Synergistic antidiabetic activity of ZnO nanoparticles encompassed by Urtica dioica extract

The present study aimed at producing ZnO nanoparticles using the leaf extract of nettle (Urtica dioica) as a medicinally valuable plant to maximize the antidiabetic property of ZnO while excluding the chemical pollution from the synthesis process. The properties of the ZnO-extract sample were uncovered by various techniques and compared to that produced without the extract (ZnO). The results of the surface, optical, and thermal studies disclosed the presence of the extract biomolecules over the ZnO-extract sample and was further confirmed by GC–MS analysis. The ZnO-extract was intraperitoneally injected to alloxan-induced diabetic rats and the effects on the serum levels of fasting blood glucose, insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and total triglyceride were assessed. The obtained results were then compared with the effects of ZnO, nettle leaf extract, and insulin on the same factors. Among all the examined treatments, the best antidiabetic performance was obtained in the rats treated by ZnO-U. dioica extract mainly owing to the great synergistic interaction between its constituents.     

自体荧光诊断癌肿瘤

本文较全面地介绍了在激光的诱导下，利用生物组织的自体荧光光谱特性对多种癌肿瘤的诊断，并初步探讨了癌组织中自体荧光的来源。     

肿瘤的光动力诊断和光动力治疗的研究进展

HPD等光敏化剂可以有选择地潴留在肿瘤内，激光诱导出的特征光谱可用于肿瘤的光动力诊断。当用一定波长的激光照射光敏物质分子时，它可以从基态跃迁激发单态，通过系际交叉过渡到激发三重态。处于三重态的光敏化剂分子通过能量转移，使三重态的氧变成对肿瘤细胞具有毒化作用的单态氧，从而实现了肿瘤的光动力治疗。     

激光激发微弱荧光信号的光电探测

提出一种微弱荧光光电探测的实验装置，同时研究这种系统的噪声产生和抑制问题，信号噪声比的改善使得这种装置可以使用小功率氦氖激光作为激光发条件下探测荧光信号。这些工作为肿瘤早期诊断系统设备的实用化创造了基础。     

Interfering with Lactate‐Fueled Respiration for Enhanced Photodynamic Tumor Therapy by a Porphyrinic MOF Nanoplatform

Lactate is a prominent energy substrate for oxidative tumor cells. Interfering with the lactate‐fueled respiration of oxidative tumor cells would be a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. In this study, α‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamate (CHC) is incorporated into a porous Zr (IV)‐based porphyrinic metal‐organic framework (PZM) nanoparticle, to reduce the lactate uptake by inhibiting the expression of lactate‐proton symporter, monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) in tumor cells, thus transform lactate‐fueled aerobic respiration to anaerobic glycolysis. The alteration in energy supply can also decrease the oxygen consumption in tumor cells, which would facilitate the photodynamic therapy (PDT) in cancer treatment. Moreover, hyaluronic acid (HA) is coated on the surface of PZM nanoparticles for CD44‐targeting and hyaluronidase‐induced intracellular drug releasing. Both in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed good biocompatibility and enhanced PDT efficacy of the HA‐coated PZM nanoparticles (CHC‐PZM@HA) in tumor cells. The CHC‐PZM@HA platform will provide a new perspective in cancer therapy.     

Light‐Triggered Clustered Vesicles with Self‐Supplied Oxygen and Tissue Penetrability for Photodynamic Therapy against Hypoxic Tumor

Smart nanocarriers are of particular interest for highly effective photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the field of precision nanomedicine. Nevertheless, a critical challenge still remains in the exploration of potent PDT treatment against hypoxic tumor. Herein, light‐triggered clustered polymeric vesicles for photoinduced hypoxic tumor ablation are demonstrated, which are able to deeply penetrate into the tumor and simultaneously afford oxygen supply upon light irradiation. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and poly(amidoamine) dendrimer conjugating chlorin e6/cypate (CC‐PAMAM) are coassembled with reactive‐oxygen‐species‐responsive triblock copolymer into the polymeric vesicles. Upon 805 nm irradiation, the vesicles exhibit the light‐triggered thermal effect that is able to decompose H₂O₂ into O₂, which distinctly ensures the alleviation of tumor hypoxia at tumor. Followed by 660 nm irradiation, the vesicles are rapidly destabilized through singlet oxygen‐mediated cleavage of copolymer under light irradiation and thus allow the release of photoactive CC‐PAMAM from the vesicular chambers, followed by their deep penetration in the poorly permeable tumor. Consequently, the light‐triggered vesicles with both self‐supplied oxygen and deep tissue penetrability achieve the total ablation of hypoxic hypopermeable pancreatic tumor through photodynamic damage. These findings represent a general and smart nanoplatform for effective photoinduced treatment against hypoxic tumor.