Liposomes are attractive carriers for targeted and controlled drug delivery receiving increasing attention in cancer photothermal therapy. However, the field of creating near-infrared nanomaterial-liposome hybrid nanocarriers (NIRN-Lips) is relatively little understood. The hybrid nanocarriers combine the dual superiority of nanomaterials and liposomes, with more stable particles, enhanced photoluminescence, higher tumor permeability, better tumor-targeted drug delivery, stimulus-responsive drug release, and thus exhibiting better anti-tumor efficacy. Herein, this review covers the liposomes supported various types of near-infrared nanomaterials, including gold-based nanomaterials, carbon-based nanomaterials, and semiconductor quantum dots. Specifically, the NIRN-Lips are described in terms of their feature, synthesis, and drug-release mechanism. The design considerations of NIRN-Lips are highlighted. Further, we briefly introduced the photothermal conversion mechanism of NIRNs and the cell death mechanism induced by photothermal therapy. Subsequently, we provided a brief conclusion of NIRNs-Lips applied in cancer photothermal therapy. Finally, we discussed a synopsis of associated challenges and future perspectives for the applications of NIRN-Lips in cancer photothermal therapy.

Over the past few decades, research has demonstrated that the progression of cardiovascular diseases is related to platelets, and the associated pathological responses include bleeding and hemostasis, antithrombotic and prothrombotic effects, and immune and inflammatory reactions. Significant platelet-derived biomimetic nanotechnology (PBN) has garnered considerable interest as a drug delivery system due to its excellent biomimetic properties, leading to the enhanced development of innovative therapies. In this review, we have organized the research progress of three types of technologies: platelet receptor-mediated technology, platelet membrane-derived application technology, and artificial platelet-like nanomimetic technology. This review focuses on the use of PBN in cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, coronary atherosclerosis, and stenosis, aiming to highlight its potential benefits and uniqueness in this field. This review provides an overview of the main types of current laboratory PBNs and their applications in different cardiovascular diseases. It is meant to stimulate the development of more advanced PBN platforms and provide new ideas for the clinical management of cardiovascular diseases.

Toad venom, a dried product of secretion from Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor or Bufo melanostictus Schneider, has had the therapeutic effects of hepatocellular carcinoma confirmed. Bufalin and cinobufagin were considered as the two most representative antitumor active components in toad venom. However, the underlying mechanisms of this antitumor effect have not been fully implemented, especially the changes in endogenous small molecules after treatment. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the intrinsic mechanism on hepatocellular carcinoma after the cotreatment of bufalin and cinobufagin based on untargeted tumor metabolomics. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was performed to identify the absorbed components of toad venom in rat plasma. In vitro experiments were determined to evaluate the therapeutic effects of bufalin and cinobufagin and screen the optimal ratio between them. An in vivo HepG2 tumor-bearing nude mice model was established, and a series of pharmacodynamic indicators were determined, including the body weight of mice, tumor volume, tumor weight, and histopathological examination of tumor. Further, the entire metabolic alterations in tumor after treating with bufalin and cinobufagin were also profiled by UHPLC-MS/MS. Twenty-seven active components from toad venom were absorbed in rat plasma. We found that the cotreatment of bufalin and cinobufagin exerted significant antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo, which were reflected in inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of HepG2 cells and thereby causing cell necrosis. After cotherapy of bufalin and cinobufagin for twenty days, compared with the normal group, fifty-six endogenous metabolites were obviously changed on HepG2 tumor-bearing nude mice. Meanwhile, the abundance of α-linolenic acid and phenethylamine after the bufalin and cinobufagin intervention was significantly upregulated, which involved phenylalanine metabolism and α-linolenic acid metabolism. Furthermore, we noticed that amino acid metabolites were also altered in HepG2 tumor after drug intervention, such as norvaline and Leu-Ala. Taken together, the cotreatment of bufalin and cinobufagin has significant antitumor effects on HepG2 tumor-bearing nude mice. Our work demonstrated that the in-depth mechanism of antitumor activity was mainly through the regulation of phenylalanine metabolism and α-Linolenic acid metabolism.

Hemorrhagic wound management in severe trauma patients remains a vital clinical problem because of uncontrolled bleeding and inflammatory responses. Charcoal drugs have shown great potential for facilitating hemostasis and wound repair for more than two thousand years. Nevertheless, studies on the inherent biological activities of charcoal drugs and their corresponding pharmacological effects are far from satisfactory. Herein, a novel carbon dot prepared from charred Mume Fructus (CMF-CDs) for enhancing hemorrhagic wound healing was reported for the first time. Surprisingly, the as-prepared CMF-CDs showed good biocompatibility, reactive oxygen species scavenging ability and protection of human cells from oxidative damage. Inspired by this, we confirmed that CMF-CDs enhanced hemorrhagic wound healing by facilitating hemostasis, M2-type macrophage polarization, angiogenesis, collagen deposition and tissue regeneration. Proteomic results further revealed that the CMF-CDs reshaped the inflammatory microenvironment of the wound by reducing excessive ROS produced by tissue oxidative phosphorylation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolic pathway. Ultimately, the discovery of CMF-CDs holds enormous promise for managing severe traumatic wounds and provides theoretical and material insights into charcoal drug-mediated hemostasis applications.

Diabetic wound management is characterized by a significantly delayed healing process and the induction of severe complications due to the significant alte

Asiatic acid (AA) is a pentacyclic triterpene derived from the traditional medicine Centella asiatica. It is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid-regulating properties. Though previous studies have suggested its potential therapeutic benefits for atherosclerosis, its pharmacological mechanism is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of AA in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Therefore, network pharmacology was employed to uncover the mechanism by which AA acts as an anti-atherosclerotic agent. Furthermore, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and in vitro experiments were performed to elucidate the mechanism of AA’s anti-atherosclerotic effects. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated a strong affinity between AA and PPARγ. Further MD simulations demonstrated the favorable stability of AA-PPARγ protein complexes. In vitro experiments demonstrated that AA can dose-dependently inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 cells. This effect may be mediated through the PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway. This research underscores anti-inflammation as a crucial biological process in AA treatments for atherosclerosis, with PPARγ potentially serving as a key target.