Conventional photothermal therapy (PTT) irradiates the tumor tissues by elevating the temperature above 48 °C to exert thermal ablation, killing tumor cells. However, thermal ablation during PTT harmfully damages the surrounding normal tissues, post-treatment inflammatory responses, rapid metastasis due to the short-term mass release of tumor-cellular contents, or other side effects. To circumvent this limitation, mild-temperature photothermal therapy (MTPTT) was introduced to replace PTT as it exerts its activity at a therapeutic temperature of 42–45 °C. However, the significantly low therapeutic effect comes due to the thermoresistance of cancer cells as MTPTT figures out some of the side-effects issues. Herein, our current review suggested the mechanism and various strategies for improving the efficacy of MTPTT. Especially, heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones overexpressed in tumor cells and implicated in several cellular heat shock responses. Therefore, we introduced some methods to inhibit activity, reduce expression levels, and hinder the function of HSPs during MTPTT treatment. Moreover, other strategies also were emphasized, including nucleus damage, energy inhibition, and autophagy mediation. In addition, some therapies, like radiotherapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy, exhibited a significant synergistic effect to assist MTPTT. Our current review provides a basis for further studies and a new approach for the clinical application of MTPTT.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains poor, and its incidence is especially high in developing countries. Multiple long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recently identified as crucial oncogenic factors or tumor suppressors. This study aimed to probe into the role of lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 17 (SNHG17) on the progression of OSCC. METHODS: The expression level of SNHG17 in OSCC samples was tested using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Human OSCC cell lines CAL-27 and Tca8113 were used in in vitro studies. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and BrdU assays were used to assess the effect of SNHG17 on OSCC cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to study the effect of SNHG17 on OSCC cell apoptosis. Transwell assay was conducted to detect the effect of SNHG17 on migration and invasion. Moreover, luciferase reporter assay was employed to confirm targeting relationship between miR-375 and SNHG17. Additionally, Western blot was used to observe the regulatory function of SNHG17 on PAX6. RESULTS: SNHG17 expression in OSCC clinical samples was significantly increased and was correlated with unfavorable pathological indexes. Its overexpression remarkably accelerated proliferation and metastasis of OSCC cells, while reduced apoptosis. Accordingly, knockdown of SNHG17 suppressed the malignant phenotypes of OSCC cells. Overexpression of SNHG17 significantly reduced the expression of miR-375 by sponging it, but enhanced the expression of PAX6. CONCLUSION: SNHG17 is a sponge of tumor suppressor miR-375 in OSCC, enhances the expression of PAX6 indirectly, and functions as an oncogenic lncRNA.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) are versatile drug nanocarriers with a wide spectrum of applications owing to their extensive advantages, including biodegradability, non-toxic side effects, and low immunogenicity. Among the numerous nanoparticle preparation methods available for PLGA NPs (the hydrophobic polymer), one of the most extensively utilized preparations is the sonicated-emulsified solvent evaporation method, owing to its simplicity, speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, several factors can influence the outcomes, such as the types of concentration of the surfactants and organic solvents, as well as the volume of the aqueous phase. The objective of this article is to explore the influence of these factors on the properties of PLGA NPs and their drug release behavior following encapsulation. Herein, PLGA NPs were fabricated using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a surfactant to investigate the impact of influencing factors, including different water-soluble organic solvents such as propylene carbonate (PC), ethyl acetate (PA), and dichloromethane (DCM). Notably, the size of PLGA NPs was smaller in the EA group compared to that in the DCM group. Moreover, PLGA NPs showed excellent stability, ascribed to the presence of the BSA surfactant. Furthermore, PLGA NPs were co-loaded with varying concentrations of hydrophilic drugs (doxorubicin hydrochloride) and hydrophobic drugs (celecoxib), and exhibited pH-sensitive drug release behavior in PBS with pH 7.4 and pH 5.5.

Enamel is composed of numerous uniformly wide, well-oriented hydroxyapatite crystals. It possesses an acellular structure that cannot be repaired after undergoing damage. Therefore, remineralization after enamel defects has become a focal point of research. Hydrogels, which are materials with three-dimensional structures derived from cross-linking polymers, have garnered significant attention in recent studies. Their exceptional properties make them valuable in the application of enamel remineralization. In this review, we summarize the structure and formation of enamel, present the design considerations of hydrogels for enamel remineralization, explore diverse hydrogels types in this context, and finally, shed light on the potential future applications in this field.

This study aimed to compare the effects of clear aligners and fixed appliances on root resorption, incisive canal (IC) morphology, and the spatial relationship between the maxillary central incisors (U1) and the IC following incisor retraction in dental/skeletal Class I and II extraction cases. Sixty-six adult patients (132 maxillary central incisors) with comparable baseline characteristics (based on the ABO Discrepancy Index) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients received either clear aligners (n = 33) or fixed appliances (n = 33) following first premolar extraction. Pre- and post-treatment CBCT measurements were recorded at three vertical reference planes (H1, H2, H3: 2 mm, 4 mm, and 6 mm above the labial cementoenamel junction), including IC width, cortical bone width (CBW), U1–IC distance, IC height, and U1 root length/width. Both groups showed reductions in IC width, CBW, and U1–IC distance, with greater changes in the fixed appliance group. U1–IC distance was significantly reduced in the fixed group at H1 (1.79 ± 0.76 mm vs. 1.24 ± 1.04 mm), H2 (1.78 ± 1.08 mm vs. 1.33 ± 0.86 mm), and H3 (1.61 ± 1.35 mm vs. 1.16 ± 0.90 mm) (P < 0.05). Root resorption was also significantly higher in the fixed group (1.81 ± 1.55 mm vs. 0.87 ± 0.77 mm, P < 0.001). Root–IC proximity patterns included 7.6% separation, 63.1% approximation, 15.9% contact, and 13.4% invasion, with contact and invasion more prevalent in the fixed group. Root resorption increased with IC proximity, peaking at 3.65 ± 1.97 mm in invasion cases. Regression analysis identified tooth movement, root length, and inter-root distance as predictors of U1–IC proximity, while root resorption was associated with treatment duration, U1 movement, IC height, and incisor inclination (U1–SN angle). These findings underscore the importance of individualized planning and appliance selection in cases requiring maximum anterior retraction to reduce the risk of root resorption and IC-related complications.