Polymer colloidal motors with photodynamic-regulated propulsion.

Artificial colloidal motors capable of converting various external energy into mechanical motion, have emerged as attractive photosensitizer (PS) nanocarriers with good deliverability for photodynamic therapy. However, photoactivated 3O2-to-1O2 transformation as the most crucial energy transfer of the photodynamic process itself is still challenging to convert into autonomous transport. Herein, we report on PS-loaded thiophane-containing semiconducting conjugated polymer (SCP)-based polymer colloidal motors with asymmetric geometry for photodynamic-regulated propulsion in the liquid. The asymmetrical presence of the SCP phases within the colloidal motors would lead to significant differences in the 3O2-to-1O2 transformation and 1O2 release manners between asymmetrical polymer phases, spontaneously creating asymmetrical osmotic pressure gradients across the nanoparticles for powering the self-propelled motion under photodynamic regulation. This photoactivated energy-converting behavior can be also combined with the photothermal conversion of the SCP phases to create two energy gradients exerting diffusiophoretic/thermophoretic force on the colloidal motors for achieving multimode synergistic propulsion. This unique motile feature endows the light-driven PS nanocarriers with good permeability against various physiological barriers in the tumor microenvironment for enhancing antitumor efficacy, showing great potential in phototherapy.

Engineered Organic Nanorockets with Light-Driven Ultrafast Transportability for Antitumor Therapy.

Nanomedicines confront various complicated physiological barriers limiting the accumulation and deep penetration in the tumor microenvironment, which seriously restricts the efficacy of antitumor therapy. Self-propelled nanocarriers assembled with kinetic engines can translate external energy into orientated motion for tumor penetration. However, achieving a stable ultrafast permeability at the tumor site remains challenging. Here, sub-200 nm photoactivated completely organic nanorockets (NRs), with asymmetric geometry conveniently assembled from photothermal semiconducting polymer payload and thermo-driven macromolecular propulsion through a straightforward nanoprecipitation process, are presented. The artificial NRs can be remotely manipulated by 808 nm near-infrared light to trigger the photothermal conversion and Curtius rearrangement reaction within the particles for robustly pushing nitrogen out into the solution. Such a two-stage light-to-heat-to-chemical energy transition effectively powers the NRs for an ultrafast (≈300 µm s-1 ) and chemical medium-independent self-propulsion in the liquid media. That endows the NRs with high permeability against physiological barriers in the tumor microenvironment to directionally deliver therapeutic agents to target lesions for elevating tumor accumulation, deep penetration, and cellular uptake, resulting in a significant enhancement of antitumor efficacy. This work will inspire the design of advanced kinetic systems for powering intelligent nanomachines in biomedical applications.

Research on sleep status, body mass index, anxiety and depression of college students during the post-pandemic era in Wuhan, China.

OBJECTIVE: Wuhan was the first Chinese city to be lockdown for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in springtime of 2020. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sleep status, body mass index, anxiety and depression in college students during the post-pandemic era in the universities of Wuhan, China. METHODS: A total of 1457 college students completed the online surveys from December 25, 2020 to January 16, 2021. Collected data included gender, age, school name, native place, grade, major, body mass index (BMI), the scores of self-assessment lists of sleep (SRSS), Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and Zung depression self-rating scale (SDS). RESULTS: 1445 valid questionnaires (99.18%) were received. Of all the respondents, the prevalence of insomnia, overweight and obesity, anxiety and depression were 32.73%, 19.45%, 15.43% and 62.91%, respectively. Female students were more likely to have insomnia and anxiety than male students. The rate of insomnia, overweight and obesity in postgraduates were higher than undergraduates. Non-medical students were more likely to be overweight and obese than medical students. In addition, insomnia severity was positively correlated to anxiety severity, and BMI was positively correlated to anxiety or depression severity. There was also a positive correlation between the severity of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: During the post-pandemic era, insomnia and depression are common problems among college students in Wuhan, suggesting that we should strengthen the sleep education of college students to improve sleeping disorders and psychosomatic health.

Berberine Alleviates Insulin Resistance and Inflammation via Inhibiting the LTB4-BLT1 Axis.

Background: Chronic low-grade inflammation is recognized as a key pathophysiological mechanism of insulin resistance. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a molecule derived from arachidonic acid, is a potent neutrophil chemoattractant. The excessive amount of LTB4 that is combined with its receptor BLT1 can cause chronic low-grade inflammation, aggravating insulin resistance. Berberine (BBR) has been shown to relieve insulin resistance due to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is not clear whether BBR could have any effects on the LTB4-BLT1 axis. Methods: Using LTB4 to induce Raw264.7 and HepG2 cells, we investigated the effect of BBR on the LTB4-BLT1 axis in the progression of inflammation and insulin resistance. Results: Upon exposure to LTB4, intracellular insulin resistance and inflammation increased in HepG2 cells, and chemotaxis and inflammation response increased in RAW264.7 cells. Interestingly, pretreatment with BBR partially blocked these changes. Our preliminary data show that BBR might act on BLT1, modulating the LTB4-BLT1 axis to alleviate insulin resistance and inflammation. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that BBR treatment could reduce intracellular insulin resistance and inflammation of hepatic cells, as well as chemotaxis of macrophages induced by LTB4. BBR might interact with BLT1 and alter the LTB4-BLT1 signaling pathway. This mechanism might be a novel anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic function of BBR.