Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Bio-Nano Interactions

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 27103

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Massimiliano Magro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
Interests: protein corona; theranostic nanodevices; endogenous protein recognition; smart nanomaterial surfaces; iron oxide nanoparticles; selective protein binding; biosensing; drug delivery; stealth nanomaterials; biochemistry and biophysics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to invite you to submit a high-quality research paper for the Special Issue titled “Bio-Nano Interactions” of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. The story of materials from living (biotic) organisms is intensely intertwined with the one of inanimate (abiotic) materials, which might have played a crucial role in the chemical evolution in the prebiotic era and, therefore, in the origin of life. Nanoparticles and proteins are entities of the same size range and the understanding and the prediction of the interactions between proteins and nanoparticles represents the Holy Grail in nanoscience. Indeed, the crucial challenge is to endow nanoparticles of protein-like specificity with the ability to enable the abiotic material to specifically interact with all components of biological systems such as peptides, proteins, lipids, DNA, receptors, cells and whole organisms, including humans or animals.

The Special Issue “Bio-Nano Interactions” encourages the publication of papers which expand the existing perspectives on smart synthetic nanomaterials and on their interplay with biological interfaces.

Dr. Massimiliano Magro
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. 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

nanoparticles
proteins
smart nanomaterial surfaces
selective protein binding
nanomaterials
abiotic material
biological systems

Published Papers (12 papers)

Download All Papers

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 177 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Crossing the Borders of Nanomedicine

by Massimiliano Magro

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(24), 15728; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232415728 - 12 Dec 2022

Viewed by 720

Abstract

Nanomedicine, being pressured by the increasing demands for fighting menacing diseases such as cancer, relies pragmatically on consolidated knowledge, namely on therapeutic strategies that are at an advanced stage of experimentation [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

11 pages, 1311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibacterial Activity of Nanostructured Zinc Oxide Tetrapods

by Aike Büter, Gregor Maschkowitz, Martina Baum, Yogendra Kumar Mishra, Leonard Siebert, Rainer Adelung and Helmut Fickenscher

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3444; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043444 - 08 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1961

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) tetrapods as microparticles with nanostructured surfaces show peculiar physical properties and anti-infective activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and bactericidal properties of ZnO tetrapods in comparison to spherical, unstructured ZnO particles. Additionally, killing rates of either methylene blue-treated or untreated tetrapods and spherical ZnO particles for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria species were determined. ZnO tetrapods showed considerable bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, including multi-resistant strains, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis remained unaffected. Almost complete elimination was reached after 24 h for Staphylococcus aureus at 0.5 mg/mL and Klebsiella pneumoniae at 0.25 mg/mL. Surface modifications of spherical ZnO particles by treatment with methylene blue even improved the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Nanostructured surfaces of ZnO particles provide active and modifiable interfaces for the contact with and killing of bacteria. The application of solid state chemistry, i.e., the direct matter-to-matter interaction between active agent and bacterium, in the form of ZnO tetrapods and non-soluble ZnO particles, can add an additional principle to the spectrum of antibacterial mechanisms, which is, in contrast to soluble antibiotics, depending on the direct local contact with the microorganisms on tissue or material surfaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 4540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intracellular Trafficking of Cationic Carbon Dots in Cancer Cell Lines MCF-7 and HeLa—Time Lapse Microscopy, Concentration-Dependent Uptake, Viability, DNA Damage, and Cell Cycle Profile

by Markéta Havrdová, Iztok Urbančič, Kateřina Bartoň Tománková, Lukáš Malina, Kateřina Poláková, Janez Štrancar and Athanasios B. Bourlinos

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(3), 1077; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031077 - 19 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1995

Abstract

Fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) are potential tools for the labeling of cells with many advantages such as photostability, multicolor emission, small size, rapid uptake, biocompatibility, and easy preparation. Affinity towards organelles can be influenced by the surface properties of CDs which affect the interaction with the cell and cytoplasmic distribution. Organelle targeting by carbon dots is promising for anticancer treatment; thus, intracellular trafficking and cytotoxicity of cationic CDs was investigated. Based on our previous study, we used quaternized carbon dots (QCDs) for treatment and monitoring the behavior of two human cancer cell MCF-7 and HeLa lines. We found similarities between human cancer cells and mouse fibroblasts in the case of QCDs uptake. Time lapse microscopy of QCDs-labeled MCF-7 cells showed that cells are dying during the first two hours, faster at lower doses than at higher ones. QCDs at a concentration of 100 µg/mL entered into the nucleus before cellular death; however, at a dose of 200 µg/mL, blebbing of the cellular membrane occurred, with a subsequent penetration of QCDs into the nuclear area. In the case of HeLa cells, the dose-depended effect did not happen; however, the labeled cells were also dying in mitosis and genotoxicity occurred nearly at all doses. Moreover, contrasted intracellular compartments, probably mitochondria, were obvious after 24 h incubation with 100 µg/mL of QCDs. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) slightly increased after 24 h, depending on the concentration, thus the genotoxicity was likely evoked by the nanomaterial. A decrease in viability did not reach IC 50 as the DNA damage was probably partly repaired in the prolonged G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Thus, the defects in the G2/M phase may have allowed a damaged cell to enter mitosis and undergo apoptosis. The anticancer effect in both cell lines was manifested mainly through genotoxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 3369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Uniaxial Hydroxyapatite Growth on a Self-Assembled Protein Scaffold

by Alexander L. Danesi, Dimitra Athanasiadou, Ahmad Mansouri, Alina Phen, Mehrnoosh Neshatian, James Holcroft, Johan Bonde, Bernhard Ganss and Karina M. M. Carneiro

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(22), 12343; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222212343 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1942

Abstract

Biomineralization is a crucial process whereby organisms produce mineralized tissues such as teeth for mastication, bones for support, and shells for protection. Mineralized tissues are composed of hierarchically organized hydroxyapatite crystals, with a limited capacity to regenerate when demineralized or damaged past a critical size. Thus, the development of protein-based materials that act as artificial scaffolds to guide hydroxyapatite growth is an attractive goal both for the design of ordered nanomaterials and for tissue regeneration. In particular, amelogenin, which is the main protein that scaffolds the hierarchical organization of hydroxyapatite crystals in enamel, amelogenin recombinamers, and amelogenin-derived peptide scaffolds have all been investigated for in vitro mineral growth. Here, we describe uniaxial hydroxyapatite growth on a nanoengineered amelogenin scaffold in combination with amelotin, a mineral promoting protein present during enamel formation. This bio-inspired approach for hydroxyapatite growth may inform the molecular mechanism of hydroxyapatite formation in vitro as well as possible mechanisms at play during mineralized tissue formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 5154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toxicity of Carbon Nanomaterials—Towards Reliable Viability Assessment via New Approach in Flow Cytometry

by Tomáš Malina, Kateřina Poláková, Cordula Hirsch, Ladislav Svoboda and Radek Zbořil

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(14), 7750; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147750 - 20 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2150

Abstract

The scope of application of carbon nanomaterials in biomedical, environmental and industrial fields is recently substantially increasing. Since in vitro toxicity testing is the first essential step for any commercial usage, it is crucial to have a reliable method to analyze the potentially harmful effects of carbon nanomaterials. Even though researchers already reported the interference of carbon nanomaterials with common toxicity assays, there is still, unfortunately, a large number of studies that neglect this fact. In this study, we investigated interference of four bio-promising carbon nanomaterials (graphene acid (GA), cyanographene (GCN), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and carbon dots (QCDs)) in commonly used LIVE/DEAD assay. When a standard procedure was applied, materials caused various types of interference. While positively charged g-C₃N₄ and QCDs induced false results through the creation of free agglomerates and intrinsic fluorescence properties, negatively charged GA and GCN led to false signals due to the complex quenching effect of the fluorescent dye of a LIVE/DEAD kit. Thus, we developed a new approach using a specific gating strategy based on additional controls that successfully overcame all types of interference and lead to reliable results in LIVE/DEAD assay. We suggest that the newly developed procedure should be a mandatory tool for all in vitro flow cytometry assays of any class of carbon nanomaterials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 3228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Probing of Interactions of Magnetite Nanoparticles Coated with Native and Aminated Starch with a DPPC Model Membrane

by Emilia Piosik, Aleksandra Zaryczniak, Kinga Mylkie and Marta Ziegler-Borowska

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 5939; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115939 - 31 May 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2225

Abstract

Understanding the mechanism of interactions between magnetite nanoparticles and phospholipids that form cellular membranes at the molecular level is of crucial importance for their safe and effective application in medicine (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging, targeted drug delivery, and hyperthermia-based anticancer therapy). In these interactions, their surface coating plays a crucial role because even a small modification to its structure can cause significant changes to the behaviour of the magnetite nanoparticles that come in contact with a biomembrane. In this work, the influence of the magnetite nanoparticles functionalized with native and aminated starch on the thermodynamics, morphology, and dilatational elasticity of the model cell membranes was studied. The model cell membranes constituted the Langmuir monolayers formed at the air–water interface of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). The surface of the aminated starch-coated nanoparticles was enriched in highly reactive amino groups, which allowed more effective binding of drugs and biomolecules suitable for specific nano–bio applications. The studies indicated that the presence of these groups also reduced to some extent the disruptive effect of the magnetite nanoparticles on the model membranes and improved their adsorption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 5234 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Targeting of Carbon Dots into the Cell Nucleus: Diverse Mechanisms of Toxicity in NIH/3T3 and L929 Cells

by Markéta Havrdová, Iztok Urbančič, Kateřina Bartoň Tománková, Lukáš Malina, Janez Štrancar and Athanasios B. Bourlinos

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 5608; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22115608 - 25 May 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2697

Abstract

It is important to understand the nanomaterials intracellular trafficking and distribution and investigate their targeting into the nuclear area in the living cells. In our previous study, we firstly observed penetration of nonmodified positively charged carbon dots decorated with quaternary ammonium groups (QCDs) into the nucleus of mouse NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. Thus, in this work, we focused on deeper study of QCDs distribution inside two healthy mouse NIH/3T3 and L929 cell lines by fluorescence microspectroscopy and performed a comprehensive cytotoxic and DNA damage measurements. Real-time penetration of QCDs across the plasma cell membrane was recorded, concentration dependent uptake was determined and endocytic pathways were characterized. We found out that the QCDs concentration of 200 µg/mL is close to saturation and subsequently, NIH/3T3 had a different cell cycle profile, however, no significant changes in viability (not even in the case with QCDs in the nuclei) and DNA damage. In the case of L929, the presence of QCDs in the nucleus evoked a cellular death. Intranuclear environment of NIH/3T3 cells affected fluorescent properties of QCDs and evoked fluorescence blue shifts. Studying the intracellular interactions with CDs is essential for development of future applications such as DNA sensing, because CDs as DNA probes have not yet been developed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 4642 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanoscale Surface Topography Modulates hIAPP Aggregation Pathways at Solid–Liquid Interfaces

by Marcel Hanke, Yu Yang, Yuxin Ji, Guido Grundmeier and Adrian Keller

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5142; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22105142 - 13 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2593

Abstract

The effects that solid–liquid interfaces exert on the aggregation of proteins and peptides are of high relevance for various fields of basic and applied research, ranging from molecular biology and biomedicine to nanotechnology. While the influence of surface chemistry has received a lot of attention in this context, the role of surface topography has mostly been neglected so far. In this work, therefore, we investigate the aggregation of the type 2 diabetes-associated peptide hormone hIAPP in contact with flat and nanopatterned silicon oxide surfaces. The nanopatterned surfaces are produced by ion beam irradiation, resulting in well-defined anisotropic ripple patterns with heights and periodicities of about 1.5 and 30 nm, respectively. Using time-lapse atomic force microscopy, the morphology of the hIAPP aggregates is characterized quantitatively. Aggregation results in both amorphous aggregates and amyloid fibrils, with the presence of the nanopatterns leading to retarded fibrillization and stronger amorphous aggregation. This is attributed to structural differences in the amorphous aggregates formed at the nanopatterned surface, which result in a lower propensity for nucleating amyloid fibrillization. Our results demonstrate that nanoscale surface topography may modulate peptide and protein aggregation pathways in complex and intricate ways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 1444 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Broad-Spectrum Bactericidal Activity of a Synthetic Random Copolymer Based on 2-Methoxy-6-(4-Vinylbenzyloxy)-Benzylammonium Hydrochloride

by Anna Maria Schito, Gabriela Piatti, Debora Caviglia, Guendalina Zuccari and Silvana Alfei

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 5021; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22095021 - 09 May 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2104

Abstract

Low-molecular-weight organic ammonium salts exert excellent antimicrobial effects by interacting lethally with bacterial membranes. Unfortunately, short-term functionality and high toxicity limit their clinical application. On the contrary, the equivalent macromolecular ammonium salts, derived from the polymerization of monomeric ammonium salts, have demonstrated improved antibacterial potency, a lower tendency to develop resistance, higher stability, long-term activity, and reduced toxicity. A water-soluble non-quaternary copolymeric ammonium salt (P7) was herein synthetized by copolymerizing 2-methoxy-6-(4-vinylbenzyloxy)-benzylammonium hydrochloride monomer with N, N-di-methyl-acrylamide. The antibacterial activity of P7 was assessed against several multidrug-resistant (MDR) clinical isolates of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. Except for colistin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, most isolates were susceptible to P7, also including some Gram-negative bacteria with a modified charge in the external membrane. P7 showed remarkable antibacterial activity against isolates of Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas, and on different strains of Escherichia coli and Stenotrophomonas maltophylia, regardless of their antibiotic resistance. The lowest minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) observed were 0.6–1.2 µM and the minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were frequently overlapping with the MICs. In 24-h time–kill and turbidimetric studies, P7 displayed a rapid non-lytic bactericidal activity. P7 could therefore represent a novel and potent tool capable of counteracting infections sustained by several bacteria that are resistant to the presently available antibiotics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 3511 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Physico-Chemical and Toxicological Properties of Commercial 2D Boron Nitride Nanopowder and Nanoplatelets

by Brixhilda Domi, Kapil Bhorkar, Carlos Rumbo, Labrini Sygellou, Spyros N. Yannopoulos, Rocio Barros, Roberto Quesada and Juan Antonio Tamayo-Ramos

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(2), 567; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22020567 - 08 Jan 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2553

Abstract

Boron nitride (BN) nanomaterials have been increasingly explored for potential applications in chemistry and biology fields (e.g., biomedical, pharmaceutical, and energy industries) due to their unique physico-chemical properties. However, their safe utilization requires a profound knowledge on their potential toxicological and environmental impact. To date, BN nanoparticles have been considered to have a high biocompatibility degree, but in some cases, contradictory results on their potential toxicity have been reported. Therefore, in the present study, we assessed two commercial 2D BN samples, namely BN-nanopowder (BN-PW) and BN-nanoplatelet (BN-PL), with the objective to identify whether distinct physico-chemical features may have an influence on the biological responses of exposed cellular models. Morphological, structural, and composition analyses showed that the most remarkable difference between both commercial samples was the diameter of their disk-like shape, which was of 200–300 nm for BN-PL and 100–150 nm for BN-PW. Their potential toxicity was investigated using adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549 cells) and the unicellular fungus Saccharomycescerevisiae, as human and environmental eukaryotic models respectively, employing in vitro assays. In both cases, cellular viability assays and reactive oxygen species (ROS) determinations where performed. The impact of the selected nanomaterials in the viability of both unicellular models was very low, with only a slight reduction of S. cerevisiae colony forming units being observed after a long exposure period (24 h) to high concentrations (800 mg/L) of both nanomaterials. Similarly, BN-PW and BN-PL showed a low capacity to induce the formation of reactive oxygen species in the studied conditions. Even at the highest concentration and exposure times, no major cytotoxicity indicators were observed in human cells and yeast. The results obtained in the present study provide novel insights into the safety of 2D BN nanomaterials, indicating no significant differences in the toxicological potential of similar commercial products with a distinct lateral size, which showed to be safe products in the concentrations and exposure conditions tested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 2483 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Gold Nanorods in the Response of Prostate Cancer and Normal Prostate Cells to Ionizing Radiation—In Vitro Model

by Marika Musielak, Agnieszka Boś-Liedke, Igor Piotrowski, Maciej Kozak and Wiktoria Suchorska

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22010016 - 22 Dec 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2048

Abstract

To increase the efficiency of therapy via enhancing its selectivity, the usage of gold nanorods (GNR) as a factor sensitizing cancer cells to radiation was proposed. Due to gold nanoparticles’ characteristics, the smaller doses of radiation would be sufficient in the treatment, protecting the healthy tissue around the tumor. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gold nanorods on cancer and normal prostate cells and the role of nanorods in the cell response to ionizing radiation. The effect was evaluated by measuring the toxicity, cell cycle, cell granularity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and survival fractions. Nanorods showed a strong toxicity dependent on the concentration and incubation time toward all used cell lines. A slight effect of nanorods on the cycle distribution was observed. The results demonstrated that the administration of nanorods at higher concentrations resulted in an increased level of generated radicals. The results of cellular proliferation after irradiation are ambiguous; however, there are noticeable differences after the application of nanorods before irradiation. The obtained results lead to the conclusion that nanorods affect the physiology of both normal and cancer cells. Nanorods might become a potential tool used to increase the effectiveness of radiation treatment Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

20 pages, 3574 KiB

Open AccessReview

Toward the Specificity of Bare Nanomaterial Surfaces for Protein Corona Formation

by Fabio Vianello, Alessandro Cecconello and Massimiliano Magro

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(14), 7625; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147625 - 16 Jul 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2253

Abstract

Aiming at creating smart nanomaterials for biomedical applications, nanotechnology aspires to develop a new generation of nanomaterials with the ability to recognize different biological components in a complex environment. It is common opinion that nanomaterials must be coated with organic or inorganic layers as a mandatory prerequisite for applications in biological systems. Thus, it is the nanomaterial surface coating that predominantly controls the nanomaterial fate in the biological environment. In the last decades, interdisciplinary studies involving not only life sciences, but all branches of scientific research, provided hints for obtaining uncoated inorganic materials able to interact with biological systems with high complexity and selectivity. Herein, the fragmentary literature on the interactions between bare abiotic materials and biological components is reviewed. Moreover, the most relevant examples of selective binding and the conceptualization of the general principles behind recognition mechanisms were provided. Nanoparticle features, such as crystalline facets, density and distribution of surface chemical groups, and surface roughness and topography were encompassed for deepening the comprehension of the general concept of recognition patterns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Nano Interactions)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Bio-Nano Interactions

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (12 papers)

Editorial

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI