1.Preparation and in vitro anti-tumor activity of multifunctional copper-based nanozymes
Ziyi TONG ; Yutong YANG ; Xiaoyu LIANG ; Jing HUANG ; Rui LIU ; Huiling GUO
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2026;57(3):341-350
To address the constrains imposed by insufficient hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and high glutathione (GSH) expression in tumor cells on the efficacy of chemodynamic therapy (CDT), zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) loaded with disulfiram (DSF) and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3-AT) was synthesized via a one-pot approach. Subsequently, hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified cupric peroxide (CuO2) was in-situ grown on its surface through biomineralization to construct a multifunctional copper-based nanozyme ADZCH (3-AT/DSF@ZIF-8@CuO2-HA). This nanoplatform disrupts the intratumoral H2O2 homeostasis, depletes GSH, and synchronously delivers DSF and Cu2+ via cascade catalysis, thereby enhancing CDT and sensitizing tumors to DSF-based chemotherapy. The results of physicochemical characterization indicated that ADZCH presented a uniform core-shell structure with favorable dispersibility. Its particle size and Zeta potential were 196.5 nm and −19.5 mV, respectively. It possessed a microporous structure with a specific surface area of 81.8600 m2/g, and demonstrated efficient loading capacity for DSF and 3-AT, achieving drug loading efficiencies of 5.91% and 45.07%, respectively. Moreover, ADZCH can continuously and slowly release drugs in an acidic environment and maintain good stability under diverse physiological conditions. In vitro functional assays verified that ADZCH catalytically generated H2O2 and hydroxyl radicals while concurrently depleting GSH in a concentration- and incubation time-dependent manner. Cellular uptake experiments showed that HA modification significantly improved the uptake of nanoparticles by 4T1 cells. Cytotoxicity tests showed that 80 μg/mL ADZCH had a significant cytotoxic effect on 4T1 cells but no significant toxicity on L929 cells. DCFH-DA probe detection indicated that ADZCH could significantly induce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, thereby enhancing CDT efficacy. Live/dead staining experiments showed that ADZCH efficiently induced apoptosis, with the proportion of dead cells reaching 94.74%, demonstrating its promising potential for anti-tumor applications.This study provides new research ideas and experimental basis for overcoming the tumor microenvironment barrier and enhancing the anti-tumor effect of CDT combined with chemotherapy.
2.Smart traditional Chinese medicine empowers the whole chain of “prevention–screening–diagnosis–treatment–management” for major chronic diseases in primary healthcare: Research on cardiovascular–cerebrovascular diseases and tumors
Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Jianlin WEI ; Yuqi LIANG ; Liangzhen YOU ; Mei ZHANG ; Hongcai SHANG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(2):132-139
Driven by policy initiatives promoting the integration of digital-intelligent technologies with primary healthcare and the digital transformation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Smart TCM has emerged as a pivotal strategy for enhancing primary healthcare services for major chronic diseases. This paper reviews the current status, challenges, and feasible pathways of Smart TCM in community-level management of cardiovascular–cerebrovascular diseases and tumors, which represent major chronic disease burdens. Our findings indicate that Smart TCM demonstrates emerging potential in primary healthcare for chronic diseases across the entire continuum of “prevention-screening-diagnosis-treatment-management.” However, several significant challenges persist, including data silos and security vulnerabilities, limited applicability of existing models to real-world clinical needs, and insufficient digital literacy among primary healthcare physicians and elderly patients. To address these constraints, this paper proposes a multidimensional strategy encompassing the development of secure and interoperable regional data platforms, lightweight intelligent devices and support services aligned with primary care capacity, unified technical and data standards with corresponding quality control systems, adaptive and dynamically updated artificial intelligent models, interdisciplinary workforce training and patient education programs, and enhanced policy and health insurance support. Overall, Smart TCM shows great promise for improving the efficiency of primary healthcare delivery and establishing innovative TCM-based chronic disease management paradigms.
3.Analysis of Animal Models of Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration Based on Clinical Disease-syndrome Characteristics of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):183-190
ObjectiveIn recent years, with the deepening trend of population aging in China, the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been rising. Wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) is a type of advanced AMD that can cause severe vision loss. Based on the clinical disease-syndrome characteristics of wAMD, this study reviewed and analyzed existing wAMD animal models, including the animals used, modeling methods, and the advantages and disadvantages of each model, aiming to provide references for the establishment and study of wAMD models integrating disease and syndrome. MethodsLiterature on wAMD-related animal models was retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP, and PubMed. Relevant indicators were collected and analyzed, and model characteristics were quantified and evaluated according to the diagnostic criteria of diseases and syndromes in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. ResultsCurrently, the alignment of wAMD models with Western medicine clinical syndromes mainly reflects the characteristics of macular neovascularization (MNV) and fundus changes, with limited observation of visual function. For TCM, scoring mainly focuses on ocular syndromes, while systemic syndromes are insufficiently observed, which is inadequate to fully reflect the complexity of wAMD pathogenesis and manifestations. Among the main models, alignment with Western medicine clinical syndromes is relatively high. Laser photocoagulation-induced models are the most commonly used and show the highest alignment, and their correspondence with the TCM syndrome of “spleen deficiency and dampness retention” is relatively high. ConclusionCurrent models generally show moderate alignment with clinical disease-syndrome characteristics in both TCM and Western medicine, especially with TCM syndromes, where alignment is low. This limits the development and study of models integrating disease and syndrome. Future research should further explore other TCM syndrome types and compound syndromes to establish wAMD animal models with higher alignment with TCM.
4.Analysis of Animal Models of Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration Based on Clinical Disease-syndrome Characteristics of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Xiaoyu LI ; Lina LIANG ; Yun GAO ; Jiahao LI ; Jianying YANG ; Xiaoshan ZHANG ; Honghao BI ; Menglu MIAO ; Huiyi GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):191-197
ObjectiveAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of low vision and blindness in people over 50 years old, and dry AMD (dAMD) is one type for which there is currently no clear treatment. On the basis of the diagnosis and clinical characteristics of dAMD in traditional Chinese and Western medicine, this paper evaluated the fitting degrees of existing animal models of dAMD with clinical characteristics according to the evaluation methods of animal models, and put forward suggestions and prospects. MethodsLiterature on animal models of dAMD was searched against database, and the characteristics of the models were assigned according to the diagnosis criteria of diseases and syndromes of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and the fitting degrees of the models with clinical characteristics were analyzed and evaluated. ResultsAt present, the animal models of dAMD are mainly established targeting complement factors, chemokines, oxidative damage, lipid/glucose metabolism, and natural strains. Most of the models can simulate the major pathological changes of dAMD, showing the fitting degree of 25%-50% with clinical characteristics in Western medicine. However, the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes, especially the evaluation of secondary syndromes, is missing, and the models present low fitting degrees with the clinical characteristics in TCM. ConclusionExisting animal models of dAMD are mostly established under the guidance of Western diagnostic standards, which reproduce the main disease characteristics of Western medicine and lack observation of TCM syndromes. Future studies can pay attention to the intervention factors and evaluation systems of spleen deficiency Qi deficiency and liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome and build the animal model of dAMD with integration of disease and syndrome based on clinical characteristics of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
5.Analysis of Animal Models of Retinitis Pigmentosa Based on Diagnostic Features of Chinese and Western Medicine
Xiaoyu LI ; Lina LIANG ; Jiefeng CHEN ; Xiaoxiao ZHU ; Yina QI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):198-203
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common hereditary blinding eye disease in clinical practice, with the pathogenesis remaining unclear. Patients experience progressive apoptosis of retinal photoreceptor cells, accompanied by degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Current Western medical treatments mainly focus on gene therapy and stem cell transplantation, showing limited efficacy. In contrast, clinical observations have confirmed the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments. Establishing an RP animal model that aligns with the diagnostic features of both TCM and Western medicine could help combine the strengths of both approaches, thereby broadening the treatment options for RP. This study categorizes and summarizes the existing RP animal models in terms of classification, types, inheritance patterns, and alignment with clinical manifestations. It is found that current RP models are primarily derived from natural animal models such as RD mice and RCS rats, transgenic animal models like RPE-65 knockout mice and rhodopsin gene knockout mice, and chemically induced models such as those created by monochromatic light exposure or N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) administration. These three categories of models focus more on detecting RP-related histopathological, molecular biological, and cellular immunological indicators, but offer limited observation of the overall characteristics of the disease and lack insight into syndrome differentiation. Although RP is a congenital genetic disease, its progression is influenced by acquired factors such as environment, constitution, emotions, and care. Current models do not fully capture the characteristics of this disease. Therefore, establishing an RP animal model based on the diagnostic features of both TCM and Western medicine will have significant implications for future experimental and clinical research.
6.Analysis of Animal Models of Retinal Vein Occlusion Based on Clinical Manifestations of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Xiaoyu LI ; Lina LIANG ; Xiaofeng HAO ; Menglu MIAO ; Mei SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):204-209
ObjectiveRetinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common vascular disease leading to vision loss. Since its pathogenesis remains unclear, current Western medical treatments primarily target complications such as macular edema and neovascularization. The main therapeutic approaches include intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents or corticosteroids, laser photocoagulation, and pars plana vitrectomy. However, these treatments cannot fully reverse disease progression or structural damage. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of RVO, and integrated Chinese and Western medicine approaches may offer better clinical outcomes. This study, based on the clinical manifestations of RVO, systematically reviews the existing literature and evaluates the alignment of current RVO animal models with clinical manifestations. The aim is to identify the characteristics and limitations of existing models and provide recommendations and prospects for developing RVO animal models featuring the combination of disease and syndrome. MethodsDatabases including CNKI, Wanfang Data, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched with the keywords of "retinal vein occlusion" and "animal model". Model characteristics were assessed based on the diagnostic criteria for diseases and syndromes in both TCM and Western medicine. The alignment of each model with clinical manifestations was analyzed and evaluated. ResultsThe available RVO models were primarily established via methods such as laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, diathermy, intravitreal drug injection, and mechanical modeling. These models demonstrated moderate overall alignment with clinical manifestations, mainly reflecting disease characteristics. However, they generally lack representation of TCM syndrome features. ConclusionExisting RVO models are predominantly based on Western medicine and lack TCM syndrome features. Western medical treatments for RVO have certain limitations, while syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM offer potential advantages. Future research should focus on developing disease-syndrome integrated animal models that incorporate both pathological features and TCM syndrome characteristics. This approach will enhance the design of RVO models and facilitate both basic and clinical research, which make it a scientifically valuable and necessary endeavor.
7.Analysis of Animal Models of Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration Based on Clinical Disease-syndrome Characteristics of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):183-190
ObjectiveIn recent years, with the deepening trend of population aging in China, the incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been rising. Wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) is a type of advanced AMD that can cause severe vision loss. Based on the clinical disease-syndrome characteristics of wAMD, this study reviewed and analyzed existing wAMD animal models, including the animals used, modeling methods, and the advantages and disadvantages of each model, aiming to provide references for the establishment and study of wAMD models integrating disease and syndrome. MethodsLiterature on wAMD-related animal models was retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP, and PubMed. Relevant indicators were collected and analyzed, and model characteristics were quantified and evaluated according to the diagnostic criteria of diseases and syndromes in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. ResultsCurrently, the alignment of wAMD models with Western medicine clinical syndromes mainly reflects the characteristics of macular neovascularization (MNV) and fundus changes, with limited observation of visual function. For TCM, scoring mainly focuses on ocular syndromes, while systemic syndromes are insufficiently observed, which is inadequate to fully reflect the complexity of wAMD pathogenesis and manifestations. Among the main models, alignment with Western medicine clinical syndromes is relatively high. Laser photocoagulation-induced models are the most commonly used and show the highest alignment, and their correspondence with the TCM syndrome of “spleen deficiency and dampness retention” is relatively high. ConclusionCurrent models generally show moderate alignment with clinical disease-syndrome characteristics in both TCM and Western medicine, especially with TCM syndromes, where alignment is low. This limits the development and study of models integrating disease and syndrome. Future research should further explore other TCM syndrome types and compound syndromes to establish wAMD animal models with higher alignment with TCM.
8.Analysis of Animal Models of Dry Age-related Macular Degeneration Based on Clinical Disease-syndrome Characteristics of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Xiaoyu LI ; Lina LIANG ; Yun GAO ; Jiahao LI ; Jianying YANG ; Xiaoshan ZHANG ; Honghao BI ; Menglu MIAO ; Huiyi GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):191-197
ObjectiveAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of low vision and blindness in people over 50 years old, and dry AMD (dAMD) is one type for which there is currently no clear treatment. On the basis of the diagnosis and clinical characteristics of dAMD in traditional Chinese and Western medicine, this paper evaluated the fitting degrees of existing animal models of dAMD with clinical characteristics according to the evaluation methods of animal models, and put forward suggestions and prospects. MethodsLiterature on animal models of dAMD was searched against database, and the characteristics of the models were assigned according to the diagnosis criteria of diseases and syndromes of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and the fitting degrees of the models with clinical characteristics were analyzed and evaluated. ResultsAt present, the animal models of dAMD are mainly established targeting complement factors, chemokines, oxidative damage, lipid/glucose metabolism, and natural strains. Most of the models can simulate the major pathological changes of dAMD, showing the fitting degree of 25%-50% with clinical characteristics in Western medicine. However, the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes, especially the evaluation of secondary syndromes, is missing, and the models present low fitting degrees with the clinical characteristics in TCM. ConclusionExisting animal models of dAMD are mostly established under the guidance of Western diagnostic standards, which reproduce the main disease characteristics of Western medicine and lack observation of TCM syndromes. Future studies can pay attention to the intervention factors and evaluation systems of spleen deficiency Qi deficiency and liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome and build the animal model of dAMD with integration of disease and syndrome based on clinical characteristics of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
9.Analysis of Animal Models of Retinitis Pigmentosa Based on Diagnostic Features of Chinese and Western Medicine
Xiaoyu LI ; Lina LIANG ; Jiefeng CHEN ; Xiaoxiao ZHU ; Yina QI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):198-203
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common hereditary blinding eye disease in clinical practice, with the pathogenesis remaining unclear. Patients experience progressive apoptosis of retinal photoreceptor cells, accompanied by degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Current Western medical treatments mainly focus on gene therapy and stem cell transplantation, showing limited efficacy. In contrast, clinical observations have confirmed the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments. Establishing an RP animal model that aligns with the diagnostic features of both TCM and Western medicine could help combine the strengths of both approaches, thereby broadening the treatment options for RP. This study categorizes and summarizes the existing RP animal models in terms of classification, types, inheritance patterns, and alignment with clinical manifestations. It is found that current RP models are primarily derived from natural animal models such as RD mice and RCS rats, transgenic animal models like RPE-65 knockout mice and rhodopsin gene knockout mice, and chemically induced models such as those created by monochromatic light exposure or N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) administration. These three categories of models focus more on detecting RP-related histopathological, molecular biological, and cellular immunological indicators, but offer limited observation of the overall characteristics of the disease and lack insight into syndrome differentiation. Although RP is a congenital genetic disease, its progression is influenced by acquired factors such as environment, constitution, emotions, and care. Current models do not fully capture the characteristics of this disease. Therefore, establishing an RP animal model based on the diagnostic features of both TCM and Western medicine will have significant implications for future experimental and clinical research.
10.Analysis of Animal Models of Retinal Vein Occlusion Based on Clinical Manifestations of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Xiaoyu LI ; Lina LIANG ; Xiaofeng HAO ; Menglu MIAO ; Mei SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):204-209
ObjectiveRetinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common vascular disease leading to vision loss. Since its pathogenesis remains unclear, current Western medical treatments primarily target complications such as macular edema and neovascularization. The main therapeutic approaches include intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents or corticosteroids, laser photocoagulation, and pars plana vitrectomy. However, these treatments cannot fully reverse disease progression or structural damage. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of RVO, and integrated Chinese and Western medicine approaches may offer better clinical outcomes. This study, based on the clinical manifestations of RVO, systematically reviews the existing literature and evaluates the alignment of current RVO animal models with clinical manifestations. The aim is to identify the characteristics and limitations of existing models and provide recommendations and prospects for developing RVO animal models featuring the combination of disease and syndrome. MethodsDatabases including CNKI, Wanfang Data, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched with the keywords of "retinal vein occlusion" and "animal model". Model characteristics were assessed based on the diagnostic criteria for diseases and syndromes in both TCM and Western medicine. The alignment of each model with clinical manifestations was analyzed and evaluated. ResultsThe available RVO models were primarily established via methods such as laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, diathermy, intravitreal drug injection, and mechanical modeling. These models demonstrated moderate overall alignment with clinical manifestations, mainly reflecting disease characteristics. However, they generally lack representation of TCM syndrome features. ConclusionExisting RVO models are predominantly based on Western medicine and lack TCM syndrome features. Western medical treatments for RVO have certain limitations, while syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM offer potential advantages. Future research should focus on developing disease-syndrome integrated animal models that incorporate both pathological features and TCM syndrome characteristics. This approach will enhance the design of RVO models and facilitate both basic and clinical research, which make it a scientifically valuable and necessary endeavor.

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