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Gu L, Kong X, Li M, Chen R, Xu K, Li G, Qin Y, Wu L. Molecule engineering strategy of toll-like receptor 7/8 agonists designed for potentiating immune stimuli activation. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:5474-5485. [PMID: 38712400 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc00792a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR-7/8) agonists serve as a promising class of pattern recognition receptors that effectively evoke the innate immune response, making them promising immunomodulatory agents for tumor immunotherapy. However, the uncontrollable administration of TLR-7/8 agonists frequently leads to the occurrence of severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Thus, it is imperative to strategically design tumor-microenvironment-associated biomarkers or exogenous stimuli responsive TLR-7/8 agonists in order to accurately evaluate and activate innate immune responses. No comprehensive elucidation has been documented thus far regarding TLR-7/8 immune agonists that are specifically engineered to enhance immune activation. In this feature article, we provide an overview of the advancements in TLR-7/8 agonists, aiming to enhance the comprehension of their mechanisms and promote the clinical progression through nanomedicine strategies. The current challenges and future directions of cancer immunotherapy are also discussed, with the hope that this work will inspire researchers to explore innovative applications for triggering immune responses through TLR-7/8 agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuwei Gu
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Xiaojie Kong
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Mengyan Li
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Rui Chen
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Ke Xu
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Guo Li
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Yulin Qin
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
| | - Li Wu
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Public Health, Nantong University, No. 9, Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
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Wu B, Liang J, Yang X, Fang Y, Kong N, Chen D, Wang H. A Programmable Peptidic Hydrogel Adjuvant for Personalized Immunotherapy in Resected Stage Tumors. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:8585-8597. [PMID: 38478659 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Adjuvant treatment after surgical resection usually plays an important role in delaying disease recurrence. Immunotherapy displays encouraging results in increasing patients' chances of staying cancer-free after surgery, as reported by recent clinical trials. However, the clinical outcomes of current immunotherapy need to be improved due to the limited responses, patient heterogeneity, nontargeted distribution, and immune-related adverse effects. This work describes a programmable hydrogel adjuvant for personalized immunotherapy after surgical resection. By filling the hydrogel in the cavity, this system aims to address the limited secretion of granzyme B (GrB) during immunotherapy and improve the low immunotherapy responses typically observed, while minimizing immune-related side effects. The TLR7/8 agonist imidazoquinoline (IMDQ) is linked to the self-assembling peptide backbone through a GrB-responsive linkage. Its release could enhance the activation and function of immune cells, which will lead to increased secretion of GrB and enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy together. The hydrogel adjuvant recruits immune cells, initiates dendritic cell maturation, and induces M1 polarized macrophages to reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in situ. In multiple murine tumor models, the hydrogel adjuvant suppresses tumor growth, increases animal survival and long-term immunological memory, and protects mice against tumor rechallenge, leading to effective prophylactic and therapeutic responses. This work provides a potential chemical strategy to overcome the limitations associated with immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bihan Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake University, No. 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Juan Liang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake University, No. 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Xuejiao Yang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake University, No. 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Yu Fang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake University, No. 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Nan Kong
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake University, No. 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Dinghao Chen
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake University, No. 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Huaimin Wang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Westlake University, No. 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
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Liang S, Liu M, Mu W, Gao T, Gao S, Fu S, Yuan S, Liu J, Liu Y, Jiang D, Zhang N. Nano-Regulator Inhibits Tumor Immune Escape via the "Two-Way Regulation" Epigenetic Therapy Strategy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2305275. [PMID: 38110834 PMCID: PMC10916662 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Tumor immune escape caused by low levels of tumor immunogenicity and immune checkpoint-dependent suppression limits the immunotherapeutic effect. Herein, a "two-way regulation" epigenetic therapeutic strategy is proposed using a novel nano-regulator that inhibits tumor immune escape by upregulating expression of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) to improve immunogenicity and downregulating programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression to block programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1. To engineer the nano-regulator, the DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor zebularine (Zeb) and the bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor JQ1 are co-loaded into the cationic liposomes with condensing the toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) via electrostatic interactions to obtain G-J/ZL. Then, asparagine-glycine-arginine (NGR) modified material carboxymethyl-chitosan (CMCS) is coated on the surface of G-J/ZL to construct CG-J/ZL. CG-J/ZL is shown to target tumor tissue and disassemble under the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME). Zeb upregulated TAAs expression to improve the immunogenicity; JQ1 inhibited PD-L1 expression to block immune checkpoint; CpG promote dendritic cell (DC) maturation and reactivated the ability of tumour-associated macrophages (TAM) to kill tumor cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the nano-regulator CG-J/ZL can upregulate TAAs expression to enhance T-cell infiltration and downregulate PD-L1 expression to improve the recognition of tumor cells by T-cells, representing a promising strategy to improve antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Liang
- Department of PharmaceuticsKey Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University44 Wenhua Xi RoadJinanShandong250012China
| | - Meichen Liu
- Department of PharmaceuticsKey Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University44 Wenhua Xi RoadJinanShandong250012China
| | - Weiwei Mu
- Department of PharmaceuticsKey Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University44 Wenhua Xi RoadJinanShandong250012China
| | - Tong Gao
- Department of PharmaceuticsKey Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University44 Wenhua Xi RoadJinanShandong250012China
| | - Shuying Gao
- Department of PharmaceuticsKey Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University44 Wenhua Xi RoadJinanShandong250012China
| | - Shunli Fu
- Department of PharmaceuticsKey Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University44 Wenhua Xi RoadJinanShandong250012China
| | - Shijun Yuan
- Department of PharmaceuticsKey Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University44 Wenhua Xi RoadJinanShandong250012China
| | - Jinhu Liu
- Department of PharmaceuticsKey Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University44 Wenhua Xi RoadJinanShandong250012China
| | - Yongjun Liu
- Department of PharmaceuticsKey Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University44 Wenhua Xi RoadJinanShandong250012China
| | - Dandan Jiang
- Department of PharmacyHenan Provincial People's HospitalPeople's Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenan450003China
| | - Na Zhang
- Department of PharmaceuticsKey Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCheeloo College of MedicineShandong University44 Wenhua Xi RoadJinanShandong250012China
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Wu Y, Chen S, Zhu J. Deliver on a Promise: Hydrogen-Bonded Polymer Nanomedicine with a Precise Ratio of Chemodrug and Photosensitizer for Intelligent Cancer Therapy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:4104-4117. [PMID: 38190754 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The outcomes of combined cancer therapy are largely related to loading content and contribution of each therapeutic agent; however, fine-tuning the ratio of two coloaded components toward precise cancer therapy is a great challenge and still remains in its infancy. We herein develop a supramolecular polymer scaffold to optimize the coloading ratio of chemotherapeutic agent and photosensitizer through hydrogen-bonding (H-bonding) interaction, for maximizing the efficacy of intelligent cancer chemo/photodynamic therapies (CT/PDT). To do so, we first synthesize a thymine (THY)-functionalized tetraphenylporphyrin photosensitizer (i.e., TTPP), featuring the same molecular configuration of H-bonding array with chemotherapeutic carmofur (e.g., 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil, HCFU). Meanwhile, a six-arm star-shaped amphiphilic polymer vehicle P(DAPA-co-DPMA-co-OEGMA)6 (poly(diaminopyridine acrylamide-co-2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate-co-oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate)6) is prepared, bearing hydrophilic and biocompatible POEGMA segment, along with hydrophobic PDAPA and PDPMA segments, characterizing the randomly dispersed dual functionalities, i.e., heterocomplementary H-bonding DAP motifs and pH-responsive protonation DPMA content. Thanks to the identical DAP/HCFU and DAP/TTPP H-bonding association capability, the incorporation of both HCFU and TTPP to six-arm star-shaped P(DAPA-co-DPMA-co-OEGMA)6 vehicle, with an optimized coloading ratio, can be straightforwardly realized by adjusting the feeding concentrations, thus yielding the hydrogen-bonded supramolecular nanoparticles (i.e., HCFU-TTPP-SPNs), demonstrating the codelivery of two components with the promise to optimize the combined CT/PDT efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanggui Wu
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Senbin Chen
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Jintao Zhu
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
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Wang W, Zhu Q, Jin Y, Gao J, Li J, Zheng X, Gao W, Saeed M, Sheng W, Yu H. Self-Immolated Nanoadjuvant for In Situ Vaccination Immunotherapy of Colorectal Cancer. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2300524. [PMID: 37269141 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Vaccination immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment modalities. Although the immunomodulatory adjuvant generally employs for potentiating vaccine response, systemic administration may drive immune-related side effects, even immune tolerance. Therefore, tunable immunoadjuvants are highly desirable to simultaneously stimulate the immune response and mitigate systemic toxicity. Self-immolated nanoadjuvants are herein reported to potentiate vaccination immunotherapy of cancer. The nanoadjuvants are engineered by co-assembling an intracellular acidity-ionizable polymeric agonist of toll-like receptor 7/8 resiquimod (R848) and polymeric photosensitizer pyropheophorbide a (PPa). The resultant nanoadjuvants specifically accumulate at the tumor site via passive targeting and are dissociated in the acidic endosome versicles to activate PPa via protonation of the polymer backbone. Upon 671 nm laser irradiation, PPa performed photodynamic therapy to induce immunogenic cell death of tumor cells and subsequently releases R848 in a customized manner, which synergistically activates dendritic cells (DCs), promotes antigen cross-presentation, and eventually recruits cytotoxic T lymphocytes for tumor regression. Furthermore, the synergistic in situ vaccination immunotherapy with immune checkpoint blockade induce sustained immunological memory to suppress tumor recurrence in the rechallenged colorectal tumor model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqi Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qiwen Zhu
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yilan Jin
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jianan Li
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - Xiaohua Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - Weidong Gao
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Madiha Saeed
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- Interdisciplinary Research Center in Biomedical Materials, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
| | - Weizhong Sheng
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Haijun Yu
- Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
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Hao Y, Li H, Ge X, Liu Y, Yin J, Li X, Liu Y, Chen H, Huang L, Zou J, Zhang S, Wu H, Zhang Z. Site-specific nanoswitch circumventing immune resistance via activating TLR and inhibiting PD-L1/PD-1 axis. J Control Release 2023; 361:64-76. [PMID: 37532143 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.07.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has fundamentally altered cancer treatment; however, its effectiveness is clinically hampered by insufficient intratumoral T lymphocyte infiltration and failed T lymphocyte priming. Additionally, inducing cancer-specific immune responses while sparing normal cells remains challenging. Herein, we developed a redox-activatable polymeric nanoswitch (c-N@IM/JQ) that remained 'off' status in circulation but rapidly switched 'on' after entering the tumor. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7/8 agonist (imidazoquinoline, IMQ) and bromodomain and extraterminal inhibitor (JQ1) are locked in c-N@IM/JQ with a redox-cleavable linker (switch off). Upon systemic administration, c-N@IM/JQ with c-RGD peptide modification preferentially accumulated at tumor sites and responded to the high glutathione levels to release native IMQ for fully mobilizing T lymphocyte army, and JQ1 for removing the programmed death ligand (PD-L)-1 protection on tumor cells (switch on). These strengthened T lymphocyte armies are easily accessible to these de-protected tumor cells, revitalizing the immune response against tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyun Hao
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Hui Li
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Ge
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Yang Liu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Jialin Yin
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Xia Li
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Yutong Liu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Hongfei Chen
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Lingling Huang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Jing Zou
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Shiying Zhang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China
| | - Zhiyue Zhang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China.
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