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Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Biomedical Application
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Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Biomedical Application

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Nanoscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2025) | Viewed by 4099

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Gi Doo Cha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
Interests: hydrogel nanocomposite; biomedical application; bioelectronics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials have attracted much attention in various fields of research due to their unique properties. Among these fields, the use of nanomaterials for biomedical applications could provide a breakthrough solution for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neuronal diseases. Many types of nanoparticles, including those metallic, polymeric, and semiconducting, exhibit specific functions depending on their type, size, and conjugated ligand. For example, polymeric nanoparticles can deliver drugs to the target site, and metal nanoparticles can deliver electrical charges with minimal resistance.

However, pristine nanoparticles cannot perform their function in clinical circumstances due to dissipation. Therefore, nanoparticles have been integrated with other materials (e.g., hydrogels, elastomers, and bioelectronics) to fix their location inside the body. In addition, the integrated nanocomposite exhibits functions of nanomaterials as well as the properties of the matrix. Therefore, the nanocomposite has demonstrated its practical potential in various biomedical applications.

In this Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, we welcome contributions from a wide community of scientists working on nanotechnology in biomedical fields. As the significance of nanotechnology has risen dramatically, we look forward to collecting novel manuscripts that address recent nanotechnological advances in biomedical fields in this Special Issue.

Dr. Gi Doo Cha
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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
  • nanocomposites
  • biomedicine
  • metal nanoparticles
  • drug delivery
  • bioelectronics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2355 KB  
Article
Au Nanoparticle Synthesis in the Presence of Thiolated Hyaluronic Acid
by Lyudmila V. Parfenova, Eliza I. Alibaeva, Guzel U. Gil’fanova, Zulfiya R. Galimshina, Ekaterina S. Mescheryakova, Leonard M. Khalilov, Semen N. Sergeev, Nikita V. Penkov and Challapalli Subrahmanyam
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(21), 10532; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110532 - 29 Oct 2025
Viewed by 456
Abstract
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are of significant interest due to their unique properties and applications in biomedicine. While hyaluronic acid (HA) has been used to modify pre-formed AuNPs, its thiolated derivative (HA−SH) has been less explored for the direct synthesis and stabilization of AuNPs. [...] Read more.
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are of significant interest due to their unique properties and applications in biomedicine. While hyaluronic acid (HA) has been used to modify pre-formed AuNPs, its thiolated derivative (HA−SH) has been less explored for the direct synthesis and stabilization of AuNPs. This study investigates the use of thiolated hyaluronic acid as a key component in the synthesis of AuNPs. A series of HA-AuNPs (HA-AuNP1-4) were synthesized by reacting HA-SH with HAuCl4 at different mass ratios. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning/transmission electron microscopy (SEM/STEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photon cross-correlation spectroscopy (PCCS), and zeta potential measurements. The chemical transformations of the thiol ligand were studied using NMR spectroscopy. The morphologies and sizes of AuNPs depended on the HA-SH-to-HAuCl4 ratio, ranging from icosahedral and triangular particles (≥146 nm) to quasi-spherical particles with a bimodal distribution (6–7 nm and 45–60 nm). XPS confirmed the presence of metallic gold (Au0) and a Au−S bond, while NMR and XPS revealed the partial oxidation of thiol groups to sulfonic acid. Zeta potential measurements showed that lower HAuCl4 concentrations resulted in higher negative charge (up to −41.5 mV), enhancing colloidal stability. This work demonstrates a versatile approach to the synthesis of hyaluronic acid-based gold nanomaterials with tunable properties for potential biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Biomedical Application)
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Review

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18 pages, 6620 KB  
Review
Extracellular-Matrix-Mimetic Hydrogels by Using Nanomaterials
by Do Gyun Kim and Gi Doo Cha
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 4987; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26114987 - 22 May 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3150
Abstract
Matrigel, a tumor-derived basement membrane extract, has been commercially used in the field of cell culture and tissue engineering due to its extracellular-matrix-mimetic (ECM-mimetic) properties. However, its batch-to-batch variability and limited mechanical tunability hinder reproducibility and clinical translation. To overcome these issues, synthetic [...] Read more.
Matrigel, a tumor-derived basement membrane extract, has been commercially used in the field of cell culture and tissue engineering due to its extracellular-matrix-mimetic (ECM-mimetic) properties. However, its batch-to-batch variability and limited mechanical tunability hinder reproducibility and clinical translation. To overcome these issues, synthetic ECM-mimetic hydrogels have been developed to improve reproducibility and biocompatibility. While they are effective in mimicking ECMs, these materials must go beyond passive replication by implementing the complex functionalities of the ECM. The integration of nanomaterials with hydrogel could address this need by reinforcing mechanical properties, enabling various functionalities, and featuring dynamic responsiveness. In this review, we present the evolution from Matrigel to ECM-mimetic hydrogels and ECM-mimetic hydrogel nanocomposites, exploring their key advancements and challenges. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the transition from Matrigel to ECM-mimetic hydrogels and ECM-mimetic hydrogel nanocomposites, along with cases that have addressed Matrigel’s limitations and added new functionalities. Furthermore, we discuss future directions for the design of the ECM-mimetic hydrogels, emphasizing how nanotechnology strategies can drive innovation in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites for Biomedical Application)
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