Administration of exosomes is considered an attractive cell-free approach to skeletal repair and pathological disease treatment. However, poor yield for the production technique and unexpected therapeutic efficacy of exosomes have been obstacles to their widespread use in clinical practices. Here, we report an alternative strategy to produce exosome-related vesicles with high yields and improved regenerative capability. An extrusion approach was employed to amass exosome mimetics (EMs) from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The collected EMs had a significantly increased proportion of vesicles positive for the exosome specific CD-63 marker compared with MSC-derived exosomes. EMs were further obtained from genetically modified hMSCs in which expression of noggin, a natural bone morphogenetic protein antagonist, was downregulated to enhance osteogenic properties of EMs. Moreover, the administration of hMSCEMs in conjunction with an injectable chitosan hydrogel into mouse non-healing calvarial defects demonstrated robust bone regeneration. Importantly, mechanistic studies revealed that the enhanced osteogenesis by EMs in which noggin was suppressed was mediated via inhibition of
Bone repair is a complex process involving the sophisticated interplay of osteogenic stem cells, extracellular matrix, and osteoinductive factors, and it is affected by bacterial toxins and oxidative stress. Inspired by the nature of plant-derived phytochemicals and inorganic-organic analogues of the bone extracellular matrix, herein, the facile design of a nanoclay-organic hydrogel bone sealant (NoBS) that integrates multiple physicochemical cues for bone regeneration into a single system is reported. Assembly of phytochemical-modified organic chitosan and silica-rich inorganic nanoclay serves as highly biocompatible and osteoconductive extracellular matrix mimics. The decorated phytochemical exerts inherent bactericidal and antioxidant activities, and acts as an intermolecular networking precursor for gelation with injectable and self-healing capabilities. Moreover, the NoBS exerts osteoinductive effects mediated by the nanoclay, which regulates the Wnt/b-catenin pathway, along with the addition of osteoinductive signals, resulting in bone regeneration in a nonhealing cranial defect. Engineering of this integrated bone graft substitute with multifunctional properties inspired by natural materials may suggest a promising and effective approach for creating a favorable microenvironment for optimal bone healing.
A photochemically triggered cytosolic drug delivery system based on combining tumor-targeting pH-responsive hyaluronic acid (HA) nanoparticles (PHANs) with anticancer therapeutics (doxorubicin; DOX) was successfully developed for light-induced cancer therapy. PHANs were prepared through the self-assembly of a photosensitizer (PS), chlorin e6, and a pH-responsive moiety, poly(diisopropylaminoethyl) aspartamide (PDIPASP),conjugated to HA. DOX encapsulating PHANs (DOX@PHANs) have a uniform spherical shape,a sub-100 nm size distribution and a negative surface charge. The pH-responsiveness of PHANs leads to their disassembly due to the protonation of PDIPASP, which triggers DOX release. Competitive cellular uptake and confocal microscopy studies revealed CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis, endosomal escape capability and efficient drug targeting. Compared to treatment with free DOX or PHANs, the combined treatment with DOX@PHANs and spatiotemporally defined irradiation remarkably improved the anticancer efficacy both in vitro and in vivo studies. Therefore, this strategy shows promise for the photochemically triggered cytosolic drug delivery of therapeutic agents for light-induced cancer therapy.
A doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded and light-induced ROS-producing polymeric micelle (D-LRPM), in which light triggers simultaneous DOX-release and endo/lysosomal escape, produces a powerful, spatiotemporally controllable, therapeutic efficacy for tumor treatment.
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