{"title":"A Multifunctional Fe-EGCG@RSL3 Nanomedicine Synergizes Ferroptosis Induction and Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling for Enhanced Bladder Cancer Immunotherapy.","authors":"Chengjunyu Zhang, Sen Liu, Jianhui Zhang, Junlin Lu, Zehua Chen, Bolin Pan, Chu Liu, Ming Huang, Hengji Zhan, Hongjin Wang, Siting Chen, Kaiwen Jie, Baoqing He, Jingdie Wu, Ye Li, Haifeng Wang, Jing Zhao, Qiang Zhang, Xu Chen","doi":"10.34133/research.0735","DOIUrl":"10.34133/research.0735","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ferroptosis has promising potential for augmenting antitumor effects, but monotherapy with ferroptosis inducers in vivo has been reported to have limited efficacy in tumor management. The development of synergistic strategies with targeted capabilities is crucial for enhancing the antitumor efficacy of ferroptosis inducers. In this study, we designed and characterized a novel self-assembled nanomedicine by mixing ferrous ions (Fe<sup>2+</sup>) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in a controllable manner and encapsulating the ferroptosis inducer RSL3, named Fe-EGCG@RSL3. This multifunctional nanomedicine effectively induces ferroptosis and growth inhibition in bladder cancer cells and patient-derived organoids. In vivo, Fe-EGCG@RSL3 was enriched in the subcutaneous tumors of allogenic and xenograft mouse models, thereby substantially overcoming RSL3 resistance. Intravesical instillation of Fe-EGCG@RSL3 controls orthotopic bladder tumor progression. Furthermore, nanomedicine potentiates the therapeutic effect of anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) immunotherapy by increasing the cytotoxicity of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells to cancer cells and modulating the proportions of both T-cell and myeloid cell subpopulations within the tumor immune microenvironment. Overall, Fe-EGCG@RSL3 has dual functions as a multifaceted nanomedicine that integrates ferroptosis induction with immunomodulation, offering a novel and clinically translatable strategy for bladder cancer therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":21120,"journal":{"name":"Research","volume":"8 ","pages":"0735"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12173478/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144317815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ResearchPub Date : 2025-06-17eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.34133/research.0742
Muyuan Chai, Haolin Bu, Rui Zheng, Zhilu Yang, Xuetao Shi
{"title":"Immersion Phase Separation 3-Dimensional Printing for Strain-Stiffening Hydrogel Scaffolds.","authors":"Muyuan Chai, Haolin Bu, Rui Zheng, Zhilu Yang, Xuetao Shi","doi":"10.34133/research.0742","DOIUrl":"10.34133/research.0742","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Strain-stiffening hydrogels, which mimic the nonlinear mechanical behavior of biological tissues such as skin, arteries, and cartilage, hold transformative potential for biomedical applications. This study introduces immersion phase separation (IPS) 3-dimensional (3D) printing, an innovative technique that enables the one-step fabrication of strain-stiffening hydrogel scaffolds with intricate, hierarchical architectures. This technique addresses the long-standing challenge of balancing structural complexity and intrinsic mechanoresponsive behavior in traditional hydrogel fabrication methods. By leveraging dynamic hydrophobic interactions and solvent exchange kinetics, IPS 3D printing achieves multiscale control over pore architectures (5 to 200 μm) and anisotropic microchannels while preserving J-shaped stress-strain curves (fracture stress: ~0.7 MPa; elongation: >1,000%). The physically cross-linked network enables closed-loop recyclability (>95% material recovery) without performance degradation, while functional fillers (e.g., carbon nanotubes, copper, and hydroxyapatite) enhance properties such as electrical conductivity (2-orders-of-magnitude improvement) and real-time motion sensing capabilities. This platform facilitates the creation of patient-specific implants with tailored mechanical properties and paves the way for adaptive biohybrid devices that mimic the dynamic behavior of native tissues, holding promise for regenerative medicine, soft robotics, and advanced biomedical applications. IPS 3D printing uniquely resolves the trade-off between structural sophistication and functional biomimicry, establishing a paradigm for replicating dynamic biological tissues.</p>","PeriodicalId":21120,"journal":{"name":"Research","volume":"2025 ","pages":"0742"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12172163/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144317817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Targeting ApoE-KCC2 Signaling Rescues GABAergic Synaptic Dysfunction and Depression-like Behaviors in Mice.","authors":"Chengyuan Xu, Jing Liu, Mengru Guo, Jia Wang, Xianbing Bai, Chenlei Zhang, Xinyue Luan, Huailong Pei, Huan Liu, Xinyou Lv, Xiangming Ye, Binliang Tang, Ming Chen","doi":"10.34133/research.0746","DOIUrl":"10.34133/research.0746","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases; however, its function and underlying mechanisms in depression remain elusive. In this study, we employed chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) to establish a mouse model of depression and observed significantly reduced ApoE expression in the hippocampus. By leveraging ApoE knockout (<i>ApoE<sup>-/-</sup></i> ) and knockdown (ApoE-KD) mouse models, we demonstrated that ApoE deficiency induced depression-like behaviors, which were closely associated with impaired GABAergic synaptic transmission and down-regulation of ApoE receptors and K<sup>+</sup>-Cl<sup>-</sup> cotransporter 2 (KCC2). In addition, we found an interaction between KCC2 and the ApoE receptor low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) through coimmunoprecipitation analysis. Moreover, overexpression of ApoE or targeted activation of GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus significantly reversed depression-like behaviors in both CSDS-exposed and ApoE-KD mice. Lastly, treatment with KCC2 activators, CLP290 and CLP257, restored the expression levels of KCC2 and the GABA<sub>A</sub>R α1 subunit, significantly alleviating depression-like behaviors induced by CSDS or ApoE-KD. Together, our results elucidate the pivotal role of ApoE in the pathophysiology of depression and highlight the ApoE-KCC2 signaling pathway as a potential target for developing innovative antidepressant therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":21120,"journal":{"name":"Research","volume":"8 ","pages":"0746"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12173456/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144317816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ResearchPub Date : 2025-06-13eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.34133/research.0738
Yuwei Ji, Zhenkai Zhao, Yan Yang, Xiaochen Wang, Ruifeng Qiao, Xiang Yu, Xinyan Gong, Zhe Feng, Quan Hong
{"title":"Mechanisms Underlying the Impact of Interleukin Family on Acute Kidney Injury: Pathogenesis, Progression, and Therapy.","authors":"Yuwei Ji, Zhenkai Zhao, Yan Yang, Xiaochen Wang, Ruifeng Qiao, Xiang Yu, Xinyan Gong, Zhe Feng, Quan Hong","doi":"10.34133/research.0738","DOIUrl":"10.34133/research.0738","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical syndrome with high mortality, and its pathogenesis involves complex inflammatory regulatory mechanisms. As core components of the cytokine network, interleukins (ILs) exert pleiotropic effects in the development of AKI, participating in processes such as inflammation, fibrosis, tissue damage repair, and remote organ injury. Moreover, ILs influence the progression of AKI by mediating the crosstalk among renal resident cells, immune cells, and fibroblasts. Pro-inflammatory ILs primarily accelerate the progression of AKI by recruiting neutrophils and inducing renal cell apoptosis, whereas anti-inflammatory ILs alleviate AKI by inhibiting the release of inflammatory cytokines and enhancing regulatory T cell function. Dual-function ILs may either promote disease progression or facilitate tissue repair depending on their cellular origin or the specific pathological stage. In terms of therapeutic strategies, monoclonal antibodies targeting ILs and their receptors, as well as advancements in extracellular vesicle technology, have shown promising potential. Future research should focus on elucidating the specific signaling networks of ILs and their intercellular interactions in order to promote precision medicine approaches for AKI and to block the transition from AKI to chronic kidney disease (CKD).</p>","PeriodicalId":21120,"journal":{"name":"Research","volume":"8 ","pages":"0738"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12163381/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144302784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Skeleton-Forming Responses of Reef-Building Corals under Ocean Acidification.","authors":"Yixin Li, Hongwei Zhao, Yunpeng Zhao, Xin Liao, J-Y Chen, Yanping Qin, Zuhong Lu, Yuehuan Zhang, Chunpeng He","doi":"10.34133/research.0736","DOIUrl":"10.34133/research.0736","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ocean acidification is becoming more prevalent and may contribute to coral reef degradation, yet our understanding of its role in global reef decline remains limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need to study the impact of reduced pH levels on the growth patterns of major reef-building corals. Here, we studied the skeleton-forming strategies of 4 widely distributed coral species in a simulated acidified habitat with a pH of 7.6 to 7.8. We reconstructed and visualized the skeleton-forming process, quantified elemental calcium loss, and determined gene expression changes. The results suggest that different reef-building corals have diverse growing strategies in lower pH conditions. A unique \"cavity-like\" forming process starts from the inside of the skeletons of <i>Acropora muricata</i>, which sacrifices skeletal density to protect its polyp-canal system. The forming patterns in <i>Pocillopora damicornis</i>, <i>Montipora capricornis</i>, and <i>Montipora foliosa</i> were characterized by \"osteoporosis\", exhibiting disordered skeletal structures, insufficient synthesis of adhesion proteins, and low bone mass, correspondingly. In addition, we found that damage from acidification particularly affects pre-existing skeletal structures in the colony. These results enhance our understanding of skeleton-forming strategies in major coral species under lower pH conditions, providing a foundation for coral reef protection and restoration amidst increasing ocean acidification.</p>","PeriodicalId":21120,"journal":{"name":"Research","volume":"8 ","pages":"0736"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12152308/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144275755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ResearchPub Date : 2025-06-10eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.34133/research.0727
Yasong Wu, Binjie Zhou, Lu Liu, Shengnan Dai, Lirong Song, Jiong Yang
{"title":"Structural Characteristics and Recent Advances in Thermoelectric Binary Indium Chalcogenides.","authors":"Yasong Wu, Binjie Zhou, Lu Liu, Shengnan Dai, Lirong Song, Jiong Yang","doi":"10.34133/research.0727","DOIUrl":"10.34133/research.0727","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Thermoelectric (TE) materials have garnered widespread research interest owing to their capability for direct heat-to-electricity conversion. Binary indium-based chalcogenides (In-X, X = Te, Se, S) stand out in inorganic materials by virtue of their relatively low thermal conductivity. For example, In<sub>4</sub>Se<sub>2.35</sub> shows a low thermal conductivity of 0.74 W m<sup>-1</sup> K<sup>-1</sup> and an impressive <i>zT</i> value of 1.48 along the <i>b</i>-<i>c</i> plane at 705 K, as a result of structural anisotropy. Here, we review the structural features and recent research progress in the TE field for In-X materials. It begins by presenting the characteristics of crystal structure, electronic band structure, and phonon dispersion, aiming to microscopically understand the similarity/dissimilarity among these In-X compounds, notably the role of unconventional bonds (such as In-In) in modulating the band structures and lattice vibrations. Furthermore, TE optimization strategies of such materials were classified and discussed, including defect engineering, crystal orientation engineering, nanostructuring, and grain size engineering. The final section provides an overview of recent progress in optimizing TE properties of indium tellurides, indium selenides, and indium sulfides. An outlook is also presented on the major challenges and opportunities associated with these material systems for future TE applications. This Review is expected to provide critical insights into the development of new strategies to design binary indium-based chalcogenides as promising TE materials in the future.</p>","PeriodicalId":21120,"journal":{"name":"Research","volume":"8 ","pages":"0727"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12150782/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144267216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ResearchPub Date : 2025-06-10eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.34133/research.0728
Tingwen Xiang, Chuan Yang, Langlang Xie, Shiyu Xiao, Yong Tang, Gang Huang, Dong Sun, Yueqi Chen, Fei Luo
{"title":"Aberrant Tryptophan Metabolism Manipulates Osteochondral Homeostasis.","authors":"Tingwen Xiang, Chuan Yang, Langlang Xie, Shiyu Xiao, Yong Tang, Gang Huang, Dong Sun, Yueqi Chen, Fei Luo","doi":"10.34133/research.0728","DOIUrl":"10.34133/research.0728","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tryptophan (Trp), an essential amino acid, performs as a precursor for synthesizing various bioactive molecules primarily metabolized through the kynurenine (Kyn), serotonin, and indole pathways. The diverse metabolites were deeply implicated in multiple physiological processes. Emerging research has revealed the multifaceted contribution of Trp in skeletal health and pathophysiology of bone-related disease with the involvement of specific receptors including aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which modulated the downstream signaling pathways to manage the expression of pivotal genes and thereby altered cellular biological processes, such as proliferation and differentiation. Accompanied by distinct alterations in immune function, inflammatory responses, endocrine balance, and other physiological aspects, their impact and efficacy in osteochondrogenic disorders have also been well documented. Nevertheless, a thorough understanding of Trp metabolism within bone biology is currently lacking. In this review, we elucidate the complexities of Trp metabolic pathway and several metabolites, delineating their versatile modulatory roles in the physiology and pathology of osteoblasts (OBs), osteoclasts (OCs), chondrocytes, and intercellular coupling effects, as well as in the progression of osteochondral disorder. Moreover, we comprehensively delineate the regulatory mechanisms by which gut microbiota-generated indole derivatives mediate bidirectional crosstalk along the gut-bone axis. The establishment of an elaborate governing network about bone homeostasis provides a novel insight on therapeutic interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":21120,"journal":{"name":"Research","volume":"8 ","pages":"0728"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12150400/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144267215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nanoelectrochemical Monitoring of pH-Regulated Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species Homeostasis in Macrophages Lysosomes during Phagocytosis.","authors":"Yu-Ting Qi, Rui-Xue Gao, Ying Chen, Bing-Yi Guo, Ming-Yong Wen, Christian Amatore, Wei-Hua Huang","doi":"10.34133/research.0733","DOIUrl":"10.34133/research.0733","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Macrophages participate in the immune system by recognizing and engulfing foreign bodies inside phagosomes, which fuse with lysosomes in their cytoplasm to form mature phagolysosomes. Lysosomes have an acidic interior and generate and release reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) to destroy the endocytosed entities. It has been previously reported that intra-lysosomal pH plays an essential role in the regulation of ROS/RNS. However, the exact regulatory mechanism remains to be elucidated. Taking advantage of the large number of active lysosomes distributed along the phagocytic lumen during frustrated phagocytosis of glass fibers by macrophages, the intensity of 4 primary ROS/RNS released fluxes (ONOO<sup>-</sup>, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, NO, and NO<sub>2</sub> <sup>-</sup>) was monitored with platinum nanoelectrochemical sensors, thereby revealing the important role of intra-lysosomal pH on ROS/RNS fluxes after pharmacological modulations. Acidification (pH <5.0) does not alter the rate of production of ROS/RNS precursors (superoxide ions, O<sub>2</sub> <sup>•-</sup>, and parent NO) but promotes O<sub>2</sub> <sup>•-</sup> protonation, leading to an increase of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> release. In contrast, the initial production of NO, which subsequently increased the release of ONOO<sup>-</sup> and NO<sub>2</sub> <sup>-</sup>, was enhanced by alkalinization (pH >6.0). The resulting increased oxidative stress was associated with massive proinflammatory cytokine release. Taken together, these results provide important information about the impact of lysosomal pH on ROS/RNS regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21120,"journal":{"name":"Research","volume":"8 ","pages":"0733"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139194/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144234995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ResearchPub Date : 2025-06-04eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.34133/research.0715
Hui Li, Wei Li, Huixin Yang, Joseph M Gattas, Qingyang Chen, Yang Li
{"title":"One-Degree-of-Freedom Mechanical Metamaterials with Arbitrary Prescribability and Rapid Reprogrammability of Force-Displacement Curves.","authors":"Hui Li, Wei Li, Huixin Yang, Joseph M Gattas, Qingyang Chen, Yang Li","doi":"10.34133/research.0715","DOIUrl":"10.34133/research.0715","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mechanical metamaterials, by introducing porous structures into the materials, can achieve complex nonlinear responses through the large deformation of structures, which support a new generation of impact energy absorption and vibration damping systems, wearable electronics, and tactile simulation devices. However, arbitrarily customizable stress-strain curves have yet to be achieved by existing mechanical metamaterials, which are inherently multi-degree-of-freedom (multi-DOF) deformable systems, and their deformation sequence is influenced by the minimum energy gradient principle. Multi-DOF metamaterials behave like underactuated systems, where the number of degrees of freedom exceeds the number of actuators. As a result, their deformation is controlled by the material's elastic forces, inertial forces, and boundary constraints. Here, we propose a novel composition of elastic components integrated with one-degree-of-freedom (1-DOF) kinematic bases, forming a fully actuated system in which the number of actuators equals the number of degrees of freedom. The deformation of each elastic component is governed by its designed 1-DOF kinematic path. Consequently, the stress-strain profile can be arbitrarily prescribed, for instance, controlled multistage strain softening curve is achievable, as the principle of minimum energy gradient does not affect the deformation sequence dictated by the 1-DOF kinematic base. Furthermore, a class of shape memory alloys (SMAs) is introduced as active components to enable rapid in situ property change, providing versatility in switching between different target responses. The analytical inverse design method, numerical analysis, parametric study of different target responses, and experimental validation are carried out. Lastly, preliminary demonstrations of designable anisotropic nonlinear responses are presented.</p>","PeriodicalId":21120,"journal":{"name":"Research","volume":"8 ","pages":"0715"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12136626/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144226440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ResearchPub Date : 2025-06-04eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.34133/research.0725
Yifei Zhu, Lingyin Jiang, Qi Zhang, Jun Yin, Bingze Du, Guofeng Zhang, Haijun Zhang, Bo Ding, Han Lin, Honghui Xue, Xiasheng Guo, Xiao-Yang Zhang, Jing-Ning Zhu, Dong Zhang, Juan Tu, Ning Gu
{"title":"Velocity-Constraint Kalman Filtering for Enhanced Bubble Tracking in Motion-Compensated Ultrasound Localization Microscopy.","authors":"Yifei Zhu, Lingyin Jiang, Qi Zhang, Jun Yin, Bingze Du, Guofeng Zhang, Haijun Zhang, Bo Ding, Han Lin, Honghui Xue, Xiasheng Guo, Xiao-Yang Zhang, Jing-Ning Zhu, Dong Zhang, Juan Tu, Ning Gu","doi":"10.34133/research.0725","DOIUrl":"10.34133/research.0725","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) is a novel imaging technique that overcomes the diffraction limit to achieve super-resolution imaging at the 10-μm scale. Despite its remarkable progress, challenges persist in enhancing the precision of microbubble tracking and fulfilling the requirements for high frame rates in practical circumstances, especially in moving organs. To address these issues, an enhanced ULM approach (shorten as vc-Kalman) integrating rapid motion compensation was developed to achieve excellent image quality. Unlike traditional methods relying on observed bubble positions, the proposed algorithm combined statistical information derived from historical data with Kalman-filter-predicted positions to enable more accurate bubble localization. Meanwhile, microbubble brightness in adjacent frames was incorporated as multidimensional feature to further improve the matching efficacy. Furthermore, velocity constraint was applied to minimize possible erroneous traces and enhance the contrast-to-noise ratio of ULM images, while ensuring the continuity of vascular reconstruction and the accuracy of the blood flow analysis to generate a reduced normalized root mean square error in velocity estimation, even at a relatively low frame rate of 146 Hz. More important, to effectively suppress the impact of physiological movements in moving organs like kidneys, this algorithm fulfilled subpixel displacement vector identification through parabolic fitting and expedited motion compensation via dynamic programming-based cross-correlation search. The results indicated that this advanced vc-Kalman method substantially boosted both the robustness and accuracy of ULM imaging, thereby opening more opportunities for clinical applications of super-resolution ULM technology.</p>","PeriodicalId":21120,"journal":{"name":"Research","volume":"8 ","pages":"0725"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12136335/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144226441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}