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International Journal of Nanomedicine 2024The purpose of this study is to address the high mortality and poor prognosis associated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), conditions characterized by...
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to address the high mortality and poor prognosis associated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), conditions characterized by acute and progressive respiratory failure. The primary goal was to prolong drug circulation time, increase drug accumulation in the lungs, and minimize drug-related side effects.
METHODS
Simvastatin (SIM) was used as the model drug in this study. Employing a red blood cell surface-loaded nanoparticle drug delivery technique, pH-responsive cationic nanoparticles loaded with SIM were non-covalently adsorbed onto the surface of red blood cells (RBC), creating a novel drug delivery system (RBC@SIM-PEI-PPNPs).
RESULTS
The RBC@SIM-PEI-PPNPs delivery system effectively extended the drug's circulation time, providing an extended therapeutic window. Additionally, this method substantially improved the targeted accumulation of SIM in lung tissues, thereby enhancing the drug's efficacy in treating ARDS and impeding its progression to ARDS. Crucially, the system showed a reduced risk of adverse drug reactions.
CONCLUSION
RBC@SIM-PEI-PPNPs demonstrates promise in ARDS and ARDS treatment. This innovative approach successfully overcomes the limitations associated with SIM's poor solubility and low bioavailability, resulting in improved therapeutic outcomes and fewer drug-related side effects. This research holds significant clinical implications and highlights its potential for broader application in drug delivery and lung disease treatment.
Topics: Simvastatin; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Erythrocytes; Animals; Lung; Humans; Male; Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System; Nanoparticles; Mice; Polyethyleneimine; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Carriers
PubMed: 38859953
DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S460890 -
Journal of Nanobiotechnology Jun 2024Properly designed second near-infrared (NIR-II) nanoplatform that is responsive tumor microenvironment can intelligently distinguish between normal and cancerous tissues...
BACKGROUND
Properly designed second near-infrared (NIR-II) nanoplatform that is responsive tumor microenvironment can intelligently distinguish between normal and cancerous tissues to achieve better targeting efficiency. Conventional photoacoustic nanoprobes are always "on", and tumor microenvironment-responsive nanoprobe can minimize the influence of endogenous chromophore background signals. Therefore, the development of nanoprobe that can respond to internal tumor microenvironment and external stimulus shows great application potential for the photoacoustic diagnosis of tumor.
RESULTS
In this work, a low-pH-triggered thermal-responsive volume phase transition nanogel gold nanorod@poly(n-isopropylacrylamide)-vinyl acetic acid (AuNR@PNIPAM-VAA) was constructed for photoacoustic detection of tumor. Via an external near-infrared photothermal switch, the absorption of AuNR@PNIPAM-VAA nanogel in the tumor microenvironment can be dynamically regulated, so that AuNR@PNIPAM-VAA nanogel produces switchable photoacoustic signals in the NIR-II window for tumor-specific enhanced photoacoustic imaging. In vitro results show that at pH 5.8, the absorption and photoacoustic signal amplitude of AuNR@PNIPAM-VAA nanogel in NIR-II increases up obviously after photothermal modulating, while they remain slightly change at pH 7.4. Quantitative calculation presents that photoacoustic signal amplitude of AuNR@PNIPAM-VAA nanogel at 1064 nm has ~ 1.6 folds enhancement as temperature increases from 37.5 °C to 45 °C in simulative tumor microenvironment. In vivo results show that the prepared AuNR@PNIPAM-VAA nanogel can achieve enhanced NIR-II photoacoustic imaging for selective tumor detection through dynamically responding to thermal field, which can be precisely controlled by external light.
CONCLUSIONS
This work will offer a viable strategy for the tumor-specific photoacoustic imaging using NIR light to regulate the thermal field and target the low pH tumor microenvironment, which is expected to realize accurate and dynamic monitoring of tumor diagnosis and treatment.
Topics: Photoacoustic Techniques; Animals; Gold; Tumor Microenvironment; Mice; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Acrylic Resins; Nanogels; Humans; Cell Line, Tumor; Polyethylene Glycols; Nanotubes; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Neoplasms; Mice, Nude; Infrared Rays; Female; Polyethyleneimine
PubMed: 38858673
DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02617-y -
Environmental Microbiology Reports Jun 2024Boreal freshwaters go through four seasons, however, studies about the decomposition of terrestrial and plastic compounds often focus only on summer. We compared...
Boreal freshwaters go through four seasons, however, studies about the decomposition of terrestrial and plastic compounds often focus only on summer. We compared microbial decomposition of C-polyethylene, C-polystyrene, and C-plant litter (Typha latifolia) by determining the biochemical fate of the substrate carbon and identified the microbial decomposer taxa in humic lake waters in four seasons. For the first time, the annual decomposition rate including separated seasonal variation was calculated for microplastics and plant litter in the freshwater system. Polyethylene decomposition was not detected, whereas polystyrene and plant litter were degraded in all seasons. In winter, decomposition rates of polystyrene and plant litter were fivefold and fourfold slower than in summer, respectively. Carbon from each substrate was mainly respired in all seasons. Plant litter was utilized efficiently by various microbial groups, whereas polystyrene decomposition was limited to Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria. The decomposition was not restricted only to the growth season, highlighting that the decomposition of both labile organic matter and extremely recalcitrant microplastics continues throughout the seasons.
Topics: Seasons; Lakes; Microbiota; Biodegradation, Environmental; Plastics; Bacteria; Humic Substances; Typhaceae; Microplastics; Polyethylene; Carbon; Polystyrenes
PubMed: 38852938
DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13302 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jul 2024Fibromyalgia is characterised by widespread chronic pain and is often accompanied by comorbidities such as sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. Because it is often...
Fibromyalgia is characterised by widespread chronic pain and is often accompanied by comorbidities such as sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. Because it is often accompanied by many adverse symptoms and lack of effective treatment, it is important to search for the pathogenesis and treatment of fibromyalgia. Astaxanthin, a carotenoid pigment known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has demonstrated effective analgesic effects in neuropathic pain. However, its impact on fibromyalgia remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we constructed a mouse model of fibromyalgia and investigated the effect of astaxanthin on chronic pain and associated symptoms through multiple intragastrical injections. We conducted behavioural assessments to detect pain and depression-like states in mice, recorded electroencephalograms to monitor sleep stages, examined c-Fos activation in the anterior cingulate cortex, measured activation of spinal glial cells, and assessed levels of inflammatory factors in the brain and spinal cord, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor- α(TNF-α).Additionally, we analysed the expression levels of IL-6, IL-10, NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3), Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD, and Caspase-1 proteins. The findings revealed that astaxanthin significantly ameliorated mechanical and thermal pain in mice with fibromyalgia and mitigated sleep disorders and depressive-like symptoms induced by pain. A potential mechanism underlying these effects is the anti-inflammatory action of astaxanthin, likely mediated through the inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which could be one of the pathways through which astaxanthin alleviates fibromyalgia. In conclusion, our study suggests that astaxanthin holds promise as a potential analgesic medication for managing fibromyalgia and its associated symptoms.
Topics: Animals; Xanthophylls; Fibromyalgia; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Inflammasomes; Depression; Mice; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Disease Models, Animal; Analgesics; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Chronic Pain; Cytokines; Spinal Cord; Behavior, Animal
PubMed: 38852510
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116856 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2024Microplastics (MPs), emerging as significant pollutants, have been consistently detected in aquatic environments, with the Yangtze River experiencing a particularly...
Microplastics (MPs), emerging as significant pollutants, have been consistently detected in aquatic environments, with the Yangtze River experiencing a particularly severe level of microplastic pollution, exceeding all other watersheds in China. Polypropylene (PP), the plastic most abundantly found in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin, has less comprehensive research results into its toxic effects. Consequently, the present investigation employed zebrafish as a model organism to delve into the toxicological impacts of polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) with a diameter of 5 μm across varying concentrations (300 mg/L and 600 mg/L). Using histopathological, microbiota profiling, and transcriptomic approaches, we systematically evaluated the impact of PP-MPs exposure on the intestine and liver of zebrafish. Histopathological analysis revealed that exposure to PP-MPs resulted in thinner intestinal walls, damaged intestinal mucosa, and hepatic cellular damage. Intestinal microbiota profiling demonstrated that, the richness, uniformity, diversity, and homogeneity of gut microbes significantly increased after the PP-MPs exposure at high concentration. These alterations were accompanied by shifts in the relative abundance of microbiota associated with intestinal pathologies, suggesting a profound impact on the intestinal microbial community structure. Concurrently, hepatic transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR indicated that the downregulation of pathways and genes associated with cell proliferation regulation and DNA damage repair mechanisms contributed to hepatic cellular damage, ultimately exerting adverse effects on the liver. Correlation analysis between the intestinal microbiota and liver transcriptome profiles further highlighted significant associations between intestinal microbiota and the downregulated hepatic pathways. Collectively, these results provide novel insights into the subacute toxicological mechanisms of PP-MPs in aquatic organisms and highlight the need for further research on the ecological and health risks associated with PP-MPs pollution.
Topics: Animals; Zebrafish; Microplastics; Polypropylenes; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Liver; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; China; Intestines; Transcriptome; Rivers; Intestinal Mucosa
PubMed: 38852469
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116537 -
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry : PPB Jul 2024Drought is a major environmental stress that limits plant growth, so it's important to identify drought-responsive genes to understand the mechanism of drought response...
Drought is a major environmental stress that limits plant growth, so it's important to identify drought-responsive genes to understand the mechanism of drought response and breed drought-tolerant roses. Protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) plays a crucial role in plant abiotic stress response. In this study, we identified 412 putative PP2Cs from six Rosaceae species. These genes were divided into twelve clades, with clade A containing the largest number of PP2Cs (14.1%). Clade A PP2Cs are known for their important role in ABA-mediated drought stress response; therefore, the analysis focused on these specific genes. Conserved motif analysis revealed that clade A PP2Cs in these six Rosaceae species shared conserved C-terminal catalytic domains. Collinearity analysis indicated that segmental duplication events played a significant role in the evolution of clade A PP2Cs in Rosaceae. Analysis of the expression of 11 clade A RcPP2Cs showed that approximately 60% of these genes responded to drought, high temperature, and salt stress. Among them, RcPP2C24 exhibited the highest responsiveness to both drought and ABA. Furthermore, overexpression of RcPP2C24 significantly reduced drought tolerance in transgenic tobacco by increasing stomatal aperture after exposure to drought stress. The transient overexpression of RcPP2C24 weakened the dehydration tolerance of rose petal discs, while its silencing increased their dehydration tolerance. In summary, our study identified PP2Cs in six Rosaceae species and highlighted the negative role of RcPP2C24 on rose's drought tolerance by inhibiting stomatal closure. Our findings provide valuable insights into understanding the mechanism behind rose's response to drought.
Topics: Plant Proteins; Protein Phosphatase 2C; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Droughts; Rosa; Plants, Genetically Modified; Rosaceae; Nicotiana; Phylogeny; Abscisic Acid; Stress, Physiological; Dehydration; Drought Resistance
PubMed: 38850728
DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108782 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2024Isoprenoid metabolism and its derivatives took part in photosynthesis, growth regulation, signal transduction, and plant defense to biotic and abiotic stresses. However,...
Isoprenoid metabolism and its derivatives took part in photosynthesis, growth regulation, signal transduction, and plant defense to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, how aluminum (Al) stress affects the isoprenoid metabolism and whether isoprenoid metabolism plays a vital role in the Citrus plants in coping with Al stress remain unclear. In this study, we reported that Al-treatment-induced alternation in the volatilization rate of monoterpenes (α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene and 3-carene) and isoprene were different between Citrus sinensis (Al-tolerant) and C. grandis (Al-sensitive) leaves. The Al-induced decrease of CO assimilation, maximum quantum yield of primary PSII photochemistry (F/F), the lower contents of glucose and starch, and the lowered activities of enzymes involved in the mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway and 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway might account for the different volatilization rate of isoprenoids. Furthermore, the altered transcript levels of genes related to isoprenoid precursors and/or derivatives metabolism, such as geranyl diphosphate (GPP) synthase (GPPS) in GPP biosynthesis, geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS), chlorophyll synthase (CHS) and GGPP reductase (GGPPR) in chlorophyll biosynthesis, limonene synthase (LS) and α-pinene synthase (APS) in limonene and α-pinene synthesis, respectively, might be responsible for the different contents of corresponding products in C. grandis and C. sinensis. Our data suggested that isoprenoid metabolism was involved in Al tolerance response in Citrus, and the alternation of some branches of isoprenoid metabolism could confer different Al-tolerance to Citrus species.
Topics: Aluminum; Terpenes; Citrus; Limonene; Photosynthesis; Bicyclic Monoterpenes; Plant Leaves; Stress, Physiological; Monoterpenes; Hemiterpenes; Cyclohexenes; Sugar Phosphates; Butadienes; Erythritol; Mevalonic Acid; Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; Citrus sinensis; Chlorophyll; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; Volatilization
PubMed: 38850709
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116545 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jul 2024Polymer-cationic mediated gene delivery is a well-stablished strategy of transient gene expression (TGE) in mammalian cell cultures. Nonetheless, its industrial...
Polymer-cationic mediated gene delivery is a well-stablished strategy of transient gene expression (TGE) in mammalian cell cultures. Nonetheless, its industrial implementation is hindered by the phenomenon known as cell density effect (CDE) that limits the cell density at which cultures can be efficiently transfected. The rise in personalized medicine and multiple cell and gene therapy approaches based on TGE, make more relevant to understand how to circumvent the CDE. A rational study upon DNA/PEI complex formation, stability and delivery during transfection of HEK293 cell cultures has been conducted, providing insights on the mechanisms for polyplexes uptake at low cell density and disruption at high cell density. DNA/PEI polyplexes were physiochemically characterized by coupling X-ray spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Our results showed that the ionic strength of polyplexes significantly increased upon their addition to exhausted media. This was reverted by depleting extracellular vesicles (EVs) from the media. The increase in ionic strength led to polyplex aggregation and prevented efficient cell transfection which could be counterbalanced by implementing a simple media replacement (MR) step before transfection. Inhibiting and labeling specific cell-surface proteoglycans (PGs) species revealed different roles of PGs in polyplexes uptake. Importantly, the polyplexes uptake process seemed to be triggered by a coalescence phenomenon of HSPG like glypican-4 around polyplex entry points. Ultimately, this study provides new insights into PEI-based cell transfection methodologies, enabling to enhance transient transfection and mitigate the cell density effect (CDE).
Topics: Humans; HEK293 Cells; Transfection; Glypicans; DNA; Polyethyleneimine; Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; Osmolar Concentration
PubMed: 38850653
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116893 -
Combined low-dose isotretinoin and long-pulsed nd: YAG laser in the treatment of post-acne erythema.Archives of Dermatological Research Jun 2024Post-acne erythema (PAE) is a bothering skin condition that emerges from inflammatory acne and persists after its resolution. It is characterized by telangiectasia and...
Post-acne erythema (PAE) is a bothering skin condition that emerges from inflammatory acne and persists after its resolution. It is characterized by telangiectasia and erythematous macules. the role of 1064-nm Nd: YAG when combined with low-dose isotretinoin in the acne erythema treatment. forty-eight PAE patients were involved in the study. They were divided into two groups; group (A) patients administering a low dose of oral isotretinoin (10 mg/day) and underwent a total of six two-week interval sessions of 1064 ND-YAG laser treatment, group (B) patients administering a low dose of oral isotretinoin (10 mg/day) only. All adverse effects experienced during the course of therapy were documented, and photos were taken before the start of the treatment and following the end of the treatment duration. Following the completion of the therapeutic intervention, a significant improvement in clinical condition was observed in both groups, with more improvement in group (A) compared to group (B) as evidenced by a notable improvement in the score on the Clinician Erythema Assessment Scale (CEAS) and also a significant decrease in the mean value of optical density of the erythema. combined 1064-nm Nd: YAG with low-dose isotretinoin may be an efficient and secure line in the PAE treatment. Also, the combined therapy had superior results when compared to low-dose isotretinoin alone.
Topics: Humans; Isotretinoin; Erythema; Acne Vulgaris; Female; Male; Lasers, Solid-State; Adult; Dermatologic Agents; Young Adult; Treatment Outcome; Adolescent; Combined Modality Therapy
PubMed: 38850412
DOI: 10.1007/s00403-024-03143-5 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024The aim of current study was to prepared zinc oxide nanofertilzers by ecofriendly friendly, economically feasible, free of chemical contamination and safe for biological...
The aim of current study was to prepared zinc oxide nanofertilzers by ecofriendly friendly, economically feasible, free of chemical contamination and safe for biological use. The study focused on crude extract of Withania coagulans as reducing agent for the green synthesis of ZnO nano-particles. Biosynthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR and GC-MS analysis. However, zinc oxide as green Nano fertilizer was used to analyze responses induced by different doses of ZnO NPs [0, 25, 50,100, 200 mg/l and Zn acetate (100 mg/l)] in Triticum aestivum (wheat). The stimulatory and inhibitory effects of foliar application of ZnO NPs were studied on wheat (Triticum aestivum) with aspect of biomass accumulation, morphological attributes, biochemical parameters and anatomical modifications. Wheat plant showed significant (p < 0.01) enhancement of growth parameters upon exposure to ZnO NPs at specific concentrations. In addition, wheat plant showed significant increase in biochemical attributes, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, carbohydrate and protein contents. Antioxidant enzyme (POD, SOD, CAT) and total flavonoid content also confirmed nurturing impact on wheat plant. Increased stem, leaf and root anatomical parameters, all showed ZnO NPs mitigating capacity when applied to wheat. According to the current research, ZnO NPs application on wheat might be used to increase growth, yield, and Zn biofortification in wheat plants.
Topics: Triticum; Zinc Oxide; Fertilizers; Oxidation-Reduction; Plant Leaves; Chlorophyll; Antioxidants; Carotenoids; Metal Nanoparticles; Plant Roots
PubMed: 38849601
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63987-9