Open Access Article
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Expression of Concern: Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU)-activated nanodroplets as a theranostic agent for noninvasive cancer molecular imaging and drug delivery
Jianxin
Liu
ab,
Fenfen
Xu
c,
Ju
Huang
a,
Jinshun
Xu
d,
Yang
Liu
b,
Yuanzhi
Yao
e,
Meng
Ao
a,
Ao
Li
f,
Lan
Hao
a,
Yang
Cao
a,
Zhongqian
Hu
g,
Haitao
Ran
a,
Zhigang
Wang
a and
Pan
Li
*a
aSecond Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, P.R. China. E-mail: cqlipan@163.com
bDepartment of Ultrasound, Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430014, P.R. China
cDepartment of Ultrasound, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, P.R. China
dDepartment of Interventional Ultrasound, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, P. R. China
eDepartment of Ultrasound, Chongqing Cancer Institute & Hospital & Cancer, Chongqing 400030, P.R. China
fDepartment of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P.R. China
gDepartment of Ultrasound, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, P.R. China
First published on 4th September 2023
Abstract
Expression of Concern for ‘Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU)-activated nanodroplets as a theranostic agent for noninvasive cancer molecular imaging and drug delivery’ by Jianxin Liu et al., Biomater. Sci., 2018, 6, 2838–2849, https://doi.org/10.1039/C8BM00726H.
Biomaterials Science is publishing this expression of concern in order to alert our readers that we are presently unsure of the reliability of the data reported in Fig. 7b–d of this article. There are overlapping panels in the PCNA and TUNEL staining images in Fig. 7b and there are unresolved concerns with the proliferating index of PCNA in Fig. 7c and the apoptosis index of TUNEL in Fig. 7d.
The authors have provided replacement data for Fig. 7b for consideration and say that the new data does not affect the conclusions of the paper.
An independent expert has stated that the authors’ response has not addressed all concerns with Fig. 7c and d.
The Royal Society of Chemistry has asked the affiliated institution to investigate this matter and establish whether the replacement images for Fig. 7b provided by the authors provide an accurate representation of the experiments that were conducted, and confirm the integrity and reliability of the data published in Fig. 7c and d. An expression of concern will continue to be associated with this manuscript until we receive conclusive information from the institution on this matter.
Maria Southall
21/08/2023
Executive Editor, Biomaterials Science
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