Scientists propose a new strategy for precise targeting of tumors, "Nano Phosphorus Therapy"

Scientists propose a new strategy for precise targeting of tumors, "Nano Phosphorus Therapy"

Provide new ideas for nanomedicine research and development

The researchers suggest that tumor-targeted precision "nano-phosphate treatment," the new policy scientists have suggested that tumor-targeted precision "nano-phosphate treatment," a new strategyto provide new ideas for the nano drug development provide new ideas for nano drug development to provide new ideas for the development of nanomedicine

Photo courtesy of the research team on the molecular mechanism of black phosphorus nanomaterials blocking cell mitosis

Photo courtesy of the research team on the molecular mechanism of black phosphorus nanomaterials blocking cell mitosis

In the past few decades, drug research and development based on nanotechnology has been widely carried out
.

In the field of anti-tumor, nanomedicine can provide better targeting and excellent pharmaceutical properties, so high expectations are placed

On August 5th, the collaborative research results of Li Hongchang's team, Yu Xuefeng's team, and Li Yang's team at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences were published in the top international journal "Nature-Nanotechnology" in the field of nanotechnology
.

The research team selected black phosphorus nanomaterials as the research object.

Associate researcher Shao Ximing of Li Hongchang's research group and research assistant Ding Zhihao are the co-authors of the paper.
Researchers Li Hongchang, Yu Xuefeng and Li Yang are the co-corresponding authors of the paper.
Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences is the only first and corresponding author
.

"Nano Missiles" Aiming at Cell Division

"Nano Missiles" Aiming at Cell Division

One cell becomes two cells, and two cells become four cells.
.
.
All cells in the human body are produced through this division
.

Under normal circumstances, the human body can precisely control the process of cell division in the body

As a new type of nanomaterial composed of a single phosphorus element, black phosphorus has unique molecular structure and interface characteristics, and has application potential in many fields
.

Previously, the research team has discovered that black phosphorus has high biological activity and biodegradability, and has good application potential in biomedical fields such as tumor treatment

The team first used low-concentration black phosphorous nanomaterials to treat cells and found that black phosphorous caused the cell cycle to stagnate in mitosis
.

Subsequently, the team deeply explored the mechanism behind this phenomenon and found that black phosphorus disrupted the assembly of the spindle, the core machine of cell mitosis

"Like other life processes in organisms, cell division requires the participation of many biomolecules.
Among them, PLK1 kinase is a very critical molecular switch.
Its main function is to control the assembly and operation of the spindle
.

" Li Hongchang said that after black phosphorus enters the cell, By disguising as a substrate of PLK1, a large number of PLK1 proteins are attracted to bind to it, and the activity of these PLK1 is lost, which further causes the wrong assembly of the spindle, and finally blocks the normal progress of cell division

A cross-disciplinary collision of ideas

A cross-disciplinary collision of ideas

Phosphorus is a non-metallic element ubiquitous in nature, and it is also an important component of all life forms on the earth
.

Studying the interaction between phosphorus and life systems is of great significance for understanding the laws of life and the evolution of life, but the development of related research work needs to span the two first-level disciplines of "materials" and "biology", so it is important for the research team The disciplinary background puts forward very high demands

In the course of this research, the research team gave full play to the characteristics of interdisciplinary, spontaneously formed an interdisciplinary research team of materials science and biology, and successfully integrated "materials" and "biology" deeply
.

For example, Yu Xuefeng's research group has conducted systematic research on black phosphorus nanomaterials for 6 years, and has established a complete preparation and application system of black phosphorus-based nanomaterials.

"In the actual research process, it is difficult for a single research group to'understand both materials and biology'.
Therefore, it is often difficult to conduct continuous and in-depth research on similar subjects that span multiple disciplines.
Most of the research can only be a simple taste.

Li Hongchang said that through the constant "ideological collision" and continuous "interchange of existence" between the "material man" and the "biological man", the project team finally discovered an important phenomenon in which inorganic elemental nano-phosphorus materials affect cell division.
And in-depth analysis of the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind it
.
This is another representative scientific research achievement produced by Shenzhen Advanced Institute's adherence to the concept of "interdisciplinary" and the orientation of "facing the frontiers of world science and technology"
.
(Source: Diao Wenhui, China Science News)

Related paper information: https://doi.
org/10.
1038/s41565-021-00952-x

https://doi.
org/10.
1038/s41565-021-00952-x