International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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26 pages, 5795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization, Characterization and Pharmacokinetic Study of Meso-Tetraphenylporphyrin Metal Complex-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles

by Mariia R. Mollaeva, Nikita Yabbarov, Maria Sokol, Margarita Chirkina, Murad D. Mollaev, Artur Zabolotskii, Irina Seregina, Mikhail Bolshov, Alexander Kaplun and Elena Nikolskaya

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(22), 12261; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222212261 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3317

Abstract

The selection of technological parameters for nanoparticle formulation represents a complicated development phase. Therefore, the statistical analysis based on Box–Behnken methodology is widely used to optimize technological processes, including poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle formulation. In this study, we applied a two-level three-factor design to [...] Read more.

The selection of technological parameters for nanoparticle formulation represents a complicated development phase. Therefore, the statistical analysis based on Box–Behnken methodology is widely used to optimize technological processes, including poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle formulation. In this study, we applied a two-level three-factor design to optimize the preparation of nanoparticles loaded with cobalt (CoTPP), manganese (MnClTPP), and nickel (NiTPP) metalloporphyrins (MeP). The resulting nanoparticles were examined by dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, MTT test, and hemolytic activity assay. The optimized model of nanoparticle formulation was validated, and the obtained nanoparticles possessed a spherical shape and physicochemical characteristics enabling them to deliver MeP in cancer cells. In vitro hemolysis assay revealed high safety of the formulated MeP-loaded nanoparticles. The MeP release demonstrated a biphasic profile and release mechanism via Fick diffusion, according to release exponent values. Formulated MeP-loaded nanoparticles revealed significant antitumor activity and ability to generate reactive oxygen species. MnClTPP- and CoTPP-nanoparticles specifically accumulated in tissues, preventing wide tissue distribution caused by long-term circulation of the hydrophobic drug. Our results suggest that MnClTPP- and CoTPP-nanoparticles represent the greatest potential for utilization in in anticancer therapy due to their effectiveness and safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Properties)

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11 pages, 1837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plasmonic Core–Shell–Satellites with Abundant Electromagnetic Hotspots for Highly Sensitive and Reproducible SERS Detection

by Puran Pandey, Sundar Kunwar, Ki-Hoon Shin, Min-Kyu Seo, Jongwon Yoon, Woong-Ki Hong and Jung-Inn Sohn

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(22), 12191; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222212191 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2551

Abstract

In this work, we develop a Ag@Al₂O₃@Ag plasmonic core–shell–satellite (PCSS) to achieve highly sensitive and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection of probe molecules. To fabricate PCSS nanostructures, we employ a simple hierarchical dewetting process of Ag films coupled [...] Read more.

In this work, we develop a Ag@Al₂O₃@Ag plasmonic core–shell–satellite (PCSS) to achieve highly sensitive and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection of probe molecules. To fabricate PCSS nanostructures, we employ a simple hierarchical dewetting process of Ag films coupled with an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method for the Al₂O₃ shell. Compared to bare Ag nanoparticles, several advantages of fabricating PCSS nanostructures are discovered, including high surface roughness, high density of nanogaps between Ag core and Ag satellites, and nanogaps between adjacent Ag satellites. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations of the PCSS nanostructure confirm an enhancement in the electromagnetic field intensity (hotspots) in the nanogap between the Ag core and the satellite generated by the Al₂O₃ shell, due to the strong core–satellite plasmonic coupling. The as-prepared PCSS-based SERS substrate demonstrates an enhancement factor (EF) of 1.7 × 10⁷ and relative standard deviation (RSD) of ~7%, endowing our SERS platform with highly sensitive and reproducible detection of R6G molecules. We think that this method provides a simple approach for the fabrication of PCSS by a solid-state technique and a basis for developing a highly SERS-active substrate for practical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Properties)

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16 pages, 5139 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fractal-Percolation Structure Architectonics in Sol-Gel Synthesis

by Irina Kononova, Pavel Kononov, Vyacheslav Moshnikov and Sergey Ignat’ev

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(19), 10521; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221910521 - 29 Sep 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1778

Abstract

It was developed a new technique to assess micro- and mesopores with sizes below a few nanometers. The porous materials with hierarchical fractal-percolation structure were obtained with the sol-gel method. The tetraethoxysilane hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions were performed in the presence of salts [...] Read more.

It was developed a new technique to assess micro- and mesopores with sizes below a few nanometers. The porous materials with hierarchical fractal-percolation structure were obtained with the sol-gel method. The tetraethoxysilane hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions were performed in the presence of salts as the sources of metal oxides. The porous materials were obtained under spinodal decomposition conditions during application of the polymer sol to the substrate surface and thermal treatment of the structures. The model is based on an enhanced Kepler net of the 4612 type with hexagonal cells filled with a quasi-two-dimensional projection of the Jullien fractal after the 2nd iteration. The materials obtained with the sol-gel method were studied using the atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, thermal desorption, as well as an AutoCAD 2022 computer simulation of the percolation transition in a two-component system using the proposed multimodal model. Based on the results obtained, a new method was suggested to assess micro- and mesopores with sizes below a few nanometrs, which cannot be analyzed using the atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Properties)

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16 pages, 3454 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Boron and Gadolinium Loaded Fe₃O₄ Nanocarriers for Potential Application in Neutron Capture Therapy

by Ilya V. Korolkov, Alexandr V. Zibert, Lana I. Lissovskaya, K. Ludzik, M. Anisovich, Artem L. Kozlovskiy, A. E. Shumskaya, M. Vasilyeva, Dmitriy I. Shlimas, Monika Jażdżewska, Beata Marciniak, Renata Kontek, Dorota Chudoba and Maxim V. Zdorovets

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(16), 8687; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168687 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2995

Abstract

In this article, a novel method of simultaneous carborane- and gadolinium-containing compounds as efficient agents for neutron capture therapy (NCT) delivery via magnetic nanocarriers is presented. The presence of both Gd and B increases the efficiency of NCT and using nanocarriers enhances selectivity. [...] Read more.

In this article, a novel method of simultaneous carborane- and gadolinium-containing compounds as efficient agents for neutron capture therapy (NCT) delivery via magnetic nanocarriers is presented. The presence of both Gd and B increases the efficiency of NCT and using nanocarriers enhances selectivity. These factors make NCT not only efficient, but also safe. Superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were treated with silane and then the polyelectrolytic layer was formed for further immobilization of NCT agents. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) and Mössbauer spectroscopies, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) were applied for the characterization of the chemical and element composition, structure, morphology and magnetic properties of nanocarriers. The cytotoxicity effect was evaluated on different cell lines: BxPC-3, PC-3 MCF-7, HepG2 and L929, human skin fibroblasts as normal cells. average size of nanoparticles is 110 nm; magnetization at 1T and coercivity is 43.1 emu/g and 8.1, respectively; the amount of B is 0.077 mg/g and the amount of Gd is 0.632 mg/g. Successful immobilization of NCT agents, their low cytotoxicity against normal cells and selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells as well as the superparamagnetic properties of nanocarriers were confirmed by analyses above. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Properties)

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13 pages, 2763 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Longitudinal and Transverse Relaxivity Analysis of Native Ferritin and Magnetoferritin at 7 T MRI

by Oliver Strbak, Lucia Balejcikova, Martina Kmetova, Jan Gombos, Jozef Kovac, Dusan Dobrota and Peter Kopcansky

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(16), 8487; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168487 - 6 Aug 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1895

Abstract

Magnetite mineralization in human tissue is associated with various pathological processes, especially neurodegenerative disorders. Ferritin’s mineral core is believed to be a precursor of magnetite mineralization. Magnetoferritin (MF) was prepared with different iron loading factors (LFs) as a model system for [...] Read more.

Magnetite mineralization in human tissue is associated with various pathological processes, especially neurodegenerative disorders. Ferritin’s mineral core is believed to be a precursor of magnetite mineralization. Magnetoferritin (MF) was prepared with different iron loading factors (LFs) as a model system for pathological ferritin to analyze its MRI relaxivity properties compared to those of native ferritin (NF). The results revealed that MF differs statistically significantly from NF, with the same LF, for all studied relaxation parameters at 7 T: r₁, r₂, r₂*, r₂/r₁, r₂*/r₁. Distinguishability of MF from NF may be useful in non-invasive MRI diagnosis of pathological processes associated with iron accumulation and magnetite mineralization (e.g., neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and diseases of the heart, lung and liver). In addition, it was found that MF samples possess very strong correlation and MF’s relaxivity is linearly dependent on the LF, and the transverse and longitudinal ratios r₂/r₁ and r₂*/r₁ possess complementary information. This is useful in eliminating false-positive hypointensive artefacts and diagnosis of the different stages of pathology. These findings could contribute to the exploitation of MRI techniques in the non-invasive diagnosis of iron-related pathological processes in human tissue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Properties)

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15 pages, 1992 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biodirected Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Honey Solutions and Evaluation of Their Antifungal Activity against Pathogenic Candida Spp.

by Grzegorz Czernel, Dominika Bloch, Arkadiusz Matwijczuk, Jolanta Cieśla, Monika Kędzierska-Matysek, Mariusz Florek and Mariusz Gagoś

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(14), 7715; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147715 - 19 Jul 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3028

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using aqueous honey solutions with a concentration of 2%, 10%, and 20%—AgNPs-H2, AgNPs-H10, and AgNPs-H20. The reaction was conducted at 35 °C and 70 °C. Additionally, nanoparticles obtained with the citrate method (AgNPs-C), while amphotericin B (AmB) and [...] Read more.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using aqueous honey solutions with a concentration of 2%, 10%, and 20%—AgNPs-H2, AgNPs-H10, and AgNPs-H20. The reaction was conducted at 35 °C and 70 °C. Additionally, nanoparticles obtained with the citrate method (AgNPs-C), while amphotericin B (AmB) and fluconazole were used as controls. The presence and physicochemical properties of AgNPs was affirmed by analyzing the sample with ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The 20% honey solution caused an inhibition of the synthesis of nanoparticles at 35 °C. The antifungal activity of the AgNPs was evaluated using opportunistic human fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. The antifungal effect was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disc diffusion assay. The highest activity in the MIC tests was observed in the AgNPs-H2 variant. AgNPs-H10 and AgNPs-H20 showed no activity or even stimulated fungal growth. The results of the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion susceptibility test for C. parapsilosis strains indicated stronger antifungal activity of AgNPs-H than fluconazole. The study demonstrated that the antifungal activity of AgNPs is closely related to the concentration of honey used for the synthesis thereof. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Properties)

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8 pages, 2434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Strain-Relief Patterns and Kagome Lattice in Self-Assembled C₆₀ Thin Films Grown on Cd(0001)

by Zilong Wang, Minlong Tao, Daxiao Yang, Zuo Li, Mingxia Shi, Kai Sun, Jiyong Yang and Junzhong Wang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 6880; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22136880 - 26 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1892

Abstract

We report an ultra-high vacuum low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study of the C₆₀ monolayer grown on Cd(0001). Individual C₆₀ molecules adsorbed on Cd(0001) may exhibit a bright or dim contrast in STM images. When deposited at low temperatures close to [...] Read more.

We report an ultra-high vacuum low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study of the C₆₀ monolayer grown on Cd(0001). Individual C₆₀ molecules adsorbed on Cd(0001) may exhibit a bright or dim contrast in STM images. When deposited at low temperatures close to 100 K, C₆₀ thin films present a curved structure to release strain due to dominant molecule–substrate interactions. Moreover, edge dislocation appears when two different wavy structures encounter each other, which has seldomly been observed in molecular self-assembly. When growth temperature rose, we found two forms of symmetric kagome lattice superstructures, 2 × 2 and 4 × 4, at room temperature (RT) and 310 K, respectively. The results provide new insight into the growth behavior of C₆₀ films. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Properties)

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Review

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22 pages, 3770 KiB

Open AccessReview

Synthesis, Properties, and Selected Technical Applications of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles: A Review

by Jaroslav Hornak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(23), 12752; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222312752 - 25 Nov 2021

Cited by 61 | Viewed by 9231

Abstract

In the last few decades, there has been a trend involving the use of nanoscale fillers in a variety of applications. Significant improvements have been achieved in the areas of their preparation and further applications (e.g., in industry, agriculture, and medicine). One of [...] Read more.

In the last few decades, there has been a trend involving the use of nanoscale fillers in a variety of applications. Significant improvements have been achieved in the areas of their preparation and further applications (e.g., in industry, agriculture, and medicine). One of these promising materials is magnesium oxide (MgO), the unique properties of which make it a suitable candidate for use in a wide range of applications. Generally, MgO is a white, hygroscopic solid mineral, and its lattice consists of Mg

^{2 +}

ions and O

^{2 -}

ions. Nanostructured MgO can be prepared through different chemical (bottom-up approach) or physical (top-down approach) routes. The required resultant properties (e.g., bandgap, crystallite size, and shape) can be achieved depending on the reaction conditions, basic starting materials, or their concentrations. In addition to its unique material properties, MgO is also potentially of interest due to its nontoxicity and environmental friendliness, which allow it to be widely used in medicine and biotechnological applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to Properties)

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