Novel Properties and Current Challenges of Biosynthesized Nanomaterials for Theranostic Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, the use of nanomaterials has expanded to include several important new applications in biomedicine. Conventionally, these nanomaterials (comprised of nanoparticles) are synthesized via chemical or physical approaches to interact with biological systems. These synthesis approaches are highly beneficial in yielding smaller nanoparticles with enhanced stability. However, these nanoparticles possess toxic functional groups as a result of utilizing synthetic chemicals as reducing and stabilizing agents for nanoparticle fabrication, which in turn affects their ability to be used in large-scale biomedical applications. Thus, biosynthesized approaches using microbial or plant extracts were introduced as potential alternatives to synthetic nanoparticles for the fabrication of nontoxic nanoparticles with high biocompatibility, bioavailability, and bioreactivity. In recent times, advances in the fields of nanotechnology and biotechnology have led to the creation of a new field, named “bionanotechnology”, which has gained sufficient attention from researchers, especially in the field of biomedical science. In particular, these biosynthesized, nanosized materials or nanoparticles are the subject of extensive bionanotechnological research as potentially beneficial theranostic agents due to their smaller size, distinct morphology, and ability to perform as controlled drug delivery systems. Metal-, metal-oxide-, carbon-, and polymer-based nanoparticles are the broad classes of biosynthesized nanoparticles, which can be synthesized using either microbial or plant extracts. Despite such attractive theranostic properties of these biosynthesized nanomaterials, numerous challenges still exist in their utilization for biomedical applications. This is due to the complexity of the biosynthesis procedures used to fabricate nanomaterials, involving balancing their stability and biocompatibility while ensuring less or no less toxicity. Therefore, there is a need for novel and sophisticated biosynthetic characterization of unique nanomaterials with improved biological properties intended for biomedical and theranostic applications to ensure they satisfy clinical use criteria.

This research topic intends to present recent advances in the synthesis, functionalization, and biomedical application of novel biosynthesized nanomaterials. We welcome studies focused on emerging nanomaterials, methodologies, theoretical simulations, and their applications in biomedical sciences, ranging from therapy to drug delivery, bioimaging, and biosensors. Original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews on, but not limited to, the following topics are welcomed:

• Biosynthesis and characterization of novel nanomaterials, such as bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants;
• Strategies to enhance the properties of biosynthesized nanomaterials for biomedical applications;
• Biosynthesized nanomaterial-based drug formulations for targeted and controlled delivery;
• Advanced smart and functional biosynthesized nanomaterials with enhanced drug entrapment efficiency;

• Biological functionalization of nanomaterials for biomedical applications;
  • New applications of biosynthesized nanomaterials in biomedicine;
  • Toxicity, reliability, and mechanisms of biosynthesized nanomaterials for biomedical applications;
• Challenges in the large-scale production of biosynthesized nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Dr. Jaison Jeevanandam
Guest Editor

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• nanomaterials
• biosynthesis
• drug delivery systems
• biomedical applications
• biocompatibility
• phytosynthesis
• microbial synthesis
• mycosynthesis