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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease characterized by synovitis and joint cartilage destruction. The severity of OA is highly associated with the imbalance between M1 and M2 synovial macrophages. In this study, a novel strategy is designed to modulate macrophage polarization by reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and regulating mitochondrial function. A ROS‐responsive polymer is synthesized to self‐assemble with astaxanthin and autophagy activator rapamycin to form nanoparticles (NP@PolyRHAPM). In vitro experiments show that NP@PolyRHAPM significantly reduced intracellular ROS levels. Furthermore, NP@PolyRHAPM restored mitochondrial membrane potential, increased glutathione (GSH) levels, and promoted intracellular autophagy, hence successfully repolarizing M1 macrophages into the M2 phenotype. This repolarization enhanced chondrocyte proliferation and vitality while inhibiting apoptosis. In vivo experiments utilizing an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)‐induced OA mouse model revealed the anti‐inflammatory and cartilage‐protective effects of NP@PolyRHAPM, effectively mitigating OA progression. Consequently, the findings suggest that intra‐articular delivery of ROS‐responsive nanocarrier systems holds significant promise as a potential and effective therapeutic strategy for OA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials having enzyme‐like activities are recognized as potentially important self‐therapeutic nanomedicines. Herein, a peroxidase‐like artificial enzyme is developed based on novel biodegradable boron oxynitride (BON) nanostructures for highly efficient and multi‐mode breast cancer therapies. The BON nanozyme catalytically generates cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals, which induce apoptosis of 4T1 cancer cells and significantly reduce the cell viability by 82% in 48 h. In vivo experiment reveals a high potency of the BON nanozyme for breast tumor growth inhibitions by 97% after 14‐day treatment compared with the control, which are 10 times or 1.3 times more effective than the inert or B‐releasing boron nitride (BN) nanospheres, respectively. This work highlights the BON nanozyme and its functional integrations within the BN nanomedicine platform for high‐potency breast cancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials having enzyme‐like activities are recognized as potentially important self‐therapeutic nanomedicines. Herein, a peroxidase‐like artificial enzyme is developed based on novel biodegradable boron oxynitride (BON) nanostructures for highly efficient and multi‐mode breast cancer therapies. The BON nanozyme catalytically generates cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals, which induce apoptosis of 4T1 cancer cells and significantly reduce the cell viability by 82% in 48 h. In vivo experiment reveals a high potency of the BON nanozyme for breast tumor growth inhibitions by 97% after 14‐day treatment compared with the control, which are 10 times or 1.3 times more effective than the inert or B‐releasing boron nitride (BN) nanospheres, respectively. This work highlights the BON nanozyme and its functional integrations within the BN nanomedicine platform for high‐potency breast cancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In‐grain dislocation‐induced lattice strain fluctuations are recently revealed as an effective avenue for minimizing the lattice thermal conductivity. This effect could be integratable with electronic enhancements such as by band convergence, for a great advancement in thermoelectric performance. This motivates the current work to focus on the thermoelectric enhancements of p‐type PbTe alloys, where monotelluride‐alloying and Na‐doping are used for a simultaneous manipulation on both dislocation and band structures. As confirmed by synchrotron X‐ray diffractions and Raman measurements, the resultant dense in‐grain dislocations induce lattice strain fluctuations for broadening the phonon dispersion, leading to an exceptionally low lattice thermal conductivity of ≈0. 4 W m‐K−1. Band structure calculations reveal the convergence of valence bands due to monotelluride‐alloying. Eventually, the integration of both electronic and thermal improvements lead to a realization of an extraordinary figure of merit zT of ≈2.5 in Na0.03Eu0.03Cd0.03Pb0.91Te alloy at 850 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver fibrosis currently represents a global health problem without effective pharmacotherapeutic strategies. The clinical translation of polydatin, a promising natural anti‐fibrotic drug candidate with broad anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities, remains a major challenge due to its limited water solubility and tissue absorption. Herein, a polydatin‐loaded micelle (PD‐MC) based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pH dual‐sensitive block polymer PEG‐P(PBEM‐co‐DPA) is developed. The micelle exerts great potential in improving the biocompatibility of polydatin and shows highly efficient liver‐targeted drug release in response to the fibrotic microenvironment. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that PD‐MC can significantly suppress inflammatory response and oxidative stress, reduce hepatocyte apoptosis, and avert activation of macrophages and hepatic stellate cells. More excitingly, the blank micelle itself promotes the hepatic ROS consumption at the pathologic site to provide anti‐inflammatory benefits. These favorable therapeutic virtues of targeting multiple cell types endow PD‐MC with remarkable efficacy with minimal side effects in liver fibrosis treatment. Thus, PD‐MC holds great potential to push forward the clinical application of polydatin in pharmacotherapeutic approaches against liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]