No abstract

PURPOSE. To evaluate the effects of intravitreal injection of liposomes encapsulating tacrolimus (FK506) on experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in Lewis rats. METHODS. Liposomes containing tacrolimus were prepared by reverse-phase evaporation vesicles. EAU was induced in Lewis rats by subcutaneous injection of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein R16 peptide emulsified in adjuvant. Ten days later, rats were intravitreally injected with saline, tacrolimus, tacrolimus-loaded liposomes, or unloaded liposomes. Clinical signs of inflammation and ocular histologic sections were observed and graded. Retinal function was evaluated by electroretinography (ERG). Tacrolimus concentration was determined in the vitreous body and serum by ELISA. Ocular biodistribution of rhodamine-conjugated liposomes containing tacrolimus (tacrolimus-Rh-lip) was analyzed with a laser scanning confocal microscope. To evaluate the systemic effect of intravitreally injected tacrolimus, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA) responses were detected. RESULTS. Treatment of EAU with intravitreal injection of liposomal tacrolimus significantly reduced intraocular inflammation and markedly inhibited the development of EAU, as determined in clinical and histopathologic analyses. No toxic effects could be detected as evaluated by ERG. The concentration of tacrolimus in ocular fluids remained for as long as 14 days after liposomal injection of tacrolimus. Confocal microscopy showed a transretinal distribution of the liposomal particles. DTH and LPA responses were not impaired in liposomal tacrolimus-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS. Intravitreal injection of liposomal tacrolimus was highly effective in suppressing the process of EAU without any side effects on retinal function or systemic cellular immunity. This treatment may represent a new option for the management of intraocular inflammation.

Angiogenesis is essential for the development of malignant tumors and provides important targets for tumor diagnosis and therapy. Quantum dots have been broadly investigated for their potential application in cancer molecular imaging. In present work, CdSe quantum dots were synthesized, polyamidoamine dendrimers were used to modify surface of quantum dots and improve their solubility in water solution. Then, dendrimer-modified CdSe quantum dots were conjugated with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptides. These prepared nanoprobes were injected into nude mice loaded with melanoma (A375) tumor xenografts via tail vessels, IVIS imaging system was used to image the targeting and bio-distribution of as-prepared nanoprobes. The dendrimer-modified quantum dots exhibit water-soluble, high quantum yield, and good biocompatibility. RGD-conjugated quantum dots can specifically target human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and A375 melanoma cells, as well as nude mice loaded with A735 melanoma cells. High-performance RGD-conjugated dendrimers modified quantum dot-based nanoprobes have great potential in application such as tumor diagnosis and therapy.

Aim: Tuberculous meningitis is an infectious disease of the central nervous system caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). It mainly involves the meninges and brain parenchyma, as well as the spinal cord and meninges; Disability and mortality rates are high. In recent years, due to the increase of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients, population mobility and the prevalence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, the incidence rate of tuberculosis has increased significantly, and tuberculous meningitis has also increased. Methods: At present, tuberculosis is still a worldwide infectious disease that seriously threatens human health, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. China is the largest developing country in the world with a large population. Results: The situation of tuberculosis prevention and control is grim. Its disability rate is the highest in tuberculosis infection. In addition to the common non-specific manifestations, tuberculous meningoencephalitis may also have rare manifestations of stroke, hearing loss and visual loss. Conclusion: Understanding and timely improvement of corresponding examinations and targeted treatment will help improve the prognosis of patients.