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This issue includes a Perspective on the design of reproducible preclinical studies with an eye on translatability, and highlights the encapsulation of allogeneic pancreatic islet cells to extend their longevity after implantation, telmisartan prodrugs for the reduction of liver fibrosis, the conjugation of haematopoietic stem cells and anti-PD-1-decorated platelets for treating leukaemia, inhaled bacteriophage-loaded polymeric microparticles for treating lung infections, nanoparticle-mediated mRNA delivery for restoring the growth suppression of prostate tumours, and renal-protective DNA-origami nanostructures.
The cover illustrates a monkey’s omental bursa bearing transplanted allogeneic pancreatic islet cells encapsulated in alginate, which reduces foreign-body responses and extends the cells’ longevity.
Transplanting allogeneic pancreatic islets intraperitoneally by first encapsulating the islets within an alginate-based formulation results in reduced fibrosis and capsule clumping, and thus in improved islet survival.
The coupling of blood platelets bearing anti-programmed cell death protein 1 antibodies to haematopoietic stem cells enables delivery of checkpoint-blockade therapy to bone marrow to promote T-cell-mediated control of leukaemia in mice.
Widespread editing of the mutated DMD gene by CRISPR–Cas9, systemically delivered via an adeno-associated virus, restores dystrophin expression in a canine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
This Perspective discusses the importance of proper study design in preclinical studies in nanomedicine and cell therapy to improve reproducibility and the likelihood of clinical translation.
Transplantation of pancreatic islet cells encapsulated in alginate microspheres into the omental bursa of the peritoneal cavity of NHPs significantly reduces FBRs and extends the longevity of the cells.
Macromolecular telmisartan prodrugs optimized for preferential release in fibrotic liver tissue reduce liver fibrosis in mouse models, and are retained and well tolerated in the liver tissue of rats and dogs.
The systemic administration of haematopoietic stem cells conjugated to anti-PD-1-decorated platelets in leukaemic mice promotes the delivery of the checkpoint inhibitor to the bone marrow and suppresses the growth and recurrence of leukaemia.
Polymer microparticles loaded with lytic bacteriophages that deposit throughout the lung via dry powder inhalation rescue mice from pneumonia-associated death.
The reintroduction of PTEN mRNA into PTEN-null prostate cancer cells via encapsulation in polymer–lipid nanoparticles delivered systemically leads to significant inhibition of tumour growth in mouse models of prostate cancer.
DNA origami nanostructures with different shapes can accumulate preferentially in the kidney, with some being renal-protective, as shown in healthy mice and in a mouse model of acute kidney injury.