@article{Liang2020, 
author = {Hongxia Liang and Zhenhua Li and Zhigang Ren and Qiaodi Jia and Linna Guo and Shasha Li and Hongyu Zhang and Shiqi Hu and Dashuai Zhu and Deliang Shen and Zujiang Yu and Ke Cheng},
title = {Light-triggered NO-releasing nanoparticles for treating mice with liver fibrosis},
year = {2020},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {2197-2202},
keywords = {liver fibrosis, nitric oxide (NO), hepatic stellate cells (HSC), nanoparticles, near infrared light (NIR)-controlled release},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1007/s12274-020-2833-6},
doi = {10.1007/s12274-020-2833-6},
abstract = {Liver fibrosis, resulting from chronic liver damage and characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, is a characteristic of most types of chronic liver diseases. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is considered an essential pathological hallmark in liver fibrosis. Although nitric oxide (NO) can effectively induce HSC apoptosis, the systemic administration of NO is ineffective and may cause severe complications such as hypotension. To overcome this limitation, nanoparticles were designed to target HSCs and release NO locally under the exposure of near infrared light (NIR). To achieve this, upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) cores were enveloped in mesoporous silica shells (UCNP@mSiO2), which were modified with hyaluronic acid (HA-UCNP@mSiO2) and Roussin’s black salt (RBS). HA molecules recognize and bind to CD44 proteins, which are overexpressed on activated HSCs. Under exposure to a 980-nm NIR laser, the UCNP cores convert the 980-nm wavelength into ultraviolet (UV) light, which then energizes the RBS (NO donors), resulting in an efficient release of NO inside of the HSCs. Once released, NO triggers HSC apoptosis and reverses the liver fibrosis. This targeted and controlled release method provides the theoretical and experimental basis for novel therapeutic approaches to treat hepatic fibrosis.}
}