Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42260634›Full record

ArticleJournal of nanobiotechnology2026

Retinol-guided liposomal platform for targeted pirfenidone delivery in hepatic fibrosis.

Jiachen Chen, Zihao Tao, Chenyu Qiu, Rui Wu, Zihao Huang, Xinyu Jiang, Pingyi Zhu, Yifan Wang, Longfa Kou, Xiujun Cai

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of nanobiotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jiachen Chen *Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
Zihao Tao *Wenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Pediatric Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
Chenyu Qiu *National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
Rui WuWenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Pediatric Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
Zihao HuangWenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Pediatric Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
Xinyu JiangWenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Pediatric Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
Pingyi ZhuDepartment of Radiology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. zpy0915@126.com.
Yifan WangDepartment of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, China. anwyf@zju.edu.cn.
Longfa KouWenzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Pediatric Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China. klfpharm@163.com.
Xiujun CaiDepartment of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, China. srrsh_cxj@zju.edu.cn.

Funding

Natural Science Foundation LHDMD23H030001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Liver fibrosis is a major contributor to global mortality due to its progressive disruption of hepatic architecture and function, and it remains a critical unmet medical need. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are considered a key therapeutic target owing to their central role in fibrosis progression, primarily mediated through the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Pirfenidone (PFD), a clinically approved broad-spectrum antifibrotic agent, shows potential for repurposing in liver fibrosis therapy. However, its clinical translation is limited by poor aqueous solubility and a lack of cellular targeting specificity. To address these limitations, we developed a vitamin A-conjugated liposomal delivery system (P@GB-Lipo-VA) to enhance the liver-specific accumulation of PFD. In vitro studies demonstrated that P@GB-Lipo-VA significantly increased cellular uptake in TGF-β1-stimulated LX-2 cells and reduced oxidative stress. In a bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced mouse model of liver fibrosis, P@GB-Lipo-VA effectively alleviated collagen deposition, improved liver function, and suppressed activation of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. These findings support P@GB-Lipo-VA as a promising targeted nanotherapeutic platform for enhancing the efficacy and safety of PFD in the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Indexed as

LiposomesLiver CirrhosisPyridonesVitamin AAnimalsCell LineDrug Delivery SystemsHepatic Stellate CellsHumansLiverMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLOxidative StressSignal TransductionTransforming Growth Factor beta1LiposomespirfenidonePyridonesTransforming Growth Factor beta1Vitamin AHepatic stellate cellsLiver fibrosisPirfenidoneTGF-β1/Smad pathwayVitamin A–modified liposomes

Identifiers

PMID42260634
PMCPMC13471585

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.