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Nanoparticles and Their Biological and Biomedical Application

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 July 2021) | Viewed by 39384

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Pavel Rossner

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Guest Editor

Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
Interests: nanotoxicology; oxidative stress; gene expression modulation; epigenetics; in vitro systems; human studies; 3D models; air pollution; engine emissions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials (NM) are increasingly used in many fields of human life. NM are applied in, e.g., electronics, cosmetics, food, and textile industries; chemistry; or diagnostic and therapeutic medical applications. The specific physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles (NP) make them prime candidates for the development of site-specific drug or gene delivery systems, for in vivo imaging, or for the application of dressings or gels with antimicrobial properties. However, the wider application of NM in clinical practice is hampered by the potential toxicity of NP, which is still not sufficiently characterized.

This Special Issue aims to publish research focused on the in vitro and in vivo investigation of new materials and approaches in biological and biomedical applications of NM. In addition, manuscripts reporting the mechanisms of toxicity of NM used in the biomedical field will be considered. The authors should avoid the presentation of simple descriptive experiments or basic toxicity markers (e.g., cytotoxicity). More complex analytical approaches, including genomics and proteomics, are instead encouraged. Ideally, a battery of biochemical markers should be applied in in vivo systems (e.g., experimental animals) in order to reveal interactions between NM and the test organism, and to identify biochemical pathways associated with use of NP.

Dr. Pavel Rossner
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.

Keywords

nanomaterials
biomedical application
therapy
diagnostics
toxicity
mechanisms

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 17550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Effect of Water-Soluble C₆₀ Fullerene Nanoparticles on the Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of the Muscle Soleus in Rats

by Dmytro Nozdrenko, Tetiana Matvienko, Oksana Vygovska, Kateryna Bogutska, Olexandr Motuziuk, Natalia Nurishchenko, Yuriy Prylutskyy, Peter Scharff and Uwe Ritter

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 6812; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22136812 - 24 Jun 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2363

Abstract

The biomechanical parameters of muscle soleus contraction in rats and their blood biochemical indicators after the intramuscular administration of water-soluble C₆₀ fullerene at doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg 1 h before the onset of muscle ischemia were investigated. In particular, changes in the contraction force of the ischemic muscle soleus, the integrated power of the muscle, the time to achieve the maximum force response, the dynamics of fatigue processes, and the parameters of the transition from dentate to smooth tetanus, levels of creatinine, creatine kinase, lactate and lactate dehydrogenase, and parameters of prooxidant–antioxidant balance (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, and reduced glutathione and catalase) were analyzed. The positive therapeutic changes in the studied biomechanical and biochemical markers were revealed, which indicate the possibility of using water-soluble C₆₀ fullerenes as effective prophylactic nanoagents to reduce the severity of pathological conditions of the muscular system caused by ischemic damage to skeletal muscles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Their Biological and Biomedical Application)

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20 pages, 3407 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Eco-Friendly Approach to the Control of Pathogenic Microbes and Anopheles stephensi Malarial Vector Using Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles (Mg-NPs) Fabricated by Penicillium chrysogenum

by Amr Fouda, Mohamed A. Awad, Ahmed M. Eid, Ebrahim Saied, Mohammed G. Barghoth, Mohammed F. Hamza, Mohamed F. Awad, Salah Abdelbary and Saad El-Din Hassan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5096; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22105096 - 12 May 2021

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 3315

Abstract

The discovery of eco-friendly, rapid, and cost-effective compounds to control diseases caused by microbes and insects are the main challenges. Herein, the magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO-NPs) are successfully fabricated by harnessing the metabolites secreted by Penicillium chrysogenum. The fabricated MgO-NPs were characterized using UV-Vis, XRD, TEM, DLS, EDX, FT-IR, and XPS analyses. Data showed the successful formation of crystallographic, spherical, well-dispersed MgO-NPs with sizes of 7–40 nm at a maximum wavelength of 250 nm. The EDX analysis confirms the presence of Mg and O ions as the main components with weight percentages of 13.62% and 7.76%, respectively. The activity of MgO-NPs as an antimicrobial agent was investigated against pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, and exhibited zone of inhibitions of 12.0 ± 0.0, 12.7 ± 0.9, 23.3 ± 0.8, 17.7 ± 1.6, and 14.7 ± 0.6 mm respectively, at 200 µg mL⁻¹. The activity is decreased by decreasing the MgO-NPs concentration. The biogenic MgO-NPs exhibit high efficacy against different larvae instar and pupa of Anopheles stephensi, with LC50 values of 12.5–15.5 ppm for I–IV larvae instar and 16.5 ppm for the pupa. Additionally, 5 mg/cm² of MgO-NPs showed the highest protection percentages against adults of Anopheles stephensi, with values of 100% for 150 min and 67.6% ± 1.4% for 210 min. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Their Biological and Biomedical Application)

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16 pages, 4446 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Polybutylcyanoacrylate Nanoparticles as a Protos Delivery Vehicle on Dental Bone Formation

by Li-Ching Chang, Chiu-Yen Chung, Chun-Hui Chiu, Martin Hsiu-Chu Lin and Jen-Tsung Yang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 4873; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22094873 - 05 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2190

Abstract

Background: Dental implants are commonly used for missing teeth, for which success depends heavily on the quality of the alveolar bone. The creation of an ideal implant site is a key component in shortening the treatment time, which remains clinically challenging. Strontium ranelate (Protos) is an anti-osteoporotic agent which has previously been used to promote bone formation, however the systemic use of Protos has been linked to serious cardiovascular and venous thromboembolic events, thus local delivery strategies may be better suited for this purpose. In this study, a biodegradable, and biocompatible nanocarrier “polybutylcyanoacrylate” (PBCA) loaded with strontium was constructed and its ability to promote bone formation was assessed. Methodology: PBCA nanoparticles loaded with strontium (PBCA-Sr NPs) were synthesized using the emulsion polymerization method, and their physical properties (zeta potential, size and shape) and entrapment efficiency were characterized. Committed MSCs (osteoblasts) were derived from the differentiation of cultured rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), which were tested with the PBCA-Sr NPs for cytotoxicity, inflammatory response, bone formation and mineralization. Scanning electron microscopy was performed following a 7-day treatment of PBCA-Sr NPs on decellularized procaine mandibular bone blocks grafted with osteoblasts. Results: Spherical PBCA-Sr NPs of 166.7 ± 2.3 nm, zeta potential of −1.15 ± 0.28 mV with a strontium loading efficiency of 90.04 ± 3.27% were constructed. The presence of strontium was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Rat committed MSCs incubated in PBCA-Sr NPs for 24 hrs showed viabilities in excess of 90% for concentrations of up to 250 ug/mL, the cellular expression of osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase were 1.4 and 1.3 times higher than the untreated control, and significantly higher than those treated with strontium alone. Bone formation was evident following osteoblast engraftment on the decellularized procaine mandibular bone block with PBCA-Sr NPs, which appeared superior to those treated with strontium alone. Conclusion: Treatment of committed MSCs with PBCA-Sr NPs showed higher expression of markers of bone formation when compared with strontium alone and which corresponded to greater degree of bone formation observed on the 3-dimensinal decellularized procaine mandibular bone block. Further quantitative analysis on the extent of new bone formation is warranted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Their Biological and Biomedical Application)

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10 pages, 1736 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetically Modified Ferritin Nanoparticles with Bone-Targeting Peptides for Bone Imaging

by Jong-Won Kim, Kyung-Kwan Lee, Kyoung-Woo Park, Moonil Kim and Chang-Soo Lee

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 4854; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22094854 - 03 May 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2211

Abstract

Bone homeostasis plays a major role in supporting and protecting various organs as well as a body structure by maintaining the balance of activities of the osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Unbalanced differentiation and functions of these cells result in various skeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteopetrosis, and Paget’s disease. Although various synthetic nanomaterials have been developed for bone imaging and therapy through the chemical conjugation, they are associated with serious drawbacks, including heterogeneity and random orientation, in turn resulting in low efficiency. Here, we report the synthesis of bone-targeting ferritin nanoparticles for bone imaging. Ferritin, which is a globular protein composed of 24 subunits, was employed as a carrier molecule. Bone-targeting peptides that have been reported to specifically bind to osteoblast and hydroxyapatite were genetically fused to the N-terminus of the heavy subunit of human ferritin in such a way that the peptides faced outwards. Ferritin nanoparticles with fused bone-targeting peptides were also conjugated with fluorescent dyes to assess their binding ability using osteoblast imaging and a hydroxyapatite binding assay; the results showed their specific binding with osteoblasts and hydroxyapatite. Using in vivo analysis, a specific fluorescent signal from the lower limb was observed, demonstrating a highly selective affinity of the modified nanoparticles for the bone tissue. These promising results indicate a specific binding ability of the nanoscale targeting system to the bone tissue, which might potentially be used for bone disease therapy in future clinical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Their Biological and Biomedical Application)

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Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 1146 KiB

Open AccessReview

Silver Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Applications

by Tamara Bruna, Francisca Maldonado-Bravo, Paul Jara and Nelson Caro

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 7202; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22137202 - 04 Jul 2021

Cited by 487 | Viewed by 20822

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been imposed as an excellent antimicrobial agent being able to combat bacteria in vitro and in vivo causing infections. The antibacterial capacity of AgNPs covers Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including multidrug resistant strains. AgNPs exhibit multiple and simultaneous mechanisms of action and in combination with antibacterial agents as organic compounds or antibiotics it has shown synergistic effect against pathogens bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The characteristics of silver nanoparticles make them suitable for their application in medical and healthcare products where they may treat infections or prevent them efficiently. With the urgent need for new efficient antibacterial agents, this review aims to establish factors affecting antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles, as well as to expose the advantages of using AgNPs as new antibacterial agents in combination with antibiotic, which will reduce the dosage needed and prevent secondary effects associated to both. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Their Biological and Biomedical Application)

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25 pages, 13499 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nucleic Acid Delivery with Red-Blood-Cell-Based Carriers

by Giulia Della Pelle and Nina Kostevšek

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5264; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22105264 - 17 May 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7086

Abstract

Gene therapy has the potential to become a staple of 21st-century medicine. However, to overcome the limitations of existing gene-delivery therapies, that is, poor stability and inefficient and delivery and accumulation of nucleic acids (NAs), safe drug-delivery systems (DDSs) allowing the prolonged circulation and expression of the administered genes in vivo are needed. In this review article, the development of DDSs over the past 70 years is briefly described. Since synthetic DDSs can be recognized and eliminated as foreign substances by the immune system, new approaches must be found. Using the body’s own cells as DDSs is a unique and exciting strategy and can be used in a completely new way to overcome the critical limitations of existing drug-delivery approaches. Among the different circulatory cells, red blood cells (RBCs) are the most abundant and thus can be isolated in sufficiently large quantities to decrease the complexity and cost of the treatment compared to other cell-based carriers. Therefore, in the second part, this article describes 70 years of research on the development of RBCs as DDSs, covering the most important RBC properties and loading methods. In the third part, it focuses on RBCs as the NA delivery system with advantages and drawbacks discussed to decide whether they are suitable for NA delivery in vivo. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles and Their Biological and Biomedical Application)

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