Cancer multimodal treatment by combining the effects of different theranostics agents can efficiently improve treatment efficacy and reduce side effects. In this work, we demonstrate the theranostics nanodevices on the basis of Cu-loaded polydopamine nanoparticles (CuPDA NPs), which are able to offer magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided thermochemotherapy (TCT). Systematical studies reveal that after Cu ions loading, the molar extinction coefficient of PDA NPs is greatly enhanced by 4 times, thus improving the performance in photothermal therapy. Despite Cu ions being toxic, the release of Cu is mainly stimulated in acidic environment. Once the NPs deposit in the slightly acidic tumor microenvironment (pH ≈ 6.5-6.8), the release rate boosts ∼30%, which effectively avoids the systematic toxicity during chemotherapy. Meanwhile, due to the increment of the electron-proton dipole-dipole interaction correlation time τ, the spin-lattice relaxation time (T) for PDA NPs is found to be shortened by Cu loading, which boosts the longitudinal relaxivity (r). Hence, CuPDA NPs can be used as T-weighted contrast agent in MRI. In addition, due to the naturally existing DA in the human body with stealth effect, CuPDA NPs have an outstanding tumor retention rate as high as 8.2% ID/g. Further in vitro and in vivo tests indicate that CuPDA NPs possess long blood circulation time, good photothermal and physiological stability, and biocompatibility, which are potential nanodevices for MRI-guided TCT with minimal side effects.
Iron oxide (Fe3O4), polydopamine (PDA), and in particular their composites are examples of the safest nanomaterials for developing multifunctional nanodevices to perform noninvasive tumor diagnosis and therapy. However, the structures and performances of Fe3O4-PDA nanocomposites should be further perfected to enhance the theranostic efficiency. In this work, we demonstrate the fabrication of PDA-capped Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@PDA) superparticles (SPs) employing preassembled Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) as the cores. Owing to the collective effect of preassembled Fe3O4 NPs, the superparamagnetism and photothermal performance of Fe3O4@PDA SPs are greatly enhanced, thus producing nanodevices with improved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided photothermal efficiency. Systematical studies reveal that the molar extinction coefficient of the as-assembled Fe3O4 SPs is 3 orders of magnitude higher than that of individual Fe3O4 NPs. Also due to the high aggregation degree of Fe3O4 NPs, the T2-weighted MRI contrast is greatly enhanced for the SPs with r2 relaxivity of 230.5 mM(-1) s(-1), which is ∼2.5 times larger than that of individual Fe3O4 NPs. The photothermal stability, physiological stability, and biocompatibility, as well as the photothermal performance of Fe3O4 SPs, are further improved by enveloping with PDA shell.
SummaryTendon injuries are significant clinical problems. Current treatments often result in incomplete repair or healing, which may lead to reduced function and rupture. Stem cell-based therapy is a promising intervention for tendon repair. In this article, we attempt to provide a brief overview on the recent progress in the field, current understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the approach, and the potential of stem cell-based therapies beyond cell implantation. We conclude the review by sharing our viewpoints on the challenges, opportunities, and future directions of this approach.The translational potential of this article: This paper reviews recent progress on stem cell-based therapeutic approaches for tendon repair, which highlights its translational potential and challenges.
Recent studies suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators in many types of cancer, including osteosarcoma. miR-342-3p has emerged as an important cancer-related miRNA in several types of cancers. However, the functional significance of miR-342-3p in osteosarcoma is unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate whether miR-342-3p is dysregulated in osteosarcoma and to explore the biological function of miR-342-3p in regulating cellular processes of osteosarcoma cells. We found that miR-342-3p expression was significantly decreased in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-342-3p inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. In contrast, the inhibition of miR-342-3p exhibited the opposite effect. Astrocyte-elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) was identified as one of the target genes of miR-342-3p in osteosarcoma cells by bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis. Overexpression of miR-342-3p also inhibited the Wnt and nuclear factor κB signaling pathways. Moreover, overexpression of AEG-1 partially rescued the inhibitory effects of miR-342-3p mediated on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Overall, our results show that miR-342-3p inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells through targeting AEG-1, suggesting a potential target for the development of miRNA-based therapy for osteosarcoma.
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