal candidates for treating fungal infection.

Application of self-assembly palladium single-atom nanozyme over polyoxometalates in protection against neomycin-induced hearing loss by inhibiting ferroptosis

Deafness mainly results from irreversible impairment of hair cells (HCs), which may relate to oxidative stress, yet therapeutical solutions is lacked due to limited understanding on the exact molecular mechanism. Herein, mimicking the molecular structure of natural enzymes, a palladium (Pd) single-atom nanozyme (SAN) was fabricated, exhibiting superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, transforming reactive oxygen species (ROS) into O2 and H2O. We examined the involvement of Pd in neomycin-induced HCs loss in vitro and in vivo over zebrafish. Our results revealed that neomycin treatment induced apoptosis in HCs, resulting in substantial of ROS elevation in HEI-OC1 cells, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, and increase in lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation, ultimately leading to iron-mediated cell death. Noteworthy, Pd SAN treatment exhibited significant protective effects against HCs damage and impaired HCs function in zebrafish by inhibiting ferroptosis. Furthermore, the application of iron death inducer RSL3 resulted in notable exacerbation of neomycin-induced harm, which was mitigated by Pd administration. Our investigation demonstrates that antioxidants is promising for inhibiting ferroptosis and repairing of mitochondrial function in HCs and the enzyme-mimic SAN provides a good strategy for designing drugs alleviating neomycin-induced ototoxicity.

Biomimetic Nano-Regulator that Induces Cuproptosis and Lactate-Depletion Mediated ROS Storm for Metalloimmunotherapy of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Herein, a ccRCC targeting nanodrug is designed to enhance chemodynamic therapy (CDT) as well as activate cuproptosis and tumor immunotherapy via ccRCC cell membrane modifying CuO@Gd2O3 yolk-like particles (CGYL) loaded with lactate oxidase (LOx) (mCGYL-LOx). Benefiting from the homologous targeting effect of Renca cell membranes, the mCGYS-LOx can be effectively internalized by Renca cells, open the "gate", and then release LOx and copper (Cu) ions. LOx can catalyze excessive lactate in Renca cells into H2O2, following that the produced H2O2 is further converted by Cu ions to the highly toxic ·OH, contributing to tumor CDT. Meanwhile, the excessive Cu ions effectively trigger tumor cuproptosis. These synergistic effects induce the release of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and activate immunogenic cell death (ICD), leading to DC maturation and infiltration of immune effector cells. Moreover, LOx-mediated lactate consumption downregulates the expression of PD-L1, crippling tumor immune escape. In addition, the mCGYL-LOx improves T1-weighted MRI signal, allowing for accurate diagnosis of ccRCC. This study demonstrates that the mCGYL-LOx has great potential for improving therapy of ccRCC via the synergistic actions of CDT and cuproptosis as well as immunotherapy.

Highly Crystalline Copper Aluminum-Layered Double Hydroxides with Intrinsic Fenton-Like Catalytic Activity for Robust Oral Health Management

As the main challenge of dental healthcare, oral infectious diseases are highly associated with the colonization of pathogenic microbes. However, current antibacterial treatments in the field of stomatology still lack a facile, safe, and universal approach. Herein, we report the controllable synthesis of copper aluminum-layered double hydroxides (CuAl-LDHs) with high Fenton-like catalytic activity, which can be utilized in the treatment of oral infectious diseases with negligible side effects. Our strategy can efficiently avoid the unwanted doping of other divalent metal ions in the synthesis of Cu-contained LDHs and result in the formation of binary CuAl-LDHs with high crystallinity and purity. Evidenced by experimental and theoretical results, CuAl-LDHs exhibit excellent catalytic ability toward the ·OH generation in the presence of H2O2 and hold strong affinity toward bacteria, endowing them with great catalytic sterilization against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. As expected, these CuAl-LDHs provide outstanding treatments for mucosal infection and periodontitis by promoting wound healing and remodeling of the periodontal microenvironment. Moreover, toxicity investigation demonstrates the overall safety. Accordingly, the current study not only provides a convenient and economic strategy for treating oral infectious diseases but also extends the development of novel LDH-based Fenton or Fenton-like antibacterial reagents for further biomedical applications.

Calcium Single Atom Confined in Nitrogen-Doped Carbon-Coupled Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membrane for High-Performance Piezocatalysis

A piezoelectric polymer membrane based on single metal atoms was demonstrated to be effective by anchoring isolated calcium (Ca) atoms on a composite of nitrogen-doped carbon and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The addition of Ca-atom-anchored carbon nanoparticles not only promotes the formation of the β phase (from 29.8 to 56.3%), the most piezoelectrically active phase, in PVDF, but also introduces much higher porosity and hydrophilicity. Under ultrasonic excitation, the fabricated catalyst membrane demonstrates a record-high and stable dye decomposing rate of 0.11 min-1 and antibacterial efficiencies of 99.8%. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the primary contribution to catalytic activity arises from single-atom Ca doping and that a possible synergistic effect between PVDF and Ca atoms can improve the catalytic performance. It is shown that O2 molecules can be easily hydrogenated to produce ·OH on Ca-PVDF, and the local electric field provided by the β-phase-PVDF might enhance the production of ·O2-. The proposed polymer membrane is expected to inspire the rational design of piezocatalysts and pave the way for the application of piezocatalysis technology for practical environmental remediation.

Necroptosis-Mediated Synergistic Photodynamic and Glutamine-Metabolic Therapy Enabled by a Biomimetic Targeting Nanosystem for Cholangiocarcinoma

Targeted delivery of glutamine metabolism inhibitors holds promise for cholangiocarcinoma therapy, yet effective delivery vehicles remain a challenge. This study reports the development of a biomimetic nanosystem, termed R-CM@MSN@BC, integrating mesoporous organosilicon nanoparticles with reactive oxygen species-responsive diselenide bonds for controlled release of the glutamine metabolism inhibitor bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide (BPTES) and the photosensitizer Ce6. Erythrocyte membrane coating, engineered with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides, not only enhanced biocompatibility but also improved tumor targeting and tissue penetration. Upon laser irradiation, R-CM@MSN@BC executed both photodynamic and glutamine-metabolic therapies, inducing necroptosis in tumor cells and triggering significant immunogenic cell death. Time-of-flight mass cytometry analysis revealed that R-CM@MSN@BC can remodel the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by polarizing M1-type macrophages, reducing infiltration of M2-type and CX3CR1+ macrophages, and decreasing T cell exhaustion, thereby increasing the effectiveness of anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 immunotherapy. This strategy proposed in this study presents a viable and promising approach for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

A GSH-Responsive Prodrug with Simultaneous Triple-Activation Capacity for Photodynamic/Sonodynamic Combination Therapy with Inhibited Skin Phototoxicity

Herein, a dual-sensitizer prodrug, named pro-THPC, has been designed to function as both a photosensitizer and a sonosensitizer prodrug for precise antitumor combination therapy with minimized skin phototoxicity. Pro-THPC could be activated by glutathione (GSH) to release the dual-sensitizer, THPC, which simultaneously switches on fluorescence emission and combined capabilities of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and sonodynamic therapy (SDT). Pro-THPC is further formulated into nanoparticles (NPs) for water dispersity to enable in vivo applications. In vivo fluorescence imaging shows that the pro-THPC NPs group exhibits a significantly higher tumor-to-normal tissue ratio (T/N) (T/N = 5.2 ± 0.55) compared to the "always on" THPC NPs group (T/N = 2.9 ± 0.47) and the pro-THPC NPs group co-administrated with GSH synthesis inhibitor (buthionine sulfoximine, BSO) (T/N = 3.2 ± 0.63). In addition, the generation of the designed dual-sensitizer's reactive oxygen species (ROS) is effectively confined within the tumor tissues due to the relatively strong correlation between ROS generation and fluorescence emission. In vivo studies further demonstrate the remarkable efficacy of the designed pro-THPC NPs to eradicate tumors through the combination of PDT and SDT while significantly reducing skin phototoxicity.

Tadpole-Like Carbon Nanotube with Fe Nanoparticle Encapsulated at the Head and Zn Single-Atom Anchored on the Body: One-Pot Carbonization for Tetramodal Synergistic Cancer Therapy

Precise integration of diverse therapeutic approaches into nanomaterials is the key to the development of multimodal synergistic cancer therapy. In this work, tadpole-like carbon nanotubes with Fe nanoparticle encapsulated at the head and Zn single-atom anchored on the body (Fe@CNT-Zn) is precisely designed and facilely prepared via one-pot carbonization. In vitro studies revealed the integration of chemotherapy (CT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in Fe@CNT-Zn as well as the near-infrared light (NIR)-responsive cascade therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrated the NIR-triggered cascade-amplifying synergistic cancer therapy in a B16 tumor-bearing mouse model. The results not only showcased the Fe@CNT-Zn as a potential tetramodal therapeutic platform, but also demonstrated a proof-of-concept on metal-organic framework-based "one stone for multiple birds" strategy for in situ functionalization of carbon materials.

Selenium-Doped Nanoheterojunctions for Highly Efficient Cancer Radiosensitization

Exploring efficient and low-toxicity radiosensitizers to break through the bottleneck of radiation tolerance, immunosuppression and poor prognosis remains one of the critical developmental challenges in radiotherapy. Nanoheterojunctions, due to their unique physicochemical properties, have demonstrated excellent radiosensitization effects in radiation energy deposition and in lifting tumor radiotherapy inhibition. Herein, they doped selenium (Se) into prussian blue (PB) to construct a nano-heterojunction (Se@PB), which could promote the increase of Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio and conversion of Se to a high valence state with Se introduction. The Fe2+-Se-Fe3+ electron transfer chain accelerates the rate of electron transfer on the surface of the nanoparticles, which in turn endows it with efficient X-ray energy transfer and electron transport capability, and enhances radiotherapy physical sensitivity. Furthermore, Se@PB induces glutathione (GSH) depletion and Fe2+ accumulation through pro-Fenton reaction, thereby disturbs the redox balance in tumor cells and enhances biochemical sensitivity of radiotherapy. As an excellent radiosensitizer, Se@PB effectively enhances X-ray induced mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage, thereby promotes cell apoptosis and synergistic cervical cancer radiotherapy. This study elucidates the radiosensitization mechanism of Se-doped nanoheterojunction from the perspective of the electron transfer chain and biochemistry reaction, which provides an efficient and low-toxic strategy in radiotherapy.

Chemically Programmed Hydrogels for Spatiotemporal Modulation of the Cardiac Pathological Microenvironment

After myocardial infarction (MI), sustained ischemic events induce pathological microenvironments characterized by ischemia-hypoxia, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, matrix remodeling, and fibrous scarring. Conventional clinical therapies lack spatially targeted and temporally responsive modulation of the infarct microenvironment, leading to limited myocardial repair. Engineered hydrogels have a chemically programmed toolbox for minimally invasive localization of the pathological microenvironment and personalized responsive modulation over different pathological periods. Chemically programmed strategies for crosslinking interactions, interfacial binding, and topological microstructures in hydrogels enable minimally invasive implantation and in situ integration tailored to the myocardium. This enhances substance exchange and signal interactions within the infarcted microenvironment. Programmed responsive polymer networks, intelligent micro/nanoplatforms, and biological therapeutic cues contribute to the formation of microenvironment-modulated hydrogels with precise targeting, spatiotemporal control, and on-demand feedback. Therefore, this review summarizes the features of the MI microenvironment and chemically programmed schemes for hydrogels to conform, integrate, and modulate the cardiac pathological microenvironment. Chemically programmed strategies for oxygen-generating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, provascular, and electrointegrated hydrogels to stimulate iterative and translational cardiac tissue engineering are discussed.

Scale-Up Preparation of Manganese-Iron Prussian Blue Nanozymes as Potent Oral Nanomedicines for Acute Ulcerative Colitis

Prussian blue (PB) nanozymes are demonstrated as effective therapeutics for ulcerative colitis (UC), yet an unmet practical challenge remains in the scalable production of these nanozymes and uncertainty over their efficacy. With a novel approach, a series of porous manganese-iron PB (MnPB) colloids, which are shown to be efficient scavengers for reactive oxygen species (ROS) including hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide, are prepared. In vitro cellular experiments confirm the capability of the nanozyme to protect cells from ROS attack. In vivo, the administration of MnPB nanozyme through gavage at a dosage of 10 mg kg-1 per day for three doses in total potently ameliorates the pathological symptoms of acute UC in a murine model, resulting in mitigated inflammatory responses and improved viability rate. Significantly, the nanozyme produced at a large scale can be achieved at an unprecedented yield weighting ≈11 g per batch of reaction, demonstrating comparable anti-ROS activities and treatment efficacy to its small-scale counterpart. This work represents the first demonstration of the scale-up preparation of PB analog nanozymes for UC without compromising treatment efficacy, laying the foundation for further testing of these nanozymes on larger animals and promising clinical translation.

Cu@CuOx/WO3 with photo-regulated singlet oxygen and oxygen adatoms generation for selective photocatalytic aromatic amines to imines

Photocatalysts can absorb light and activate molecular O2 under mild conditions, but the generation of unsuitable reactive oxygen species often limits their use in synthesizing fine chemicals. To address this issue, we disperse 1 wt% copper on tungsten trioxide (WO3) support to create an efficient catalyst for selective oxidative coupling of aromatic amines to imines under sunlight irradiation at room temperature. Copper consists of a metallic copper core and an oxide shell. Experimental and density functional theory calculations have confirmed that Cu2O is the primary activation site. Under λ < 475 nm, the light excites electrons of the valence bands in Cu2O and WO3, which activate O2 to superoxide radical •O2-. Then rapidly transforms into oxygen adatoms (•O) and oxygen anion radicals (•O-) species on the surface of Cu2O. Simultaneously, it is captured by holes in the WO3 valence band to generate singlet oxygen (1O2). •O bind to 1O2 promoting the coupling reaction of amines. When λ > 475 nm, intense light absorption due to the localized surface plasmon resonance excites numerous electrons in Cu to promote the oxidative coupling with the adsorbed O2. This study presents a promising approach towards the design of high-performance photocatalysts for solar energy conversion and environmentally-friendly oxidative organic synthesis.

Berberine inhibits SGIV replication by suppressing inflammatory response and oxidative stress

Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) is one of the major infectious diseases responsible for high mortality and huge economic losses in the grouper aquaculture industry. Berberine (BBR), a naturally occurring plant alkaloid, is a phytochemical having a variety of biological properties, such as antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this work, we used an in vitro model based on Western blot, ROS fluorescence probe, and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) to examine the antiviral qualities of BBR against SGIV. The outcomes demonstrated that varying BBR concentrations could significantly inhibit the replication of SGIV. In addition, BBR greatly inhibited the production of genes associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines in SGIV-infected or SGIV-uninfected GS cells based on qRT-PCR data. Subsequent investigations demonstrated that BBR suppressed the expression of the promoter activity of NF-κB and NF-κB-p65 protein. Additionally, BBR reduced the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, JNK, and p38. Furthermore, BBR also inhibits SGIV-induced ROS production by upregulating the expression of antioxidant-related genes. In conclusion, BBR is a viable therapy option for SGIV infection due to its antiviral properties.

A fluorescent probe based on cyclochalcone for detecting peroxynitrite

A novel cyclic chalcone fluorescent probe C-PN was synthesized to detect ONOO-. After reaction with peroxynitrite, the double bond of C-PN in the cyclic chalcone structure was disconnected, which caused the change of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect, emitting blue fluorescence and quenching orange red fluorescence. Visible to the naked eye, the color of the probe solution changed. The probe showed low sensitivity (detection limit = 20.2 nm), short response time (less than 60 s) at low concentration of ONOO-, good visibility, and good selectivity and stability for ONOO-.

Innovative Biomaterials for Bone Tumor Treatment and Regeneration: Tackling Postoperative Challenges and Charting the Path Forward

Surgical resection of bone tumors is the primary approach employed in the treatment of bone cancer. Simultaneously, perioperative interventions, particularly postoperative adjuvant anticancer strategies, play a crucial role in achieving satisfactory therapeutic outcomes. However, the occurrence of postoperative bone tumor recurrence, metastasis, extensive bone defects, and infection are significant risks that can result in unfavorable prognoses or even treatment failure. In recent years, there has been significant progress in the development of biomaterials, leading to the emergence of new treatment options for bone tumor therapy and bone regeneration. This progress report aims to comprehensively analyze the strategic development of unique therapeutic biomaterials with inherent healing properties and bioactive capabilities for bone tissue regeneration. These composite biomaterials, classified into metallic, inorganic non-metallic, and organic types, are thoroughly investigated for their responses to external stimuli such as light or magnetic fields, internal interventions including chemotherapy or catalytic therapy, and combination therapy, as well as their role in bone regeneration. Additionally, an overview of self-healing materials for osteogenesis is provided and their potential applications in combating osteosarcoma and promoting bone formation are explored. Furthermore, the safety concerns of integrated materials and current limitations are addressed, while also discussing the challenges and future prospects.

Lactic acid responsive sequential production of hydrogen peroxide and consumption of glutathione for enhanced ferroptosis tumor therapy

Ferroptosis is characterized by the lethal accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS), which has great potential for tumor therapy. However, developing new ferroptosis-inducing strategies by combining nanomaterials with small molecule inducers is important. In this study, an enzyme-gated biodegradable natural-product delivery system based on lactate oxidase (LOD)-gated biodegradable iridium (Ir)-doped hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (HMONs) loaded with honokiol (HNK) (HNK@Ir-HMONs-LOD, HIHL) is designed to enhance ferroptosis in colon tumor therapy. After reaching the tumor microenvironment, the outer LOD dissociates and releases the HNK to induce ferroptosis. Moreover, the released dopant Ir4+ and disulfide-bridged organosilica frameworks deplete intracellular glutathione (GSH), which is followed by GSH-mediated Ir(IV)/Ir(III) conversion. This leads to the repression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity and decomposition of intratumoral hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into hydroxyl radicals (•OH) by Ir3+-mediated Fenton-like reactions. Moreover, LOD efficiently depletes lactic acid to facilitate the generation of H2O2 and boost the Fenton reaction, which in turn enhances ROS generation. With the synergistic effects of these cascade reactions and the release of HNK, notable ferroptosis efficacy was observed both in vitro and in vivo. This combination of natural product-induced and lactic acid-responsive sequential production of H2O2 as well as the consumption of glutathione may provide a new paradigm for achieving effective ferroptosis-based cancer therapy.

Recent Progress in Anti-Tumor Nanodrugs Based on Tumor Microenvironment Redox Regulation

The growth state of tumor cells is strictly affected by the specific abnormal redox status of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Moreover, redox reactions at the biological level are also central and fundamental to essential energy metabolism reactions in tumors. Accordingly, anti-tumor nanodrugs targeting the disruption of this abnormal redox homeostasis have become one of the hot spots in the field of nanodrugs research due to the effectiveness of TME modulation and anti-tumor efficiency mediated by redox interference. This review discusses the latest research results of nanodrugs in anti-tumor therapy, which regulate the levels of oxidants or reductants in TME through a variety of therapeutic strategies, ultimately breaking the original "stable" redox state of the TME and promoting tumor cell death. With the gradual deepening of study on the redox state of TME and the vigorous development of nanomaterials, it is expected that more anti-tumor nano drugs based on tumor redox microenvironment regulation will be designed and even applied clinically.

MXene-Mediated Catalytic Redox Reactions for Biomedical Applications

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in orchestrating a myriad of physiological processes within living systems. With the advent of materdicine, an array of nanomaterials has been intricately engineered to influence the redox equilibrium in biological milieus, thereby pioneering a distinctive therapeutic paradigm predicated on ROS-centric biochemistry. Among these, two-dimensional carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, collectively known as MXenes, stand out due to their multi-valent and multi-elemental compositions, large surface area, high conductivity, and pronounced local surface plasmon resonance effects, positioning them as prominent contributors in ROS modulation. This review aims to provide an overview of the advancements in harnessing MXenes for catalytic redox reactions in various biological applications, including tumor, anti-infective, and anti-inflammatory therapies. The emphasis lies on elucidating the therapeutic mechanism of MXenes, involving both pro-oxidation and anti-oxidation processes, underscoring the redox-related therapeutic applications facilitated by self-catalysis, photo-excitation, and sono-excitation properties of MXenes. Furthermore, this review highlights the existing challenges and outlines future development trends in leveraging MXenes for ROS-involving disease treatments, marking a significant step towards the integration of these nanomaterials into clinical practice.

Structural Design of Single-Atom Catalysts for Enhancing Petrochemical Catalytic Reaction Process

Petroleum, as the "lifeblood" of industrial development, is the important energy source and raw material. The selective transformation of petroleum into high-end chemicals is of great significance, but still exists enormous challenges. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with 100% atom utilization and homogeneous active sites, promise a broad application in petrochemical processes. Herein, the research systematically summarizes the recent research progress of SACs in petrochemical catalytic reaction, proposes the role of structural design of SACs in enhancing catalytic performance, elucidates the catalytic reaction mechanisms of SACs in the conversion of petrochemical processes, and reveals the high activity origins of SACs at the atomic scale. Finally, the key challenges are summarized and an outlook on the design, identification of active sites, and the appropriate application of artificial intelligence technology is provided for achieving scale-up application of SACs in petrochemical process.

Physical-Chemical Coupling Coassembly Approach to Branched Magnetic Mesoporous Nanochains with Adjustable Surface Roughness

Self-assembly processes triggered by physical or chemical driving forces have been applied to fabricate hierarchical materials with subtle nanostructures. However, various physicochemical processes often interfere with each other, and their precise control has remained a great challenge. Here, in this paper, a rational synthesis of 1D magnetite-chain and mesoporous-silica-nanorod (Fe3O4&mSiO2) branched magnetic nanochains via a physical-chemical coupling coassembly approach is reported. Magnetic-field-induced assembly of magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles and isotropic/anisotropic assembly of mesoporous silica are coupled to obtain the delicate 1D branched magnetic mesoporous nanochains. The nanochains with a length of 2-3 µm in length are composed of aligned Fe3O4@mSiO2 nanospheres with a diameter of 150 nm and sticked-out 300 nm long mSiO2 branches. By properly coordinating the multiple assembly processes, the density and length of mSiO2 branches can well be adjusted. Because of the unique rough surface and length in correspondence to bacteria, the designed 1D Fe3O4&mSiO2 branched magnetic nanochains show strong bacterial adhesion and pressuring ability, performing bacterial inhibition over 60% at a low concentration (15 µg mL-1). This cooperative coassembly strategy deepens the understanding of the micro-nanoscale assembly process and lays a foundation for the preparation of the assembly with adjustable surface structures and the subsequent construction of complex multilevel structures.

Enhanced osteogenic and ROS-scavenging MXene nanosheets incorporated gelatin-based nanocomposite hydrogels for critical-sized calvarial defect repair

The healing of critical-sized bone defects is a major challenge in the field of bone tissue engineering. Gelatin-related hydrogels have emerged as a potential solution due to their desirable properties. However, their limited osteogenic, mechanical, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capabilities have hindered their clinical application. To overcome this issue, we developed a biofunctional gelatin-Mxene nanocomposite hydrogel. Firstly, we prepared two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets using a layer delamination method. Secondly, these nanosheets were incorporated into a transglutaminase (TG) enzyme-containing gallic acid-imbedded gelatin (GGA) pre-gel solution to create an injectable GGA-MXene (GM) nanocomposite hydrogel. The GM hydrogels exhibited superior compressive strength (44-75.6 kPa) and modulus (24-44.5 kPa) compared to the GGA hydrogels. Additionally, the GM hydrogel demonstrated the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (OH- and DPPH radicals), protecting MC3T3-E1 cells from oxidative stress. GM hydrogels were non-toxic to MC3T3-E1 cells, increased alkaline phosphatase secretion, calcium nodule formation, and upregulated osteogenic gene expressions (ALP, OCN, and RUNX2). The GM400 hydrogel was implanted in critical-sized calvarial defects in rats. Remarkably, it exhibited significant potential for promoting new bone formation. These findings indicated that GM hydrogel could be a viable candidate for future clinical applications in the treatment of critical-sized bone defects.

The dissolution, reassembly and further clearance of amyloid-β fibrils by tailor-designed dissociable nanosystem for Alzheimer's disease therapy

The fibrillation of amyloid-β (Aβ) is the critical causal factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the dissolution and clearance of which are promising for AD therapy. Although many Aβ inhibitors are developed, their low Aβ-binding affinity results in unsatisfactory effect. To solve this challenge, the Aβ sequence-matching strategy is proposed to tail-design dissociable nanosystem (B6-PNi NPs). Herein, B6-PNi NPs aim to improve Aβ-binding affinity for effective dissolution of amyloid fibrils, as well as to interfere with the in vivo fate of amyloid for Aβ clearance. Results show that B6-PNi NPs decompose into small nanostructures and expose Aβ-binding sites in response to AD microenvironment, and then capture Aβ via multiple interactions, including covalent linkage formed by nucleophilic substitution reaction. Such high Aβ-binding affinity disassembles Aβ fibrils into Aβ monomers, and induces the reassembly of Aβ&nanostructure composite, thereby promoting microglial Aβ phogocytosis/clearance via Aβ receptor-mediated endocytosis. After B6-PNi NPs treatment, the Aβ burden, neuroinflammation and cognitive impairments are relieved in AD transgenic mice. This work provides the Aβ sequence-matching strategy for Aβ inhibitor design in AD treatment, showing meaningful insight in biomedicine.

Chemodynamic PtMn Nanocubes for Effective Photothermal ROS Storm a Key Anti-Tumor Therapy in-vivo

Background

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is a new treatment approach that is triggered by endogenous stimuli in specific intracellular conditions for generating hydroxyl radicals. However, the efficiency of CDT is severely limited by Fenton reaction agents and harsh reaction conditions.

Methods

Bimetallic PtMn nanocubes were rationally designed and simply synthesized through a one-step high-temperature pyrolysis process by controlling both the nucleation process and the subsequent crystal growth stage. The polyethylene glycol was modified to enhance biocompatibility.

Results

Benefiting from the alloying of Pt nanocubes with Mn doping, the structure of the electron cloud has changed, resulting in different degrees of the shift in electron binding energy, resulting in the increasing of Fenton reaction activity. The PtMn nanocubes could catalyze endogenous hydrogen peroxide to toxic hydroxyl radicals in mild acid. Meanwhile, the intrinsic glutathione (GSH) depletion activity of PtMn nanocubes consumed GSH with the assistance of Mn3+/Mn2+. Upon 808 nm laser irradiation, mild temperature due to the surface plasmon resonance effect of Pt metal can also enhance the Fenton reaction.

Conclusion

PtMn nanocubes can not only destroy the antioxidant system via efficient reactive oxygen species generation and continuous GSH consumption but also propose the photothermal effect of noble metal for enhanced Fenton reaction activity.

Hyaluronic Acid-Bilirubin Nanoparticles as a Tumor Microenvironment Reactive Oxygen Species-Responsive Nanomedicine for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Introduction

The tumor microenvironment (TME) has attracted considerable attention as a potential therapeutic target for cancer. High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the TME may act as a stimulus for drug release. In this study, we have developed ROS-responsive hyaluronic acid-bilirubin nanoparticles (HABN) loaded with doxorubicin (DOX@HABN) for the specific delivery and release of DOX in tumor tissue. The hyaluronic acid shell of the nanoparticles acts as an active targeting ligand that can specifically bind to CD44-overexpressing tumors. The bilirubin core has intrinsic anti-cancer activity and ROS-responsive solubility change properties.

Methods & Results

DOX@HABN showed the HA shell-mediated targeting ability, ROS-responsive disruption leading to ROS-mediated drug release, and synergistic anti-cancer activity against ROS-overproducing CD44-overexpressing HeLa cells. Additionally, intravenously administered HABN-Cy5.5 showed remarkable tumor-targeting ability in HeLa tumor-bearing mice with limited distribution in major organs. Finally, intravenous injection of DOX@HABN into HeLa tumor-bearing mice showed synergistic anti-tumor efficacy without noticeable side effects.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that DOX@HABN has significant potential as a cancer-targeting and TME ROS-responsive nanomedicine for targeted cancer treatment.

Nanozyme-Incorporated Microneedles for the Treatment of Chronic Wounds

Acute wounds are converted to chronic wounds due to advanced age and diabetic complications. Nanozymes catalyze ROS production to kill bacteria without causing drug resistance, while microneedles (MNs) can break through the skin barrier to deliver drugs effectively. Nanozymes can be intergrateded into MNs delivery systems to improve painless drug delivery. It can also reduce the effective dose of drug sterilization while increasing delivery efficiency and effectively killing wounded bacteria while preventing drug resistance. This paper describes various types of metal nanozymes from previous studies and compares their mutual enhancement with nanozymes. The pooled results show that the MNs, through material innovation, are able to both penetrate the scab and deliver nanozymes and exert additional anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects. The catalytic effect of some of the nanozymes can also accelerate the lysis of the MNs or create a cascade reaction against inflammation and infection. However, the issue of increased toxicity associated with skin penetration and clinical translation remains a challenge. This study reviews the latest published results and corresponding challenges associated with the use of MNs combined with nanozymes for the treatment of wounds, providing further information for future research.

A Porphyrin-Based 3D Metal-Organic Framework Featuring [Cu8Cl6]10+ Cluster Secondary Building Units: Synthesis, Structure Elucidation, Anion Exchange, and Peroxidase-Like Activity

Herein, we report a rare example of cationic three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic framework (MOF) of [Cu5Cl3(TMPP)]Cl5 ⋅ xSol (denoted as Cu-TMPP; H2TMPP=meso-tetrakis (6-methylpyridin-3-yl) porphyrin; xSol=encapsulated solvates) supported by [Cu8Cl6]10+ cluster secondary building units (SBUs) wherein the eight faces of the Cl--based octahedron are capped by eight Cu2+. Surface-area analysis indicated that Cu-TMPP features a mesoporous structure and its solvate-like Cl- counterions can be exchanged by BF4 -, PF6 -, and NO3 -. The polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated Cu-TMPP (denoted as Cu-TMPP-PVP) demonstrated good ROS generating ability, producing ⋅OH in the absence of light (peroxidase-like activity) and 1O2 on light irradiation (650 nm; 25 mW cm-2). This work highlights the potential of Cu-TMPP as a functional carrier of anionic guests such as drugs, for the combination therapy of cancer and other diseases.

Critical learning from industrial catalysis for nanocatalytic medicine

Systematical and critical learning from industrial catalysis will bring inspiration for emerging nanocatalytic medicine, but the relevant knowledge is quite limited so far. In this review, we briefly summarize representative catalytic reactions and corresponding catalysts in industry, and then distinguish the similarities and differences in catalytic reactions between industrial and medical applications in support of critical learning, deep understanding, and rational designing of appropriate catalysts and catalytic reactions for various medical applications. Finally, we summarize/outlook the present and potential translation from industrial catalysis to nanocatalytic medicine. This review is expected to display a clear picture of nanocatalytic medicine evolution.

Exploring Synergistic Interactions between Natural Compounds and Conventional Chemotherapeutic Drugs in Preclinical Models of Lung Cancer

In the current work, the synergy between natural compounds and conventional chemotherapeutic drugs is comprehensively reviewed in light of current preclinical research findings. The prognosis for lung cancer patients is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of 18.1%. The use of natural compounds in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs has gained significant attention as a potential novel approach in the treatment of lung cancer. The present work highlights the importance of finding more effective therapies to increase survival rates. Chemotherapy is a primary treatment option for lung cancer but it has limitations such as reduced effectiveness because cancer cells become resistant. Natural compounds isolated from medicinal plants have shown promising anticancer or chemopreventive properties and their synergistic effect has been observed when combined with conventional therapies. The combined use of an anti-cancer drug and a natural compound exhibits synergistic effects, enhancing overall therapeutic actions against cancer cells. In conclusion, this work provides an overview of the latest preclinical research on medicinal plants and plant-derived compounds as alternative or complementary treatment options for lung cancer chemotherapy and discusses the potential of natural compounds in treating lung cancer with minimal side effects.

Contact-electro-catalysis (CEC)

Contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) is an emerging field that utilizes electron transfer occurring at the liquid-solid and even liquid-liquid interfaces because of the contact-electrification effect to stimulate redox reactions. The energy source of CEC is external mechanical stimuli, and solids to be used are generally organic as well as in-organic materials even though they are chemically inert. CEC has rapidly garnered extensive attention and demonstrated its potential for both mechanistic research and practical applications of mechanocatalysis. This review aims to elucidate the fundamental principle, prominent features, and applications of CEC by compiling and analyzing the recent developments. In detail, the theoretical foundation for CEC, the methods for improving CEC, and the unique advantages of CEC have been discussed. Furthermore, we outline a roadmap for future research and development of CEC. We hope that this review will stimulate extensive studies in the chemistry community for investigating the CEC, a catalytic process in nature.

A pH-sensitive imidazole grafted polymeric micelles nanoplatform based on ROS amplification for ferroptosis-enhanced chemodynamic therapy

Highly toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), crucial in inducing apoptosis and ferroptosis, are pivotal for cell death pathways in cancer therapy. However, the effectiveness of ROS-related tumor therapy is impeded by the limited intracellular ROS and substrates, coupled with the presence of abundant ROS scavengers like glutathione (GSH). In this research, we developed acid-responsive, iron-coordinated polymer nanoparticles (PPA/TF) encapsulating a mitochondrial-targeting drug alpha-tocopheryl succinate (α-TOS) for enhanced synergistic tumor treatment. The imidazole grafted micelles exhibit prolonged blood circulation and improve the delivery efficiency of the hydrophobic drug α-TOS. Additionally, PPA's design aids in delivering Fe3+, supplying ample iron ions for chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and ferroptosis through the attachment of imidazole groups to Fe3+. In the tumor's weakly acidic intracellular environment, PPA/TF facilitates pH-responsive drug release. α-TOS specifically targets mitochondria, generating ROS and replenishing those depleted by the Fenton reaction. Moreover, the presence of Fe3+ in PPA/TF amplifies ROS upregulation, promotes GSH depletion, and induces oxidative damage and ferroptosis, effectively inhibiting tumor growth. This research presents an innovative ROS-triggered amplification platform that optimizes CDT and ferroptosis for effective cancer treatment.

Materiobiomodulated ROS Therapy for De Novo Hair Growth

Hair loss is characterized by the inability of hair follicles (HFs) to enter the telogen-anagen transition (TAT) and lack of de novo HFs. Current pharmaceutical therapies and surgical modalities have been largely limited to regulating hair regrowth efficiently without side effects and lacking treatment compliance. Here, this work proposes a materiobiomodulation therapy (MBMT), wherein polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles with redox activity can be modulated to have a stoichiometric ROS (H2O2) donating ability. These nanoparticles can intracellularly deliver ROS with high-efficiency via the clathrin-dependent endocytosis process. Utilizing homozygote transgenic HyPerion (a genetically-encoded H2O2 biosensor) mice, this work also achieves in vivo dynamic monitoring of intracellular H2O2 elevation induced by ROS donators. Subcutaneous administration with ROS donators results in rapid onset of TAT and subsequent hair regrowth with a specific ROS "hormesis effect." Mechanistically, ROS activate β-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling, upregulating hair follicle stem cell expression. This work further develops a microneedles patch for transdermal ROS delivery, demonstrating long-term, low-dose ROS release. Unlike photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), MBMT requires no external stimuli, providing a convenient and efficient approach for clinical hair loss treatment. This material-HF communication implicates new avenues in HF-related diseases, achieving targeted ROS delivery with minimal side effects.

Shape-Regulated Photothermal-Catalytic Tumor Therapy Using Polydopamine@Pt Nanozymes with the Elicitation of an Immune Response

Recently, nanozyme-based photothermal-catalytic therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for antitumor treatment. Extensive research has focused on optimizing the catalytic activity and photothermal conversion performance of nanozymes through size, morphology, and surface property regulations. However, the biological effects of nanozymes, such as cellular uptake and cytotoxicity, resulting from their physicochemical properties, remain largely unexplored. In this study, two types of polydopamine/platinum (PDA@Pt) nanozymes, flower-like (FPDA@Pt) and mesoporous spherical-like (MPDA@Pt), to comprehensively compare their enzyme-mimicking activity, photothermal conversion capacity, and antitumor efficiency are designed. These findings revealed that FPDA@Pt exhibited superior peroxidase-like activity and higher photothermal conversion efficiency compared to MPDA@Pt. This led to enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased heat generation at tumor sites. Importantly, it is observed thatthe flower-like structure of FPDA@Pt facilitated enhanced cellular uptake, leading to an increased accumulation of nanozymes within tumor cells. Furthermore, the light irradiation on tumors also triggered a series of anti-tumor immune responses, further enhancing the therapeutic efficacy. This work provides a possible design orientation for nanozyme-based photothermal-catalytic tumor therapy, highlighting the importance of considering the physicochemical properties of nanozymes to optimize their therapeutic potential in antitumor strategies.

Deciphering mitochondrial dysfunction: Pathophysiological mechanisms in vascular cognitive impairment

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) encompasses a range of cognitive deficits arising from vascular pathology. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying VCI remain incompletely understood; however, chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is widely acknowledged as a principal pathological contributor. Mitochondria, crucial for cellular energy production and intracellular signaling, can lead to numerous neurological impairments when dysfunctional. Recent evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction-marked by oxidative stress, disturbed calcium homeostasis, compromised mitophagy, and anomalies in mitochondrial dynamics-plays a pivotal role in VCI pathogenesis. This review offers a detailed examination of the latest insights into mitochondrial dysfunction within the VCI context, focusing on both the origins and consequences of compromised mitochondrial health. It aims to lay a robust scientific groundwork for guiding the development and refinement of mitochondrial-targeted interventions for VCI.

Synergistic Brilliance: Engineered Bacteria and Nanomedicine Unite in Cancer Therapy

Engineered bacteria are widely used in cancer treatment because live facultative/obligate anaerobes can selectively proliferate at tumor sites and reach hypoxic regions, thereby causing nutritional competition, enhancing immune responses, and producing anticancer microbial agents in situ to suppress tumor growth. Despite the unique advantages of bacteria-based cancer biotherapy, the insufficient treatment efficiency limits its application in the complete ablation of malignant tumors. The combination of nanomedicine and engineered bacteria has attracted increasing attention owing to their striking synergistic effects in cancer treatment. Engineered bacteria that function as natural vehicles can effectively deliver nanomedicines to tumor sites. Moreover, bacteria provide an opportunity to enhance nanomedicines by modulating the TME and producing substrates to support nanomedicine-mediated anticancer reactions. Nanomedicine exhibits excellent optical, magnetic, acoustic, and catalytic properties, and plays an important role in promoting bacteria-mediated biotherapies. The synergistic anticancer effects of engineered bacteria and nanomedicines in cancer therapy are comprehensively summarized in this review. Attention is paid not only to the fabrication of nanobiohybrid composites, but also to the interpromotion mechanism between engineered bacteria and nanomedicine in cancer therapy. Additionally, recent advances in engineered bacteria-synergized multimodal cancer therapies are highlighted.

Mn-Based Artificial Mitochondrial Complex "VI" Acts as an Electron and Free Radical Conversion Factory to Suppress Macrophage Inflammatory Response

Disturbance in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is a key factor in the emerging discovery of immune cell activation in inflammatory diseases, yet specific regulation of ETC homeostasis is extremely challenging. In this paper, a mitochondrial complex biomimetic nanozyme (MCBN), which plays the role of an artificial "VI" complex and acts as an electron and free radical conversion factory to regulate ETC homeostasis is creatively developed. MCBN is composed of bovine serum albumin (BSA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and triphenylphosphine (TPP) hierarchically encapsulating MnO2 polycrystalline particles. It has nanoscale size and biological properties like natural complexes. In vivo and in vitro experiments confirm that MCBN can target the mitochondrial complexes of inflammatory macrophages, absorb excess electrons in ETC, and convert the electrons to decompose H2O2. By reducing the ROS and ATP bursts and converting existing free radicals, inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatory vesicle activation and NF-κB signaling pathway, MCBN effectively suppresses macrophage M1 activation and inflammatory factor secretion. It also demonstrates good inflammation control and significantly alleviates alveolar bone loss in a mouse model of ligation-induced periodontitis. This is the first nanozyme that mimics the mitochondrial complex and regulates ETC, demonstrating the potential application of MCBN in immune diseases.

ROS-Responsive and Self-Tumor Curing Methionine Polymer Library Based Nanoparticles with Self-Accelerated Drug Release and Hydrophobicity/Hydrophilicity Switching Capability for Enhanced Cancer Therapy

The applications of amino acid-based polymers are impeded by their limited structure and functions. Herein, a small library of methionine-based polymers (Met-P) with programmed structure and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive properties is developed for tumor therapy. The Met-P can self-assemble into sub-100 nm nanoparticles (NPs) and effectively load anticancer drugs (such as paclitaxel (PTX) (P@Met-P NPs)) via the nanoprecipitation method. The screened NPs with superior stability and high drug loading are further evaluated in vitro and in vivo. When encountering with ROS, the Met-P polymers will be oxidized and then switch from a hydrophobic to a hydrophilic state, triggering the rapid and self-accelerated release of PTX. The in vivo results indicated that the screened P@2Met10 NPs possessed significant anticancer performance and effectively alleviated the side effects of PTX. More interestingly, the blank 2Met10 NPs displayed an obvious self-tumor inhibiting efficacy. Furthermore, the other Met-P NPs (such as 2Met8, 4Met8, and 4Met10) are also found to exhibit varied self-anti-cancer capabilities. Overall, this ROS-responsive Met-P library is a rare anticancer platform with hydrophobic/hydrophilic switching, controlled drug release, and self-anticancer therapy capability.

3D Printing of Cobalt-Incorporated Chloroapatite Bioceramic Composite Scaffolds with Antioxidative Activity for Enhanced Osteochondral Regeneration

Osteochondral defects are often accompanied by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by osteoarthritis or acute surgical inflammation. An inflammatory environment containing excess ROS will not only hinder tissue regeneration but also impact the quality of newly formed tissues. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop scaffolds with both ROS scavenging and osteochondral repair functions to promote and protect osteochondral tissue regeneration. In this work, by using 3D printing technology, a composite scaffold based on cobalt-incorporated chloroapatite (Co-ClAP) bioceramics, which possesses ROS-scavenging activity and can support cell proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation, is developed. Benefiting from the catalytic activity of Co-ClAP bioceramics, the composite scaffold can protect cells from oxidative damage under ROS-excessive conditions, support their directional differentiation, and simultaneously mediate an anti-inflammatory microenvironment. In addition, it is also confirmed by using rabbit osteochondral defect model that the Co-ClAP/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold can effectively promote the integrated regeneration of cartilage and subchondral bone, exhibiting an ideal repair effect in vivo. This study provides a promising strategy for the treatment of defects with excess ROS and inflammatory microenvironments.

Nanomedomics

Nanomaterials have attractive physicochemical properties. A variety of nanomaterials such as inorganic, lipid, polymers, and protein nanoparticles have been widely developed for nanomedicine via chemical conjugation or physical encapsulation of bioactive molecules. Superior to traditional drugs, nanomedicines offer high biocompatibility, good water solubility, long blood circulation times, and tumor-targeting properties. Capitalizing on this, several nanoformulations have already been clinically approved and many others are currently being studied in clinical trials. Despite their undoubtful success, the molecular mechanism of action of the vast majority of nanomedicines remains poorly understood. To tackle this limitation, herein, this review critically discusses the strategy of applying multiomics analysis to study the mechanism of action of nanomedicines, named nanomedomics, including advantages, applications, and future directions. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanism could provide valuable insight and therefore foster the development and clinical translation of nanomedicines.

Intelligent Biogenic Missile for Two-Photon Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Combined Photodynamic Therapy and Chemotherapy in Tumors

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a significant noninvasive therapeutic modality, but it is often limited in its application due to the restricted tissue penetration depth caused by the wavelength limitations of the light source. Two-photon (TP) fluorescence techniques are capable of having an excitation wavelength in the NIR region by absorbing two NIR photons simultaneously, which offers the potential to achieve higher spatial resolution for deep tissue imaging. Thus, the adoption of TP fluorescence techniques affords several discernible benefits for photodynamic therapy. Organic TP dyes possess a high fluorescence quantum yield. However, the biocompatibility of organic TP dyes is poor, and the method of coating organic TP dyes with silica can effectively overcome the limitations. Herein, based on the TP silica nanoparticles, a functionalized intelligent biogenic missile TP-SiNPs-G4(TMPyP4)-dsDNA(DOX)-Aptamer (TGTDDA) was developed for effective TP bioimaging and synergistic targeted photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy in tumors. First, the Sgc8 aptamer was used to target the PTK7 receptor on the surface of tumor cells. Under two-photon light irradiation, the intelligent biogenic missile can be activated for TP fluorescence imaging to identify tumor cells and the photosensitizer assembled on the nanoparticle surface can be activated for photodynamic therapy. Additionally, this intelligent biogenic missile enables the controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX). The innovative strategy substantially enhances the targeted therapeutic effectiveness of cancer cells. The intelligent biogenic missile provides an effective method for the early detection and treatment of tumors, which has a good application prospect in the real-time high-sensitivity diagnosis and treatment of tumors.

Application and design considerations of ROS-based nanomaterials in diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic nephropathy (DKD) is a common chronic complication of diabetes mellitus and an important cause of cardiovascular-related death. Oxidative stress is a key mechanism leading to diabetic nephropathy. However, the current main therapeutic approach remains combination therapy and lacks specific therapies targeting oxidative stress. With the development of nanotechnology targeting ROS, therapeutic fluids regarding their treatment of diabetic nephropathy have attracted attention. In this review, we provide a brief overview of various ROS-based nanomaterials for DKD, including ROS-scavenging nanomaterials, ROS-associated nanodelivery materials, and ROS-responsive nanomaterials. In addition, we summarize and discuss key factors that should be considered when designing ROS-based nanomaterials, such as biosafety, efficacy, targeting, and detection and monitoring of ROS.

Near-infrared-driven upconversion nanoparticles with photocatalysts through water-splitting towards cancer treatment

Water splitting is promising, especially for energy and environmental applications; however, there are limited studies on the link between water splitting and cancer treatment. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) can be used to convert near-infrared (NIR) light to ultraviolet (UV) or visible (Vis) light and have great potential for biomedical applications because of their profound penetration ability, theranostic approaches, low self-fluorescence background, reduced damage to biological tissue, and low toxicity. UCNPs with photocatalytic materials can enhance the photocatalytic activities that generate a shorter wavelength to increase the tissue penetration depth in the biological microenvironment under NIR light irradiation. Moreover, UCNPs with a photosensitizer can absorb NIR light and convert it into UV/vis light and emit upconverted photons, which excite the photoinitiator to create H2, O2, and/or OH˙ via water splitting processes when exposed to NIR irradiation. Therefore, combining UCNPs with intensified photocatalytic and photoinitiator materials may be a promising therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. This review provides a novel strategy for explaining the principles and mechanisms of UCNPs and NIR-driven UCNPs with photocatalytic materials through water splitting to achieve therapeutic outcomes for clinical applications. Moreover, the challenges and future perspectives of UCNP-based photocatalytic materials for water splitting for cancer treatment are discussed in this review.

Biomimetic peroxidase MOF-Fe promotes bone defect repair by inhibiting TfR2 and activating the BMP2 pathway

BACKGROUND

Large bone defects pose a clinical treatment challenge; inhibiting transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2), which is involved in iron metabolism, can promote osteogenesis. Iron-based metal-organic frameworks (MOF-Fe) particles not only inhibit TfR2 but also serve as biomimetic catalysts to remove hydrogen peroxide in reactive oxygen species (ROS); excess ROS can disrupt the normal functions of osteoblasts, thereby hindering bone regeneration. This study explored the potential effects of MOF-Fe in increasing osteogenic activity and clearing ROS.

METHODS

In vitro experiments were performed to investigate the osteogenic effects of MOF-Fe particles and assess their impact on cellular ROS levels. To further validate the role of MOF-Fe in promoting bone defect repair, we injected MOF-Fe suspensions into the femoral defects of SD rats and implanted MOF-Fe-containing hydrogel scaffolds in rabbit cranial defect models and observed their effects on bone healing.

RESULTS

In vitro, the presence of MOF-Fe significantly increased the expression levels of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins compared to those in the control group. Additionally, compared to those in the untreated control group, the cells treated with MOF-Fe exhibited a significantly increased ability to remove hydrogen peroxide from ROS and generate oxygen and water within the physiological pH range. In vivo experiments further confirmed the positive effect of MOF-Fe in promoting bone defect repair.

CONCLUSION

This study supports the application of MOF-Fe as an agent for bone regeneration, particularly for mitigating ROS and activating the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway, demonstrating its potential value.

Unlocking the Power of Light on the Skin: A Comprehensive Review on Photobiomodulation

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a procedure that uses light to modulate cellular functions and biological processes. Over the past decades, PBM has gained considerable attention for its potential in various medical applications due to its non-invasive nature and minimal side effects. We conducted a narrative review including articles about photobiomodulation, LED light therapy or low-level laser therapy and their applications on dermatology published over the last 6 years, encompassing research studies, clinical trials, and technological developments. This review highlights the mechanisms of action underlying PBM, including the interaction with cellular chromophores and the activation of intracellular signaling pathways. The evidence from clinical trials and experimental studies to evaluate the efficacy of PBM in clinical practice is summarized with a special emphasis on dermatology. Furthermore, advancements in PBM technology, such as novel light sources and treatment protocols, are discussed in the context of optimizing therapeutic outcomes and improving patient care. This narrative review underscores the promising role of PBM as a non-invasive therapeutic approach with broad clinical applicability. Despite the need for further research to develop standard protocols, PBM holds great potential for addressing a wide range of medical conditions and enhancing patient outcomes in modern healthcare practice.