Multimodality imaging-guided therapy can improve the diagnostics and therapeutics efficiency of cancer. Herein, we developed a light-responsive nanotheranostic agent based on the indocyanine green (ICG) conjugated mesoporous silica coated gold nanobipyramid (GNB@SiO 2 ) (denoted as GNB@SiO 2 -ICG) for simultaneous fluorescence (FL)/photoacoustic (PA) imaging-guided photothermal therapy (PTT). The GNB@SiO 2 with excellent photostability was used for PA imaging as well as PTT. The loaded ICG promised FL imaging and PTT. The feasibility of the cancer theranostic capability of GNB@SiO 2 -ICG was evaluated from cancer cells to mice. Under the guidance of FL/PA imaging, GNB@SiO 2 -ICG exhibited remarkably enhanced therapeutic efficacy, which could eliminate the tumor tissues completely without tumor recurrence. This well-defined nanotheranostic nanoplatform that intelligently integrates dual-modality imaging and phototherapy provides an efficient nanoplatform for cancer nanotheranostics.
Background: Intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide is an effective method for treating keloids. It still lacks effective and objective evaluation methods. This study aimed to observe the efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injections for the treatment of keloids and to explore the role of high-frequency ultrasound in the monitoring and evaluation of keloids therapy. Methods: Fifty-one patients with keloids were treated with triamcinolone acetonide, once a week for 4 weeks. Lesions were detected, recorded, and evaluated using digital photography and high-frequency ultrasound before and after treatment. Results: High-frequency ultrasound showed the depth of drug injection. After the last treatment, an average decrease in dermal tissue layer thickness of 39.0% is compared with before treatment. In addition, there are significant differences in the effectiveness of clinical assessments and ultrasound assessments of keloids with or without subjective symptoms. Conclusion: The observed results confirmed that intralesional injections of triamcinolone acetonide can effectively treat keloids. High-frequency ultrasound can be used as a therapeutic monitoring and therapeutic evaluation tool for intralesional injections of triamcinolone acetonide.
Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are a promising class of immune agonists that trigger the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) to activate both innate and acquired immunity. However, the efficacy of CDNs is limited by drug delivery barriers. Therefore, we developed a combined immunotherapy strategy based on injectable reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive hydrogels, which sustainably release 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) as known as a STING agonist and indocyanine green (ICG) by utilizing a high level of ROS in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The STING agonist combined with photothermal therapy (PTT) can improve the biological efficacy of DMXAA, transform the immunosuppressive TME into an immunogenic and tumoricidal microenvironment, and completely kill tumor cells. In addition, this bioreactive gel can effectively leverage local ROS to facilitate the release of immunotherapy drugs, thereby enhancing the efficacy of combination therapy, improving the TME, inhibiting tumor growth, inducing memory immunity, and protecting against tumor rechallenge.
Puerarin is the major bioactive ingredient derived from the root of the Pueraria lobata (Willd.), and its antioxidative stress effects have been demonstrated in several previous studies. Moreover, Puerarin can upregulate melanin synthesis and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) transcription by increasing cAMP level of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Vitiligo is an acquired cutaneous disorder of pigmentation, and the pathogenesis has remained elusive.Current treatment modalities are directed towards achieving repigmentation. In this study, we found that after treating with puerarin at various concentrations of 40 μmol/L, the melanin content of human melanocytes increased significantly and the apparent level of protein and the RNA levels of MITF, tyrosinase (TYR), and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1) were also increased. Further, puerarin was shown to inhibit phosphorylation and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) without significantly affecting p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation. These results demonstrated that puerarin stimulated melanogenesis in human melanocytes via inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling pathways, which leads to upregulation of MITF and TYR as well as TRP-1 subsequently. Additionally, mice vitiligo models with puerarin treatment showed lighter pathological changes. Therefore, we suggested that puerarin might be a potential medicine for vitiligo.
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