Search

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease caused by the immune system attacking and destroying insulin-producing β cells in the pancreas. Islet transplantation is becoming one of the most promising therapies for T1D patients. However, its clinical use is limited by substantial cell loss after islet infusion, closely related to immune reactions, including instant blood-mediated inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and direct autoimmune attack. Especially the grafted islets are not only exposed to allogeneic immune rejection after transplantation but are also subjected to an autoimmune process that caused the original disease. Due to the development and convergence of expertise in biomaterials, nanotechnology, and immunology, protective strategies are being investigated to address this issue, including exploring novel immune protective agents, encapsulating islets with biomaterials, and searching for alternative implantation sites, or co-transplantation with functional cells. These methods have significantly increased the survival rate and function of the transplanted islets. However, most studies are still limited to animal experiments and need further studies. In this review, we introduced the immunological challenges for islet graft and summarized the recent developments in immune-protective strategies to improve the outcomes of islet transplantation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality, a highly effective treatment with low side effects and tolerance is needed. Photothermal immunotherapy is a promising treatment combining photothermal therapy (PTT) and immunotherapy. PTT induces the release of tumor-associated antigens by ablating tumor and Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) enhance the antitumor immunity. Results showed that Indocyanine Green (ICG) was successfully encapsulated into SF-Gel. ICG could convert light to heat and SF-Gel accelerates the photothermal effect in vitro and in vivo. PTT based on ICG/ICG-SF-Gel inhibited the growth of primary and distal tumors, GLP enhanced the inhibitory efficacy. ICG/ICG-SF-Gel-based PTT and GLP immunotherapy improved the survival time. ICG/ICG-SF-Gel-based PTT induces tumor necrosis and GLP enhanced the photothermal efficacy. ICG/ICG-SF-Gel-based PTT inhibited cell proliferation and angiogenesis, induced cell apoptosis, enhanced cellular immunity, and GLP enhanced these effects. In conclusion, GLP could enhance the abscopal effect of PTT in Hepatoma-bearing mice.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF1) has great potential in preventing diabetic cardiomyopathy. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of FGF1-loaded nanoliposomes (FGF1-nlip) combined with ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) using ultrasound examination. Nanoliposomes encapsulating FGF1 were prepared by reverse phase evaporation. DM model rats were established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ), and different forms of FGF1 (FGF1 solution, FGF1-nlip, and FGF1-nlip+UTMD) were used for a 12-week intervention. According to the transthoracic echocardiography and velocity vector imaging (VVI) indexes, the LVEF, LVFS, and VVI indexes (Vs, Sr, SRr) in the FGF1-nlip+UTMD group were significantly higher than those in the DM model group and other FGF1 intervention groups. From the real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) indexes, the FGF1-nlip+UTMD group A and A×β showed significant differences from the DM model group and other FGF1 intervention groups. Cardiac catheter hemodynamic testing, CD31 immunohistochemical staining, and electron microscopy also confirmed the same conclusion. These results confirmed that the abnormalities, including myocardial dysfunction and perfusion impairment, could be suppressed to different extents by the twice weekly FGF1 treatments for 12 consecutive weeks (free FGF1, FGF1-nlip, and FGF1-nlip+UTMD), with the strongest improvements observed in the FGF1-nlip+UTMD group. In conclusion, the VVI and RT-MCE techniques can detect left ventricular systolic function and perfusion changes in DM rats, providing a more effective experimental basis for the early detection and treatment evaluation of DCM, which is of great significance for the prevention of DCM.