Xiaoqin Qian

Bio: Xiaoqin Qian is an academic researcher from Jiangsu University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Sonodynamic therapy & Mesoporous organosilica. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 15 publications receiving 878 citations. Previous affiliations of Xiaoqin Qian include Fudan University.

Metalloporphyrin-Encapsulated Biodegradable Nanosystems for Highly Efficient Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Sonodynamic Cancer Therapy

Abstract: Traditional photodynamic therapy (PDT) suffers from the critical issues of low tissue-penetrating depth of light and potential phototoxicity, which are expected to be solved by developing new dynamic therapy-based therapeutic modalities such as sonodynamic therapy (SDT). In this work, we report on the design/fabrication of a high-performance multifunctional nanoparticulate sonosensitizer for efficient in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided SDT against cancer. The developed approach takes the structural and compositional features of mesoporous organosilica-based nanosystems for the fabrication of sonosensitizers with intriguing theranostic performance. The well-defined mesoporosity facilitates the high loading of organic sonosensitizers (protoporphyrin, PpIX) and further chelating of paramagnetic transitional metal Mn ions based on metalloporphyrin chemistry (MnPpIX). The mesoporous structure of large surface area also maximizes the accessibility of water molecules to the encapsulated paramagnetic...

Two-dimensional black phosphorus nanosheets for theranostic nanomedicine

Abstract: The fast progress of theranostic nanomedicine has catalyzed the generation of diverse inorganic nanosystems with intrinsic multifunctionalities for versatile biomedical applications. However, these inorganic biomaterials suffer from the critical issue of low biodegradation rates and subsequently long-term accumulation-induced biosafety risk. Furthermore, the components of some inorganic nanosystems are not the necessary elements/components of the body, unavoidably causing immune response and inducing the toxic potential. The emergence of ultrathin two-dimensional black phosphorus (B.P.) nanosheets as a robust platform promises the clinical translation and biomedical applications of inorganic nanosystems based on their intriguing nature of easy biodegradation and single phosphorus composition, as necessarily required in vivo. This review summarizes and discusses the very recent developments and paradigms of ultrathin B.P. nanosheets in versatile biomedical applications, ranging from design/fabrication strategies, theranostic nanomedicine (PDT/PTT/chemotherapy, synergistic therapy and fluorescence/photoacoustic-based bio-imaging) to biosensing applications. The unique biological behavior and toxicity issue of these B.P. nanosheets are also discussed to guarantee their safe clinical translation. It is highly expected that the elaborately designed/engineered B.P. nanosheets will emerge as one of the most representative biodegradable inorganic nanosystems for versatile and immense biomedical applications to benefit the health of human beings.

Synergistic Sonodynamic/Chemotherapeutic Suppression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeted Biodegradable Mesoporous Nanosonosensitizers

Abstract: A novel multitherapeutic modality based on biodegradable hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles endowed with sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and tumor‐targeting capability is constructed, aiming to enhance the chemotherapeutic efficiency for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This multitherapeutic modality leads to significantly enhanced efficiency of chemotherapy for HCC mediated by ultrasound and causes considerable sonotoxicity, which has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo.

Photothermal therapy and photoacoustic imaging via nanotheranostics in fighting cancer

Abstract: The nonradiative conversion of light energy into heat (photothermal therapy, PTT) or sound energy (photoacoustic imaging, PAI) has been intensively investigated for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer, respectively. By taking advantage of nanocarriers, both imaging and therapeutic functions together with enhanced tumour accumulation have been thoroughly studied to improve the pre-clinical efficiency of PAI and PTT. In this review, we first summarize the development of inorganic and organic nano photothermal transduction agents (PTAs) and strategies for improving the PTT outcomes, including applying appropriate laser dosage, guiding the treatment via imaging techniques, developing PTAs with absorption in the second NIR window, increasing photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), and also increasing the accumulation of PTAs in tumours. Second, we introduce the advantages of combining PTT with other therapies in cancer treatment. Third, the emerging applications of PAI in cancer-related research are exemplified. Finally, the perspectives and challenges of PTT and PAI for combating cancer, especially regarding their clinical translation, are discussed. We believe that PTT and PAI having noteworthy features would become promising next-generation non-invasive cancer theranostic techniques and improve our ability to combat cancers.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Based Nanomedicine.

Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an essential role in regulating various physiological functions of living organisms. The intrinsic biochemical properties of ROS, which underlie the mechanisms ne...

Smart Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Application: Development of Versatile Nanocarrier Platforms in Biotechnology and Nanomedicine

Abstract: The study of nanostructured drug delivery systems allows the development of novel platforms for the efficient transport and controlled release of drug molecules in the harsh microenvironment of diseased tissues of living systems, thus offering a wide range of functional nanoplatforms for smart application in biotechnology and nanomedicine. This article highlights recent advances of smart nanocarriers composed of organic (including polymeric micelles and vesicles, liposomes, dendrimers, and hydrogels) and inorganic (including quantum dots, gold and mesoporous silica nanoparticles) materials. Despite the remarkable developments of recent synthetic methodologies, most of all nanocarriers’ action is associated with a number of unwanted side effects that diminish their efficient use in biotechnology and nanomedicine applications. This highlights some critical issues in the design and engineering of nanocarrier systems for biotechnology applications, arising from the complex environment and multiform interactions established within the specific biological media.

Degradability and Clearance of Silicon, Organosilica, Silsesquioxane, Silica Mixed Oxide, and Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Abstract: The biorelated degradability and clearance of siliceous nanomaterials have been questioned worldwide, since they are crucial prerequisites for the successful translation in clinics. Typically, the degradability and biocompatibility of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been an ongoing discussion in research circles. The reason for such a concern is that approved pharmaceutical products must not accumulate in the human body, to prevent severe and unpredictable side-effects. Here, the biorelated degradability and clearance of silicon and silica nanoparticles (NPs) are comprehensively summarized. The influence of the size, morphology, surface area, pore size, and surface functional groups, to name a few, on the degradability of silicon and silica NPs is described. The noncovalent organic doping of silica and the covalent incorporation of either hydrolytically stable or redox- and enzymatically cleavable silsesquioxanes is then described for organosilica, bridged silsesquioxane (BS), and periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) NPs. Inorganically doped silica particles such as calcium-, iron-, manganese-, and zirconium-doped NPs, also have radically different hydrolytic stabilities. To conclude, the degradability and clearance timelines of various siliceous nanomaterials are compared and it is highlighted that researchers can select a specific nanomaterial in this large family according to the targeted applications and the required clearance kinetics.

Nanoparticle-triggered in situ catalytic chemical reactions for tumour-specific therapy

Abstract: Tumour chemotherapy employs highly cytotoxic chemodrugs, which kill both cancer and normal cells by cellular apoptosis or necrosis non-selectively. Catalysing/triggering the specific chemical reactions only inside tumour tissues can generate abundant and special chemicals and products locally to initiate a series of unique biological and pathologic effects, which may enable tumour-specific theranostic effects to combat cancer without bringing about significant side effects on normal tissues. Nevertheless, chemical reaction-initiated selective tumour therapy strongly depends on the advances in chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology and biomedicine. This emerging cross-disciplinary research area is substantially different from conventional cancer-theranostic modalities in clinics. In response to the fast developments in cancer theranostics based on intratumoural catalytic chemical reactions, this tutorial review summarizes the very-recent research progress in the design and synthesis of representative nanoplatforms with intriguing nanostructures, compositions, physiochemical properties and biological behaviours for versatile catalytic chemical reaction-enabled cancer treatments, mainly by either endogenous tumour microenvironment (TME) triggering or exogenous physical irradiation. These unique intratumoural chemical reactions can be used in tumour-starving therapy, chemodynamic therapy, gas therapy, alleviation of tumour hypoxia, TME-responsive diagnostic imaging and stimuli-responsive drug release, and even externally triggered versatile therapeutics. In particular, the challenges and future developments of such a novel type of cancer-theranostic modality are discussed in detail to understand the future developments and prospects in this research area as far as possible. It is highly expected that this kind of unique tumour-specific therapeutics by triggering specific in situ catalytic chemical reactions inside tumours would provide a novel but efficient methodology for benefiting personalized biomedicine in combating cancer.