Radiotherapy has been an integral treatment modality for cancer. The field arose from and progressed through innovations in physics, engineering, and biology. The evolution of radiation oncology will rely on the continued adoption of advances from other fields. A new area of science that possesses the ability to impact radiation oncology is nanomedicine. Materials on the nanoscale provide many unique properties such as enhanced permeability and retention effect and superparamagnetism that are well suited for applications in radiation oncology. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive summary on how nanotechnology can improve cancer radiotherapy in aspects of treatment delivery and monitoring as well as diagnosis.

ImportanceAccess to vision care is vital to diagnose and treat vision impairment and diseases. Previous studies found that currently uninsured adults have limited access to vision care. It is unclear whether a recent history (past 12 months) of gaps in insurance coverage likewise adversely affects access to vision care.ObjectiveTo determine whether gaps in insurance coverage within the past 12 months are associated with higher risk of unmet needs for vision care among adults in Ohio.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study analyzed data for adults in Ohio from the 2021 Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey (OMAS), which is conducted via web, telephone, and mail. Participants were residents 19 years or older who reported needing vision care or eyeglasses within the past 12 months.ExposuresInsurance coverage over the past 12 months, classified as continuous private, continuous public, gap in coverage, or year-round uninsured.Main Outcomes and MeasureSelf-reported unmet need for vision care over the past 12 months.ResultsBased on a sample of 19 036 participants, we calculated that 4% of adults experienced recent coverage gaps (weighted total in the population, 180 259 of 4 518 841) while another 4% were year-round uninsured (187 552 adults). Unmet needs for vision care were reported by 13% (590 015 adults). On multivariable logistic regression, adults with gaps in coverage were at a higher risk of unmet vision care needs compared with adults who had continuous private coverage (odds ratio [OR], 2.9; 95% CI, 2.1-3.9; P < .001) or continuous public coverage (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.3-2.4; P = .001).Conclusions and RelevanceThis study found that gaps in health insurance coverage were associated with increased risk of unmet vision care needs among adults in Ohio compared with continuous private or public coverage. Policies that protect the continuity of health insurance coverage may help reduce the rate of unmet needs for vision care.

The relationship between nanoparticle size, charge, shape, and in vivo biodistribution is of great importance for the rational design and selection of intravenously administered nanoparticles. A resource that aids in the selection and design of nanomaterials for this purpose would be a valuable tool. Previous literature reviews have examined narrow categories of nanomaterials or have not statistically analyzed a broad range of nanomaterial literature. Here, data regarding the biodistribution of intravenously administered synthetic and organic nanomaterials in animal models from literature available in PubMed is collected. This work outlines the effect of nanoparticle size, charge, shape, animal sex, and animal disease status on biodistribution of intravenously administered nanomaterials. Particle size and charge are found to significantly and independently influence biodistribution to several organs. Finally, animal sex and disease state are observed to function as effect modifiers for biodistribution.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a localized dilation of the aorta located in the abdomen that poses a severe risk of death when ruptured. The cause of AAA is not fully understood, but degradation of medial elastin due to elastolytic matrix metalloproteinases is a key step leading to aortic dilation. Current therapeutic interventions are limited to surgical repair to prevent catastrophic rupture. Here, we report the development of injectable supramolecular nanofibers using peptide amphiphile molecules designed to localize to AAA by targeting fragmented elastin, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), and membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase. We designed four targeting peptide sequences from X-ray crystallographic data and incorporated them into PA molecules via solid phase peptide synthesis. After coassembling targeted and diluent PAs at different molar ratios, we assessed their ability to form nanofibers using transmission electron microscopy and to localize to AAA in male and female Sprague–Dawley rats using light sheet fluorescence microscopy. We found that three formulations of the PA nanofibers were able to localize to AAA tissue, but the MMP-2 targeting PA substantially outperformed the other nanofibers. Additionally, we demonstrated that the MMP-2 targeting PA nanofibers had an optimal dose of 5 mg (∼12 mg/kg). Our results show that there was not a significant difference in targeting between male and female Sprague–Dawley rats. Given the ability of the MMP-2 targeting PA nanofiber to localize to AAA tissue, future studies will investigate potential diagnostic and targeted drug delivery applications for AAA.