Harnessing piezoelectric materials for tumor therapy: Current advances and outlook.

Piezoelectric materials have emerged as a transformative technology in tumor therapy, offering innovative solutions to longstanding challenges in cancer treatment. These materials leverage their unique electromechanical coupling properties to convert various energy forms, such as ultrasound and mechanical stimuli, into localized electric fields. This capability facilitates precise drug delivery, enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation for dynamic therapies, and enables localized electrical stimulation, all while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

Synergistic Defect-Driven Chemocatalysis and Ultrasound-Activated Piezocatalysis by Two-Dimensional SnSe Nanosheets.

Osteosarcoma (OS) constitutes a severe malignant disorder affecting bone tissue and poses a significant global public health risk. Here, we introduce an injectable, synergistic chemopiezodynamic therapy utilizing tin selenide (SnSe) two-dimensional nanosheets, which generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to target OS effectively. We observed clear antitumor effects in OS following treatment with SnSe.

3D Printed Flexible Zinc-Ion Battery for Real-Time Health Monitoring Devices.

The growing need for multifunctional wearable electronics for mobile applications has triggered the demand for flexible and reliable energy storage devices. 3D printing technology has emerged as a promising and attractive method for manufacturing these devices. This study presents the design and fabrication of a flexible quasi-solid-state Zn-ion battery using the direct-writing 3D printing technique.

Kaempferide enhances type I interferon signaling as a novel broad-spectrum antiviral agent.

Broad-spectrum antivirals (BSAs) possess unique advantages of being effective against a wide range of both existing and unpredictable emerging viral infections. The host type I interferon (IFN) response serves as a universal defense against diverse viral infections nonspecifically, providing attractive targets to develop novel BSAs. In this study, we identified the flavonoid kaempferide as an enhancer of the type I IFN activated Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway, promoting the expression of IFN stimulated genes (ISGs) and the establishment of cellular antiviral status.

Engineering a Zn-NC electron bridge boosting charge transfer in ZnO/CN Z-scheme heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic disinfection.

Although photocatalytic disinfection can avoid secondary pollution and other shortcomings compared to traditional disinfection methods, its development is seriously hindered by poor charge separation and transfer efficiency. Herein, we design a Zn-NC (single Zn atoms embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon) bridged ZnO/CN Z-scheme heterojunction (ZnO/Zn-NC/CN) with robust interface contact by a multi-interfacial engineering strategy to achieve highly efficient separation and transfer of charge. Experimental and theoretical analyses demonstrate that the tightly integrated interface and excellent electrical conductivity of Zn-NC electron bridges ensure effective transfer of photogenerated charge carriers.

Tailoring ORR Activity in Fe-N-C Catalysts through Phosphorus Incorporation.

Atomically dispersed iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon materials (Fe-N-C) represent promising non-precious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), offering potential alternatives to noble metal-based benchmarks. In our study, we investigated the influence of phosphorus doping on the catalytic activity of Fe-N-C. The experimental research demonstrate that the doping of phosphorus significantly enhances the ORR activity.

Selective degradation of multimeric proteins by TRIM21-based molecular glue and PROTAC degraders.

Targeted protein degradation (TPD) utilizes molecular glues or proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) to eliminate disease-causing proteins by promoting their interaction with E3 ubiquitin ligases. Current TPD approaches are limited by reliance on a small number of constitutively active E3 ubiquitin ligases. Here, we report that (S)-ACE-OH, a metabolite of the antipsychotic drug acepromazine, acts as a molecular glue to induce an interaction between the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM21 and the nucleoporin NUP98, leading to the degradation of nuclear pore proteins and disruption of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking.

Establishing the Comprehensive Structure-Activity Relationship of the Natural Antibiotic Kibdelomycin/Amycolamicin.

Kibdelomycin (KBD) and amycolamicin (AMM) are potent natural antibiotics effective against antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive pathogens, including vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, VISA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and quinolone-resistant S.

Direct contact between tumor cells and platelets initiates a FAK-dependent F3/TGF-β positive feedback loop that promotes tumor progression and EMT in osteosarcoma.

Platelets have received growing attention for their roles in hematogenous tumor metastasis. However, the tumor-platelet interaction in osteosarcoma (OS) remains poorly understood. Here, using platelet-specific focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-deficient mice, we uncover a FAK-dependent F3/TGF-β positive feedback loop in OS.

Enhancing activity and stability of FeNC catalysts through co incorporation for oxygen reduction reaction.

FeNC single atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted great interest due to their highly active FeN sites. However, the pyrolysis treatment often leads to inevitable metal migration and aggregation, which reduces the catalytic activity. Moreover, due to the Fenton reaction caused by FeNC in alkaline and acidic solutions, the presence of Fe and peroxide in electrodes may generate free radicals, resulting in serious degradation of the organic ionomer and the membrane.

Dural Reconstruction Materials for the Repairing of Spinal Neoplastic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks.

Spinal tumors often lead to more complex complications than other bone tumors. Nerve injuries, dura mater defect, and subsequent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage generally appear in spinal tumor surgeries and are followed by serious adverse outcomes such as infections and even death. The use of suitable dura mater replacements to achieve multifunctionality in fluid leakage plugging, preventing adhesions, and dural reconstruction is a promising therapeutic approach.

Tocilizumab (monoclonal anti-IL-6R antibody) reverses anlotinib resistance in osteosarcoma.

Purpose: Anlotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) has been in clinical application to inhibit malignant cell growth and lung metastasis in osteosarcoma (OS). However, a variety of drug resistance phenomena have been observed in the treatment. We aim to explore the new target to reverse anlotinib resistance in OS.

Drug-Loaded Zwitterion-Based Nanomotors for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment requires a nanosystem for drug delivery that can effectively penetrate the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB). Herein, we designed poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylgallylcholine) (PMPC)/l-arginine (PMPC/A)-based nanomotors that can release nitric oxide (NO). The nanomotors were loaded with the inducible NO synthase inhibitor 1400W and nerve growth factor (NGF).

Chemotactic NO/HS Nanomotors Realizing Cardiac Targeting of G-CSF against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), with a direct repair effect on injured cardiomyocytes against myocardial infarction ischemia-reperfusion-injury (IRI), displays a poor effect owing to the limited cardiac targeting efficacy. There are almost no reports of nanomaterials that deliver G-CSF to the IRI site. Herein, we propose a way to protect G-CSF by constructing one layer of nitric oxide (NO)/hydrogen sulfide (HS) nanomotors on its outside.

Chordoma recruits and polarizes tumor-associated macrophages via secreting CCL5 to promote malignant progression.

Background: Chordoma is an extremely rare, locally aggressive malignant bone tumor originating from undifferentiated embryonic remnants. There are no effective therapeutic strategies for chordoma. Herein, we aimed to explore cellular interactions within the chordoma immune microenvironment and provide new therapeutic targets.

Nanosized drug delivery strategies in osteosarcoma chemotherapy.

Despite recent developments worldwide in the therapeutic care of osteosarcoma (OS), the ongoing challenges in overcoming limitations and side effects of chemotherapy drugs warrant new strategies to improve overall patient survival. Spurred by rapid progress in biomedicine, nanobiotechnology, and materials chemistry, chemotherapeutic drug delivery in treatment of OS has become possible in recent years. Here, we review recent advances in the design of drug delivery system, especially for chemotherapeutic drugs in OS, and discuss the relative merits in trials along with future therapeutic options.

The malignancy of chordomas is enhanced via a circTLK1/miR-16-5p/Smad3 positive feedback axis.

CircRNAs play crucial roles in various malignancies via an increasing number of reported regulatory mechanisms, including the classic sponging mechanism between circRNAs and micro RNAs (miRNAs). We performed bioinformatic analyses and identified circTLK1 as a regulator of malignant chordoma progression. Moreover, we observed that circTLK1 showed high expression in chordoma cells and tissues, while circTLK1 interference suppressed chordoma cell proliferation and invasion.

Expression and Clinical Significance of Various Checkpoint Molecules in Advanced Osteosarcoma: Possibilities for Novel Immunotherapy.

Objectives: The fact that studies on anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or its relevant ligand 1 (PD-L1) have yielded such few responses greatly decreases the confidence in immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors for advanced osteosarcoma. We intended to characterize the expression of various checkpoint molecules with immunohistochemistry in osteosarcoma specimens and analyzed the relationship of the expression of these checkpoint molecules with patients' clinical courses.

Methods: This study was a retrospective non-intervention study from August 1st 2017 to March 1st 2020.

Current progress and open challenges for applying tyrosine kinase inhibitors in osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a mesenchymal-origin tumor that constitutes the most common primary malignant bone tumor. The survival rate of the patients has significantly improved since the introduction of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and extensive resection, but it has stagnated in recent 40 years. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have played a key part in the treatment of malignant tumors.

The COPS3-FOXO3 positive feedback loop regulates autophagy to promote cisplatin resistance in osteosarcoma.

Chemotherapy is an important treatment modality for osteosarcoma (OS), but the development of chemoresistance limits the therapeutic efficacy of OS and results in a poor prognosis. Thus, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying chemoresistance in OS is essential. We previously demonstrated that COPS3/CSN3 (COP9 signalosome subunit 3) functions as an oncogene to promote OS cells lung metastasis, which is closely related to chemoresistance.

Electrochemical sensor based on micromotor technology for detection of Ox-LDL in whole blood.

Detecting the concentration of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) in whole blood is of great significance for monitoring the development of atherosclerosis. In order to simplify the complex processing steps of blood sample before the detection, an electrochemical sensor based on micromotor technology was designed, which was called magnesium (Mg)-FeO@ prussian blue (PB)@ antibody of Ox-LDL (Ab)@ bovine serum albumin (BSA). The active capture of Ox-LDL in whole blood can be realized by the help of the movement of Mg microsphere with the driving force of H.

A photoelectrochemical immunosensor based on Z-scheme CdS composite heterojunction for aflatoxin B1.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly toxic fungal contaminant widely found in agricultural products. It causes serious harm to human health and the environment. Thus, a fast and sensitive detection approach is urgently needed to prevent AFB1-contaminated products from entering the market effectively.

Mediation of mechanically adapted TiCu/TiCuN/CFR-PEEK implants in vascular regeneration to promote bone repair in vitro and in vivo.

Background/objective: TiCu/TiCuN is a multilayer composite coating comprising TiN and Cu, which provides excellent wear resistance and antibacterial properties. However, its applicability as a functional coating has not been widely realised, and several aspects pertaining to its properties must still be explored.

Methods: This study uses arc ion-plating technology to apply a TiCu/TiCuN coating on the surface of carbon fibre-reinforced (CFR) polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material.

PI3K inhibitor impairs tumor progression and enhances sensitivity to anlotinib in anlotinib-resistant osteosarcoma.

Despite recent improvements in the therapeutic management of osteosarcoma (OS), the ongoing challenges in overcoming resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) warrant new strategies to improve overall patient survival. In this study, we established four anlotinib-resistant OS cell lines and demonstrated that the mechanism of anlotinib resistance is due to the loss of PTEN and reactivation of the MAPK pathway. Reduced PTEN expression was also observed in tumor samples from patients with OS and lung metastasis.

Nitric oxide-driven nanomotors with bowl-shaped mesoporous silica for targeted thrombolysis.

Vein thrombosis is one of the most serious types of cardiovascular disease. During the traditional treatment, due to the excessive blood flow rate, the drug utilization rate at the thrombus site is low and the thrombolysis efficiency is poor. In this study, bowl-shaped silica nanomotors driven by nitric oxide (NO) are designed to target the thrombus surface by modifying arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) polypeptide, and simultaneously loading l-arginine (LA) and thrombolytic drug urokinase (UK) in its mesopore structure.