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Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant tumor in the skeletal system with high mortality. Phytic acid (PA) is a natural compound extracted from plant seeds, which shows certain antitumor activity and good bone targeting ability. To develop a novel theranostics for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and targeting therapy of osteosarcoma, we employed PA to modify manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO 2 @PA NPs) for osteosarcoma treatment. The MnO 2 NPs oligomer was formed by PA modification with uniformed size distribution and negative zeta potential. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that PA has been successfully modified on MnO 2 NPs, and the structure of MnO 2 @PA NPs is amorphous. In vitro experiments demonstrated that MnO 2 @PA NPs oligomer can be efficiently internalized by tumor cell, and the internalized NPs can react with H 2 O 2 under acid microenvironment to produce Mn 2+ and O 2 . In vivo experiments demonstrated that MnO 2 @PA NPs oligomer can passively accumulate in tumor tissue, and the accumulated NPs can produce Mn 2+ and O 2 for MRI and targeting therapy of osteosarcoma. In conclusion, we prepared a novel bone-targeting nano theranostics for MRI and therapy of osteosarcoma.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis usually occurs in men and seriously affects the quality of life of patients. The efficacy of chronic bacterial prostatitis treatment is limited by the difficulty for free drugs (e.g., antibiotics) to penetrate the prostate epithelium and target inflammatory tissues. The advent of nanotechnology offers the possibility to address this issue, such as the development of targeted nanoparticle delivery strategies that may overcome these important limitations. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles, such as particle size, shape and surface modification ligands, determine their targeting effectiveness. In this study, nanoparticles with different physicochemical properties were prepared to explore and confirm their targeting capacities to inflammatory prostate tissues of chronic bacterial prostatitis, focusing on the effects of size and different modification ligands on the targeting performance. In vivo and ex vivo imaging results verified that folic acid-modified nanoparticles with a particle size of 180–190 nm via tail intravenous injection had the optimal targeting efficiency to prostate tissues. Our results provide an experimental basis and reference value for targeted therapy of prostate-related diseases with nanotechnology in the future.

Background Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is a typical symptom of chronic prostatitis (CP) in males that may cause abnormal urination, sexual dysfunction, or depression and significantly affect the quality of life of the patient. Currently, there is no effective treatment for CPPS due to its recurrence and intractability. For synergistic CPPS therapy, we developed pH/reactive oxygen species (ROS) dual-responsive dexamethasone (Dex) nanoformulations using a ROS-responsive moiety and phytochemical modified α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) as the carrier. Results Dex release from the nanoformulations can be controlled in acidic and/or ROS-rich microenvironments. The fabricated Dex nanoformulations can also be efficiently internalized by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, prostatic epithelial cells, and stromal cells. Moreover, the levels of proinflammatory factors (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-17 A) in these cells were significantly decreased by Dex nanoformulations treatment through the release of Dex, phytochemical and elimination of ROS. In vivo experiments demonstrated notable accumulation of the Dex nanoformulations in prostate tissue to alleviate the symptoms of CPPS through the downregulation of proinflammatory factors. Interestingly, depression in mice may be relieved due to alleviation of their pelvic pain. Conclusion We fabricated Dex nanoformulations for the effective management of CPPS and alleviation of depression in mice.

Background Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is a typical symptom of chronic prostatitis (CP) in males that may cause abnormal urination, sexual dysfunction, or depression and significantly affect the quality of life of the patient. Currently, there is no effective treatment for CPPS due to its recurrence and intractability. For synergistic CPPS therapy, we developed pH/reactive oxygen species (ROS) dual-responsive dexamethasone (Dex) nanoformulations using a ROS-responsive moiety and phytochemical modified α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) as the carrier. Results Dex release from the nanoformulations can be controlled in acidic and/or ROS-rich microenvironments. The fabricated Dex nanoformulations can also be efficiently internalized by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, prostatic epithelial cells, and stromal cells. Moreover, the levels of proinflammatory factors (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-17A) in these cells were significantly decreased by Dex nanoformulations treatment through the release of Dex, phytochemical and elimination of ROS. In vivo experiments demonstrated notable accumulation of the Dex nanoformulations in prostate tissue to alleviate the symptoms of CPPS through the downregulation of proinflammatory factors. Interestingly, depression in mice may be relieved due to alleviation of their pelvic pain. Conclusion We fabricated Dex nanoformulations for the effective management of CPPS and alleviation of depression in mice.