a-uv-based-chirp-method-for-verifiable-identification-proteins-that

A UV-Based ChIRP Method For The Verifiable Identification of Proteins That Directly Interact With LncRNA: From Cultured Cells To Mouse Testis

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of diverse biological processes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the ...

Nanjing Medical University

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Drug resistance to chemotherapy in cancers remains significant clinical challenges. CD44 modulates cellular adhesion, migration and growth, which plays a pivotal role in driving cancer resistance and even recurrence. Despite ongoing efforts, accurate, safe, and real-time dynamic monitoring techniques for CD44 expression remain inadequate in guiding the management of drug-resistant cancer treatment. In this study, we developed a nano-quenching and recovery detector of CD44 (Cy3-AptCD44@BPNSs) for visualizing cancer drug resistance. The fluorescence recovery of the detector is directly related to the CD44 expression level on cancer cells, which can be used to indicate the degree of drug resistance. It's confirmed that downregulating CD44 expression on cancer cells results in a corresponding decrease in the fluorescence intensity of the detector, which enables precise and dynamic monitoring of CD44. In addition, the Cy3-AptCD44@BPNSs also exhibited specificity in detecting CD44. This visualizing strategy may open up a wide range of possibilities for rapid recognition to cancer drug resistance, which is more efficient and flexible.

Visualizing cancer resistance via nano-quenching and recovery detector of CD44.

Radiotherapy (RT) is the primary treatment modality for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the tumor microenvironment (TME)-induced radioresistance often compromises its therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we propose an innovative bidirectional radiosensitization strategy for NPC. Specifically, we have encapsulated metformin (Met) and copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) within injectable DNA supramolecular hydrogels (DSH) to create a novel radiosensitizer, Met-CuS@DSH. This radiosensitizer not only effectively reverses tumor hypoxia to promote reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation but also significantly inhibits glutathione (GSH)-mediated ROS scavenging, thereby achieving bidirectional radiosensitization by enhancing ROS production and suppressing its scavenging. This strategy significantly improves the therapeutic effect of NPC while reducing the RT dose (3 Gy in total), which provides a promising approach for overcoming the radioresistance of NPC caused by TME.

Bidirectional regulation of reactive oxygen species for radiosensitization in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

As a classic nanozyme, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is increasingly utilized in medical fields such as anti-infection, tumor therapy, and inflammation regulation. However, their expanding application has raised concerns regarding biosafety, particularly their potential threat to maternal and fetal health. To evaluate this risk, this study established a pregnant rat model, focusing on the placenta as a potential target organ, to investigate the developmental toxicity and potential interventions associated with the use of TiO₂ nanozymes (TiO₂ NZs) as therapeutic agents during pregnancy. The results revealed that gestational intake of TiO₂ NZs led to fetal growth restriction, abnormal placental weight increase, and induced placental energy metabolism disruption along with excessive autophagy activation. Surprisingly, when attempting to reverse these toxic effects, we found that TiO₂ NZs suppressed AMPK expression, prompting Compound C and phenformin to unconventionally regulate energy imbalance-induced autophagy via non-AMPK/mTOR pathway-dependent mechanisms. This resulted in a complex scenario where the two drugs produced inverted effects-"aggravation" vs. "alleviation"-during intervention. These findings indicate that despite the significant medical value of TiO₂ as a nanozyme, they pose non-negligible safety risks, and pharmacological interventions may trigger unexpected effects. Therefore, while advancing their clinical application, it is crucial to prioritize in-depth mechanistic studies and the development of precise intervention strategies, especially ensuring the long-term health and safety for maternal and fetal populations.

Article	Year
Visualizing cancer resistance via nano-quenching and recovery detector of CD44. Journal of nanobiotechnology\| PubMed ID: 39080641	2024
Bidirectional regulation of reactive oxygen species for radiosensitization in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Journal of nanobiotechnology\| PubMed ID: 39923065	2025
Nanozymes subvert pharmacological conventions: insights from counteracting the placental side effects of TiO₂ nanozymes. Journal of nanobiotechnology\| PubMed ID: 41654860	2026

Yingying Ye

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