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Nanomaterials
Special Issues
Understanding the Bio–Nano Interactions in Nanomedicine: Functional Nanomaterials and Beyond
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Understanding the Bio–Nano Interactions in Nanomedicine: Functional Nanomaterials and Beyond

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Synthesis, Interfaces and Nanostructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 7575

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Daniela Pozzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: drug delivery; gene delivery; lipofection; lipid membranes; early cancer detection; magnetic levitation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Luca Digiacomo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: early disease detection; computational methods for biomedical image analysis and interpretation; microfluidic-assisted nanoparticle formulation; theranostics
Prof. Dr. Giulio Caracciolo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: bio–nano interactions; nanomedicine; lipoplexes; lipid nanoparticles; targeted drug delivery; theranostics; small angle X-ray scattering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, a new paradigm has emerged that understanding how nanomaterials (e.g., nanoparticles) interact with bodily fluids (e.g., human serum and plasma) may pave the way for the development of innovative functional materials. When nanomaterials are exposed to biological fluids, they are immediately surrounded by high levels of biomolecules that adsorb to the material surface forming a biomolecular layer made of proteins, lipids, sugars, etc. As proteins are typically the most abundant class of molecules, this biomolecular coating is usually referred to as the “protein corona”. As the protein corona represents the molecular interface that mediates the interaction of nanomaterials with living systems, it gives nanomaterials a new “biological identity” by encoding information that controls their functionality (e.g., cellular association). Thus, interpreting such a complex code has become a priority to develop new classes of functional nanomaterials. An intriguing possibility is precoating nanomaterials with artificial protein coronas that could enable controlled cellular interactions with biological systems. However, when exposed to a physiological environment rich in thousands of biomolecules, it is still possible for the particle to become coated with other proteins by the formation of multiple layers. Alternatively, the surface of the nanoparticle could be designed in such a way that the spontaneously adsorbed protein corona in physiological environment becomes naturally enriched in components of interest, with the undoubted advantage of generating functional nanomaterials that will remain stable in the physiological environment.

We would like to invite you to submit your work to a Special Issue of Nanomaterials on “Understanding the Bio–Nano Interactions in Nanomedicine: Functional Materials and beyond”. This Special Issue aims at elucidating the role of the bio–nano interactions in nanomedicine to contribute to fill the gap between benchtop discoveries and clinical application of nanomaterials.

We invite researchers to contribute original and review articles regarding bio–nano interactions in nanomedicine. Potential topics include but are not limited to:

  • Correlation between synthetic identity and fate of nanoparticles in biological systems;
  • Manipulating the protein corona by nanoparticle design;
  • Effect of particle coating on protein corona formation;
  • Effect of protein corona on targeted delivery of nanomedicines;
  • Protein corona and nanoparticle-mediated immune responses;
  • Protein corona and the journey of nanoparticles inside cells;
  • Protein corona and nanoparticles to treat infectious diseases;
  • Protein corona and nanoparticles for passage through biological barriers;
  • Protein corona and nanotoxicity issues of nanoparticles in nanomedicine (including vaccines)
  • Protein corona and nanomaterials in tissue engineering;
  • Protein corona and development of technologies for early disease detection.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Daniela Pozzi
Dr. Luca Digiacomo
Prof. Dr. Giulio Caracciolo
Guest Editors

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. 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.

Keywords

  • Bio–nano interactions
  • Nanoparticles
  • Protein corona
  • Drug delivery
  • Nanotoxicity
  • Targeting
  • Early detection

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1276 KiB  
Article
Magnetic Levitation Patterns of Microfluidic-Generated Nanoparticle–Protein Complexes
by Luca Digiacomo, Erica Quagliarini, Benedetta Marmiroli, Barbara Sartori, Giordano Perini, Massimiliano Papi, Anna Laura Capriotti, Carmela Maria Montone, Andrea Cerrato, Giulio Caracciolo and Daniela Pozzi
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(14), 2376; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12142376 - 11 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1693
Abstract
Magnetic levitation (MagLev) has recently emerged as a powerful method to develop diagnostic technologies based on the exploitation of the nanoparticle (NP)–protein corona. However, experimental procedures improving the robustness, reproducibility, and accuracy of this technology are largely unexplored. To contribute to filling this [...] Read more.
Magnetic levitation (MagLev) has recently emerged as a powerful method to develop diagnostic technologies based on the exploitation of the nanoparticle (NP)–protein corona. However, experimental procedures improving the robustness, reproducibility, and accuracy of this technology are largely unexplored. To contribute to filling this gap, here, we investigated the effect of total flow rate (TFR) and flow rate ratio (FRR) on the MagLev patterns of microfluidic-generated graphene oxide (GO)–protein complexes using bulk mixing of GO and human plasma (HP) as a reference. Levitating and precipitating fractions of GO-HP samples were characterized in terms of atomic force microscopy (AFM), bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA), and one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D SDS-PAGE), and nanoliquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS). We identified combinations of TFR and FRR (e.g., TFR = 35 μL/min and FRR (GO:HP) = 9:1 or TFR = 3.5 μL/min and FRR (GO:HP) = 19:1), leading to MagLev patterns dominated by levitating and precipitating fractions with bulk-like features. Since a typical MagLev experiment for disease detection is based on a sequence of optimization, exploration, and validation steps, this implies that the optimization (e.g., searching for optimal NP:HP ratios) and exploration (e.g., searching for MagLev signatures) steps can be performed using samples generated by bulk mixing. When these steps are completed, the validation step, which involves using human specimens that are often available in limited amounts, can be made by highly reproducible microfluidic mixing without any ex novo optimization process. The relevance of developing diagnostic technologies based on MagLev of coronated nanomaterials is also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding the Bio–Nano Interactions in Nanomedicine: Functional Nanomaterials and Beyond)
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23 pages, 2360 KiB  
Article
Targeted Immuno-Antiretroviral to Promote Dual Protection against HIV: A Proof-of-Concept Study
by Subhra Mandal, Shawnalyn W. Sunagawa, Pavan Kumar Prathipati, Michael Belshan, Annemarie Shibata and Christopher J. Destache
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(11), 1942; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12111942 - 06 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1941
Abstract
The C–C motif chemokine receptor-5 (CCR5) expression on the T-cell surface is the prime barrier to HIV/AIDS eradication, as it promotes both active human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection and latency; however, antiretrovirals (ARVs) suppress plasma viral loads to non-detectable levels. Keeping this in mind, [...] Read more.
The C–C motif chemokine receptor-5 (CCR5) expression on the T-cell surface is the prime barrier to HIV/AIDS eradication, as it promotes both active human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection and latency; however, antiretrovirals (ARVs) suppress plasma viral loads to non-detectable levels. Keeping this in mind, we strategically designed a targeted ARVs-loaded nanoformulation that targets CCR5 expressing T-cells (e.g., CD4+ cells). Conceptually, CCR5-blocking and targeted ARV delivery would be a dual protection strategy to prevent HIV infection. For targeting CCR5+ T-cells, the nanoformulation was surface conjugated with anti-CCR5 monoclonal antibodies (CCR5 mAb) and loaded with dolutegravir+tenofovir alafenamide (D+T) ARVs to block HIV replication. The result demonstrated that the targeted-ARV nanoparticle’s multimeric CCR5 binding property improved its antigen-binding affinity, prolonged receptor binding, and ARV intracellular retention. Further, nanoformulation demonstrated high binding affinity to CCR5 expressing CD4+ cells, monocytes, and other CCR5+ T-cells. Finally, the short-term pre-exposure prophylaxis study demonstrated that prolonged CCR5 blockage and ARV presence further induced a “protective immune phenotype” with a boosted T-helper (Th), temporary memory (TM), and effector (E) sub-population. The proof-of-concept study that the targeted-ARV nanoformulation dual-action mechanism could provide a multifactorial solution toward achieving HIV “functional cure.” Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding the Bio–Nano Interactions in Nanomedicine: Functional Nanomaterials and Beyond)
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12 pages, 2642 KiB  
Communication
Magnetic Levitation of Personalized Nanoparticle–Protein Corona as an Effective Tool for Cancer Detection
by Erica Quagliarini, Luca Digiacomo, Damiano Caputo, Alessandro Coppola, Heinz Amenitsch, Giulio Caracciolo and Daniela Pozzi
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(9), 1397; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12091397 - 19 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1712
Abstract
Unprecedented opportunities for early stage cancer detection have recently emerged from the characterization of the personalized protein corona (PC), i.e., the protein cloud that surrounds nanoparticles (NPs) upon exposure to a patients’ bodily fluids. Most of these methods require “direct characterization” of the [...] Read more.
Unprecedented opportunities for early stage cancer detection have recently emerged from the characterization of the personalized protein corona (PC), i.e., the protein cloud that surrounds nanoparticles (NPs) upon exposure to a patients’ bodily fluids. Most of these methods require “direct characterization” of the PC., i.e., they necessitate protein isolation, identification, and quantification. Each of these steps can introduce bias and affect reproducibility and inter-laboratory consistency of experimental data. To fulfill this gap, here we develop a nanoparticle-enabled blood (NEB) test based on the indirect characterization of the personalized PC by magnetic levitation (MagLev). The MagLev NEB test works by analyzing the levitation profiles of PC-coated graphene oxide (GO) NPs that migrate along a magnetic field gradient in a paramagnetic medium. For the test validation, we employed human plasma samples from 15 healthy individuals and 30 oncological patients affected by four cancer types, namely breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Over the last 15 years prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and PDAC have continuously been the second, third, and fourth leading sites of cancer-related deaths in men, while breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and PDAC are the second, third and fourth leading sites for women. This proof-of-concept investigation shows that the sensitivity and specificity of the MagLev NEB test depend on the cancer type, with the global classification accuracy ranging from 70% for prostate cancer to an impressive 93.3% for PDAC. We also discuss how this tool could benefit from several tunable parameters (e.g., the intensity of magnetic field gradient, NP type, exposure conditions, etc.) that can be modulated to optimize the detection of different cancer types with high sensitivity and specificity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding the Bio–Nano Interactions in Nanomedicine: Functional Nanomaterials and Beyond)
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Review

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24 pages, 1403 KiB  
Review
Exogenous Contrast Agents in Photoacoustic Imaging: An In Vivo Review for Tumor Imaging
by Afifa Farooq, Shafiya Sabah, Salam Dhou, Nour Alsawaftah and Ghaleb Husseini
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(3), 393; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12030393 - 25 Jan 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3345
Abstract
The field of cancer theranostics has grown rapidly in the past decade and innovative ‘biosmart’ theranostic materials are being synthesized and studied to combat the fast growth of cancer metastases. While current state-of-the-art oncology imaging techniques have decreased mortality rates, patients still face [...] Read more.
The field of cancer theranostics has grown rapidly in the past decade and innovative ‘biosmart’ theranostic materials are being synthesized and studied to combat the fast growth of cancer metastases. While current state-of-the-art oncology imaging techniques have decreased mortality rates, patients still face a diminished quality of life due to treatment. Therefore, improved diagnostics are needed to define in vivo tumor growths on a molecular level to achieve image-guided therapies and tailored dosage needs. This review summarizes in vivo studies that utilize contrast agents within the field of photoacoustic imaging—a relatively new imaging modality—for tumor detection, with a special focus on imaging and transducer parameters. This paper also details the different types of contrast agents used in this novel diagnostic field, i.e., organic-based, metal/inorganic-based, and dye-based contrast agents. We conclude this review by discussing the challenges and future direction of photoacoustic imaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding the Bio–Nano Interactions in Nanomedicine: Functional Nanomaterials and Beyond)
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