1.Artificial intelligence-enabled discovery of a RIPK3 inhibitor with neuroprotective effects in an acute glaucoma mouse model.
Xing TU ; Zixing ZOU ; Jiahui LI ; Simiao ZENG ; Zhengchao LUO ; Gen LI ; Yuanxu GAO ; Kang ZHANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(2):172-184
BACKGROUND:
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death caused by acute ocular hypertension is an important characteristic of acute glaucoma. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) that mediates necroptosis is a potential therapeutic target for RGC death. However, the current understanding of the targeting agents and mechanisms of RIPK3 in the treatment of glaucoma remains limited. Notably, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have significantly advanced drug discovery. This study aimed to discover RIPK3 inhibitor with AI assistance.
METHODS:
An acute ocular hypertension model was used to simulate pathological ocular hypertension in vivo . We employed a series of AI methods, including large language and graph neural network models, to identify the target compounds of RIPK3. Subsequently, these target candidates were validated using molecular simulations (molecular docking, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity [ADMET] prediction, and molecular dynamics simulations) and biological experiments (Western blotting and fluorescence staining) in vitro and in vivo .
RESULTS:
AI-driven drug screening techniques have the potential to greatly accelerate drug development. A compound called HG9-91-01, identified using AI methods, exerted neuroprotective effects in acute glaucoma. Our research indicates that all five candidates recommended by AI were able to protect the morphological integrity of RGC cells when exposed to hypoxia and glucose deficiency, and HG9-91-01 showed a higher cell survival rate compared to the other candidates. Furthermore, HG9-91-01 was found to protect the retinal structure and reduce the loss of retinal layers in an acute glaucoma model. It was also observed that the neuroprotective effects of HG9-91-01 were highly correlated with the inhibition of PANoptosis (apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis). Finally, we found that HG9-91-01 can regulate key proteins related to PANoptosis, indicating that this compound exerts neuroprotective effects in the retina by inhibiting the expression of proteins related to apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis.
CONCLUSION
AI-enabled drug discovery revealed that HG9-91-01 could serve as a potential treatment for acute glaucoma.
Animals
;
Glaucoma/metabolism*
;
Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology*
;
Mice
;
Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
;
Artificial Intelligence
;
Retinal Ganglion Cells/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Molecular Docking Simulation
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Male
2.Progress and challenges of poly (L-lactic acid) membrane in preventing tendon adhesion.
Jiayu ZHANG ; Xiaobei HU ; Jiayan SHEN ; Yuanji HUANG ; Shen LIU
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(9):1212-1218
OBJECTIVE:
To review the research progress and challenges of poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) membrane in preventing tendon adhesion.
METHODS:
The relevant literature at home and abroad in recent years was extensively searched, covering the mechanism of tendon adhesion formation, the adaptation challenge and balancing strategy of PLLA, the physicochemical modification of PLLA anti-adhesion membrane and its application in tendon anti-adhesion. In this paper, the research progress and modification strategies of PLLA membranes were systematically reviewed from the three dimensions of tissue adaptation, mechanical adaptation, and degradation adaptation.
RESULTS:
The three-dimensional adaptation of PLLA membrane is optimized by combining materials (such as hydroxyapatite, polycaprolactone), structural design (multilayer/gradient membrane), and drug loading (anti-inflammatory drug). The balance between anti-adhesion and pro-healing is achieved, the mechanical adaptation significantly improve, and degradation is achieved (targeting the degradation cycle to 2-4 weeks to cover the tendon repair period).
CONCLUSION
In the future, it is necessary to identify the optimal balance point of three-dimensional fitness, unify the evaluation criteria and solve the degradation side effects through the co-design of physicochemical modification and drug loading system to break through the bottleneck of clinical translation.
Tissue Adhesions/prevention & control*
;
Polyesters/chemistry*
;
Humans
;
Biocompatible Materials/chemistry*
;
Tendons/surgery*
;
Membranes, Artificial
;
Tendon Injuries/surgery*
;
Wound Healing
;
Animals
;
Durapatite/chemistry*
3.Mechanisms of the Masquelet technique to promote bone defect repair and its influencing factors.
Jiang-Hong WU ; Quan-Wei BAO ; Shao-Kang WANG ; Pan-Yu ZHOU ; Shuo-Gui XU
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(3):157-163
The Masquelet technique, also known as the induced membrane technique, is a surgical technique for repairing large bone defects based on the use of a membrane generated by a foreign body reaction for bone grafting. This technique is not only simple to perform, with few complications and quick recovery, but also has excellent clinical results. To better understand the mechanisms by which this technique promotes bone defect repair and the factors that require special attention in practice, we examined and summarized the relevant research advances in this technique by searching, reading, and analysing the literature. Literature show that the Masquelet technique may promote the repair of bone defects through the physical septum and molecular barrier, vascular network, enrichment of mesenchymal stem cells, and high expression of bone-related growth factors, and the repair process is affected by the properties of spacers, the timing of bone graft, mechanical environment, intramembrane filling materials, artificial membrane, and pharmaceutical/biological agents/physical stimulation.
Humans
;
Bone Transplantation/methods*
;
Membranes, Artificial
;
Bone Regeneration
;
Animals
4.Research progress on lipid nanoparticle messenger RNA delivery system.
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2025;54(4):446-454
Messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics involve delivering in vitro transcribed mRNA into specific cells to produce target proteins for the treatment or prevention of diseases. However, the development of mRNA therapeutics relies largely on mRNA delivery systems. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) represent the most widely used mRNA carriers in clinical applications. Composed of ionizable lipids, zwitterionic phospholipids, cholesterol, and polyethylene glycol-lipids, LNPs can address critical challenges in mRNA drug development, such as poor in vivo stability and the difficulty in crossing biological barriers. Ultimately, LNPs enable safe, efficient, and targeted mRNA delivery to the liver, lung, spleen, and other organs. This review outlines the roles of the four lipid components in LNPs for mRNA delivery. It then introduces targeted mRNA delivery to various organs/tissues such as the liver, lung, spleen, pancreas, bone marrow, and placenta, using strategies such as antibody modification, lipid structure alteration, and specialized administration routes. Additionally, this review discusses the applications and challenges of LNP-based mRNA therapeutics in disease treatment, aiming to provide insights for the clinical translation of mRNA therapies and for further innovations in LNP delivery systems.
Humans
;
RNA, Messenger/administration & dosage*
;
Nanoparticles/chemistry*
;
Lipids/chemistry*
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Drug Delivery Systems
;
Animals
;
Liposomes
5.Application of Artificial Intelligence Bone Marrow Cell Recognition and Analysis System in Auxiliary Diagnosis of Hematological Disease.
Yan HUANG ; Yun-Ke WAN ; Jian-Lan LI
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(4):1203-1208
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the clinical application value of artificial intelligence (AI)-based bone marrow cell recognition and analysis system in the diagnosis of hematological diseases.
METHODS:
The bone marrow smears of hematological patients who were admitted to The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from 2018 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 115 bone marrow smears with clear diagnosis and typical cell morphology characteristics were selected, including 20 cases of immune thrombocytopenia(ITP), 11 cases of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), 17 cases of megaloblastic anemia (MA), 20 cases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 17 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 23 cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and 7 cases of acute myeloid leukemia unclassified (AML-M2). The samples were analyzed by manual microscopic examination, AI automatic recognition, and manual correction after AI recognition.
RESULTS:
The images captured by the AI device were clear, and the cell morphological structures were distinct. The average experimental diagnostic efficiency parameters of the bone marrow nucleated cells classified in this system were calculated. The sensitivity was 74.90%, specificity was 99.03%, and accuracy was 98.29%. In the comparison between the AI recognition group and the manual examination group, the data of IDA, ITP, MA, and CML diseases were all greater than 0.85 in ICC correlation coefficient, with excellent consistency; the data of APL, AML-M2, and ALL three diseases were between 0.6 and 0.85 in ICC correlation coefficient, with moderate consistency. However, after manual review and correction, the ICC correlation coefficient between the data of the AI correction group and the data from the manual examination group was greatly improved.
CONCLUSION
The AI bone marrow cell recognition and analysis system has the characteristics of high accuracy, high specificity, good sensitivity and fast detection. When used in combination with manual review, it can improve the detection efficiency of bone marrow cells morphological analysis and meet the needs of clinical work.
Humans
;
Artificial Intelligence
;
Hematologic Diseases/diagnosis*
;
Bone Marrow Cells/pathology*
;
Retrospective Studies
6.Application progress of collagen membranes in oral medicine.
Yiqin WANG ; Junliang WEN ; Xinhang YU ; Jun CHEN ; Wenjie LI
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(6):1088-1098
Collagen membrane has attracted much attention from researchers due to its excellent properties such as wide source, degradable absorption, and low immunogenicity. However, they are limited by poor mechanical stability and rapid degradation. To enhance their physicochemical properties and biological functions, researchers have developed various strategies, including cross-linking, incorporation of growth factors or drugs, combination with other biomaterials, optimization of composition and structure, and substitution with marine-derived collagen. These advances aim to expand the clinical applications of collagen membranes in oral medicine. With the urgent demand for high-performance biomaterials in oral medicine, summarizing recent progress on collagen membranes provides valuable insights into their mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and limitations, offering reference for optimized design and broader clinical use. Furthermore, further trends may include integrating advanced manufacturing technologies to develop personalized collagen membranes, which could significantly improve therapeutic outcomes in oral diseases.
Collagen/therapeutic use*
;
Humans
;
Biocompatible Materials/chemistry*
;
Membranes, Artificial
;
Oral Medicine/methods*
;
Tissue Engineering/methods*
7.Research progress of liposome drug delivery system in the treatment of head and neck cancer.
Bo LIU ; Yaqin TU ; Nan WU ; Hongjun XIAO
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(1):91-96
Head and neck tumors are one of the major diseases that threaten human health. Targeted chemotherapy is an important treatment for head and neck tumors. However, many anti-cancer drugs are difficult to reach effective concentrations in tumors and can cause damage to normal tissues. Therefore, the efficient delivery of anti-tumor drugs, improvement of their therapeutic effects, and reduction of their adverse effects on the whole body and locally are urgent issues in targeted drug research. Liposomes have been widely studied due to their unique characteristics, including amphiphilicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. This article outlines the current applications and prospects of liposome drug delivery systems in different treatment modalities for head and neck tumors in recent years, aiming to provide more options for the treatment of head and neck tumors.
Humans
;
Liposomes
;
Head and Neck Neoplasms/drug therapy*
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Drug Delivery Systems
;
Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
8.Design and inflammation-targeting efficiency assessment of an engineered liposome-based nanomedicine delivery system targeting E-selectin.
Yumeng YE ; Bo YU ; Shasha LU ; Yu ZHOU ; Meihong DING ; Guilin CHENG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(5):1013-1022
OBJECTIVES:
To develop an E-selectin-targeting nanomedicine delivery system that competitively inhibits E-selectin-neutrophil ligand binding to block neutrophil adhesion to vessels and suppress their recruitment to the lesion sites.
METHODS:
Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX)-loaded liposomes (IEL-Lip/DOX) conjugated with E-selectin-affinity peptide IELLQARC were developed using a post-insertion method. Two formulations [2-1P: Mol(PC): Mol(DPI)=100:1; 2-3P: 100:3] were prepared and their modification density and in vitro release characteristics were determined. Their targeting efficacy was assessed in a cell model of LPS-induced inflammation, a mouse model of acute lung injury (ALI), a rat femoral artery model of physical injury-induced inflammation, and a zebrafish model of local inflammation.
RESULTS:
The prepared IEL-Lip/DOX 2-1P and 2-3P had peptide modification densities of 4.76 and 7.57 pmoL/cm2, respectively. Compared with unmodified liposomes, IEL-Lip/DOX exhibited significantly reduced 48-h cumulative release rates at pH 5.5. In the inflammation cell model, IEL-Lip/DOX showed increased uptake by activated inflammatory endothelial cells, and 2-1P exhibited a higher trans-endothelial ability. In ALI mice, the fluorescence intensity of IEL-Lip/Cy5.5 increased significantly in lung tissues by 53.71% [Z-(2-1P)] and 93.41% [Z-(2-3P)], and 2-1P had an increased distribution by 24.19% in the inflammatory lung tissue compared to normal mouse lung tissue. In rat femoral artery models, 2-1P had greater injured/normal vessel fluorescence intensity contrast. In the zebrafish models, both 2-1P and 2-3P showed increased aggregation at the site of inflammation.
CONCLUSIONS
This E-selectin-targeting nanomedicine delivery system efficiently targets activated inflammatory endothelial cells to increase drug concentration at the inflammatory site, which sheds light on new strategies for treating neutrophil-mediated inflammatory diseases and practicing the concept of "one drug for multiple diseases".
Animals
;
Liposomes
;
Rats
;
Nanomedicine
;
E-Selectin
;
Drug Delivery Systems
;
Inflammation/drug therapy*
;
Mice
;
Doxorubicin/analogs & derivatives*
;
Zebrafish
;
Acute Lung Injury/drug therapy*
9.Research progress on the role of mechanical stretch in the injury and repair of alveolar epithelial cells.
Xinyi TANG ; Haoyue XUE ; Yongpeng XIE
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2025;37(1):92-96
Mechanical ventilation (MV) is currently widely used in the treatment of respiratory failure and anesthesia surgery, and is a commonly used respiratory support method for critically ill patients; however, improper usage of MV can lead to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI), which poses a significant threat to patient life. Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) has the functions of mechanosensation and mechanotransduction. Physiological mechanical stretching is beneficial for maintaining the lineage homeostasis and normal physiological functions of AEC cells, while excessive mechanical stretching can cause damage to AEC cells. Damage to AEC cells is an important aspect in the occurrence and development of VILI. Understanding the effects of mechanical stretching on AEC cells is crucial for developing safe and effective MV strategies, preventing the occurrence of VILI, and improving the clinical prognosis of VILI patients. From the perspective of cell mechanics, this paper aims to briefly elucidate the mechanical properties of AEC cells, mechanosensation and mechanotransduction of mechanical stretching in AEC cells, and the injury and repair of AEC cells under mechanical stretch stimulation, and potential mechanisms with the goal of helping clinical doctors better understand the pathophysiological mechanism of VILI caused by MV, improve their understanding of VILI, provide safer and more effective strategies for the use of clinical MV, and provide theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of VILI.
Humans
;
Mechanotransduction, Cellular
;
Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury
;
Stress, Mechanical
;
Alveolar Epithelial Cells
;
Respiration, Artificial/adverse effects*
;
Epithelial Cells
;
Pulmonary Alveoli/cytology*
;
Animals
10.Harmonizing tradition and technology: Liposomal nanocarriers unlocking the power of natural herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Ibrahim SHAW ; Aaron Albert ARYEE ; Yimer Seid ALI ; George Frimpong BOAFO ; Jingjing TIAN ; Ronald MLAMBO ; Songwen TAN ; Chuanpin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(6):700-713
Natural herbs demonstrate significant therapeutic potential in managing chronic and complex diseases; however, their clinical application faces limitations due to low bioavailability, instability, toxicity, and herb-drug interactions. Furthermore, insufficient standardized evidence and global acceptance impede their widespread adoption. Liposomes, nanocarriers consisting of a phospholipid bilayer enclosing an aqueous core, present a promising approach for enhancing the pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy of herbal compounds. These adaptable systems can encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic agents, enabling targeted drug delivery and enhanced stability. Moreover, liposomes can be modified to carry diagnostic and imaging agents, enabling precise disease detection and monitoring. While liposomes offer potential as an innovative delivery technology for herbal remedies, their application in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) remains relatively unexplored. TCM, with its holistic, energy-based approach to health and organ function, presents distinct challenges regarding formulation and delivery. This review examines the therapeutic potential of herbal medicines, emphasizing how liposomes address delivery challenges within the TCM framework. It also investigates the integration of TCM with Western medical practices, demonstrating how liposomal systems may bridge these approaches. The review analyzes key formulation techniques for TCM-loaded liposomes, particularly the microfluidic method, which demonstrates superior control over particle size and encapsulation efficiency compared to conventional methods. The analysis addresses barriers to integrating liposomal delivery systems with TCM, including physicochemical properties, scalability issues, and regulatory challenges. Finally, this review provides strategic recommendations for overcoming these obstacles and identifies future research directions to maximize the potential of liposomal technology in enhancing TCM therapies.
Liposomes/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Humans
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
;
Drug Delivery Systems
;
Drug Carriers/chemistry*
;
Animals
;
Nanoparticles/chemistry*

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