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The development of molecular imaging probes to identify key cellular changes within lung metastases may lead to noninvasive detection of metastatic lesions in the lung. In this study, we constructed a macrophage-targeted clickable albumin nanoplatform (CAN) decorated with mannose as the targeting ligand using a click reaction to maintain the intrinsic properties of albumin in vivo . We also modified the number of mannose molecules on the CAN and found that mannosylated serum albumin (MSA) harboring six molecules of mannose displayed favorable pharmacokinetics that allowed high-contrast imaging of the lung, rendering it suitable for in vivo visualization of lung metastases. Due to the optimized control of functionalization and surface modification, MSA enhanced blood circulation time and active/passive targeting abilities and was specifically incorporated by mannose receptor (CD206)-expressing macrophages in the metastatic lung. Moreover, extensive in vivo imaging studies using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT and positron emission tomography (PET) revealed that blood circulation of time-optimized MSA can be used to discern metastatic lesions, with a strong correlation between its signal and metastatic burden in the lung.

Developing a detailed understanding of enzyme function in the context of an intracellular signal transduction pathway requires minimally invasive methods for probing enzyme activity in situ. Here, we describe a new method for monitoring enzyme activity in living cells by sandwiching live cells between two vertical silicon nanowire (NW) arrays. Specifically, we use the first NW array to immobilize the cells and then present enzymatic substrates intracellularly via the second NW array by utilizing the NWs' ability to penetrate cellular membranes without affecting cells' viability or function. This strategy, when coupled with fluorescence microscopy and mass spectrometry, enables intracellular examination of protease, phosphatase, and protein kinase activities, demonstrating the assay's potential in uncovering the physiological roles of various enzymes.

Chlorella vulgaris is a green microalga that contains various antioxidants, such as carotenoids and chlorophylls. In this study, antioxidants from C. vulgaris were extracted using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), which has been recently used for bioactive compound extraction. The antioxidant capacity of individual compounds in chlorella was determined by online HPLC ABTS(*+) analysis. According to the antioxidant analysis of total extracts, the extraction yield, radical scavenging activity, and phenolic compounds using PLE were relatively high compared to those obtained using maceration or ultrasound-assisted extraction. On the basis of online HPLC ABTS(*+) analysis, the 15 major antioxidants from chlorella extracts were identified as hydrophilic compounds, lutein and its isomers, chlorophylls, and chlorophyll derivatives. Using PLE at high temperature (85-160 degrees C) significantly increased antioxidant extraction from chlorella, improving the formation of hydrophilic compounds and yielding more antioxidative chlorophyll derivatives. Online HPLC ABTS(*+) analysis was a useful tool for the separation of main antioxidants from PLE extracts and allowed the simultaneous measurement of their antioxidant capacity, which clearly showed that PLE is an excellent method for extracting antioxidants from C. vulgaris.