Pre-activated nanoparticles with persistent luminescence for deep tumor photodynamic therapy in gallbladder cancer

Precise Supramolecular Nanoarchitectonics for Simultaneous Enhanced Photoluminescence and Photocatalysis in a Co-Assembly by a Biomimetic Isolation-Conduction Strategy

Limited by the two mutually exclusive physicochemical processes of separation and recombination of photogenerated carriers, achieving photoluminescence and photocatalysis simultaneously is extremely challenging but essential for ever-growing complex issues and specialized scenarios. Here we proposed a biomimetic isolation-conduction strategy induced by an arene-perfluoroarene (A-P) interaction for enabling photoluminescence and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity in the co-assembly of aromatic monomers and octafluoronapthalene (OFN). Inspired by the isolation-conduction effect of periodic isolation of myelin sheaths on the axons of vertebrate nerve fibers by node of Ranvier, we use OFN as a molecular isolator embedded in the aromatic monomers array to block the singlet-to-triplet pathway, while the enlarged intermolecular dipoles resulting from the A-P interactions facilitate the conduction of photogenerated carriers in the isolated regions. The resultant co-assembly exhibits an enhanced monomeric green emission compared to the corresponding monocomponent self-assembly with weak red emission. Meanwhile, it also has an enhanced photocatalytic HER performance with a rate of 2.45 mmol g-1 h-1, which is 15.2 times more than the self-assembled one. On this basis, a sequential fluoric wastewater reuse system that includes real-time fluorescence detection/removal of perfluorooctanoic acids and photocatalytic HER device is constructed.

Triplet Electron Exchange in Carbon Nanodots-assisted Long-persistent near-infrared Chemiluminescence for Oncology Synergistic Imaging and Therapy

In classical photodynamic therapy, tumor cells are killed by the cytotoxic species via type-I/II photochemical reactions, seriously limited by the external photoexcitation and hypoxia. Herein, the electron transfer mechanism between fluorophores and peroxalate-H2O2 reaction is investigated and the singlet/triplet electron exchange is utilized to achieve long-persistent chemiluminescence imaging and synergistic type-I/II/III photodynamic therapy. As a proof-of-concept, the photosensitizers of carbon nanodots (CDs)-loaded chlorin e6 (CDs-Ce6) are designed and integrated with the peroxalate molecules, and the as-prepare polymer carbon nanodots (p-CDs) exhibit novel tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive long-persistent near-infrared CL and photochemical reactions, evoking the in vivo imaging and synergistic dynamic therapy in tumor tissue. Mechanistically, the excess reactive oxygen species in TME can trigger the chemically initiated singlet/triplet electron exchange between the hydrophobic CDs-Ce6 and peroxalate-derived 1,2-dioxetanes and thus the excess excited singlet/triplet electron of the CDs-Ce6 can ensure the long-persistent near-infrared CL, type I/II photochemical production of hydroxyl radicals, superoxide radical and singlet oxygen, and type III photochemical damage of maladjusted biomacromolecules, enabling the long-persistent near-infrared biological imaging and enhanced cancer therapy. These results shed a new sight into the energy transfer mechanism in chemiluminescence and pave a new sight into the architecture of multifunctional theragnostic nanoplatforms.

Molecular Design of Phthalocyanine-Based Drug Coassembly with Tailored Function

Coassemblies with tailored functions, such as drug loading, tissue targeting and releasing, therapeutic and/or imaging purposes, and so on, have been widely studied and applied in biomedicine. De novo design of these coassemblies hinges on an integrated approach involving synergy between various design strategies, ranging from structure screening of combinations of "phthalocyanine-chemotherapeutic drug" molecules for molecular scaffolds, exploration of related fabrication principles to verification of intended activity of specific designs. Here, we propose an integrated approach combining computation and experiments to design from scratch coassembled nanoparticles. This nanocoassembly, termed NanoPC here, consists of phthalocyanine-based scaffolds hosting chemotherapeutic drugs, aimed at hypersensitive chemotherapy guided by photoimaging for targeting tumors. Our design starts from the selection of phthalocyanine derivatives that are not aggregation-prone, followed by computational screening of coassembled molecules covering various categories of chemotherapy drugs. To facilitate an efficient and accurate assessment of coassembly capabilities, we utilize small systems as surrogates to enable free-energy calculations at all-atom levels facilitated with enhanced sampling and statistical mechanics for efficient and accurate evaluation of coassembly ability. The final top NanoPC candidate, comprised of phthalocyanine PcL and cytarabine (CYT), can greatly increase the fluorescence intensity ratio of tumor/liver by 21.5 times and achieve higher antitumor efficiency in a pH-dependent manner. Therefore, the designing approach proposed here has a potential pattern, which can provide ideas and references for the design and development of coassembled nanodrugs with tailored functions and applications in biomedicine.

Photocatalytic therapy via photoinduced redox imbalance in biological system

Redox balance is essential for sustaining normal physiological metabolic activities of life. In this study, we present a photocatalytic system to perturb the balance of NADH/NAD+ in oxygen-free conditions, achieving photocatalytic therapy to cure anaerobic bacterial infected periodontitis. Under light irradiation, the catalyst TBSMSPy+ can bind bacterial DNA and initiate the generation of radical species through a multi-step electron transfer process. It catalyzes the conversion from NADH to NAD+ (the turnover frequency up to 60.7 min-1), inhibits ATP synthesis, disrupts the energy supply required for DNA replication, and successfully accomplishes photocatalytic sterilization in an oxygen-free environment. The catalyst participates in the redox reaction, interfering with the balance of NADH/NAD+ contents under irradiation, so we termed this action as photoinduced redox imbalance. Additionally, animal experiments in male rats also validate that the TBSMSPy+ could effectively catalyze the NADH oxidation, suppress metabolism and stimulate osteogenesis. Our research substantiates the concept of photoinduced redox imbalance and the application of photocatalytic therapy, further advocating the development of such catalyst based on photoinduced redox imbalance strategy for oxygen-free phototherapy.

Carboxylesterase-activatable multi-in-one nanoplatform for near-infrared fluorescence imaging guided chemo/photodynamic/sonodynamic therapy toward cervical cancer

Traditional tumor treatment faces great challenge owning to inherent drawbacks. Activatable prodrugs with multi-modality therapeutic capacity are highly desired. In this consideration, a responsiveness-released multi-in-one nanoplatform, PLGA-PEG@HC, toward cervical cancer therapy was innovatively developed. Among the nanoplatform, HC was constructed by incorporating chlorambucil, a classic chemotherapy drug into a near-infrared photo- and sono-sensitizer, HCH via ester linker, which can be specifically hydrolyzed by carboxylesterase (CES). HC is scarcely fluorescent and toxic due to the caging of HCH and chlorambucil, thus achieving low background signal and minimal side effects. However, once selectively hydrolyzed by tumor enriched CES, ester bond will be broken. Consequently, HCH and chlorambucil are released so as to achieve near-infrared fluorescence imaging and synergistic photodynamic/sonodynamic/chemo therapy. PLGA-PEG packaging ensures the biocompatibility of HC. The as-obtained nanoplatform, with diameter of 97 nm, achieves tumor targeting capacity via EPR. In vitro and in vivo applications have demonstrated that PLGA-PEG@HC can accumulate in tumor tissues, exhibit CES-activatable near-infrared fluorescence imaging and efficient tumor suppression capacity. Compared with the reported combinational therapy materials which are complex in compositions, PLGA-PEG@HC is simple in formulation but demonstrates near-infrared fluorescence traced and considerable therapy efficacy toward tumors, which may accelerate the clinical translation.

Heterogenous Core-Shell Persistent Luminescent Nanoparticles with Enhanced Afterglow Luminescence

Persistent luminescent nanoparticles (PLNPs) are promising for many bioapplications due to their unique afterglow luminescence following the stoppage of light excitation. However, PLNPs are prone to surface quenching that results in weak afterglow luminescence. Although some efforts have been made to reduce surface quenching through designing homogeneous core-shell PLNPs, the enhancement in afterglow luminescence was insignificant. We hypothesize that the independent absorption and emission of the shell caused less energy to reach the activator ions in the core. Hence, a heterogeneous core-shell PLNP where the shell has a higher band gap than the core would reduce the absorption and emission of the shell. In this work, ZnGa2O4 and Zn2GeO4 were coated on Zn1.2Ga1.6Ge0.2O4:Cr and Zn3Ga2Ge2O10:Eu nanocrystals, respectively, to form heterogeneous core-shell PLNPs and significant luminescence enhancement was achieved compared to their traditional homogeneous core-shell nanostructures.

Advances and current research status of early diagnosis for gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common malignant tumor in the biliary system, characterized by high malignancy, aggressiveness, and poor prognosis. Early diagnosis holds paramount importance in ameliorating therapeutic outcomes. Presently, the clinical diagnosis of GBC primarily relies on clinical-radiological-pathological approach. However, there remains a potential for missed diagnosis and misdiagnose in the realm of clinical practice. We firstly analyzed the blood-based biomarkers, such as carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Subsequently, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of various imaging modalities, including ultrasound (US), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and pathological examination, emphasizing their strengths and limitations in detecting early-stage GBC. Furthermore, we explored the potential of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and liquid biopsy, to revolutionize GBC diagnosis. AI algorithms have demonstrated improved image analysis capabilities, while liquid biopsy offers the promise of non-invasive and real-time monitoring. However, the translation of these advancements into clinical practice necessitates further validation and standardization. The review highlighted the advantages and limitations of current diagnostic approaches and underscored the need for innovative strategies to enhance diagnostic accuracy of GBC. In addition, we emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to improve early diagnosis of GBC and ultimately patient outcomes. This review endeavoured to impart fresh perspectives and insights into the early diagnosis of GBC.

Automated gall bladder cancer detection using artificial gorilla troops optimizer with transfer learning on ultrasound images

The gallbladder (GB) is a small pouch and a deep tissue placed under the liver. GB Cancer (GBC) is a deadly illness that is complex to discover in an initial phase. Initial diagnosis can significantly enhance the existence rate. Non-ionizing energy, low cost, and convenience make the US a general non-invasive analytical modality for patients with GB diseases. Automatic recognition of GBC from US imagery is a significant issue that has gained much attention from researchers. Recently, machine learning (ML) techniques dependent on convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures have prepared transformational growth in radiology and medical analysis for illnesses like lung, pancreatic, breast, and melanoma. Deep learning (DL) is a region of artificial intelligence (AI), a functional medical tomography model that can help in the initial analysis of GBC. This manuscript presents an Automated Gall Bladder Cancer Detection using an Artificial Gorilla Troops Optimizer with Transfer Learning (GBCD-AGTOTL) technique on Ultrasound Images. The GBCD-AGTOTL technique examines the US images for the presence of gall bladder cancer using the DL model. In the initial stage, the GBCD-AGTOTL technique preprocesses the US images using a median filtering (MF) approach. The GBCD-AGTOTL technique applies the Inception module for feature extraction, which learns the complex and intrinsic patterns in the pre-processed image. Besides, the AGTO algorithm-based hyperparameter tuning procedure takes place, which optimally picks the hyperparameter values of the Inception technique. Lastly, the bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU) model helps classify gall bladder cancer. A series of simulation analyses were performed to ensure the performance of the GBCD-AGTOTL technique on the GBC dataset. The experimental outcomes inferred the enhanced abilities of the GBCD-AGTOTL in detecting gall bladder cancer.

Adaptive Size Evolution of an MOFs-in-MOF Nanovehicle for Enhanced Nucleus-Targeted Tumor Chemotherapy

A metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-in-MOF nanovehicle (160 nm), which was constructed with newly prepared ultrasmall Cu(I)Cu(II)-BTC MOFs (UCMs, 2.95 nm) loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and a nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptide as multicores (UCMDNs) and ZIF-8 as the shell MOF, was proposed to cross layers of biological barriers with adaptive size evolution capacity for achieving efficient nucleus-targeted drug delivery. It first enhanced tumor tissue penetration through its larger nanosize effect. Then the acidic tumor environment made the ZIF-8 shell degrade, releasing small-sized UCMDNs to enter into the cell and into the nucleus under the guidance of NLS. Furthermore, due to the distinct surface structural characteristics of UCMs, UCMDNs remained stable in the cytoplasm and collapsed in the nucleus due to the DOX-DNA interaction to deliver DOX precisely. It showed superior performance in the nucleus-directed delivery of DOX (delivery efficiency up to 56.7%) and a high tumor growth inhibition rate (96.4%), offering promising prospects in tumor chemotherapy.

Lighting up endogenous H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment using a dual-mode nanoprobe for long afterglow and MR bioimaging

Persistent luminescent nanoparticles (PLNPs) are excellent luminescent materials, and near-infrared PLNPs are efficiently applied for biosensing and bioimaging due to their advantages of no excitation, excellent light stability and long afterglow. However, due to interference from the complex environment within organisms, single-mode imaging methods often face limitations in selectivity, sensitivity, and accuracy. Therefore, it is desirable to construct a dual-mode imaging probe strategy with higher specificity and sensitivity for bioimaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely used in the field of bioimaging due to its advantages of high resolution, non-radiation and non-invasiveness. Here, by combining near-infrared PLNPs and manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanosheets, a sensitive and convenient dual-mode "turn on" bioimaging nanoprobe ZGC@MnO2 has been developed for long afterglow imaging and MRI of endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The monitoring of H2O2 has garnered significant attention due to its crucial role in human pathologies. For the dual-mode "turn on" bioimaging nanoprobe, the near-infrared PLNPs of quasi-spherical ZnGa2O4:Cr (ZGC) nanoparticles were synthesized as luminophores, and MnO2 nanosheets were utilized as a fluorescence quencher, carrier and H2O2 recognizer. H2O2 in the TME could reduce MnO2 nanosheets to Mn2+ for MRI, and ZGC nanoparticles were released for long afterglow imaging. Finally, the ZGC@MnO2 nanoprobe exhibited a rapid response, an excellent signal-to-noise ratio and a limit of detection of 3.67 nM for endogenous H2O2 in the TME. This dual-mode approach enhances the detection sensitivity for endogenous H2O2, thereby facilitating the research of endogenous H2O2-associated diseases and clinical diagnostics.

Sonosynthetic Cyanobacteria Oxygenation for Self-Enhanced Tumor-Specific Treatment

Photosynthesis, essential for life on earth, sustains diverse processes by providing nutrition in plants and microorganisms. Especially, photosynthesis is increasingly applied in disease treatments, but its efficacy is substantially limited by the well-known low penetration depth of external light. Here, ultrasound-mediated photosynthesis is reported for enhanced sonodynamic tumor therapy using organic sonoafterglow (ultrasound-induced afterglow) nanoparticles combined with cyanobacteria, demonstrating the proof-of-concept sonosynthesis (sonoafterglow-induced photosynthesis) in cancer therapy. Chlorin e6, a typical small-molecule chlorine, is formulated into nanoparticles to stimulate cyanobacteria for sonosynthesis, which serves three roles, i.e., overcoming the tissue-penetration limitations of external light sources, reducing hypoxia, and acting as a sonosensitizer for in vivo tumor suppression. Furthermore, sonosynthetic oxygenation suppresses the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α, leading to reduced stability of downstream SLC7A11 mRNA, which results in glutathione depletion and inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4, thereby inducing ferroptosis of cancer cells. This study not only broadens the scope of microbial nanomedicine but also offers a distinct direction for sonosynthesis.

Catalytic Dual-Mode Immunotherapy: Anisotropic AuPt Heterostructure Decorated with Starry Pt Nanoclusters for Robust Cancer Photometalloimmunotherapy

To overcome current limitations in photoimmunotherapy, such as insufficient tumor antigen generation and a subdued immune response, a novel photo-/metallo dual-mode immunotherapeutic agent (PMIA) is introduced for potent near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered cancer therapy. PMIA features a dumbbell-like AuPt heterostructure decorated with starry Pt nanoclusters, meticulously engineered for enhancing plasmonic catalysis through multi-dimensional regulation of Pt growth on Au nanorods. Under NIR laser exposure, end-tipped Pt nanoclusters induce efficient electron-hole spatial separation along the longitudinal axis, resulting in radial and axial electron distribution polarization, conferring unique anisotropic properties to PMIA. Additionally, starry Pt nanoclusters on the sides of Au nanorods augment the local electron enrichment field. Validated through finite-difference time-domain analysis and Raman scattering, this configuration fosters local electron enrichment, facilitating robust reactive oxygen species generation for potent photoimmunotherapy. Moreover, Pt nanoclusters facilitate Pt2+ ion release, instigating intranuclear DNA damage and inducing synergistic immunogenic cell death (ICD) for metalloimmunotherapy. Consequently, PMIA elicits abundant danger-associated molecular patterns, promotes T cell infiltration, and triggers systemic immune responses, effectively treating primary and distant tumors, inhibiting metastasis in vivo. This study unveils a pioneering dual-mode ICD amplification strategy driven by NIR light, synergistically integrating photoimmunotherapy and metalloimmunotherapy, culminating in potent cancer photometalloimmunotherapy.

Current Developments in Emerging Lanthanide-Doped Persistent Luminescent Scintillators and Their Applications

Lanthanide-doped scintillators have the ability to convert the absorbed X-ray irradiation into ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis), or near-infrared (NIR) light. Lanthanide-doped scintillators with excellent persistent luminescence (PersL) are emerging as a new class of PersL materials recently. They have attracted great attention due to their unique "self-luminescence" characteristic and potential applications. In this review, we comb through and focus on current developments of lanthanide-doped persistent luminescent scintillators (PersLSs), including their PersL mechanism, synthetic methods, tuning of PersL properties (e. g. emission wavelength, intensity, and duration time), as well as their promising applications (e. g. information storage, encryption, anti-counterfeiting, bio-imaging, and photodynamic therapy). We hope this review will provide valuable guidance for the future development of PersLSs.

Near-Infrared-II Nanomaterials for Activatable Photodiagnosis and Phototherapy

Near-Infrared-II (NIR-II) spans wavelengths between 1,000 to 1,700 nanometers, featuring deep tissue penetration and reduced tissue scattering and absorption characteristics, providing robust support for cancer treatment and tumor imaging research. This review explores the utilization of activatable NIR-II photodiagnosis and phototherapy based on tumor microenvironments (e. g., reactive oxygen species, pH, glutathione, hypoxia) and external stimulation (e. g., laser, ultrasound, photothermal) for precise tumor treatment and imaging. Special emphasis is placed on the advancements and advantages of activatable NIR-II nanomedicines in novel therapeutic modalities like photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and photoacoustic imaging. This encompasses achieving deep tumor penetration, real-time monitoring of the treatment process, and obtaining high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio images even at low material concentrations. Lastly, from a clinical perspective, the challenges faced by activatable NIR-II phototherapy are discussed, alongside potential strategies to overcome these hurdles.

Adavosertib-encapsulated metal-organic frameworks for p53-mutated gallbladder cancer treatment via synthetic lethality

Adavosertib (ADA) is a WEE1 inhibitor that exhibits a synthetic lethal effect on p53-mutated gallbladder cancer (GBC). However, drug resistance due to DNA damage response compensation pathways and high toxicity limits further applications. Herein, estrone-targeted ADA-encapsulated metal-organic frameworks (ADA@MOF-EPL) for GBC synthetic lethal treatment by inducing conditional factors are developed. The high expression of estrogen receptors in GBC enables ADA@MOF-EPL to quickly enter and accumulate near the cell nucleus through estrone-mediated endocytosis and release ADA to inhibit WEE1 upon entering the acidic tumor microenvironment. Ultrasound irradiation induces ADA@MOF-EPL to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to a further increase in DNA damage, resulting in a higher sensitivity of p53-mutated cancer cells to WEE1 inhibitor and promoting cell death via conditional synthetic lethality. The conditional factor induced by ADA@MOF-EPL further enhances the antitumor efficacy while significantly reducing systemic toxicity. Moreover, ADA@MOF-EPL demonstrates similar antitumor abilities in other p53-mutated solid tumors, revealing its potential as a broad-spectrum antitumor drug.

External stimuli-triggered photodynamic and sonodynamic therapies in combination with hybrid nanomicelles of ICG@PEP@HA: laser vs. ultrasound

The concept of combining external medical stimuli with internal functional biomaterials to achieve cancer-oriented treatments is being emergingly developed. Optical and acoustical activations have shown particular promise as non-invasive regulation modalities in cancer treatment and intervention. It is always challenging to leverage the contributions of optical and acoustical stimuli and find appropriate biomaterials to optimally match them. Herein, a type of hybrid nanomicelle (ICG@PEP@HA) containing ICG as a photo/sonosensitizer, an amphiphilic peptide for membrane penetration and hyaluronic acid for cluster determinant 44 (CD44) targeting was fabricated. Triggered by the external stimuli of laser and US irradiation, their photo/sonothermal performance, in vitro reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capability and tumor-targeting efficiency have been systematically evaluated. It was interestingly found that the external stimulus of laser irradiation induced a greater quantity of ROS, which resulted in significant cell apoptosis and tumor growth inhibition in the presence of ICG@PEP@HA. The individual analyses and corresponding rationales have been investigated. Meanwhile, these hybrid nanomicelles were administered into MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing nude mice for PDT and SDT therapies and their biocompatibility assessment, and a prevailing PDT efficacy and reliable bio-safety have been evidenced based on the hematological analysis and histochemical staining. In summary, this study has validated a novel pathway to utilize these hybrid nanomicelles for laser/US-triggered localized tumor treatment, and the treatment efficiency may be leveraged by different external stimuli sources. It is also expected to give rise to full accessibility to clinical translations for human cancer treatments by means of the as-reported laser/US-nanomicelle combination strategy.

Microneedle-mediated nanomedicine to enhance therapeutic and diagnostic efficacy

Nanomedicine has been extensively explored for therapeutic and diagnostic applications in recent years, owing to its numerous advantages such as controlled release, targeted delivery, and efficient protection of encapsulated agents. Integration of microneedle technologies with nanomedicine has the potential to address current limitations in nanomedicine for drug delivery including relatively low therapeutic efficacy and poor patient compliance and enable theragnostic uses. In this Review, we first summarize representative types of nanomedicine and describe their broad applications. We then outline the current challenges faced by nanomedicine, with a focus on issues related to physical barriers, biological barriers, and patient compliance. Next, we provide an overview of microneedle systems, including their definition, manufacturing strategies, drug release mechanisms, and current advantages and challenges. We also discuss the use of microneedle-mediated nanomedicine systems for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Finally, we provide a perspective on the current status and future prospects for microneedle-mediated nanomedicine for biomedical applications.

Multifunctional ZnO@DOX/ICG-LMHP Nanoparticles for Synergistic Multimodal Antitumor Activity

Multifunctional nanoparticles are of significant importance for synergistic multimodal antitumor activity. Herein, zinc oxide (ZnO) was used as pH-sensitive nanoparticles for loading the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin (DOX) and the photosensitizer agent indocyanine green (ICG), and biocompatible low-molecular-weight heparin (LMHP) was used as the gatekeepers for synergistic photothermal therapy/photodynamic therapy/chemotherapy/immunotherapy. ZnO was decomposed into cytotoxic Zn2+ ions, leading to a tumor-specific release of ICG and DOX. ZnO simultaneously produced oxygen (O2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). The released ICG under laser irradiation produced ROS for PDT and raised the tumor temperature for photothermal therapy (PTT). The released DOX directly caused tumor cell death for chemotherapy. Both DOX and ICG also induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) for immunotherapy. The in vivo and in vitro results presented a superior inhibition of tumor progression, metastasis and recurrence. Therefore, this study could provide an efficient approach for designing multifunctional nanoparticles for synergistic multimodal antitumor therapy.

New trends in diagnosis and management of gallbladder carcinoma

Gallbladder (GB) carcinoma, although relatively rare, is the most common biliary tree cholangiocarcinoma with aggressiveness and poor prognosis. It is closely associated with cholelithiasis and long-standing large (> 3 cm) gallstones in up to 90% of cases. The other main predisposing factors for GB carcinoma include molecular factors such as mutated genes, GB wall calcification (porcelain) or mainly mucosal microcalcifications, and GB polyps ≥ 1 cm in size. Diagnosis is made by ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and, more precisely, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Preoperative staging is of great importance in decision-making regarding therapeutic management. Preoperative staging is based on MRI findings, the leading technique for liver metastasis imaging, enhanced three-phase CT angiography, or magnetic resonance angiography for major vessel assessment. It is also necessary to use positron emission tomography (PET)-CT or 18F-FDG PET-MRI to more accurately detect metastases and any other occult deposits with active metabolic uptake. Staging laparoscopy may detect dissemination not otherwise found in 20%-28.6% of cases. Multimodality treatment is needed, including surgical resection, targeted therapy by biological agents according to molecular testing gene mapping, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. It is of great importance to understand the updated guidelines and current treatment options. The extent of surgical intervention depends on the disease stage, ranging from simple cholecystectomy (T1a) to extended resections and including extended cholecystectomy (T1b), with wide lymph node resection in every case or IV-V segmentectomy (T2), hepatic trisegmentectomy or major hepatectomy accompanied by hepaticojejunostomy Roux-Y, and adjacent organ resection if necessary (T3). Laparoscopic or robotic surgery shows fewer postoperative complications and equivalent oncological outcomes when compared to open surgery, but much attention must be paid to avoiding injuries. In addition to surgery, novel targeted treatment along with immunotherapy and recent improvements in radiotherapy and chemotherapy (neoadjuvant-adjuvant capecitabine, cisplatin, gemcitabine) have yielded promising results even in inoperable cases calling for palliation (T4). Thus, individualized treatment must be applied.

NIR-II Photoacoustic Imaging-Guided Oxygen Delivery and Controlled Release Improves Photodynamic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hypoxia, a prominent hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), undermines curative outcomes, elevates recurrence rates, and fosters metastasis, particularly during photodynamic therapy (PDT) in clinical settings. Studies indicate that alleviating tumor hypoxia enhances PDT efficacy. However, persistent challenges, including suboptimal oxygen delivery efficiency and absence of real-time feedback on blood oxygen fluctuations during PDT, considerably impede therapeutic efficacy in tumor treatment. This study addresses these issues using near-infrared-II (NIR-II) photoacoustic (PA) imaging for tumor-targeted oxygen delivery and controlled release. For this purpose, a biomimetic oxygen delivery system designated BLICP@O2 is developed, which utilizes hybrid tumor cell membranes and thermosensitive liposomes as oxygen carriers, incorporating the NIR-II dye IR1048, photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6), and perfluorohexane. Upon sequential irradiation at 1064 and 690 nm, BLICP@O2 exhibits significant photothermal and photodynamic effects. Photothermal heating triggers oxygen release, enhancing the photodynamic effect of Ce6. Blood oxygen changes during PDT are tracked by multispectral PA imaging. Enhanced PDT efficacy, mediated by hypoxia relief, is convincingly demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. This work presents an imaging-guided, dual-wavelength programmed cascaded treatment strategy for tumor-targeted oxygen delivery and controlled release, with real-time efficacy monitoring using PA imaging, offering valuable insights for overcoming challenges in PDT-based cancer therapy.

Recent advances in cancer cell bionic nanoparticles for tumour therapy

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have found extensive use in delivering oncology therapeutics; however, some delivery vehicles still exhibit rapid immune clearance, lack of biocompatibility and insufficient targeting. In recent years, bionanoparticles constructed from tumour cell membranes have gained momentum as tumour-targeting therapeutic agents. Cancer cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (CCMCNPs) typically consist of a drug-loaded nanoparticle core coated with cancer cell membrane. CCMCNPs retain homologous tumour cell surface antigens, receptors and proteins, and it has been shown that the modified nanoparticles exhibit better homologous targeting, immune escape and biocompatibility. CCMCNPs are now widely used in a variety of cancer treatments, including photothermal, photodynamic and sonodynamic therapies, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, chemodynamical therapy or other combination therapies. This article presents different therapeutic approaches using multimodal antitumour therapy-combination of two or more therapies that treat tumours synergistically-based on tumour cell membrane systems. The advantages of CCMCNPs in different cancer treatments in recent years are summarised, thus, providing new strategies for cancer treatment research.