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Toxicity & Biomedical Applications of Nanomaterials
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Toxicity & Biomedical Applications of Nanomaterials

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 (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 6862

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Amélia M. Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Biology and Environment, School of Life Sciences and Environment ; Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
2. Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB-UTAD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: cell biology and biochemistry; cell-based assays; evaluation of bioactivities of natural compounds; phytochemicals; nutraceuticals; nanoencapsulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials have noteworthy applications in biomedicine, from diagnosis to drug delivery systems, and their biomedical application is intended to reduce damage to healthy cells while being attracted to diseased ones to deliver drugs/cell-tracers. Thus, currently a broad range of nanomaterial (e.g. from simple inorganic to very complex organic nanoparticles) are being studied and used in biomedical areas as drug delivery systems, bio-imaging agents and theranostic tools. However, the characteristic size, shape and surface properties of these nanomaterials may also allow them to interact with cells and cell-structures, causing unintended and irreversible toxicity. Thus, studies aiming to characterize the biomedical applications of new nanomaterials must be accompanied by toxicity studies not only of the nanomaterials, but also of all their individual components.

Toxicology of nanomaterials is becoming an important issue nowadays, especially with regard to nanomaterials present in environment and nanomaterials intended for medical use.

This Special Issue aims to comprehensively highlight the newest discoveries on nanomaterials used in biomedical application; namely, new strategies with resource to nanomaterial to increase bioavailability and efficacy of natural and synthetic drugs at target sites. Studies focused on the toxicity (or safety) of nanomaterials, their components or the products of their metabolism, to humans or to the environment, are also welcome.

We cordially invite authors to contribute original articles, as well as reviews, that bring new insights in the potential use of nanomaterial for biomedical applications as well as in the study of their toxicity.

Dr. Amélia M. Silva
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 applications
  • drug delivery
  • nanotoxicity
  • inflammation
  • genetic mutations

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 5889 KiB  
Article
The Preparation of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles in Hyaluronic Acid and the Influence of Low-Pressure Plasma Treatment on Their Physicochemical and Microbiological Properties
by Armen Hovhannisyan, Magdalena Janik, Liliana Woszczak, Gohar Khachatryan, Magdalena Krystyjan, Anna Lenart-Boroń, Klaudia Stankiewicz, Natalia Czernecka, Dorota Duraczyńska, Zdzisław Oszczęda and Karen Khachatryan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(24), 17285; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms242417285 - 09 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1071
Abstract
Nanometals constitute a rapidly growing area of research within nanotechnology. Nanosilver and nanogold exhibit significant antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and anticancer properties. The size and shape of nanoparticles are critical for determining their antimicrobial activity. In this study, silver and gold nanoparticles [...] Read more.
Nanometals constitute a rapidly growing area of research within nanotechnology. Nanosilver and nanogold exhibit significant antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and anticancer properties. The size and shape of nanoparticles are critical for determining their antimicrobial activity. In this study, silver and gold nanoparticles were synthesized within a hyaluronic acid matrix utilizing distilled water and distilled water treated with low-pressure, low-temperature glow plasma in an environment of air and argon. Electron microscopy, UV-Vis and FTIR spectra, water, and mechanical measurements were conducted to investigate the properties of nanometallic composites. This study also examined their microbiological properties. This study demonstrated that the properties of the composites differed depending on the preparation conditions, encompassing physicochemical and microbiological properties. The application of plasma-treated water under both air and argon had a significant effect on the size and distribution of nanometals. Silver nanoparticles were obtained between the range of 5 to 25 nm, while gold nanoparticles varied between 10 to 35 nm. The results indicate that the conditions under which silver and gold nanoparticles are produced have a significant effect on their mechanical and antibacterial properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity & Biomedical Applications of Nanomaterials)
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18 pages, 17959 KiB  
Article
ZnO Nanorods Create a Hypoxic State with Induction of HIF-1 and EPAS1, Autophagy, and Mitophagy in Cancer and Non-Cancer Cells
by Michele Aventaggiato, Adele Preziosi, Hossein Cheraghi Bidsorkhi, Emily Schifano, Simone Vespa, Stefania Mardente, Alessandra Zicari, Daniela Uccelletti, Patrizia Mancini, Lavinia Vittoria Lotti, Maria Sabrina Sarto and Marco Tafani
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 6971; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms24086971 - 09 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1724
Abstract
Nanomaterials are gaining increasing attention as innovative materials in medicine. Among nanomaterials, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures are particularly appealing because of their opto-electrical, antimicrobial, and photochemical properties. Although ZnO is recognized as a safe material and the Zn ion (Zn2+) concentration [...] Read more.
Nanomaterials are gaining increasing attention as innovative materials in medicine. Among nanomaterials, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures are particularly appealing because of their opto-electrical, antimicrobial, and photochemical properties. Although ZnO is recognized as a safe material and the Zn ion (Zn2+) concentration is strictly regulated at a cellular and systemic level, different studies have demonstrated cellular toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and ZnO nanorods (ZnO-NRs). Recently, ZnO-NP toxicity has been shown to depend on the intracellular accumulation of ROS, activation of autophagy and mitophagy, as well as stabilization and accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein. However, if the same pathway is also activated by ZnO-NRs and how non-cancer cells respond to ZnO-NR treatment, are still unknown. To answer to these questions, we treated epithelial HaCaT and breast cancer MCF-7 cells with different ZnO-NR concentrations. Our results showed that ZnO-NR treatments increased cell death through ROS accumulation, HIF-1α and endothelial PAS domain protein 1 (EPAS1) activation, and induction of autophagy and mitophagy in both cell lines. These results, while on one side, confirmed that ZnO-NRs can be used to reduce cancer growth, on the other side, raised some concerns on the activation of a hypoxic response in normal cells that, in the long run, could induce cellular transformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity & Biomedical Applications of Nanomaterials)
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16 pages, 3747 KiB  
Article
Comparative Evaluation of the Effects of Amorphous Silica Nanoparticles on the Erythrocytes of Wistar Normotensive and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
by Zannatul Ferdous, Ozaz Elzaki, Sumaya Beegam, Nur Elena Zaaba, Saeed Tariq, Ernest Adeghate and Abderrahim Nemmar
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3784; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms24043784 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1547
Abstract
Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials. SiNPs can encounter erythrocytes and hypertension is strongly linked to abnormalities in the functional and structural characteristics of erythrocytes. As little is known about the combinatorial effect of SiNP-hypertension interactions on erythrocytes, [...] Read more.
Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials. SiNPs can encounter erythrocytes and hypertension is strongly linked to abnormalities in the functional and structural characteristics of erythrocytes. As little is known about the combinatorial effect of SiNP-hypertension interactions on erythrocytes, the aim of this work was to study the effects triggered by hypertension on SiNPs induced hemolysis and the pathophysiological mechanism underlying it. We compared the interaction of amorphous 50 nm SiNPs at various concentrations (0.2, 1, 5 and 25 µg/mL) with erythrocytes of normotensive (NT) and hypertensive (HT) rats in vitro. Following incubation of the erythrocytes, SiNPs induced significant and dose-dependent increase in hemolysis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed erythrocyte deformity in addition to SiNPs taken up by erythrocytes. The erythrocyte susceptibility to lipid peroxidation was significantly increased. The concentration of reduced glutathione, and activities of superoxide dismutase, and catalase were significantly increased. SiNPs significantly increased intracellular Ca2+. Likewise, the concentration of the cellular protein annexin V and calpain activity was enhanced by SiNPs. Concerningly, all the tested parameters were significantly enhanced in erythrocytes from HT rats compared to NT rats. Our results collectively demonstrate that hypertension can potentially exacerbate the in vitro effect induced by SiNPs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity & Biomedical Applications of Nanomaterials)
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Review

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20 pages, 372 KiB  
Review
Assessment of Pristine Carbon Nanotubes Toxicity in Rodent Models
by Marta Witkowska, Ewa Florek and Radosław Mrówczyński
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 15343; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms232315343 - 05 Dec 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2002
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes are increasingly used in nanomedicine and material chemistry research, mostly because of their small size over a large surface area. Due to their properties, they are very attractive candidates for use in medicine and as drug carriers, contrast agents, biological platforms, [...] Read more.
Carbon nanotubes are increasingly used in nanomedicine and material chemistry research, mostly because of their small size over a large surface area. Due to their properties, they are very attractive candidates for use in medicine and as drug carriers, contrast agents, biological platforms, and so forth. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) may affect many organs, directly or indirectly, so there is a need for toxic effects evaluation. The main mechanisms of toxicity include oxidative stress, inflammation, the ability to damage DNA and cell membrane, as well as necrosis and apoptosis. The research concerning CNTs focuses on different animal models, functionalization, ways of administration, concentrations, times of exposure, and a variety of properties, which have a significant effect on toxicity. The impact of pristine CNTs on toxicity in rodent models is being increasingly studied. However, it is immensely difficult to compare obtained results since there are no standardized tests. This review summarizes the toxicity issues of pristine CNTs in rodent models, as they are often the preferred model for human disease studies, in different organ systems, while considering the various factors that affect them. Regardless, the results showed that the majority of toxicological studies using rodent models revealed some toxic effects. Even with different properties, carbon nanotubes were able to generate inflammation, fibrosis, or biochemical changes in different organs. The problem is that there are only a small amount of long-term toxicity studies, which makes it impossible to obtain a good understanding of later effects. This article will give a greater overview of the situation on toxicity in many organs. It will allow researchers to look at the toxicity of carbon nanotubes in a broader context and help to identify studies that are missing to properly assess toxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity & Biomedical Applications of Nanomaterials)
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