Advanced Nanomaterials for Bioimaging

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2022) | Viewed by 14640

Special Issue Editor

Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
Interests: nanomaterials; nanomaterial synthesis; imaging agents; nanomedicine; contrast agents; nanoparticle colloid; surface modification

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials such as nanoparticles, nanorods, core-shell nanoparticles, and hydrid nanoparticles have been extensively studied for various biomedical applications. Among them, their applications as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and x-ray computed tomography (CT) are of special interest because of their imaging properties superior to conventional molecular contrast agents. Until now there have been countless reports regarding contrast agents made of nanomaterials (i.e., metal oxide nanomaterials, metal nanomaterials, and nonmetal nanomaterials), demonstrating their unique and advanced properties which will be extremely useful for the diagnosis of diseases.

The aim of this special issue is to report a variety of contrast agents made of nanomaterials which have been reported so far. These include the synthesis of nanomaterials using various techniques, surface-modifications, characterizations, in vitro and in vivo applications as contrast agents. Particle size and shape affect imaging properties and thus, their control is very important for successful application of nanomaterials as contrast agents. Surface-modification with hydrophilic ligands is essential for their biomedical applications as contrast agents. Further functionalization of the surface-modified nanomaterials with functional molecules such as drugs and cancer-targeting ligands will make them to be used as cancer-targeting theragnostic agents. This special issue will cover a variety of nanomaterials which can be applied to MRI and CT as contrast agents. 

Dr. Gangho Lee
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • nanomaterial
  • nanoparticle
  • nanorod
  • core-shell nanomaterial
  • contrast agent
  • magnetic resonance imaging
  • x-ray computed tomography (CT)
  • theragnostic agent

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 212 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue “Advanced Nanomaterials for Bioimaging”
by Gang Ho Lee
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(14), 2496; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12142496 - 20 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1012
Abstract
Bioimaging currently plays a critical role in medical diagnosis [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Bioimaging)

Research

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17 pages, 3136 KiB  
Article
PLGA Nanoparticles Grafted with Hyaluronic Acid to Improve Site-Specificity and Drug Dose Delivery in Osteoarthritis Nanotherapy
by Luana Zerrillo, Maria Rosa Gigliobianco, Domenico D’Atri, Joao Pedro Garcia, Fabio Baldazzi, Yanto Ridwan, Gastón Fuentes, Alan Chan, Laura B. Creemers, Roberta Censi, Piera Di Martino and Luis J. Cruz
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(13), 2248; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12132248 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2697
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) have a tremendous potential in medicinal applications, and recent studies have pushed the boundaries in nanotherapy, including in osteoarthritis treatments. The aim of this study was to develop new poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) surfaces decorated with hyaluronic acid (HA) to enhance [...] Read more.
Nanoparticles (NPs) have a tremendous potential in medicinal applications, and recent studies have pushed the boundaries in nanotherapy, including in osteoarthritis treatments. The aim of this study was to develop new poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) surfaces decorated with hyaluronic acid (HA) to enhance targeted drug specificity to the osteoarthritic knee joint. HA was selected since it binds to specific receptors expressed in many cells, such as the cluster determinant 44 (CD44), a major receptor of chondrocytes, and because of its function in the synovial fluid (SF), such as maintenance of high fluid viscosity. The PLGA polymer was grafted to sodium hyaluronate using dimethoxy-PEG (PLGA-HA) and compared with control PLGA NPs (not grafted). NPs were characterized by 1H-NMR and IR spectroscopy. Then, near-infrared (NIR) dye and gold (20 nm) were encapsulated in the formulated NPs and used to access NPs’ performance in in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo experiments. To test the NPs’ CD44 receptor specificity, an antibody assay was performed. All NPs presented a size in the range viable for cell-uptake, no cytotoxicity to chondrocytes was registered. Although all the NPs had a high capacity to be absorbed by the cells, PLGA-HA NPs showed significantly higher affinity towards the chondrocytic C28/I2 cell line. In conclusion, PLGA NPs grafted to sodium hyaluronate showed increased binding to cartilage cells and tissue and enhanced accumulation at the target site. Thus, this study presents a safe drug-delivery system with improved receptor specificity, which may represent an advantageous alternative to current nanotherapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Bioimaging)
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15 pages, 3835 KiB  
Article
Polyethylenimine-Coated Ultrasmall Holmium Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, Cytotoxicities, and Water Proton Spin Relaxivities
by Shuwen Liu, Huan Yue, Son Long Ho, Soyeon Kim, Ji Ae Park, Tirusew Tegafaw, Mohammad Yaseen Ahmad, Seungho Kim, Abdullah Khamis Ali Al Saidi, Dejun Zhao, Ying Liu, Sung-Wook Nam, Kwon Seok Chae, Yongmin Chang and Gang Ho Lee
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(9), 1588; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12091588 - 07 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2173
Abstract
Water proton spin relaxivities, colloidal stability, and biocompatibility of nanoparticle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents depend on surface-coating ligands. In this study, hydrophilic and biocompatible polyethylenimines (PEIs) of different sizes (Mn = 1200 and 60,000 amu) were used as surface-coating ligands [...] Read more.
Water proton spin relaxivities, colloidal stability, and biocompatibility of nanoparticle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents depend on surface-coating ligands. In this study, hydrophilic and biocompatible polyethylenimines (PEIs) of different sizes (Mn = 1200 and 60,000 amu) were used as surface-coating ligands for ultrasmall holmium oxide (Ho2O3) nanoparticles. The synthesized PEI1200- and PEI60000-coated ultrasmall Ho2O3 nanoparticles, with an average particle diameter of 2.05 and 1.90 nm, respectively, demonstrated low cellular cytotoxicities, good colloidal stability, and appreciable transverse water proton spin relaxivities (r2) of 13.1 and 9.9 s−1mM−1, respectively, in a 3.0 T MR field with negligible longitudinal water proton spin relaxivities (r1) (i.e., 0.1 s−1mM−1) for both samples. Consequently, for both samples, the dose-dependent contrast changes in the longitudinal (R1) and transverse (R2) relaxation rate map images were negligible and appreciable, respectively, indicating their potential as efficient transverse T2 MRI contrast agents in vitro. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Bioimaging)
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16 pages, 3810 KiB  
Article
Facile Synthesis of Multifunctional Magnetoplasmonic Au-MnO Hybrid Nanocomposites for Cancer Theranostics
by Cong Tian, Zhe Tang, Yike Hou, Asim Mushtaq, Shafaq Naz, Zhangsen Yu, Jabeen Farheen, Muhammad Zubair Iqbal and Xiangdong Kong
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(8), 1370; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12081370 - 16 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1972
Abstract
Significant attention is paid to the design of magnetoplasmonic nanohybrids, which exploit synergistic properties for biomedical applications. Here, a facile method was employed to prepare plasmonic magnetic Au-MnO heterostructured hybrid nanoparticles for imaging-guided photothermal therapy of cancers in vitro, with the view to [...] Read more.
Significant attention is paid to the design of magnetoplasmonic nanohybrids, which exploit synergistic properties for biomedical applications. Here, a facile method was employed to prepare plasmonic magnetic Au-MnO heterostructured hybrid nanoparticles for imaging-guided photothermal therapy of cancers in vitro, with the view to reducing the serious drawbacks of chemotherapy and gadolinium-based contrast agents. The biocompatibility of the prepared Au-MnO nanocomposites was further enhanced by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved triblock copolymers Pluronic® F-127 and chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), with complementary support to enhance the absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region. In addition, synthesized COS-PF127@Au-MnO nanocomposites exhibited promising contrast enhancement in T1 MR imaging with a good r1 relaxivity value (1.2 mM−1 s−1), demonstrating a capable substitute to Gd-based toxic contrast agents. In addition, prepared COS-PF127@Au-MnO hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) produced sufficient heat (62 °C at 200 μg/mL) to ablate cancerous cells upon 808 nm laser irradiation, inducing cell toxicity, and apoptosis. The promising diagnostic and photothermal therapeutic performance demonstrated the appropriateness of the COS-PF127@Au-MnO HNPs as a potential theranostic agent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Bioimaging)
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20 pages, 4465 KiB  
Article
Luminescent Citrate-Functionalized Terbium-Substituted Carbonated Apatite Nanomaterials: Structural Aspects, Sensitized Luminescence, Cytocompatibility, and Cell Uptake Imaging
by Jaime Gómez-Morales, Raquel Fernández-Penas, Francisco Javier Acebedo-Martínez, Ismael Romero-Castillo, Cristóbal Verdugo-Escamilla, Duane Choquesillo-Lazarte, Lorenzo Degli Esposti, Yaiza Jiménez-Martínez, Jorge Fernando Fernández-Sánchez, Michele Iafisco and Houria Boulaiz
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(8), 1257; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12081257 - 07 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1993
Abstract
This work explores the preparation of luminescent and biomimetic Tb3+-doped citrate-functionalized carbonated apatite nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were synthesized employing a citrate-based thermal decomplexing precipitation method, testing a nominal Tb3+ doping concentration between 0.001 M to 0.020 M, and a maturation [...] Read more.
This work explores the preparation of luminescent and biomimetic Tb3+-doped citrate-functionalized carbonated apatite nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were synthesized employing a citrate-based thermal decomplexing precipitation method, testing a nominal Tb3+ doping concentration between 0.001 M to 0.020 M, and a maturation time from 4 h to 7 days. This approach allowed to prepare apatite nanoparticles as a single hydroxyapatite phase when the used Tb3+ concentrations were (i) ≤ 0.005 M at all maturation times or (ii) = 0.010 M with 4 h of maturation. At higher Tb3+ concentrations, amorphous TbPO4·nH2O formed at short maturation times, while materials consisting of a mixture of carbonated apatite prisms, TbPO4·H2O (rhabdophane) nanocrystals, and an amorphous phase formed at longer times. The Tb3+ content of the samples reached a maximum of 21.71 wt%. The relative luminescence intensity revealed an almost linear dependence with Tb3+ up to a maximum of 850 units. Neither pH, nor ionic strength, nor temperature significantly affected the luminescence properties. All precipitates were cytocompatible against A375, MCF7, and HeLa carcinogenic cells, and also against healthy fibroblast cells. Moreover, the luminescence properties of these nanoparticles allowed to visualize their intracellular cytoplasmic uptake at 12 h of treatment through flow cytometry and fluorescence confocal microscopy (green fluorescence) when incubated with A375 cells. This demonstrates for the first time the potential of these materials as nanophosphors for living cell imaging compatible with flow cytometry and fluorescence confocal microscopy without the need to introduce an additional fluorescence dye. Overall, our results demonstrated that Tb3+-doped citrate-functionalized apatite nanoparticles are excellent candidates for bioimaging applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Bioimaging)
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16 pages, 4579 KiB  
Article
Synthesis, Characterizations, and 9.4 Tesla T2 MR Images of Polyacrylic Acid-Coated Terbium(III) and Holmium(III) Oxide Nanoparticles
by Shanti Marasini, Huan Yue, Son Long Ho, Ji Ae Park, Soyeon Kim, Ki-Hye Jung, Hyunsil Cha, Shuwen Liu, Tirusew Tegafaw, Mohammad Yaseen Ahmad, Adibehalsadat Ghazanfari, Kwon-Seok Chae, Yongmin Chang and Gang Ho Lee
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1355; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11051355 - 20 May 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3056
Abstract
Polyacrylic acid (PAA)-coated lanthanide oxide (Ln2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) (Ln = Tb and Ho) with high colloidal stability and good biocompatibility were synthesized, characterized, and investigated as a new class of negative (T2) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast [...] Read more.
Polyacrylic acid (PAA)-coated lanthanide oxide (Ln2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) (Ln = Tb and Ho) with high colloidal stability and good biocompatibility were synthesized, characterized, and investigated as a new class of negative (T2) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents at high MR fields. Their r2 values were appreciable at a 3.0 T MR field and higher at a 9.4 T MR field, whereas their r1 values were negligible at all MR fields, indicating their exclusive induction of T2 relaxations with negligible induction of T1 relaxations. Their effectiveness as T2 MRI contrast agents at high MR fields was confirmed from strong negative contrast enhancements in in vivo T2 MR images at a 9.4 T MR field after intravenous administration into mice tails. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Bioimaging)
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Review

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23 pages, 3002 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents for Bioimaging Applications
by Atiya Fatima, Md. Wasi Ahmad, Abdullah Khamis Ali Al Saidi, Arup Choudhury, Yongmin Chang and Gang Ho Lee
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2449; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11092449 - 20 Sep 2021
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 4996
Abstract
Gadolinium (Gd) based contrast agents (CAs) (Gd-CAs) represent one of the most advanced developments in the application of Gd for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Current challenges with existing CAs generated an urgent requirement to develop multimodal CAs with good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and [...] Read more.
Gadolinium (Gd) based contrast agents (CAs) (Gd-CAs) represent one of the most advanced developments in the application of Gd for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Current challenges with existing CAs generated an urgent requirement to develop multimodal CAs with good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and prolonged circulation time. This review discussed the Gd-CAs used in bioimaging applications, addressing their advantages and limitations. Future research is required to establish the safety, efficacy and theragnostic capabilities of Gd-CAs. Nevertheless, these Gd-CAs offer extraordinary potential as imaging CAs and promise to benefit bioimaging applications significantly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Bioimaging)
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