Journal of Materials Chemistry B最新文献

{"title":"Correction: In vivo transplantation of intrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids with decellularized liver-derived hydrogels supports hepatic cellular proliferation and differentiation in chronic liver injury","authors":"Impreet Kaur, Ashwini Vasudevan, Natalia Sanchez-Romero, Arka Sanyal, Aarushi Sharma, Hamed Hemati, Pinky Juneja, Aarti Sharma, Iris Pla Palacin, Archana Rastogi, Pooja Vijayaraghavan, Sourabh Ghosh, Seeram Ramakrishna, Shiv K. Sarin, Pedro M. Baptista, Dinesh M. Tripathi and Savneet Kaur","doi":"10.1039/D5TB90016F","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5TB90016F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Correction for ‘<em>In vivo</em> transplantation of intrahepatic cholangiocyte organoids with decellularized liver-derived hydrogels supports hepatic cellular proliferation and differentiation in chronic liver injury’ by Impreet Kaur <em>et al.</em>, <em>J. Mater. Chem. B</em>, 2025, <strong>13</strong>, 918–928, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TB01503G.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 6","pages":" 2211-2211"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/tb/d5tb90016f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143026240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A reactive oxygen species amplifier based on a Bi2WO6/BP heterojunction for high efficiency radiotherapy enhancement†","authors":"Shufen Ren, Qing Zhang, Hanping Fu, Jiayun Cheng, Yan Xie, Qingshuang Liang and Xiufeng Xiao","doi":"10.1039/D4TB02285H","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB02285H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Insufficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and radioresistance resulting from the intrinsic features of tumors consistently give rise to unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes of radiotherapy (RT). Developing a multifunctional radiosensitizer capable of activating ROS-induced apoptosis and achieving multimodal therapy is highly imperative yet remains a challenge so far. Herein, a multifunctional therapeutic nanoplatform based on Bi<small>₂</small>WO<small>₆</small>–BP heterojunctions for multimodal synergistic tumor treatment with glutathione depletion and amplifying ROS generation is rationally designed. Rich in high-Z elements, Bi<small>₂</small>WO<small>₆</small>–BP heterojunctions are able to deposit higher radiation doses into cancer cells, enhancing the radiotherapy effect. The Z-scheme heterojunction structure facilitates the X-ray-triggered catalytic process that catalyzes intracellular overproduced H<small>₂</small>O<small>₂</small> into highly toxic ˙OH, which thus enhances ROS generation in a hypoxic environment. The unique sub-band structures of BP NSs and the synergistic effect between Bi<small>₂</small>WO<small>₆</small> and BP significantly boosted <small>¹</small>O<small>₂</small> generation. Meanwhile, the acidic TME can trigger the cycle conversion of W from W<small>⁵⁺</small> to W<small>⁶⁺</small>, and the redox reaction between W<small>⁶⁺</small> and GSH consumes the high level of GSH in tumor cells and increases the production of ROS. The mild photothermal effect produced by the Bi<small>₂</small>WO<small>₆</small>–BP heterojunction could further enhance the ROS generation. Both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em> experiments showed that the as-prepared Bi<small>₂</small>WO<small>₆</small>–BP heterojunction possesses high synergistic therapeutic efficacy. This work offers a viable approach to build a multifunctional radiosensitizer with TME-triggered multiple synergistic therapies for deep tumors.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 9","pages":" 3128-3137"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143191580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Injectable ultrathin porous membranes harnessing shape memory polymers for retinal tissue engineering†","authors":"SeongHoon Jo, Yu-Jin Kim, Taek Hwang, Se Youn Jang, So-Jin Park, Seongryeol Ye, Youngmee Jung and Jin Yoo","doi":"10.1039/D4TB02287D","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB02287D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss, characterized by the progressive degeneration of retinal cells, particularly retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Conventional treatments primarily focus on slowing disease progression without providing a cure. Recent advances in tissue engineering and cell-based therapies offer promising avenues for regenerating retinal tissue and restoring vision. In this study, we developed ultrathin, nanoporous membrane scaffolds designed to mimic Bruch's membrane (BrM) for RPE cell transplantation using vapor-induced phase separation. These scaffolds, fabricated from a blend of poly(<small>L</small>-lactide-<em>co</em>-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) and poly(lactic-<em>co</em>-glycolic acid) (PLGA), exhibited favorable topography, biocompatibility, and shape-memory properties. <em>In vitro</em> experiments confirmed that the nanoporous topography effectively supports the formation of RPE monolayers with intact tight junctions. Additionally, the shape-memory characteristic enables the membrane to self-expand at body temperature (37 °C), facilitating minimally invasive delivery <em>via</em> injection. ARPE-19 cell-attached nanothin membranes successfully demonstrated shape-recovery properties and were deliverable through a catheter in an <em>ex vivo</em> model. Our findings suggest that the developed scaffolds provide a promising approach for retinal tissue engineering and could significantly contribute to advanced treatments for AMD and other retinal degenerative diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 9","pages":" 3161-3172"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/tb/d4tb02287d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143191583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Liposome-encapsulated lambda exonuclease-based amplification system for enhanced detection of miRNA in platelet-derived microvesicles of non-small cell lung cancer†","authors":"Mohamed Aimene Benariba, Kanza Hannachi, Sanxia Wang, Yuting Zhang, Xiaoli Wang, Li Wang and Nandi Zhou","doi":"10.1039/D4TB02621G","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB02621G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Platelet-derived microvesicles (PMVs) and their encapsulated microRNAs (miRNAs) hold immense potential as biomarkers for early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) diagnosis. This study presents a pioneering liposome-based approach for enhanced miRNA detection within PMVs, employing a lambda exonuclease (λ EXO)-based amplification system encapsulated in immunoliposomes. The platform exploits the novel catalytic functionality of λ EXO, demonstrating its unprecedented capability to catalyze RNA–DNA hybrid substrates. The λ EXO-based amplification system exhibited high sensitivity and specificity in detecting miRNA-21, a key miRNA associated with NSCLC, demonstrating a limit of detection (LOD) of 33.11 fg mL<small>⁻¹</small>. The system was successfully encapsulated within liposomes, which were then functionalized with CD41 antibody to facilitate targeted delivery and fusion with PMVs. The results reveal a significant difference in miRNA-21 levels between PMVs from NSCLC patients and healthy individuals, with a 2.06-fold higher abundance observed in NSCLC patients. This research presents a significant technological advancement in miRNA detection, paving the way for improved early diagnosis and personalized medicine approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 8","pages":" 2666-2673"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143070294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A tumor microenvironment-responsive multifunctional MoS2–Ru nanocatalyst with photothermally enhanced chemodynamic activity†","authors":"S. Sivaselvam, R. S. Anjana, Muneer Hussain Dar, P. Kirthika and Ramapurath S. Jayasree","doi":"10.1039/D4TB02848A","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB02848A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Targeting the unique characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as a highly promising strategy for cancer therapy. Chemodynamic therapy (CDT), which leverages the TME's intrinsic properties to convert H<small>₂</small>O<small>₂</small> into cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals (˙OH), has attracted significant attention. However, the effectiveness of CDT is often limited by the catalytic efficiency of the materials used. Although Molybdenum disulfide (MoS<small>₂</small>) exhibits remarkable chemodynamic and photothermal properties, its limited efficiency in catalyzing the conversion of endogenous H<small>₂</small>O<small>₂</small> into ˙OH radicals remains a significant challenge. To overcome this, we developed a nanocomposite of MoS<small>₂</small> and ruthenium (MoS<small>₂</small>–Ru), by incorporating Ru into MoS<small>₂</small> nanosheets. The MoS<small>₂</small>–Ru nanocomposite demonstrated significantly enhanced catalytic activity at a low concentration (500 ng mL<small>⁻¹</small>), whereas the same effect was achieved only with 20 μg mL<small>⁻¹</small> of MoS<small>₂</small>. The low Michaelis–Menten constant (<em>K</em><small>_m</small>) of 4.69 mM further confirmed the superior catalytic activity of the nanocomposite, indicative of the enhanced enzyme-like activity. Additionally, the integration of Ru in MoS<small>₂</small> reduced the bandgap to 1.18 eV, facilitating near-infrared (NIR) absorption with a high conversion efficiency of 41%. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis confirmed robust ˙OH radical generation driven by the combined chemodynamic and photothermal effects. <em>In vitro</em> studies using triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells validated the synergistic activity of CDT and PTT, demonstrating significant ˙OH radical production under TME conditions, leading to effective cancer cell death. This study underscores the potential of MoS<small>₂</small>–Ru nanocomposites as a versatile and powerful platform for multimodal cancer therapy, seamlessly integrating CDT and PTT to achieve synergistic, precise, and highly effective treatment outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 9","pages":" 3011-3022"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143070145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mesoporous polymeric nanoparticles for effective treatment of inflammatory diseases: an in vivo study†","authors":"Divya Pareek, Md. Zeyaullah, Sukanya Patra, Oviya Alagu, Gurmeet Singh, Kirti Wasnik, Prem Shankar Gupta and Pradip Paik","doi":"10.1039/D4TB02012J","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB02012J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Acute inflammatory diseases require suitable medicine over the existing therapeutics. In this line, the present work is focused on developing polymeric nanomedicine for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Herein, cell viable nanoparticles (GlyNPs) of size 180–250 nm in diameter and pore size of 4–5 nm in diameter, based on glycine and acryloyl chloride, have been developed and proved to be a potential anti-inflammatory agent without using any conventional drugs. These particles exhibit colloidal stability (with a zeta potential of −35.6 mV). A network pharmacology-based computational study has been executed on 9076 genes and proteins responsible for inflammatory diseases, out of which 10 are selected that have a major role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). <em>In silico</em> docking study has been conducted to find out the targeted efficiency of the GlyNPs considering 10 inflammation-specific markers, namely IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, TLR-4, STAT-1, MAPK-8, MAPK-14, iNOS, NF-κβ and COX-2. The results revealed that the GlyNPs could be an excellent anti-inflammatory component similar to aspirin. The <em>in vitro</em> inflammation activity of these GlyNPs has also been checked on an inflammation model generated by LPS in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Then, the <em>in vitro</em> anti-inflammation efficiency has been checked with 10–150 μg mL<small>⁻¹</small> of GlyNP doses. The treatment efficiency has been checked on inflammation-responsible immune markers (NO level, NF-κβ, INF-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α) and it was found that the GlyNPs are an excellent component in reducing inflammation. The <em>in vivo</em> therapeutic response of GlyNPs on the induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model has been evaluated by measuring the morphological, biochemical and immune-cytokine and interferon levels responsible for the inflammation, using a 2 g kg<small>⁻¹</small> dose (sample to weight of rat). The anti-inflammatory efficiency of GlyNPs without using additional drugs was found to be excellent. Thus, GlyNPs could be paramount for the potential treatment of various inflammatory diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 9","pages":" 3094-3113"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143124224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Capturing the dynamic integrity of carbocyanine fluorophore-based lipid nanoparticles using the FRET technique†","authors":"Siyu Long, David A. Turner, Kevin J. Hamill, Louise S. Natrajan and Tom O. McDonald","doi":"10.1039/D4TB02653E","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB02653E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Nanoparticles capable of dynamically reporting their structural integrity in real-time are a powerful tool to guide the design of drug delivery technologies. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) offer multiple important advantages for drug delivery, including stability, protection of active substances, and sustained release capabilities. However, tracking their structural integrity and dynamic behaviour in complex biological environments remains challenging. Here, we report the development of a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-enabled LNP platform that achieves unprecedented sensitivity and precision in monitoring nanoparticle disintegration. The FRET-based LNPs were prepared using nanoprecipitation, encapsulating high levels of 3,3′-dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine perchlorate (DiO) and 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) fluorophores as the donor and acceptors, respectively. The resulting LNPs had a mean diameter of 114 ± 19 nm with a distinct FRET signal. An optimal energy transfer efficiency of 0.98 and an emission quantum yield of 0.13 were achieved at 11.1% fluorophore loading in the LNPs, balancing efficient energy transfer and minimal aggregation-induced quenching. Using the FRET reporting, three dissociation stages of FRET LNPs were observed: solvation, indicated by an increased emission intensity; swelling and partial dissolution, evidenced by changes in emission maxima and mean size; and complete dissociation, confirmed by emission solely from DiO and the absence of particles. Testing the nanoparticles in live cells (telomerase-immortalised human corneal epithelial cells, hTCEpi cells) revealed a direct link to the disappearance of the FRET signal with the dissociation of FRET NPs. The nanoparticles initially exhibited a strong extracellular FRET signal, which diminished after cellular internalisation. This suggests that the LNPs disintegrate after entering the cells. These findings establish FRET-based LNPs as a robust tool for real-time nanoparticle tracking, offering insights into their integrity and release mechanisms, with potential applications in advanced drug delivery and diagnostics.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 7","pages":" 2295-2305"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11783621/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143070212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A fiber-shaped ultrasonic transducer by designing a flexible epoxy/nano-zirconia composite as an acoustic matching layer†","authors":"Jiaqi Wu, Yichi Zhang, Yue Liu, Yuanyuan Zheng, Kailiang Xu, Peining Chen and Huisheng Peng","doi":"10.1039/D4TB02063D","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB02063D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Acoustic matching layers play an important role in ultrasonic transducers. However, the acoustic matching layer with both intrinsic flexibility and high acoustic impedance remains an unmet need to achieve high-performing flexible ultrasonic transducers. Herein, we present an epoxy/nano-zirconia composite with excellent flexibility and acoustic performance by the chemical coupling method. (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane was used to effectively disperse nano-zirconia particles in epoxy resin, and endow the resultant composite with flexibility. After carefully adjusting the additions of nano-zirconia particles and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, the modulus of the epoxy/nano-zirconia composite was 4.5 MPa, combined with an elongation at break over 90%. The acoustic impedance of the epoxy/nano-zirconia composite (∼4.5 MRayl) exceeded that of other typical polymer counterparts. The flexible acoustic matching layer based on an epoxy/nano-zirconia composite could significantly improve the sensitivity and bandwidth of ultrasonic transducers. A fiber-shaped ultrasonic transducer with high sensitivity and wide bandwidth was fabricated, displaying promising application potential in wearable medical electronics.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 9","pages":" 3023-3031"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143069828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stimuli-responsive benzothiazole-phenothiazine derivatives: mechanochromism, AIE, acid sensing, and anticancer efficacy in benzo[a]pyrene-induced cancer models†","authors":"Ramakant Gavale, Siddharth Singh, Anupama Ekbote, Hem Chandra Jha and Rajneesh Misra","doi":"10.1039/D4TB02408G","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB02408G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Mechanofluorochromic (MFC) materials are emerging as a versatile candidate for optoelectronic and biomedical applications. In the present work, we designed and synthesized four MFC materials, namely <strong>BT-PTZ-1</strong>, <strong>BT-PTZ-2</strong>, <strong>BT-PTZO-1</strong>, and <strong>BT-PTZO-2</strong>, using Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. These materials possess benzothiazole (BT) as an acceptor moiety and different donors, including phenothiazine (PTZ) and triphenylamine (TPA), with variations in their spacer units. The photophysical properties of these derivatives have been explored, revealing solvatochromism, aggregation-induced emission (AIE), acid sensing, and mechanochromic behaviour. Single crystal X-ray analysis of <strong>BT-PTZO-2</strong> provides crucial structural insights, revealing the twisted conformation of the TPA donor and the bent structure of the PTZ oxide spacer. The biological studies of these BT derivatives reveal the therapeutic potential against benzo[<em>a</em>]pyrene (B[<em>a</em>]P)-induced carcinogenesis in A549 (lung) and HEK293 (kidney) cells. Treatment with <strong>BT-PTZ-2</strong> reflects anti-cancerous properties, with significant up-regulation of p53 and down-regulation of β-catenin and pNF-κB. Additionally, downregulation of mitochondrial fission protein (DRP1) and oxidative stress through DCFDA staining in lung cells are observed with <strong>BT-PTZ-2</strong> treatment. These findings strongly suggest that <strong>BT-PTZ-2</strong> can inhibit lung cancer cell proliferation and survival, suggesting it to be a promising anti-cancer agent. This comprehensive study of these MFC materials provides insights into their design, synthesis, and properties, in addition to their potential applications in various optoelectronic and biomedical fields.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 8","pages":" 2834-2854"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143061825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An ASGP-R-targeting magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent for liver cancer diagnosis†","authors":"Jie Chen, Xiaoming Wang, Yinan Bai, Zhiqian Li, Haonan Li, Bing Wang, Qiyong Gong and Kui Luo","doi":"10.1039/D4TB02708F","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB02708F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Development of novel Gd-based contrast agents for targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of liver cancer remains a great challenge. Herein we reported a novel Gd-based MRI contrast agent with improved relaxivity for specifically diagnosing liver cancer. This GSH-responsive macromolecular contrast agent (mCA), POLDGd, was prepared by RAFT polymerization, and its lactic acid moiety could precisely target the ASGP-R surface protein on liver cancer cells, whereas PODGd without the lactic acid moiety was prepared as a control. POLDGd had a high molecular weight of 45 kDa and a particle size of 103 nm. Its longitudinal relaxivity (11.39 mM<small>⁻¹</small> s<small>⁻¹</small>) measured <em>via</em> a 3.0 T MR scanner was three times that of the clinically used contrast agent DTPA-Gd. In comparison with the PODGd-treated group, the signal enhancement at the tumor site was significantly prolonged, with a maximum enhancement peak of about 190% after intravenous injection of POLDGd into tumor-bearing mice. A high accumulation level of POLDGd in the liver tumors observed <em>via</em> MRI was also confirmed by fluorescence imaging. POLDGd showed minimal side effects, which may be ascribed to its metabolism through the kidneys. Therefore, POLDGd may be used as a highly effective biosafe nanoscale contrast agent for targeted MRI of liver cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 7","pages":" 2549-2558"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143019084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}