Adenosine triphosphate/pH dual-responsive controlled drug release system with high cancer/normal cell selectivity and low side toxicity.

Most drug-delivery systems (DDS) suffer from poor selectivity to cancer/normal cells or the complicated synthetic process. Herein, we employed a novel facile method to develop an oligodeoxy nucleotides based DDS composed with adenosine-5- triphosphate (ATP) aptamer and a pH responsive cytosine (C) DNA fragment for specific daunomycine (DNM) delivery. The DDS has ATP/pH dual-responsive drug release, can selectively internalize into tumor cell lines and thus has ultrahigh cancer/normal cell selectivity over the individual drug.

Stability Analysis for Delayed Neural Networks via a Generalized Reciprocally Convex Inequality.

This article deals with the stability of neural networks (NNs) with time-varying delay. First, a generalized reciprocally convex inequality (RCI) is presented, providing a tight bound for reciprocally convex combinations. This inequality includes some existing ones as special case.

VEGF aptamer/i-motif-grafted multi-functional SPION nanocarrier for chemotherapeutic/phototherapeutic synergistic research.

Chemotherapeutic agents and photosensitizers often suffer from poor tumor selectivity, high side toxicity, or low water solubility. To address these problems, various drug delivery systems (DDS) have been explored but most of them are toxic, difficult to synthesize, or of single function. In order to design a highly biocompatible, conveniently prepared, multi-functional drug delivery system, herein, an aptamer of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and a cytosine (C)-DNA fragment were grafted on the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION), and then a chemotherapeutic agent daunomycin (DNM) and a photosensitizer 5, 10, 15, 20-tetra (phenyl-4-N-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin (TMPyP) were self-assembled with the hybridized VEGF-based DNA structure.

VEGF aptamer/i-motif-based drug co-delivery system for combined chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy.

Background: Nucleic acids used as drug delivery systems (DDS) have gained attention because of their biosafety and effortless synthesis. G-quadruplex (G4) structured aptamer such as AS1411 was frequently employed to deliver photosensitizers or chemotherapeutic agents while other aptamers were seldomly reported in this field.

Methods: Herein, a chemical anticancer drug daunomycin (DNM), and a photosensitizer 5, 10, 15, 20-tetra (phenyl-4-N-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin (TMPyP) were physically assembled with a novel DNA structure composed of an aptamer of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and a cytosine (C)-rich DNA fragment (gc-34).

Core/Shell Structured Fe₃O₄@TiO₂-DNM Nanospheres as Multifunctional Anticancer Platform: Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy Research.

The dose-dependent toxicity and low specificity against cancerous cells have restricted the clinical use of daunomycin (DNM). Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been wildly used as an inorganic photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent and drug carrier. To facilitate the targeted drug delivery and combined therapy, in the present study, TiO2-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@TiO2 NPs) were employed to load DNM and the drug-loaded Fe3O4@TiO2-DNM Nps exhibited smart pH-controlled releasing and satisfactory cytotoxicity as well as photocytotocity.

Calcium carbonate end-capped, folate-mediated FeO@mSiO core-shell nanocarriers as targeted controlled-release drug delivery system.

Magnetic mesoporous silica nanospheres (MMSN) were prepared and the surface was modified with cancer cell-specific ligand folic acid. Calcium carbonate was then employed as acid-activated gatekeepers to cap the mesopores of the MMSN, namely, MMSN-FA-CaCO. The formation of the MMSN-FA-CaCO was proved by several characterization techniques, viz.

Radix Astragali extract promotes angiogenesis involving vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-related phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-dependent pathway in human endothelial cells.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in a wide range of physiological processes and many diseases are associated with dysregulation of angiogenesis. Radix Astragali, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, is a potential candidate for treating such diseases. However, the biological effects of Radix Astragali on angiogenesis and its underlying mechanisms are yet to be elucidated fully.

Angiogenic effect of saponin extract from Panax notoginseng on HUVECs in vitro and zebrafish in vivo.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in a wide range of physiological processes such as wound healing and fetal development. In fact, many diseases are associated with imbalance in the regulation of angiogenesis in which there is either excessive or insufficient blood vessel formation. Panax notoginseng, a blood circulation invigorating herb, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat circulation-related diseases.

The angiogenic effects of Angelica sinensis extract on HUVEC in vitro and zebrafish in vivo.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in a wide range of physiological processes such as wound healing and fetal development. Many diseases are associated with imbalances in regulation of angiogenesis, in which it is either excessive or there is insufficient blood vessel formation. Angelica sinensis (AS), commonly used in the prescriptions of Chinese medicine, is a potential candidate for curing such diseases.