Tumor microenvironment (TME) is the cornerstone of the occurrence, development, invasion and diffusion of the malignant central nerve system (CNS) tumor, glioma. As the largest number of inflammatory cells in glioma TME, tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and their secreted factors are indispensable to the progression of glioma, which is a well-known immunologically “cold” tumor, including the growth of tumor cells, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, cancer immunosuppression and metabolism. TAMs intimately interface with the treatment failure and poor prognosis of glioma patients, and their density increases with increasing glioma grade. Recently, great progress has been made in TAM-targeting for anti-tumor therapy. According to TAMs’ function in tumorigenesis and progression, the major anti-tumor treatment strategies targeting TAMs are to hinder macrophage recruitment in TME, reduce TAMs viability or remodel TAMs phenotype from M2 to M1. Different approaches offer unique and effective anti-tumor effect by regulating the phagocytosis, polarization and pro-tumor behaviors of macrophages in the therapy of glioma. The present review summarizes the significant characteristics and related mechanisms of TAMs and addresses the related research progress on targeting TAMs in glioma.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a serious and rapidly growing threat to human beings. Emodin has a potent activity against MRSA; however, its usage is limited due to high hydrophobicity and low oral bioavailability. Thus, the coaxial electrospinning nanofibers encapsulating emodin in the core of hydrophilic poly (vinylpyrrolidone), with a hygroscopic cellulose acetate sheath, have been fabricated to provide long-term effect against MRSA. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the nanofibers had a linear morphology with nanometer in diameter, smooth surface, and core-shell structure. Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns, and differential scanning calorimetric analyses verified emodin existed in amorphous form in the nanofibers. The nanofibers have 99.38 ± 1.00% entrapment efficiency of emodin and 167.8 ± 0.20% swelling ratio. Emodin released from nanofibers showed a biphasic drug release profile with an initial rapid release followed by a slower sustained release. CCK-8 assays confirmed the nontoxic nature of the emodin-loaded nanofibers to HaCaT cells. The anti-MRSA activity of the nanofibers can persist up to 9 days in AATCC147 and soft-agar overlay assays. These findings suggest that the emodin-loaded electrospun nanofibers with core-shell structure could be used as topical drug delivery system for wound infected by MRSA.

Four materials were prepared as carriers for immobilizing anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing sludge. Nitrogen removal performance by these immobilized gel bead groups was evaluated. The removal ratios of ammonium and nitrite by CMC anammox-immobilized beads were 100% and 95.3% in 48 hours, respectively. The removal efficiencies of ammonium and nitrite by SA, PVA-SA and PVA anammox-immobilized beads were lower than the CMC beads. Subsequently, the physical properties of the beads were studied. PVA-SA was found to be the best support material among the four by comparing the case of the immobilization procedure, nitrogen removal efficiencies, and the costs of materials. PVA-SA gel entrapment was optimized by an orthogonal experiment. The SEM micrographs displayed that the surface structure of PVA-SA immobilized beads is loose and finely porous, which facilitates diffusion of the nitrogen. The SEM micrographs also clearly showed that anammox bacteria existed in the gel beads. All results clearly demonstrate that immobilizing anammox sludge in gel carriers is feasible and exhibit good performance. This research provided a new route to maintain sufficient amount of anammox sludge in a practical anammox reactor.