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Nanomaterials
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Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications
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Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Medicines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2023) | Viewed by 49044

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zili Sideratou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, NCSR Demokritos, Aghia Paraskevi 15310, Greece
Interests: functional liposomes; functional dendritic polymers; carbon-based nanostructured materials; nano-sized drug delivery systems; drug targeting; triggered drug release; antibacterial agents
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology is an emerging field that encompasses the manipulation of matter at the nanometer scale, leading to a new class of materials with improved properties for a wide range of applications. Concerning terminology, nanotechnology can be characterized as the science and engineering that deals with the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of materials and devices with at least one dimension on the nanometer scale. Currently, nanomedicine, which is related to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of various diseases using tools at the nanoscale, and biomedical engineering are among the most promising and challenging fields involved in the application of nanostructured materials. Nanostructured materials, including inorganic or organic, crystalline or amorphous, and supramolecular structures such as micelles, liposomes, polymersomes, dendrimers, cyclodextrins, polymeric, metal and metal oxides nanoparticles, lipid and polymeric nanocapsules, carbon nanostructures, quantum dots, etc., have been used in a wide variety of biological and pharmaceutical applications due to their excellent structural properties and their ability to be functionalized with specific ligands, achieving controllable size and shape, enhanced targetability, high loading capacity and controlled release of drugs or other bioactive molecules, etc. Although various types of nanostructured materials have been developed and proposed for potent biological applications, only a handful have been approved due to concerns and challenges faced in biocompatibility, pharmacokinetics, and in vivo targeting efficacy. Therefore, there is still room for improvement, as some aspects such as cytotoxicity, immunogenicity, and low biocompatibility need to be addressed in a more extensive manner.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight recent advances in all aspects relevant to the design, synthesis, and characterization of nanostructured materials for intended applications as drug and gene delivery systems, stimuli-responsive therapeutics, bioimaging agents, bioanalytical diagnostics, theranostics, tissue engineering scaffolds and devices, antibacterial agents, etc. This Special Issue of Nanomaterials will collect original high-quality research papers focused on the most recent advances and comprehensive reviews addressing state-of-the-art topics in the field of various nanostructured materials for biological and pharmaceutical applications.

Dr. Zili Sideratou
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. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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.

Keywords

  • Nanostructured materials
  • Drug and gene delivery systems
  • Stimuli-responsive therapeutics
  • Bioimaging agents
  • Bio-analytical diagnostics
  • Theranostics
  • Antibacterial/antimicrobial/antiviral agents
  • Drug targeting
  • Triggered drug release

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (23 papers)

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19 pages, 3134 KiB  
Article
Resveratrol Loaded Liposomes Disrupt Cancer Associated Fibroblast Communications within the Tumor Microenvironment to Inhibit Colorectal Cancer Aggressiveness
by Paweena Dana, Nutthanit Thumrongsiri, Prattana Tanyapanyachon, Walailuk Chonniyom, Primana Punnakitikashem and Nattika Saengkrit
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(1), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13010107 - 25 Dec 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1929
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer-associated fibroblast, CAF-rich tumor. CAF promotes cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance via secretes soluble factors, and extracellular matrices which leads to dense stroma, a major barrier for drug delivery. Resveratrol (RES) is a polyphenolic compound, has several [...] Read more.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer-associated fibroblast, CAF-rich tumor. CAF promotes cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance via secretes soluble factors, and extracellular matrices which leads to dense stroma, a major barrier for drug delivery. Resveratrol (RES) is a polyphenolic compound, has several pharmacologic functions including anti-inflammation and anticancer effects. Considering tumor microenvironment of CRC, resveratrol-loaded liposome (L-RES) was synthesized and employed to inhibit CAF functions. The L-RES was synthesized by thin-film hydration method. The cytotoxicity of L-RES was evaluated using MTT assay. Effect of L-RES treated CAF on tumor spheroid growth was performed. Cell invasion was determined using spheroid invasion assay. The effect of L-RES on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) sensitivity of CRC cells was determined in co-cultured tumor spheroids. Subtoxic dose of L-RES was selected to study possible inhibiting CAF functions. Decreased CAF markers, α-SMA and IL-6 levels, were observed in L-RES treated activated fibroblast. Interestingly, the activated fibroblast promoted invasive ability and drug resistance of CRC cells in co-culture condition of both 2D and 3D cultures and was attenuated by L-RES treatment in the activated fibroblast. Therefore, L-RES provides a promising drug delivery strategy for CRC treatment by disrupting the crosstalk between CRC cells and CAF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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12 pages, 1640 KiB  
Article
Phytantriol-Based Berberine-Loaded Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles Attenuate Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced RAW264.7 Macrophages
by Abdullah M. Alnuqaydan, Abdulmajeed G. Almutary, Mohd Azam, Bikash Manandhar, Gabriele De Rubis, Thiagarajan Madheswaran, Keshav Raj Paudel, Philip M. Hansbro, Dinesh Kumar Chellappan and Kamal Dua
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(23), 4312; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12234312 - 05 Dec 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2369
Abstract
Inflammation and oxidative stress are interrelated processes that represent the underlying causes of several chronic inflammatory diseases that include asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Macrophages are key initiators of inflammatory processes in the body. When [...] Read more.
Inflammation and oxidative stress are interrelated processes that represent the underlying causes of several chronic inflammatory diseases that include asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Macrophages are key initiators of inflammatory processes in the body. When triggered by a stimulus such as bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), these cells secrete inflammatory cytokines namely TNF-α that orchestrate the cellular inflammatory process. Simultaneously, pro-inflammatory stimuli induce the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) which catalyzes the generation of high levels of nitric oxide (NO). This, together with high concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by macrophages, mediate oxidative stress which, in turn, exacerbates inflammation in a feedback loop, resulting in the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory diseases. Berberine is a phytochemical embedded with potent in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, whose therapeutic application is hindered by poor solubility and bioavailability. For this reason, large doses of berberine need to be administered to achieve the desired pharmacological effect, which may result in toxicity. Encapsulation of such a drug in liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNs) represents a viable strategy to overcome these limitations. We encapsulated berberine in phytantriol-based LCNs (BP-LCNs) and tested the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of BP-LCNs in vitro on LPS-induced mouse RAW264.7 macrophages. BP-LCNs showed potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, with significant reduction in the gene expressions of TNF-α and iNOS, followed by concomitant reduction of ROS and NO production at a concentration of 2.5 µM, which is lower than the concentration of free berberine concentration required to achieve similar effects as reported elsewhere. Furthermore, we provide evidence for the suitability for BP-LCNs both as an antioxidant and as an anti-inflammatory agent with potential application in the therapy of chronic inflammatory diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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24 pages, 3587 KiB  
Article
Graphene Oxide/Chitosan Injectable Composite Hydrogel for Controlled Release of Doxorubicin: An Approach for Enhanced Intratumoral Delivery
by Safaa Eltahir, Reem Al homsi, Jayalakshmi Jagal, Iman Saad Ahmed and Mohamed Haider
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(23), 4261; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12234261 - 30 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1838
Abstract
Intratumoral (IT) injection of chemotherapeutics into needle-accessible solid tumors can directly localize the anticancer drug in the tumor site, thus increasing its local bioavailability and reducing its undesirable effects compared to systemic administration. In this study, graphene oxide (GO)-based chitosan/β-glycerophosphate (CS/GP) thermosensitive injectable [...] Read more.
Intratumoral (IT) injection of chemotherapeutics into needle-accessible solid tumors can directly localize the anticancer drug in the tumor site, thus increasing its local bioavailability and reducing its undesirable effects compared to systemic administration. In this study, graphene oxide (GO)-based chitosan/β-glycerophosphate (CS/GP) thermosensitive injectable composite hydrogels (CH) were prepared and optimized for the localized controlled delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). A quality-by-design (QbD) approach was used to study the individual and combined effects of several formulation variables to produce optimal DOX-loaded GO/CS/GP CH with predetermined characteristics, including gelation time, injectability, porosity, and swelling capacity. The surface morphology of the optimal formulation (DOX/opt CH), chemical interaction between its ingredients and in vitro release of DOX in comparison to GO-free CS/GP CH were investigated. Cell viability and cellular uptake after treatment with DOX/opt CH were studied on MCF 7, MDB-MB-231 and FaDu cell lines. The statistical analysis of the measured responses revealed significant effects of the concentration of GO, the concentration of CS, and the CS:GP ratio on the physicochemical characteristics of the prepared GO/CS/GP CH. The optimization process showed that DOX-loaded GO/CS/GP CH prepared using 0.1% GO and 1.7% CS at a CS: GO ratio of 3:1 (v/v) had the highest desirability value. DOX/opt CH showed a porous microstructure and chemical compatibility between its ingredients. The incorporation of GO resulted in an increase in the ability of the CH matrices to control DOX release in vitro. Finally, cellular characterization showed a time-dependent increase in cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of DOX after treatment with DOX/opt CH. The proposed DOX/opt CH might be considered a promising injectable platform to control the release and increase the local bioavailability of chemotherapeutics in the treatment of solid tumors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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15 pages, 3186 KiB  
Article
Formulation, Characterization, Anti-Inflammatory and Cytotoxicity Study of Sesamol-Laden Nanosponges
by Anroop B. Nair, Pooja Dalal, Varsha Kadian, Sunil Kumar, Archana Kapoor, Minakshi Garg, Rekha Rao, Bandar Aldhubiab, Nagaraja Sreeharsha, Rashed M. Almuqbil, Mahesh Attimarad, Heba S. Elsewedy and Pottathil Shinu
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(23), 4211; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12234211 - 26 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1853
Abstract
Sesamol (SES) possesses remarkable chemotherapeutic activity, owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. However, the activity of SES is mainly hampered by its poor physicochemical properties and stability issues. Hence, to improve the efficacy of this natural anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic agent, it was [...] Read more.
Sesamol (SES) possesses remarkable chemotherapeutic activity, owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. However, the activity of SES is mainly hampered by its poor physicochemical properties and stability issues. Hence, to improve the efficacy of this natural anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic agent, it was loaded into β-cyclodextrin nanosponges (NS) prepared using different molar ratios of polymer and crosslinker (diphenyl carbonate). The particle size of SES-laden NS (SES-NS) was shown to be in the nano range (200 to 500 nm), with a low polydispersity index, an adequate charge (−17 to −26 mV), and a high payload. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the bioactive-loaded selected batch (SES-NS6). This batch of nanoformulations showed improved solubilization efficacy (701.88 µg/mL) in comparison to bare SES (244.36 µg/mL), polymer (β-CD) (261.43 µg/mL), and other fabricated batches. The drug release data displayed the controlled release behavior of SES from NS. The findings of the egg albumin denaturation assay revealed the enhanced anti-inflammatory potential of SES-NS as compared to bare SES. Further, the cytotoxicity assay showed that SES-NS was more effective against B16F12 melanoma cell lines than the bioactive alone. The findings of this assay demonstrated a reduction in the IC50 values of SES-NS (67.38 μg/mL) in comparison to SES (106 μg/mL). The present investigation demonstrated the in vitro controlled release pattern and the enhanced anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity of SES-NS, suggesting its potential as a promising drug delivery carrier for topical delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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0 pages, 2248 KiB  
Article
Preparation of 6-Mercaptopurine Loaded Liposomal Formulation for Enhanced Cytotoxic Response in Cancer Cells
by Alam Jamal, Amer H. Asseri, Ehab M. M. Ali, Afnan H. El-Gowily, Mohamed Imran Khan, Salman Hosawi, Reem Alsolami and Tarek A. Ahmed
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(22), 4029; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12224029 - 16 Nov 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1963 | Correction
Abstract
6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) is a well-known immunosuppressive medication with proven anti-proliferative activities. 6-MP possesses incomplete and highly variable oral absorption due to its poor water solubility, which might reduce its anti-cancer properties. To overcome these negative effects, we developed neutral and positively charged drug-loaded [...] Read more.
6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) is a well-known immunosuppressive medication with proven anti-proliferative activities. 6-MP possesses incomplete and highly variable oral absorption due to its poor water solubility, which might reduce its anti-cancer properties. To overcome these negative effects, we developed neutral and positively charged drug-loaded liposomal formulations utilizing the thin-film hydration technique. The prepared liposomal formulations were characterized for their size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency. The average size of the prepared liposomes was between 574.67 ± 37.29 and 660.47 ± 44.32 nm. Positively charged liposomes (F1 and F3) exhibited a lower PDI than the corresponding neutrally charged ones (F2 and F4). Entrapment efficiency was higher in the neutral liposomes when compared to the charged formulation. F1 showed the lowest IC50 against HepG2, HCT116, and MCF-7 cancer cells. HepG2 cells treated with F1 showed the highest level of inhibition of cell proliferation with no evidence of apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis showed an increase in the G1/G0 and S phases, along with a decrease in the G2/M phases in the cell lines treated with drug loaded positively charged liposomes when compared to free positive liposomes, indicating arrest of cells in the S phase due to the stoppage of priming and DNA synthesis outside the mitotic phase. As a result, liposomes could be considered as an effective drug delivery system for treatment of a variety of cancers; they provide a chance that a nanoformulation of 6-MP will boost the cytotoxicity of the drug in a small pharmacological dose which provides a dosage advantage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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27 pages, 3598 KiB  
Article
Influences of Glimepiride Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System Loaded Liquisolid Tablets on the Hypoglycemic Activity and Pancreatic Histopathological Changes in Streptozotocin-Induced Hyperglycemic Rats
by Tarek A. Ahmed, Hanadi A. Alotaibi, Alshaimaa M. Almehmady, Martin K. Safo and Khalid M. El-Say
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(22), 3966; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12223966 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1576
Abstract
The development of an oral anti-diabetic medication characterized by enhanced hypoglycemic activity is in high demand. The goal was to study the hypoglycemic activity and pancreatic histopathology after the black-seed-based self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) loaded with glimepiride liquisolid tablets to diabetic rats. [...] Read more.
The development of an oral anti-diabetic medication characterized by enhanced hypoglycemic activity is in high demand. The goal was to study the hypoglycemic activity and pancreatic histopathology after the black-seed-based self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) loaded with glimepiride liquisolid tablets to diabetic rats. The solubility of glimepiride in various vehicles was investigated. An optimization SNEDDS formulation was developed using a mixture of the experimental design approach. Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to develop glimepiride liquisolid tablets utilizing Avicel PH 101 and Neusilin as a carrier mixture and FujiSil as a coating material. The quality attributes of the prepared tablets were assessed. Following the administration of the optimized tablets to diabetic rats, the pharmacodynamics and histopathological changes were investigated and compared to a commercial drug product. Results revealed that the optimized SNEDDS formulation that contains 15.43% w/w black seed oil, 40% w/w Tween 80, and 44.57% w/w Polyethylene glycol 400 showed an average droplet size of 34.64 ± 2.01 nm and a drug load of 36.67 ± 3.13 mg/mL. The optimized tablet formulation contained 0.31% Avicel in the carrier mixture, a 14.99 excipient ratio, and 8% superdisintegrant. Pre- and post-compression properties were satisfactory, and the optimized glimepiride liquisolid tablet showed a two-fold increase in dissolution. The optimized tablet demonstrated superior pharmacodynamics. The pancreatic tissues of the group treated with the optimized tablet displayed normal histological structure. The obtained data offered a commercially viable alternative for manufacturing solid dosage forms containing water-insoluble drugs, but additional clinical research is required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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18 pages, 5582 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Activity and Sorption Behavior of Al2O3/Ag Nanocomposites Produced with the Water Oxidation of Bimetallic Al/Ag Nanoparticles
by Sergey O. Kazantsev, Olga V. Bakina, Aleksandr V. Pervikov, Nikolay G. Rodkevich, Nguyen Hong Quang, Lan Anh Le Thi, Sergei S. Timofeev and Aleksandr S. Lozhkomoev
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(21), 3888; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12213888 - 03 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1255
Abstract
The water oxidation of bimetallic Al/Ag nanoparticles has been shown to yield nanoscale structures whose morphology, phase composition and textural characteristics are determined by the synthesis conditions. Flower-like nanoscale structures with silver nanoparticles, with an average size of 17 nm, are formed in [...] Read more.
The water oxidation of bimetallic Al/Ag nanoparticles has been shown to yield nanoscale structures whose morphology, phase composition and textural characteristics are determined by the synthesis conditions. Flower-like nanoscale structures with silver nanoparticles, with an average size of 17 nm, are formed in water at 60 °C. Under hydrothermal conditions at temperatures of 200 °C and a pressure of 16 MPa, boehmite nanoplatelets with silver nanoparticles, with an average size of 22 nm, are formed. The oxidation of Al/Ag nanoparticles using humid air at 60 °C and 80% relative humidity results in the formation of rod-shaped bayerite nanoparticles and Ag nanoparticles with an average size of 19 nm. The thermal treatment of nanoscale structures obtained at a temperature of 500 °C has been shown to lead to a phase transition into γ-Al2O3, while maintaining the original morphology, and to a decrease in the average size of the silver nanoparticles to 12 nm and their migration to the surface of nanoscale structures. The migration of silver to the nanoparticle surface influences the formation of a double electric layer of particles, and leads to a shift in the pH of the zero-charge point by approximately one, with the nanostructures acquiring pronounced antimicrobial properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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15 pages, 2883 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Tumor Targeting Gold Nanoparticles for Glioblastoma Applications
by Nicholas C. Allen, Rajat Chauhan, Paula J. Bates and Martin G. O’Toole
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(21), 3869; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12213869 - 02 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1741
Abstract
Glioblastoma brain tumors represent an aggressive form of gliomas that is hallmarked by being extremely invasive and aggressive due to intra and inter-tumoral heterogeneity. This complex tumor microenvironment makes even the newer advancements in glioblastoma treatment less effective long term. In developing newer [...] Read more.
Glioblastoma brain tumors represent an aggressive form of gliomas that is hallmarked by being extremely invasive and aggressive due to intra and inter-tumoral heterogeneity. This complex tumor microenvironment makes even the newer advancements in glioblastoma treatment less effective long term. In developing newer treatment technologies against glioblastoma, one should tailor the treatment to the tumor microenvironment, thus allowing for a more robust and sustained anti-glioblastoma effect. Here, we present a novel gold nanoparticle therapy explicitly designed for bioactivity against glioblastoma representing U87MG cell lines. We employ standard conjugation techniques to create oligonucleotide-coated gold nanoparticles exhibiting strong anti-glioblastoma behavior and optimize their design to maximize bioactivity against glioblastoma. Resulting nanotherapies are therapy specific and show upwards of 75% inhibition in metabolic and proliferative activity with stark effects on cellular morphology. Ultimately, these gold nanotherapies are a good base for designing more multi-targeted approaches to fighting against glioblastoma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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21 pages, 4944 KiB  
Article
Dual-Responsive Amphiphilic P(DMAEMA-co-LMA-co-OEGMA) Terpolymer Nano-Assemblies in Aqueous Media
by Maria Tomara, Dimitrios Selianitis and Stergios Pispas
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(21), 3791; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12213791 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1699
Abstract
This work reports on the synthesis and self-assembly of a novel series of dual-responsive poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate-co-laurylmethacrylate-co-(oligoethyleneglycol)methacrylate], P(DMAEMA-co-LMA-co-OEGMA)statistical terpolymers in aqueous solutions. Five P(DMAEMA-co-LMA-co-OEGMA) amphiphilic terpolymers, having different content of the three monomers, were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The success of [...] Read more.
This work reports on the synthesis and self-assembly of a novel series of dual-responsive poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate-co-laurylmethacrylate-co-(oligoethyleneglycol)methacrylate], P(DMAEMA-co-LMA-co-OEGMA)statistical terpolymers in aqueous solutions. Five P(DMAEMA-co-LMA-co-OEGMA) amphiphilic terpolymers, having different content of the three monomers, were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The success of the synthesis was confirmed by the molecular characterization of the terpolymers via size exclusion chromatography (SEC) for the determination of molecular weights and the molecular weight distributions. By using nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, it was possible to determine the exact composition of the terpolymers. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) indicated the formation of P(DMAEMA-co-LMA-co-OEGMA) unimolecular or multichain aggregates in aqueous solutions, as a response to pH, temperature and ionic strength changes, with their dimensions being largely affected. The amphiphilic terpolymers were able to encapsulate the hydrophobic drug curcumin (CUR) and demonstrate stability to fetal bovine serum (FBS) solutions. These terpolymer aggregates were studied by DLS, FS and UV-Vis, and it was found that they may have been used as potential nanocarriers for drug delivery and bio-imaging applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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16 pages, 3161 KiB  
Article
Effect of Smoke Exposure on Gene Expression in Bone Healing around Implants Coated with Nanohydroxyapatite
by Felipe Nunes, Paula Oliveira, Edmara Bergamo, Per Kjellin, Arthur Novaes, Jr., Bruna Ghiraldini, Fabio Bezerra and Sergio Scombatti de Souza
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(21), 3737; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12213737 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1097
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of smoke exposure on the expression of genes related to bone metabolism in implants coated with nanohydroxyapatite (NHA). A total of 36 rats were exposed to cigarette smoke for 60 days. The animals were allocated into three groups: [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the effect of smoke exposure on the expression of genes related to bone metabolism in implants coated with nanohydroxyapatite (NHA). A total of 36 rats were exposed to cigarette smoke for 60 days. The animals were allocated into three groups: machined implants (MAC), dual acid-etched implants (DAE), and NHA-coated implants (NHA). Implants were installed in the left tibia of the rats after 30 days of smoke exposure. The implants were retrieved 7 and 30 days after implantation, and the adjacent bone analyzed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction for gene expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin (OPN), receptor activator of the nuclear factor kappa ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), the RANKL/OPG ratio, osteocalcin (OCN) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2). After 7 days, Runx2, OPN and OPG expression demonstrated significantly higher levels for the NHA surface treatment relative to DAE and MAC surfaces. NHA presented the lowest RANKL and RANKL/OPG levels. After 30 days, NHA-coated implants showed significantly higher levels of Runx2, ALP, OPN, OPG, OC, RANKL and RANKL/OPG relative to DAE and MAC implants. The results indicated a greater osteogenic and high osteoclastic activity around NHA implants, in comparison to DAE and MAC implants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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22 pages, 4661 KiB  
Article
Formulation and Evaluation of Niosomal Alendronate Sodium Encapsulated in Polymeric Microneedles: In Vitro Studies, Stability Study and Cytotoxicity Study
by Ahlam Zaid Alkilani, Hana Abu-Zour, Anas Alshishani, Rana Abu-Huwaij, Haneen A. Basheer and Hadeel Abo-Zour
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(20), 3570; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12203570 - 12 Oct 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2111
Abstract
The aim of this study is to design and evaluate a transdermal delivery system for alendronate sodium (ALS) loaded with nanocarrier to improve its permeability and prolong its release. This is due to its low bioavailability, potential gastrointestinal side effects, and the special [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to design and evaluate a transdermal delivery system for alendronate sodium (ALS) loaded with nanocarrier to improve its permeability and prolong its release. This is due to its low bioavailability, potential gastrointestinal side effects, and the special administration needed for the oral dosage form of ALS. When using the ether injection method, various niosomal formulations were produced. Size of the particles, polydispersity index (PDI), surface charge (ZP), drug entrapment efficiency (EE), and in vitro release were used to characterize the resulting niosomes. The size of niosomes ranged between 99.6 ± 0.9 and 464.3 ± 67.6 nm, and ZP was from −27.6 to −42.27 mV. The niosomal formulation was then loaded to aqueous polymer solution of 30% polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) (MN-1), 30% PVP with 15% poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) (2:1) (MN-2), and 30% PVP with 15% PVA (1:1) (MN-3). The cumulative amount of ALS (Q) was in the following order: MN-1 > MN-2 > MN-3. All formulations in this study were stable at room temperature over two months, in terms of moisture content and drug content. In conclusion, a transdermal delivery of ALS niosomes combined in microneedles (MNs) was successfully prepared to provide sustained release of ALS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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19 pages, 2705 KiB  
Article
Antibiotic-Loaded Hyperbranched Polyester Embedded into Peptide-Enriched Silk Fibroin for the Treatment of Orthopedic or Dental Infections
by Zili Sideratou, Marco Biagiotti, Dimitris Tsiourvas, Katerina N. Panagiotaki, Marta V. Zucca, Giuliano Freddi, Arianna B. Lovati and Marta Bottagisio
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(18), 3182; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12183182 - 13 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1801
Abstract
The development of innovative osteoconductive matrices, which are enriched with antibiotic delivery nanosystems, has the invaluable potential to achieve both local contaminant eradication and the osseointegration of implanted devices. With the aim of producing safe, bioactive materials that have osteoconductive and antibacterial properties, [...] Read more.
The development of innovative osteoconductive matrices, which are enriched with antibiotic delivery nanosystems, has the invaluable potential to achieve both local contaminant eradication and the osseointegration of implanted devices. With the aim of producing safe, bioactive materials that have osteoconductive and antibacterial properties, novel, antibiotic-loaded, functionalized nanoparticles (AFN)—based on carboxylic acid functionalized hyperbranched aliphatic polyester (CHAP) that can be integrated into peptide-enriched silk fibroin (PSF) matrices with osteoconductive properties—were successfully synthesized. The obtained AFNPSF sponges were first physico-chemically characterized and then tested in vitro against eukaryotic cells and bacteria involved in orthopedic or oral infections. The biocompatibility and microbiological tests confirmed the promising characteristics of the AFN-PSF products for both orthopedic and dental applications. These preliminary results encourage the establishment of AFN-PSF-based preventative strategies in the fight against implant-related infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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13 pages, 2652 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Lipid Nanoformulations for Hepatoma Therapy: Sorafenib Loaded Nanoliposomes—A Preliminary Study
by Adrian Bartos, Ioana Iancu, Lidia Ciobanu, Anca Onaciu, Cristian Moldovan, Alin Moldovan, Radu Cristian Moldovan, Adrian Bogdan Tigu, Gabriela Fabiola Stiufiuc, Valentin Toma, Cornel Iancu, Nadim Al Hajjar and Rares Ionut Stiufiuc
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(16), 2833; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12162833 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1649
Abstract
Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor that has received increasing attention due to its high efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. However, its poor pharmacokinetic properties (limited water solubility, rapid elimination, and metabolism) still represent major bottlenecks that need to be overcome in order to [...] Read more.
Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor that has received increasing attention due to its high efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. However, its poor pharmacokinetic properties (limited water solubility, rapid elimination, and metabolism) still represent major bottlenecks that need to be overcome in order to improve Sorafenib’s clinical application. In this paper, we propose a nanotechnology-based hybrid formulation that has the potential to overcome these challenges: sorafenib-loaded nanoliposomes. Sorafenib molecules have been incorporated into the hydrophobic lipidic bilayer during the synthesis process of nanoliposomes using an original procedure developed in our laboratory and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper reporting this type of analysis. The liposomal hybrid formulations have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) that provided useful information concerning their shape, size, zeta-potential, and concentration. The therapeutic efficacy of the nanohybrids has been evaluated on a normal cell line (LX2) and two hepatocarcinoma cell lines, SK-HEP-1 and HepG2, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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18 pages, 1619 KiB  
Article
Effect of Nanoencapsulation on the Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities of Algerian Origanum glandulosum Desf. against Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Isolates
by Sarah Bouaouina, Abdelhakim Aouf, Abdelaziz Touati, Hatem Ali, Manal Elkhadragy, Hany Yehia and Amr Farouk
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(15), 2630; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12152630 - 30 Jul 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1974
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is a danger to public health and exposes patients to high risk, increasing morbidity and mortality worldwide. For this purpose, three months of evaluation of MDR’s prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in the military regional university hospital [...] Read more.
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is a danger to public health and exposes patients to high risk, increasing morbidity and mortality worldwide. For this purpose, three months of evaluation of MDR’s prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in the military regional university hospital of Constantine from different services and samples was carried out. Among a total of 196 isolates, 35.2% were MDR. The use of essential oils such as Origanum glandulosum Desf. as an alternative to antibiotics is attractive due to their rich content of bioactive compounds conferring many biological activities. Also, to overcome the drawbacks of using oils as the hydrophobicity and negative interaction with the environmental conditions, in addition to increasing their activity, encapsulation for the oil was performed using high-speed homogenization (HSH) into nanocapsules and high-pressure homogenization (HPH) into nanoemulsion. Nine volatile constituents were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS) in hydrodistilled oil with thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, and γ-terpinene as dominants. A dramatic decrease in the major volatile components was observed due to the use of HSH and HPH but generated the same oil profile. The mean particle size of the nanoemulsion was 54.24 nm, while that of nanocapsules was 120.60 nm. The antibacterial activity of the oil and its nanoparticles was estimated on MDR isolates using the disk diffusion, aromatogram, and broth microdilution methods. Consistent with the differences in volatile constituents, the oil exhibited a higher antibacterial activity compared to its nanoforms with the diameters of the inhibition zone against E. coli (20 mm), S. aureus (35 mm), and A. baumannii (40 mm). Both formulations have shown relatively significant activity against the biofilm state at sub-inhibitory concentrations, where nanoemulsion was more potent than nanocapsules. The results obtained suggested that nanoformulations of essential oils are strongly recommended for therapeutic application as alternatives to antibiotics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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13 pages, 2659 KiB  
Article
Silver and Copper Nanoparticles Induce Oxidative Stress in Bacteria and Mammalian Cells
by Thelma Ameh, Matthew Gibb, Dinny Stevens, Sahar H. Pradhan, Evan Braswell and Christie M. Sayes
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(14), 2402; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12142402 - 14 Jul 2022
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 1898
Abstract
Silver and copper nanoparticles (AgNPs and CuNPs) coated with stabilizing moieties induce oxidative stress in both bacteria and mammalian cells. Effective antibacterial agents that can overcome existing mechanisms of antibacterial resistance will greatly improve biomedical interventions. In this study, we analyzed the effect [...] Read more.
Silver and copper nanoparticles (AgNPs and CuNPs) coated with stabilizing moieties induce oxidative stress in both bacteria and mammalian cells. Effective antibacterial agents that can overcome existing mechanisms of antibacterial resistance will greatly improve biomedical interventions. In this study, we analyzed the effect of nanoparticle-induced stress. Escherichia coli and normal human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells were selected for this study. The nanoparticle constructs tested showed low toxicity to mammalian cells except for the polyvinylpyrrolidone-surface-stabilized copper nanoparticles. In fact, both types of copper nanoparticles used in this study induced higher levels of reactive oxygen species than the surface-stabilized silver nanoparticles. In contrast to mammalian cells, the surface-stabilized silver and copper nanoparticles showed varying levels of toxicity to bacteria cells. These data are expected to aid in bridging the knowledge gap in differential toxicities of silver and copper nanoparticles against bacteria and mammalian cells and will also improve infection interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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20 pages, 8726 KiB  
Article
Formulation and Characterization of Doxycycline-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles for Testing Antitumor/Antiangiogenic Action in Experimental Colon Cancer in Mice
by Reem Alshaman, Abdullah Alattar, Rehab M. El-Sayed, Ahmed R. Gardouh, Rabie E. Elshaer, Amany Y. Elkazaz, Mohamed Ahmed Eladl, Mohamed El-Sherbiny, Noha E. Farag, Ahmed Mohsen Hamdan and Sawsan A. Zaitone
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(5), 857; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12050857 - 03 Mar 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2920
Abstract
Nanotherapeutics can enhance the characteristics of drugs, such as rapid systemic clearance and systemic toxicities. Polymeric nanoparticles (PRNPs) depend on dispersion of a drug in an amorphous state in a polymer matrix. PRNPs are capable of delivering drugs and improving their safety. The [...] Read more.
Nanotherapeutics can enhance the characteristics of drugs, such as rapid systemic clearance and systemic toxicities. Polymeric nanoparticles (PRNPs) depend on dispersion of a drug in an amorphous state in a polymer matrix. PRNPs are capable of delivering drugs and improving their safety. The primary goal of this study is to formulate doxycycline-loaded PRNPs by applying the nanoprecipitation method. Eudragit S100 (ES100) (for DOX-PRNP1) and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate HP55 (for DOX-PRNP2) were tested as the drug carrying polymers and the DOX-PRNP2 showed better characteristics and drug release % and was hence selected to be tested in the biological study. Six different experimental groups were formed from sixty male albino mice. 1,2,-Dimethylhydrazine was used for 16 weeks to induce experimental colon cancer. We compared the oral administration of DOX-PRNP2 in doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg with the free drug. Results indicated that DOX-PRNP2 had greater antitumor activity, as evidenced by an improved histopathological picture for colon specimens as well as a decrease in the tumor scores. In addition, when compared to free DOX, the DOX-PRNP2 reduced the angiogenic indicators VEGD and CD31 to a greater extent. Collectively, the findings demonstrated that formulating DOX in PRNPs was useful in enhancing antitumor activity and can be used in other models of cancers to verify their efficacy and compatibility with our study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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20 pages, 5601 KiB  
Article
Nanostructured Zn-Substituted Monetite Based Material Induces Higher Bone Regeneration Than Anorganic Bovine Bone and β-Tricalcium Phosphate in Vertical Augmentation Model in Rabbit Calvaria
by Lorena Benito-Garzón, Yasmina Guadilla, Idoia Díaz-Güemes, Iván Valdivia-Gandur, María-Cristina Manzanares, Arcadio García de Castro and Sussette Padilla
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(1), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12010143 - 31 Dec 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1703
Abstract
The capacity of a nanostructured multicomponent material composed of Zn-substituted monetite, amorphous calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite and silica gel (MSi) to promote vertical bone augmentation was compared with anorganic bovine bone (ABB) and synthetic β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). The relation between biological behavior and physicochemical [...] Read more.
The capacity of a nanostructured multicomponent material composed of Zn-substituted monetite, amorphous calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite and silica gel (MSi) to promote vertical bone augmentation was compared with anorganic bovine bone (ABB) and synthetic β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). The relation between biological behavior and physicochemical properties of the materials was also studied. The in vivo study was conducted in a vertical bone augmentation model in rabbit calvaria for 10 weeks. Significant differences in the biological behavior of the materials were observed. MSi showed significantly higher bone regeneration (39%) than ABB and β-TCP (24%). The filled cylinder volume was similar in MSi (92%) and ABB (91%) and significantly lower in β-TCP (81%) implants. In addition, β-TCP showed the highest amount of non-osteointegrated particles (17%). MSi was superior to the control materials because it maintains the volume of the defect almost full, with the highest bone formation, the lowest number of remaining particles, which are almost fully osteointegrated and having the lowest amount of connective tissue. Besides, the bone formed was mature, with broad trabeculae, high vascularization and osteogenic activity. MSi resorbs gradually over time with an evident increment of the porosity and simultaneous colonization for vascularized new bone. In addition, the osteoinductive behavior of MSi material was evidenced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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16 pages, 4361 KiB  
Article
Complex Tumor Spheroid Formation and One-Step Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Purification from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tissue Promoted by Inorganic Surface Topography
by Francesco Dituri, Matteo Centonze, Erwin J. W. Berenschot, Niels R. Tas, Arturo Susarrey-Arce and Silke Krol
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(12), 3233; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11123233 - 28 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2318
Abstract
In vitro cell models play important roles as testbeds for toxicity studies, drug development, or as replacements in animal experiments. In particular, complex tumor models such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are needed to predict drug efficacy and facilitate translation into clinical practice. In [...] Read more.
In vitro cell models play important roles as testbeds for toxicity studies, drug development, or as replacements in animal experiments. In particular, complex tumor models such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are needed to predict drug efficacy and facilitate translation into clinical practice. In this work, topographical features of amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO2) are fabricated and tested for cell culture of primary HCC cells and cell lines. The topographies vary from pyramids to octahedrons to structures named fractals, with increased hierarchy and organized in periodic arrays (square or Hexagonal). The pyramids were found to promote complex 2D/3D tissue formation from primary HCC cells. It was found that the 2D layer was mainly composed of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), while the 3D spheroids were composed of tumor cells enwrapped by a CAF layer. Compared with conventional protocols for 3D cultures, this novel approach mimics the 2D/3D complexity of the original tumor by invading CAFs and a microtumor. Topographies such as octahedrons and fractals exclude tumor cells and allow one-step isolation of CAFs even directly from tumor tissue of patients as the CAFs migrate into the structured substrate. Cell lines form spheroids within a short time. The presented inorganic topographical surfaces stimulate complex spheroid formation while avoiding additional biological scaffolds and allowing direct visualization on the substrate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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15 pages, 1672 KiB  
Article
Conjugates of Ultrasmall Quantum Dots and Acridine Derivatives as Prospective Nanoprobes for Intracellular Investigations
by Pavel Linkov, Pavel Samokhvalov, Maria Baryshnikova, Marie Laronze-Cochard, Janos Sapi, Alexander Karaulov and Igor Nabiev
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2160; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11092160 - 24 Aug 2021
Viewed by 2454
Abstract
Designing nanoprobes in which quantum dots (QDs) are used as photoluminescent labels is an especially promising line of research due to their possible medical applications ranging from disease diagnosis to drug delivery. In spite of the significant progress made in designing such nanoprobes, [...] Read more.
Designing nanoprobes in which quantum dots (QDs) are used as photoluminescent labels is an especially promising line of research due to their possible medical applications ranging from disease diagnosis to drug delivery. In spite of the significant progress made in designing such nanoprobes, the properties of their individual components, i.e., photoluminescent QDs, vectorization moieties, and pharmacological agents, still require further optimization to enhance the efficiency of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Here, we have developed a method of engineering compact multifunctional nanoprobes based on functional components with optimized properties: bright photoluminescence of CdSe/ZnS (core/shell) QDs, a compact and effective antitumor agent (an acridine derivative), and direct conjugation of the components via electrostatic interaction, which provides a final hydrodynamic diameter of nanoprobes smaller than 15 nm. Due to the possibility of conjugating various biomolecules with hydroxyl and carboxyl moieties to QDs, the method represents a versatile approach to the biomarker-recognizing molecule imaging of the delivery of the active substance as part of compact nanoprobes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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14 pages, 2136 KiB  
Article
ZIC-cHILIC Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticle for Rapid and Sensitive Glycopeptide Enrichment from <1 µL Serum
by Tiara Pradita, Yi-Ju Chen, Elias Gizaw Mernie, Sharine Noelle Bendulo and Yu-Ju Chen
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2159; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11092159 - 24 Aug 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3012
Abstract
Due to their unique glycan composition and linkage, protein glycosylation plays significant roles in cellular function and is associated with various diseases. For comprehensive characterization of their extreme structural complexity occurring in >50% of human proteins, time-consuming multi-step enrichment of glycopeptides is required. [...] Read more.
Due to their unique glycan composition and linkage, protein glycosylation plays significant roles in cellular function and is associated with various diseases. For comprehensive characterization of their extreme structural complexity occurring in >50% of human proteins, time-consuming multi-step enrichment of glycopeptides is required. Here we report zwitterionic n-dodecylphosphocholine-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (ZIC-cHILIC@MNPs) as a highly efficient affinity nanoprobe for large-scale enrichment of glycopeptides. We demonstrate that ZIC-cHILIC@MNPs possess excellent affinity, with 80–91% specificity for glycopeptide enrichment, especially for sialylated glycopeptide (90%) from biofluid specimens. This strategy provides rapidity (~10 min) and high sensitivity (<1 μL serum) for the whole enrichment process in patient serum, likely due to the rapid separation using magnetic nanoparticles, fast reaction, and high performance of the affinity nanoprobe at nanoscale. Using this strategy, we achieved personalized profiles of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV, n = 3) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n = 3) at the depth of >3000 glycopeptides, especially for the large-scale identification of under-explored sialylated glycopeptides. The glycoproteomics atlas also revealed the differential pattern of sialylated glycopeptides between HBV and HCC groups. The ZIC-cHILIC@MNPs could be a generic tool for advancing the glycoproteome analysis, and contribute to the screening of glycoprotein biomarkers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

17 pages, 3243 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress on Nanocrystalline Metallic Materials for Biomedical Applications
by Huafang Li, Pengyu Wang and Cuie Wen
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(12), 2111; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12122111 - 19 Jun 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2143
Abstract
Nanocrystalline (NC) metallic materials have better mechanical properties, corrosion behavior and biocompatibility compared with their coarse-grained (CG) counterparts. Recently, nanocrystalline metallic materials are receiving increasing attention for biomedical applications. In this review, we have summarized the mechanical properties, corrosion behavior, biocompatibility, and clinical [...] Read more.
Nanocrystalline (NC) metallic materials have better mechanical properties, corrosion behavior and biocompatibility compared with their coarse-grained (CG) counterparts. Recently, nanocrystalline metallic materials are receiving increasing attention for biomedical applications. In this review, we have summarized the mechanical properties, corrosion behavior, biocompatibility, and clinical applications of different types of NC metallic materials. Nanocrystalline materials, such as Ti and Ti alloys, shape memory alloys (SMAs), stainless steels (SS), and biodegradable Fe and Mg alloys prepared by high-pressure torsion, equiangular extrusion techniques, etc., have better mechanical properties, superior corrosion resistance and biocompatibility properties due to their special nanostructures. Moreover, future research directions of NC metallic materials are elaborated. This review can provide guidance and reference for future research on nanocrystalline metallic materials for biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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99 pages, 4209 KiB  
Review
A Critical Review of the Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities of Green-Synthesized Plant-Based Metallic Nanoparticles
by Miryam M. Luzala, Claude K. Muanga, Joseph Kyana, Justin B. Safari, Eunice N. Zola, Grégoire V. Mbusa, Yannick B. Nuapia, Jean-Marie I. Liesse, Christian I. Nkanga, Rui W. M. Krause, Aistė Balčiūnaitienė and Patrick B. Memvanga
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(11), 1841; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12111841 - 27 May 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5443
Abstract
Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) produced by green synthesis using plant extracts have attracted huge interest in the scientific community due to their excellent antibacterial, antifungal and antibiofilm activities. To evaluate these pharmacological properties, several methods or protocols have been successfully developed and implemented. Although [...] Read more.
Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) produced by green synthesis using plant extracts have attracted huge interest in the scientific community due to their excellent antibacterial, antifungal and antibiofilm activities. To evaluate these pharmacological properties, several methods or protocols have been successfully developed and implemented. Although these protocols were mostly inspired by the guidelines from national and international regulatory bodies, they suffer from a glaring absence of standardization of the experimental conditions. This situation leads to a lack of reproducibility and comparability of data from different study settings. To minimize these problems, guidelines for the antimicrobial and antibiofilm evaluation of MNPs should be developed by specialists in the field. Being aware of the immensity of the workload and the efforts required to achieve this, we set out to undertake a meticulous literature review of different experimental protocols and laboratory conditions used for the antimicrobial and antibiofilm evaluation of MNPs that could be used as a basis for future guidelines. This review also brings together all the discrepancies resulting from the different experimental designs and emphasizes their impact on the biological activities as well as their interpretation. Finally, the paper proposes a general overview that requires extensive experimental investigations to set the stage for the future development of effective antimicrobial MNPs using green synthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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Graphical abstract

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 1086 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Jamal et al. Preparation of 6-Mercaptopurine Loaded Liposomal Formulation for Enhanced Cytotoxic Response in Cancer Cells. Nanomaterials 2022, 12, 4029
by Alam Jamal, Amer H. Asseri, Ehab M. M. Ali, Afnan H. El-Gowily, Mohamed Imran Khan, Salman Hosawi, Reem Alsolami and Tarek A. Ahmed
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(5), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14050443 - 28 Feb 2024
Viewed by 511
Abstract
In the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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