1.Polypeptide-based Nanocarriers for Oral Targeted Delivery of CAR Genes to Pancreatic Cancer
Feng XIN ; Jian REN ; Zhao-Zhen LI ; Quan FANG ; Rui-Jing LIANG ; Lan-Lan LIU ; Lin-Tao CAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):431-441
ObjectivePancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits a limited response to current treatments due to its dense fibrotic stroma and highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In recent years, advancements in cellular immunotherapy, particularly chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-M) therapy, have offered new hope for pancreatic cancer treatment. Although CAR-M therapy demonstrates dual potential in directly killing tumor cells and remodeling the immune microenvironment, it still faces challenges such as complex in vitro preparation processes and low in vivo targeting and delivery efficiency. Therefore, developing strategies for efficient and targeted in vivo delivery of CAR genes has become crucial for overcoming current therapeutic limitations. This study aims to develop an orally administrable nano-gene delivery system for the targeted delivery of CAR genes to pancreatic tumor sites. MethodsCore nano-gene particles (PNP/pCAR) were constructed by loading plasmid DNA encoding CAR (pCAR) with cationic polypeptides (PNP). Subsequently, PNP/pCAR was surface-modified with β-glucan to prepare the targeted nanoparticles (βGlus-PNP/pCAR). The loading efficiency of PNP for pCAR was quantitatively assessed by gel retardation assay. The particle size, Zeta potential, morphology, and storage stability of PNP/pCAR were characterized using a Malvern particle size analyzer and transmission electron microscopy. At the cellular level, RAW 264.7 macrophages were selected. The cytotoxicity of PNP/pCAR was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. The cellular uptake efficiency and lysosomal escape ability of the nanoparticles were assessed via flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Transfection efficiency was quantitatively evaluated by detecting the expression of the reporter gene GFP using flow cytometry. At the in vivo level, an orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model was established. Cy7-labeled βGlus-PNP/pCAR nanoparticles were administered orally, and the fluorescence distribution in mice was dynamically monitored at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 h post-administration using a small animal in vivo imaging system. Forty-eight hours after oral gavage, the mice were euthanized, and pancreatic tumor tissues were collected for further analysis of intratumoral fluorescence signals using the imaging system. Additionally, βGlus-PNP/pCAR-GFP nanoparticles loaded with the reporter gene (GFP) were administered orally. Forty-eight hours post-administration, pancreatic tumor tissues were harvested to prepare frozen sections, and GFP expression was observed and analyzed under a fluorescence microscope. ResultsThe PNP carrier exhibited a high loading capacity for pCAR. The successfully prepared PNP/pCAR nanoparticles were regular spheres with a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately (120±10) nm and a Zeta potential of about +(6±1) mV. They maintained good structural stability after incubation in PBS buffer for 7 d. Cell experiments demonstrated that PNP/pCAR exhibited no significant cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells while being efficiently internalized and effectively escaping lysosomal degradation. The transfection positive rate of PNP/pCAR-GFP in RAW 264.7 cells reached (25±3)%, surpassing that of Lipofectamine 2000-loaded pCAR-GFP (Lipo/pCAR-GFP), which was (20±1)%.In vivo experiments revealed that, compared to unmodified PNP/pCAR, βGlus-PNP/pCAR exhibited strongerin situ pancreatic tumor targeting ability after oral administration. Furthermore, oral administration of βGlus-PNP/pCAR-GFP resulted in significant GFP protein expression detectable within pancreatic tumor tissues. ConclusionThis study successfully constructed and validated an orally administrable, pancreatic cancer-targeting polypeptide-based nano-gene delivery system. It provides an important technological foundation in delivery systems and experimental basis for the subsequent development of in situ CAR-M-based therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer.
2.Polypeptide-based Nanocarriers for Oral Targeted Delivery of CAR Genes to Pancreatic Cancer
Feng XIN ; Jian REN ; Zhao-Zhen LI ; Quan FANG ; Rui-Jing LIANG ; Lan-Lan LIU ; Lin-Tao CAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):431-441
ObjectivePancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits a limited response to current treatments due to its dense fibrotic stroma and highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In recent years, advancements in cellular immunotherapy, particularly chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-M) therapy, have offered new hope for pancreatic cancer treatment. Although CAR-M therapy demonstrates dual potential in directly killing tumor cells and remodeling the immune microenvironment, it still faces challenges such as complex in vitro preparation processes and low in vivo targeting and delivery efficiency. Therefore, developing strategies for efficient and targeted in vivo delivery of CAR genes has become crucial for overcoming current therapeutic limitations. This study aims to develop an orally administrable nano-gene delivery system for the targeted delivery of CAR genes to pancreatic tumor sites. MethodsCore nano-gene particles (PNP/pCAR) were constructed by loading plasmid DNA encoding CAR (pCAR) with cationic polypeptides (PNP). Subsequently, PNP/pCAR was surface-modified with β-glucan to prepare the targeted nanoparticles (βGlus-PNP/pCAR). The loading efficiency of PNP for pCAR was quantitatively assessed by gel retardation assay. The particle size, Zeta potential, morphology, and storage stability of PNP/pCAR were characterized using a Malvern particle size analyzer and transmission electron microscopy. At the cellular level, RAW 264.7 macrophages were selected. The cytotoxicity of PNP/pCAR was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. The cellular uptake efficiency and lysosomal escape ability of the nanoparticles were assessed via flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Transfection efficiency was quantitatively evaluated by detecting the expression of the reporter gene GFP using flow cytometry. At the in vivo level, an orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model was established. Cy7-labeled βGlus-PNP/pCAR nanoparticles were administered orally, and the fluorescence distribution in mice was dynamically monitored at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 h post-administration using a small animal in vivo imaging system. Forty-eight hours after oral gavage, the mice were euthanized, and pancreatic tumor tissues were collected for further analysis of intratumoral fluorescence signals using the imaging system. Additionally, βGlus-PNP/pCAR-GFP nanoparticles loaded with the reporter gene (GFP) were administered orally. Forty-eight hours post-administration, pancreatic tumor tissues were harvested to prepare frozen sections, and GFP expression was observed and analyzed under a fluorescence microscope. ResultsThe PNP carrier exhibited a high loading capacity for pCAR. The successfully prepared PNP/pCAR nanoparticles were regular spheres with a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately (120±10) nm and a Zeta potential of about +(6±1) mV. They maintained good structural stability after incubation in PBS buffer for 7 d. Cell experiments demonstrated that PNP/pCAR exhibited no significant cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells while being efficiently internalized and effectively escaping lysosomal degradation. The transfection positive rate of PNP/pCAR-GFP in RAW 264.7 cells reached (25±3)%, surpassing that of Lipofectamine 2000-loaded pCAR-GFP (Lipo/pCAR-GFP), which was (20±1)%.In vivo experiments revealed that, compared to unmodified PNP/pCAR, βGlus-PNP/pCAR exhibited strongerin situ pancreatic tumor targeting ability after oral administration. Furthermore, oral administration of βGlus-PNP/pCAR-GFP resulted in significant GFP protein expression detectable within pancreatic tumor tissues. ConclusionThis study successfully constructed and validated an orally administrable, pancreatic cancer-targeting polypeptide-based nano-gene delivery system. It provides an important technological foundation in delivery systems and experimental basis for the subsequent development of in situ CAR-M-based therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer.
3.Design of mobile smart pharmacy in emergency rescue operations
Hang-mei LIU ; Xin HE ; Jing-bo SUN ; Yang LIU ; Shui LIU ; Bo-quan ZHANG ; Li-li ZHANG
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(1):20-26
Objective To design a mobile smart pharmacy so as to enhance emergency medicine support in emergency rescue operations.Methods The mobile smart pharmacy was composed of a vehicle structure module,a medicine storage module,an information management module and a mobile smart pharmacy management system.The vehicle structure module with a closed boxcar was composed of a chassis,a boxcar framework,an extension module,a control module for electric power,term-perature and humidity and an unpacking and handling module;the medicine storage module with layer design was made up of medicine cabinets,an electronic lock control device,a LED display and paper signs;the information management module consisted of a main control module,a communication module,a drawer controlling module and a management module for medicine inbound and warehousing and an acquisition module for temperature and humidity;the mobile smart pharmacy management system was developed with Java language.Results The mobile smart pharmacy contributed to centralized stock-piling and rapid localization,inquiry and management of kinds of medicine,and ensured the medicine quality safety during the storage and delivery in emergency rescue operations.Conclusion The mobile smart pharmacy facilitates medicine mana-gement in emergency rescue operations,raises the rescue efficiency,meets the requirements for responding to types of disasters and enhances the abilities for emergency rescue effectively.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(1):20-26]
4.Application and Progress of Organs-on-chips Technology in Chinese Materia Medica Research
Wei CHEN ; Weidong ZHANG ; Quan ZHAO ; Fang WANG ; Wei HUANG ; Chanming LIU ; Yueqin ZHU ; Jing ZHANG ; Feng HUA
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(11):187-192
In recent years,organs-on-chips(OOCs)technology has gradually matured and been recognized by regulatory agencies,playing a key role in the construction of pathophysiological models,pharmacodynamic screening,toxicological evaluation and other fields,providing guidance for the research and development of innovative drugs of Chinese materia medica and the clinical application of classic prescriptions.This article reviewed the application progress of OOCs technology in the research of Chinese materia medica from four dimensions:pharmacodynamic and toxicological evaluation,quality control,active component analysis and innovative drug research and development,in order to provide a reference for the precise application of this technology in the field of Chinese materia medica.
5.Healthcare institution resilience and the influencing factors during infectious disease outbreaks
Yaqun FU ; Jiawei ZHANG ; Bing HAN ; Quan WANG ; Zheng ZHU ; Zhijie NIE ; Yiyang TAN ; Qing LIU ; Xiaoguang LI ; Jing GUO ; Rongmeng JIANG ; Li YANG
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2025;57(3):529-536
Objective:To analyze the association between healthcare workers mental health,institu-tional supplies and facilities,inter-organizational coordination during infectious disease outbreaks,and the healthcare institution resilience.Methods:An online questionnaire survey was conducted among the healthcare workforce from 146 institutions in Beijing from January 13,2023 to February 9,2023,and a total of 1 434 eligible respondents were included.The sample comprised 408 responses from tertiary hos-pitals,117 from secondary hospitals,and 909 from primary care institutions.The resilience indicator for healthcare institutions was defined as the degree to which medical services met patient demands,with in-fluencing factors including physical factors,such as material shortages and facility space adaptation or ex-pansion,organizational factors such as information sharing and patient referral,and psychological factors were evaluated using job satisfaction(extrinsic satisfaction,intrinsic satisfaction),burnout(emotional exhaustion,depersonalization,reduced personal accomplishment),and depression status.Ordered mul-ticlassification Logistic regression was used to examine the impact of various factors on the degree to which healthcare services met patient needs;additionally,demographic factors that might influence institutional resilience were controlled.Results:During the emergency response phase,93%of hospitals maintained the capacity to meet patient needs,though tertiary hospitals demonstrated significantly higher rates of service inadequacy(21.05%).Material shortages were reported across all institutions,with tertiary hos-pitals experiencing more frequent multi-item shortages.Inter-institutional collaboration patterns revealed substantial variation:87.50%of primary care facilities,42.86%of secondary hospitals,and 31.58%of tertiary hospitals.Healthcare workers across all levels reported mild depressive symptoms and moderate-to-severe burnout levels.Regression analysis showed high satisfaction(overall satisfaction β=0.04,ex-trinsic satisfaction β=0.06,and intrinsic satisfaction β=0.08),low degree of job burnout(emotional exhaustion β=-0.04,depersonalization β=-0.07 and reduced personal accomplishment β=0.01),low degree of depression(β=-0.06)were significantly associated with higher healthcare institution re-silience.In addition,material shortages were significantly associated with lower resilience,and renova-tion and expansion of treatment spaces,and information sharing,were all associated with higher resilience.Demographic factors(age,gender,marital status,educational background,etc.)had no sig-nificant impact on resilience.Conclusion:Mental health status significantly influences healthcare institu-tion resilience.As human resources constitute the core asset of healthcare institutions,strategic optimiza-tion of workforce allocation and psychological support interventions can effectively strengthen resilience.Moreover,healthcare institution resilience is positively impacted by orderly material supply chains,timely resource distribution,and adaptive reconfiguration of clinical spaces.Finally,facilitating information sharing also enhances institutional resilience.
6.Application and Progress of Organs-on-chips Technology in Chinese Materia Medica Research
Wei CHEN ; Weidong ZHANG ; Quan ZHAO ; Fang WANG ; Wei HUANG ; Chanming LIU ; Yueqin ZHU ; Jing ZHANG ; Feng HUA
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(11):187-192
In recent years,organs-on-chips(OOCs)technology has gradually matured and been recognized by regulatory agencies,playing a key role in the construction of pathophysiological models,pharmacodynamic screening,toxicological evaluation and other fields,providing guidance for the research and development of innovative drugs of Chinese materia medica and the clinical application of classic prescriptions.This article reviewed the application progress of OOCs technology in the research of Chinese materia medica from four dimensions:pharmacodynamic and toxicological evaluation,quality control,active component analysis and innovative drug research and development,in order to provide a reference for the precise application of this technology in the field of Chinese materia medica.
7.Characteristics of Gut Microbiota Changes and Their Relationship with Infectious Complications During Induction Chemotherapy in AML Patients.
Quan-Lei ZHANG ; Li-Li DONG ; Lin-Lin ZHANG ; Yu-Juan WU ; Meng LI ; Jian BO ; Li-Li WANG ; Yu JING ; Li-Ping DOU ; Dai-Hong LIU ; Zhen-Yang GU ; Chun-Ji GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(3):738-744
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the characteristics of gut microbiota changes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing induction chemotherapy and to explore the relationship between infectious complications and gut microbiota.
METHODS:
Fecal samples were collected from 37 newly diagnosed AML patients at four time points: before induction chemotherapy, during chemotherapy, during the neutropenic phase, and during the recovery phase. Metagenomic sequencing was used to analyze the dynamic changes in gut microbiota. Correlation analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between changes in gut microbiota and the occurrence of infectious complications.
RESULTS:
During chemotherapy, the gut microbiota α-diversity (Shannon index) of AML patients exhibited significant fluctuations. Specifically, the diversity decreased significantly during induction chemotherapy, further declined during the neutropenic phase (P < 0.05, compared to baseline), and gradually recovered during the recovery phase, though not fully returning to baseline levels.The abundances of beneficial bacteria, such as Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, gradually decreased during chemotherapy, whereas the abundances of opportunistic pathogens, including Enterococcus, Klebsiella, and Escherichia coli, progressively increased.Analysis of the dynamic changes in gut microbiota of seven patients with bloodstream infections revealed that the bloodstream infection pathogens could be detected in the gut microbiota of the corresponding patients, with their abundance gradually increasing during the course of infection. This finding suggests that bloodstream infections may be associated with opportunistic pathogens originating from the gut microbiota.Compared to non-infected patients, the baseline samples of infected patients showed a significantly lower relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (P < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that Bacteroidetes abundance is an independent predictive factor for infectious complications (P < 0.05, OR =13.143).
CONCLUSION
During induction chemotherapy in AML patients, gut microbiota α-diversity fluctuates significantly, and the abundance of opportunistic pathogens increase, which may be associated with bloodstream infections. Patients with lower baseline Bacteroidetes abundance are more prone to infections, and its abundance can serve as an independent predictor of infectious complications.
Humans
;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
;
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/microbiology*
;
Induction Chemotherapy
;
Feces/microbiology*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
8.Mechanism of SOS1-IT1 promoting EZH2 expression in human endometrial cancer cells by regulating acetylation modification
Hong-Yang LIU ; Xue-Ling LOU ; Rong-Jing ZHANG ; Quan-Ling FENG ; Kai-Ge GUO ; Hao-Fan WANG ; Ying-Ying LI ; Jun-Hu WAN ; Lin-Dong ZHANG
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(4):444-451
Objective To explore the molecular mechanism by which SOS Ras/Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1-intronic transcript 1(SOS1-IT1)affects enhancer of zeste homolog 2(EZH2)protein expression in endometrial cancer cells Ishikawa and RL95-2.Methods Lentiviral transfection of short hairpin RNA(shRNA)and overexpression plasmid were used in Ishikawa and RL95-2 cell lines to knock down and overexpress SOS1-IT1.The mechanism of EZH2 expression regulation was studied using Real-time PCR,Western blotting,and chromatin immunoprecipitation.Results The expression of SOS1-IT1 and EZH2 genes was positively correlated in endometrial cancer tissues.Knocking down SOS1-IT1 significantly reduces the expression of EZH2,inhibited the proliferation and migration of Ishikawa and RL95-2 cells,and could reduced the acetylation of histone H3 at position 27(H3K27)and the enrichment of CREB binding protein(CBP)in the EZH2 gene promoter region.Overexpression of SOS1-IT1 could increased the expression of EZH2 and enhance the acetylation of H3K27 and the enrichment of CBP.CBP could bind to SOS1-IT1 RNA,and this binding ability was weakened when CBP was knocked down.Conclusion SOS1-IT1 can promote the expression level of EZH2 in endometrial cancer cells Ishikawa and RL95-2 by regulating the acetylation modification level of the EZH2 gene promoter region,thereby affecting the proliferation and migration ability of endometrial cancer cells.
9.Application of Castor branching stent in treating Stanford type B aortic dissection:preliminary results
Jing GE ; Xiaojiao TANG ; Quan CHEN ; Yiwei HE ; Qiang ZHANG ; Yong ZHENG ; Rong MA ; Jianping LIU ; Yongheng ZHANG
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2025;34(10):1072-1077
Objective To investigate the efficacy of Castor branching stent in treating Stanford type B aortic dissection(TBAD)involving aortic arch.Methods The clinical data of 18 patients with Stanford TBAD,who were treated with Castor branching stent at the Suining Municipal Central Hospital of China from January 2020 to January 2022,were retrospectively analyzed.Results The main bracket and branch bracket of Castor branching stent were successfully released in all the 18 patients with a surgical success rate of 100%,and no internal leakage occurred during operation.During the perioperative period,there were neither aorta-related deaths nor serious complications such as stroke,upper limb ischemia,internal leakage,or stent displacement.The patients were followed up for(14.7±8.3)months,no aorta-related death,stroke,upper limb ischemia,internal leakage,or stent displacement was observed,the blood flow of the left subclavian artery(LSA)was unobstructed,but there was thrombosis formation within the false lumen of the covered stent segment.Conclusion The Castor branching stent has the advantages of reasonable release mode,accurate positioning,effective isolation of the first rupture of Stanford TBAD and reconstruction of LSA,with no serious short-term complications.However,further follow-up observation is needed before its long-term efficacy can be clarified.
10.ESTABLISHMENT AND APPLICATION OF A MULTIPLEX PCR DETECTION METHOD FOR THREE COMMON PATHOGENS CAUSING DIARRHEA IN YAKS
Yao PAN ; Jing ZHANG ; Mei-Jun JIN ; Ling-Xiang XIN ; Hai-Yue XIAO ; Yan LIU ; Wen-Sheng YAO ; Chuan CHENG ; Li-Li HAO ; Lan LAN ; Liang-Quan ZHU
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2025;32(3):146-152
Objective To establish a rapid,sensitive,and specific multiplex PCR detection method for the simultaneous detection of Cryptosporidium,Eimeria,and bovine parvovirus.Methods Specific primers targeting the SSU rRNA genes of Cryptosporidium and Eimeria,as well as the VP2 gene of bovine parvovirus were designed and the corresponding recombinant plasmid standards were constructed.To establish the multiplex PCR method,the reaction conditions were optimized using temperature gradient PCR and single-variable control methods.The sensitivity,specificity,reproducibility,and clinical application of the protocol were evaluated.Results The optimal annealing temperature was found to be 60.5℃,and the forward and reverse primer concentrations were determined to be 0.2 μmol/L for Eimeria,and 0.4 μmol/L for Cryptosporidium and bovine parvovirus.The assay demonstrated high sensitivity,with detection limits of 243,260,and 3 110 copies for the recombinant plasmid standards of Cryptosporidium,Eimeria,and bovine parvovirus,respectively.Specificity testing showed no cross-reactivity with ten common bovine pathogens,including Salmonella,bovine viral diarrhea virus,and bovine rotavirus.Consistent intra-and inter-batch results confirmed the strong reproducibility of the method.Clinical application to 81 diarrhea samples from various regions in the Ganzi Prefecture,Sichuan,revealed positivity rates of 18.52%(15/81)for Cryptosporidium,34.57%(28/81)for Eimeria,and 18.52%(15/81)forbovineparvovirus,withamixedinfectionrateof3.7%(3/81).Conclusions Themultiplex PCR method established in this study offers a reliable tool for differential diagnosis and epidemiological investigation of the three common diarrheal pathogens in yaks.

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