Objective To investigate the effect of local injection of curcumin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Cur@MSN) on the repair and treatment of degenerative intervertebral disc tissue in rats, and provide a new strategy for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) and Cur@MSN were prepared according to the method reported in the literature. Rat nucleus pulposus cells were co-cultured with curcumin and Cur@MSN, respectively, and the growth status and activity of cells in normal environment and inflammatory environment (adding lipopolysaccharide) were observed respectively. Twelve 8-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, including normal group, degeneration group, curcumin group, and Cur@MSN group, with 3 rats in each group. Acupuncture degeneration model was established in coccygeal intervertebral discs (Co7-8, Co8-9) of rats, and corresponding intervention were injected. Imaging, gross pathology, and histological examination were performed after 4 weeks, respectively, to observe the tissue structure and pathological changes of intervertebral discs. Results Under scanning electron microscope, Cur@MSN was spherical in shape, with groove-like pores on its surface. Particle size analysis showed that the particle size of MSN was concentrated in 120-160 nm, and that of Cur@MSN was distributed in 130-170 nm. Zeta potential analysis showed that the average Zeta potential of MSN, curcumin, and Cur@MSN was −12.5, −22.5 and −13.5 mV, respectively. The entrapment efficiency of Cur@MSN was 20.4%, and the drug loading rate was 0.2%. Curcumin released by Cur@MSN in 12 h accounted for about 60% of the total drug dose, and curcumin released in 28 h accounted for about 70%. In cell experiment, there was no significant difference in cell proliferation absorbance among the groups in normal environment (P>0.05), but the cell proliferation absorbance in the Cur@MSN group on the 3rd and 5th day in inflammatory environment was significantly higher than that in the control group and the curcumin group (P<0.01). The percentage of disc height index and the Pfirrmann grade of the Cur@MSN group were better than those of the degeneration group and the curcumin group (P<0.01). The histological score of the Cur@MSN group was lower than that of the degeneration group and the curcumin group (P<0.01). Conclusions Cur@MSN can delay the degeneration process of rat coccygeal intervertebral disc, and has certain repair and treatment effects on its degenerated intervertebral disc. Among them, curcumin can delay the degeneration of intervertebral disc by inhibiting inflammation, and the loading of MSN is helpful for curcumin to exert its biological effects.
Objective To explore the effect of carbon nanoparticles dyeing on axillary lymph node dissection in modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer. Methods Eighty-eight patients with breast cancer who received modified radical mastectomy in Mianyang Central Hospital between Mar. 2012 and May. 2013 were recruited in the study, and they were equally divided into areola group and peripheral tumor group. After induction of anesthesia before operation, carbon nanoparticles were injected around the areolar in the areola group, and carbon nanoparticles were injected around the tumor in the peripheral tumor group. The number of dissected lymph nodes(be dyed or not be dyed), metastatic lymph nodes, and black dyed lymph nodes, as well as value of operation related indexes were recorded and compared. Results In the areola group, lymph nodes were detected in 1 453, in which 1 396 lymph nodes were stained black(96.1%); the average number of dissected lymph nodes were 33.0±7.1 per case; and 19 patients (43.2%, in total of 220 metastatic lymph nodes) of them were suffered from lymph node metastasis with the average number of metastatic lymph nodes of 5±2 per case. in addition, in the areola group, operative time were(122.1±10.2) min, blood loss were(83.8±10.1) mL, postoperative hospital stay were(7±1) d, and postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients. In the peripheral tumor group, lymph nodes were detected in 909, in which 594 lymph nodes were stained black (65.3%); the average number of dissected lymph nodes were 20.7±3.2 per case; 20 patients (45.5%, in total of 88 metastatic lymph nodes) of them were suffered from lymph nodes metastasis, with the average number of metastatic lymph nodes of 2±1 per case. In addition, in the peripheral tumor group, operative time were (121.6±11.4) min, blood loss were (84.2±11.3) mL, postoperative hospital stay were (7±2) d, postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients. The black staining rate of lymph nodes, the number of lymph nodes retrieved, and the number of metastatic lymph nodes in areola group were significantly higher than those of peripheral tumor group(P < 0.01). Operative time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complication rate did not significantly differ between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion The dyeing effect of carbon nanoparticles suspension, which was injected at areola area after induction of anesthesia, is better than that of injected around the tumor, without increasing the incidence of complication.
Objective To determine whether lymph node-targeted chemotherapy with carbon nanoparticles absorbing 5-FU affects expressions of bcl-2, bax and caspase-3 in gastric cancer tissues, metastatic lymph nodes and normal gastric mucosa. Methods Twenty-eight patients with gastric cancer in our department were divided into lymph node-targeted chemotherapy (LNTC) group and control group from October 2005 to August 2006. The patients were treated with carbon nanoparticles absorbing 5-FU before operation in LNTC group and those were operated directly in control group. The gastric cancer tissues, metastatic lymph nodes and normal gastric mucosa were collected after operation. The expressions of bcl-2, bax and caspase-3 in those tissues were determined by immunohistochemical technique. Results In LNTC group, the positive expression rate of bcl-2 in gastric cancer tissues and metastatic lymph nodes was significantly lower than those in control group (28.6% vs . 78.6% , 25.0% vs . 70.0% , P ＜ 0.05), the positive expression rate of bax (85.7% vs . 28.6% , 80.0% vs . 30.0% ) and caspase-3 (57.1% vs . 14.3% , 55.0% vs . 15.0% ) in gastric cancer tissues and metastatic lymph nodes was significantly higher than those in control group ( P ＜ 0.05). The positive expression rate of bcl-2, bax and caspase-3 in normal gastric mucosa was not significantly different between two groups ( P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion The lymph node-targeted chemotherapy with carbon nanoparticles absorbing 5-FU can down-regulate the expression of bcl-2 and up-regulate the expression of bax and caspase-3 in gastric cancer tissues and metastatic lymph nodes, and therefore by affecting the expression levels of these apoptosis molecules may be one of the ways to induce tumor cell apoptosis.
The properties of mucus in a person with asthma can alter with disease process so that it may lead to the airway embolism. Fe2O3 nanoparticles can be used for drug delivery. Up till now, however, little is known about how the Fe2O3 nanoparticles influence the properties of airway mucus. In this study, Fe2O3 nanoparticles were dispersed with ultrasound, and the morphological properties were measured with scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope and nanometer laser particle size and zeta potential analyzer. Then the dispersed Fe2O3 nanoparticles were added to the simulated asthma airway mucus with different final concentration (0.03, 0.3, and 0.4 mg/mL). The measurements of flow curve, yield stress, large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) and shock scanning were carried out with a rotational rheometer. Experimental results showed that the Fe2O3 nanoparticles reduced the zero shear viscosity of simulated asthma airway mucus. With increase of shear rate, the wind speed of mucus was reduced. The yield stress of simulated asthma airway mucus was 19.0 Pa, but the yield stresses of experimental group (0.03, 0.3 and 0.4 mg/mL) were 17.0, 0.99, and 0.7 Pa, respectively. The results showed that the viscoelastic modulus of asthma airway mucus treated with Fe2O3 nanoparticles were changed obviously as measured with large amplitude scanning and frequency scanning. By adopting the method of optical phase microscopy, we found that different structures of simulated airway mucus were absorbed. The results showed Fe2O3 nanoparticles distroyed mucus structure. The experimental results proved that Fe2O3 nanoparticles could change the rheological characteristics of simulated asthma airway mucus. This experimental result would lay a foundation for the further development of airway mucus sticky agent based on the function of Fe2O3 nanoparticles.
Objective To observe the inhibitory characteristics of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) on bacterial biofilms and investigate their inhibitory effect on biofilm formation on three common orthopedic biomaterials. Methods The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of AgNP were determined by microplate dilution assay. Biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) were cultured on three orthopedic biomaterials (titanium alloy, titanium oxide, and stainless steel) and intervened with AgNP at concentrations of 32, 16, 8, 4, 2 and 0 μg/mL to determine the MBICs on the three materials. The effects of AgNP on biofilm formation were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and measuring optical density. Results The MIC and MBIC of AgNP in the microplate assay were both 16 µg/mL. The MBICs of AgNP on biofilm formation in titanium oxide, titanium alloy, and stainless steel were 16 μg/mL, 32 μg/mL, and 32 μg/mL, respectively. Among the three materials, the lowest optical density was observed on titanium oxide, while the highest was on titanium alloy. Conclusions AgNP has strong antibacterial biofilm characteristics and can prevent the formation of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm in vitro. Biofilm formation is most pronounced on titanium alloy, least on titanium oxide, and intermediate on stainless steel.
ObjectiveTo explore the application value of carbon nanoparticles during radical operation of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).MethodsThe DTC patients underwent total thyroidectomy plus neck lymph node (area Ⅳ) dissection from September 2017 to September 2019 in this hospital were retrospectively collected, who were divided into observation group and control group according to using carbon nanoparticles or not during the operation. The operation related informations [operation time, intraoperative blood loss, total drainage volume on day 3 after operation, postoperative hospitalization time, number of lymph nodes dissection (area Ⅳ), lymph node metastasis rate, and rate of parathyroid glands resected by mistake during operation] and blood calcium (Ca2+) level and parathyroid hormone (PTH) level before and after (24 h and 1 month) operation were compared between the two groups.ResultsA total of 134 patients with DTC were collected, including 76 patients in the observation group and 58 patients in the control group. There were no significant differences in baseline data such as gender, age, etc. between the two groups (P>0.05). Although there were no significant differences in terms of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, total drainage volume on day 3 after operation, postoperative hospitalization time, lymph node metastasis rate between the two groups (P>0.05), the numbers of lymph node dissection and metastasis (area Ⅳ) were more and rate of parathyroid glands resected by mistake during operation was lower in the observation group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). On hour 24 after operation, the levels of Ca2+ and PTH in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). On month 1 after operation, the PTH level in the observation group was still higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in Ca2+ level between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionCarbon nanoparticles can better protect the function of parathyroid gland during radical operation of DTC and clean neck lymph nodes more thoroughly.
As drug carriers, magnetic nanoparticles can specifically bind to tumors and have the potential for targeted therapy. It is of great significance to explore non-invasive imaging methods that can detect the distribution of magnetic nanoparticles. Based on the mechanism that magnetic nanoparticles can generate ultrasonic waves through the pulsed magnetic field excitation, the sound pressure wave equation containing the concentration information of magnetic nanoparticles was derived. Using the finite element method and the analytical solution, the consistent transient pulsed magnetic field was obtained. A three-dimensional simulation model was constructed for the coupling calculation of electromagnetic field and sound field. The simulation results verified that the sound pressure waveform at the detection point reflected the position of magnetic nanoparticles in biological tissue. Using the sound pressure data detected by the ultrasonic transducer, the B-scan imaging of the magnetic nanoparticles was achieved. The maximum error of the target area position was 1.56%, and the magnetic nanoparticles regions with different concentrations were distinguished by comparing the amplitude of the boundary signals in the image. Studies in this paper indicate that B-scan imaging can quickly and accurately obtain the dimensional and positional information of the target region and is expected to be used for the detection of magnetic nanoparticles in targeted therapy.
Objective To determine the best matching concentration of carbon nanoparticles suspension injection adsorb epirubicin by measuring the combination ratio of carbon nanoparticles suspension injection combined with epirubicin under different matching conditions. And then, to prove the adsorbability of carbon nanoparticles suspension injection adsorb epirubicin in vitro. Methods Firstly, epirubicin-carbon suspension of different concentrations will be prepared. The second, high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry（LC-MS） was used to assay the concentration of free epirubicin, and calculate the content of epirubicin that was combinated with carbon nanoparticles suspension injection. The difference of the ratio of carbon nanoparticles suspension injection combined with epirubicin under different matching conditions will be compared in the end. Results The combination ratio of carbon nanoparticles suspension injection combined with epirubicin solution of 5, 10, and 15 mg/ml were 85.6%, 85.7%, and 31.8%, respectively. Conclusions The adsorbability of carbon nanoparticles suspension injection adsorb epirubicin is favourable in vitro. Best matching concentration of carbon nanoparticles suspension injection adsorb epirubicin may be epirubicin solution of 5-10 mg/ml.
Objective To evaluate the feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping after 99Tcm sulfur colloid (99Tcm-sc) and carbon nanoparticles injection in patients with colon cancer. Methods Forty patients with colon cancer underwent complete mesocolic excision between August 2015 and July 2016 at Qingdao Central Hospital were considered for prospective inclusion. Before resection, SLN mapping was performed with injection of 99Tcm-sc and carbon nanopar-ticles, then all dissected lymph nodes were detected by pathological examination. Results A total of 660 cases of lymph nodes were found in the 40 patients (average of 16.5 cases per patient). Of them, 88 nodes (average of 2.2 cases per patient) were identified as SLN in 36 of 40 patients, with a successful detection rate of 90.0% (36/40). The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and false-negative rate were 87.5% (35/40), 96.2% (25/26), and 3.8% (1/26) respectively. Conclusion 99Tcm-sc and carbon nanoparticles suspension injection for mapping SLN is a feasiblely diagnostic method for predicting local lymph node metastasis in the patient with colon cancer.
Objective To assess the applied significance of carbon nanoparticles in central compartment lymph node dissection in treatment of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods Sixty-eight patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma who were treated in Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College from May. to Oct. in 2012 were randomly allocated to the control group （n=32） and the carbon nanoparticles trace group （tracer group， n=36）， receiving non-carbon nanoparticles trace and carbon nanoparticles trace respectively. All patients were received total resection of thyroid plus the affected side and （or） contralateral side central compartment lymph node dissection. The lymph node-related indexes（including number of dissected lymph node at Ⅵarea and lymph node metastasis rate at Ⅵarea） and operative indexs （including operation time， blood loss， drainage time， complication， and hospital stay） were collected and compared between the 2 groups. Results There were 205 and 324 dissected lymph node at central compartment in control group and tracer group respectively. The results of postoperative pathology showed that the number of lymph node in central compartment of the tracer group was much more than those of control group （8.99±2.24 vs. 6.41±1.56， P＜0.001）. The metastasis rate of central compartment lymph node were 40.6% （13/32） in control group and 47.2% （17/36） in tracer group， but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups （P=0.762）. But in medial area of laryngeal recurrent nerve， the metastasis rate in the tracer group （38.9%， 14/36） was much higher than those of control group （12.5%， 4/32）， P=0.029. There were no significant differences in the operation time， blood loss， drainage time， hospital stay， and complication incidence such as bleeding， temporary hypocalcemia， and injury of superior laryngeal nerve between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. All the patients in 2 groups had followed-up for 6 months without death， recurrence， and metastasis.Conclusions The lymphatic tracer technique of carbon nanoparticles may improve the number of dissected lymph nodes in central region of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma， without increasing （or prolonging） operation time， intraoperative blood loss， and postoperative hospital stay， and can accurately represent the metastasis of lymph node， thus to make the staging of the tumor accurately and guide postoperative treatment.