TAMpepK Suppresses Metastasis through the Elimination of M2-Like Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately 10–15% of all breast cancer cases and is characterized by high invasiveness, high metastatic potential, relapse proneness, and poor prognosis. M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to tumorigenesis and are promising targets for inhibiting breast cancer metastasis. Therefore, we investigated whether melittin-conjugated pro-apoptotic peptide (TAMpepK) exerts therapeutic effects on breast cancer metastasis by targeting M2-like TAMs. TAMpepK is composed of M2-like TAM binding peptide (TAMpep) and pro-apoptotic peptide d(KLAKLAK)₂ (dKLA). A metastatic mouse model was constructed by injecting 4T1-luc2 cells either orthotopically or via tail vein injection, and tumor burden was quantified using a bioluminescence in vivo imaging system. We found that TAMpepK suppressed lung and lymph node metastases of breast cancer by eliminating M2-like TAMs without affecting the viability of M1-like macrophages and resident macrophages in the orthotopic model. Furthermore, TAMpepK reduced pulmonary seeding and the colonization of tumor cells in the tail vein injection model. The number of CD8⁺ T cells in contact with TAMs was significantly decreased in tumor nodules treated with TAMpepK, resulting in the functional activation of cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that TAMpepK could be a novel therapeutic agent for the inhibition of breast cancer metastasis by targeting M2-like TAMs.     

Droplet generation with integrated 3D pneumatic actuator for orifice control

A droplet generator with an embedded 3D balloon actuator around a flow-focusing junction is realized to adjust the size of the droplets as required with only one element. The 3D actuator encircling the orifice causes a geometric deformation due to pneumatic pressure, which controls the orifice and thus the sizes of the droplets. The orifice and actuator are designed to have triangular cross-sections with the largest possible reduction in hydraulic diameters under the same pneumatic pressure. We empirically demonstrated that, compared with typical fixed orifice structures, droplet generators with variable orifices reduce the droplet size without changing the flow rate and can even be adjusted to a wider range of 259.3 %. The devices were fabricated by the 3D-printed soluble mold technique to achieve a fully 3D structure within a single body of polydimethylsiloxane that is unattainable by conventional standard microfabrications as well as a non-bonding structure without any leakage.

     

水菖蒲活性成分β-细辛醚对四纹豆象不同虫态的熏蒸毒杀作用

为了确定水菖蒲活性成分β-细辛醚对四纹豆象的熏蒸毒杀作用,研究了β-细辛醚对四纹豆象卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫4种不同虫态的熏蒸作用.结果表明:β-细辛醚对四纹豆象4种虫态均有一定的熏蒸作用.β-细辛醚熏蒸四纹豆象卵120 h后,LC_(50)为0.95 μL/L.对四纹豆象幼虫以200 μL/L的体积比处理后,幼虫的校正死亡率为51.69%.对四纹豆象蛹的熏蒸作用不明显.对四纹豆象成虫熏蒸24 h后,KC_(50)为1.07 μL/L,熏蒸120 h后,LC_(50)为0.73 μL/L.