Nanomedicine platforms that have the potential to simultaneously provide the function of molecular imaging and therapeutic treatment in one system are beneficial to address the challenges of cancer heterogeneity and adaptive resistance. In this study, Cyclic RGD peptide (cRGD), a less-expensive active tumor targeting tri-peptide, and doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used chemotherapeutic drug, were covalently attached to Ag2S quantum dots (QDs) to form the nano-conjugates Ag2S-DOX-cRGD. The optical characterization of Ag2S-DOX-cRGD manifested the maintenance of QDs fluorescence, which suggested the potential of Ag2S for monitoring intracellular and systemic drug distribution. The low biotoxicity of Ag2S QDs indicated that they are promisingly safe nanoparticles for bio-applications. Furthermore, the selective imaging and favorable tumor inhibition of the nanoconjugates were demonstrated at both cell and animal levels. These results indicated a promising future for the utilization of Ag2S QDs as a kind of multi-functional nano platform to achieve imaging-visible nano-therapeutics.

Immunogenomics studies have been largely limited to individuals of European ancestry, restricting the ability to identify variation in human adaptive immune responses across populations. Inclusion of a greater diversity of individuals in immunogenomics studies will substantially enhance our understanding of human immunology.

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Pharmacogenetic research has historically lacked racial and ethnic diversity, limiting the application of findings to minority populations. Recent studies, including the Hmong, have gauged communities' interest in participating in genomic research and receiving their individual results. This study was conducted to create a culturally and linguistically appropriate format to return pharmacogenomic results and identify Minnesota Hmong research participants' reactions to their personal and collective results. Using a community-based participatory research approach, researchers collaborated with Hmong community members to format the pharmacogenetic disclosure process. Three focus groups were completed with 24 Hmong participants and three major themes emerged using thematic analysis. Many Hmong focus group participants viewed the results positively, finding them useful for themselves and their community as a means to optimize responses to and avoid harms from medicines. However, some participants expressed concerns about harms that the pharmacogenetic information could bring, including anxiety, misunderstanding, discrimination, exploitation, and lack of a clinician involvement in interpreting and applying the result. Many participants interpreted their results through an experiential lens, trusting their experience of medicines more than trusting genetic information, and through a cultural lens, expressing the belief that environmental factors may influence how people's bodies respond to medicines by influencing their inherited flesh and blood (roj ntsha). Lastly, participants stressed the importance of disseminating the information while acknowledging the complex linguistic, educational, and cultural factors that limit understanding of the results. Researchers, genetic counselors, pharmacists, and healthcare providers should strive to return results in meaningful ways to all members of society.