Two‐dimensional (2D) nanomaterials are currently explored as novel photothermal agents because of their ultrathin structure, high specific surface area, and unique optoelectronic properties. In ...addition to single photothermal therapy (PTT), 2D nanomaterials have demonstrated significant potential in PTT‐based synergistic therapies. In this Minireview, we summarize the recent progress in 2D nanomaterials for enhanced photothermal cancer therapy over the last five years. Their unique optical properties, typical synthesis methods, and surface modification are also covered. Emphasis is placed on their PTT and PTT‐synergized chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy. The major challenges of 2D photothermal agents are addressed and the promising prospects are also presented.
Cancer therapy: Recent progress in 2D nanomaterials for photothermal therapy including their optical properties, synthesis methods, surface modification, and applications is reviewed. The unique properties and advantages of 2D nanomaterials have been successfully used in photothermal therapy and combined photothermal therapy. This application will continue to be attractive and needs further exploration.
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) can overcome the critical issue of depth‐penetration barrier of photo‐triggered therapeutic modalities. However, the discovery of sonosensitizers with high sonosensitization ...efficacy and good stability is still a significant challenge. In this study, the great potential of a metal–organic‐framework (MOF)‐derived carbon nanostructure that contains porphyrin‐like metal centers (PMCS) to act as an excellent sonosensitizer is identified. Excitingly, the superior sonosensitization effect of PMCS is believed to be closely linked to the porphyrin‐like macrocycle in MOF‐derived nanostructure in comparison to amorphous carbon nanospheres, due to their large highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gap for high reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The nanoparticle‐assisted cavitation process, including the visualized formation of the cavitation bubbles and microjets, is also first captured by high‐speed camera. High ROS production in PMCS under ultrasound is validated by electron spin resonance and dye measurement, followed by cellular destruction and high tumor inhibition efficiency (85%). This knowledge is important from the perspective of understanding the structure‐dependent SDT enhancement of a MOF‐derived carbon nanostructure.
The excellent potential of a metal–organic‐framework‐derived mesoporous carbon nanostructure that contains porphyrin‐like metal centers (PMCS), which enhance sonodynamic therapy is discovered. A high‐yield reactive oxygen species under ultrasound irradiation depends on porphyrin‐like macrocycle in PMCS, and the high specific surface area and porous structure of PMCS can carry a lot of gas nuclei to enhance the cavitation effect for the efficient sonodynamic cancer therapy.
Emerging nanotechnologies show unprecedented advantages in accelerating cancer theranostics. Among them, two‐dimensional nanomaterials (2DNMs) represent a novel type of material with versatile ...physicochemical properties that have enabled a new horizon for applications in both cancer diagnosis and therapy. Studies have demonstrated that 2DNMs may be used in diverse aspects, including i) cancer detection due to their high propensity towards tumor markers; ii) molecular imaging for guided tumor therapies, and iii) drug and gene loading, photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapies. However, their biomedical applications raise concerns due to the limited understanding of their in vivo metabolism, transformation and possible toxicities. In this comprehensive review, the state‐of‐the‐art development of 2DNMs and their implications for cancer nanotheranostics are presented. The modification strategies to enhance the biocompatibility of 2DNMs are also reviewed.
Nanotheranostic agents have emerged as a robust driving force for cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. Of them, 2DNMs have shown great potentials in cancer nanotheranostics due to their extraordinary physicochemical properties. In the current review, the state‐of‐the‐art facets of 2DNMs are recapitulated for their targeted bio‐imaging, selective cancer cell obliteration, tailored phototherapy and customized drug delivery.
Single‐atom catalysts (SACs), as homogeneous catalysts, have been widely explored for chemical catalysis. However, few studies focus on the applications of SACs in enzymatic catalysis. Herein, we ...report that a zinc‐based zeolitic‐imidazolate‐framework (ZIF‐8)‐derived carbon nanomaterial containing atomically dispersed zinc atoms can serve as a highly efficient single‐atom peroxidase mimic. To reveal its structure–activity relationship, the structural evolution of the single‐atom nanozyme (SAzyme) was systematically investigated. Furthermore, the coordinatively unsaturated active zinc sites and catalytic mechanism of the SAzyme are disclosed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The SAzyme, with high therapeutic effect and biosafety, shows great promises for wound antibacterial applications.
Single‐atom nanozyme: A ZIF‐8‐derived Zn–N–C single‐atom catalyst is an efficient single‐atom nanozyme (SAzyme). The SAzyme, which contains unsaturated Zn–N4 sites, shows excellent peroxidase‐like activity and high antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa, and it is an effective antibacterial agent for wound treatment.
In our previous study we reported that the interaction of nanoparticles with cells can be influenced by particle shape, but until now the effect of particle shape on in vivo behavior remained poorly ...understood. In the present study, we control the fabrication of fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) by varying the concentration of reaction reagents especially to design a series of shapes. Two different shaped fluorescent MSNs (aspect ratios, 1.5, 5) were specially designed, and the effects of particle shape on biodistribution, clearance and biocompatibility in vivo were investigated. Organ distributions show that intravenously administrated MSNs are mainly present in the liver, spleen and lung (>80%) and there is obvious particle shape effects on in vivo behaviors. Short-rod MSNs are easily trapped in the liver, while long-rod MSNs distribute in the spleen. MSNs with both aspect ratios have a higher content in the lung after PEG modification. We also found MSNs are mainly excreted by urine and feces, and the clearance rate of MSNs is primarily dependent on the particle shape, where short-rod MSNs have a more rapid clearance rate than long-rod MSNs in both excretion routes. Hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathology results indicate that MSNs would not cause significant toxicity in vivo, but there is potential induction of biliary excretion and glomerular filtration dysfunction. These findings may provide useful information for the design of nanoscale delivery systems and the environmental fate of nanoparticles.
Dual phototherapy, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), has shown a great prospect in cancer treatment. However, its therapeutic effect is restricted by the depth of ...light penetration in tissue and tumor hypoxia environment. Herein, inspired by the specific response of nanozymes to the tumor microenvironment (TME), a simple and versatile nanozyme‐mediated synergistic dual phototherapy nanoplatform (denoted as FePc/HNCSs) is constructed using hollow nitrogen‐doped carbon nanospheres (HNCSs) and iron phthalocyanine (FePc). FePc/HNCSs simultaneously exhibit peroxidase (POD)‐ and catalase (CAT)‐like activities, which not only can convert endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH) for catalytic therapy, but also decompose H2O2 to oxygen (O2) to enhance O2‐dependent PDT. In addition, their enzyme‐like activities are significantly enhanced under light irradiation. Combining with the excellent photothermal effect, FePc/HNCSs realize a high tumor inhibition rate of 96.3%. This strategy opens a new horizon for exploring a more powerful tumor treatment nanoplatform.
A photoresponsive nanozyme is designed for hypoxic tumor therapy. The composition of the nanostructure is not only simple but also multifunctional, which simultaneously exhibits peroxidase‐like, catalase‐like activities, photodynamic, and photothermal properties. This synergistic catalytic therapy and dual phototherapy mediated by photoresponsive nanozyme show great potential and unique advantages in tumor treatment.
Abstract Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are emerging as one of the promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications, but the nanomaterials–body interaction exposed by different ...administration routes remained poorly understood. In the present study, a systematic investigation of the absorption, distribution, excretion and toxicity of silica nanoparticles (SNs) with the average size of 110 nm after four different exposure routes including intravenous, hypodermic, intramuscular injection and oral administration to mice were achieved. The results showed that a fraction of the SNs administrated by the intramuscular and hypodermic injection could cross different biological barriers into the liver but with a low absorption rate. Exposing by oral administration, SNs were absorbed into the intestinal tract and persisted in the liver. And SNs administrated by intravenous injection were mainly present in the liver and spleen. In addition, SNs could cause inflammatory response around the injection sites after intramuscular and hypodermic injection. It was also found that SNs were mainly excreted through urine and feces after different exposure routes. This study will be helpful for selecting the appropriate exposed routes for the development of nanomaterials-based drug delivery system for biomedical applications.
Eye tracking (ET) is a viable marker for the recognition of cognitive disorders. We assessed the accuracy and clinical value of ET for the diagnosis of cognitive disorders in patients. We searched ...the Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Pubmed databases from inception to March 2, 2021, as well as the reference lists of identified primary studies. We included articles written in English that investigated ET for cognitive disorder patients-Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and dementia. Two independent researchers extracted the data and the characteristics of each study; We calculated pooled sensitivities and specificities. A hierarchical summary of receiver performance characteristics (HSROC) model was used to test the diagnostic accuracy of ET for cognitive impairment (CI). 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in qualitative comprehensive analysis. Meta-analysis was performed on 9 trials using Neuropsychological Cognitive Testing (NCT) as the reference standard. The comprehensive sensitivity and specificity of ET for detecting cognitive disorders were 0.75 (95% CI 0.72-0.79) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.76), respectively. The combined positive likelihood ratio (LR+) was 2.74 (95%CI 2.32-3.24) and the negative likelihood ratio (LR-) was 0.27 (95%CI 0.18-0.42). This review showed that ET technology could be used to detect the decline in CI, clinical use of ET techniques in combination with other tools to assess CI can be encouraged.
Recently, a commercial albumin-bound paclitaxel (PTX) nanocarrier (Abraxane) was approved as the first new drug for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in almost a decade. PTX improves the ...pharmaceutical efficacy of the first-line pancreatic cancer drug, gemcitabine (GEM), through suppression of the tumor stroma and inhibiting the expression of the GEM-inactivating enzyme, cytidine deaminase (CDA). We asked, therefore, whether it was possible to develop a mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSNP) carrier for pancreatic cancer to co-deliver a synergistic GEM/PTX combination. High drug loading was achieved by a custom-designed coated lipid film technique to encapsulate a calculated dose of GEM (40 wt %) by using a supported lipid bilayer (LB). The uniform coating of the 65 nm nanoparticles by a lipid membrane allowed incorporation of a sublethal amount of hydrophobic PTX, which could be co-delivered with GEM in pancreatic cells and tumors. We demonstrate that ratiometric PTX incorporation and delivery by our LB-MSNP could suppress CDA expression, contemporaneous with induction of oxidative stress as the operating principle for PTX synergy. To demonstrate the in vivo efficacy, mice carrying subcutaneous PANC-1 xenografts received intravenous (IV) injection of PTX/GEM-loaded LB-MSNP. Drug co-delivery provided more effective tumor shrinkage than GEM-loaded LB-MSNP, free GEM, or free GEM plus Abraxane. Comparable tumor shrinkage required coadministration of 12 times the amount of free Abraxane. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of tumor-associated GEM metabolites confirmed that, compared to free GEM, MSNP co-delivery increased the phosphorylated DNA-interactive GEM metabolite 13-fold and decreased the inactivated and deaminated metabolite 4-fold. IV injection of MSNP-delivered PTX/GEM in a PANC-1 orthotopic model effectively inhibited primary tumor growth and eliminated metastatic foci. The enhanced in vivo efficacy of the dual delivery carrier could be achieved with no evidence of local or systemic toxicity. In summary, we demonstrate the development of an effective LB-MSNP nanocarrier for synergistic PTX/GEM delivery in pancreatic cancer.
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•Trend reversal of NPP accounted for 36.02% of the whole area.•EEMD-detrending performed better than linear detrending.•Interannual NPP variations related more to precipitation than ...long-term trend.•Correlation of NPP to bioclimatic variables varied in different vegetation zones.
The relationship between vegetation Net primary production (NPP) and climate change is critical for understanding the driving forces of vegetation changes, while less were studied based on detrending analysis and Bioclimatic variables. In this study, detrending analysis based on Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) method was adopted to assess the relationship between NPP and climate change in different vegetation zones in Northwest China. The results indicated that: (1) although monotonic increasing was the main type of vegetation NPP trend (49.42%), shifted trend accounted for 36.02% of the whole area. There were some risks of vegetation degradation in temperate desert and alpine region of the Qinghai Tibet Platea, but chances for vegetation recovery in temperate grassland and warm temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest zones; (2) EEMD-detrending analysis performed much better than linear detrending analysis for assessing the relationship between climate change and vegetation NPP; (3) compared with no detrending, EEMD-detrending reduced the importance of BIO1 (annual mean temperature) and BIO2 (mean temperature diurnal range) for vegetation NPP, but enhanced those of BIO13 (precipitation of the wettest month) and BIO15 (precipitation seasonality); (4) BIO1, BIO2, BIO12 (annual precipitation), and BIO13 mainly showed positive relationships with interannual NPP variations, except that BIO1 and BIO13 mainly showed negative relationship in temperate grassland and warm temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest zones. Interannual NPP variations were dominated by BIO12 and BIO13, except that alpine region of Tibet plateau was dominated by BIO1 and BIO2. Our results demonstrated that EEMD-detrending analysis and Bioclimatic variables can better explore the interannual vegetation-climate relationship.
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