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| Open AccessA photo-triggered self-accelerated nanoplatform for multifunctional image-guided combination cancer immunotherapy
Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have shown high-performance as photosensitizers. Here the authors combine an AIEgen with paclitaxel-based hypoxia-responsive prodrug into nanoparticles for multifunctional image-guided photodynamic and immunotherapy in preclinical cancer models.
- Xiaoying Kang
- , Yuan Zhang
- & Ben Zhong Tang
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Article
| Open AccessSynthesis of robust underwater glues from common proteins via unfolding-aggregating strategy
Underwater adhesive proteins greatly inspired the development of underwater glue but except for specific proteins it is believed that abundant common proteins cannot be converted into underwater glue. Here, the authors demonstrate, using bovine serum albumin as model protein, that unfolded common proteins exhibit high affinity to surfaces and strong internal cohesion via amyloid-like aggregation in water.
- Yongchun Liu
- , Ke Li
- & Peng Yang
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Article
| Open AccessSelf-triggered thermoelectric nanoheterojunction for cancer catalytic and immunotherapy
The exogenous excitation requirement and electron-hole pair recombination are the key factors limiting the application of catalytic therapies. Here, the authors address these limitations by designing a tumor microenvironment-specific self-triggered thermoelectric nanoheterojunction with a self-built-in electric field that facilitates charge separation for cancer treatment.
- Xue Yuan
- , Yong Kang
- & Dong Ming
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Article
| Open AccessHypothermal opto-thermophoretic tweezers
Traditional optical tweezers require high laser powers risking photothermal damage of the trapped objects. Here, the authors present hypothermal opto-thermophoretic tweezers (HOTTs), which use environmental cooling to simultaneously enhance thermophoretic trapping force at low laser powers and suppress the thermal damage to trapped objects.
- Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara
- , Xiuying Li
- & Yuebing Zheng
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Article
| Open AccessData-mining unveils structure–property–activity correlation of viral infectivity enhancing self-assembling peptides
Certain peptides can boost viral infectivity. However, the requirements for their activity remain unclear. Here, the authors demonstrate that peptides are efficient viral enhancers if they form hydrophobic β-sheet-rich, positively charged μm-sized aggregates.
- Kübra Kaygisiz
- , Lena Rauch-Wirth
- & Tanja Weil
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Article
| Open AccessJanus nanoparticles targeting extracellular polymeric substance achieve flexible elimination of drug-resistant biofilms
It is imperative but challenging to develop nanomaterials that can combat drug-resistant bacteria and biofilm related infections in diverse antibacterial scenarios. Here, the authors report Janus nanoparticles integrating biocompatible dextran and photothermal nanoparticles for biofilm-targeted antibacterial therapy to achieve effective and versatile elimination of drug-resistant biofilms.
- Zhiwen Liu
- , Kangli Guo
- & Fu-Jian Xu
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Article
| Open AccessA ferroptosis-targeting ceria anchored halloysite as orally drug delivery system for radiation colitis therapy
Radiation colitis is a major side effect for pelvic radiotherapy patients, but there are limited available treatments. Here, the authors use a halloysite clay based material for the alleviation of radiation colitis in mice by inhibiting ferroptosis.
- Yue Feng
- , Xiang Luo
- & Mingxian Liu
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Article
| Open AccessAttaching protein-adsorbing silica particles to the surface of cotton substrates for bioaerosol capture including SARS-CoV-2
There has been a significant increase in the demand for face masks, but achieving a balance of breathability and effective filtration is challenging. Here, the authors report a face mask of modified cotton for the capture of bioaerosols.
- Kieran Collings
- , Cedric Boisdon
- & Simon Maher
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Article
| Open AccessZwitterionic microgel preservation platform for circulating tumor cells in whole blood specimen
Blood specimen stabilization for the preservation of circulating tumor cells remains challenging. Here, the authors present a zwitterionic microgel platform for long-term hypothermic preservation of circulating tumor cells in the whole blood of cancer patients for noninvasive diagnostics.
- Yiming Ma
- , Jun Zhang
- & Lei Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessEfficient electrospray deposition of surfaces smaller than the spray plume
Electrospray deposition is a promising technique for depositing functional coatings at the micro-/nano-scale. Here, the authors establish the necessary conditions for high efficiency electrospray deposition of small targets, establishing promise as an alternative to other conformal coating methods.
- Sarah H. Park
- , Lin Lei
- & Jonathan P. Singer
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Article
| Open AccessSelf-anticoagulant sponge for whole blood auto-transfusion and its mechanism of coagulation factor inactivation
Current methods for auto-transfusion often result in disturbances to the patient’s blood homeostasis, leading to an increased bleeding risk. Here, the authors develop heparin-mimicking self-anticoagulant sponges for safe and convenient whole blood auto-transfusion, and study underlying mechanisms.
- Tao Xu
- , Haifeng Ji
- & Changsheng Zhao
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Article
| Open AccessHyperthermia-triggered biomimetic bubble nanomachines
Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have shown potential for treating malignant tumors, however, limited tumor penetration of nanosystems remains a hurdle for effective tumor therapy. Here, the authors report a biomimetic bubble nanomachine with tumor-cell-membrane-derived nanovesicle secretion triggered by near-infrared laser irradiation for enhanced tumor penetration.
- Junbin Gao
- , Hanfeng Qin
- & Yingfeng Tu
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Perspective
| Open AccessApplied machine learning as a driver for polymeric biomaterials design
The design of polymers for regenerative medicine could be accelerated with the help of machine learning. Here the authors note that machine learning has been applied successfully in other areas of polymer chemistry, while highlighting that data limitations must be overcome to enable widespread adoption within polymeric biomaterials.
- Samantha M. McDonald
- , Emily K. Augustine
- & Matthew L. Becker
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Article
| Open AccessA synthetic metastatic niche reveals antitumor neutrophils drive breast cancer metastatic dormancy in the lungs
3D scaffolds can be used to recapitulate key aspects of the microenvironment of primary tumors and metastatic organs. Here the authors use subcutaneous porous 3D scaffold implants as a tool to study the immune signals in the lungs of metastatic breast cancer, revealing multifaceted roles of neutrophils in regulating lung metastasis.
- Jing Wang
- , Ramon Ocadiz-Ruiz
- & Lonnie D. Shea
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Article
| Open AccessTransforming sustainable plant proteins into high performance lubricating microgels
Demand for plant proteins is increasing, but these often give an astringent sensation due to poor lubrication performance. Here, the authors report the development of plantprotein microgels with improved lubricity with potential in sustainable foods.
- Ben Kew
- , Melvin Holmes
- & Anwesha Sarkar
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Article
| Open AccessIdentification of scaffold proteins for improved endogenous engineering of extracellular vesicles
Extracellular vesicles are naturally occurring nanoparticles that are gaining ground as delivery modalities for therapeutics. Here, the authors conducted a large-scale screening programme to identify potential scaffold proteins for cargo loading into extracellular vesicles.
- Wenyi Zheng
- , Julia Rädler
- & Samir EL Andaloussi
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Article
| Open AccessPhenotypically complex living materials containing engineered cyanobacteria
Engineered living materials (ELMs) are emerging as a field at the intersection of materials science and synthetic biology. Here, the authors describe a photosynthetic ELM composed of genetically engineered cyanobacteria in a hydrogel matrix, capable of bioremediation and inducible cell death.
- Debika Datta
- , Elliot L. Weiss
- & Jonathan K. Pokorski
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Article
| Open AccessPrussian blue analog with separated active sites to catalyze water driven enhanced catalytic treatments
Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) uses Fenton chemistry to covert hydrogen peroxide in cancer cells to toxic hydroxyl radicals, but endogenous hydrogen peroxide is insufficient to drive sustainable CDT. Here, the authors report a water oxidation CoFe Prussian blue nanoframe to provide sustained, external energy free self-supply of hydroxyl radicals for CDT.
- Liu-Chun Wang
- , Pei-Yu Chiou
- & Chen-Sheng Yeh
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Article
| Open AccessMaterial-engineered bioartificial microorganisms enabling efficient scavenging of waterborne viruses
The material-based evolution of organisms has attracted broad interdisciplinary interest, however, the fabrication of material-integrated organelles remains inadequately exploited. Here the authors engineer a bioartificial organism by integrating a semiartificial and specific virus-scavenging organelle to scavenge pathogenic waterborne viruses.
- Huixin Li
- , Yanpeng Xu
- & Ruikang Tang
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Article
| Open AccessA bimetallic nanoplatform for STING activation and CRISPR/Cas mediated depletion of the methionine transporter in cancer cells restores anti-tumor immune responses
Metabolic pressure, in particular the lack of methionine availability, on tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cells is associated with T cell dysfunction. Since tumor cells rely on SLC43A2 for methionine uptake, here the authors design a nanoplatform for CRISPR/Cas9 mediated silencing of SLC43A2 and STING activation, restoring anti-tumor T cell immune responses.
- Ying Huang
- , Geng Qin
- & Xiaogang Qu
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Article
| Open AccessBiodegradable polyphosphoester micelles act as both background-free 31P magnetic resonance imaging agents and drug nanocarriers
MRI agents can result in environmental pollution and organ accumulation. Here, the authors show that modifying the molecular structure of biodegradable polyphosphoesters and tailoring the polymers’ microstructure to adjust MRI relaxation times can overcome challenges in 31P MR imaging.
- Olga Koshkina
- , Timo Rheinberger
- & Frederik R. Wurm
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Article
| Open AccessSpatially controlled construction of assembloids using bioprinting
Bioprinting has potential in the biofabrication of three dimensional tissues, but is poorly suited to the manipulation of neural organoids. Here, the authors develop a bioprinting platform to allow the arrangement of organoids to form assembloids.
- Julien G. Roth
- , Lucia G. Brunel
- & Sarah C. Heilshorn
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Article
| Open AccessmRNA lipid nanoparticle-mediated pyroptosis sensitizes immunologically cold tumors to checkpoint immunotherapy
mRNA nanomedicine-based gene therapy may offer opportunities for cancer treatment. Here the authors show that mRNA lipid nanoparticles encoding the N-terminal domain of gasdermin B trigger pyroptosis and promote anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical cancer models.
- Fengqiao Li
- , Xue-Qing Zhang
- & Xiaoyang Xu
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Article
| Open AccessInterventional hydrogel microsphere vaccine as an immune amplifier for activated antitumour immunity after ablation therapy
Minimally invasive irreversible electroporation shows some therapeutic promise in irresectable pancreatic cancers that are notorious for poor survival. Here authors combine this with administration of a hydrogel microsphere vaccine that augments the antigen presentation T cell response cascade that naturally initiates following ablation.
- Xiaoyu Liu
- , Yaping Zhuang
- & Zhongmin Wang
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Article
| Open AccessActive self-assembly of piezoelectric biomolecular films via synergistic nanoconfinement and in-situ poling
Piezoelectric biomaterials are limited by the challenges in domain orientation alignment and a weak piezoelectric effect. Here, Zhang et. al. present an active self-assembly strategy via nanoconfinement and in-situ poling, to obtain large-scale, high performance piezoelectric β-glycine nanocrystalline films.
- Zhuomin Zhang
- , Xuemu Li
- & Zhengbao Yang
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Article
| Open AccessIn situ activation of flexible magnetoelectric membrane enhances bone defect repair
Biomaterials that can be non-invasively activated to promote bone growth would be useful tools to repair bone defects in patients with comorbidities like inflammation or impaired osteogenesis. Here, the authors develop a composite membrane that can be stimulated by an external magnetic field and use it to correct skull defects in rats treated to reflect such comorbidities.
- Wenwen Liu
- , Han Zhao
- & Xuliang Deng
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Article
| Open AccessPorous microneedle patch with sustained delivery of extracellular vesicles mitigates severe spinal cord injury
Efficient delivery of extracellular vesicles to the injured spinal cord, with minimal damage, remains challenging. Here, the authors fabricate a minimally invasive microneedle device, which provides efficient and sustained extracellular vesicle delivery for spinal cord injury treatment.
- Ao Fang
- , Yifan Wang
- & Xuhua Wang
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Article
| Open AccessCucurbit[8]uril-based water-dispersible assemblies with enhanced optoacoustic performance for multispectral optoacoustic imaging
The applications of organic small-molecule contrast agents for multispectral optoacoustic imaging have been restrained by several challenges including relatively low extinction coefficient, poor water solubility and weak optoacoustic performance. Here, the authors address these limitations by constructing water-dispersible supramolecular optoacoustic assemblies based on cucurbit[8]uril.
- Yinglong Wu
- , Lihe Sun
- & Yanli Zhao
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Article
| Open AccessAccelerating the prediction and discovery of peptide hydrogels with human-in-the-loop
Accurate prediction of peptidic hydrogels could prove useful for diverse biomedical applications. Here, the authors develop a “human-in-the-loop” approach that integrates coarse-grained molecular dynamics, machine learning, and experimentation to design natural peptide hydrogels.
- Tengyan Xu
- , Jiaqi Wang
- & Huaimin Wang
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Article
| Open AccessInnovative design of minimal invasive biodegradable poly(glycerol-dodecanoate) nucleus pulposus scaffold with function regeneration
Minimally invasive implants have potential in treating intervertebral disc degeneration, but providing sufficient mechanical support is challenging. Here, the authors report the development of a nucleus pulposus scaffold, with properties designed to match those of native nucleus pulposus.
- Lizhen Wang
- , Kaixiang Jin
- & Yubo Fan
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Article
| Open AccessA joint proteomic and genomic investigation provides insights into the mechanism of calcification in coccolithophores
Coccolithophorid algae are globally important for marine biogeochemical cycles, but the molecular basis of their biology is poorly understood. Using proteomics and a new genome, Skeffington et al. identify candidate proteins involved in calcification in Emiliania huxleyi.
- Alastair Skeffington
- , Axel Fischer
- & André Scheffel
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Article
| Open AccessActivating hidden signals by mimicking cryptic sites in a synthetic extracellular matrix
In this work, the authors synthetized hydrogels that mimic cryptic sites in the native extracellular matrix (ECM) using switch peptides. They report how in response to enzymes on the surface of endothelial cells the inert matrix is transformed into a bioadhesive synthetic ECM.
- Yumeng Zhu
- , Yulia Shmidov
- & John B. Matson
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Article
| Open AccessVacuole dynamics and popping-based motility in liquid droplets of DNA
In this work, the authors report the appearance of vacuoles within the droplets of an enzyme-driven biomolecular liquid. The mechanisms of these behaviors are quantitatively explained with a diffusive capture model of enzyme dynamics.
- Omar A. Saleh
- , Sam Wilken
- & Tim Liedl
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Article
| Open AccessAdoptive T cell transfer and host antigen-presenting cell recruitment with cryogel scaffolds promotes long-term protection against solid tumors
Adoptive T cell therapy has shown remarkable promise for the treatment of haematological malignancies. Here, the authors show that a cryogel platform for the simultaneous delivery of autologous T cells and recruitment of local antigen-presenting cells promotes long-lasting responses against solid tumours in mice.
- Kwasi Adu-Berchie
- , Joshua M. Brockman
- & David J. Mooney
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Article
| Open AccessTemperature-triggered in situ forming lipid mesophase gel for local treatment of ulcerative colitis
Treatment of the chronic disease ulcerative colitis is impeded by systemic side effects of orally administered drugs. Here the authors develop a gel that uses the rectal temperature as a mechanism to trigger solidification for localized delivery of colitis therapeutics.
- Marianna Carone
- , Marianne R. Spalinger
- & Simone Aleandri
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Article
| Open AccessScarless wound healing programmed by core-shell microneedles
Effective reprogramming of chronic wound healing remains challenging due to the limited drug delivery efficacy hindered by physiological barriers, as well as the inappropriate dosing timing in distinct healing stages. Here, the authors report a core-shell structured microneedle array patch with programmed functions which dynamically modulates the wound immune microenvironment according to the varied healing phases
- Ying Zhang
- , Shenqiang Wang
- & Zhen Gu
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Article
| Open AccessSite-specific fabrication of a melanin-like pigment through spatially confined progressive assembly on an initiator-loaded template
Melanin-like materials are becoming important for surface biofunctionalization due to versatile adhesion, but are challenging to prepare in a site-specific manner. Here, the authors report a method using progressive assembly on a catalytic template, for site-specific fabrication and patterning of melanin-like pigments.
- Haejin Jeong
- , Jisoo Lee
- & Seonki Hong
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Article
| Open AccessMulti-layered cement-hydrogel composite with high toughness, low thermal conductivity, and self-healing capability
Despite widely used in the construction sector, Portland cement’s high brittleness and low toughness still pose challenges in some applications. Here, authors apply an ice-templating method to fabricate a cement-hydrogel composite with alternating layered microstructure resulting in significantly increased toughness.
- Yuan Chen
- , Yangzezhi Zheng
- & Changwen Miao
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Article
| Open AccessTransparent tissue in solid state for solvent-free and antifade 3D imaging
Current liquid-based optical clearing protocols can suffer from solvent evaporation and photobleaching. Here, the authors develop a solid high-refractive-index polymer to embed mouse and human tissues for clearing and antifade high-resolution 3D imaging.
- Fu-Ting Hsiao
- , Hung-Jen Chien
- & Shiue-Cheng Tang
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Article
| Open AccessAn injectable liposome-anchored teriparatide incorporated gallic acid-grafted gelatin hydrogel for osteoarthritis treatment
Osteoarthritis is a common disease that causes pain and difficulty moving joints. Here the authors present an injectable gelatin-based hydrogel that slowly releases teriparatide drug to avoid frequent injections, offering a potential solution for patients with osteoarthritis.
- Guoqing Li
- , Su Liu
- & Hui Zeng
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Article
| Open AccessHydrogel-in-hydrogel live bioprinting for guidance and control of organoids and organotypic cultures
Organ-like 3D cultures are advanced model system for biology and medicine limited by their uncontrolled cell self-assembly. Here, the authors develop a hydrogel-in-hydrogel bioprinting approach to dynamically control the growth landscape of a broad range of living 3D cell cultures.
- Anna Urciuolo
- , Giovanni Giuseppe Giobbe
- & Nicola Elvassore
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Article
| Open AccessMagnetic control of self-assembly and disassembly in organic materials
Organic molecules and materials are generally insensitive or weakly sensitive to magnetic fields due to their small diamagnetic force. Here, the authors show a strategy to amplify the magnetic responsiveness of self-assembled peptide nanostructures by synergistically combining the concepts of perfect α-helix and rod-coil supramolecular building blocks
- You-jin Jung
- , Hyoseok Kim
- & Yong-beom Lim
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Article
| Open AccessA biodegradable, flexible photonic patch for in vivo phototherapy
Illuminating internal organs and tissues with high controllability and adaptability remains challenging. Here the authors present a flexible, biodegradable photonic device called iCarP for large area, high intensity, wide spectrum, deeply penetrating, continuous or pulsatile illumination.
- Kaicheng Deng
- , Yao Tang
- & Yang Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessPhotoinhibiting via simultaneous photoabsorption and free-radical reaction for high-fidelity light-based bioprinting
‘Light-based bioprinting is employed in the fabrication of complex constructs but achieving high resolution remains challenging due to light scattering effects. Here, the authors develop a photoinhibiting additive which suppresses light scattering and demonstrate printing of functional scaffolds
- Ning He
- , Xiaonan Wang
- & Xiaoxiao Han
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Article
| Open AccessEnzymatic polymerization of enantiomeric L−3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine into films with enhanced rigidity and stability
L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine plays an important role in living system. Here, the authors investigated the effect of the molecular chirality of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine on the improved structural and thermal stability of self-assembled films by tyrosinase-induced oxidative polymerization.
- Yuhe Shen
- , Rongxin Su
- & Wei Qi
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Article
| Open AccessCultured meat platform developed through the structuring of edible microcarrier-derived microtissues with oleogel-based fat substitute
Cultured meat (CM) is a sustainable alternative for meat, providing similar eating experience and nutrition. Here the authors present and fully characterize a CM platform from cellularized edible microcarriers and oleogel-based fat substitute.
- Feng-Chun Yen
- , Jovana Glusac
- & Marcelle Machluf
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Article
| Open AccessMicrobial synthesis of Prussian blue for potentiating checkpoint blockade immunotherapy
Prussian blue has been used as a photothermal agent for cancer therapy. Here the authors describe the production of Prussian blue nanoparticles from S. oneidensis MR-1 bacteria and show that a Prussian blue-based mitochondria-targeting nanoplatform potentiates response to immune checkpoint blockade.
- Dongdong Wang
- , Jiawei Liu
- & Yanli Zhao
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Article
| Open AccessEngineered bacterial outer membrane vesicles encapsulating oncolytic adenoviruses enhance the efficacy of cancer virotherapy by augmenting tumor cell autophagy
Oncolytic adenoviruses (Ads)-mediated anti-tumor activity is related to virus-promoted autophagy in tumor cells. Here the authors describe the design of a microbial nanocomposite based on Ads-encapsulated in bacterial outer membrane vesicles to promote Ads intratumoral accumulation and induction of autophagy, promoting anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical cancer models.
- Weiyue Ban
- , Mengchi Sun
- & Jin Sun
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Article
| Open AccessA smart pathogen detector engineered from intracellular hydrogelation of DNA-decorated macrophages
Macrophages have the inherent capacity to recognise pathogenic microorganisms, highlighting their potential to be used in biosensing applications. Herein, the authors report a method to transform normally fragile macrophages into robust gelated cell particles for efficient bacterial capture and detection.
- Yueyue Gui
- , Yujing Zeng
- & Chao Li