Hydroxyl-rich branched polycations for nucleic acid delivery.

Recently, nucleic acid delivery has become an amazing route for the treatment of various malignant diseases, and polycationic vectors are attracting more and more attention among gene vectors. However, conventional polycationic vectors still face many obstacles in nucleic acid delivery, such as significant cytotoxicity, high protein absorption behavior, and unsatisfactory blood compatibility caused by a high positive charge density. To solve these problems, the fabrication of hydroxyl-rich branched polycationic vectors has been proposed. For the synthesis of hydroxyl-rich branched polycations, a one-pot method is considered as the preferred method due to its simple preparation process. In this review, typical one-pot methods for fabricating hydroxyl-rich polycations are presented. In particular, amine-epoxide ring-opening polymerization as a novel approach is mainly introduced. In addition, various therapeutic scenarios of hydroxyl-rich branched polycations via one-pot fabrication are also generalized. We believe that this review will motivate the optimized design of hydroxyl-rich branched polycations for potential nucleic acid delivery and their bio-applications.

Genetically light-enhanced immunotherapy mediated by a fluorinated reduction-sensitive delivery system.

The lack of safe and efficient therapeutic agent delivery platforms restricts combined therapy's effect, and combined cancer therapy's multi-component delivery effect needs improvement. The novel gene delivery system SS-HPT-F/pMIP-3ß-KR was proposed to construct fluorine-containing degradable cationic polymers SS-HPT-F by a mild and simple amino-epoxy ring-opening reaction. By modifying the fluorinated alkyl chain, the delivery efficiency of the plasmid was greatly improved, and the cytoplasmic transport of biomolecules was completed. At the same time, a combination plasmid (MIP-3ß-KillerRed) was innovatively designed for the independent expression of immune and photodynamic proteins. Which was efficiently transported to the tumor site by SS-HPT-F. The MIP-3ß is expressed as an immune chemokine realize the immune mobilization behavior. The photosensitive protein KillerRed expressed in the tumor killed cancer cells under irradiation and released the exocrine immune factor MIP-3ß. The immunogenic cell death (ICD) produced by photodynamic therapy (PDT) also induced the immune response of the organism. The synergistic effect of PDT and MIP-3ß mobilized the immune properties of the organism, providing light-enhanced immune combination therapy against malignant tumors. Therefore, in subcutaneous tumor-bearing and metastatic animal models, the carrier tumor growth and mobilize organism produce an immune response without systemic toxicity. This work reports the first efficient gene delivery system that achieves light-enhanced immunotherapy.

Hydrogel-Based Bioelectronics and Their Applications in Health Monitoring.

Flexible bioelectronics exhibit promising potential for health monitoring, owing to their soft and stretchable nature. However, the simultaneous improvement of mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and signal-to-noise ratio of these devices for health monitoring poses a significant challenge. Hydrogels, with their loose three-dimensional network structure that encapsulates massive amounts of water, are a potential solution. Through the incorporation of polymers or conductive fillers into the hydrogel and special preparation methods, hydrogels can achieve a unification of excellent properties such as mechanical properties, self-healing, adhesion, and biocompatibility, making them a hot material for health monitoring bioelectronics. Currently, hydrogel-based bioelectronics can be used to fabricate flexible bioelectronics for motion, bioelectric, and biomolecular acquisition for human health monitoring and further clinical applications. This review focuses on materials, devices, and applications for hydrogel-based bioelectronics. The main material properties and research advances of hydrogels for health monitoring bioelectronics are summarized firstly. Then, we provide a focused discussion on hydrogel-based bioelectronics for health monitoring, which are classified as skin-attachable, implantable, or semi-implantable depending on the depth of penetration and the location of the device. Finally, future challenges and opportunities of hydrogel-based bioelectronics for health monitoring are envisioned.

A Targeting Singlet Oxygen Battery for Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Deep-Tissue Infections.

Traditional photodynamic therapy (PDT) is dependent on externally applied light and oxygen, and the depth of penetration of these factors can be insufficient for the treatment of deep infections. The short half-life and short diffusion distance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) also limit the antibacterial efficiency of PDT. Herein, we designed a targeting singlet oxygen delivery system, CARG-Py, for irradiation-free and oxygen-free PDT. This system was converted to the "singlet oxygen battery" CARG-1 O2 and released singlet oxygen without external irradiation or oxygen. CARG-1 O2 is composed of pyridones coupled to a targeting peptide that improves the utilization of singlet oxygen in deep multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. CARG-1 O2 was shown to damage DNA, protein, and membranes by increasing the level of reactive oxygen inside bacteria; the attacking of multiple biomolecular sites caused the death of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). An in vivo study in a MRSA-infected mouse model of pneumonia demonstrated the potential of CARG-1 O2 for the efficient treatment of deep infections. This work provides a new strategy to improve traditional PDT for irradiation- and oxygen-free treatment of deep infections while improving convenience of PDT.

Wearable Near-Field Communication Sensors for Healthcare: Materials, Fabrication and Application.

The wearable device industry is on the rise, with technology applications ranging from wireless communication technologies to the Internet of Things. However, most of the wearable sensors currently on the market are expensive, rigid and bulky, leading to poor data accuracy and uncomfortable wearing experiences. Near-field communication sensors are low-cost, easy-to-manufacture wireless communication technologies that are widely used in many fields, especially in the field of wearable electronic devices. The integration of wireless communication devices and sensors exhibits tremendous potential for these wearable applications by endowing sensors with new features of wireless signal transferring and conferring radio frequency identification or near-field communication devices with a sensing function. Likewise, the development of new materials and intensive research promotes the next generation of ultra-light and soft wearable devices for healthcare. This review begins with an introduction to the different components of near-field communication, with particular emphasis on the antenna design part of near-field communication. We summarize recent advances in different wearable areas of near-field communication sensors, including structural design, material selection, and the state of the art of scenario-based development. The challenges and opportunities relating to wearable near-field communication sensors for healthcare are also discussed.