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Advanced Self-Assembled Nanostructures
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Advanced Self-Assembled Nanostructures

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2020) | Viewed by 17773

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Angelina Angelova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CNRS UMR 8612 "Institut Galien Paris-Saclay", Paris-Saclay University, F-91400 Orsay, France
Interests: lipid/protein nanoassemblies; liquid crystalline phases; cubosomes; self-assembled nanostructures and nanoparticles with neuroprotective properties; nanomedicine; nanocarriers for macromolecular drug delivery; membrane receptor nanoscale organization; lipids; peptides; proteins; BDNF; cyclodextrin; soft nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on advanced self-assembled nanostructures inspired by the supramolecular organizations of biomolecules in living systems and by the formation of protein macromolecular complexes in cellular membranes and subcellular compartments. All kinds of functional self-assembled nanostructures will be considered including organized protein assemblies, lipid/protein supramolecular nanoarchitectures, dynamic nanostructures formed by cell penetrating peptides and other biomolecules, self-assembled nanostructures for nanomedicine applications, biomimetic nanostructures, and synthetic assemblies for multimodal theranostic imaging, etc. Reports involving characterization techniques at the nanoscale, such as cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM) and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy imaging, will be of particular interest.

Dr. Angelina Angelova
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Peptide self-assembled nanostructures
  • Protein macromolecular complexes
  • Biomolecular machines
  • Lipid/polymer hybrid assemblies
  • Liquid crystalline self-assembled nanostructures
  • Drug delivery nanostructures (protein, peptide, siRNA, CRISPR/Cas9)
  • Soft nanostructured materials
  • Soft nanostructure characterization techniques
  • Multimodal theranostic assemblies

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 6352 KiB  
Article
Mesoscale Assembly of Bisteroidal Esters from Terephthalic Acid
by Gabriel Guerrero-Luna, María Guadalupe Hernández-Linares, Sylvain Bernès, Alan Carrasco-Carballo, Diana Montalvo-Guerrero, María A. Fernández-Herrera and Jesús Sandoval-Ramírez
Molecules 2020, 25(5), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25051213 - 8 Mar 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3401
Abstract
A new series of bisteroidal esters was synthesized using a spacer group, sterols and sapogenins as substrates. Steroidal dimers were prepared in high yields employing diesters of terephthalic acid as linkages at the 3β, 3′β steroidal positions. In all attempts to crystallize bisteroids, [...] Read more.
A new series of bisteroidal esters was synthesized using a spacer group, sterols and sapogenins as substrates. Steroidal dimers were prepared in high yields employing diesters of terephthalic acid as linkages at the 3β, 3′β steroidal positions. In all attempts to crystallize bisteroids, it was observed that the compounds tended to self-organize in solution, which was detected when employing various solvent systems. The non-covalent interactions (van der Waals) of the steroidal moieties of this series of symmetrical bisteroids, the polarity of the solvents systems, and the different solubilities of the bisteroid aggregates, indeed induce the molecules to self-assemble into supramolecular structures with well-defined organization. Our results show that the self-assembled structures for the bisteroidal derivatives depend on the solvent system used: with hexane/EtOAc, membrane-shaped structures were obtained, while pure EtOAc afforded strand-shaped arrangements. In the CHCl3/CH3OH system, thin strands were formed, since van der Waals interactions are lowered in this system, as a consequence of the increased solubility of the bisteroids in CHCl3. Based on the characterization by SEM and XRD, we show evidence that the phenomenon of self-assembly of bisteroids occurs presenting different morphologies depending on the solvent used. The new steroidal dimer derivatives were characterized by NMR, TGA, DSC, SEM, and XRD. Finally, the molecular structure of one bisteroid was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Self-Assembled Nanostructures)
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21 pages, 3157 KiB  
Article
Cubic Liquid Crystalline Nanostructures Involving Catalase and Curcumin: BioSAXS Study and Catalase Peroxidatic Function after Cubosomal Nanoparticle Treatment of Differentiated SH-SY5Y Cells
by Miora Rakotoarisoa, Borislav Angelov, Shirly Espinoza, Krishna Khakurel, Thomas Bizien and Angelina Angelova
Molecules 2019, 24(17), 3058; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24173058 - 22 Aug 2019
Cited by 57 | Viewed by 7215
Abstract
The development of nanomedicines for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders demands innovative nanoarchitectures for combined loading of multiple neuroprotective compounds. We report dual-drug loaded monoolein-based liquid crystalline architectures designed for the encapsulation of a therapeutic protein and a small molecule antioxidant. Catalase (CAT) [...] Read more.
The development of nanomedicines for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders demands innovative nanoarchitectures for combined loading of multiple neuroprotective compounds. We report dual-drug loaded monoolein-based liquid crystalline architectures designed for the encapsulation of a therapeutic protein and a small molecule antioxidant. Catalase (CAT) is chosen as a metalloprotein, which provides enzymatic defense against oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Curcumin (CU), solubilized in fish oil, is co-encapsulated as a chosen drug with multiple therapeutic activities, which may favor neuro-regeneration. The prepared self-assembled biomolecular nanoarchitectures are characterized by biological synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (BioSAXS) at multiple compositions of the lipid/co-lipid/water phase diagram. Constant fractions of curcumin (an antioxidant) and a PEGylated agent (TPEG1000) are included with regard to the lipid fraction. Stable cubosome architectures are obtained for several ratios of the lipid ingredients monoolein (MO) and fish oil (FO). The impact of catalase on the structural organization of the cubosome nanocarriers is revealed by the variations of the cubic lattice parameters deduced by BioSAXS. The outcome of the cellular uptake of the dual drug-loaded nanocarriers is assessed by performing a bioassay of catalase peroxidatic activity in lysates of nanoparticle-treated differentiated SH-SY5Y human cells. The obtained results reveal the neuroprotective potential of the in vitro studied cubosomes in terms of enhanced peroxidatic activity of the catalase enzyme, which enables the inhibition of H2O2 accumulation in degenerating neuronal cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Self-Assembled Nanostructures)
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9 pages, 2345 KiB  
Article
2-Deoxyglucose-Modified Folate Derivative: Self-Assembling Nanoparticle Able to Load Cisplatin
by Shaoming Jin, Zhongyao Du, Pengjie Wang, Huiyuan Guo, Hao Zhang, Xingen Lei and Fazheng Ren
Molecules 2019, 24(6), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24061084 - 19 Mar 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3209
Abstract
Folic acid has been widely introduced into nano-drug delivery systems to give nanoparticle-targeted characteristics. However, the poor water solubility of folic acid may hinder the exploitation of its ability to load antineoplastic drugs. In the present study, we designed a new folate derivative [...] Read more.
Folic acid has been widely introduced into nano-drug delivery systems to give nanoparticle-targeted characteristics. However, the poor water solubility of folic acid may hinder the exploitation of its ability to load antineoplastic drugs. In the present study, we designed a new folate derivative (FA-2-DG) synthesized from folic acid and 2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG). The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-assembly characteristics of FA-2-DG, and its ability of loading cisplatin. The critical micelle concentration was 7.94 × 10−6 mol L−1. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that hydrogen bonding interaction is a main driving force for the self–assembly of FA-2-DG. The particle was stable in pure water or 0.5% bovine serum albumin dispersions. By forming a coordination bond, the particles assembled from FA-2-DG can load cisplatin. The loading efficiency was maximal when the molar ratio of FA-2-DG to cisplatin was 2:1. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Self-Assembled Nanostructures)
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12 pages, 3435 KiB  
Article
An Intelligent Nanoscale Insulin Delivery System
by Wei Wang, Ling Liao, Xiaobing Zhang, Fan Lei, Yaou Zhang, Gan Liu and Weidong Xie
Molecules 2018, 23(11), 2945; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23112945 - 11 Nov 2018
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3292
Abstract
Insulin injection relies on strict blood glucose monitoring. However, existing techniques and algorithms for blood glucose monitoring cannot be completed in a timely way. In this study, we have developed a new intelligent glucose-sensitive insulin delivery system to stabilize blood glucose levels in [...] Read more.
Insulin injection relies on strict blood glucose monitoring. However, existing techniques and algorithms for blood glucose monitoring cannot be completed in a timely way. In this study, we have developed a new intelligent glucose-sensitive insulin delivery system to stabilize blood glucose levels in the body. This system does not require real-time detection of blood glucose. First, we successfully synthesized a nanoscale material called PAM-PAspPBA-b-PEG by using chemical methods. We then conducted TEM, DLS, and 1H-NMR analyses to characterize the physicochemical properties, such as size, molecular composition, and configuration of the nanomaterial. We verified the glucose responsibility of the insulin loading nanoscale material in vitro and evaluated its safety and effect on mice in vivo. Results showed that insulin-loaded PAM-PAspPBA-b-PEG is glucose-sensitive, safer and more effective than regular insulin injection. This study provides a basis for future development of smart insulin delivery systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Self-Assembled Nanostructures)
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