The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria and easy recurrence has been challenging in the clinical treatment of skin abscesses resulting from bacterial infections (e.g., by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)). Herein, an antibacterial nanoagent capable of modulating the abscess microenvironment is designed to enhance photodynamic treatment of skin abscesses, and subsequently activate the immune system to effectively prevent abscess recurrence. In the system, manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO2 NPs) with high catalytic reactivity toward H2 O2 are modified with photosensitizer chlorine e6 (Ce6) and coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The obtained Ce6@MnO2 -PEG NPs, by triggering the decomposition of lesion endogenous H2 O2 , are able to effectively relieve the hypoxic abscess microenvironment during S. aureus infection. The light-triggered photodynamic bacterial killing effect could thus be remarkably enhanced, resulting in effective in vivo therapy of S. aureus-induced skin abscesses. Interestingly, a notable pathogen-specific immunological memory effect against future infection by the same species of bacteria is elicited after such treatment, owing to the release of bacterial antigens post photodynamic therapy (PDT) together with the adjuvant-like function of manganese ions to activate the host immune system. This work thus presents a new type of photodynamic nanoagent particularly promising for highly effective light-triggered abscess treatment and prevention of abscess recurrence.

Photosensitizer‐Modified MnO 2 Nanoparticles to Enhance Photodynamic Treatment of Abscesses and Boost Immune Protection for Treated Mice

Increasing evidence has revealed that the initiation and progression of breast cancer are greatly affected by the immune environment. Neutrophils are the most abundant leucocytes in circulation and act as the spearhead in inflammation, including in breast cancer. Circulating neutrophils are closely related to the prognosis of breast cancer patients, and tumor-infiltrating neutrophils have varied functions at different stages of breast cancer, such as antitumor or tumor-promoting neutrophils, which are termed N1 and N2 neutrophils, respectively. In this review, we will discuss the utility of circulating neutrophils for predicting prognosis and therapeutic efficacy and the underlying mechanisms of their chemotaxis, the dynamic regulation of their antitumor or protumor functions and their different spatial distributions in tumor microenvironment. Finally, we also discuss the possibility of targeting neutrophils as a therapeutic strategy in breast cancer.

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A Rosetta Stone for Breast Cancer: Prognostic Value and Dynamic Regulation of Neutrophil in Tumor Microenvironment.

Coenzyme Q10 attenuates inflammation and fibrosis implicated in radiation enteropathy through suppression of NF-kB/TGF-β/MMP-9 pathways.

Effects of radiation and role of plants in radioprotection: A critical review.

3,3′-Diselenodipropionic acid (DSePA): A redox active multifunctional molecule of biological relevance

Oral administration of 3,3'-diselenodipropionic acid prevents thoracic radiation induced pneumonitis in mice by suppressing NF-kB/IL-17/G-CSF/neutrophil axis.

S. Epari

Papers

Oral administration of 3,3'-diselenodipropionic acid prevents thoracic radiation induced pneumonitis in mice by suppressing NF-kB/IL-17/G-CSF/neutrophil axis.