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Emerging Nanotechnologies for Drug Delivery and Tissue Regeneration

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 (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 12892

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
National Research Council, Institute for Complex Systems, Rome, Italy
Interests: graphene; regenerative medicine; spectroscopy; biophysics; carbon material; nanoparticles; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
Interests: regenerative medicine; muscle regeneration; osteogenesis; mesenchymal stromal cells; stem cell niche

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

In this Special Issue, we will focus on nanotechnologies for drug delivery and for regenerative medicine research. Nanotechnologies include biomaterials in nanoformulations capable of improving drugs, nucleic acids, and bioactive molecule distribution after administration in vivo. Nanometer-sized particles alter systemic trafficking and cellular uptake and decrease off-target toxicity. Further, nanoparticles have the potential to produce personalized diagnostic devices, miniaturizing reagents and improving diagnostic target resolution. Here, we focus on nanomedicines for tissue regeneration, a complex set of technologies improved for regeneration of healthy musculoskeletal tissues, skin, sensory, intestinal tissues and more. This issue will include contributions of research applications, but also new methods for diagnostics and characterization and quantification of nanoparticles.

Prof. Dr. Valentina Palmieri
Prof. Dr. Lorena Di Pietro
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • tissue regeneration
  • nanoparticles
  • nanotechnology
  • analytical methods
  • microscopy
  • spectroscopy
  • drug delivery
  • gene targeting
  • personalized medicine

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Review

21 pages, 2962 KiB  
Review
Hyaluronic Acid-Based Nanosystems for CD44 Mediated Anti-Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Activity
by Saniya Salathia, Maria Rosa Gigliobianco, Cristina Casadidio, Piera Di Martino and Roberta Censi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7286; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087286 - 14 Apr 2023
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2996
Abstract
The nervous and immune systems go hand in hand in causing inflammation and pain. However, the two are not mutually exclusive. While some diseases cause inflammation, others are caused by it. Macrophages play an important role in modulating inflammation to trigger neuropathic pain. [...] Read more.
The nervous and immune systems go hand in hand in causing inflammation and pain. However, the two are not mutually exclusive. While some diseases cause inflammation, others are caused by it. Macrophages play an important role in modulating inflammation to trigger neuropathic pain. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan that has a well-known ability to bind with the cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) receptor on classically activated M1 macrophages. Resolving inflammation by varying the molecular weight of HA is a debated concept. HA-based drug delivery nanosystems such as nanohydrogels and nanoemulsions, targeting macrophages can be used to relieve pain and inflammation by loading antinociceptive drugs and enhancing the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs. This review will discuss the ongoing research on HA-based drug delivery nanosystems regarding their antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Nanotechnologies for Drug Delivery and Tissue Regeneration)
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18 pages, 1262 KiB  
Review
Nano-Immunomodulation: A New Strategy for Skeletal Muscle Diseases and Aging?
by Francesco Millozzi, Andrea Papait, Marina Bouché, Ornella Parolini and Daniela Palacios
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1175; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021175 - 7 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2304
Abstract
The skeletal muscle has a very remarkable ability to regenerate upon injury under physiological conditions; however, this regenerative capacity is strongly diminished in physio-pathological conditions, such as those present in diseased or aged muscles. Many muscular dystrophies (MDs) are characterized by aberrant inflammation [...] Read more.
The skeletal muscle has a very remarkable ability to regenerate upon injury under physiological conditions; however, this regenerative capacity is strongly diminished in physio-pathological conditions, such as those present in diseased or aged muscles. Many muscular dystrophies (MDs) are characterized by aberrant inflammation due to the deregulation of both the lymphoid and myeloid cell populations and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pathological inflammation is also observed in old muscles due to a systemic change in the immune system, known as “inflammaging”. Immunomodulation represents, therefore, a promising therapeutic opportunity for different skeletal muscle conditions. However, the use of immunomodulatory drugs in the clinics presents several caveats, including their low stability in vivo, the need for high doses to obtain therapeutically relevant effects, and the presence of strong side effects. Within this context, the emerging field of nanomedicine provides the powerful tools needed to control the immune response. Nano-scale materials are currently being explored as biocarriers to release immunomodulatory agents in the damaged tissues, allowing therapeutic doses with limited off-target effects. In addition, the intrinsic immunomodulatory properties of some nanomaterials offer further opportunities for intervention that still need to be systematically explored. Here we exhaustively review the state-of-the-art regarding the use of nano-sized materials to modulate the aberrant immune response that characterizes some physio-pathological muscle conditions, such as MDs or sarcopenia (the age-dependent loss of muscle mass). Based on our learnings from cancer and immune tolerance induction, we also discuss further opportunities, challenges, and limitations of the emerging field of nano-immunomodulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Nanotechnologies for Drug Delivery and Tissue Regeneration)
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25 pages, 4097 KiB  
Review
Translating Material Science into Bone Regenerative Medicine Applications: State-of-The Art Methods and Protocols
by Lorena Di Pietro, Valentina Palmieri, Massimiliano Papi and Wanda Lattanzi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(16), 9493; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23169493 - 22 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2604
Abstract
In the last 20 years, bone regenerative research has experienced exponential growth thanks to the discovery of new nanomaterials and improved manufacturing technologies that have emerged in the biomedical field. This revolution demands standardization of methods employed for biomaterials characterization in order to [...] Read more.
In the last 20 years, bone regenerative research has experienced exponential growth thanks to the discovery of new nanomaterials and improved manufacturing technologies that have emerged in the biomedical field. This revolution demands standardization of methods employed for biomaterials characterization in order to achieve comparable, interoperable, and reproducible results. The exploited methods for characterization span from biophysics and biochemical techniques, including microscopy and spectroscopy, functional assays for biological properties, and molecular profiling. This review aims to provide scholars with a rapid handbook collecting multidisciplinary methods for bone substitute R&D and validation, getting sources from an up-to-date and comprehensive examination of the scientific landscape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Nanotechnologies for Drug Delivery and Tissue Regeneration)
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23 pages, 3084 KiB  
Review
Upconversion Nanostructures Applied in Theranostic Systems
by Chao Lu, Etienne Joulin, Howyn Tang, Hossein Pouri and Jin Zhang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(16), 9003; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23169003 - 12 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2417
Abstract
Upconversion (UC) nanostructures, which can upconvert near-infrared (NIR) light with low energy to visible or UV light with higher energy, are investigated for theranostic applications. The surface of lanthanide (Ln)-doped UC nanostructures can be modified with different functional groups and bioconjugated with biomolecules [...] Read more.
Upconversion (UC) nanostructures, which can upconvert near-infrared (NIR) light with low energy to visible or UV light with higher energy, are investigated for theranostic applications. The surface of lanthanide (Ln)-doped UC nanostructures can be modified with different functional groups and bioconjugated with biomolecules for therapeutic systems. On the other hand, organic molecular-based UC nanostructures, by using the triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) UC mechanism, have high UC quantum yields and do not require high excitation power. In this review, the major UC mechanisms in different nanostructures have been introduced, including the Ln-doped UC mechanism and the TTA UC mechanism. The design and fabrication of Ln-doped UC nanostructures and TTA UC-based UC nanostructures for theranostic applications have been reviewed and discussed. In addition, the current progress in the application of UC nanostructures for diagnosis and therapy has been summarized, including tumor-targeted bioimaging and chemotherapy, image-guided diagnosis and phototherapy, NIR-triggered controlled drug releasing and bioimaging. We also provide insight into the development of emerging UC nanostructures in the field of theranostics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Nanotechnologies for Drug Delivery and Tissue Regeneration)
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19 pages, 1512 KiB  
Review
Benefits of Applying Nanotechnologies to Hydrogels in Efficacy Tests in Osteoarthritis Models—A Systematic Review of Preclinical Studies
by Chiara Delbaldo, Matilde Tschon, Lucia Martini, Milena Fini and Giorgia Codispoti
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(15), 8236; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23158236 - 26 Jul 2022
Viewed by 1666
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a severe musculoskeletal disease with an increasing incidence in the worldwide population. Recent research has focused on the development of innovative strategies to prevent articular cartilage damage and slow down OA progression, and nanotechnologies applied to hydrogels have gained particular [...] Read more.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a severe musculoskeletal disease with an increasing incidence in the worldwide population. Recent research has focused on the development of innovative strategies to prevent articular cartilage damage and slow down OA progression, and nanotechnologies applied to hydrogels have gained particular interest. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the state of the art on preclinical in vitro and in vivo efficacy studies applying nanotechnologies to hydrogels in OA models to elucidate the benefits of their applications. Three databases were consulted for eligible papers. The inclusion criteria were in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies, using OA cells or OA animal models, and testing hydrogels and nanoparticles (NPs) over the last ten years. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed. Eleven papers were included. In vitro studies evidenced that NP-gels do not impact on cell viability and do not cause inflammation in OA cell phenotypes. In vivo research on rodents showed that these treatments could increase drug retention in joints, reducing inflammation and preventing articular cartilage damage. Nanotechnologies in preclinical efficacy tests are still new and require extensive studies and technical hits to determine the efficacy, safety, fate, and localization of NPs for translation into an effective therapy for OA patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Nanotechnologies for Drug Delivery and Tissue Regeneration)
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