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Nanomedicine, Nanopharmacy and Nanobiomaterials

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2020) | Viewed by 22342

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ralph Santos-Oliveira

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Guest Editor
Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission, Nuclear Engineering Institute, Rio de Janeiro 21941906, Brazil
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomedicine, nanomaterials, and nanopharmacy are major topics in the field of nanotechnology. The tremendous advancement in this field has changed the course of history and brought a new era. Due their unique properties, such materials as polymeric nanoparticles, graphene and graphene quantum dots, metal nanoparticles (spions, gold nanoparticles, gold nanoclusters) have created an impetus for innovation, especially in healthcare, along with nanobiomaterials (e.g., peptides, aptamers, and monoclonal antibodies). All these new nanosystems are responsible for a remarkable range of applications from cancer to inflammation, from neurology to cardiology, which have changed the life of millions.

This Special Issue, “Nanomedicine, Nanopharmacy and Nanobiomaterials”, is dedicated to expert papers from all over the world that deal with nanotechnology in healthcare. The selected papers will include nanomaterial preparation, modification, characterization, properties, and the applications of any compositions and morphologies, including but not limited to carbon nanotubes, graphene, metal, oxide materials, polymers, molecules, nanoparticles, mesoporous silica, quantum dots, etc.

Prof. Dr. Ralph Santos-Oliveira
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1762 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Nanosystems on ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters: Understanding the Influence of Nanosystems on Multidrug Resistance Protein-1 and P-glycoprotein
by Francisco V.C. Mello, Gabriela N. de Moraes, Raquel C. Maia, Jennifer Kyeremateng, Surtaj Hussain Iram and Ralph Santos-Oliveira
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(7), 2630; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21072630 - 10 Apr 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3166
Abstract
The cancer multidrug resistance is involved in the failure of several treatments during cancer treatment. It is a phenomenon that has been receiving great attention in the last years due to the sheer amount of mechanisms discovered and involved in the process of [...] Read more.
The cancer multidrug resistance is involved in the failure of several treatments during cancer treatment. It is a phenomenon that has been receiving great attention in the last years due to the sheer amount of mechanisms discovered and involved in the process of resistance which hinders the effectiveness of many anti-cancer drugs. Among the mechanisms involved in the multidrug resistance, the participation of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters is the main one. The ABC transporters are a group of plasma membrane and intracellular organelle proteins involved in the process of externalization of substrates from cells, which are expressed in cancer. They are involved in the clearance of intracellular metabolites as ions, hormones, lipids and other small molecules from the cell, affecting directly and indirectly drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. Other mechanisms responsible for resistance are the signaling pathways and the anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins involved in cell death by apoptosis. In this study we evaluated the influence of three nanosystem (Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs), mesoporous silica (MSN) and poly-lactic nanoparticles (PLA)) in the main mechanism related to the cancer multidrug resistance such as the Multidrug Resistance Protein-1 and P-glycoprotein. We also evaluated this influence in a group of proteins involved in the apoptosis-related resistance including cIAP-1, XIAP, Bcl-2, BAK and Survivin proteins. Last, colonogenic and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays have also been performed. The results showed, regardless of the concentration used, GQDs, MSN and PLA were not cytotoxic to MDA-MB-231 cells and showed no impairment in the colony formation capacity. In addition, it has been observed that P-gp membrane expression was not significantly altered by any of the three nanomaterials. The results suggest that GQDs nanoparticles would be suitable for the delivery of other multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) substrate drugs that bind to the transporter at the same binding pocket, while MSN can strongly inhibit doxorubicin efflux by MRP1. On the other hand, PLA showed moderate inhibition of doxorubicin efflux by MRP1 suggesting that this nanomaterial can also be useful to treat MDR (Multidrug resistance) due to MRP1 overexpression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomedicine, Nanopharmacy and Nanobiomaterials)
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17 pages, 4552 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial and Physicochemical Properties of Artificial Saliva Formulations Supplemented with Core-Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles
by Katarzyna Niemirowicz-Laskowska, Joanna Mystkowska, Dawid Łysik, Sylwia Chmielewska, Grażyna Tokajuk, Iwona Misztalewska-Turkowicz, Agnieszka Z. Wilczewska and Robert Bucki
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(6), 1979; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21061979 - 13 Mar 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3538
Abstract
Saliva plays a crucial role in oral cavity. In addition to its buffering and moisturizing properties, saliva fulfills many biofunctional requirements, including antibacterial activity that is essential to assure proper oral microbiota growth. Due to numerous extra- and intra-systemic factors, there are many [...] Read more.
Saliva plays a crucial role in oral cavity. In addition to its buffering and moisturizing properties, saliva fulfills many biofunctional requirements, including antibacterial activity that is essential to assure proper oral microbiota growth. Due to numerous extra- and intra-systemic factors, there are many disorders of its secretion, leading to oral dryness. Saliva substitutes used in such situations must meet many demands. This study was design to evaluate the effect of core-shell magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) adding (gold-coated and aminosilane-coated nanoparticles NPs) on antimicrobial (microorganism adhesion, biofilm formation), rheological (viscosity, viscoelasticity) and physicochemical (pH, surface tension, conductivity) properties of three commercially available saliva formulations. Upon the addition of NPs (20 µg/mL), antibacterial activity of artificial saliva was found to increase against tested microorganisms by 20% to 50%. NPs, especially gold-coated ones, decrease the adhesion of Gram-positive and fungal cells by 65% and Gram-negative bacteria cells by 45%. Moreover, the addition of NPs strengthened the antimicrobial properties of tested artificial saliva, without influencing their rheological and physicochemical properties, which stay within the range characterizing the natural saliva collected from healthy subjects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomedicine, Nanopharmacy and Nanobiomaterials)
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17 pages, 1975 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on Antioxidant/Pro-Oxidant Balance in a Murine Model
by Anca Oana Docea, Daniela Calina, Ana Maria Buga, Ovidiu Zlatian, M.M.B. Paoliello, George Dan Mogosanu, Costin Teodor Streba, Elena Leocadia Popescu, Alexandra Elena Stoica, Alexandra Catalina Bîrcă, Bogdan Ștefan Vasile, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu and Laurentiu Mogoanta
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(4), 1233; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21041233 - 12 Feb 2020
Cited by 71 | Viewed by 3758
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the subacute effect of two types of Ag-NPs(EG-AgNPs and PVP-EG-AgNPs) on antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance in rats. Seventy Wistar rats (35 males and 35 females) were divided in 7 groups and intraperitoneally exposed for 28 days to 0, 1, 2 [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the subacute effect of two types of Ag-NPs(EG-AgNPs and PVP-EG-AgNPs) on antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance in rats. Seventy Wistar rats (35 males and 35 females) were divided in 7 groups and intraperitoneally exposed for 28 days to 0, 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg bw/day EG-Ag-NPs and 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg bw/day PVP- EG-Ag-NPs. After 28 days, the blood was collected, and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), thiobarbituric reactive species (TBARS),protein carbonyl (PROTC) levels, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and catalase (CAT) activity were determined. EG-Ag-NPs determined protective antioxidant effects in a dose-dependent manner. The exposure to the 4 mg/kg bw/day EG-Ag-NPs determines both in males and females a significant increase in TAC and CAT and a significant decrease in TBARS and PROTC only in females. The PVP-EG-AgNPs showed a different trend compared to EG-AgNPs. At 4 mg/kg bw/day the PVP-EG-AgNPs induce increased PROTC levels and decreased GSH (males and females) and TAC levels (males). The different mechanisms of EG-AgNPs and PVP-EG-AgNPs on antioxidant-/pro-oxidant balance can be explained by the influence of coating agent used for the preparation of the nanoparticles in the formation and composition of protein corona that influence their pathophysiology in the organism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomedicine, Nanopharmacy and Nanobiomaterials)
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23 pages, 6696 KiB  
Article
Molecular and Cellular Risk Assessment of Healthy Human Cells and Cancer Human Cells Exposed to Nanoparticles
by Edward Helal-Neto, Aline Oliveira da Silva de Barros, Roberta Saldanha-Gama, Renata Brandão-Costa, Luciana Magalhães Rebêlo Alencar, Clenilton Costa dos Santos, Ramón Martínez-Máñez, Eduardo Ricci-Junior, Frank Alexis, Verônica Morandi, Christina Barja-Fidalgo and Ralph Santos-Oliveira
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(1), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21010230 - 28 Dec 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3373
Abstract
Nanodrugs have in recent years been a subject of great debate. In 2017 alone, almost 50 nanodrugs were approved for clinical use worldwide. Despite the advantages related to nanodrugs/nanomedicine, there is still a lack of information regarding the biological safety, as the real [...] Read more.
Nanodrugs have in recent years been a subject of great debate. In 2017 alone, almost 50 nanodrugs were approved for clinical use worldwide. Despite the advantages related to nanodrugs/nanomedicine, there is still a lack of information regarding the biological safety, as the real behavior of these nanodrugs in the body. In order to better understand these aspects, in this study, we evaluated the effect of polylactic acid (PLA) nanoparticles (NPs) and magnetic core mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MMSN), of 1000 nm and 50 nm, respectively, on human cells. In this direction we evaluated the cell cycle, cytochemistry, proliferation and tubulogenesis on tumor cells lines: from melanoma (MV3), breast cancer (MCF-7, MDA-MB-213), glioma (U373MG), prostate (PC3), gastric (AGS) and colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and non-tumor cell lines: from human melanocyte (NGM), fibroblast (FGH) and endothelial (HUVEC), respectively. The data showed that an acute exposure to both, polymeric nanoparticles or MMSN, did not show any relevant toxic effects on neither tumor cells nor non-tumor cells, suggesting that although nanodrugs may present unrevealed aspects, under acute exposition to human cells they are harmless. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomedicine, Nanopharmacy and Nanobiomaterials)
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22 pages, 6283 KiB  
Article
Glycyrrhizin Acid and Glycyrrhetinic Acid Modified Polyethyleneimine for Targeted DNA Delivery to Hepatocellular Carcinoma
by Mingzhuo Cao, Yong Gao, Mengling Zhan, Nasha Qiu, Ying Piao, Zhuxian Zhou and Youqing Shen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(20), 5074; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20205074 - 12 Oct 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3634
Abstract
In the last 2–3 decades, gene therapy represented a promising option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. However, the design of safe and efficient gene delivery systems is still one of the major challenges that require solutions. In this study, we demonstrate a versatile [...] Read more.
In the last 2–3 decades, gene therapy represented a promising option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. However, the design of safe and efficient gene delivery systems is still one of the major challenges that require solutions. In this study, we demonstrate a versatile method for covalent conjugation of glycyrrhizin acid (GL) or glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) to increase the transfection efficiency of Polyethyleneimine (PEI, Mw 1.8K) and improve their targeting abilities of hepatoma carcinoma cells. GA and GL targeting ligands were grafted to PEI via N-acylation, and we systematically investigated their biophysical properties, cytotoxicity, liver targeting and transfection efficiency, and endocytosis pathway trafficking. PEI-GA0.75, PEI-GL10.62 and PEI-GL20.65 conjugates caused significant increases in gene transfection efficiency and superior selectivity for HepG2 cells, with all three conjugates showing specific recognition of HepG2 cells by the free GA competition assay. The endocytosis inhibition and intracellular trafficking results indicated that PEI-GA0.75 and GL10.62 conjugates behaved similarly to SV40 virus, by proceeding via the caveolae- and clathrin-independent mediated endocytosis pathway and bypassing entry into lysosomes, with an energy independent manner, achieving their high transfection efficiencies. In the HepG2 intraperitoneal tumor model, PEI-GA0.75 and PEI-GL10.62 carrying the luciferase reporter gene gained high gene expression, suggesting potential use for in vivo application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomedicine, Nanopharmacy and Nanobiomaterials)
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Review

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23 pages, 2688 KiB  
Review
MicroRNA Nanotherapeutics for Lung Targeting. Insights into Pulmonary Hypertension
by Susana Carregal-Romero, Lucía Fadón, Edurne Berra and Jesús Ruíz-Cabello
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(9), 3253; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21093253 - 4 May 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4284
Abstract
In this review, the potential future role of microRNA-based therapies and their specific application in lung diseases is reported with special attention to pulmonary hypertension. Current limitations of these therapies will be pointed out in order to address the challenges that they need [...] Read more.
In this review, the potential future role of microRNA-based therapies and their specific application in lung diseases is reported with special attention to pulmonary hypertension. Current limitations of these therapies will be pointed out in order to address the challenges that they need to face to reach clinical applications. In this context, the encapsulation of microRNA-based therapies in nanovectors has shown improvements as compared to chemically modified microRNAs toward enhanced stability, efficacy, reduced side effects, and local administration. All these concepts will contextualize in this review the recent achievements and expectations reported for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomedicine, Nanopharmacy and Nanobiomaterials)
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