Multi-responsive nanotheranostics with enhanced tumor penetration and oxygen self-producing capacities for multimodal synergistic cancer therapy

Incorporation of multiple functions into one nanoplatform can improve cancer diagnostic efficacy and enhance anti-cancer outcomes. Here, we constructed doxorubicin(DOX)-loaded silk fibroinbased nanoparticles(NPs) with surface functionalization by photosensitizer(N770). The obtained nanotheranostics(N770-DOX@NPs) had desirable particle size(157 nm) and negative surface charge(-25 m V). These NPs presented excellent oxygen-generating capacity and responded to a quadruple of stimuli(acidic solution, reactive oxygen species, glutathione, and hyperthermia). Surface functionalization of DOX@NPs with N770 could endow them with active internalization by cancerous cell lines, but not by normal cells. Furthermore, the intracellular NPs were found to be preferentially retained in mitochondria, which were also efficient for near-infrared(NIR) fluorescence imaging, photothermal imaging,and photoacoustic imaging. Meanwhile, DOX could spontaneously accumulate in the nucleus. Importantly, a mouse test group treated with N770-DOX@NPs plus NIR irradiation achieved the best tumorretardation effect among all treatment groups based on tumor-bearing mouse models and a patientderived xenograft model, demonstrating the unprecedented therapeutic effects of trimodal imagingguided mitochondrial phototherapy(photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy) and chemotherapy.Therefore, the present study brings new insight into the exploitation of an easy-to-use, versatile, and robust nanoplatform for programmable targeting, imaging, and applying synergistic therapy to tumors.

Fabrication of Sulfated Silk Fibroin‑Based Blend Nanofbrous Membranes for Lysozyme Adsorption

In this work,the silk fbroin/cellulose blend nanofbrous membranes modifed with sodium-3-sulfobenzoate(S-SCBNM)were fabricated by electrospinning technique for lysozyme adsorption.The morphology and structure of membranes was observed.The efect of sulfate contents,pH values and concentration of lysozyme on adsorption performance were studied,respectively.The reuse capacity was evaluated.The results showed that the resultant S-SCBNM exhibited integrated properties of ultrathin fber diameter(148 nm),fast adsorption equilibrium,excellent adsorption performance(636 mg g−1)and good reversibility.We envision that this new class of green and natural blend membranes is particularly promising for the development of proteins separation.