Article
Biophysics
Xiao Ma, Caihong Yang, Ruirui Zhang, Jie Yang, Yan Zu, Xin Shou, Yongxiang Zhao
Summary: A novel natural biomass-based hydrogel microparticle was developed using microfluidic electrospray technology. The microparticles showed enhanced chemotherapy effect, inhibited tumor growth, and exhibited good biocompatibility and sustained drug release.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mary Katherine Montgomery, John David, Haikuo Zhang, Sripad Ram, Shibing Deng, Vidya Premkumar, Lisa Manzuk, Ziyue Karen Jiang, Anand Giddabasappa
Summary: This study discusses the use of genetically engineered mice tumor models and microCT imaging for lung cancer research, as well as the development of the automated image analysis tool MLAST to improve data analysis efficiency and accuracy. The application of MLAST in efficacy trials showed high precision and sensitivity in quantifying tumor growth inhibition after drug treatment, accelerating the analysis of microCT data and allowing for larger study sizes and mid-study readouts. This approach demonstrates the potential of automated image analysis tools for high throughput and quantitative results in preclinical imaging studies.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Gabriella Costabile, Emma Mitidieri, Daniela Visaggio, Romina Provenzano, Agnese Miro, Fabiana Quaglia, Ivana d' Angelo, Emanuela Frangipani, Raffaella Sorrentino, Paolo Visca, Roberta d'Emmanuele di Villa Bianca, Francesca Ungaro
Summary: Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of intra-venous gallium nitrate and direct lung delivery of Ga(III) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. A specially engineered drug delivery system for Ga(III) inhalation is crucial for enhancing its accumulation in the lungs. Ga_HA/CS NPs and Ga_Man NEM, designed to overcome mucus and biofilm surrounding bacteria, show promise in improving therapeutic efficacy through inhalation route.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Cristina Loira-Pastoriza, Kevin Vanvarenberg, Bernard Ucakar, Maria Machado Franco, Aurelie Staub, Muriel Lemaire, Jean-Christophe Renauld, Rita Vanbever
Summary: Immunotherapy using immunostimulatory agents delivered intratumorally has shown promising efficacy in the treatment of lung cancer. Encapsulation of unmethylated oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs (CpG) and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) double-stranded RNA in liposomes can enhance their antitumor activity by increasing uptake by lung phagocytes and activating toll-like receptors. CpG encapsulation in DOTAP/DPPC liposomes significantly enhances its antitumor effects in lung cancer by inducing immune responses and delaying tumor growth.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Marta M. Maciel, Tiago R. Correia, Mariana Henriques, Joao F. Mano
Summary: The modulation of cell response in tissue engineering is challenging, but the potential of microparticles in controlling cellular response has been overlooked. However, microparticles designed with biophysical and biochemical cues can effectively modulate cell response.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Vishnu Raman, Lars M. Howell, Shoshana M. K. Bloom, Christopher L. Hall, Victoria E. Wetherby, Lisa M. Minter, Ashish A. Kulkarni, Neil S. Forbes
Summary: This study genetically engineered Salmonella to deliver exogenous antigens into tumor cells, aiming to activate antigen-specific CD8 T cells for immunotherapy. The results showed that intracellular delivery of the antigen reduced tumor growth and triggered a cytotoxic T cell response. In mice, intracellular delivery of the antigen cleared established tumors and increased survival.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Louis William Rogowski, Min Jun Kim
Summary: A newly discovered propulsion mechanism allows chemically coated microparticles to swim through mucus solution, with certain functionalizations altering propulsion behavior. The relationship between different chemical coatings, microparticle velocity, and controllability was explored, showing potential to enhance drug delivery methods and medical techniques utilizing micro/nanoparticles.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuangquan Gou, Gangyang Wang, Yanan Zou, Wenbo Geng, Tingting He, Zizhen Qin, Lingbin Che, Qian Feng, Kaiyong Cai
Summary: A self-assembled gelatin/silk fibroin composite (GSC) particle based drug delivery system with universal drug loading capacity for cancer treatment is developed. It shows efficient drug loading, protects loaded drugs, and has adjustable particle sizes. The GSC system has potential applications in lung cancer treatment.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Yubo Shen, Daoxia Guo, Xiaoyuan Ji, Yanfeng Zhou, Shuo Liu, Jing Huang, Haiyun Song
Summary: In this study, a biomimetic nanoparticle consisting of a self-assembled CpG NP core and cell membrane shell was designed, showing advantages in modulating peripheral and central immune cells. This new strategy provides targeted delivery and immunomodulatory effects for CpG ODNs in disease treatment.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Mengting Mo, Xiang Li, Caixia Li, Kangfeng Wang, Shulei Li, Yan Guo, Peng Sun, Jun Wu, Ying Lu, Chao Pan, Hengliang Wang
Summary: Researchers discovered that covalently coupling CpG with a nanovaccine can significantly enhance the utilization of CpG in lymph nodes and promote cellular immune response. This approach is simple, convenient, and particularly suitable for enhancing immune effect of vaccines against intracellular bacteria.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jia Liu, Yan Deng, Daan Fu, Ye Yuan, Qilin Li, Lin Shi, Guobin Wang, Zheng Wang, Lin Wang
Summary: Chemotherapy is a major treatment option for metastatic lung cancer, but its effectiveness is limited due to low drug delivery efficiency and non-specificity. A study introduced sericin microparticles enveloped with metal-organic networks for pulmonary delivery to treat lung metastasis of breast cancer in animal models, showing promising results in inhibiting metastatic tumors in the lungs.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuying Xu, Minting Liang, Jintao Huang, Yapei Fan, Haiyue Long, Qunjie Chen, Zhe Ren, Chaoxi Wu, Yifei Wang
Summary: In this study, a stable single helical β-glucan formyl derivative was developed as a DNA delivery platform, which showed low toxicity and high efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Sepehr Talebian, Timothy Schofield, Peter Valtchev, Aaron Schindeler, John M. Kavanagh, Qayyum Adil, Fariba Dehghani
Summary: The potential health benefits of probiotics may not be realized due to their reduced viability during storage and gastrointestinal transit. Microencapsulation using biopolymers has been utilized to improve the resistance of probiotics to critical conditions. However, most existing methods only provide single layer protection, which is less effective than more sophisticated approaches. This review discusses emerging methods for multilayer encapsulation of probiotics using biopolymers, and examines the correlation between fabrication techniques and microparticle properties. Novel materials and approaches for multilayer structures are highlighted.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guohui Yu, Fan Dong, Wenshu Ge, Lisha Sun, Ludan Zhang, Lintian Yuan, Ningyu Li, Hao Dai, Lei Shi, Yuguang Wang
Summary: This study developed a nanosphere that combines an immune adjuvant and photosensitizer to overcome the limitations of current immunotherapies. By enhancing immune stimulation and immune checkpoint blockade therapy, a strong immune response can be triggered. The results show that this approach effectively inhibits tumor recurrence and metastasis.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Dipy M. Vasa, Zainab Bakri, Maureen D. Donovan, Lauren A. O'Donnell, Peter L. D. Wildfong
Summary: Combining ribavirin with poloxamer 188 can enhance drug permeability across the olfactory epithelium, suggesting the potential for improved direct nose-to-brain transport.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fu Namai, Aito Murakami, Asami Ueda, Masami Tsukagoshi, Suguru Shigemori, Tasuku Ogita, Takashi Sato, Takeshi Shimosato
MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Sayaka Shinji, Koji Umezawa, Yuma Nihashi, Shunichi Nakamura, Takeshi Shimosato, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: This study demonstrates that 18-base telomeric oligodeoxynucleotides designed from the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG genome promote differentiation of skeletal muscle myoblasts by antagonizing nucleolin and modulating gene expression. The alkaloid berberine enhances the activity of the oligodeoxynucleotides by stabilizing and optimizing their conformation. These bacterial-derived oligodeoxynucleotides serve as aptamers and potential nucleic acid drugs that target myoblasts directly.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Shunichi Nakamura, Shinichi Yonekura, Takeshi Shimosato, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: The study explores the use of novel myoDNs to promote the differentiation of myoblasts in diabetic patients, demonstrating that this approach effectively improves muscle wasting and has similar effects on healthy myoblasts exposed to high glucose or high lipid levels.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Takuma Okajima, Suguru Shigemori, Fu Namai, Tasuku Ogita, Takashi Sato, Takeshi Shimosato
Summary: The study found that prophylactic feeding of ODNcap can reduce allergic airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and goblet cell hyperplasia in an ovalbumin-induced asthma model. Transcriptomics-driven approaches demonstrated that ODNcap feeding inhibits injury of pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes. Additionally, airway antimicrobial peptide and fecal microbiota participate in the ODNcap-mediated effects.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Kanako Shinada, Takashi Sato, Saya Moriyama, Yu Adachi, Masahiro Shinoda, Shinichiro Ota, Miwa Morikawa, Masamichi Mineshita, Takayuki Matsumura, Yoshimasa Takahashi, Masaharu Shinkai
Summary: The use of favipiravir in the treatment of COVID-19 accelerates viral clearance, preserves the generation and persistence of neutralizing antibodies, and does not interfere with the maturation of neutralizing potency against both WT SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuma Nihashi, Mana Miyoshi, Koji Umezawa, Takeshi Shimosato, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: The study identified an 18-base oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) called iSN40 that enhances the activity and gene expression of osteoblasts, promoting their differentiation and calcium deposition. iSN40 may serve as a potential nucleic acid drug for osteoporosis therapy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naoki Nohira, Sayaka Shinji, Shunichi Nakamura, Yuma Nihashi, Takeshi Shimosato, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: In this study, it was found that embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) cells express nucleolin and their growth can be inhibited by anti-nucleolin aptamers. Further investigation revealed that iSN04 and AS1411, the two anti-nucleolin aptamers, not only suppress the proliferation of ERMS cells, but also promote their differentiation and myogenesis. Additionally, these anti-nucleolin aptamers disrupt the formation of tumor spheres in three-dimensional culture. Therefore, anti-nucleolin aptamers have the potential to be used as nucleic acid drugs for chemotherapy against ERMS.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Fu Namai, Shunsuke Sumiya, Natsumi Nomura, Takashi Sato, Takeshi Shimosato
Summary: We developed genetically modified lactic acid bacteria (gmLAB) that produce green fluorescent protein (GFP)-conjugating, anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) single-chain variable fragments (scFv) for targeted cancer therapy. The gmLAB was able to express the anti-PD-L1 scFv and show specificity towards PD-L1 protein. These findings suggest that gmLAB could serve as an affordable diagnostic and treatment tool for cancer research.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Suzuka Oshima, Fu Namai, Takashi Sato, Takeshi Shimosato
Summary: In this study, a scFv based on the amino acid sequence of CC12.1 was designed to bind to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and enter cells through ACE2 receptors. Compared with the original antibody, scFv has the advantages of high tissue penetration and low production cost. gmLAB were constructed to incorporate the designed scFv and could be used as microbial therapeutics against COVID-19.
MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomohiro Takano, Takashi Sato, Ryutaro Kotaki, Saya Moriyama, Shuetsu Fukushi, Masahiro Shinoda, Kiyomi Kabasawa, Nagashige Shimada, Mio Kousaka, Yu Adachi, Taishi Onodera, Kazutaka Terahara, Masanori Isogawa, Takayuki Matsumura, Masaharu Shinkai, Yoshimasa Takahashi
Summary: Takano et al. demonstrate that a heterologous booster using a SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein vaccine induces a more sustained and broader anti-spike receptor-binding domain antibody response compared to a homologous booster using an mRNA vaccine. The study shows that the S-268019-b spike protein booster generates higher and longer-lasting IgG titers specific to the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain, with the ability to bind to antigenically distinct variants, while the BNT162b2 mRNA homologous booster has a weaker effect. Additionally, the S-268019-b booster enhances the production of RBD-angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding inhibitory antibodies, resulting in increased neutralizing activities against Omicron BA.1 and BA.5 variants.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Masahiro Shinoda, Shinichiro Ota, Yuto Yoshida, Takatomo Hirouchi, Kanako Shinada, Takashi Sato, Miwa Morikawa, Naoki Ishii, Masaharu Shinkai
Summary: High fever, widespread viral pneumonia, and pleural effusion may serve as easily measurable prognostic indicators in COVID-19 patients with similar backgrounds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Merisa Sirisopapong, Takeshi Shimosato, Supattra Okrathok, Sutisa Khempaka
Summary: This study aimed to characterize LAB strains from the chicken digestive tract and determine their potential as probiotics. The researchers found that the L. ingluviei and L. salivarius strains exhibited probiotic properties and improved the growth of broiler chickens. Future studies should investigate their potential for growth improvement in broilers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mina Ishioka, Yuma Nihashi, Yoichi Sunagawa, Koji Umezawa, Takeshi Shimosato, Hiroshi Kagami, Tatsuya Morimoto, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: This study found that inhibition of nucleolin by iSN04 can promote the differentiation of cardiac mesoderm into cardiomyocytes but interferes with the differentiation of early mesoderm into the cardiac lineage. This is the first report on generating cardiomyocytes from pluripotent stem cells using a DNA aptamer. iSN04 does not induce hypertrophic responses in primary-cultured cardiomyocytes, making it useful and safe for regenerative therapy of heart failure using stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Yuma Nihashi, Sayaka Shinji, Koji Umezawa, Takeshi Shimosato, Tamao Ono, Hiroshi Kagami, Tomohide Takaya
Summary: Research has shown that certain myogenetic oligodeoxynucleotides (myoDNs) can promote the differentiation of chicken myoblasts into MHC-positive myotubes.
ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kentaro Yumoto, Takashi Sato, Kentaro Nakashima, Fu Namai, Suguru Shigemori, Takeshi Shimosato, Takeshi Kaneko
