BODIPY as a Multifunctional Theranostic Reagent in Biomedicine: Self-Assembly, Properties, and Applications.

The use of boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) in biomedicine is reviewed. To open, its synthesis and regulatory strategies are summarized, and inspiring cutting-edge work in post-functionalization strategies is highlighted. A brief overview of assembly model of BODIPY is then provided: BODIPY is introduced as a promising building block for the formation of single- and multicomponent self-assembled systems, including nanostructures suitable for aqueous environments, thereby showing the great development potential of supramolecular assembly in biomedicine applications. The frontier progress of BODIPY in biomedical application is thereafter described, supported by examples of the frontiers of biomedical applications of BODIPY-containing smart materials: it mainly involves the application of materials based on BODIPY building blocks and their assemblies in fluorescence bioimaging, photoacoustic imaging, disease treatment including photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and immunotherapy. Lastly, not only the current status of the BODIPY family in the biomedical field but also the challenges worth considering are summarized. At the same time, insights into the future development prospects of biomedically applicable BODIPY are provided.

Future-Oriented Advanced Diarylethene Photoswitches: From Molecular Design to Spontaneous Assembly Systems.

Diarylethene (DAE) photoswitch is a new and promising family of photochromic molecules and has shown superior performance as a smart trigger in stimulus-responsive materials. During the past few decades, the DAE family has achieved a leap from simple molecules to functional molecules and developed toward validity as a universal switching building block. In recent years, the introduction of DAE into an assembly system has been an attractive strategy that enables the photochromic behavior of the building blocks to be manifested at the level of the entire system, beyond the DAE unit itself. This assembly-based strategy will bring many unexpected results that promote the design and manufacture of a new generation of advanced materials. Here, recent advances in the design and fabrication of diarylethene as a trigger in materials science, chemistry, and biomedicine are reviewed.

Advances in Application of Azobenzene as a Trigger in Biomedicine: Molecular Design and Spontaneous Assembly.

Azobenzene is a well-known derivative of stimulus-responsive molecular switches and has shown superior performance as a functional material in biomedical applications. The results of multiple studies have led to the development of light/hypoxia-responsive azobenzene for biomedical use. In recent years, long-wavelength-responsive azobenzene has been developed. Matching the longer wavelength absorption and hypoxia-response characteristics of the azobenzene switch unit to the bio-optical window results in a large and effective stimulus response. In addition, azobenzene has been used as a hypoxia-sensitive connector via biological cleavage under appropriate stimulus conditions. This has resulted in on/off state switching of properties such as pharmacology and fluorescence activity. Herein, recent advances in the design and fabrication of azobenzene as a trigger in biomedicine are summarized.

Expression and significance of miR - 20b in retinal photoreceptor cells exposed to PCB1254.

Previous studies have shown that PCB1254 has an adverse effect on zebrafish retinal development, but the basic mechanism behind it is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of PCB-induced retinal dysplasia. RT-qPCR, immunoblotting, HE staining and immunofluorescence were adopted to detect the expression at mRNA and protein level. Functional experiments were carried out in 661w cells including CCK-8 assay, caspase-3 assay, and the flow cytometry, while the functional role of miR - 20b was further investigated by using the zebrafish model. The result showed that PCB1254 exposure inhibited cell proliferation and increased the apoptosis of the 661w cells, and the dose-response relationship between the retinal development-related genes (SWS1, CRX, Rho), miR-20b expression and PCB1254 exposure was also discovered. We confirmed that miR-20b targeted FGF2 and GRB2 by constructing a dual luciferase reporter gene and suppressed the cell function as well as PCB1254. In the miR-20b overexpression zebrafish model, we found abnormal retinal morphology characterized by sparse and irregular photoreceptor cells and the thick photoreceptor cell layers. Our results demonstrate for the first time that PCBs target the MAPK/ERK signaling through miR-20b, affecting retinal cell development and leading to visual impairment.

Peptidomic analysis of zebrafish embryos exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and their impact on eye development.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a class of persistent organic pollutant, are closely related to abnormal eye development in children. However, little is known regarding the role of peptides in the development of PCB-induced ocular dysplasia. To characterize the nature of PCB exposure on peptides involved in the development of the ocular system, we used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to detect differential expression of peptides between normal and PCB-exposed zebrafish embryos. A total of 7900 peptides were analyzed, 90 of which were differentially expressed, with 29 being up-regulated and 61 down-regulated. These peptides were investigated using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) and gene ontology (GO) analysis to explore their role in eye development. This study identified 18 peptides associated with the development of the optic nerve and ocular system in the PCB-exposure group, as well as 10 peptides that are located in the functional domain of their precursor proteins. These peptides provide potential biomarkers for the treatment of ocular dysplasia caused by PCBs and may help us understand the mechanism of abnormal eye development caused by organic pollutants.

[The dose-response relationship study between the quantitative morphological stereology on thyroid and different iodine doses in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the dose-response relationship between the quantitative morphological stereology on thyroid and different iodine doses in mice. METHODS: Weaning Kunming mice were randomly divided into seven groups. The mice were fed for 100 days with distilled water containing different KIO3 concentrations, i.e. 50, 250, 500, 1 000, 1 500, 2 000, and 3 000 microgram/L respectively. The 50 microgram/L (proper iodine concentration) group was control group, and the groups of 250 approximately 3 000 microgram/L were high iodine groups. The stereology parameters of thyroid follicle and follicular cavities were measured with HPIAS-1000 (High Resolution Pathological Image & word Analysis System). The stereology parameters included mean surface, volume on area, volume on circumference, specific surface, numerical density on area, spherical factor, the percentage of mean surface and mean volume of the follicular epithelial cell in thyroid follicle was further calculated. RESULTS: Positive correlations was observed between the thyroid absolute and relative weight, goiter rate and different iodine doses. And the thyroid absolute and relative weight of mice in the 250 microgram/L group was significantly different from that in 50 microgram/L group. The goiter rate of mice in different high iodine groups was in conformity with that of epidemiological investigation. The goiter rate of mice in 500 microgram/L group was different from that in 50 microgram/L group. Positive correlations were observed between mean surface, volume on area, volume on circumference, spherical factor and iodine doses, but the negative correlations were observed between numerical density on area, specific surface, the percentage of mean surface and mean volume of the follicular epithelial cell in thyroid follicle and iodine doses. CONCLUSIONS: When Iodine doses are between 250 approximately 3 000 microgram/L, the dose-response relationship was observed between the morphological stereology parameters of thyroid follicle and follicular cavities and iodine doses, and when the dose of iodine is 250 microgram/L, it is possible to induce colloid goiter of mice. The goiter rates of mice resulted by different high iodine doses were in conformity with that of the epidemiological investigation of people.