Nanorod alignment for optical asymmetry: The high polarizability of chiral nanoassemblies of plasmonic nanoparticles can lead to strong chiral dichroism, but strong light scattering causes the fraction of polarized photons generated, as measured by g-factors, to be much lower than that for chiral liquid crystals. Lu et al. used supramolecular interactions of gold nanorods with human islet amyloid peptides to assemble metallic superstructures with unusually high cholesteric order (see the Perspective by Nam and Kim). The long, straight helices increased the g-factor by 4600-fold, and this effect was used to screen small-molecule binding to amyloids. Science , this issue p. 1368 ; see also p. 1311
Endothelial cells (ECs) are pivotal in maintaining vascular health, regulating hemodynamics, and modulating inflammatory responses. Nanocarriers hold transformative potential for precise drug delivery within the vascular system, particularly targeting ECs for therapeutic purposes. However, the complex interactions between vascular ECs and nanocarriers present significant challenges for the development and clinical translation of nanotherapeutics. This review assesses recent advancements and key strategies in employing nanocarriers for drug delivery to vascular ECs. It suggested that through precise physicochemical design and surface modifications, nanocarriers can enhance targeting specificity and improve drug internalization efficiency in ECs. Additionally, we elaborated on the applications of nanocarriers specifically designed for targeting ECs in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer metastasis, and inflammatory disorders. Despite these advancements, safety concerns, the complexity of in vivo processes, and the challenge of achieving subcellular drug delivery remain significant obstacles to the effective targeting of ECs with nanocarriers. A comprehensive understanding of endothelial cell biology and its interaction with nanocarriers is crucial for realizing the full potential of targeted drug delivery systems.