Yaoxuan Chen

Abstract Despite the great efforts of using DNAzyme for gene therapy, its clinical success is limited by the lack of simple delivery systems and limited anticancer efficacy. Here, we develop a simple approach for the synthesis of hybrid nanostructures that exclusively consist of DNAzyme and Cu 2+ with ultra‐high loading capacity. The Cu–DNAzyme nanohybrids allow to effectively co‐deliver DNAzyme and Cu 2+ into cancer cells for combinational catalytic therapy. The released Cu 2+ can be reduced to Cu + by glutathione and then catalyze endogenous H 2 O 2 to form cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals for chemodynamic therapy (CDT), while the 10–23 DNAzyme enables the catalytic cleavage of VEGFR2 mRNA and activates gene silencing for gene therapy. We demonstrate that the system can efficiently accumulate in the tumor and exhibit amplified cascade antitumor effects with negligible systemic toxicity. Our work paves an extremely simple way to integrate DNAzyme with CDT for the dual‐catalytic tumor treatment.

Despite the enormous potential of DNAzyme for gene therapy, its efficacy is hampered by the limited endosomal escape capability. Here, we develop a near-infrared (NIR) light-controlled DNAzyme delivery platform to achieve enhanced gene-silencing efficacy. The nanoplatform is composed of therapeutic DNAzyme, photosensitizers (PSs) and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) that can convert NIR light to visible light. The system allows NIR light-activatable generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species due to the energy transfer from the UCNPs to PSs, which boosts the endosomal escape of DNAzyme for an improved gene-silencing efficacy. We demonstrate that the nanocomposites represent a promising platform to integrate DNAzyme-based gene therapy with NIR light-triggered photodynamic therapy for combinational tumor treatment. This work highlights a robust approach to combat the current limitations of DNAzyme delivery systems.

Abstract Despite the great efforts of using DNAzyme for gene therapy, its clinical success is limited by the lack of simple delivery systems and limited anticancer efficacy. Here, we develop a simple approach for the synthesis of hybrid nanostructures that exclusively consist of DNAzyme and Cu 2+ with ultra‐high loading capacity. The Cu–DNAzyme nanohybrids allow to effectively co‐deliver DNAzyme and Cu 2+ into cancer cells for combinational catalytic therapy. The released Cu 2+ can be reduced to Cu + by glutathione and then catalyze endogenous H 2 O 2 to form cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals for chemodynamic therapy (CDT), while the 10–23 DNAzyme enables the catalytic cleavage of VEGFR2 mRNA and activates gene silencing for gene therapy. We demonstrate that the system can efficiently accumulate in the tumor and exhibit amplified cascade antitumor effects with negligible systemic toxicity. Our work paves an extremely simple way to integrate DNAzyme with CDT for the dual‐catalytic tumor treatment.

Dental caries causes serious consequences and the financial burden of society especially in children with high morbidity rate. Here we carried out a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the efficacy of probiotics against dental caries in children. Forty-three RCTs were eligible for this meta-analysis after searching the PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science from the inception through October 2021. Pooled estimates demonstrated that treatment with probiotics significantly reduced noncavitated (dicdas2–6mft) (SMD = −0.18, 95% CI: −0.3 to −0.06, p = 0.002) and cavitated (dicdas5–6mft) carious lesions in children (SMD = −0.32, 95% CI: −0.5 to 0.14, p = 0.0004). Probiotics also reduced prevalence of noncavitated (dicdas2–6mft) carious lesions (RR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.67 to–0.97, p = 0.02). Salivary Streptococcus mutans was declined after intervention (SMD = −1.17, 95% CI: −1.85 to −0.5, p = 0.0007), while Lactobacillus counts were upregulated (SMD = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.46–1.92, p = 0.001). However, no significant effects in total bacteria counts and salivary pH were observed. Our findings suggest that probiotics especially Lactobacillus could be a promising therapeutic strategy for clinical applications in children dental caries.