1.Prognostic value of extracapsular spread of regional lymph nodes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma with 3DCRT based on magnetic resonance imaging
Xiangguo ZHANG ; Sixian LIANG ; Suming PAN ; Xiaonan XU ; Ying CHENG ; Juhong HUANG ; Jiaocheng WANG ; Hongxia MA
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2017;26(6):621-626
Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of the extracapsular spread (ECS) of regional lymph nodes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) based on magnetic resonance imaging.Methods A retrospective review was performed for 477 previously untreated patients with NPC who were treated in Yuebei People′s Hospital from January 2009 to December 2013.Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to identify the prognostic value of ECS in NPC.Results There were 216 patients with ECS and 261 patients without ECS,and the median survival of the two groups of patients was 38.5 months and 39.0 months,respectively.The 3-year overall survival (OS),progression-free survival (PFS),local recurrence-free survival (LRFS),and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates of the patients with ECS versus those without ECS were 81.9% versus 90.7%,65.8% versus 85.0%,87.8% versus 95.8%,and 80.3% versus 92.9%,respectively (all P=0.000).The univariate analysis showed that N stage and ECS were important prognostic factors for OS,PFS,LRFS,and DMFS in NPC patients (P=0.000-0.004),and T stage and TNM stage were associated with OS,PFS,and DMFS (all P=0.000).The multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model showed that T stage was an independent prognostic factor for the survival of NPC patients,and ECS was an important prognostic factor for PFS,LRFS,and DMFS.Conclusion ECS of regional lymph nodes is a risk factor for local recurrence or distant metastasis in patients with NPC.
2.Ultrasound-optimized hydrogel scaffold used to promote transdermal delivery of gold nanoparticles
Yuxin GUO ; Hao WANG ; Mingqi LI ; Yueying CHEN ; Juhong PAN ; Xin HUANG ; Zhiwen WANG ; Qing ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(15):2330-2337
BACKGROUND:Gold nanoparticles are of great significance in the development of multifunctional transdermal drug delivery systems.Smaller gold nanoparticles can penetrate the dermis through the intercellular pathway,but are limited to their easy agglomeration and colloidal morphology,which makes it difficult to exert effects on low delivery efficiency. OBJECTIVE:To develop an ultrasound-optimized hydrogel delivery system by combining phase change nanodroplets with bio-adhesive hydrogel for percutaneous delivery of gold nanoparticles. METHODS:The ultrasound-responsive nanodroplets loaded with gold nanoparticles were prepared by the emulsion solvent evaporation method and loaded into the polydopamine-modified methylacryloyl gelatin hydrogel to prepare a composite hydrogel scaffold.The structure and chemical composition of the ultrasound-responsive nanogold carrier were characterized.The microstructure,porosity,permeability,rheology,in vitro hemostasis,and antibacterial properties of the composite hydrogel were characterized.The cell compatibility of the hydrogel scaffold was evaluated by live/dead staining,and the optimization effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on the permeability,porosity,and mechanical properties of hydrogel were evaluated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy proved the successful construction of nanogold carriers.The particle size and potential results demonstrated that the synthesized nanoscaled ultrasonic responsive carrier had good stability.(2)Live/dead cell staining proved that the prepared composite hydrogel scaffold had certain biocompatibility.(3)Scanning electron microscopy exhibited that the prepared composite hydrogel scaffold had a porous network structure,and numerous pores of about 2 μm appeared inside the macropores after the addition of nanodroplets and ultrasonic irradiation.The permeability experiment displayed that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound could optimize the porosity and permeability of hydrogel materials.The hemostatic performance of the composite hydrogel scaffold was better than that of the hemostatic sponge and polydopamine@methylacrylylated gelatin hydrogel scaffold.Under the irradiation of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound,the composite hydrogel scaffolds had good antioxidant effects and antibacterial properties.(4)Thermal imaging results manifested that gold nanoparticles were encapsulated in ultrasound-responsive nanobubbles,and more uniform dispersion could be obtained under ultrasonic excitation.(5)The results of the mechanical property test demonstrated that the storage modulus of the hydrogel increased before and after loading gold nanoparticles-nanodroplets,which showed stronger mechanical properties.The elongation at break was 122%,and the ductility was better than that without gold nanoparticles-nanodroplets(P<0.05).(6)These findings indicate that the composite hydrogel scaffold has good biocompatibility,antibacterial property,oxidation resistance,and hemostatic effect.
3.Experimental study on ultrasound/near-infrared dual-mode imaging and thrombolysis in vitro of phase-change mesoporous silicon nanoprobe
Zhiwen WANG ; Nan JIANG ; Juhong PAN ; Sheng CAO ; Zhixin JIANG ; Qing ZHOU ; Bo HU
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2023;32(10):907-914
Objective:To explore the potential of thrombus-targeted nanoprobes for ultrasound/near-infrared bimodal imaging and their synergistic therapeutic effects on thrombosis in vitro.Methods:Nanoprobes loaded with arginine-glycine-aspartate peptide (RGD), perfluoropentane (PFP) and indocyanine green (ICG) were prepared by ultrasonic vibration and carbodiimide method with mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) as the carrier. The probe morphology was observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The loading of RGD and ICG was detected by Bicinchoninic Acid Assay (BCA) and UV-Visible-NIR spectroscopy respectively. The imaging performance and photothermal response of the nanoprobe under near infrared light (NIR) irradiation were studied in vitro. Its biological safety was tested by cytotoxicity test and hemolysis test. The phase transformation was studied under ultrasound and NIR irradiation. The nanoprobe was incubated with fresh arterial thrombus, and its target-seeking ability was observed by frozen section. Ultrasound and NIR irradiation were used to evaluate its thrombolytic ability by the weight changes of thrombus before and after irradiation.Results:The prepared nanoprobe had regular morphology and uniform size. The particle diameter was (156.83±5.05)nm, and the surface potential was (11.47±0.25)mV. The RGD coupling rate was (77.67±4.50)%, which could mediate the targeting of nanoprobe to fresh extracorporeal arterial thrombus. UV-Visible-NIR spectroscopy confirmed the successful loading of ICG, and its encapsulation rate was (80.47±0.05)%. After ultrasound and NIR irradiation, the nanoprobe could undergo acoustically induced phase transition, thermally induced phase transition and enhance the ultrasonic development effect. With the increase of the concentration of the nanoprobe solution, the NIR signal gradually increased, and the temperature rose in a concentration-dependent and intensity-dependent manner after NIR irradiation. The cytotoxicity test and hemolysis test showed that the nanoprobe had good biological safety, and it could play a thrombolytic role under the combined irradiation of ultrasound and NIR, and the weight of thrombus was significantly reduced after the treatment ( P<0.01). Conclusions:In this study, the nanoprobe (RGD/ICG/PFP@MSN) were successfully prepared possesses excellent dual mode imaging capabilities of ultrasound and NIR, excellent phase transition ability and photothermal conversion efficiency, as well as efficient targeted penetration and therapeutic effects against thrombosis. This study provides strong in vitro experimental evidence and new strategies for the integration of diagnosis and treatment of thrombotic diseases under the cooperation of ultrasound and NIR.