Novel Properties and Current Challenges of Biosynthesized Nanomaterials for Theranostic Applications- 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, nanomaterials have found several significant applications in biomedicine. Conventionally, these nanomaterials (comprised of nanoparticles) are synthesized via chemical or physical approaches to interact with biological systems. These synthesis approaches are highly beneficial in yielding smaller sized nanoparticles with enhanced stability. However, these nanoparticles possess toxic functional groups as an outcome of utilizing synthetic chemicals, such as reducing and stabilizing for nanoparticle fabrication, which eventually affects their ability to be used in large-scale biomedical applications. Thus, biosynthesized approaches using microbial or plant extracts are introduced as a potential alternative to synthetic nanoparticles for the fabrication of nontoxic nanoparticles with high biocompatibility, bioavailability and bioreactivity. In recent times, the advantages in the field of nanotechnology and biotechnology have created a new field named ‘bionanotechnology’, which has gained sufficient attention from researchers, especially in the field of biomedical science. In particular, these biosynthesized nanosized materials or nanoparticles are undergoing extensive bionanotechnological research to make them beneficial as a potential theranostic agent, due to their smaller size, distinct morphology and ability to perform as a controlled drug delivery system. Metal, metal oxides, carbon and polymer-based nanoparticles are the broad classes of biosynthesized nanoparticles that can be synthesized through either microbial or plant extracts.

Despite the attractive theranostic properties of biosynthesized nanomaterials, their utilization for biomedical applications faces numerous challenges. This is due to the complexity of the biosynthesis procedures that are necessary to fabricate nanomaterials by balancing their stability and biocompatibility without or with less toxicity. Therefore, there is a need for the novel biosynthesis and sophisticated characterization of unique nanomaterials for exclusive biomedical and theranostic applications with improved biological properties to reach the clinical use criterion.

This research topic intends to collect recent advances that focus on the synthesis, functionalization and biomedical application of novel biosynthesized nanomaterials. Due to the success of the previous edition, we are happy to invite potential manuscripts for evaluation and publication in the 2nd edition of this Special Issue. We welcome studies focused on emerging nanomaterials, methodologies, theoretical simulations and their application in biomedical sciences ranging from therapy, drug delivery, bioimaging and biosensors. Original research articles, reviews and mini-reviews on, but not limited to, the following topics can be included:

• The biosynthesis and characterization of novel nanomaterials, such as microbes—namely, bacteria, fungi, algae and plants;
• The biosynthesis of novel nanoparticles using agricultural wastes as source;
• Strategies to enhance the property of biosynthesized nanomaterials for biomedical applications;
• Biosynthesized nanomaterial-based drug formulations for targeted and controlled delivery;
• Advanced smart and functional biosynthesized nanomaterials with enhanced drug entrapment efficiency;
• The biological functionalization of nanomaterials for biomedical applications;
• New applications of biosynthesized nanomaterials in the biomedical field;
• The toxicity, reliability and mechanism of biosynthesized nanomaterials for biomedical applications;
• Challenges in the large-scale production of biosynthesized nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Dr. Jaison Jeevanandam
Guest Editor

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• nanomaterials
• biosynthesis
• drug delivery systems
• biomedical applications
• biocompatibility
• phytosynthesis
• microbial synthesis
• mycosynthesis