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Metallic Nanoparticles in Pharmaceutical Applications

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A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 March 2020) | Viewed by 18740

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Montse Mitjans Arnal

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Guest Editor

Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: study of antioxidants of natural origin; development of models of ocular and dermal irritation in vitro; development of skin sensitization models in vitro; nanotoxicology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Maria Pilar Vinardell

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Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: nanotoxicology; nanomaterials; in vitro models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology allows designing novel pharmaceutical applications being metallic nanoparticles (NPs) promising platforms to develop specific medical devices and better therapeutic tools as drug delivery systems. Properties of metallic NPs such as optical, magnetic and electrical activities make them an attractive nanoparticle-based image tools to be used in early diagnoses as nuclear magnetic resonance or magnetic resonance imaging. Moreover, magnetic properties facilitate their capacity to attach to certain cells and thus the possibility to remove malignant cells from the blood stream or water purification in front of bacteria. In addition, their potential use as theranostic agents open great expectations in relation with personal medicine. Not only this, metallic NPs can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) which is involved multiple biological functions in health and disease. Thus, development of metallic nanoparticle-based therapies can reduce mortality and morbidity related to important serious diseases including cancer and cardiovascular. This issue will focus in these pharmaceutical applications and more.

Prof. Dr. Montse Mitjans Arnal
Prof. Dr. Pilar Vinardell Martinez-Hidalgo
Guest Editors

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. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

nanoparticle-based image
theranostic
anticancer
antimicrobial
drug delivery
ROS

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Doxorubicin and Varlitinib Delivery by Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles Against Human Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

by Sílvia Castro Coelho, Daniel Pires Reis, Maria Carmo Pereira and Manuel A. N. Coelho

Pharmaceutics 2019, 11(11), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics11110551 - 24 Oct 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3326

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop drug delivery nanosystems based on pegylated gold nanoparticles (PEGAuNPs) for a combination against pancreatic cancer cells. Doxorubicin and varlitinib, an anthracycline and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor respectively, were conjugated with gold nanoparticles. The systems were characterized, after synthesis, regarding their size, stability and morphology. An efficient conjugation of doxorubicin and varlitinib with PEGAuNPs was revealed. The cytotoxicity effect induced by the combination of the nanoconjugates was investigated in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Doxorubicin and varlitinib conjugated with PEGAuNPs revealed a combined effect to decrease the cell survival of the cancer line S2-013s, while reducing the drugs’ toxicity for the healthy pancreatic cells hTERT-HPNE. This study highlights the promising potential of PEGAuNPs for targeted delivery of therapeutic drugs into human cells, enhancing the antitumor growth-inhibition effect on cancer cells, and decreasing the toxicity against normal cells. In cancer therapy, the present approach based on PEGAuNP functionalization can be further explored to increase drug targeting efficiency and to reduce side effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metallic Nanoparticles in Pharmaceutical Applications)

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14 pages, 3093 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microfluidic Synthesis of Vinblastine-Loaded Multifunctional Particles for Magnetically Responsive Controlled Drug Release

by Keng-Shiang Huang, Chih-Hui Yang, Ya-Chin Wang, Wei-Ting Wang and Yen-Yi Lu

Pharmaceutics 2019, 11(5), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics11050212 - 03 May 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3787

Abstract

Vinblastine (VBL) is a major chemotherapeutic drug; however, in some cases, it may cause severe side effects in patients with cancer. Designing a novel VBL pharmaceutical formulation is a crucial and emerging concern among researchers for reducing the use of VBL. This study developed a stimuli-responsive controlled VBL drug release system from magnetically sensitive chitosan capsules. A magnetically responsive controlled drug release system was designed by embedding superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles (NPs) in a chitosan matrix and an external magnet. In addition, droplet microfluidics, which is a novel technique for producing polymer spheres, was used for manufacturing monodispersed chitosan microparticles. The prepared VBL and SPIO NPs-loaded chitosan microparticles were characterized and analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, a superconducting quantum interference device, and a biocompatibility test. The drug encapsulation efficiency was 67%–69%. The in vitro drug release test indicated that the VBL could be 100% released from chitosan composite particles in 80–130 min under magnetic stimulation. The pulsatile magnetically triggered tests showed individual and distinctive controlled release patterns. Thus, the timing and dose of VBL release was controllable by an external magnet. The results presume that using a magnetically responsive controlled drug release system offers a valuable opportunity for VBL drug delivery, where the delivery system is an active participant, rather than a passive vehicle, in the optimization of cancer treatment. The proposed actively targeted magnetic drug delivery system offers many advantages over conventional drug delivery systems by improving the precision and timing of drug release, easy operation, and higher compliance for pharmaceutical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metallic Nanoparticles in Pharmaceutical Applications)

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Review

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20 pages, 1789 KiB

Open AccessReview

Metallic Nanoparticle-Based Optical Cell Chip for Nondestructive Monitoring of Intra/Extracellular Signals

by Sang-Nam Lee, Jin-Ha Choi, Hyeon-Yeol Cho and Jeong-Woo Choi

Pharmaceutics 2020, 12(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics12010050 - 07 Jan 2020

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3009

Abstract

The biosensing platform is noteworthy for high sensitivity and precise detection of target analytes, which are related to the status of cells or specific diseases. The modification of the transducers with metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) has attracted attention owing to excellent features such as improved sensitivity and selectivity. Moreover, the incorporation of MNPs into biosensing systems may increase the speed and the capability of the biosensors. In this review, we introduce the current progress of the developed cell-based biosensors, cell chip, based on the unique physiochemical features of MNPs. Mainly, we focus on optical intra/extracellular biosensing methods, including fluorescence, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based on the coupling of MNPs. We believe that the topics discussed here are useful and able to provide a guideline in the development of new MNP-based cell chip platforms for pharmaceutical applications such as drug screening and toxicological tests in the near future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metallic Nanoparticles in Pharmaceutical Applications)

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29 pages, 2938 KiB

Open AccessReview

Synthesis, Principles, and Properties of Magnetite Nanoparticles for In Vivo Imaging Applications—A Review

by Justine Wallyn, Nicolas Anton and Thierry F. Vandamme

Pharmaceutics 2019, 11(11), 601; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics11110601 - 12 Nov 2019

Cited by 125 | Viewed by 7810

Abstract

The current nanotechnology era is marked by the emergence of various magnetic inorganic nanometer-sized colloidal particles. These have been extensively applied and hold an immense potential in biomedical applications including, for example, cancer therapy, drug nanocarriers (NCs), or in targeted delivery systems and diagnosis involving two guided-nanoparticles (NPs) as nanoprobes and contrast agents. Considerable efforts have been devoted to designing iron oxide NPs (IONPs) due to their superparamagnetic (SPM) behavior (SPM IONPs or SPIONs) and their large surface-to-volume area allowing more biocompatibility, stealth, and easy bonding to natural biomolecules thanks to grafted ligands, selective-site moieties, and/or organic and inorganic corona shells. Such nanomagnets with adjustable architecture have been the topic of significant progresses since modular designs enable SPIONs to carry out several functions simultaneously such as local drug delivery with real-time monitoring and imaging of the targeted area. Syntheses of SPIONs and adjustments of their physical and chemical properties have been achieved and paved novel routes for a safe use of those tailored magnetic ferrous nanomaterials. Herein we will emphasis a basic notion about NPs magnetism in order to have a better understanding of SPION assets for biomedical applications, then we mainly focus on magnetite iron oxide owing to its outstanding magnetic properties. The general methods of preparation and typical characteristics of magnetite are reviewed, as well as the major biomedical applications of magnetite. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metallic Nanoparticles in Pharmaceutical Applications)

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