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Studying the interactions between nanoengineered materials and biological systems plays a vital role in the development of biological applications of nanotechnology and the improvement of our fundamental understanding of the bio–nano interface. A significant barrier to progress in this multidisciplinary area is the variability of published literature with regards to characterizations performed and experimental details reported. Here, we suggest a ‘minimum information standard’ for experimental literature investigating bio–nano interactions. This standard consists of specific components to be reported, divided into three categories: material characterization, biological characterization and details of experimental protocols. Our intention is for these proposed standards to improve reproducibility, increase quantitative comparisons of bio–nano materials, and facilitate meta analyses and in silico modelling.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is the most widely used biomaterial for microencapsulation and prolonged delivery of therapeutic drugs, proteins and antigens. PLGA has excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility and is generally recognized as safe by international regulatory agencies including the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency. The physicochemical properties of PLGA may be varied systematically by changing the ratio of lactic acid to glycolic acid. This in turn alters the release rate of microencapsulated therapeutic molecules from PLGA microparticle formulations. The obstacles hindering more widespread use of PLGA for producing sustained-release formulations for clinical use include low drug loading, particularly of hydrophilic small molecules, high initial burst release and/or poor formulation stability. In this review, we address strategies aimed at overcoming these challenges. These include use of low-temperature double-emulsion methods to increase drug-loading by producing PLGA particles with a small volume for the inner water phase and a suitable pH of the external phase. Newer strategies for producing PLGA particles with high drug loading and the desired sustained-release profiles include fabrication of multi-layered microparticles, nanoparticles-in-microparticles, use of hydrogel templates, as well as coaxial electrospray, microfluidics, and supercritical carbon dioxide methods. Another recent strategy with promise for producing particles with well-controlled and reproducible sustained-release profiles involves complexation of PLGA with additives such as polyethylene glycol, poly(ortho esters), chitosan, alginate, caffeic acid, hyaluronic acid, and silicon dioxide.

Sodium-ion batteries are promising alternative electrochemical energy storage devices due to the abundance of sodium resources. One of the challenges currently hindering the development of the sodium-ion battery technology is the lack of electrode materials suitable for reversibly storing/releasing sodium ions for a sufficiently long lifetime. Redox-active polymers provide opportunities for developing advanced electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries because of their structural diversity and flexibility, surface functionalities and tenability, and low cost. This review provides a short yet concise summary of recent developments in polymer electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Challenges facing polymer electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries are identified and analyzed. Strategies for improving polymer electrochemical performance are discussed. Future research perspectives in this important field are projected.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have gained widespread attention due to their adverse effects on health and environment. Developing efficient technology to capture PFAS from contaminated sources remains a great challenge. In this study, we introduce a type of reusable polymeric sorbent (PFPE-IEX + ) for rapid, efficient, and selective removal of multiple PFAS impurities from various contaminated water sources. The resin achieves >98% removal efficiency ([PFPE-IEX + ] = 0.5–5 mg mL −1 , [PFAS] 0  = 1–10 ppb in potable water and landfill leachate) and >500 mg g −1 sorption capacity for the 11 types of examined PFAS. We achieve efficient PFAS removal without breakthrough and subsequent resin regeneration and demonstrate good PFAS recovery in a proof-of-concept cartridge setup. The outcomes of this study offer valuable guidance to the design of platforms for efficient and selective PFAS capture from contaminated water, such as drinking water and landfill leachate. It is challenging to remove Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water. Here, authors developed a polymer sorbent capable of selectively and efficiently removing PFAS from contaminated water sources to levels below detection limits.

Protein–polymer bioconjugates offer numerous advantages in biomedical applications by integrating the benefits of functional proteins and tunable synthetic polymers. Developing drug-loaded protein–polymer nanoparticles, with a receptor-targeting protein forming the nanoparticle shell, would be ideal for the targeted delivery of drugs to cancer cells that overexpress specific receptors for more effective cancer therapy. In this study, we report the synthesis of reduction-responsive protein–polymer nanoparticles by a photoinitiated polymerization-induced self-assembly (photo-PISA) approach. Anti-cancer drugs can be efficiently encapsulated at high concentrations within the nanoparticles during the photo-PISA process. These protein–polymer nanoparticles present transferrin (Tf) on their surfaces, capable of targeting the overexpressed Tf receptors found on cancer cells. It was found that the nanoparticles demonstrate enhanced cellular uptake and delivery of the anti-cancer drug, curcumin, to cancer cells via Tf receptor-mediated endocytosis, compared to the control PEGylated nanoparticles that lack targeting capability. Moreover, the nanoparticles can release the encapsulated curcumin in response to a reducing environment, a characteristic of cancer cells compared to health cells. Consequently, the synthesized protein–polymer nanoparticles are more effective in inducing cancer cell death compared to the control nanoparticles, demonstrating their potential as an effective and targeted drug delivery system for cancer therapy.

Quantum dots (QDs) of formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3) perovskite hold great potential, outperforming their inorganic counterparts in terms of phase stability and carrier lifetime, for high‐performance solar cells. However, the highly dynamic nature of FAPbI3 QDs, which mainly originates from the proton exchange between oleic acid and oleylamine (OAm) surface ligands, is a key hurdle that impedes the fabrication of high‐efficiency solar cells. To tackle such an issue, here, protonated‐OAm in situ to strengthen the ligand binding at the surface of FAPbI3 QDs, which can effectively suppress the defect formation during QD synthesis and purification processes is selectively introduced. In addition, by forming a halide‐rich surface environment, the ligand density in a broader range for FAPbI3 QDs without compromising their structural integrity, which significantly improves their optoelectronic properties can be modulated. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of FAPbI3 QD solar cells (QDSCs) is enhanced from 7.4% to 13.8%, a record for FAPbI3 QDSCs. Furthermore, the suppressed proton exchange and reduced surface defects in FAPbI3 QDs also enhance the stability of QDSCs, which retain 80% of the initial efficiency upon exposure to ambient air for 3000 hours. An in situ surface ligand regulation strategy for deliberately controlling protonated‐oleylamine (OAm) dominated surface binding of formamidinium lead triiodide quantum dots (FAPbI3 QDs) is demonstrated. The QDs present reduced long‐chain insulating ligand density without compromising their structural integrity, leading to the corresponding QD solar cell a record power conversion efficiency of 13.8% for FAPbI3 QDSCs.

As a “cold tumor”, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) exhibits limited responsiveness to current immunotherapy. How to enhance the immunogenicity and reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment of TNBC remain a formidable challenge. Herein, an “in situ nanovaccine” Au/CuNDs-R848 was designed for imaging-guided photothermal therapy (PTT)/chemodynamic therapy (CDT) synergistic therapy to trigger dual immunoregulatory effects on TNBC. On the one hand, Au/CuNDs-R848 served as a promising photothermal agent and nanozyme, achieving PTT and photothermal-enhanced CDT against the primary tumor of TNBC. Meanwhile, the released antigens and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) promoted the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and facilitated the infiltration of T lymphocytes. Thus, Au/CuNDs-R848 played a role as an “in situ nanovaccine” to enhance the immunogenicity of TNBC by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD). On the other hand, the nanovaccine suppressed the myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), thereby reversing the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Through the dual immunoregulation, “cold tumor” was transformed into a “hot tumor”, not only implementing a “turning foes to friends” therapeutic strategy but also enhancing immunotherapy against metastatic TNBC. Furthermore, Au/CuNDs-R848 acted as an excellent nanoprobe, enabling high-resolution near-infrared fluorescence and computed tomography imaging for precise visualization of TNBC. This feature offers potential applications in clinical cancer detection and surgical guidance. Collectively, this work provides an effective strategy for enhancing immune response and offers novel insights into the potential clinical applications for tumor immunotherapy. [Display omitted] •Enhancing the immunogenicity and reversing the immunosuppressive microenvironment of TNBC remain a formidable challenge.•An “in situ nanovaccine” for imaging-guided PTT/CDT synergistic therapy to exert dual immunoregulatory effects on TNBC.•Through dual immunoregulation, “cold tumor” was transformed into a “hot tumor”, enhancing immunotherapy against TNBC.•Au/CuNDs-R848 acted as an excellent nanoprobe, enabling near-infrared FL/CT imaging for precise visualization of TNBC.

Biodegradable polymers have been used as carriers in drug delivery systems for more than four decades. Early work used crude natural materials for particle fabrication, whereas more recent work has utilized synthetic polymers. Applications include the macroscale, the microscale, and the nanoscale. Since pioneering work in the 1960’s, an array of products that use biodegradable polymers to encapsulate the desired drug payload have been approved for human use by international regulatory agencies. The commercial success of these products has led to further research in the field aimed at bringing forward new formulation types for improved delivery of various small molecule and biologic drugs. Here, we review recent advances in the development of these materials and we provide insight on their drug delivery application. We also address payload encapsulation and drug release mechanisms from biodegradable formulations and their application in approved therapeutic products.

Minimizing the interaction of nanomedicines with the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) is a critical challenge for their clinical translation. Conjugating polyethylene glycol (PEG) to nanomedicines is regarded as an effective approach to reducing the sequestration of nanomedicines by the MPS. However, recent concerns about the immunogenicity of PEG highlight the demand of alternative low‐fouling polymers as innovative coating materials for nanoparticles. Herein, a highly hydrophilic sulfoxide‐containing polymer—poly(2‐(methylsulfinyl)ethyl acrylate) (PMSEA)—is used for the surface coating of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). It is found that the PMSEA polymer coated IONPs have a more hydrophilic surface than their PEGylated counterparts, and demonstrate remarkably reduced macrophage cellular uptake and much less association with human plasma proteins. In vivo study of biodistribution and pharmacokinetics further reveals a much‐extended blood circulation (≈2.5 times longer in terms of elimination half‐life t1/2) and reduced accumulation (approximately two times less) in the organs such as the liver and spleen for IONPs coated by PMSEA than those by PEG. It is envisaged that the highly hydrophilic sulfoxide‐containing polymers have huge potential to be employed as an advantageous alternative to PEG for the surface functionalization of a variety of nanoparticles for long circulation and improved delivery. An innovative class of sulfoxide‐containing polymer is used as an exceptional surface functionalization material for nanoparticles. The highly hydrophilic nature of the polymer endows nanoparticles with remarkable low‐fouling property as demonstrated by weak interaction with plasma proteins, prolonged blood circulation, and improved biodistribution profile of conjugated nanoparticles.

The clinical translation of new nanoparticle-based therapies for high-grade glioma (HGG) remains extremely poor. This has partly been due to the lack of suitable preclinical mouse models capable of replicating the complex characteristics of recurrent HGG (rHGG), namely the heterogeneous structural and functional characteristics of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The goal of this study is to compare the characteristics of the tumor BBB of rHGG with two different mouse models of HGG, the ubiquitously used U87 cell line xenograft model and a patient-derived cell line WK1 xenograft model, in order to assess their suitability for nanomedicine research. Structural MRI was used to assess the extent of BBB opening in mouse models with a fully developed tumor, and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI was used to obtain values of BBB permeability in contrast enhancing tumor. H&E and immunofluorescence staining were used to validate results obtained from the imaging studies. The extent of BBB disruption and permeability in the contrast enhancing tumor was significantly higher in the U87 model than in rHGG. These values in the WK1 model are similar to those of rHGG. The U87 model is not infiltrative, has an entirely abnormal and leaky vasculature and it is not of glial origin. The WK1 model infiltrates into the non-neoplastic brain parenchyma, it has both regions with intact BBB and regions with leaky BBB and remains of glial origin. The WK1 mouse model more accurately reproduces the extent of BBB disruption, the level of BBB permeability and the histopathological characteristics found in rHGG patients than the U87 mouse model, and is therefore a more clinically relevant model for preclinical evaluations of emerging nanoparticle-based therapies for HGG.