Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: A foam cell-targeted lipophagy restoration strategy stabilizes vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.041

Figure Lengend Snippet: In vivo photoacoustic imaging and analysis of the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaque. ( A - G ) Ex vivo distribution of HMCN@Cy5.5 , Scr-HMCN@Cy5.5 , and OPN-HMCN@Cy5.5 in various organs—specifically the aorta ( B ), heart ( C ), liver ( D ), spleen ( E ), lung ( F ), and kidney ( G )—from apoE −/− mice at 0, 6, 12, and 24 h post-intravenous injection (n = 3). ( H ) Confocal images demonstrate the colocalization of OPN with CY5.5-labeled nanoparticles in aortic roots (n = 6, scale bars, 200 μm). ( I ) Quantitative analysis of the relative MFI of OPN and CY5.5 in different treatment groups. ( J , K ) Photoacoustic images and quantitative analysis of signal intensities of atherosclerotic plaque in carotid arteries of both healthy and atherosclerosis mice (n = 3). For each animal, longitudinal PA imaging was performed on the same carotid artery at predefined anatomical landmarks across different time points. Photoacoustic images were acquired with depth calibration based on acoustic time-of-flight measurements, converting ultrasound echo delay into depth using the predefined sound velocity in soft tissue. A calibrated depth scale bar is shown in each image, with an effective imaging depth of approximately 7 mm. ( L , M ) Pathological staining of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery and aortic arch includes ORO and Masson staining (scale bar = 200 μm), as well as α -SMA, and CD68 fluorescent staining (scale bar = 100 μm each). ( N - Q ) The statistical analysis of ( N ) ORO staining (namely the percentage of LD area), ( O ) Masson staining (namely the percentage of collagen fiber area), ( P ) α -SMA fluorescent staining (namely the percentage of smooth muscle cell area) and ( Q ) CD68 fluorescent staining (namely the percentage of macrophage-derived foam cell area). ( R ) Vulnerability scores of aortic arch and carotid artery plaques. ∗ P < 0.05, ∗∗ P < 0.01, and ∗∗∗∗ P < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: PEG-NH2 and Cy5.5 were obtained from MedChemExpress, Shanghai, China.

Techniques: In Vivo, Imaging, Ex Vivo, Injection, Labeling, Staining, Derivative Assay

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Countering postoperative immune suppression with a self-assembling dendritic cell nanovaccine

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.05.005

Figure Lengend Snippet: BAITs enhance antigen uptake and digestion by DCs under TGFβ stimulation. (A) Schematic illustration of real-time DC migration assay. BAITs in the lower chamber create a chemokine gradient to attract DCs from the upper chamber. (B) Kinetics of DC migration measured as cell index (n = 3; n.s. is P > 0.05, ∗∗∗∗ is P < 0.0001 by two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test). (C) Crystal violet staining of non-migrated DCs (upper chamber) and Calcein-AM staining of migrated DCs (lower chamber) showing enhanced DC recruitment by BAITs. (D) The antigen uptake efficiency of DCs under varying antigen concentrations with or without TGFβ (n = 5; ∗∗∗ is P < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗ is P < 0.0001 by two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test). (E) Heatmap of immune-related genes in DCs showing upregulation of antigen presentation and co-stimulation markers and downregulation of suppressive factors as antigen concentration increases. (F) Antigen digestion capacity of DCs assessed in the presence or absence of TGFβ (n = 8; ∗∗∗∗ is P < 0.0001 by two-tailed Student's t -test). (G) Fluorescent images showing enhanced antigen uptake in DCs mediated by BAITs (quantified on right; n = 10; ∗∗∗∗ is P < 0.0001 by two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test). (H) Flow cytometry analysis of antigen-positive (Cy3 + ) DCs after incubation with free antigen or BAIT (quantified on right; n = 4; ∗∗∗∗ is P < 0.0001 by two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test). (I) BAITs improve antigen digestion and uptake of DCs under TGFβ stimulation. DCs were first incubated with Cy5-antigens for 12 h, followed by medium replacement and subsequent treatment with Cy3-antigens or Cy3-BAITs for an additional 6 h. Data are presented as mean ± SD.

Article Snippet: For MHC I analysis, the cells were incubated with rat CoraLite Plus 488 anti-mouse LAMP1 antibody (1:200) and rabbit anti-mouse MHC I antibody (1:100) overnight at 4 °C, followed by Cy5-conjugated anti-rabbit secondary antibody (1:200) for 1 h at 37 °C.

Techniques: Migration, Staining, Immunopeptidomics, Concentration Assay, Two Tailed Test, Flow Cytometry, Incubation

Journal: International Journal of Pharmaceutics: X

Article Title: Engineered M2 macrophage-derived vesicles deliver DNase I for cfDNA clearance and multi-organ protection in sepsis

doi: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2026.100528

Figure Lengend Snippet: Biodistribution of M2-EVs@DNase I in septic mice. (A) Representative in vivo fluorescence images of septic mice following intravenous injection of Cy5.5-labeled DNase I or M2-EVs@DNase I at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. (B) Ex vivo fluorescence images of major organs at 24 h post-administration. (C) Quantitative results of fluorescence intensity in major organs. n = 3. Data are mean ± SD. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01.

Article Snippet: Cyanine5.5 (Cy5.5) and DNase I were acquired from MedChemExpress (MCE, NJ, USA).

Techniques: In Vivo, Fluorescence, Injection, Labeling, Ex Vivo

Journal: International Journal of Pharmaceutics: X

Article Title: Engineered M2 macrophage-derived vesicles deliver DNase I for cfDNA clearance and multi-organ protection in sepsis

doi: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2026.100528

Figure Lengend Snippet: Biodistribution of M2-EVs@DNase I in septic mice. (A) Representative in vivo fluorescence images of septic mice following intravenous injection of Cy5.5-labeled DNase I or M2-EVs@DNase I at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. (B) Ex vivo fluorescence images of major organs at 24 h post-administration. (C) Quantitative results of fluorescence intensity in major organs. n = 3. Data are mean ± SD. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01.

Article Snippet: CLP-induced septic mice received intravenous injections of Cy5.5-labeled DNase I or M2-EVs@DNase I. Fluorescence imaging was performed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h post-injection using AniView 100 (Guangzhou Biolight Biotechnology, China).

Techniques: In Vivo, Fluorescence, Injection, Labeling, Ex Vivo

Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: Self-assembled nanoparticles from Xiexin Decoction attenuate ulcerative colitis by targeting VDAC1-Mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103078

Figure Lengend Snippet: Gastrointestinal stability and biodistribution of RBNPs. (A – C) Hydrodynamic diameter (A), PDI (B), and zeta potential (C) of RBNPs incubated in PBS, SGF, or SIF. (D) In vitro cumulative release profiles of BBR from RBNPs in SGF and SIF over 48 h. (E – F) Representative in vivo fluorescence images (E) and quantification of radiant efficiency (F) in mice following oral administration of Cy5.5@RBNPs or free Cy5.5. (G) Ex vivo fluorescence images of major organs (H, heart; Lu, lung; Li, liver; S, spleen; K, kidney) and colons excised at indicated time points. (H) Quantification of radiant efficiency in major organs and colons. Data are presented as mean ± SD ( n = 3). Statistical significance was assessed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test, ∗∗∗∗ p < 0.0001; ns, not significant.

Article Snippet: MedChemExpress supplied the Cy5.5 dye.

Techniques: Zeta Potential Analyzer, Incubation, In Vitro, In Vivo, Fluorescence, Ex Vivo

Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: Self-assembled nanoparticles from Xiexin Decoction attenuate ulcerative colitis by targeting VDAC1-Mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2026.103078

Figure Lengend Snippet: In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of XXD-based self-assembled nanoparticles. (A) Viability of RAW264.7 cells after 24-h treatment with XXD, XDNPs, or RBNPs, assessed using the CCK-8 assay. (B – C) Flow cytometry analysis of cellular uptake of Cy5.5-labeled RBNPs (Cy5.5@RBNPs) versus free Cy5.5. (D – E) Flow cytometry assessment of macrophage polarization (M1/M2) in RAW264.7 cells following treatment with the indicated formulations. (F – H) ELISA quantification of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β (F), IL-6 (G), and TNF-α (H) in culture supernatants. (I) Nitric oxide (NO) production in the supernatant. (J) Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images. (K – L) Flow cytometry analysis of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). (M) Intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) levels in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells after treatment with the formulations. Data are presented as mean ± SD ( n = 3). Statistical significance was calculated using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test. ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗ p < 0.0001 versus the Model group; #### p < 0.0001 versus the Ctrl group.

Article Snippet: MedChemExpress supplied the Cy5.5 dye.

Techniques: In Vitro, CCK-8 Assay, Flow Cytometry, Labeling, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy