Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-18DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103007
Junning Zhao , Chunying Chen , Hua Hua , Shuangfei Cai , Quanmei Sun , Qiang Zhang , Jiandong Jiang , Mingjing Cao , Yanling Ai , Jin Zeng , Dongying Li
<div><div>Currently, global innovative drug research and development (R&D) aims to integrate phenotypic drug discovery (PDD) and target-based drug discovery (TDD) to accelerate innovation, with increasing focus on multi-target drug design (MTDD) and its critical role in regulating dynamic disease network systems. However, the high investment and high failure rates in new drug development, as encapsulated by “Eroom’s law”, revealed a significant translational research gap in the existing drug R&D process: from simplifying complex human systems into investigable models (the reductionist approach) to ultimately validating efficacy in the context of complex human systems (the systems approach). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas, as a personalized form of combination therapy used clinically for over 3000 years, fulfill the need for systemic disease regulation through multi-herb combinations, multi-component actions, multi-target engagement, and network-based modulation mechanisms. Their demonstrated clinical value in treating complex diseases, chronic conditions, and emerging infectious diseases has garnered significant attention. Formula-derived nanoparticles of TCM (FDN), from TCM prescriptions or their component drugs, include carrier-free self-assembled nano-aggregates such as TCM exosomes (TCM-Exo), TCM decoctosomes (TCM-Deco), TCM pillosome (TCM-Pillo), TCM carbon quantum dots (TCM-CDs), and TCM bencaosomes (TCM-Benc). At the nanoscale, these aggregates acquire novel physical, chemical, and biological properties, making them an ideal modality or carrier for delivering the complex bioactive components of TCM. They enhance bioavailability, improve drug targeting, reduce toxicity, and thereby enable the delivery and cross-boundary regulation of the full or multiple bioactive components of TCM formulas. The unique synergistic effect of FDN, characterized by the multi-scale hierarchical association of “complex component combination-micro/nanostructure-multi-target functional regulation”, constitutes a systematic response mechanism featuring “multi-layer regulation-therapeutic efficacy integration-moderate modulation” in the interaction between drugs and disease network. This mechanism enables multi-level, three-dimensional targeting modulation of the dynamic networks underlying complex diseases—from low-order to high-order levels—spanning “points (key targets), lines (signaling pathways), planes (hub nodes), to volume (disease network)”, thereby exerting synergistic therapeutic effects through multi-component and multi-target actions. The formula-derived nanoparticles drug discovery (FDD) paradigm proposed in this paper represents a novel drug discovery approach tailored for complex diseases. It integrates the wisdom of TCM formula composition based on the “Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi” principle, the discovery of carrier-free self-assembled formula nanoparticles, and innovative strategies for developing advanced multi-target therapeutics. By c
{"title":"From single-target to multi-target drugs: The significance of formula-derived nanoparticle drug discovery (FDD) as a novel paradigm for complex disease therapy","authors":"Junning Zhao , Chunying Chen , Hua Hua , Shuangfei Cai , Quanmei Sun , Qiang Zhang , Jiandong Jiang , Mingjing Cao , Yanling Ai , Jin Zeng , Dongying Li","doi":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Currently, global innovative drug research and development (R&D) aims to integrate phenotypic drug discovery (PDD) and target-based drug discovery (TDD) to accelerate innovation, with increasing focus on multi-target drug design (MTDD) and its critical role in regulating dynamic disease network systems. However, the high investment and high failure rates in new drug development, as encapsulated by “Eroom’s law”, revealed a significant translational research gap in the existing drug R&D process: from simplifying complex human systems into investigable models (the reductionist approach) to ultimately validating efficacy in the context of complex human systems (the systems approach). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas, as a personalized form of combination therapy used clinically for over 3000 years, fulfill the need for systemic disease regulation through multi-herb combinations, multi-component actions, multi-target engagement, and network-based modulation mechanisms. Their demonstrated clinical value in treating complex diseases, chronic conditions, and emerging infectious diseases has garnered significant attention. Formula-derived nanoparticles of TCM (FDN), from TCM prescriptions or their component drugs, include carrier-free self-assembled nano-aggregates such as TCM exosomes (TCM-Exo), TCM decoctosomes (TCM-Deco), TCM pillosome (TCM-Pillo), TCM carbon quantum dots (TCM-CDs), and TCM bencaosomes (TCM-Benc). At the nanoscale, these aggregates acquire novel physical, chemical, and biological properties, making them an ideal modality or carrier for delivering the complex bioactive components of TCM. They enhance bioavailability, improve drug targeting, reduce toxicity, and thereby enable the delivery and cross-boundary regulation of the full or multiple bioactive components of TCM formulas. The unique synergistic effect of FDN, characterized by the multi-scale hierarchical association of “complex component combination-micro/nanostructure-multi-target functional regulation”, constitutes a systematic response mechanism featuring “multi-layer regulation-therapeutic efficacy integration-moderate modulation” in the interaction between drugs and disease network. This mechanism enables multi-level, three-dimensional targeting modulation of the dynamic networks underlying complex diseases—from low-order to high-order levels—spanning “points (key targets), lines (signaling pathways), planes (hub nodes), to volume (disease network)”, thereby exerting synergistic therapeutic effects through multi-component and multi-target actions. The formula-derived nanoparticles drug discovery (FDD) paradigm proposed in this paper represents a novel drug discovery approach tailored for complex diseases. It integrates the wisdom of TCM formula composition based on the “Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi” principle, the discovery of carrier-free self-assembled formula nanoparticles, and innovative strategies for developing advanced multi-target therapeutics. By c","PeriodicalId":395,"journal":{"name":"Nano Today","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 103007"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-23DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103011
Changhui Fu , Guangyi Tian , Shaojun He , Yuxuan He , Huayang Zhang , Zhiguang Guo
Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) has become one of the promising methods to extract water from the air in arid regions because of its high efficiency and low energy consumption. Among them hygroscopic salt-based hydrogels are attractive materials for SAWH due to their relatively high water uptake and structural adjustability. However, their mass transfer properties limit water vapor transport resulting in slow sorption kinetics. How to maximize the water uptake of materials has recently become one of the main goals shared by researchers. Here, we report a novel strategy for the preparation of super swelling macroporous topological network hydrogels (PCP/PAMPS-C-LiCl) by pre-ionic shielding (PIS), which combines the dual performance of improving the sorption kinetics and stability of conventional hydrogels. It has an excellent water uptake of 0.53 g g−1 - 1.72 g g−1 within 12 h in an arid environment with low relative humidity RH of 15 % −60 %, whereas a water uptake up to 4 g g−1 can be rapidly obtained within 2 h at 90 % RH. In addition, we explored the adsorption, swelling and shrinkage kinetics in detail to illustrate the mechanism. We additionally integrated a hybrid photothermal and electrothermal desorption system using solar photovoltaic panels, which enables efficient desorption in all-weather without additional power input. Finally, the adsorbent was also shown to be useful for feeding plants in a semi-closed system. The water in the hydrogel is released under sunlight for plant growth for 19 days, enabling the recycling of atmospheric water. This strategy can be scaled up to a new generation of crop greenhouses or small-scale pot culture at home, providing new insights into the transformation of sustainable agriculture in arid regions.
基于吸附的大气集水技术以其高效、低能耗的优点，已成为干旱区极具发展前景的大气集水技术之一。其中吸湿性盐基水凝胶因其相对较高的吸水性和结构可调节性而成为具有吸引力的材料。然而，它们的传质特性限制了水蒸气的传输，导致吸附动力学缓慢。如何最大限度地提高材料的吸水性已成为近年来研究人员共同的主要目标之一。本文报道了一种利用预离子屏蔽（PIS）制备超膨胀大孔拓扑网络水凝胶（PCP/PAMPS-C-LiCl）的新策略，该策略结合了提高常规水凝胶吸附动力学和稳定性的双重性能。它有一个出色的水吸收0.53 g g−1 - 1.72 g在12 g−1 h在干旱环境中较低的相对湿度15 RH %−60 %,而水吸收多达4 g g−1可以迅速获得在2 h 90 % RH。此外，我们还详细探讨了吸附、膨胀和收缩动力学，以说明机理。此外，我们还集成了一个使用太阳能光伏板的光热和电热混合解吸系统，该系统可以在全天候情况下有效解吸，而无需额外的电力输入。最后，吸附剂也被证明是有用的饲料植物在一个半封闭的系统。水凝胶中的水在阳光下释放，供植物生长19天，实现大气水的循环利用。这一策略可以扩大到新一代作物温室或家庭小规模盆栽，为干旱地区可持续农业的转型提供新的见解。
{"title":"Pre-ionic shielding constructed super-swelling stabilized hydrogels for atmospheric water harvesting and sustainable water management in agriculture","authors":"Changhui Fu , Guangyi Tian , Shaojun He , Yuxuan He , Huayang Zhang , Zhiguang Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) has become one of the promising methods to extract water from the air in arid regions because of its high efficiency and low energy consumption. Among them hygroscopic salt-based hydrogels are attractive materials for SAWH due to their relatively high water uptake and structural adjustability. However, their mass transfer properties limit water vapor transport resulting in slow sorption kinetics. How to maximize the water uptake of materials has recently become one of the main goals shared by researchers. Here, we report a novel strategy for the preparation of super swelling macroporous topological network hydrogels (PCP/PAMPS-C-LiCl) by pre-ionic shielding (PIS), which combines the dual performance of improving the sorption kinetics and stability of conventional hydrogels. It has an excellent water uptake of 0.53 g g<sup>−1</sup> - 1.72 g g<sup>−1</sup> within 12 h in an arid environment with low relative humidity RH of 15 % −60 %, whereas a water uptake up to 4 g g<sup>−1</sup> can be rapidly obtained within 2 h at 90 % RH. In addition, we explored the adsorption, swelling and shrinkage kinetics in detail to illustrate the mechanism. We additionally integrated a hybrid photothermal and electrothermal desorption system using solar photovoltaic panels, which enables efficient desorption in all-weather without additional power input. Finally, the adsorbent was also shown to be useful for feeding plants in a semi-closed system. The water in the hydrogel is released under sunlight for plant growth for 19 days, enabling the recycling of atmospheric water. This strategy can be scaled up to a new generation of crop greenhouses or small-scale pot culture at home, providing new insights into the transformation of sustainable agriculture in arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":395,"journal":{"name":"Nano Today","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 103011"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.102997
Hao Jiang , Xin Wang , Xianzhou Cai , Jinqiao Zhang , Fangong Kong , Qin Fan , Ziliang Dong
Tumor acidosis and adenosine (ADO) accumulation are key metabolic aberrations that drive T cell exhaustion, suppress cytotoxicity, and confer radioresistance, posing a major obstacle for solid tumor therapy. To address this, we designed pH-responsive layered double hydroxide nanosheets loaded with the CD73 inhibitor PSB-12379 (denoted as LDH@PSB) for concurrent acidosis neutralization and ADO blockade. The nanosheets rapidly degraded under mildly acidic conditions (pH ∼6.5), elevating extracellular pH and releasing PSB-12379 to inhibit radiation-induced CD73 upregulation and ADO production. This dual intervention restored T cell function by increasing cytotoxic mediator expression (e.g., IFN-γ, granzyme B) and reducing exhaustion markers (e.g., PD-1, TIGIT). Meanwhile, Mn2⁺ ions released from LDH@PSB activated the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway, synergizing with radiotherapy-induced immunogenic cell death to boost antitumor immunity. In murine B16F10 melanoma and CT26 colon carcinoma models, LDH@PSB with radiotherapy markedly inhibited tumor growth, prolonged survival, and increased tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells with enhanced cytotoxicity. Combination with anti-PD-1 therapy further induced systemic immunity to eradicate distant tumors. This strategy simultaneously alleviates tumor acidosis, disrupts ADO-mediated immunosuppression, and activates cGAS-STING signaling, offering a potent approach to enhance radioimmunotherapy.
{"title":"Dual metabolic restructuring against tumor acidosis and adenosine potentiates radioimmunotherapy via reinvigoration of CD8+ T lymphocytes","authors":"Hao Jiang , Xin Wang , Xianzhou Cai , Jinqiao Zhang , Fangong Kong , Qin Fan , Ziliang Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.102997","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.102997","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tumor acidosis and adenosine (ADO) accumulation are key metabolic aberrations that drive T cell exhaustion, suppress cytotoxicity, and confer radioresistance, posing a major obstacle for solid tumor therapy. To address this, we designed pH-responsive layered double hydroxide nanosheets loaded with the CD73 inhibitor PSB-12379 (denoted as LDH@PSB) for concurrent acidosis neutralization and ADO blockade. The nanosheets rapidly degraded under mildly acidic conditions (pH ∼6.5), elevating extracellular pH and releasing PSB-12379 to inhibit radiation-induced CD73 upregulation and ADO production. This dual intervention restored T cell function by increasing cytotoxic mediator expression (e.g., IFN-γ, granzyme B) and reducing exhaustion markers (e.g., PD-1, TIGIT). Meanwhile, Mn<sup>2</sup>⁺ ions released from LDH@PSB activated the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway, synergizing with radiotherapy-induced immunogenic cell death to boost antitumor immunity. In murine B16F10 melanoma and CT26 colon carcinoma models, LDH@PSB with radiotherapy markedly inhibited tumor growth, prolonged survival, and increased tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells with enhanced cytotoxicity. Combination with anti-PD-1 therapy further induced systemic immunity to eradicate distant tumors. This strategy simultaneously alleviates tumor acidosis, disrupts ADO-mediated immunosuppression, and activates cGAS-STING signaling, offering a potent approach to enhance radioimmunotherapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":395,"journal":{"name":"Nano Today","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 102997"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-26DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103009
Ling Du , Duohuo Shu , Jianggui Shan , Guoqing Tang , Yongming Han , Xiaojing Chen , Yuexia Xie , Xue Zhao , Hanbing Zou , Peipei Zhao , Bin Gu , Qianyun Tang , Peifeng Liu
Conventional nanocarriers with fixed physicochemical properties struggle to simultaneously address the conflicting demands of tumor tissue targeting, cellular uptake, and organelle-specific delivery. To overcome this limitation, we developed an intelligent nanomedicine, designated Ca-pHis-DNA, through coordination-driven self-assembly of polyhistidine (pHis)-modified DNA with calcium ions (Ca²⁺). Under ultrasound (US) irradiation, Ca-pHis-DNA undergoes a controllable morphological transition from spherical nanoparticles to elongated fibrous assemblies. Additionally, in the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME), protonation of the histidine residues induces a shift toward positive surface charge, further enhancing cellular internalization and endo/lysosomal escape. The synergistic effects of these stimuli prolong tumor retention, enhance cellular uptake, promote endosomal escape, and enable mitochondria targeting, thereby achieving cascade drug delivery. Furthermore, US stimulation induces calcium overload and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, synergistically enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This dual pH/US-responsive deformable nanomedicine provides a potent and safe strategy for solid tumor therapy.
{"title":"Ultrasound-triggered transformable DNA nanomedicine improves cascade delivery for enhanced antitumor efficacy","authors":"Ling Du , Duohuo Shu , Jianggui Shan , Guoqing Tang , Yongming Han , Xiaojing Chen , Yuexia Xie , Xue Zhao , Hanbing Zou , Peipei Zhao , Bin Gu , Qianyun Tang , Peifeng Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional nanocarriers with fixed physicochemical properties struggle to simultaneously address the conflicting demands of tumor tissue targeting, cellular uptake, and organelle-specific delivery. To overcome this limitation, we developed an intelligent nanomedicine, designated Ca-pHis-DNA, through coordination-driven self-assembly of polyhistidine (pHis)-modified DNA with calcium ions (Ca²⁺). Under ultrasound (US) irradiation, Ca-pHis-DNA undergoes a controllable morphological transition from spherical nanoparticles to elongated fibrous assemblies. Additionally, in the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME), protonation of the histidine residues induces a shift toward positive surface charge, further enhancing cellular internalization and endo/lysosomal escape. The synergistic effects of these stimuli prolong tumor retention, enhance cellular uptake, promote endosomal escape, and enable mitochondria targeting, thereby achieving cascade drug delivery. Furthermore, US stimulation induces calcium overload and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, synergistically enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This dual pH/US-responsive deformable nanomedicine provides a potent and safe strategy for solid tumor therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":395,"journal":{"name":"Nano Today","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 103009"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103005
Siyu Zhou , Xiaowen Wang , Jiangling Zhu , Jingcun Zheng , Xinran Song , Bingcang Huang , Yu Chen
Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury poses a significant clinical challenge in cardiovascular medicine, cerebrovascular disorders, and organ transplantation. Central to its pathology are mitochondrial dysfunction and aberrant mitophagy. Evidence indicates that moderate activation of mitophagy facilitates the clearance of damaged mitochondria and attenuates oxidative stress, thereby conferring neuroprotection and ameliorating injury in organs such as the brain. However, excessive or insufficient mitophagy activation, as well as autophagy dysregulation, may result in secondary injury, rendering precise mitophagy control a pivotal goal in current research. The advent of nanomedicine has provided new strategies by designing intelligent nanoplatforms that exploit the I/R microenvironment to trigger targeted drug release, achieve mitochondrial delivery, and regulate autophagy activity. In addition, mitophagy probes have enabled real-time monitoring, allowing accurate determination of the optimal timing and dosage for mitophagy intervention. This review systematically outlines the pathological mechanisms through which mitophagy contributes to I/R injury, surveys recent advances in mitophagy research across multiple organ systems, and highlights innovative nanomedicine-based strategies for therapeutic intervention. Looking forward, we emphasize the need to achieve spatiotemporally precise modulation of mitophagy, develop targeted therapeutics, and implement integrated nanotheranostic systems. These efforts are critical to advancing individualized and precision medicine approaches for I/R injury.
{"title":"Nanomedicine as core enablers: Mechanisms of mitophagy and theranostic strategies in ischemia-reperfusion injury","authors":"Siyu Zhou , Xiaowen Wang , Jiangling Zhu , Jingcun Zheng , Xinran Song , Bingcang Huang , Yu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury poses a significant clinical challenge in cardiovascular medicine, cerebrovascular disorders, and organ transplantation. Central to its pathology are mitochondrial dysfunction and aberrant mitophagy. Evidence indicates that moderate activation of mitophagy facilitates the clearance of damaged mitochondria and attenuates oxidative stress, thereby conferring neuroprotection and ameliorating injury in organs such as the brain. However, excessive or insufficient mitophagy activation, as well as autophagy dysregulation, may result in secondary injury, rendering precise mitophagy control a pivotal goal in current research. The advent of nanomedicine has provided new strategies by designing intelligent nanoplatforms that exploit the I/R microenvironment to trigger targeted drug release, achieve mitochondrial delivery, and regulate autophagy activity. In addition, mitophagy probes have enabled real-time monitoring, allowing accurate determination of the optimal timing and dosage for mitophagy intervention. This review systematically outlines the pathological mechanisms through which mitophagy contributes to I/R injury, surveys recent advances in mitophagy research across multiple organ systems, and highlights innovative nanomedicine-based strategies for therapeutic intervention. Looking forward, we emphasize the need to achieve spatiotemporally precise modulation of mitophagy, develop targeted therapeutics, and implement integrated nanotheranostic systems. These efforts are critical to advancing individualized and precision medicine approaches for I/R injury.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":395,"journal":{"name":"Nano Today","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 103005"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103003
Thi Linh Chi Tran , Lingxue Kong , Wenrong Yang , David Cahill
Enhancing photosynthesis, a fundamental process to convert light energy into chemical energy, is a frontier approach to increasing crop productivity. In recent years, nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as promising tools to modulate photosynthetic performance, yet the mechanistic pathways connecting NP-plant interactions to photosynthetic responses remain unclear. Here, we provide an integrated synthesis of recent research on the impacts of NPs on photosynthesis from subcellular to whole plant level, an across-scale perspective that has been less systematically addressed in prior reviews. The effects of most investigated non-organic NP classes, including carbon-based such as carbon dots and carbon nanotubes and metal-based NPs such as SiO2, MoO3, ZnO, and Ag NPs are examined. Across both crop species such as lettuce and rice and model plants such as Arabidopsis and tobacco, we compare reported optimal concentrations (typically 10–100 mg/L) and emphasize the importance of appropriate controls, including untreated plants, bulk-material and ionic counterparts. Notably, this review delves into how NPs can enhance photosynthesis through both direct and indirect mechanism. It involves deeper consideration of how NPs influence light harvesting and photoconversion, excitation-energy regulation, electron transport, and thereby downstream impacts on CO2 assimilation and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. Common methods used to evaluate photosynthetic performance following NP treatments, as well as the relationship between NP uptake and their effects on photosynthesis, were also critically assessed. Overall, this review highlights how NP application and the rational design of targeted NP-based systems could improve photosynthesis and, in turn, enhance crop productivity and resilience under a changing climate.
{"title":"Nanoparticle-enabled enhancement of plant photosynthesis: Mechanisms and applications","authors":"Thi Linh Chi Tran , Lingxue Kong , Wenrong Yang , David Cahill","doi":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enhancing photosynthesis, a fundamental process to convert light energy into chemical energy, is a frontier approach to increasing crop productivity. In recent years, nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as promising tools to modulate photosynthetic performance, yet the mechanistic pathways connecting NP-plant interactions to photosynthetic responses remain unclear. Here, we provide an integrated synthesis of recent research on the impacts of NPs on photosynthesis from subcellular to whole plant level, an across-scale perspective that has been less systematically addressed in prior reviews. The effects of most investigated non-organic NP classes, including carbon-based such as carbon dots and carbon nanotubes and metal-based NPs such as SiO<sub>2</sub>, MoO<sub>3</sub>, ZnO, and Ag NPs are examined. Across both crop species such as lettuce and rice and model plants such as Arabidopsis and tobacco, we compare reported optimal concentrations (typically 10–100 mg/L) and emphasize the importance of appropriate controls, including untreated plants, bulk-material and ionic counterparts. Notably, this review delves into how NPs can enhance photosynthesis through both direct and indirect mechanism. It involves deeper consideration of how NPs influence light harvesting and photoconversion, excitation-energy regulation, electron transport, and thereby downstream impacts on CO<sub>2</sub> assimilation and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. Common methods used to evaluate photosynthetic performance following NP treatments, as well as the relationship between NP uptake and their effects on photosynthesis, were also critically assessed. Overall, this review highlights how NP application and the rational design of targeted NP-based systems could improve photosynthesis and, in turn, enhance crop productivity and resilience under a changing climate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":395,"journal":{"name":"Nano Today","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 103003"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.102999
Limin Yang , Qian Gao , Xiangyu Meng , Ting Hou , Panpan Gai , Juewen Liu , Feng Li
Despite progress in reconfiguring DNA nanostructures for bioimaging, spatiotemporally controlled amplified RNA imaging remains challenging. In this work, we present a NIR light-activated, DNA-based hybrid nanodevice for spatiotemporally amplified imaging of multiple RNA species. This hybrid platform is constructed through engineering of photoactivatable catalytic hairpin assembly functional units integrated to a DNA tetrahedron, and further combination with upconversion nanoparticles that can convert NIR to UV light. The resulting nanosystem enables multiple RNAs imaging with improved detection sensitivity and biostability, and high spatiotemporal precision upon NIR light control. We further demonstrate the utility of this nanodevice for monitoring the fluctuation in microRNA-221 (miR-221) and PTEN mRNA levels induced by therapeutics, thereby providing insights into the abnormal activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway. This advancement offers a promising strategy for controllable regulation of DNA nanodevices for diverse biomedical applications.
{"title":"Engineering hybrid nanodevices composed of DNA tetrahedrons and upconversion nanoparticles for spatiotemporally controlled imaging of multiple RNAs","authors":"Limin Yang , Qian Gao , Xiangyu Meng , Ting Hou , Panpan Gai , Juewen Liu , Feng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.102999","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.102999","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite progress in reconfiguring DNA nanostructures for bioimaging, spatiotemporally controlled amplified RNA imaging remains challenging. In this work, we present a NIR light-activated, DNA-based hybrid nanodevice for spatiotemporally amplified imaging of multiple RNA species. This hybrid platform is constructed through engineering of photoactivatable catalytic hairpin assembly functional units integrated to a DNA tetrahedron, and further combination with upconversion nanoparticles that can convert NIR to UV light. The resulting nanosystem enables multiple RNAs imaging with improved detection sensitivity and biostability, and high spatiotemporal precision upon NIR light control. We further demonstrate the utility of this nanodevice for monitoring the fluctuation in microRNA-221 (miR-221) and PTEN mRNA levels induced by therapeutics, thereby providing insights into the abnormal activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway. This advancement offers a promising strategy for controllable regulation of DNA nanodevices for diverse biomedical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":395,"journal":{"name":"Nano Today","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 102999"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103000
Yujie Qi , Hailang Dai , Yi Lai , Haojian Qiu , Yilin Huang , Ru Dan , Nan Zhang , You Wang , Xianfeng Chen
In traditional photothermal therapy (PTT), the collateral damage to surrounding normal tissues caused by strong laser radiation, and the cellular anti-apoptosis and cytoprotection mechanisms of cancer cells in mild hyperthermia PTT, severely limit the therapeutic efficacy of tumor treatment. Here, we present a targeted folic acid-modified Au-Ag nanoparticle-nanowire construct (FA-Au-Ag NPs-NW) that specifically targets and binds to the folate receptor-overexpressing membranes of cancer cells. This construct enables efficient high-density nanoscale photothermal conversion under mild conventional LED irradiation, a property derived from the enhanced local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of the bimetallic Au-Ag heterostructure. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that the construct avoids collateral damage to normal tissues, effectively inhibits the cellular anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective pathways, and induces tumor cell apoptosis through light-matter interactions, without the need for therapeutic drugs. This work offers a promising strategy for tumor treatment and broadens the application of LED-induced mild-temperature PTT for disease management.
{"title":"LED light inhibits malignant tumors via high-density nanolocalized photothermal effects on cell membranes","authors":"Yujie Qi , Hailang Dai , Yi Lai , Haojian Qiu , Yilin Huang , Ru Dan , Nan Zhang , You Wang , Xianfeng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103000","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103000","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In traditional photothermal therapy (PTT), the collateral damage to surrounding normal tissues caused by strong laser radiation, and the cellular anti-apoptosis and cytoprotection mechanisms of cancer cells in mild hyperthermia PTT, severely limit the therapeutic efficacy of tumor treatment. Here, we present a targeted folic acid-modified Au-Ag nanoparticle-nanowire construct (FA-Au-Ag NPs-NW) that specifically targets and binds to the folate receptor-overexpressing membranes of cancer cells. This construct enables efficient high-density nanoscale photothermal conversion under mild conventional LED irradiation, a property derived from the enhanced local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of the bimetallic Au-Ag heterostructure. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that the construct avoids collateral damage to normal tissues, effectively inhibits the cellular anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective pathways, and induces tumor cell apoptosis through light-matter interactions, without the need for therapeutic drugs. This work offers a promising strategy for tumor treatment and broadens the application of LED-induced mild-temperature PTT for disease management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":395,"journal":{"name":"Nano Today","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 103000"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103017
Wenbo Zhang , Shuyuan Li , Yang Wang , Xin Wang , Shanshan Mo , Longxin Xu , Zhongyi Jian , Shuli Liu , Zhenlin Liu , Yanlian Yang , Chen Wang , Yuxing Yao , Xiaoping Bao , Lanlan Yu , Xiaoguang Wang , Chenxuan Wang
The spontaneous crystallization of galectin-10 (gal-10) in vivo is closely associated with the pathological mechanisms of certain intractable diseases, including eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (ECRSwNP), for which targeted therapies are currently lacking. Gal-10 crystals have been identified as a promising target for clinical intervention against these diseases. However, the development of small-molecule drugs that target gal-10 crystallization has remained elusive. In this study, we discover an FDA-approved drug, metformin, which effectively induces the dissociation of gal-10 crystals in vitro by exploiting ion-specific effects that modulate the stability of protein crystals. We assess the therapeutic efficacy of metformin through both intratracheal and oral administration in a mouse model with gal-10 crystal-induced lung inflammation. Our results, including proinflammatory cytokine release and pathology tests, highlight the potency of metformin in ameliorating the symptoms of gal-10 crystallopathy in vivo. This work demonstrates a drug repurposing strategy that can guide the discovery of lead compounds for the treatment of protein crystallopathies.
{"title":"Inspired by ion-specific effects: Repurposing metformin to tackle protein crystallopathy","authors":"Wenbo Zhang , Shuyuan Li , Yang Wang , Xin Wang , Shanshan Mo , Longxin Xu , Zhongyi Jian , Shuli Liu , Zhenlin Liu , Yanlian Yang , Chen Wang , Yuxing Yao , Xiaoping Bao , Lanlan Yu , Xiaoguang Wang , Chenxuan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The spontaneous crystallization of galectin-10 (gal-10) <em>in vivo</em> is closely associated with the pathological mechanisms of certain intractable diseases, including eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (ECRSwNP), for which targeted therapies are currently lacking. Gal-10 crystals have been identified as a promising target for clinical intervention against these diseases. However, the development of small-molecule drugs that target gal-10 crystallization has remained elusive. In this study, we discover an FDA-approved drug, metformin, which effectively induces the dissociation of gal-10 crystals <em>in vitro</em> by exploiting ion-specific effects that modulate the stability of protein crystals. We assess the therapeutic efficacy of metformin through both intratracheal and oral administration in a mouse model with gal-10 crystal-induced lung inflammation. Our results, including proinflammatory cytokine release and pathology tests, highlight the potency of metformin in ameliorating the symptoms of gal-10 crystallopathy <em>in vivo</em>. This work demonstrates a drug repurposing strategy that can guide the discovery of lead compounds for the treatment of protein crystallopathies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":395,"journal":{"name":"Nano Today","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 103017"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-26DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103012
Xinyi Wang , Wen Li , Yiqiu Fu , Juntao Xie , Liu Yu , Rourou Miao , Jiahui Cao , Ting Chen , Xin Zhang , Yihai Chen , Zhuo Mao , Hanjie Zhang , Shouping Xu , Dunwan Zhu , Lin Mei , Meitong Ou
Intratumoral pathogenic bacteria influence tumor progression and affect responses to therapy, however, conventional antibacterial strategies face challenges including antibiotic resistance and nonspecific microbial disruption. Here, we report a NIR-II-responsive nanoplatform (VP-R@PEG-FA) that integrates violet phosphorus nanosheets (VPNSs) with the Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist imiquimod (R837) and folate targeting for synergistic photothermal immunotherapy. Under 1064 nm laser irradiation, VP-R@PEG-FA generates localized hyperthermia that simultaneously eradicates tumor cells and intratumoral bacteria. This dual ablation strategy not only eliminates intratumoral pathogenic bacteria but also ingeniously converts them into in situ immunoadjuvants, as bacterial debris releases pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which acts as an endogenous TLR4 agonist. The combination of bacterially derived TLR4 ligands and nanoparticle-delivered TLR7 agonist R837 induces potent combined immune activation, driving robust maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and increasing CD8⁺ T cell infiltration. In 4T1 Triple-negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) models, this approach demonstrates significant primary tumor suppression and, notably, elicits abscopal effects in bilateral tumor models, indicating the enhanced systemic antitumor immunity. This work presents a “waste-to-wealth” strategy that repurposes intratumoral bacteria from immunosuppressive agents into immunostimulants, offering a promising strategy for advancing cancer immunotherapy through rational manipulation of the tumor microenvironment.
{"title":"NIR-II-responsive violet phosphorus nanoplatform converts intratumoral bacteria into immunoadjuvants for enhanced photothermal immunotherapy","authors":"Xinyi Wang , Wen Li , Yiqiu Fu , Juntao Xie , Liu Yu , Rourou Miao , Jiahui Cao , Ting Chen , Xin Zhang , Yihai Chen , Zhuo Mao , Hanjie Zhang , Shouping Xu , Dunwan Zhu , Lin Mei , Meitong Ou","doi":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intratumoral pathogenic bacteria influence tumor progression and affect responses to therapy, however, conventional antibacterial strategies face challenges including antibiotic resistance and nonspecific microbial disruption. Here, we report a NIR-II-responsive nanoplatform (VP-R@PEG-FA) that integrates violet phosphorus nanosheets (VPNSs) with the Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist imiquimod (R837) and folate targeting for synergistic photothermal immunotherapy. Under 1064 nm laser irradiation, VP-R@PEG-FA generates localized hyperthermia that simultaneously eradicates tumor cells and intratumoral bacteria. This dual ablation strategy not only eliminates intratumoral pathogenic bacteria but also ingeniously converts them into in situ immunoadjuvants, as bacterial debris releases pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which acts as an endogenous TLR4 agonist. The combination of bacterially derived TLR4 ligands and nanoparticle-delivered TLR7 agonist R837 induces potent combined immune activation, driving robust maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and increasing CD8⁺ T cell infiltration. In 4T1 Triple-negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) models, this approach demonstrates significant primary tumor suppression and, notably, elicits abscopal effects in bilateral tumor models, indicating the enhanced systemic antitumor immunity. This work presents a “waste-to-wealth” strategy that repurposes intratumoral bacteria from immunosuppressive agents into immunostimulants, offering a promising strategy for advancing cancer immunotherapy through rational manipulation of the tumor microenvironment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":395,"journal":{"name":"Nano Today","volume":"68 ","pages":"Article 103012"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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