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Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) are composed of a nanoparticle core and a layer of densely arranged oligonucleotide shells. After the first report of SNA by Mirkin and coworkers in 1996, it has created a significant interest by offering new possibilities in the field of gene and drug delivery. The controlled aggregation of oligonucleotides on the surface of organic/inorganic nanoparticles improves the delivery of genes and nucleic acid–based drugs and alters and regulates the biological profiles of the nanoparticle core within living organisms. Here in this review, we present an overview of the recent progress of SNAs that has speeded up their biomedical application and their potential transition to clinical use. We start with introducing the concept and characteristics of SNAs as drug/gene delivery systems and highlight recent efforts of bioengineering SNA by imaging and treatmenting various diseases. Finally, we discuss potential challenges and opportunities of SNAs, their ongoing clinical trials, and future translation, and how they may affect the current landscape of clinical practices. We hope that this review will update our current understanding of SNA, organized oligonucleotide aggregates, for disease diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose: To describe the uptake of 68 Gallium-labelled broblast activation protein inhibitor ( 68 Ga-FAPI) in bones and joints for better understanding of the role of 68 Ga-FAPI PET in benign and malignant bone lesions and joint diseases.Methods: All 129 68 Ga-FAPI PET/MR or PET/CT scans from June 1, 2020 to February 20, 2021 performed at our PET centre were retrospectively reviewed. Foci of elevated 68 Ga-FAPI uptake in bones and joints were identi ed. All lesions were divided into malignant and benign disease. Benign lesions included osteo brous dysplasia, periodontitis, degenerative bone diseases, arthritis, and other in ammatory or trauma-related abnormalities. The number, locations and SUVmax of all lesions were recorded and analysed.Results: Elevated uptake of 68 Ga-FAPI in/around bones and joints were found in 82 cases (63.57%). A total of 295 lesions were identi ed, including 94 (31.9%) malignant lesions (all were metastases) and 201 (68.1%) benign lesions. The benign lesions consisted of 13 osteo brous dysplasia, 48 degenerative bone disease, 33 periodontitis, 56 arthritis, and 51 other in ammatory or trauma-related abnormalities. Spine, shoulder joint, alveolar ridge, and pelvis were the most commonly involved locations. Bone metastases were mainly distributed in the spine, pelvis and ribs. Among benign diseases, periodontitis and arthritis are site-speci c. The mean SUVmax of bone metastases was signi cantly higher than that of benign diseases (7.14 ± 4.33 vs. 3.57 ± 1.60, p < 0.0001), but overlap existed. The differences in SUVmax among subgroups of benign diseases were statistically signi cant (p < 0.0001), with much higher uptake in periodontitis (4.45 ± 1.17). Conclusion: 68Ga-FAPI accumulated in both bone metastases and some benign diseases of bones and joints. Although the uptake of 68 Ga-FAPI was often higher in bone metastases, this nding cannot be used to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions.

Purpose: 68 Ga-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor ( 68 Ga-FAPI-04) has been useful in the imaging of desmoplastic reaction in different tumors. As we have found that most female patients showed avid uterine uptake of 68 Ga-FAPI-04, we sought to further investigate the pathological and physiological uptake of 68 Ga-FAPI-04 characteristics in the uterus. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the image data of female patients who had undergone 68 Ga-FAPI-04 PET/MRI at our institute between May 22, 2020, and June 21, 2021. The characteristics of uterine uptake and clinical information were collected. The uterus with and without malignancy were compared. We further analyzed the relationship of age, uterus size, gynecological history, and 18 F-FDG uptake (if performed) with 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake. Results: Seventy-seven patients were included in this study. Much higher cervical 68 Ga-FAPI-04 accumulation was noticed in cervical cancer patients than in normal cases, and 37 more metastases were found in 68 Ga-FAPI-04 PET than that in 18 F-FDG. Uterine body malignancies displayed different uptake features. Two cases with the metastases to uterine body showed relative lower 68 Ga-FAPI-04 activity compared with their normal uteri. Of 67 patients without malignancy, lower 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake was noted in postmenopausal women than in reproductive and perimenopausal patients. The invasive operation or hysteromyoma may increase 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake. Conclusions: 68 Ga-FAPI-04 PET might be a promising method in cervical cancers. However, physiological uptake may limit its diagnostic value in uterine body malignancy. It should be noticed that the metastatic lesion in the uterus may show relative lower uptake of 68 Ga-FAPI-04 compared with the rest of the uterus. Age, fibroids, and uterine volume may influence 68 Ga-FAPI-04 uptake in the uterus. More patients with various uterine diseases could be involved to provide more differential diagnostic information.

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We report a new method for large-scale production of GaMnN nanowires, by annealing manganese-gallium oxide nanowires in flowing ammonia at high temperature. Microstructure analysis indicates that the GaMnN nanowires have wurtzite GaN structure without Mn precipitates or Mn-related second phases. Magnetic measurements reveal that ferromagnetic ordering exists in the GaMnN nanowires, whose Curie temperature is above room temperature. A mean-field model based on the exchange coupling of the nondegenerate carrierlocalized impurity band, together with the consideration of the superexchange antiferromagnetic interaction, is used to explain the physical origin of the observed ferromagnetic ordering. Theoretical calculations indicate that the Curie temperature increases with the increase of the hole density and reveal a small ratio of the hole to the magnetic dopant density in the samples. The low ratio of hole to Mn concentration and the superexchange antiferromagnetic interaction lead to the very concave temperature dependence of the magnetization curve in contrast to conventional ferromagnetic M-T behaviour. The theoretical calculation is in agreement with the experimental data.Recently, diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) have attracted considerable attention since they manifest both the spin and charge properties of the carriers, and much effort has been devoted to spintronics from the viewpoint of fundamental physics and potential applications. A high-Curie-temperature DMS above room temperature is the key for applications. A breakthrough theoretical work reported that some wide-bandgap semiconductors such as GaN and ZnO are the most promising candidates for achieving practical ferromagnetic ordering with T c above room temperature [1,2]. Much work has then focused on the Mnbased II-VI and III-V semiconductor materials, such as GaMnAs, InMnAs, GaMnN and

Purpose: To describe the uptake of 68Gallium-labelled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (68Ga-FAPI) in bones and joints for better understanding of the role of 68Ga-FAPI PET in benign and malignant bone lesions and joint diseases. Methods: All 129 68Ga-FAPI PET/MR or PET/CT scans from June 1, 2020 to February 20, 2021 performed at our PET centre were retrospectively reviewed. Foci of elevated 68Ga-FAPI uptake in bones and joints were identified. All lesions were divided into malignant and benign disease. Benign lesions included osteofibrous dysplasia, periodontitis, degenerative bone diseases, arthritis, and other inflammatory or trauma-related abnormalities. The number, locations and SUVmax of all lesions were recorded and analysed. Results: Elevated uptake of 68Ga-FAPI in/around bones and joints were found in 82 cases (63.57%). A total of 295 lesions were identified, including 94 (31.9%) malignant lesions (all were metastases) and 201 (68.1%) benign lesions. The benign lesions consisted of 13 osteofibrous dysplasia, 48 degenerative bone disease, 33 periodontitis, 56 arthritis, and 51 other inflammatory or trauma-related abnormalities. Spine, shoulder joint, alveolar ridge, and pelvis were the most commonly involved locations. Bone metastases were mainly distributed in the spine, pelvis and ribs. Among benign diseases, periodontitis and arthritis are site-specific. The mean SUVmax of bone metastases was significantly higher than that of benign diseases (7.14 ± 4.33 vs. 3.57 ± 1.60, p < 0.0001), but overlap existed. The differences in SUVmax among subgroups of benign diseases were statistically significant (p < 0.0001), with much higher uptake in periodontitis (4.45 ± 1.17). Conclusion: 68Ga-FAPI accumulated in both bone metastases and some benign diseases of bones and joints. Although the uptake of 68Ga-FAPI was often higher in bone metastases, this finding cannot be used to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions.