A novel biomimetic immuno-magnetosome (IMS) is developed by coating a leukocyte membrane (decorated with anti-epithelial cell-adhesion molecule antibody) on a magnetic nanocluster. In addition to the good stability and magnetic controllability, the IMS also exhibits satisfactory binding avidity to circulating tumor cells but stealth property to leukocytes. As a result, rare tumor cells can be effectively enriched with undetectable leukocyte background.

The chemotherapy of glioblastoma is severely hindered by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, especially the tumor growth factor β (TGF‐β), an immunosuppressive cytokine. In this study, it is proposed to employ RNAi‐based immunomodulation to modify the tumor immune microenvironment and improve the effect of chemotherapy. Herein, a nanotheranostic system (Angiopep LipoPCB(Temozolomide+BAP/siTGF‐β), ALBTA) with dual targeting and ROS response is established for intracranial glioblastoma treatment. The traceable nanoparticles exhibit strong siRNA condensation, high drug loading efficiency, good serum stability, and magnetic property. They can efficiently cross the blood–brain barrier and target to glioblastoma cells via receptor‐mediated transcytosis. The zwitterionic lipid (distearoyl phosphoethanol‐amine‐polycarboxybetaine lipid) in ALBTA promotes endosomal/lysosomal escape, and thus enhances the cytotoxicity of temozolomide and improves gene silencing efficiency of siTGF‐β. ALBTA significantly improves the immunosuppressive microenvironment and prolongs the survival time of glioma‐bearing mice. Moreover, ALBTA can be accurately traced by MRI in brain tumors. The study indicates that this immunochemotherapeutic platform can serve as a flexible and powerful synergistic system for treatment with brain tumors as well as other brain diseases in central nervous system.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is strongly associated with life style, especially dietary habits, which have gained attention as disease modifiers. Here, we report a fasting mimicking diet (FMD), fasting 3 days followed by 4 days of refeeding for three 1-week cycles, which accelerated the retention of motor function and attenuated the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrathydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mice. Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), known to promote the survival of dopaminergic neurons, were increased in PD mice after FMD, suggesting an involvement of BDNF in FMD-mediated neuroprotection. Furthermore, FMD decreased the number of glial cells as well as the release of TNF-α and IL-1β in PD mice, showing that FMD also inhibited neuro-inflammation. 16S and 18S rRNA sequencing of fecal microbiota showed that FMD treatment modulated the shifts in gut microbiota composition, including higher abundance of Firmicutes, Tenericutes, and Opisthokonta and lower abundance of Proteobacteria at the phylum level in PD mice. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that FMD modulated the MPTP-induced lower propionic acid and isobutyric acid, and higher butyric acid and valeric acid and other metabolites. Transplantation of fecal microbiota, from normal mice with FMD treatment to antibiotic-pretreated PD mice increased dopamine levels in the recipient PD mice, suggesting that gut microbiota contributed to the neuroprotection of FMD for PD. These findings demonstrate that FMD can be a new means of preventing and treating PD through promoting a favorable gut microbiota composition and metabolites.

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Currently unsatisfactory treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) is due to the unbridled inflammation and the delayed diagnosis at the early stage. To address these problems, firstly, phosphatidylserine (PS) was used to modulate the phenotypes of macrophages (MΦ) and resolve the early inflammation via binding to PS receptors (PSR) on macrophage surface. Secondly, highly-sensitive magnetic iron oxide nanocubes (MIONs) were adopted to realize the early visualization via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the major drawback for MIONs as contrast agents was their hydrophobic properties and insufficient delivery. Hence, zwitterionic biodegradable copolymer poly(lactide)-polycarboxybetaine (PLA-PCB, PP), companied with PS, was used to provide a good colloidal stability and long blood circulation for the nanocubes. Given the above, a theranostic nanosystem (PP/PS@MIONs) was constructed for early treatment of MI. With external magnetic field-induced targeting and PS targeting, the nanosystem enhanced the accumulation in infarcted area, and accelerated the resolution of early inflammatory responses. Moreover, the nanocubes in system were promoted to escape from endosomes/lysosomes via protonation of PCB, which contributes to accurate MRI. This nanosystem showed good inflammation-resolving effects and imaging ability in MI model rats. Therefore, this theranostic nanosystem can realize accurate visualization and significantly improve the treatment efficacy of MI at early stage.

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