Aptamers for Addressed Boron Delivery in BNCT: Effect of Boron Cluster Attachment Site on Functional Activity

Review Pharmacology & Pharmacy

Transferrin Receptor-Targeted Nanocarriers: Overcoming Barriers to Treat Glioblastoma

Maria Joao Ramalho et al.

Summary: This review provides an overview and discussion on the recent advances concerning the strategies to target the transferrin receptor in the treatment of GBM, as well as their benefits and limitations.

PHARMACEUTICS (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Medicinal

Hybrid Membrane-Derived Nanoparticles for Isoliquiritin Enhanced Glioma Therapy

Wenwan Shi et al.

Summary: Due to the obstruction and heterogeneity of the blood-brain barrier, the clinical treatment of glioma has been extremely difficult. In this study, researchers established a nanoscale hybrid membrane-derived system composed of erythrocytes and tumor cells, aiming to enhance the solubility and targeting of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) for glioma therapy. The results showed that the hybrid membrane-derived nanoparticles significantly increased the solubility and antitumor effect of ISL, and further investigations revealed the mechanism of action of the ISL-loaded nanoparticles on tumor cells.

PHARMACEUTICALS (2022)

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Review Oncology

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: Clinical Application and Research Progress

Xiang Cheng et al.

Summary: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an effective binary modality for treating malignancies. It has been used in various cancer types, but there are still challenges that need to be addressed through further research and improvement.

CURRENT ONCOLOGY (2022)

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Review Oncology

The basis and advances in clinical application of boron neutron capture therapy

Huifang He et al.

Summary: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a potentially useful tool for cancer treatment that selectively damages cancer cells while sparing normal tissue. Effective BNCT requires a large number of B-10 atoms to be localized within tumor cells and an adequate number of thermal neutrons to be absorbed for lethal reactions to occur. Improvements in boron delivery and dosing paradigms remain essential for optimizing BNCT effectiveness.

RADIATION ONCOLOGY (2021)

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Review Oncology

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: A Review of Clinical Applications

Timothy D. Malouff et al.

Summary: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an emerging treatment modality that utilizes boron-10 to target tumors and has shown promising results in various cancer types in clinical studies.

FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY (2021)

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Article Oncology

Designation Products: Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for Head and Neck Carcinoma

Hitoshi Kanno et al.

Summary: The Japanese Ministry of Health approved a drug called borofalan (B-10) for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) in March 2020. The drug demonstrated significant efficacy in an open-label, uncontrolled trial for patients with unresectable head and neck cancer. The study emphasized the importance of monitoring and precautions for potential side effects when applying BNCT to patients.

ONCOLOGIST (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Ultraviolet light-induced collagen degradation inhibits melanoma invasion

Timothy Budden et al.

Summary: Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) damages dermal fibroblasts, leading to reduced melanoma invasion; aged primary melanomas in skin with degraded collagen have a better prognosis; while new collagen synthesis restores melanoma invasion and leads to worsened outcome.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

PHC1 maintains pluripotency by organizing genome-wide chromatin interactions of the Nanog locus

Li Chen et al.

Summary: The study reveals that Phc1 can stabilize pluripotency by independently activating Nanog transcription in pluripotency maintenance, apart from its canonical function in PRC1. Phc1 interacts with Nanog to stabilize genome-wide chromatin interactions of the Nanog locus for transcriptional activation. This finding adds to the understanding of PcG proteins' role in maintaining pluripotency.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Article Biology

Neutron Source Based on Vacuum Insulated Tandem Accelerator and Lithium Target

Sergey Taskaev et al.

Summary: A compact neutron source has been proposed and created at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics in Novosibirsk, Russia, capable of producing high neutron flux for boron neutron capture therapy. Several scientific research activities, including BNCT technique testing and dosimetry method development, have been conducted at the facility. Future plans include certification of the neutron source and clinical trials, with the prototype serving as a basis for a facility in Xiamen (China).

BIOLOGY-BASEL (2021)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Tumor Cell-Specific 2′-Fluoro RNA Aptamer Conjugated with Closo-Dodecaborate as A Potential Agent for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Mariya A. Vorobyeva et al.

Summary: The study successfully demonstrated the use of a 2'-F-RNA aptamer specific to human glioblastoma cells as a boron delivery agent for BNCT, resulting in effective reduction of cell viability. This proof of principle highlights the potential of aptamers for targeted delivery of boron-10 isotopes in BNCT, paving the way for the engineering of novel BNCT agents with high specificity and low toxicity.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES (2021)

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Review Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology

Aptamers: Cutting edge of cancer therapies

Sarah Shigdar et al.

Summary: The development of aptamer-based therapeutics has rapidly progressed, with eleven aptamers entering clinical trials for various therapeutic indications. Despite some success in pre-clinical and clinical studies, no aptamer has been FDA-approved for cancer treatment. Recent research focuses on enhancing anti-cancer immunity, targeting hard-to-treat cancers, and developing carrier aptamers for delivering RNA therapeutics.

MOLECULAR THERAPY (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Human cytomegalovirus-induced host protein citrullination is crucial for viral replication

Gloria Griffante et al.

Summary: Citrullination as a posttranslational modification plays a crucial role in HCMV infection, promoting viral entry and impairing the RNA binding ability of citrullinated IFIT1 as a mechanism of evasion.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Review Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Development of Novel Therapeutics Targeting the Blood-Brain Barrier: From Barrier to Carrier

Jia Li et al.

Summary: The blood-brain barrier is a crucial neurovascular unit that prevents harmful substances from entering the brain and maintains normal neuronal function. Disruption of BBB in diseases can contribute to disease progression, while restoration of BBB integrity is a biomarker for better clinical outcomes. The BBB also plays a role in facilitating communication between neuronal and circulatory systems, showing promising results for brain-targeted drug delivery.

ADVANCED SCIENCE (2021)

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Review Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear