Atherosclerosis (AS) is a lipid-driven chronic inflammatory disease occurring at the arterial subendothelial space. Macrophages play a critical role in the initiation and development of AS. Herein, targeted codelivery of anti-miR 155 and anti-inflammatory baicalein is exploited to polarize macrophages toward M2 phenotype, inhibit inflammation and treat AS. The codelivery system consists of a carrier-free strategy (drug-delivering-drug, DDD), fabricated by loading anti-miR155 on baicalein nanocrystals, named as baicalein nanorods (BNRs), followed by sialic acid coating to target macrophages. The codelivery system, with a diameter of 150 nm, enables efficient intracellular delivery of anti-miR155 and polarizes M1 to M2, while markedly lowers the level of inflammatory factors in vitro and in vivo . In particular, intracellular fate assay reveals that the codelivery system allows for sustained drug release over time after internalization. Moreover, due to prolonged blood circulation and improved accumulation at the AS plaque, the codelivery system significantly alleviates AS in animal model by increasing the artery lumen diameter, reducing blood pressure, promoting M2 polarization, inhibiting secretion of inflammatory factors and decreasing blood lipids. Taken together, the codelivery could potentially be used to treat vascular inflammation.

Tillage intensities largely affect soil compaction dynamics in agro-ecosystems. However, the contribution of tillage intensities on compaction changes in underground peanut (Arachis hypogaea) fields has not been quantified. We thus aimed to better understand the role of soil tillage intensities in mitigation of compaction stress for peanuts. Using three field tillage experiments in major Chinese peanut producing areas, we quantified the effects of (1) no tillage, (2) shallow (20 cm) plowing, (3) deep (30 cm) plowing and (4) deep (30 cm) loosening on changes in soil bulk density at 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm depths, roots and pods growth, and nutrient accumulation. Results showed that tillage management effectively mitigated soil compaction stress for peanut growth and production. Greater beneficial improvement for the underground growth of roots and pods, and N accumulation ranked as deep plowing > shallow plowing and deep loosening. Respective increases of 7.5% and 4.6% in root biomass productions and peanut yields were obtained when soil bulk density was decreased by 0.1 g cm−3. Our results suggest that the mitigation of soil compaction stress by deep plowing could be a key tillage strategy for increasing peanut yields in the field.

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