Application of Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Medicines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 10080

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Interests: innate immunity; cancer immunotherapy; nanotechnology; drug delivery

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Guest Editor
1. Centre for Advanced Imaging and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2. ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
Interests: nanomedicine; molecular imaging; drug delivery; theranostics; polymers

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Centre for Advanced Imaging and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2. ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
Interests: molecular imaging; polymer chemistry; multimodal imaging; theranostics; drug delivery; nanomedicine
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The application of nanotechnology in medicine offers multiple advantages for effective drug delivery, with the potential to improve the efficacy and tolerability of new and old therapeutics. Nanomaterials-based products are already being applied clinically, with a number of FDA-approved imaging agents and drugs on the market and many more in clinical trials or under development. However, in order to fully realise the potential of nanomedicines, it is important to understand how the physicochemical properties and consequent bio-nano interactions of nanomaterials influence their drug release properties, interactions with cells and tissues, in vivo biodistribution, and ultimately, their fate.

Improved knowledge of such factors will provide fundamental understanding of governing interactions and allow us to more specifically fine tune nanomaterials depending on the required function.

This Special Issue aims to provide a snapshot of the range of novel nanomaterials under development, advances in the understanding of their interactions with biological entities, and their potential applications in the broader field of medicine and healthcare. We welcome the submission of original research articles and short communications, as well as reviews, mini-reviews, and systematic review articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  1. The influence of physicochemical properties on nanomaterial behaviour in biological systems;
  2. Mechanisms by which nanoparticles can be fine tuned for particular applications;
  3. Methods for enhancing specificity of nanomaterial accumulation in disease;
  4. Improved understanding of nano-bio interactions;
  5. Nanomaterial safety and tolerability.

Dr. Barbara Rolfe
Dr. Nicholas Fletcher
Prof. Dr. Kristofer Thurecht
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanomaterials
  • drug delivery systems
  • nanomedicine
  • biological interactions
  • materials design
  • safety and tolerability

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 4532 KiB  
Article
Cyanine-5-Driven Behaviours of Hyperbranched Polymers Designed for Therapeutic Delivery Are Cell-Type Specific and Correlated with Polar Lipid Distribution in Membranes
by Joshua D. Simpson, Denni L. Currin-Ross, Gayathri R. Ediriweera, Horst Joachim Schirra, Nicholas L. Fletcher, Craig A. Bell, Maria C. Arno and Kristofer J. Thurecht
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(7), 1745; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11071745 - 2 Jul 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2392
Abstract
The ability to predict the behaviour of polymeric nanomedicines can often be obfuscated by subtle modifications to the corona structure, such as incorporation of fluorophores or other entities. However, these interactions provide an intriguing insight into how selection of molecular components in multifunctional [...] Read more.
The ability to predict the behaviour of polymeric nanomedicines can often be obfuscated by subtle modifications to the corona structure, such as incorporation of fluorophores or other entities. However, these interactions provide an intriguing insight into how selection of molecular components in multifunctional nanomedicines contributes to the overall biological fate of such materials. Here, we detail the internalisation behaviours of polymeric nanomedicines across a suite of cell types and extrapolate data for distinguishing the underlying mechanics of cyanine-5-driven interactions as they pertain to uptake and endosomal escape. By correlating the variance of rate kinetics with endosomal escape efficiency and endogenous lipid polarity, we identify that observed cell-type dependencies correspond with an underlying susceptibility to dye-mediated effects and nanomedicine accumulation within polar vesicles. Further, our results infer that the ability to translocate endosomal membranes may be improved in certain cell types, suggesting a potential role for diagnostic moieties in trafficking of drug-loaded nanocarriers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery)
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16 pages, 2726 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Polymer Size and Cleavability on the Intravenous Pharmacokinetics of PEG-Based Hyperbranched Polymers in Rats
by Nirmal Marasini, Changkui Fu, Nicholas L. Fletcher, Christopher Subasic, Gerald Er, Karine Mardon, Kristofer J. Thurecht, Andrew K. Whittaker and Lisa M. Kaminskas
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(12), 2452; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10122452 - 8 Dec 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2573
Abstract
A better understanding of the impact of molecular size and linkers is important for PEG-based hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) intended as tailored drug delivery vehicles. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of crosslinker chemistry (cleavable disulphide versus non-cleavable ethylene glycol methacrylate (EGDMA) linkers) [...] Read more.
A better understanding of the impact of molecular size and linkers is important for PEG-based hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) intended as tailored drug delivery vehicles. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of crosslinker chemistry (cleavable disulphide versus non-cleavable ethylene glycol methacrylate (EGDMA) linkers) and molecular weight within the expected size range for efficient renal elimination (22 vs. 48 kDa) on the intravenous pharmacokinetic and biodistribution properties of 89Zr-labelled HBPs in rats. All HBPs showed similar plasma pharmacokinetics over 72 h, despite differences in linker chemistry and size. A larger proportion of HBP with the cleavable linker was eliminated via the urine and faeces compared to a similar-sized HBP with the non-cleavable linker, while size had no impact on the proportion of the dose excreted. The higher molecular weight HBPs accumulated in organs of the mononuclear phagocyte system (liver and spleen) more avidly than the smaller HBP. These results suggest that HBPs within the 22 to 48 kDa size range show no differences in plasma pharmacokinetics, but distinct patterns of organ biodistribution and elimination are evident. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery)
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33 pages, 11775 KiB  
Article
Fe/Mg-Modified Carbonate Apatite with Uniform Particle Size and Unique Transport Protein-Related Protein Corona Efficiently Delivers Doxorubicin into Breast Cancer Cells
by Sheikh Tanzina Haque, Md. Emranul Karim, Syafiq Asnawi Zainal Abidin, Iekhsan Othman, Mark M. Banaszak Holl and Ezharul Hoque Chowdhury
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(5), 834; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10050834 - 27 Apr 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4415
Abstract
Breast cancer is the abnormal, uncontrollable proliferation of cells in the breast. Conventional treatment modalities like chemotherapy induce deteriorating side effects on healthy cells. Non-viral inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) confer exclusive characteristics, such as, stability, controllable shape and size, facile surface modification, and unique [...] Read more.
Breast cancer is the abnormal, uncontrollable proliferation of cells in the breast. Conventional treatment modalities like chemotherapy induce deteriorating side effects on healthy cells. Non-viral inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) confer exclusive characteristics, such as, stability, controllable shape and size, facile surface modification, and unique magnetic and optical properties which make them attractive drug carriers. Among them, carbonate apatite (CA) particles are pH-responsive in nature, enabling rapid intracellular drug release, but are typically heterogeneous with the tendency to self-aggregate. Here, we modified the nano-carrier by partially substituting Ca2+ with Mg2+ and Fe3+ into a basic lattice structure of CA, forming Fe/Mg-carbonate apatite (Fe/Mg-CA) NPs with the ability to mitigate self-aggregation, form unique protein corona in the presence of serum and efficiently deliver doxorubicin (DOX), an anti-cancer drug into breast cancer cells. Two formulations of Fe/Mg-CA NPs were generated by adding different concentrations of Fe3+ and Mg2+ along with a fixed amount of Ca2+ in bicarbonate buffered DMEM (Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium), followed by 30 min incubation at 37 °C. Particles were characterized by turbidity analysis, z-average diameter and zeta potential measurement, optical microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), pH dissolution, drug binding, cellular uptake, thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, stability analysis, and protein corona study by LCMS (Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry). Both formulations of Fe/Mg-CA displayed mostly uniform nano-sized particles with less tendency to aggregate. The EDX and FAAS elemental analysis confirmed the weight (%) of Ca, Fe and Mg, along with their Ca/P ratio in the particles. A constant drug binding efficiency was noticed with 5 μM to 10 μM of initial DOX concentration. A pH dissolution study of Fe/Mg-CA NPs revealed the quick release of DOX in acidic pH. Enhancement of cytotoxicity for the chemotherapy drug was greater for Fe/Mg-CA NPs as compared to CA NPs, which could be explained by an increase in cellular internalization as a result of the small z-average diameter of the former. The protein corona study by LCMS demonstrated that Fe/Mg-CA NPs exhibited the highest affinity towards transport proteins without binding with opsonins. Biodistribution study was performed to study the effect of DOX-loaded Fe/Mg-CA NPs on the tissue distribution of DOX in Balb/c 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. Both formulations of Fe/Mg-CA NPs have significantly increased the accumulation of DOX in tumors. Interestingly, high Fe/Mg-CA NPs exhibited less off-target distribution compared to low Fe/Mg-CA NPs. Furthermore, the blood plasma analysis revealed prolonged blood circulation half-life of DOX-loaded low and high Fe/Mg-CA NPs compared to free DOX solution. Modifying CA NPs with Fe3+ and Mg2+, thereby, led to the generation of nano-sized particles with less tendency to aggregate, enhancing the drug binding efficiency, cellular uptake, and cytotoxicity without hampering drug release in acidic pH, while improving the circulation half-life and tumor accumulation of DOX. Therefore, Fe/Mg-CA which predominantly forms a transport protein-related protein corona could be a proficient carrier for therapeutic delivery in breast cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery)
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