Search

Activated platelets (PLT) could adhere to tumor cells to promote tumor progression and metastasis. Therefore, inhibiting platelet activation and blocking the interaction between tumor cells and platelets are an effective approach to inhibit distal tumor metastasis. In this study, chondroitin sulfate (CS)–glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) dual ligand-modified liposomes (CS–GA–LIP) were prepared for codelivery of aspirin (ASP) and curcumin (CUR). In order to simulate the tumor microenvironment, we established the "HuH-7 + PLT" in vitro coculture cell model and the "H22 + NIH/3T3" coinjected mice model. Physicochemical analysis showed that the particle size of CUR&ASP/CS–GA–LIP was 133.27 nm with high stability. In vitro studies found that CUR&ASP/CS–GA–LIP could target both hepatocellular carcinoma cells and platelets, enhance drug retention in tumor cells, and effectively inhibit tumor proliferation and migration. In addition, in vivo antitumor results demonstrated that CUR&ASP/CS–GA–LIP could aggregate in tumor tissues, inhibit platelet activation and neoangiogenesis, and down-regulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), exhibiting strong antiproliferative and antipulmonary metastatic abilities. Consequently, the combination therapy based on CS–GA–LIP might be a valuable antihepatocellular carcinoma strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a flexible multifunctional aromatic polyimide (BTDBPI) that shows yellow-green fluorescence with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 30% in the film state. The nonvolatile "write once-read many" (WORM) characteristic in a memory device with the configuration of ITO/BTDBPI/Au indicates that BTDBPI possesses organic semiconductor behavior. Moreover, polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) with the structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/BTDBPI/TPBI/Mg-Ag exhibits an interesting dual-emission phenomenon that originates from the electroluminescence (EL) of the BTDBPI nanometer film (yellow-green, 525 nm) and TPBI (deep blue, 380 nm), demonstrating that BTDBPI shows both the charge-transporting and EL properties.

A series of amphiphlic diblock polymers, tetraaniline block with different length of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (TA-b-PNIPAM), have been successfully synthesized. In a suitable solution, the as-synthesized diblock polymers can form stable large compound vesicles (LCVs) with multiple bimolecular-layer structure through self-assembly. These factors, such as the block length, different organic solvent, solvent ratio, pH value, temperature, and voltage, which affect the morphology and properties of the assembled aggregates, are systematically investigated. When the degree of polymerization of PNIPAM block is close to 10, the as-synthesized diblock polymer may form stable LCVs with the uniform size as well as few defects in the mixed solvent of dimethylformamide/water (v/v = 3:7). The assembled LCVs possess the properties of triple-responsive capacity on temperature, pH, and voltage. Variation in any of these factors can cause some changes in the morphology of LCVs. The drug release properties for doxorubicin (DOX) loaded by LCVs affected by temperature, voltage, and different pH values have been investigated. It is interesting that the structure of LCVs can be destructed completely by applying a voltage at 0.6 V. With such an advantage, the drugs loaded by the LCVs could burst release into designated place by using appropriate circuit design or instrument, thus achieving maximum efficacy of the loaded drugs or other bioactive molecules without any unnecessary chemical substances added. This approach allows us to concentrate more on material design aspects only, without regard to the complex targeting issue which is the biggest obstacle of such materials in practical applications.

New piezofluorochromic compounds with high thermal stabilities and aggregation-induced emission behavior were developed. The spectroscopic properties and morphological structures of these compounds were reversed upon pressing (or grinding)/annealing (or fuming). The switchable color change feature and aggregation-induced emission make the compounds promising candidates for optical recording, pressure-sensing, and light-emitting systems.