Submit to Medicina Review for Medicina Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Nano-Biosciences in the Field of Health-Care

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 October 2020) | Viewed by 32650

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Nicola Luigi Bragazzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of York, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
Interests: public health; epidemiology; infectious disorders; vaccination
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nano-medicine can be defined as a complex, multi-disciplinary branch of medicine, in which nano-technologies, molecular biotechnologies, and other nano-sciences are applied at every step of disease management, from diagnosis (nano-diagnostics) to treatment (nano-therapeutics), prognosis, and monitoring of biological parameters and biomarkers. Nano-medicine potentially enables physicians to detect a disorder early, before its clinical manifestations, as well as to provide drugs in a rational, precise, and targeted way, thereby minimizing the risk of the occurrence of side-effects as much as possible. Furthermore, different sub-specialties such as nano-neurosurgery, nano-otorhinolaryngology, nano-dentistry, nano-ophthalmology, nano-neurology, nano-cardiology, nano-orthopedics, nano-infectivology, and nano-oncology are emerging within nano-medicine. Nano-medicine is a relatively young discipline, which is increasingly and exponentially growing, characterized by emerging ethical issues and implications. Therefore, the purpose of this Special Issue is to gather contributions, reflecting the various aspects of nano-medicine, either from a theoretical, applied, or translational standpoint, including regulatory aspects.

Dr. Nicola Bragazzi
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. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1800 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.

Keywords

Nano-biosciences
Nano-technologies
Biotechnologies
Nano-medicine
Nano-biosensors
Nano-biomaterials
Nano-diagnostics
Nano-therapeutics
Nano-biosystems
Nano-ethics

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

8 pages, 2809 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanomedicine: Insights from a Bibliometrics-Based Analysis of Emerging Publishing and Research Trends

by Nicola Luigi Bragazzi

Medicina 2019, 55(12), 785; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina55120785 - 15 Dec 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3205

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Nanomedicine, a term coined by the American engineer Eric Drexler (1955) and Robert Freitas Jr. (1952) in the nineties, can be defined as a complex, multi-disciplinary branch of medicine, in which nano-technologies, molecular biotechnologies, and other nano-sciences are applied at every step of disease management, from diagnosis (nano-diagnostics) to treatment (nano-therapeutics), prognosis, and monitoring of biological parameters and biomarkers. Nanomedicine is a relatively young discipline, which is increasingly and exponentially growing, characterized by emerging ethical issues and implications. Nanomedicine has branched out in hundreds of different sub-fields. Materials and Methods: A bibliometrics-based analysis was applied mining the entire content of PubMed/MEDLINE, using “nanomedicine” as a Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) search term. Results: A sample of 6696 articles were extracted from PubMed/MEDLINE and analyzed. Articles had been published in the period from 2003 to 2019, showing an increasing trend throughout the time. Six thematic clusters emerged (first cluster: molecular methods; second cluster: molecular biology and nano-characterization; third cluster: nano-diagnostics and nano-theranostics; fourth cluster: clinical applications, in the sub-fields of nano-oncology, nano-immunology and nano-vaccinology; fifth cluster: clinical applications, in the sub-fields of nano-oncology and nano-infectiology; and sixth cluster: nanodrugs). The countries with the highest percentages of articles in the field of nanomedicine were the North America (38.3%) and Europe (35.1%). Conclusions: The present study showed that there is an increasing trend in publishing and performing research in the super-specialty of nanomedicine. Most productive countries were the USA and European countries, with China as an emerging region. Hot topics in the last years were nano-diagnostics and nano-theranostics and clinical applications in the sub-fields of nano-oncology and nano-infectiology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Biosciences in the Field of Health-Care)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2522 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Controlled Release of Metformin Hydrochloride from Core-Shell Nanofibers with Fish Sarcoplasmic Protein

by Su Sena, Korkmaz Nalan Sumeyra, Guven Ulkugul, Arslan Sema, Karademir Betul, Sennaroglu Bostan Muge, Eroglu Mehmet Sayip, Uzun Muhammet, Kalkandelen Cevriye, Mahirogullari Mahir, Mihail Aurel Titu, Denisa Ficai, Anton Ficai and Oguzhan Gunduz

Medicina 2019, 55(10), 682; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina55100682 - 10 Oct 2019

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3145

Abstract

Background and Objectives: A coaxial electrospinning technique was used to produce core/shell nanofibers of a polylactic acid (PLA) as a shell and a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing metformin hydrochloride (MH) as a core. Materials and Methods: Fish sarcoplasmic protein (FSP) was extracted from fresh bonito and incorporated into nanofiber at various concentrations to investigate the influence on properties of the coaxial nanofibers. The morphology, chemical structure and thermal properties of the nanofibers were studied. Results: The results show that uniform and bead-free structured nanofibers with diameters ranging from 621 nm to 681 nm were obtained. A differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis shows that FSP had a reducing effect on the crystallinity of the nanofibers. Furthermore, the drug release profile of electrospun fibers was analyzed using the spectrophotometric method. Conclusions: The nanofibers showed prolonged and sustained release and the first order kinetic seems to be more suitable to describe the release. MTT assay suggests that the produced drug and protein loaded coaxial nanofibers are non-toxic and enhance cell attachment. Thus, these results demonstrate that the produced nanofibers had the potential to be used for diabetic wound healing applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Biosciences in the Field of Health-Care)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 9431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Advanced Drug-Eluting Poly (Vinyl Chloride) Surfaces Deposited by Spin Coating

by Oana Cristina Duta, Maxim Maximov, Roxana Trusca, Anton Ficai, Denisa Ficai, Cornelia-Ioana Ilie, Lia-Mara Ditu and Ecaterina Andronescu

Medicina 2019, 55(8), 421; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina55080421 - 30 Jul 2019

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2575

Abstract

Background and objectives: Medical devices such as catheters are used on a large scale to treat heart and cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, they present some important drawbacks (structure failure, calcifications, infections, thrombosis, etc.), with the main side effects occurring due to adhesion and proliferation of bacteria and living cells on the surface of the implanted devices. The aim of this work is to modify the surface of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), an affordable biocompatible material, in order to reduce these aforementioned side effects. Materials and Methods: The surface of PVC was modified by depositing a thin layer also of PVC that incorporates an active substance, dicoumarol (a well-known anticoagulant), by spin coating process. The modified surfaces were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to determine the surface morphology and behavior. The samples were tested for Gram-positive (S. aureus ATCC 25923) and Gram-negative (P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853) standard strains from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Results: The material obtained had a smooth surface with a uniform distribution of dicoumarol, which is released depending on the deposition parameters. The concentration of dicoumarol at the surface of the material and also the release rate is important for the applications for which the surface modification was designed. PVC modified using the proposed method showed a good ability to prevent salt deposition and decreased the protein adhesion, and the resistance to bacterial adherence was improved compared with standard PVC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Biosciences in the Field of Health-Care)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 4623 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Phytochemical Analysis, Ephedra Procera C. A. Mey. Mediated Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles, Their Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Potentials

by Muhammad Qasim Nasar, Ali Talha Khalil, Muhammad Ali, Mehwish Shah, Muhammad Ayaz and Zabta Khan Shinwari

Medicina 2019, 55(7), 369; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina55070369 - 12 Jul 2019

Cited by 54 | Viewed by 4827

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The current study focuses on an eco-friendly and cost-effective method of Ephedra procera C. A. Mey. mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles as potential cytotoxic, antimicrobial and anti-oxidant agents. Materials and Methods: Plant aqueous extracts were screened for Total Phenolic (TPC), Total Flavonoid contents (TFC), Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging potentials. Total reducing power estimated by potassium ferricyanide colorimetric assay. The biosynthesized E. procera nanoparticles (EpNPs) were characterized by UV-spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscopy. EpNPs were evaluated for their antimicrobial, bio-compatibility and cytotoxic potentials. Results: Initial phytocheimcal analysis of plant aqueous extract revealed TFC of 20.7 ± 0.21 µg/mg extract and TPC of 117.01 ± 0.78 µg/mg extract. TAC, DPPH free radical scavenging and reducing power were 73.8 ± 0.32 µg/mg extract, 71.8 ± 0.73% and 105.4 ± 0.65 µg/mg extract respectively. The synthesized EpNPs were observed to possess high cytotoxicity against HepG2 cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ (61.3 µg/mL) as compared aqueous extract with IC₅₀ of (247 µg/mL). EpNPs were found to be biocompatible and have less effect on human erythrocytes. EpNPs exhibited significant antioxidant potentials and exhibited considerable activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MICs) of 11.12 μg/mL and 11.33 μg/mL respectively. Fungal species Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus were found susceptible to EpNPs. Conclusions: Results of the current study revealed that EpNPs exhibited considerable antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic potentials. Aqueous extract possesses significant anti-radical properties and thus can be useful in free radicals induced degenerative disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Biosciences in the Field of Health-Care)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 10654 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation, Optimization, and In Vivo Evaluation of Nanoparticle-Based Formulation for Pulmonary Delivery of Anticancer Drug

by Nazimuddin Chishti, Satveer Jagwani, Dinesh Dhamecha, Sunil Jalalpure and Mohamed Hassan Dehghan

Medicina 2019, 55(6), 294; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina55060294 - 20 Jun 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4082

Abstract

Background and Oobjectives: Lung cancer, a pressing issue in present-day society due to its high prevalence and mortality rate, can be managed effectively by long-term delivery of anticancer agents encapsulated in nanoparticles in the form of inhalable dry powder. This approach is expected to be of strategic importance in the management of lung cancer and is a developing area in current research. In the present investigation, we report on the formulation and characterization of docetaxel inhalable nanoparticles as a viable alternative for effective treatment of non-small cell lung cancer as a long-term delivery choice. Materials and Methods: Poloxamer (PLX-188) coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles containing docetaxel (DTX-NPs) were prepared by simple oil in water (o/w) single emulsification-solvent evaporation process. The nanoparticles were collected as pellet by centrifugation, dispersed in mannitol solution, and lyophilized to get dry powder. Results: Optimized DTX-NPs were smooth and spherical in morphology, had particle size around 200 nm, zeta potential around −36 mV, and entrapment efficiency of around 60%. The in vitro anticancer assay was assessed and it was observed that nanoparticle-based formulation exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity when compared to the free form of the drug post 48 h. On examining for in vitro drug release, slow but continuous release was seen until 96 h following Higuchi release kinetics. DTX-NPs were able to maintain their desired characteristics when studied at accelerated conditions of stability. Conclusions: In-vivo study indicated that the optimized nanoparticles were well retained in lungs and that the drug level could be maintained for a longer duration if given in the form of DTX-NPs by the pulmonary route. Thus, the non-invasive nature and target specificity of DTX-NPs paves the way for its future use as a pulmonary delivery for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Biosciences in the Field of Health-Care)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 14305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multifunctional Platforms Based on Graphene Oxide and Natural Products

by Alexa Croitoru, Ovidiu Oprea, Adrian Nicoara, Roxana Trusca, Mihai Radu, Ionela Neacsu, Denisa Ficai, Anton Ficai and Ecaterina Andronescu

Medicina 2019, 55(6), 230; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina55060230 - 30 May 2019

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 3767

Abstract

Background and objectives: In the last few years, graphene oxide has attracted much attention in biomedical applications due to its unique physico-chemical properties and can be used as a carrier for both hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic biomolecules. The purpose of this paper was to synthesize graphene oxide and to obtain multifunctional platforms based on graphene oxide as a nanocarrier loaded with few biologically active substances with anticancer, antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory properties such as gallic acid, caffeic acid, limonene and nutmeg and cembra pine essential oils. Materials and Methods: Graphene oxide was obtained according to the method developed by Hummers and further loaded with biologically active agents. The obtained platforms were characterized using FTIR, HPLC, TGA, SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. Results: Gallic acid released 80% within 10 days but all the other biologically active agents did not release because their affinity for the graphene oxide support was higher than that of the phosphate buffer solution. SEM characterization showed the formation of nanosheets and a slight increase in the degree of agglomeration of the particles. The ratio I_2D/I_G for all samples was between 0.18 for GO-cembra pine and 0.27 for GO-limonene, indicating that the GO materials were in the form of multilayers. The individual GO sheets were found to have less than 20 µm, the thickness of GO was estimated to be ~4 nm and an interlayer spacing of about 2.12 Å. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the bioactive substances were adsorbed on the surface and no degradation occurred during loading. Conclusions: These findings encourage this research to further explore, both in vitro and in vivo, the biological activities of bioactive agents for their use in medicine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Biosciences in the Field of Health-Care)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 380 KiB

Open AccessReview

Liposomes for Intra-Articular Analgesic Drug Delivery in Orthopedics: State-of-Art and Future Perspectives. Insights from a Systematic Mini-Review of the Literature

by Lucio Cipollaro, Paolo Trucillo, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi, Giovanna Della Porta, Ernesto Reverchon and Nicola Maffulli

Medicina 2020, 56(9), 423; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina56090423 - 20 Aug 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2738

Abstract

Background and objectives: Liposomal structures are artificial vesicles composed of one or several lamellae of phospholipids which surround an inner aqueous core. Given the amphoteric nature of phospholipids, liposomes are promising systems for drug delivery. The present review provides an updated synthesis of the main techniques for the production of liposomes for orthopedic applications, focusing on the drawbacks of the conventional methods and on the advantages of high pressure techniques. Materials and Methods: Articles published in any language were systematically retrieved from two major electronic scholarly databases (PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus) up to March 2020. Nine articles were retained based on the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Liposome vesicles decrease the rate of inflammatory reactions after local injections, and significantly enhance the clinical effectiveness of anti-inflammatory agents providing controlled drug release, reducing toxic side effects. Conclusions: This review presents an update on the improvement in musculoskeletal ailments using liposome treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Biosciences in the Field of Health-Care)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2365 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematic Review of the Genotoxicity and Antigenotoxicity of Biologically Synthesized Metallic Nanomaterials: Are Green Nanoparticles Safe Enough for Clinical Marketing?

by Hamed Barabadi, Masoud Najafi, Hadi Samadian, Asaad Azarnezhad, Hossein Vahidi, Mohammad Ali Mahjoub, Mahbobeh Koohiyan and Amirhossein Ahmadi

Medicina 2019, 55(8), 439; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/medicina55080439 - 05 Aug 2019

Cited by 95 | Viewed by 7472

Abstract

Background and objectives: Although studies have elucidated the significant biomedical potential of biogenic metallic nanoparticles (MNPs), it is very important to explore the hazards associated with the use of biogenic MNPs. Evidence indicates that genetic toxicity causes mutation, carcinogenesis, and cell death. Materials and Methods: Therefore, we systematically review original studies that investigated the genotoxic effect of biologically synthesized MNPs via in vitro and in vivo models. Articles were systematically collected by screening the literature published online in the following databases; Cochrane, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, ProQuest, and EBSCO. Results: Most of the studies were carried out on the MCF-7 cancer cell line and phytosynthesis was the general approach to MNP preparation in all studies. Fungi were the second most predominant resource applied for MNP synthesis. A total of 80.57% of the studies synthesized biogenic MNPs with sizes below 50 nm. The genotoxicity of Ag, Au, ZnO, TiO₂, Se, Cu, Pt, Zn, Ag-Au, CdS, Fe₃O₄, Tb₂O₃, and Si-Ag NPs was evaluated. AgNPs, prepared in 68.79% of studies, and AuNPs, prepared in 12.76%, were the two most predominant biogenic MNPs synthesized and evaluated in the included articles. Conclusions: Although several studies reported the antigenotoxic influence of biogenic MNPs, most of them reported biogenic MNP genotoxicity at specific concentrations and with a dose or time dependence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically evaluate the genotoxicity of biologically synthesized MNPs and provide a valuable summary of genotoxicity data. In conclusion, our study implied that the genotoxicity of biologically synthesized MNPs varies case-by-case and highly dependent on the synthesis parameters, biological source, applied assay, etc. The gathered data are required for the translation of these nanoproducts from research laboratories to the clinical market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Biosciences in the Field of Health-Care)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Nano-Biosciences in the Field of Health-Care

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI