Xiaoyuan Chen

Bio: Xiaoyuan Chen is an academic researcher from National University of Singapore. The author has contributed to research in topics: Physics & Photothermal therapy. The author has an hindex of 149, co-authored 994 publications receiving 89870 citations. Previous affiliations of Xiaoyuan Chen include Brown University & University of Southern California.

Ultrasmall c(RGDyK)-Coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles and Their Specific Targeting to Integrin αvβ3-Rich Tumor Cells

Abstract: We report a direct synthesis of ultrasmall c(RGDyK) peptide-coated Fe3O4 NPs (<10 nm in hydrodynamic diameter) and demonstrate their in vivo tumor-specific targeting capability. The Fe3O4 NPs are synthesized by thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl in the presence of 4-methylcatechol (4-MC), and the peptide is coupled to the nanoparticles through 4-MC via Mannich reaction. The c(RGDyK)-MC-Fe3O4 NPs have an overall diameter of ∼8.4 nm and are stable in physiological conditions. When administrated intravenously, these c(RGDyK)-MC-Fe3O4 NPs accumulate preferentially in the integrin αvβ3-rich tumor area, which are readily tracked by MRI.

Dual-Function Probe for PET and Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging of Tumor Vasculature

Abstract: To date, the in vivo imaging of quantum dots (QDs) has been mostly qualitative or semiquantitative. The development of a dual-function PET/near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) probe can allow for accurate assessment of the pharmacokinetics and tumor-targeting efficacy of QDs. Methods: A QD with an amine-functionalized surface was modified with RGD peptides and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodocecane-N,N′,N″,N‴-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelators for integrin αvβ3–targeted PET/NIRF imaging. A cell-binding assay and fluorescence cell staining were performed with U87MG human glioblastoma cells (integrin αvβ3–positive). PET/NIRF imaging, tissue homogenate fluorescence measurement, and immunofluorescence staining were performed with U87MG tumor–bearing mice to quantify the probe uptake in the tumor and major organs. Results: There are about 90 RGD peptides per QD particle, and DOTA–QD–RGD exhibited integrin αvβ3–specific binding in cell cultures. The U87MG tumor uptake of 64Cu-labeled DOTA–QD was less than 1 percentage injected dose per gram (%ID/g), significantly lower than that of 64Cu-labeled DOTA–QD–RGD (2.2 ± 0.3 [mean ± SD] and 4.0 ± 1.0 %ID/g at 5 and 18 h after injection, respectively; n = 3). Taking into account all measurements, the liver-, spleen-, and kidney-to-muscle ratios for 64Cu-labeled DOTA–QD–RGD were about 100:1, 40:1, and 1:1, respectively. On the basis of the PET results, the U87MG tumor-to-muscle ratios for DOTA–QD–RGD and DOTA–QD were about 4:1 and 1:1, respectively. Excellent linear correlation was obtained between the results measured by in vivo PET imaging and those measured by ex vivo NIRF imaging and tissue homogenate fluorescence (r2 = 0.93). Histologic examination revealed that DOTA–QD–RGD targets primarily the tumor vasculature through an RGD–integrin αvβ3 interaction, with little extravasation. Conclusion: We quantitatively evaluated the tumor-targeting efficacy of a dual-function QD-based probe with PET and NIRF imaging. This dual-function probe has significantly reduced potential toxicity and overcomes the tissue penetration limitation of optical imaging, allowing for quantitative targeted imaging in deep tissue.

The EPR effect and beyond: Strategies to improve tumor targeting and cancer nanomedicine treatment efficacy.

Abstract: Following its discovery more than 30 years ago, the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect has become the guiding principle for cancer nanomedicine development. Over the years, the tumor-targeted drug delivery field has made significant progress, as evidenced by the approval of several nanomedicinal anticancer drugs. Recently, however, the existence and the extent of the EPR effect - particularly in patients - have become the focus of intense debate. This is partially due to the disbalance between the huge number of preclinical cancer nanomedicine papers and relatively small number of cancer nanomedicine drug products reaching the market. To move the field forward, we have to improve our understanding of the EPR effect, of its cancer type-specific pathophysiology, of nanomedicine interactions with the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment, of nanomedicine behavior in the body, and of translational aspects that specifically complicate nanomedicinal drug development. In this virtual special issue, 24 research articles and reviews discussing different aspects of the EPR effect and cancer nanomedicine are collected, together providing a comprehensive and complete overview of the current state-of-the-art and future directions in tumor-targeted drug delivery.

Theranostic nanoplatforms for simultaneous cancer imaging and therapy: current approaches and future perspectives

Abstract: Theranostics is a concept which refers to the integration of imaging and therapy. As an evolving new field, it is related to but different from traditional imaging and therapeutics. It embraces multiple techniques to arrive at a comprehensive diagnostic, in vivo molecular images and an individualized treatment regimen. More recently, there is a trend of tangling these efforts with emerging materials and nanotechnologies, in an attempt to develop novel platforms and methodologies to tackle practical issues in clinics. In this article, topics of rationally designed nanoparticles for the simultaneous imaging and therapy of cancer will be discussed. Several exemplary nanoparticle platforms such as polymeric nanoparticles, gold nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes, magnetic nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles will be elaborated on and future challenges of nanoparticle-based systems will be discussed.

Photoacoustic Imaging: Contrast Agents and Their Biomedical Applications.

Abstract: Photoacoustic (PA) imaging as a fast-developing imaging technique has great potential in biomedical and clinical applications. It is a noninvasive imaging modality that depends on the light-absorption coefficient of the imaged tissue and the injected PA-imaging contrast agents. Furthermore, PA imaging provides superb contrast, super spatial resolution, and high penetrability and sensitivity to tissue functional characteristics by detecting the acoustic wave to construct PA images. In recent years, a series of PA-imaging contrast agents are developed to improve the PA-imaging performance in biomedical applications. Here, recent progress of PA contrast agents and their biomedical applications are outlined. PA contrast agents are classified according to their components and function, and gold nanocrystals, gold-nanocrystal assembly, transition-metal chalcogenides/MXene-based nanomaterials, carbon-based nanomaterials, other inorganic imaging agents, small organic molecules, semiconducting polymer nanoparticles, and nonlinear PA-imaging contrast agents are discussed. The applications of PA contrast agents as biosensors (in the sensing of metal ions, pH, enzymes, temperature, hypoxia, reactive oxygen species, and reactive nitrogen species) and in bioimaging (lymph nodes, vasculature, tumors, and brain tissue) are discussed in detail. Finally, an outlook on the future research and investigation of PA-imaging contrast agents and their significance in biomedical research is presented.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

Chemistry and properties of nanocrystals of different shapes.

Abstract: The interest in nanoscale materials stems from the fact that new properties are acquired at this length scale and, equally important, that these properties * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Phone, 404-8940292; fax, 404-894-0294; e-mail, mostafa.el-sayed@ chemistry.gatech.edu. † Case Western Reserve UniversitysMillis 2258. ‡ Phone, 216-368-5918; fax, 216-368-3006; e-mail, burda@case.edu. § Georgia Institute of Technology. 1025 Chem. Rev. 2005, 105, 1025−1102