Nanobiotechnology for Drug Delivery System

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 15295

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Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche “Mario Serio” Viale Morgagni, 50-50134 Florence, Italy
Interests: acidic-adapted melanoma cells; tumor microenvironment
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In contrast to the “one-size-fits-all” approach of the past, personalized medicine has the potential to tailor therapy with the best response and highest safety margin to ensure better patient care. Success depends on multidisciplinary efforts to accelerate our understanding of host responses to “customized” theranostic agents and formulating individualized therapies. In the last decade, much effort has been focused on identifying disease subtypes biomarkers and developing functional biomaterials for more precise diagnosis and drug delivery.

Advanced theranostic systems are multifunctional platforms that contain a homing device or targeting agent that directs the carrier to the target tissue, an agent for imaging the lesion, and a chemotherapeutic agent to be delivered selectively to the target site. Real-time visualization of damaged/altered cells and drug release pattern is useful in optimizing the dose and treatment schedule. Thus, the development of nanotheranostic approaches paves the way for more precise personalized medicine and holds great promise for improved patient outcomes.

We invite authors to contribute original research articles or comprehensive review articles covering the most recent progress and new developments in the design and utilization of nanomaterials for highly efficient drug delivery. This Special Issue will cover a broad range of subjects, from nanomaterials synthesis to the design and characterization of nano–bio interactions, and systemic transport of the nanobject to the target site.

The format of welcomed articles includes full papers, communications, and reviews. Potential topics can include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Nanotheranostics
  • Cancer
  • Functionalization
  • Active targeting
  • Nanomedicine
  • Drug delivery
  • Gene delivery
  • Imaging
  • Tumor microenvironment
  • Nano-cell interaction
  • Regenerative medicine

Dr. Anna Laurenzana
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 17759 KiB  
Article
Smart Magnetic Nanocarriers for Multi-Stimuli On-Demand Drug Delivery
by Parisa Eslami, Martin Albino, Francesca Scavone, Federica Chiellini, Andrea Morelli, Giovanni Baldi, Laura Cappiello, Saer Doumett, Giada Lorenzi, Costanza Ravagli, Andrea Caneschi, Anna Laurenzana and Claudio Sangregorio
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(3), 303; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030303 - 18 Jan 2022
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2749
Abstract
In this study, we report the realization of drug-loaded smart magnetic nanocarriers constituted by superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in a dual pH- and temperature-responsive poly (N-vinylcaprolactam-co-acrylic acid) copolymer to achieve highly controlled drug release and localized magnetic hyperthermia. The magnetic core was [...] Read more.
In this study, we report the realization of drug-loaded smart magnetic nanocarriers constituted by superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in a dual pH- and temperature-responsive poly (N-vinylcaprolactam-co-acrylic acid) copolymer to achieve highly controlled drug release and localized magnetic hyperthermia. The magnetic core was constituted by flower-like magnetite nanoparticles with a size of 16.4 nm prepared by the polyol approach, with good saturation magnetization and a high specific absorption rate. The core was encapsulated in poly (N-vinylcaprolactam-co-acrylic acid) obtaining magnetic nanocarriers that revealed reversible hydration/dehydration transition at the acidic condition and/or at temperatures above physiological body temperature, which can be triggered by magnetic hyperthermia. The efficacy of the system was proved by loading doxorubicin with very high encapsulation efficiency (>96.0%) at neutral pH. The double pH- and temperature-responsive nature of the magnetic nanocarriers facilitated a burst, almost complete release of the drug at acidic pH under hyperthermia conditions, while a negligible amount of doxorubicin was released at physiological body temperature at neutral pH, confirming that in addition to pH variation, drug release can be improved by hyperthermia treatment. These results suggest this multi-stimuli-sensitive nanoplatform is a promising candidate for remote-controlled drug release in combination with magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanobiotechnology for Drug Delivery System)
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16 pages, 5403 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and In Vitro Evaluation of Gold Nanoparticles Functionalized with Thiol Ligands for Robust Radiolabeling with 99mTc
by Adamantia Apostolopoulou, Aristeidis Chiotellis, Evangelia-Alexandra Salvanou, Konstantina Makrypidi, Charalampos Tsoukalas, Fotis Kapiris, Maria Paravatou-Petsotas, Minas Papadopoulos, Ioannis C. Pirmettis, Przemysław Koźmiński and Penelope Bouziotis
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2406; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11092406 - 15 Sep 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2232
Abstract
Radiolabeled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely used for cancer diagnosis and therapy over recent decades. In this study, we focused on the development and in vitro evaluation of four new Au nanoconjugates radiolabeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) via thiol-bearing ligands attached [...] Read more.
Radiolabeled gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely used for cancer diagnosis and therapy over recent decades. In this study, we focused on the development and in vitro evaluation of four new Au nanoconjugates radiolabeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) via thiol-bearing ligands attached to the NP surface. More specifically, AuNPs of two different sizes (2 nm and 20 nm, referred to as Au(2) and Au(20), respectively) were functionalized with two bifunctional thiol ligands (referred to as L1H and L2H). The shape, size, and morphology of both bare and ligand-bearing AuNPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. In vitro cytotoxicity was assessed in 4T1 murine mammary cancer cells. The AuNPs were successfully radiolabeled with 99mTc-carbonyls at high radiochemical purity (>95%) and showed excellent in vitro stability in competition studies with cysteine and histidine. Moreover, lipophilicity studies were performed in order to determine the lipophilicity of the radiolabeled conjugates, while a hemolysis assay was performed to investigate the biocompatibility of the bare and functionalized AuNPs. We have shown that the functionalized AuNPs developed in this study lead to stable radiolabeled nanoconstructs with the potential to be applied in multimodality imaging or for in vivo tracking of drug-carrying AuNPs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanobiotechnology for Drug Delivery System)
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14 pages, 4592 KiB  
Article
Label-Free Visualization and Tracking of Gold Nanoparticles in Vasculature Using Multiphoton Luminescence
by Sean Burkitt, Mana Mehraein, Ramunas K. Stanciauskas, Jos Campbell, Scott Fraser and Cristina Zavaleta
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(11), 2239; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10112239 - 12 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2627
Abstract
Gold nanoparticles continue to generate interest for use in several biomedical applications. Recently, researchers have been focusing on exploiting their dual diagnostic/therapeutic theranostic capabilities. Before clinical translation can occur, regulatory agencies will require a greater understanding of their biodistribution and safety profiles post [...] Read more.
Gold nanoparticles continue to generate interest for use in several biomedical applications. Recently, researchers have been focusing on exploiting their dual diagnostic/therapeutic theranostic capabilities. Before clinical translation can occur, regulatory agencies will require a greater understanding of their biodistribution and safety profiles post administration. Previously, the real-time identification and tracking of gold nanoparticles in free-flowing vasculature had not been possible without extrinsic labels such as fluorophores. Here, we present a label-free imaging approach to examine gold nanoparticle (AuNP) activity within the vasculature by utilizing multiphoton intravital microscopy. This method employs a commercially available multiphoton microscopy system to visualize the intrinsic luminescent signal produced by a multiphoton absorption-induced luminescence effect observed in single gold nanoparticles at frame rates necessary for capturing real-time blood flow. This is the first demonstration of visualizing unlabeled gold nanoparticles in an unperturbed vascular environment with frame rates fast enough to achieve particle tracking. Nanoparticle blood concentration curves were also evaluated by the tracking of gold nanoparticle flow in vasculature and verified against known pre-injection concentrations. Half-lives of these gold nanoparticle injections ranged between 67 and 140 s. This label-free imaging approach could provide important structural and functional information in real time to aid in the development and effective analysis of new metallic nanoparticles for various clinical applications in an unperturbed environment, while providing further insight into their complex uptake and clearance pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanobiotechnology for Drug Delivery System)
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Review

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18 pages, 2614 KiB  
Review
Nanoparticle-Induced m6A RNA Modification: Detection Methods, Mechanisms and Applications
by Yi Wang, Fengkai Ruan, Zhenghong Zuo and Chengyong He
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(3), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12030389 - 25 Jan 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3353
Abstract
With the increasing application of nanoparticles (NPs) in medical and consumer applications, it is necessary to ensure their safety. As m6A (N6-methyladenosine) RNA modification is one of the most prevalent RNA modifications involved in many diseases and essential biological [...] Read more.
With the increasing application of nanoparticles (NPs) in medical and consumer applications, it is necessary to ensure their safety. As m6A (N6-methyladenosine) RNA modification is one of the most prevalent RNA modifications involved in many diseases and essential biological processes, the relationship between nanoparticles and m6A RNA modification for the modulation of these events has attracted substantial research interest. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the relationship between nanoparticles and m6A RNA modification, but evidence is beginning to emerge. Therefore, a summary of these aspects from current research on nanoparticle-induced m6A RNA modification is timely and significant. In this review, we highlight the roles of m6A RNA modification in the bioimpacts of nanoparticles and thus elaborate on the mechanisms of nanoparticle-induced m6A RNA modification. We also summarize the dynamic regulation and biofunctions of m6A RNA modification. Moreover, we emphasize recent advances in the application perspective of nanoparticle-induced m6A RNA modification in medication and toxicity of nanoparticles to provide a potential method to facilitate the design of nanoparticles by deliberately tuning m6A RNA modification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanobiotechnology for Drug Delivery System)
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47 pages, 3065 KiB  
Review
Advances in Non-Animal Testing Approaches towards Accelerated Clinical Translation of Novel Nanotheranostic Therapeutics for Central Nervous System Disorders
by Mark J. Lynch and Oliviero L. Gobbo
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2632; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11102632 - 7 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3625
Abstract
Nanotheranostics constitute a novel drug delivery system approach to improving systemic, brain-targeted delivery of diagnostic imaging agents and pharmacological moieties in one rational carrier platform. While there have been notable successes in this field, currently, the clinical translation of such delivery systems for [...] Read more.
Nanotheranostics constitute a novel drug delivery system approach to improving systemic, brain-targeted delivery of diagnostic imaging agents and pharmacological moieties in one rational carrier platform. While there have been notable successes in this field, currently, the clinical translation of such delivery systems for the treatment of neurological disorders has been limited by the inadequacy of correlating in vitro and in vivo data on blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeation and biocompatibility of nanomaterials. This review aims to identify the most contemporary non-invasive approaches for BBB crossing using nanotheranostics as a novel drug delivery strategy and current non-animal-based models for assessing the safety and efficiency of such formulations. This review will also address current and future directions of select in vitro models for reducing the cumbersome and laborious mandate for testing exclusively in animals. It is hoped these non-animal-based modelling approaches will facilitate researchers in optimising promising multifunctional nanocarriers with a view to accelerating clinical testing and authorisation applications. By rational design and appropriate selection of characterised and validated models, ranging from monolayer cell cultures to organ-on-chip microfluidics, promising nanotheranostic particles with modular and rational design can be screened in high-throughput models with robust predictive power. Thus, this article serves to highlight abbreviated research and development possibilities with clinical translational relevance for developing novel nanomaterial-based neuropharmaceuticals for therapy in CNS disorders. By generating predictive data for prospective nanomedicines using validated in vitro models for supporting clinical applications in lieu of requiring extensive use of in vivo animal models that have notable limitations, it is hoped that there will be a burgeoning in the nanotherapy of CNS disorders by virtue of accelerated lead identification through screening, optimisation through rational design for brain-targeted delivery across the BBB and clinical testing and approval using fewer animals. Additionally, by using models with tissue of human origin, reproducible therapeutically relevant nanomedicine delivery and individualised therapy can be realised. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanobiotechnology for Drug Delivery System)
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