• Ultrasound-based therapies are opening new horizons in the oncological field.• Innovative and promising solutions derive from different nanoparticles-assisted ultrasound treatments.• Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) emerged recently as a novel approach for cancer treatment.• Different and complex cell death mechanisms are involved in nanoparticles-assisted SDT.• Nanoparticles-assisted ultrasound is still at its infancy in clinics. A R T I C L E I N F O Keywords:Inertial cavitation Reactive oxygen species Sonoluminescence Sonodynamic Tumor Therapy Cytotoxicity A B S T R A C TAt present, ultrasound radiation is broadly employed in medicine for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes at various frequencies and intensities. In this review article, we focus on therapeutically-active nanoparticles (NPs) when stimulated by ultrasound. We first introduce the different ultrasound-based therapies with special attention to the techniques involved in the oncological field, then we summarize the different NPs used, ranging from soft materials, like liposomes or micro/nano-bubbles, to metal and metal oxide NPs. We therefore focus on the sonodynamic therapy and on the possible working mechanisms under debate of NPs-assisted sonodynamic treatments. We support the idea that various, complex and synergistics physical-chemical processes take place during acoustic cavitation and NP activation. Different mechanisms are therefore responsible for the final cancer cell death and strongly depends not only on the type and structure of NPs or nanocarriers, but also on the way they interact with the ultrasonic pressure waves. We conclude with a brief overview of the clinical applications of the various ultrasound therapies and the related use of NPs-assisted ultrasound in clinics, showing that this very innovative and promising approach is however still at its infancy in the clinical cancer treatment.

For decades, lipid droplets have been considered as the main cellular organelles involved in the fat storage, because of their lipid composition. However, in recent years, some new and totally unexpected roles have been discovered for them: (i) they are active sites for synthesis and storage of inflammatory mediators, and (ii) they are key players in cancer cells and tissues, especially in cancer stem cells. In this review, we summarize the main concepts related to the lipid droplet structure and function and their involvement in inflammatory and cancer processes.

The generation of 3D networks of primary neurons is a big challenge in neuroscience. Here, a novel method is presented for a 3D neuronal culture on superhydrophobic (SH) substrates. How nano-patterned SH devices stimulate neurons to build 3D networks is investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal imaging show that soon after plating neurites adhere to the nanopatterned pillar sidewalls and they are subsequently pulled between pillars in a suspended position. These neurons display an enhanced survival rate compared to standard cultures and develop mature networks with physiological excitability. These findings underline the importance of using nanostructured SH surfaces for directing 3D neuronal growth, as well as for the design of biomaterials for neuronal regeneration.

The surface chemistry and charge of zinc oxide nanocrystals influence their behaviour in biological fluids. A novel lipid bilayer assembly is developed to shield ZnO nanocrystals improving their stability and cell internalization.

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Direct imaging becomes important when the knowledge at few/single molecule level is requested and where the diffraction does not allow to get structural and functional information. Here we report on the direct imaging of double stranded (ds) λ-DNA in the A conformation, obtained by combining a novel sample preparation method based on super hydrophobic DNA molecules self-aggregation process with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The experimental breakthrough is the production of robust and highly ordered paired DNA nanofibers that allowed its direct TEM imaging and the double helix structure revealing.

IntroductionSystemic anaplastic large-cell lymphomas (ALCLs) are a peripheral T cell-derived malignancy accounting for approximately 12% of all T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (T-NHLs). 1 Originally described by Stein et al in 1985 as ALCL-expressing CD30, 2 its definition and relationship with other T-NHLs has undergone a series of revisions. 1,3,4 Based on genetic and clinical features, 2 different entities are now recognized as systemic forms, the ALK-positive (ALK ϩ ) and ALK-negative (ALK Ϫ ) ALCL. 1,5 The first entity is characterized by recurrent chromosomal translocations involving the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) gene, which leads to the expression and constitutive activation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion proteins. 6,7 Whereas ALK ϩ ALCL are readily diagnosed by anti-ALK Abs, the recognition of ALK Ϫ ALCL is in some instances subjective. In fact, immunophenotypic or genetic features that define ALK Ϫ ALCL precisely are missing; accordingly, ALK Ϫ ALCL has been considered a provisional entity by the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. 1 Although all ALCLs display strong and diffuse immunoreactivity for CD30, the expression of this marker is not specific for ALCL. Indeed, CD30 is found also in activated nonneoplastic lymphoid cells, in a subset of peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (PCTL-NOS), in Hodgkin lymphoma, and other neoplasms such as embryonal carcinoma. 8 At present, the diagnosis of ALCL relies on the application of a panel of Abs for B-and T cell-restricted antigens, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), granzyme B, perforin, and T cell-restricted intracellular antigen-1 (TIA1). 5 ALCLs usually show an aberrant T-cell phenotype with frequent loss of the common T-cell markers such as the pan-T-cell antigens, 9 although in approximately 85%-90% of ALCL clonal TCR gene rearrangement can be detected by PCR. Furthermore, PAX5 negativity is critical for the differentiation of ALCL from common Hodgkin lymphoma and CD30 ϩ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. 10 Recently, chromosomal translocations affecting 6p25.3, which targets DUSP22 and/or IRF4 have been described in a subset of ALK Ϫ ALCLs, with predominant cutaneous involvement 11,12 ; however, the effects on the pathogenesis of this lymphoma are still largely unknown. ALK Ϫ ALCL distinction is supported by genetic criteria, epidemiologic data, and clinical features. The crude 5-year overall survival of this lymphoma is 49%, a value intermediate between 70% for ALK ϩ ALCL and 32% for PTCL-NOS. 1 Nevertheless, when patients are stratified according to the clinical parameters The online version of this article contains a data supplement.The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. Therefore, and solely to indicate this fact, this article is hereby marked ''advertisement'' in accordance with 18 USC section 1734. For personal use only. on May 12, 2018. by guest www.bloodjournal.org From (ie, age and/or stage), ALK ϩ and ALK Ϫ ALCL patients display a similar prognosis in terms of f...

Fast diagnosis and more efficient therapies for cancer surely represent one of the huge tasks for the worldwide researchers’ and clinicians’ community. In the last two decades, our understanding of the biology and molecular pathology of cancer mechanisms, coupled with the continuous development of the material science and technological compounds, have successfully improved nanomedicine applications in oncology. This review argues on nanomedicine application of engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) in oncology. All the most innovative processes of EVs engineering are discussed together with the related degree of applicability for each one of them in cancer nanomedicines.