Bionanomaterials: Synthesis, Characterization, Toxicity and Biomedical Applications

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Biological and Bio- Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2021) | Viewed by 23820

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Guest Editor
Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: carbon nanotubes; liver fibrosis; oxidative stress; nanomaterials’ toxicity; natural compounds; the involvement of oxidative stress; inflammation; apoptosis; autophagy as mechanisms of cell death exposed to bionanomaterials
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Guest Editor
Physiology Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj Napoca, Romania
Interests: the photo chemopreventive effect of natural compounds and nanomaterials phyto-reduced with natural extracts in skin tumors; the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effect of gold and silver nanoparticles and signaling pathways involved in oral carcinogenesis; cytotoxicity of synthetic compounds and natural extracts on fibroblasts and stem cells from the dental follicle; photodynamic therapy in experimental tumors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

For the past decade, nanomaterials have been topic of interest not only for fundamental research, but also for the development of new technologies. The core for this interest of the scientific world toward nanomaterials is represented by their special properties, which make them promising materials for future new applications. In addition to the natural sources of nanoparticles, nanomaterials have been an engineered tool for obtaining certain required properties in order to develop advanced nanotechnologies.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the properties of new synthesized bionanomaterials, their impact—including toxicity aspects—on living organisms and environment, and the possibility of modulation of their toxicity through “green synthesis”, having as a final goal the biomedical applications of these materials. We encourage all researchers interested in this topic to present research articles or reviews concerning bionanomaterials that can be considered attractive for fundamental study and for potential new applications in medicine and biology. This Special Issue can include articles concerning the synthesis and characterization of new bio-nanomaterials, modulation of the nanomaterials’ toxicity, in vitro and in vivo assessment of nanomaterials’ impact on living organisms, in vitro and in vivo mechanisms of nanomaterials’ toxicity, biological implications of nanomaterials’ toxicity, and biomedical applications of bionanomaterials; the role of new nanomaterials as diagnostic and therapeutic platforms; the involvement of bionanomaterials in carcinogenesis, wound healing, metabolic and endothelial dysfunction, dental and skin pathology, immnunomodulation, ischemia-reperfusion injury, age-related diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and neuroprotection. 

Prof. Dr. Simona Clichici
Prof. Dr. Adriana Gabriela Filip
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Nanoparticles
  • Nano-alloys
  • Graphene
  • Nanotubes
  • Hybrid nanomaterials
  • Green synthesis
  • Cytotoxicity
  • Systemic toxicity
  • Modulation of the biological impact
  • Nanomaterials as diagnostic and therapeutic platforms
  • Potential applications in medicine

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 5406 KiB  
Article
Ultrasonic Synthesis and Biomedical Application of Mn0.5Zn0.5ErxYxFe2−2xO4 Nanoparticles
by Suriya Rehman, Munirah A. Almessiere, Ebtesam A. Al-Suhaimi, Mehwish Hussain, Maha Yousuf Bari, Syed Mehmood Ali, Suhailah S. Al-Jameel, Yassine Slimani, Firdos Alam Khan and Abdulhadi Baykal
Biomolecules 2021, 11(5), 703; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11050703 - 8 May 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2958
Abstract
In the present study, biocompatible manganese nanoparticles have been linked with zinc and iron molecules to prepare different derivatives of Mn0.5Zn0.5ErxYxFe2−2xO4 NPs (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10), using an ultrasonication [...] Read more.
In the present study, biocompatible manganese nanoparticles have been linked with zinc and iron molecules to prepare different derivatives of Mn0.5Zn0.5ErxYxFe2−2xO4 NPs (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10), using an ultrasonication approach. The structure, surface morphology, and chemical compositions of Mn0.5Zn0.5ErxYxFe2−2xO4 NPs were elucidated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX) techniques. The bioactivity of Mn0.5Zn0.5ErxYxFe2−2xO4 NPs on normal (HEK-293) and (HCT-116) colon cancer cell line was evaluated. The Mn0.5Zn0.5ErxYxFe2−2xO4 NPs treatment post 48 h resulted in a significant reduction in cells (via MTT assay, having an IC50 value between 0.88 µg/mL and 2.40 µg/mL). The specificity of Mn0.5Zn0.5ErxYxFe2−2xO4 NPs were studied by treating them on normal cells line (HEK-293). The results showed that Mn0.5Zn0.5ErxYxFe2−2xO4 NPs did not incur any effect on HEK-293, which suggests that Mn0.5Zn0.5ErxYxFe2−2xO4 NPs selectively targeted the colon cancerous cells. Using Candida albicans, antifungal activity was also studied by evaluating minimum inhibitory/fungicidal concentration (MIC/MFC) and the effect of nanomaterial on the germ tube formation, which exhibited that NPs significantly inhibited the growth and germ tube formation. The obtained results hold the potential to design nanoparticles that lead to efficient bioactivity. Full article
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22 pages, 6782 KiB  
Article
Chitosan Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles to Provide Neural Regeneration and Recovery after Experimental Model Induced Peripheral Nerve Injury
by Nadina Liana Pop, Alexandrina Nan, Andrada Elena Urda-Cimpean, Adrian Florea, Vlad Alexandru Toma, Remus Moldovan, Nicoleta Decea, Daniela Rodica Mitrea and Remus Orasan
Biomolecules 2021, 11(5), 676; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11050676 - 30 Apr 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3139
Abstract
(1) Background: Peripheral nerve injuries have a great impact on a patient’s quality of life and a generally poor outcome regarding functional recovery. Lately, studies have focused on different types of nanoparticles and various natural substances for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Peripheral nerve injuries have a great impact on a patient’s quality of life and a generally poor outcome regarding functional recovery. Lately, studies have focused on different types of nanoparticles and various natural substances for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. This is the case of chitosan, a natural compound from the crustaceans’ exoskeleton. The present study proposes to combine chitosan benefic properties to the nanoparticles’ ability to transport different substances to specific locations and evaluate the effects of magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with chitosan (CMNPs) on peripheral nerve injuries’ rehabilitation by using an in vivo experimental model. (2) Methods: CMNPs treatment was administrated daily, orally, for 21 days to rats subjected to right sciatic nerve lesion and compared to the control group (no treatment) by analyzing the sciatic functional index, pain level, body weight, serum nerve growth factor levels and histology, TEM and EDX analysis at different times during the study. (3) Results: Animals treated with CMNPs had a statistically significant functional outcome compared to the control group regarding: sciatic functional index, pain-like behavior, total body weight, which were confirmed by the histological and TEM images. (4) Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that CMNPs appear to be a promising treatment method for peripheral nerve injuries. Full article
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21 pages, 13631 KiB  
Article
Luteolin-Fabricated ZnO Nanostructures Showed PLK-1 Mediated Anti-Breast Cancer Activity
by Shiva Prasad Kollur, Shashanka K. Prasad, Sushma Pradeep, Ravindra Veerapur, Sharanagouda S. Patil, Raghavendra G. Amachawadi, Rajendra Prasad S, Ghada Lamraoui, Abdulaziz A. Al-Kheraif, Abdallah M. Elgorban, Asad Syed and Chandan Shivamallu
Biomolecules 2021, 11(3), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11030385 - 5 Mar 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3245
Abstract
The present work describes a facile and convenient procedure for synthesizing zinc oxide nanoparticles using luteolin isolated from Eclipta alba plant (L-ZnONPs) at room temperature. The formation of as-grown L-ZnONPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron [...] Read more.
The present work describes a facile and convenient procedure for synthesizing zinc oxide nanoparticles using luteolin isolated from Eclipta alba plant (L-ZnONPs) at room temperature. The formation of as-grown L-ZnONPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The Wurtzite structure of ZnO was observed by its hexagonal phases in diffraction patterns. The SEM images revealed the different sizes and morphologies of L-ZnONPs, with diameters between 12 and 25 nm. The HR-TEM result showed that the inter-planar distance between two lattice fringes was 0.262 nm, which coincides with the d-spacing of (002) and (101) lattice planes of the as-obtained material. The anticancer activity of L-ZnONPs against the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was greater as compared to that of luteolin or ZnO alone. The mechanistic evaluation of such an activity carried out using in silico methods suggested that the anti-breast cancer activity of L-ZnONPs was mediated by polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) proteins. Full article
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21 pages, 5934 KiB  
Article
Global Proteomics to Study Silica Nanoparticle-Induced Cytotoxicity and Its Mechanisms in HepG2 Cells
by Sun Young Lee, In Young Kim, Min Beom Heo, Jeong Hee Moon, Jin Gyeong Son and Tae Geol Lee
Biomolecules 2021, 11(3), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11030375 - 2 Mar 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2895
Abstract
Silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) are commonly used in medical and pharmaceutical fields. Research into the cytotoxicity and overall proteomic changes occurring during initial exposure to SiO2 NPs is limited. We investigated the mechanism of toxicity in human liver cells according to [...] Read more.
Silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) are commonly used in medical and pharmaceutical fields. Research into the cytotoxicity and overall proteomic changes occurring during initial exposure to SiO2 NPs is limited. We investigated the mechanism of toxicity in human liver cells according to exposure time [0, 4, 10, and 16 h (h)] to SiO2 NPs through proteomic analysis using mass spectrometry. SiO2 NP-induced cytotoxicity through various pathways in HepG2 cells. Interestingly, when cells were exposed to SiO2 NPs for 4 h, the morphology of the cells remained intact, while the expression of proteins involved in mRNA splicing, cell cycle, and mitochondrial function was significantly downregulated. These results show that the toxicity of the nanoparticles affects protein expression even if there is no change in cell morphology at the beginning of exposure to SiO2 NPs. The levels of reactive oxygen species changed significantly after 10 h of exposure to SiO2 NPs, and the expression of proteins associated with oxidative phosphorylation, as well as the immune system, was upregulated. Eventually, these changes in protein expression induced HepG2 cell death. This study provides insights into cytotoxicity evaluation at early stages of exposure to SiO2 NPs through in vitro experiments. Full article
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22 pages, 6787 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial and In Vitro Cytotoxic Efficacy of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) Fabricated by Callus Extract of Solanum incanum L.
by Islam Lashin, Amr Fouda, Adil A. Gobouri, Ehab Azab, Zuhair M. Mohammedsaleh and Rabab R. Makharita
Biomolecules 2021, 11(3), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11030341 - 24 Feb 2021
Cited by 79 | Viewed by 4706
Abstract
The in vitro callus induction of Solanum incanum L. was executed on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of auxin and cytokinin utilizing petioles and explants of leaves. The highest significant fresh weights from petioles and leaf explants were 4.68 and 5.13 g/jar [...] Read more.
The in vitro callus induction of Solanum incanum L. was executed on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of auxin and cytokinin utilizing petioles and explants of leaves. The highest significant fresh weights from petioles and leaf explants were 4.68 and 5.13 g/jar for the medium supplemented with1.0 mg L−1 BA and 1.0 mg L−1 2,4-D. The callus extract of the leaves was used for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). Analytical methods used for Ag-NPs characterization were UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Spherical, crystallographic Ag-NPs with sizes ranging from 15 to 60nm were successfully formed. The FT-IR spectra exhibited the role of the metabolites involved in callus extract in reducing and capping Ag-NPs. The biological activities of Ag-NPs were dose-dependent. The MIC value for Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli was 12.5 µg mL−1, while it was 6.25 µg mL−1 for Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. The highest inhibition of phytopathogenic fungi Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, and Pythium ultimum was 76.3 ± 3.7, 88.9 ± 4.1, 67.8 ± 2.1, and 76.4 ± 1.0%, respectively at 200 µg mL−1. Moreover, green synthesized Ag-NPs showed cytotoxic efficacy against cancerous cell lines HepG2, MCF-7 and normal Vero cell line with IC50 values of 21.76 ± 0.56, 50.19 ± 1.71, and 129.9 ± 0.94 µg mL−1, respectively. Full article
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15 pages, 5216 KiB  
Article
Green Synthesis, Characterization, Enzyme Inhibition, Antimicrobial Potential, and Cytotoxic Activity of Plant Mediated Silver Nanoparticle Using Ricinus communis Leaf and Root Extracts
by Anadil Gul, Fozia, Asmat Shaheen, Ijaz Ahmad, Baharullah Khattak, Munir Ahmad, Riaz Ullah, Ahmed Bari, Syed Saeed Ali, Abdulrahman Alobaid, Majid M. Asmari and Hafiz M. Mahmood
Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020206 - 2 Feb 2021
Cited by 55 | Viewed by 5083
Abstract
The need of non-toxic synthesis protocols for nanoparticles arises developing interest in biogenic approaches. The present project was focused on cost effective, environment congenial synthesis of Ag nanoparticles and their biological applications. Leaf and root extracts of Ricinus communis were used as a [...] Read more.
The need of non-toxic synthesis protocols for nanoparticles arises developing interest in biogenic approaches. The present project was focused on cost effective, environment congenial synthesis of Ag nanoparticles and their biological applications. Leaf and root extracts of Ricinus communis were used as a reducing and stabilizing agent in synthesis process. A Proposed mechanism in published literature suggested that Indole-3-acetic acid, l-valine, triethyl citrate, and quercetin-3-0-p-d-glucopyranoside phytoconstituents of Ricinus communis act as reducing and capping agents. The synthesized Ag NPs were characterized with a help X-ray diffractometer, Transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD results inveterate the synthesis of pure nano size crystalline silver particles. The FTIR data revealed the possible functional groups of biomolecules involved in bio reduction and capping for efficient stabilization of silver nanoparticles. TEM analysis confirmed the almost spherical morphology of synthesized particles with mean size 29 and 38 nm for R-Ag-NPs (root) and L-Ag-NPs (leaf), respectively. The stability of synthesized nanoparticles was examined against heat and pH. It was observed that synthesized nanoparticles were stable up to 100 °C temperature and also showed stability in neutral, basic and slightly acidic medium (pH 05–06) for several months while below pH 5 were unstable. The synthesized silver nanoparticles had promising inhibition efficiency in multiple applications, including as bactericidal/fungicidal agents and Urease/Xanthine oxidase enzymes inhibitors. The cytotoxicity of synthesized nanoparticles shows that the concentration under 20 μg/mL were biologically compatible. Full article
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