Amlodipine, an anti-hypertensive drug, alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating gut microbiota

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a severe public health problem. It often coexists with hypertension in the context of metabolic syndrome. Here, we investigated the effects of amlodipine on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease combined with hypertension and the underlying mechanism.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

mice were fed with high-fat diet and 0.05% N-Nitro-L-arginine methylester sterile water to induce NAFLD with hypertension. Gut microbiota composition and function were assessed by 16S ribosomal DNA and metagenomic sequencing. Untargeted metabolome profiles were applied to identify differential metabolites in mice cecum.

KEY RESULTS

Amlodipine besylate (AB) and amlodipine aspartate (AA) significantly decreased liver injury, hepatic steatosis and improved lipid metabolism with a concomitant reduction in the expression of lipogenic genes in mice with NAFLD and hypertension. Mechanistically, AA and AB have potential in restoring intestinal barrier integrity and improving antimicrobial defense along with the elevated abundances of Akkermansia, Bacteroides and Lactobacillus. Noteworthily, the gut microbiota in AB and AA-treated mice had higher abundance of functional genes involved in taurine and hypotaurine metabolism. Consistently, the strengthened taurine and hypotaurine metabolism was confirmed by the untargeted metabolome analysis. Based on the correlation and causal analysis, the altered gut microbiota composition and the enhancement of taurine and hypotaurine metabolism may synergistically decreased ALT, liver triglycerides, lipogenic genes and plasma cholesterol in HFD-fed hypertensive mice.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Collectively, AA and AB exert multi-factorial improvements in NAFLD and hypertension by modulating gut microbiota, and may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for treating these diseases.

Delivery of nanovaccine towards lymphoid organs: recent strategies in enhancing cancer immunotherapy

With the in-depth exploration on cancer therapeutic nanovaccines, increasing evidence shows that the poor delivery of nanovaccines to lymphoid organs has become the culprit limiting the rapid induction of anti-tumor immune response. Unlike the conventional prophylactic vaccines that mainly form a depot at the injection site to gradually trigger durable immune response, the rapid proliferation of tumors requires an efficient delivery of nanovaccines to lymphoid organs for rapid induction of anti-tumor immunity. Optimization of the physicochemical properties of nanovaccine (e.g., size, shape, charge, colloidal stability and surface ligands) is an effective strategy to enhance their accumulation in lymphoid organs, and nanovaccines with dynamic structures are also designed for precise targeted delivery of lymphoid organs or their subregions. The recent progress of these nanovaccine delivery strategies is highlighted in this review, and the challenges and future direction are also discussed.

Tumor microenvironment and nanotherapeutics: intruding the tumor fort

Over recent years, advancements in nanomedicine have allowed new approaches to diagnose and treat tumors. Nano drug delivery systems exploit the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and enter the tumor tissue's interstitial space. However, tumor barriers play a crucial role, and cause inefficient EPR or the homing effect. Mounting evidence supports the hypothesis that the components of the tumor microenvironment, such as the extracellular matrix, and cellular and physiological components collectively or cooperatively hinder entry and distribution of drugs, and therefore, limit the theragnostic applications of cancer nanomedicine. This abnormal tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in cancer nanomedicine and was recently recognized as a promising target for improving nano-drug delivery and their therapeutic outcomes. Strategies like passive or active targeting, stimuli-triggered nanocarriers, and the modulation of immune components have shown promising results in achieving anticancer efficacy. The present review focuses on the tumor microenvironment and nanoparticle-based strategies (polymeric, inorganic and organic nanoparticles) for intruding the tumor barrier and improving therapeutic effects.

Nanomagnet-facilitated pharmaco-compatibility for cancer diagnostics: Underlying risks and the emergence of ultrasmall nanomagnets

Cancer therapy is a fast-emerging biomedical paradigm that elevates the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of a nanovector for identification, monitoring, targeting, and post-treatment response analysis. Nanovectors of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) are of tremendous significance in cancer therapy because of their inherited high surface area, high reactivity, biocompatibility, superior contrast, and magnetic and photo-inducibility properties. In addition to a brief introduction, we summarize various progressive aspects of nanomagnets pertaining to their production with an emphasis on sustainable biomimetic approaches. Post-synthesis particulate and surface alterations in terms of pharmaco-affinity, liquid accessibility, and biocompatibility to facilitate cancer therapy are highlighted. SPION parameters including particle contrast, core-fusions, surface area, reactivity, photosensitivity, photodynamics, and photothermal properties, which facilitate diverse cancer diagnostics, are discussed. We also elaborate on the concept of magnetism to selectively focus chemotherapeutics on tumors, cell sorting, purification of bioentities, and elimination of toxins. Finally, while addressing the toxicity of nanomaterials, the advent of ultrasmall nanomagnets as a healthier alternative with superior properties and compatible cellular interactions is reviewed. In summary, these discussions spotlight the versatility and integration of multi-tasking nanomagnets and ultrasmall nanomagnets for diverse cancer theragnostics.

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SPION synthesis with ascribed prominence on sustainable procedures.

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Particulate species, composition, and surface alteration-enabled theragnostics are highlighted.

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Inherent properties of SPIONs facilitating cancer diagnostics are elaborated.

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Magnetism-based “chemotherapeutics,” cell-sorting, and bioentity purification are emphasized.

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Emergence of ultrasmall SPIONs as a healthier option is summarized.

Applications of Magnetite Nanoparticles in Cancer Immunotherapies: Present Hallmarks and Future Perspectives

Current immuno-oncotherapeutic protocols that inhibit tumor immune evasion have demonstrated great clinical success. However, the therapeutic response is limited only to a percentage of patients, and the immune-related adverse events can compromise the therapeutic benefits. Therefore, improving cancer immunotherapeutic approaches that pursue high tumor suppression efficiency and low side effects turn out to be a clinical priority. Novel magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) exhibit great potential for therapeutic and imaging applications by utilizing their properties of superparamagnetism, good biocompatibility, as well as the easy synthesis and modulation/functionalization. In particular, the MNPs can exert magnetic hyperthermia to induce immunogenic cell death of tumor cells for effective antigen release and presentation, and meanwhile polarize tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to M1 phenotype for improved tumor killing capability, thus enhancing the anti-tumor immune effects. Furthermore, immune checkpoint antibodies, immune-stimulating agents, or tumor-targeting agents can be decorated on MNPs, thereby improving their selectivity for the tumor or immune cells by the unique magnetic navigation capability of MNPs to promote the tumor killing immune therapeutics with fewer side effects. This mini-review summarizes the recent progress in MNP-based immuno-oncotherapies, including activation of macrophage, promotion of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) infiltration within tumors and modulation of immune checkpoint blockade, thus further supporting the applications of MNPs in clinical therapeutic protocols.

Fenton Metal Nanomedicines for Imaging-guided Combinatorial Chemodynamic Therapy against Cancer

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is considered as a promising modality for selective cancer therapy, which is realized via Fenton reaction-mediated decomposition of endogenous H₂O₂ to produce toxic hydroxyl radical (•OH) for tumor ablation. While extensive efforts have been made to develop CDT-based therapeutics, their in vivo efficacy is usually unsatisfactory due to poor catalytic activity limited by tumor microenvironment, such as anti-oxidative systems, insufficient H₂O₂, and mild acidity. To mitigate these issues, we have witnessed a surge in the development of CDT-based combinatorial nanomedicines with complementary or synergistic mechanisms for enhanced tumor therapy. By virtue of their bio-imaging capabilities, Fenton metal nanomedicines (FMNs) are equipped with intrinsic properties of imaging-guided tumor therapies. In this critical review, we summarize recent progress of this field, focusing on FMNs for imaging-guided combinatorial tumor therapy. First, various Fenton metals with inherent catalytic performances and imaging properties, including Fe, Cu and Mn, were introduced to illustrate their possible applications for tumor theranostics. Then, CDT-based combinatorial systems were reviewed by incorporating many other treatment means, including chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), starvation therapy and immunotherapy. Next, various imaging approaches based on Fenton metals were presented in detail. Finally, challenges are discussed, and future prospects are speculated in the field to pave way for future developments.

Cancer immunotherapies revisited: state of the art of conventional treatments and next-generation nanomedicines

Nowadays, the landscape of cancer treatments has broadened thanks to the clinical application of immunotherapeutics. After decades of failures, cancer immunotherapy represents an exciting alternative for those patients suffering from a wide variety of cancers, especially for those skin cancers, such as the early stages of melanoma. However, those cancers affecting internal organs still face a long way to success, because of the poor biodistribution of immunotherapies. Here, nanomedicine appears as a hopeful strategy to modulate the biodistribution aiming at target organ accumulation. In this way, efficacy will be improved, while reducing the side effects at the same time. In this review, we aim to highlight the most promising cancer immunotherapeutic strategies. From monoclonal antibodies and their traditional use as targeted therapies to their current use as immune checkpoint inhibitors; as well as adoptive cell transfer therapies; oncolytic viruses, and therapeutic cancer vaccination. Then, we aim to discuss the important role of nanomedicine to improve the performance of these immunotherapeutic tools to finally review the already marketed nanomedicine-based cancer immunotherapies.

Nanomedicine-based cancer immunotherapy: recent trends and future perspectives

The combination of cancer immunotherapy with efficient functionalized nanosystems has emerged as a beneficial treatment strategy and its use has increased rapidly. The roles of stimuli-responsive nanosystems and nanomedicine-based cancer immunotherapy, a subsidiary discipline in the field of immunology, are pivotal. The present era is witnessing rapid advancements in the use of nanomedicine as a platform for investigating novel therapeutic applications and modern intelligent healthcare management strategies. The development of cancer nanomedicine has posthaste ratified the outcomes of immunotherapy to the subsequent stage in the current era of medical research. This review focuses on key findings with respect to the effectiveness of nanomedicine-based cancer immunotherapies and their applications, which include i) immune checkpoint inhibitors and nanomedicine, ii) CRISPR-Cas nanoparticles (NPs) in cancer immunotherapy, iii) combination cancer immunotherapy with core-shell nanoparticles, iv) biomimetic NPs for cancer immunotherapy, and v) CAR-T cells and cancer nanoimmunotherapy. By evaluating the state-of-the-art tools and taking the challenges involved into consideration, various aspects of the proposed nano-enabled therapeutic approaches have been discussed in this review.

Iron oxide nanoparticles for immune cell labeling and cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy is a novel approach to cancer treatment that leverages components of the immune system as opposed to chemotherapeutics or radiation. Cell migration is an integral process in a therapeutic immune response, and the ability to track and image the migration of immune cells in vivo allows for better characterization of the disease and monitoring of the therapeutic outcomes. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are promising candidates for use in immunotherapy as they are biocompatible, have flexible surface chemistry, and display magnetic properties that may be used in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this review, advances in application of IONPs in cell tracking and cancer immunotherapy are presented. Following a brief overview of the cancer immunity cycle, developments in labeling and tracking various immune cells using IONPs are highlighted. We also discuss factors that influence the effectiveness of IONPs as MRI contrast agents. Finally, we outline different approaches for cancer immunotherapy and highlight current efforts that utilize IONPs to stimulate immune cells to enhance their activity and response to cancer.

Advances in Engineered Polymer Nanoparticle Tracking Platforms towards Cancer Immunotherapy-Current Status and Future Perspectives

Engineering polymeric nanoparticles for their shape, size, surface chemistry, and functionalization using various targeting molecules has shown improved biomedical applications for nanoparticles. Polymeric nanoparticles have created tremendous therapeutic platforms, particularly applications related to chemo- and immunotherapies in cancer. Recently advancements in immunotherapies have broadened this field in immunology and biomedical engineering, where "immunoengineering" creates solutions to target translational science. In this regard, the nanoengineering field has offered the various techniques necessary to manufacture and assemble multifunctional polymeric nanomaterial systems. These include nanoparticles functionalized using antibodies, small molecule ligands, targeted peptides, proteins, and other novel agents that trigger and encourage biological systems to accept the engineered materials as immune enhancers or as vaccines to elevate therapeutic functions. Strategies to engineer polymeric nanoparticles with therapeutic and targeting molecules can provide solutions for developing immune vaccines via maintaining the receptor storage in T- and B cells. Furthermore, cancer immunotherapy using polymeric nanomaterials can serve as a gold standard approach for treating primary and metastasized tumors. The current status of the limited availability of immuno-therapeutic drugs highlights the importance of polymeric nanomaterial platforms to improve the outcomes via delivering anticancer agents at localized sites, thereby enhancing the host immune response in cancer therapy. This review mainly focuses on the potential scientific enhancements and recent developments in cancer immunotherapies by explicitly discussing the role of polymeric nanocarriers as nano-vaccines. We also briefly discuss the role of multifunctional nanomaterials for their therapeutic impacts on translational clinical applications.

Roles and Mechanisms of TGR5 in the Modulation of CD4+ T Cell Functions in Myocardial Infarction

Bile acid receptor TGR5 has been proved to play protective roles in the process of myocardial infarction (MI). Recently, we found spleen weight of Tgr5^+/+ mice was increased at 7-day post-MI but not in Tgr5^-/- mice. Since the spleen is one of the main resources of immune and inflammatory cells post-MI, we conducted flow cytometry analysis of multiple immune cells in the heart post-MI. It showed the recruitment of CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells was continuously more in the heart of Tgr5^-/- mice post-MI until 7 days after MI. Furthermore, CD4-specific TGR5 depletion mice exhibited aggravated ischemic injury. The mRNA expressions of the markers of Th1 and Treg were upregulated in the heart of Tgr5^-/- mice at 7-day post-MI. These results suggested TGR5 modulates CD4⁺ T cell functions and subsets distribution in the heart, and plays protective roles in myocardial infarction.

Magnetic systems for cancer immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a rapidly developing area of cancer treatment due to its higher specificity and potential for greater efficacy than traditional therapies. Immune cell modulation through the administration of drugs, proteins, and cells can enhance antitumoral responses through pathways that may be otherwise inhibited in the presence of immunosuppressive tumors. Magnetic systems offer several advantages for improving the performance of immunotherapies, including increased spatiotemporal control over transport, release, and dosing of immunomodulatory drugs within the body, resulting in reduced off-target effects and improved efficacy. Compared to alternative methods for stimulating drug release such as light and pH, magnetic systems enable several distinct methods for programming immune responses. First, we discuss how magnetic hyperthermia can stimulate immune cells and trigger thermoresponsive drug release. Second, we summarize how magnetically targeted delivery of drug carriers can increase the accumulation of drugs in target sites. Third, we review how biomaterials can undergo magnetically driven structural changes to enable remote release of encapsulated drugs. Fourth, we describe the use of magnetic particles for targeted interactions with cellular receptors for promoting antitumor activity. Finally, we discuss translational considerations of these systems, such as toxicity, clinical compatibility, and future opportunities for improving cancer treatment.

Physiological models for in vivo imaging and targeting the lymphatic system: Nanoparticles and extracellular vesicles

Imaging of the lymphatic vasculature has gained great attention in various fields, not only because lymphatic vessels act as a key draining system in the body, but also for their implication in autoimmune diseases, organ transplant, inflammation and cancer. Thus, neolymphangiogenesis, or the generation of new lymphatics, is typically an early event in the development of multiple tumor types, particularly in aggressive ones such as malignant melanoma. Still, the understanding of how lymphatic endothelial cells get activated at distal (pre)metastatic niches and their impact on therapy is still unclear. Addressing these questions is of particular interest in the case of immune modulators, because endothelial cells may favor or halt inflammatory processes depending on the cellular context. Therefore, there is great interest in visualizing the lymphatic vasculature in vivo. Here, we review imaging tools and mouse models used to analyze the lymphatic vasculature during tumor progression. We also discuss therapeutic approaches based on nanomedicines to target the lymphatic system and the potential use of extracellular vesicles to track and target sentinel lymph nodes. Finally, we summarize main pre-clinical models developed to visualize the lymphatic vasculature in vivo, discussing their applications with a particular focus in metastatic melanoma.

Trp2 Peptide-Assembled Nanoparticles with Intrinsically Self-Chelating 64Cu Properties for PET Imaging Tracking and Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy against Melanoma

Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy, in which the antigen is effectively delivered to dendritic cells and then the dendritic cells stimulated by the antigen migrate to draining lymph nodes (DLNs) to induce the CD8⁺ T-cell immune response, shows great promise for tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we used coassembled nanoparticles formed by Trp2 antigen and the conjugates of short-chain poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and pyropheophorbide-A (PPa) (Trp2/PPa-PEGm) to deliver Trp2 to DCs. Intrinsically self-chelating ⁶⁴Cu of coassemblies could be used to sensitively image the migration of DCs in vivo by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The coassemblies of the Trp2 antigen were efficiently engulfed by DCs without causing DC cytotoxicity in vitro and induced DC maturation. After injection of DCs labeled by coassemblies of the Trp2 antigen, the homing of DCs to DLNs in vivo could be sensitively observed by PET imaging. The C57BL/6 mice injected with DCs containing the Trp2/PPa-PEGm NP showed antigen-specific immune responses including enhanced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production, splenocyte proliferation, and percentage of IFN-γ-secreting CD8⁺ T cells. In addition, C57BL/6 mice inoculated with B16-F10 tumor cells showed delayed tumor growth after immunization with the Trp2/PPa-PEGm NP-labeled DC vaccine and enhanced infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells in tumors.

Engineering the Deformability of Albumin-Stabilized Emulsions for Lymph-Node Vaccine Delivery

A major challenge in vaccine delivery is to achieve robust lymph-node (LN) accumulation, which can capitalize on concentrated immunocytes and cytokines in LNs to stimulate the onset and persistence of adaptive immune responses. Previous attempts at developing vaccine delivery systems have focused on the sizes, charges, or surface ligands but not on their deformability. In fact, the LN homing of antigen-presenting cells depends on deformability to pass through the cellular gaps. Herein, the deformability of albumin-stabilized emulsions is engineered. Owing to self-adaptive deformability, the droplets (≈330 nm) can attach to and deform between cells and adjust their sizes to pass through the endothelial gaps (20-100 nm), favoring direct LN transfer (intercellular pathway). Additionally, owing to relatively large sizes, some emulsions can be retained at the administration sites for potent antigen uptake and activation of APCs as well as LN-targeted delivery of vaccines (intracellular pathway). Compared with solid particles, the dual LN transfer strategy evidently enhances antigen accumulation and activation of LN drainage, potently stimulates cellular immune responses, and increases the survival rate of tumor-bearing mice. Thus, the deformability of albumin-stabilized droplets may offer an efficient strategy for potent LN targeting and enhanced vaccinations.

Monocyte subset distribution and surface expression of HLA-DR and CD14 in patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Systemic inflammation is a major feature of the post-cardiac arrest syndrome. The three monocyte subpopulations are thought to play an important role in this inflammatory state because they are endowed with numerous pattern recognition receptors, such as CD14, that have been associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury. By contrast, an exaggerated antiinflammatory response has also been described following cardiac arrest, which may be mediated by downregulation of antigen presentation receptor HLA-DR. We report the composition of monocyte subpopulations and the expression of CD14 and HLA-DR following cardiac arrest. Blood specimens were collected from 32 patients at three timepoints in the first 48 h after cardiac arrest. Monocyte subset composition was determined by flow cytometry based on the expression of CD14, CD16, and HLA-DR. Monocyte subset composition and the expression of CD14 and HLA-DR were correlated with patient outcomes. The results were compared to 19 patients with coronary artery disease. Cardiac arrest patients showed a significant decline in the percentage of nonclassical monocytes. Monocyte CD14 expression was upregulated after 24 h and correlated with the time to return of spontaneous circulation. Downregulation of HLA-DR expression was observed mainly among classical monocytes and significantly correlated with the dose of norepinephrine used to treat shock. Downregulation of HLA-DR among nonclassical and intermediate monocytes was significantly associated with disease severity. Our data demonstrate the disturbance of monocyte subset composition with a significant decline in nonclassical monocytes at an early stage following cardiac arrest. Our findings suggest the simultaneous presence of hyperinflammation, as evidenced by upregulation of CD14, and monocyte deactivation, characterized by downregulation of HLA-DR. The extent of monocyte deactivation was significantly correlated with disease severity.

Nanotechnology synergized immunoengineering for cancer

Novel strategies modulating the immune system yielded enhanced anticancer responses and improved cancer survival. Nevertheless, the success rate of immunotherapy in cancer treatment has been below expectation(s) due to unpredictable efficacy and off-target effects from systemic dosing of immunotherapeutic(s). As a result, there is an unmet clinical need for improving conventional immunotherapy. Nanotechnology offers several new strategies, multimodality, and multiplex biological targeting advantage to overcome many of these challenges. These efforts enable programming the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and delivery of immunomodulatory agents/co-delivery of compounds to prime at the tumor sites for improved therapeutic benefits. This review provides an overview of the design and clinical principles of biomaterials driven nanotechnology and their potential use in personalized nanomedicines, vaccines, localized tumor modulation, and delivery strategies for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we also summarize the latest highlights and recent advances in combinatorial therapies availed in the treatment of cold and complicated tumors. It also presents key steps and parameters implemented for clinical success. Finally, we analyse, discuss, and provide clinical perspectives on the integrated opportunities of nanotechnology and immunology to achieve synergistic and durable responses in cancer treatment.

Nanoparticle-based approaches to target the lymphatic system for antitumor treatment

Immunotherapies have been established as safe and efficient modalities for numerous tumor treatments. The lymphatic system, which is an important system, can modulate the immune system via a complex network, which includes lymph nodes, vessels, and lymphocytes. With the deepening understanding of tumor immunology, a plethora of immunotherapies, which include vaccines, photothermal therapy, and photodynamic therapy, have been established for antitumor treatments. However, the deleterious off-target effects and nonspecific targeting of therapeutic agents result in low efficacy of immunotherapy. Fortunately, nanoparticle-based approaches for targeting the lymphatic system afford a unique opportunity to manufacture drugs that can simultaneously tackle both aspects, thereby improving tumor treatments. Over the past decades, great strides have been made in the development of DC vaccines and nanomedicine as antitumor treatments in the field of lymphatic therapeutics and diagnosis. In this review, we summarize the current strategies through which nanoparticle technology has been designed to target the lymphatic system and describe applications of lymphatic imaging for the diagnosis and image-guided surgery of tumor metastasis. Moreover, improvements in the tumor specificity of nanovaccines and medicines, which have been realized through targeting or stimulating the lymphatic system, can provide amplified antitumor immune responses and reduce side effects, thereby promoting the paradigm of antitumor treatment into the clinic to benefit patients.

Machine learning applied to serum and cerebrospinal fluid metabolomes revealed altered arginine metabolism in neonatal sepsis with meningoencephalitis

Background

Neonatal sepsis with meningoencephalitis is a common complication of sepsis, which is a leading cause of neonatal death and neurological dysfunction. Early identification of neonatal sepsis with meningoencephalitis is particularly important for reducing brain damage. We recruited 70 patients with neonatal sepsis, 42 of which were diagnosed as meningoencephalitis, and collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples. The purpose of this study was to find neonatal sepsis with meningoencephalitis-related markers using unbiased metabolomics technology and artificial intelligence analysis based on machine learning methods.

Results

We found that the characteristics of neonatal sepsis with meningoencephalitis were manifested mainly as significant decreases in the concentrations of homo-l-arginine, creatinine, and other arginine metabolites in serum and CSF, suggesting possible changes in nitric oxide synthesis. The antioxidants taurine and proline in the serum of the neonatal sepsis with meningoencephalitis increased significantly, suggesting abnormal oxidative stress. Potentially harmful bile salts and aromatic compounds were significantly increased in the serum of the group with meningoencephalitis. We compared different machine learning methods and found that the lasso algorithm performed best. Combining the lasso and XGBoost algorithms was successful in predicting the concentration of homo-l-arginine in CSF per the concentrations of metabolite markers in the serum.

Conclusions

On the basis of machine learning combined with analysis of the serum and CSF metabolomes, we found metabolite markers related to neonatal sepsis with meningoencephalitis. The characteristics of neonatal sepsis with meningoencephalitis were manifested mainly by changes in arginine metabolism and related changes in creatinine metabolism.

Preclinical models and technologies to advance nanovaccine development

The remarkable success of targeted immunotherapies is revolutionizing cancer treatment. However, tumor heterogeneity and low immunogenicity, in addition to several tumor-associated immunosuppression mechanisms are among the major factors that have precluded the success of cancer vaccines as targeted cancer immunotherapies. The exciting outcomes obtained in patients upon the injection of tumor-specific antigens and adjuvants intratumorally, reinvigorated interest in the use of nanotechnology to foster the delivery of vaccines to address cancer unmet needs. Thus, bridging nano-based vaccine platform development and predicted clinical outcomes the selection of the proper preclinical model will be fundamental. Preclinical models have revealed promising outcomes for cancer vaccines. However, only few cases were associated with clinical responses. This review addresses the major challenges related to the translation of cancer nano-based vaccines to the clinic, discussing the requirements for ex vivo and in vivo models of cancer to ensure the translation of preclinical success to patients.

Iron nanoparticles as novel vaccine adjuvants

The poor immunogenicity of peptide vaccines compared to conventional ones re usually improved by applying different adjuvants. As chemical or biological substances, adjuvants are added to vaccines to enhance and prolong the immune response. According to considerable investigations over the recent years in the context of finding new adjuvants, a handful of vaccine adjuvants have been licensed for human use. Recently, engineered nanoparticles (NPs) have been introduced as novel alternatives to traditional vaccine adjuvant. Metallic nanoparticles (MeNPs) are among the most promising NPs used for vaccine adjuvant as well as the delivery system that can improve immune responses against pathogens. Iron NPs, as an important class of MeNPs, have gained increasing attention as novel vaccine adjuvants. These particles have shown acceptable results in preclinical studies. Hence, understanding the physicochemical properties of iron NPs, including size, surface properties, charge and route of administration, is of substantial importance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the immunomodulatory effects of iron NPs as novel adjuvants. Furthermore, physicochemical properties of these NPs were also discussed.

Liver X receptor agonist GW3965 protects against sepsis by promoting myeloid derived suppressor cells apoptosis in mice

AIMS

Immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) continuously expand and lead to poor outcome during sepsis. The activation of liver X receptor (LXR) can mitigate sepsis-induced liver and myocardial damage. This study aims to determine whether LXR plays a protective role in sepsis by regulating MDSCs.

MAIN METHODS

Cecal ligation and puncture(CLP)was used to induce sepsis in mice. The mice were then treated with LXR agonist GW3965 (3 mg/kg) or vehicle 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h postoperatively. The effect of LXR on the survival rate and multi-organ injury induced by sepsis was evaluated by survival analysis, histological staining, biochemical analysis and ELISAs. The percentages of MDSCs and T cells were detected using flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of LXR and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) were measured using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). ABCA1 protein level was determined using immunofluorescence staining.

KEY FINDINGS

LXR agonist GW3965 treatment improved the survival of septic mice, accompanied by reduced multi-organ injury and a decreased level of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, GW3965 treatment decreased MDSCs abundance in spleen by boosting the apoptosis of spleen MDSCs, therefore ameliorating their immunosuppressive activity. Meanwhile, bacteria clearance in tissues was enhanced after the GW3965 administration in septic mice. Mechanistically, GW3965 activated LXRβ and its downstream target ABCA1 to initiate the apoptosis of spleen MDSCs.

SIGNIFICANCE

These findings provide new insights into the relationship between LXR and MDSCs in sepsis, thus revealing a potentially effective approach to target the immunosuppression of sepsis.

Enhancing Cancer Immunotherapy Treatment Goals by Using Nanoparticle Delivery System

Recently, there has been an incredible increase in research about the abnormal growth of cells (neoplasm), focusing on the management, treatment and preventing reoccurrence. It has been understood that the natural defense system, composed of a variety of immune defensive cells, does not just limit its function in eliminating neoplastic cells, but also controls the growth and spread of tumor cells of different kinds to other parts of the body. Cancer immunotherapy, is a cancer treatment plan that educates the body’s defensive system to forestall, control, and eliminate tumor cells. The effectiveness of immunotherapy is achieved, to its highest efficacy, by the use of nanoparticles (NPs) for precise and timely delivery of immunotherapies to specific targeted neoplasms, with less or no harm to the healthy cells. Immunotherapies have been affirmed in clinical trials as a cancer regimen for various types of cancers, the side effects resulting from imprecise and non-targeted conveyance is well managed with the use of nanoparticles. Nonetheless, we will concentrate on enhancing cancer immunotherapy approaches by the use of nanoparticles for the productivity of antitumor immunity. Nanoparticles will be presented and utilized as an objective immunotherapy delivery system for high exactness and are thus a promising methodology for cancer treatment.

Manganese-Doped Silica-Based Nanoparticles Promote the Efficacy of Antigen-Specific Immunotherapy

Prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are commercially available for prevention of infection with cancerogenic HPV genotypes but are not able to combat pre-existing HPV-associated disease. In this study, we designed a nanomaterial-based therapeutic HPV vaccine, comprising manganese (Mn⁴⁺)-doped silica nanoparticles (Mn⁴⁺-SNPs) and the viral neoantigen peptide GF001 derived from the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein. We show in mice that Mn⁴⁺-SNPs act as self-adjuvants by activating the inflammatory signaling pathway via generation of reactive oxygen species, resulting in immune cell recruitment to the immunization site and dendritic cell maturation. Mn⁴⁺-SNPs further serve as Ag carriers by facilitating endo/lysosomal escape via depletion of protons in acidic endocytic compartments and subsequent Ag delivery to the cytosol for cross-presentation. The Mn⁴⁺-SNPs+GF001 nanovaccine induced strong E7-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses, leading to remission of established murine HPV16 E7-expressing solid TC-1 tumors and E7-expressing transgenic skin grafts. This vaccine construct offers a simple and general strategy for therapeutic HPV and potentially other cancer vaccines.

Engineering Nanoparticles toward the Modulation of Emerging Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy is a new therapeutic strategy to fight cancer by activating the patients' own immune system. At present, immunotherapy approaches such as cancer vaccines, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), adoptive cell transfer (ACT), monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) therapy, and cytokines therapy have therapeutic potential in preclinical and clinical applications. However, the intrinsic limitations of conventional immunotherapy are difficulty of precise dosage control, insufficient enrichment in tumor tissues, partial immune response silencing or hyperactivity, and high cost. Engineering nanoparticles (NPs) have been emerging as a promising multifunctional platform to enhance conventional immunotherapy due to their intrinsic immunogenicity, convenient delivery function, controlled surface chemistry activity, multifunctional modifying potential, and intelligent targeting. This review presents the recent progress reflected by engineering NPs, including the diversified selection of functionalized NPs, the superiority of engineering NPs for enhancing conventional immunotherapy, and NP-mediated multiscale strategies for synergistic therapy consisting of compositions and their mechanism. Finally, the perspective on multifunctional NP-based cancer immunotherapy for boosting immunomodulation is discussed, which reveals the expanding landscape of engineering NPs in clinical translation.

Structural modifications that increase gut restriction of bile acid derivatives

Bile acid derivatives have been investigated as possible therapeutics for a wide array of conditions, including several for which gut-restricted analogs would likely be preferred. These include the prevention of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The design of gut-restricted bile acid analogs, however, is complicated by the highly efficient enterohepatic circulation system that typically reabsorbs these compounds from the digestive tract for subsequent return to the liver. Herein, we report that incorporation of a sulfate group at the 7-position of the bile acid scaffold reduces oral bioavailability and increases fecal recovery in two pairs of compounds designed to inhibit the germination of C. difficile spores. A different approach was necessary for designing gut-restricted bile acid-based TGR5 agonists for the treatment of IBD, as the incorporation of a 7-sulfate group reduces activity at this receptor. Instead, building on our previous discovery that incorporation of a 7-methoxy group into chenodeoxycholic acid derivatives greatly increases their TGR5 receptor potency, we determined that an N-methyl-d-glucamine group could be conjugated to the scaffold to obtain a compound with an excellent mix of potency at the TGR5 receptor, low oral exposure, and good fecal recovery.

Liposomal Dendritic Cell Vaccine in Breast Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer vaccine is well recognized as a promising approach for immunotherapy of cancers. Since dendritic cells (DCs) are capable of processing and presenting antigens to initiate the immune response cascade, the development of DC vaccines is considered as a good choice for the treatment of cancer. Herein, a folic acid (FA)-modified liposome was constructed and loaded with chlorin e6 (Ce6) as a DC vaccine (FA-Lipo-Ce6). It was suggested that the loaded Ce6 within FA-Lipo-Ce6 can be activated under laser irradiation. The photodynamic therapy (PDT) of Ce6 was expected to create on-demand reactive oxygen species (ROS) in situ, which causes cell death and trigger the exposure of tumor-associated antigen (TAA). In addition, the produced ROS can mimic the inflammatory responses for the employment of DC for better antigen presentation and immune response. Most importantly, the employment of DC can recognize the exposed TAA to stimulate DC for effective vaccination in situ. Our results demonstrated the powerful capacity of FA-Lipo-Ce6 to induce DC activation, leading to effective suppression of the growth of breast cancers.

The MRI-Visible Nanocomposite Facilitates the Delivery and Tracking of siRNA Loaded DC Vaccine in the Breast Cancer Model

Dendritic cell (DC) vaccines have recently been developed for the treatment of various cancers but often do not function as well as expected, primarily due to the highly complex in vivo immune environment. This proof-of-principle study aimed to test the feasibility of modulating the in vivo behaviors of DC vaccines (DCVs) by introducing siRNA-laden magnetic resonance (MR) imaging nanovectors into cells, while providing visible information on their homing to lymph nodes. The N-alkyl-PEI2k-LAC/SPIO nanocomposites were prepared and characterized, showing favorable properties of siRNA transfection and MRI labeling efficiency in DCs. Cell viability assays revealed no observable effects on the survival and phenotype of DCs if the concentration of the complex was within 8 μg Fe/ml. An orthotopic mouse model of breast cancer was developed. The DCVs transfected with IDO siRNA contained nanocomposites were adoptively transferred to start the treatment. MR imaging clearly visualized the homing of DCVs into lymph nodes. At the end of the treatment, DCVs presented significantly better tumor suppression than DCs or PBS (P < 0.05). Generally, the N-alkyl-PEI2k-LAC/SPIO nanocomposites represent a highly efficient MR imaging platform for siRNA transfection that is potentially useful for in vivo tracking of vaccine cells.

Recent Progresses in Organic-Inorganic Nano Technological Platforms for Cancer Therapeutics

Nanotechnology offers promising tools in interdisciplinary research areas and getting an upsurge of interest in cancer therapeutics. Organic nanomaterials and inorganic nanomaterials bring revolutionary advancement in cancer eradication process. Oncology is achieving new heights under nano technological platform by expediting chemotherapy, radiotherapy, photo thermodynamic therapy, bio imaging and gene therapy. Various nanovectors have been developed for targeted therapy which acts as "Nano-bullets" for tumor cells selectively. Recently combinational therapies are catching more attention due to their enhanced effect leading towards the use of combined organicinorganic nano platforms. The current review covers organic, inorganic and their hybrid nanomaterials for various therapeutic action. The technological aspect of this review emphasizes on the use of inorganic-organic hybrids and combinational therapies for better results and also explores the future opportunities in this field.

Advances in Magnetic Nanoparticle-Mediated Cancer Immune-Theranostics

Cancer immunotherapy is a cutting-edge strategy that eliminates cancer cells by amplifying the host's immune system. However, the low response rate and risks of inducing systemic toxicity have raised uncertainty in the treatment. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a versatile theranostic tool can be used to target delivery of multiple immunotherapeutics and monitor cell/tissue responses. These capabilities enable the real-time characterization of the factors that contribute to immunoactivity so that future treatments can be optimized. The magnetic properties of MNPs further allow the implementation of magnetic navigation and magnetic hyperthermia for boosting the efficacy of immunotherapy. The multimodal approach opens an avenue to induce robust immune responses, minimize safety issues, and monitor immune activities simultaneously. Thus, the object of this review is to provide an overview of the burgeoning fields and to highlight novel technologies for next-generation immunotherapy. The review further correlates the properties of MNPs with the latest treatment strategies to explore the crosstalk between magnetic nanomaterials and the immune system. This comprehensive review of MNP-derived immunotherapy covers the obstacles and opportunities for future development and clinical translation.

Bioengineering of nano metal-organic frameworks for cancer immunotherapy

Immunotherapy techniques, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies and cancer vaccines, have been burgeoning with great success, particularly for specific cancer types. However, side effects with fatal risks, dysfunction in tumor microenvironment and low immune response rates remain the bottlenecks in immunotherapy. Nano metal-organic frameworks (nMOFs), with an accurate structure and a narrow size distribution, are emerging as a solution to these problems. In addition to their function of temporospatial delivery, a large library of their compositions, together with flexibility in chemical interaction and inherent immune efficacy, offers opportunities for various designs of nMOFs for immunotherapy. In this review, we overview state-of-the-art research on nMOFs-based immunotherapies as well as their combination with other therapies. We demonstrate that nMOFs are predominantly customized for vaccine delivery or tumor-microenvironment modulation. Finally, a prospect of nMOFs in cancer immunotherapy will be discussed.

Nanoparticles in cancer immunotherapies: An innovative strategy

Cancer has been one of the most significant causes of mortality, worldwide. Cancer immunotherapy has recently emerged as a competent, cancer-fighting clinical strategy. Nevertheless, due to the difficulty of such treatments, costs, and off-target adverse effects, the implementation of cancer immunotherapy described by the antigen-presenting cell (APC) vaccine and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy ex vivo in large clinical trials have been limited. Nowadays, the nanoparticles theranostic system as a promising target-based modality provides new opportunities to improve cancer immunotherapy difficulties and reduce their adverse effects. Meanwhile, the appropriate engineering of nanoparticles taking into consideration nanoparticle characteristics, such as, size, shape, and surface features, as well as the use of these physicochemical properties for suitable biological interactions, provides new possibilities for the application of nanoparticles in cancer immunotherapy. In this review article, we focus on the latest state-of-the-art nanoparticle-based antigen/adjuvant delivery vehicle strategies to professional APCs and engineering specific T lymphocyte required for improving the efficiency of tumor-specific immunotherapy.

Fundamentals to clinical application of nanoparticles in cancer immunotherapy and radiotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has made rapid progress over the past decade leading to high enthusiasm and interest worldwide. Codelivery of immunomodulators with chemotherapeutic agents and radioisotopes has been shown to elicit a strong and sustained immune response in animal models. Despite showing promising results in metastatic and recurrent cancers, the utilisation of immunotherapy in clinical settings has been limited owing to uncertainties in elicited immune response and occurrence of immune-related adverse events. These uncertainties can be overcome with the help of nanoparticles possessing unique properties for the effective delivery of targeted agents to specific sites. Nanoparticles play a crucial role in the effective delivery of cancer antigens and adjuvants, modulation of tumour microenvironment, production of long-term immune response and development of cancer vaccines. Here, we provide a comprehensive summary of nanotechnology-based cancer immunotherapy and radiotherapy including basics of nanotechnology, properties of nanoparticles and various methods of employing nanoparticles in cancer treatment. Thus, nanotechnology is anticipated to overcome the limitations of existing cancer immunotherapy and to effectively combine various cancer treatment modalities.

Engineering Strategies for Lymph Node Targeted Immune Activation

Development of vaccine technology that induces long lasting and potent adaptive immune responses is of vital importance to combat emerging pathogens and to design the next generation of cancer immunotherapies. Advanced biomaterials such as nanoparticle carriers are intensively explored to increase the efficacy and safety of vaccines and immunotherapies, based on their intrinsic potential to focus the therapeutic payload onto the relevant immune cells and to limit systemic distribution. With adaptive immune responses being primarily initiated in lymph nodes, the potency of nanoparticle vaccines in turn is tightly linked to their capacity to reach and accumulate in the lymph nodes draining the immunization site. Here, we discuss the main strategies applied to increase nanoparticle delivery to lymph nodes: (1) direct lymph node injection, (2) active cell-mediated transport through targeting of peripheral dendritic cells, and (3) exploiting passive transport through the afferent lymphatics.The intralymph nodal injection is obviously the most direct way for nanoparticles to reach lymph nodes, and multiple studies have demonstrated its capability in enhancing immunostimulant drugs' immune activation and increasing the therapeutic window. However, the requirement of using ultrasound guidance for mapping lymph nodes in patients renders intranodal administration unsuited for mass vaccination campaigns. As lymph nodes are fine structured organs with lymphocytes and chemokine gradients arrayed in a highly ordered fashion, the breakdown of such formats by the intralymph nodal injection is another concern. The exploitation of dendritic cells as live vectors for transporting nanoparticles to lymph nodes has intensively been studied both ex vivo and in vivo. While ex vivo engineering of dendritic cells in theory can achieve 100% dendritic cell-specific selectivity, a scenario impossible to be achieved in vivo, this procedure is usually laborious and complicated and entails the participation of professional staff and equipment. In addition, the poor efficiency of dendritic cell migration to the draining lymph node is another significant limitation following the injection of ex vivo cultured dendritic cells. Thus, in vivo targeting of surface receptors, particularly C-type lectin receptors, on dendritic cells by conjugating nanoparticles with antibodies or ligands is intensively studied by both academia and industry. Although such nanoparticles in vivo still face nonspecific engulfment by various phagocytes, multiple studies have shown its feasibility in targeting dendritic cells with high selectivity. Moreover, through optimizing the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles, nanoparticles can passively drain to lymph nodes carried by the interstitial flow. Compared to dendritic cell-mediated transport, passive draining is much faster and of higher efficiency. Of all such properties, size is the most important parameter as large particles (>500 nm) can only reach lymph nodes by an active cell-mediated transport. Other surface properties, such as the charge and the balance of hydrophobicity-vs-hydrophilicity, strongly influence the mobility of nanoparticles in the extracellular space. In addition, albumin, a natural fatty acid transporter, has recently been demonstrated capable of binding the amphiphiles through their lipid moiety and subsequent transporting them to lymph nodes.

X-Linked Immunodeficient Mice With No Functional Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Are Protected From Sepsis-Induced Multiple Organ Failure

We previously reported the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors ibrutinib and acalabrutinib improve outcomes in a mouse model of polymicrobial sepsis. Now we show that genetic deficiency of the BTK gene alone in Xid mice confers protection against cardiac, renal, and liver injury in polymicrobial sepsis and reduces hyperimmune stimulation (“cytokine storm”) induced by an overwhelming bacterial infection. Protection is due in part to enhanced bacterial phagocytosis in vivo, changes in lipid metabolism and decreased activation of NF-κB and the NLRP3 inflammasome. The inactivation of BTK leads to reduced innate immune cell recruitment and a phenotypic switch from M1 to M2 macrophages, aiding in the resolution of sepsis. We have also found that BTK expression in humans is increased in the blood of septic non-survivors, while lower expression is associated with survival from sepsis. Importantly no further reduction in organ damage, cytokine production, or changes in plasma metabolites is seen in Xid mice treated with the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib, demonstrating that the protective effects of BTK inhibitors in polymicrobial sepsis are mediated solely by inhibition of BTK and not by off-target effects of this class of drugs.

Modular design of Bi-specific nanoplatform engaged in malignant lymphoma immunotherapy

Nanocarrier systems play an important role in cancer immunotherapy. In this article, biotinylated CD20 and CD3 antibodies were conjugated onto the surface of streptavidin modified ultra-small Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles via specific binding between streptavidin and biotin to construct a bi-specific nanoplatform (BSNP). The synthesized BSNP with 30 nm hydrodynamic size provides a better magnetic resonance imaging ability than the clinical Gd-chelated contrast agents (r₁ value is 5.27 mM^-1 s^-1 and 4.52 mM^-1 s^-1 for BSNP and Magnevist, respectively). This nanoplatform can target CD20-positive Raji cells and enhance the T cell mediated cell killing effect in vitro. Further, it can also inhibit tumor growth and prolong the survival time of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) xenograft model in vivo. The probable mechanism is that while BSNP can directly induce the apoptosis of Raji cell via aggregation of CD20, T cells are recruited around tumor cells by the BSNP leading to T cell-mediated tumor cell lysis. In addition, the enhanced dual-modal MRI-fluorescence images can be acquired. In summary, the modular designed BSNP provides an efficient immune-related cancer theranostic strategy, which is of great potential as a simple and universal nanoplatform by combining different antibodies to enhance the cancer theranostic efficacy.

Core-shell nanostructures: perspectives towards drug delivery applications

Nanosystems have shown encouraging outcomes and substantial progress in the areas of drug delivery and biomedical applications. However, the controlled and targeted delivery of drugs or genes can be limited due to their physicochemical and functional properties. In this regard, core-shell type nanoparticles are promising nanocarrier systems for controlled and targeted drug delivery applications. These functional nanoparticles are emerging as a particular class of nanosystems because of their unique advantages, including high surface area, and easy surface modification and functionalization. Such unique advantages can facilitate the use of core-shell nanoparticles for the selective mingling of two or more different functional properties in a single nanosystem to achieve the desired physicochemical properties that are essential for effective targeted drug delivery. Several types of core-shell nanoparticles, such as metallic, magnetic, silica-based, upconversion, and carbon-based core-shell nanoparticles, have been designed and developed for drug delivery applications. Keeping the scope, demand, and challenges in view, the present review explores state-of-the-art developments and advances in core-shell nanoparticle systems, the desired structure-property relationships, newly generated properties, the effects of parameter control, surface modification, and functionalization, and, last but not least, their promising applications in the fields of drug delivery, biomedical applications, and tissue engineering. This review also supports significant future research for developing multi-core and shell-based functional nanosystems to investigate nano-therapies that are needed for advanced, precise, and personalized healthcare systems.

Improving Tumor Retention of Effector Cells in Adoptive Cell Transfer Therapies by Magnetic Targeting

Adoptive cell transfer therapy is a promising anti-tumor immunotherapy in which effector immune cells are transferred to patients to treat tumors. However, one of its main limitations is the inefficient trafficking of inoculated effector cells to the tumor site and the small percentage of effector cells that remain activated when reaching the tumor. Multiple strategies have been attempted to improve the entry of effector cells into the tumor environment, often based on tumor types. It would be, however, interesting to develop a more general approach, to improve and facilitate the migration of specific activated effector lymphoid cells to any tumor type. We and others have recently demonstrated the potential for adoptive cell transfer therapy of the combined use of magnetic nanoparticle-loaded lymphoid effector cells together with the application of an external magnetic field to promote the accumulation and retention of lymphoid cells in specific body locations. The aim of this review is to summarize and highlight the recent findings in the field of magnetic accumulation and retention of effector cells in tumors after adoptive transfer, and to discuss the possibility of using this approach for tumor targeting with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells.

Multimodal stratified imaging of nanovaccines in lymph nodes for improving cancer immunotherapy

Vaccines hold enormous potential in cancer immunotherapy by stimulating the body's immune response; unfortunately, the clinical response rates of cancer vaccines are less than 30%. Nanovaccines show the potential to enhance the treatment efficacy of conventional vaccines due to their unique properties, such as efficient co-delivery of cocktail to the secondary lymphatic system, high tumor accumulation and penetration, and customizable delivery of antigens and adjuvants. Meanwhile, the non-invasive visualization of vaccines after their delivery can yield information about in vivo distribution and performance, and aid in their subsequent optimization and translational studies. In this review, we summarize the strategies for the spatiotemporal visualization of nanovaccines in lymph nodes, including whole-body in vivo imaging, intravital organ/cell imaging, and ex vivo tissue/cell imaging. The application of imaging modalities in nanovaccine development is discussed. Moreover, strategies to achieve different combinations of imaging modalities are proposed.

Combined hybrid structure of siRNA tailed IVT mRNA (ChriST mRNA) for enhancing DC maturation and subsequent anticancer T cell immunity

RNA therapeutics have received much attention in the development of anti-cancer therapies. Among them, synthetic mRNA (IVT mRNA) was investigated for cancer immunotherapy due to its abilities to express tumor associated antigens with stimulation of immune responses in dendritic cells (DCs). Despite of its great potential, several hurdles were remained such as insufficient immune stimulation and DC maturation. In this study, we aimed to present a novel IVT mRNA that can simultaneously express tumor associated antigens while suppress STAT3 proteins. Combined functions of siRNA and IVT mRNA were investigated and the hybrid structure of siRNA tailed mRNA (ChriST mRNA) was developed. We prepared the ChriST mRNA by employing polyA tail structures with RNAi sequences at the 3' end of mRNA. Complementary strands were annealed to form duplex siRNA structure to induce STAT3 gene silencing. In addition, a hybrid structure of DNA/RNA was introduced into the ChriST mRNA between polyA tail and RNAi sequences. It was expected that DNA/RNA duplex would be readily cleaved by RNase H in the intracellular environment. After the cleavage, ChriST mRNA was fully functionalized in cells and exhibited enhanced tumor specific DC maturation.

Heat-Generating Iron Oxide Multigranule Nanoclusters for Enhancing Hyperthermic Efficacy in Tumor Treatment

The development of heat-generating magnetic nanostructures is critical for the effective management of tumors using magnetic hyperthermia. Herein, we demonstrate that polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated iron oxide (magnetite, Fe₃O₄) multigranule nanoclusters (PEG-MGNCs) can enhance the efficiency of hyperthermia-based tumor suppression in vitro and in vivo. MGNCs consisting of granules (crystallites) measuring 22.9 nm in diameter were prepared via the hydrothermal polyol method, followed by the surface modification of MGNCs with PEG-dopamine. The freshly prepared PEG-MGNCs exhibit 145.9 ± 10.2 nm diameter on average under aqueous conditions. The three-dimensional structures of PEG-MGNCs enhance the hyperthermic efficacy compared with PEGylated single iron-oxide nanoparticles (NPs), resulting in severe heat damage to tumor cells in vitro. In the SCC7 tumor-bearing mice, near-infrared fluorescence dye (Cy5.5)-labeled PEG-MGNCs are successfully accumulated in the tumor tissues because of NP-derived enhanced permeation and retention effect. Finally, the tumor growth is significantly suppressed in PEG-MGNC-treated mice after two-times heat generation by using a longitudinal solenoid, which can generate an alternating magnetic field under high-frequency (19.5 kA/m, 389 kHz) induction. This study shows for the first time that the PEG-MGNCs greatly enhance the hyperthermic efficacy of tumor treatment both in vitro and in vivo.

MnOx Nanospikes as Nanoadjuvants and Immunogenic Cell Death Drugs with Enhanced Antitumor Immunity and Antimetastatic Effect

Despite the widespread applications of manganese oxide nanomaterials (MONs) in biomedicine, the intrinsic immunogenicity of MONs is still unclear. MnO_x nanospikes (NSs) as tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive nanoadjuvants and immunogenic cell death (ICD) drugs are proposed for cancer nanovaccine-based immunotherapy. MnO_x NSs with large mesoporous structures show ultrahigh loading efficiencies for ovalbumin and tumor cell fragment. The combination of ICD via chemodynamic therapy and ferroptosis inductions, as well as antigen stimulations, presents a better synergistic immunopotentiation action. Furthermore, the obtained nanovaccines achieve TME-responsive magnetic resonance/photoacoustic dual-mode imaging contrasts, while effectively inhibiting primary/distal tumor growth and tumor metastasis.