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Lymphoma is a heterogeneous disease with varying clinical manifestations and outcomes. Many subtypes of lymphoma, such as Burkitt′s lymphoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma, are highly aggressive with dismal prognosis even after conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As such, exploring specific biomarkers for lymphoma is of high clinical significance. Herein, a potential marker, CD38, is investigated for differentiating lymphoma. A CD38‐targeting monoclonal antibody (mAb, daratumumab) is then radiolabeled with Zr‐89 and Lu‐177 for theranostic applications. As the diagnostic component, the Zr‐89‐labeled mAb is highly specific in delineating CD38‐positive lymphoma via positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, while the Lu‐177‐labeled mAb serves well as the therapeutic component to suppress tumor growth after a one‐time administration. These results strongly suggest that CD38 is a lymphoma‐specific marker and prove that 89Zr/177Lu‐labeled daratumumab facilitates immunoPET imaging and radioimmunotherapy of lymphoma in preclinical models. Further clinical evaluation and translation of this CD38‐targeted theranostics may be of significant help in lymphoma patient stratification and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio‐nanomedicine, or the use of radiolabeled nanoparticles in nuclear medicine, has attracted much attention in the last few decades. Since the discovery of Cerenkov radiation and its employment in Cerenkov luminescence imaging, the combination of nanomaterials and Cerenkov radiation emitters has been revolutionizing the way nanomaterials are perceived in the field: from simple inert carriers of radioactivity to activatable nanomaterials for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review on the types of nanomaterials that have been used to interact with Cerenkov radiation and the gamma and beta scintillation of radionuclides, as well as on their biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently associated with oxidative stress and causes high mortality annually in clinics. Nanotechnology‐mediated antioxidative therapy is emerging as a novel strategy for the treatment of AKI. Herein, a novel biomedical use of the endogenous biopolymer melanin as a theranostic natural antioxidant defense nanoplatform for AKI is reported. In this study, ultrasmall Mn2+‐chelated melanin (MMP) nanoparticles are easily prepared via a simple coordination and self‐assembly strategy, and further incorporated with polyethylene glycol (MMPP). In vitro experiments reveal the ability of MMPP nanoparticles to scavenge multiple toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppress ROS‐induced oxidative stress. Additionally, in vivo results from a murine AKI model demonstrate preferential renal uptake of MMPP nanoparticles and a subsequent robust antioxidative response with negligible side effects according to positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) bimodal imaging and treatment assessment. These results indicate that the effectiveness of MMPP nanoparticles for treating AKI suggests the potential efficacy of melanin as a natural theranostic antioxidant nanoplatform for AKI, as well as other ROS‐related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy is a conserved process that is critical for sequestering and degrading proteins, damaged or aged organelles, and for maintaining cellular homeostasis under stress conditions. Despite its dichotomous role in health and diseases, autophagy usually promotes growth and progression of advanced cancers. In this context, clinical trials using chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as autophagy inhibitors have suggested that autophagy inhibition is a promising approach for treating advanced malignancies and/or overcoming drug resistance of small molecule therapeutics (i.e., chemotherapy and molecularly targeted therapy). Efficient delivery of autophagy inhibitors may further enhance the therapeutic effect, reduce systemic toxicity, and prevent drug resistance. As such, nanocarrier‐based drug delivery systems have several distinct advantages over free autophagy inhibitors that include increased circulation of the drugs, reduced off‐target systemic toxicity, increased drug delivery efficiency, and increased solubility and stability of the encapsulated drugs. With their versatile drug encapsulation and surface‐functionalization capabilities, nanocarriers can be engineered to deliver autophagy inhibitors to tumor sites in a context‐specific and/or tissue‐specific manner. This review focuses on the role of nanomaterials utilizing autophagy inhibitors for cancer therapy, with a focus on their applications in different cancer types. Autophagy is a conserved process that is critical for sequestering and degrading proteins, damaged or aged organelles, and for capturing nanoparticles. Clinical trials have suggested that autophagy inhibition is a promising approach for treating advanced malignancies. With their versatile drug encapsulation and surface‐functionalization capabilities, nanocarrier‐based delivering of autophagy inhibitors has several distinct advantages over free autophagy inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]