Second near-infrared (NIR-II) imaging: a novel diagnostic technique for brain diseases

Advance of Near-Infrared Emissive Carbon Dots in Diagnosis and Therapy: Synthesis, Luminescence, and Application

Carbon dots (CDs) with good optical properties, biocompatibility, easy functionalization, and small size have attracted more and more attention and laid a good foundation for their applications in the biomedicine field. CDs emitted in near-infrared regions (NIR-CDs) can achieve high penetration depth imaging and produce high cytotoxic substance for disease treatment. Therefore, NIR-CDs are promising materials to realize high-quality imaging-guided diagnostic and therapeutic integration. This review first introduces the current mainstream synthesis methods of NIR-CDs by "top-down" and "bottom-up". Second, the luminescence modes of NIR-CDs are introduced, and the luminescence mechanisms based on carbon core state, surface state, molecular state, and crosslinking enhanced emission are summarized. Third, the applications and principles of NIR-CDs in imaging, drug delivery, and non-invasive therapeutics are introduced from a view of diagnosis and therapy. Finally, their prospects and challenges in biomedical and biotechnological applications are outlined.

Unveiling the future: Advancements in MRI imaging for neurodegenerative disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders represent a significant and growing global health challenge, necessitating continuous advancements in diagnostic tools for accurate and early detection. This work explores the recent progress in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques and their application in the realm of neurodegenerative disorders. The introductory section provides a comprehensive overview of the study's background, significance, and objectives. Recognizing the current challenges associated with conventional MRI, the manuscript delves into advanced imaging techniques such as high-resolution structural imaging (HR-MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and positron emission tomography-MRI (PET-MRI) fusion. Each technique is critically examined regarding its potential to address theranostic limitations and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the underlying pathology. A substantial portion of the work is dedicated to exploring the applications of advanced MRI in specific neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In addressing the future landscape, the manuscript examines technological advances, including the integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence in neuroimaging. The conclusion summarizes key findings, outlines implications for future research, and underscores the importance of these advancements in reshaping our understanding and approach to neurodegenerative disorders.

Progress on Physical Field-Regulated Micro/Nanomotors for Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Treatment

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) are two major vasculature-related diseases that seriously affect public health worldwide, which can cause serious death and disability. Lack of targeting effect of the traditional CCVD treatment drugs may damage other tissues and organs, thus more specific methods are needed to solve this dilemma. Micro/nanomotors are new materials that can convert external energy into driving force for autonomous movement, which can not only enhance the penetration depth and retention rates, but also increase the contact areas with the lesion sites (such as thrombus and inflammation sites of blood vessels). Physical field-regulated micro/nanomotors using the physical energy sources with deep tissue penetration and controllable performance, such as magnetic field, light, and ultrasound, etc. are considered as the emerging patient-friendly and effective therapeutic tools to overcome the limitations of conventional CCVD treatments. Recent efforts have suggested that physical field-regulated micro/nanomotors on CCVD treatments could simultaneously provide efficient therapeutic effect and intelligent control. In this review, various physical field-driven micro/nanomotors are mainly introduced and their latest advances for CCVDs are highlighted. Last, the remaining challenges and future perspectives regarding the physical field-regulated micro/nanomotors for CCVD treatments are discussed and outlined.

PD-L1 aptamer-functionalized degradable hafnium oxide nanoparticles for near infrared-II diagnostic imaging and radiosensitization

Immune checkpoint blockade is now recognized as a paradigm-shifting cancer therapeutic strategy, whereas there remains difficulty in accurately predicting immunotherapy efficacy by PD-L1 expression. In addition, radiotherapy for cancer patients faces the problem of insufficient dose of radiotherapy at the tumor site while which have been not tolerated by normal tissues. In this study, we created PD-L1 aptamer-anchored spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) with a shell made of PD-L1 aptamer and indocyanine green (ICG) embedded in a mesoporous hafnium oxide nanoparticle core (Hf@ICG-Apt). Upon low pH irradiation in the tumor sites, the nano-system enabled the release of ICG in the high PD-L1 expression tumor to develop a high tumor-to-background ratio of 7.97 ± 0.76 and enhanced the ICG tumor retention to more than 48 h. Moreover, Hf@ICG-Apt improved radiation therapy (RT) when combined with radiation. Notably, Hf@ICG-Apt showed scarcely any systemic toxicity in vivo. Overall, this research offered a novel approach for applying reliable monitoring of PD-L1 expression and localization and robust RT sensitization against cancer with good biosafety.

Recent Trends and Opportunities for the Targeted Immuno-Nanomaterials for Cancer Theranostics Applications

The targeted delivery of cancer immunotherapies has increased noticeably in recent years. Recent advancements in immunotherapy, particularly in blocking the immune checkpoints (ICs) axis, have shown favorable treatment outcomes for multiple types of cancer including melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSLC). Engineered micromachines, including microparticles, and nanoplatforms (organic and inorganic), functionalized with immune agonists can effectively deliver immune-targeting molecules to solid tumors. This review focuses on the nanomaterial-based strategies that have shown promise in identifying and targeting various immunological markers in the tumor microenvironment (TME) for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Nanomaterials-based cancer immunotherapy has improved treatment outcomes by triggering an immune response in the TME. Evaluating the expression levels of ICs in the TME also could potentially aid in diagnosing patients who would respond to IC blockade therapy. Detecting immunological checkpoints in the TME using noninvasive imaging systems via tailored nanosensors improves the identification of patient outcomes in immuno-oncology (IO). To enhance patient-specific analysis, lab-on-chip (LOC) technology is a rapid, cost-effective, and accurate way of recapitulating the TME. Such novel nanomaterial-based technologies have been of great interest for testing immunotherapies and assessing biomarkers. Finally, we provide a perspective on the developments in artificial intelligence tools to facilitate ICs-based nano theranostics toward cancer immunotherapy.

Tumor imaging and photothermal therapy in second near infrared window: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) technology for tumor imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT) is an innovative method for tumor diagnosis and treatment. The NIR-II probe can specifically identify tumor cells, and effectively convert light energy into heat energy under the irradiation of NIR laser, thus achieving the integration of non-invasive tumor diagnosis and treatment. In the present study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical investigations to corroborate the efficacy and safety of photothermal therapy.

Methods

Relevant preclinical data were retrieved by searching PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, WANFANG and VIP information databases. And the acquired data were analyzed by RevMan Version 5.3 software.

Results

According to the inclusion criteria, forty-two articles relating to NIR-II tumor imaging and PTT were recruited for further in-depth analysis. The NIR-II photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging could quickly and accurately identify tumor in mice, manifesting higher signal intensity on tumor site than that of normal tissue. After PTT, the tumor volume of mice decreased miraculously [RR=8.49, 95%CI (4.64, 15.55), P<0.00001], and even disappeared completely [RR=7.01, 95%CI (3.04, 16.13), P<0.00001] with no potential risk of affecting the blood routine.

Conclusions

PTT guided by NIR-II imaging can effectively diagnose the tumor lesion and eliminate it with the advantages of non-invasive and higher biosafety.