Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advances in Synthesis of Transition-Metal-Based Nanoparticles and Their Bioapplications

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

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 (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 10442

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Angelika Kmita

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Academic Centre for Materials and Nanotechnology, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Interests: functional materials; magnetic quantum dots; nanoparticles; hybrid nanocomposites; polymers; materials characterization; thermal analysis; magnetic hyperthermia; physicochemical properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The utilitarian nature of nanoscale systems is related to changes in the functional properties of materials (chemical, optical, magnetic, etc.) in relation to that known from the macroscale. Transition-metal-based nanoparticles, due to their distinctive physical–chemical properties, are amongst the most widely used nanoscale platforms in diverse applications, including numerous bioapplications. Combination of the knowledge from modern materials engineering and chemistry opens up the possibility to design more sophisticated transition-metal-based nanoparticle systems, such as metal oxides, sulfides, metal-organic framework nanomaterials, etc. Synthesis of novel transition-metal-based nanomaterials, their properties, functions as well as bioapplications, from molecular imaging by sensing to nanotherapeutics (e.g. cancer treatment), are in the focus of this Special Issue.

Dr. Angelika Kmita
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.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

18 pages, 4632 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plasmonic and Photothermal Effects of CuS Nanoparticles Biosynthesized from Acid Mine Drainage with Potential Drug Delivery Applications

by Hernán Escobar-Sánchez, Claudio Carril Pardo, Noelia Benito, Jacobo Hernández-Montelongo, Iván Nancucheo and Gonzalo Recio-Sánchez

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16489; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216489 - 18 Nov 2023

Viewed by 852

Abstract

In this work, the plasmonic and photothermal effects of CuS nanoparticles biosynthesized from acid mine drainage (AMD) were studied. CuS were formed by delivering the H₂S generated by a sulfidogenic bioreactor to an off-line system containing the AMD. The precipitates collected after contact for an hour were washed and physico-chemically characterized, showing a nanoparticle with a mean diameter of 33 nm, crystalline nature and semiconductor behavior with a direct band gap of 2.2 eV. Moreover, the CuS nanoparticles exhibited localized surface plasmonic resonance in the near infrared range, with a high absorption band centered at 973 nm of wavelength, which allowed an increase in the temperature of the surrounding media under irradiation. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the CuS nanoparticles as well as their potential use as part of drug delivery platforms were investigated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Synthesis of Transition-Metal-Based Nanoparticles and Their Bioapplications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 4794 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aqueous Dispersion of Manganese–Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles Protected by PEG as a T₂ MRI Temperature Contrast Agent

by Dorota Lachowicz, Angelika Kmita, Marta Gajewska, Elżbieta Trynkiewicz, Marek Przybylski, Stephen E. Russek, Karl F. Stupic, David A. Woodrum, Krzysztof R. Gorny, Zbigniew J. Celinski and Janusz H. Hankiewicz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16458; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216458 - 17 Nov 2023

Viewed by 767

Abstract

Mixed manganese–zinc ferrite nanoparticles coated with PEG were studied for their potential usefulness in MRI thermometry as temperature-sensitive contrast agents. Particles in the form of an 8.5 nm core coated with a 3.5 nm layer of PEG were fabricated using a newly developed, one-step method. The composition of Mn_0.48Zn_0.46Fe_2.06O₄ was found to have a strong thermal dependence of magnetization in the temperature range between 5 and 50 °C. Nanoparticles suspended in an agar gel mimicking animal tissue and showing non-significant impact on cell viability in the biological test were studied with NMR and MRI over the same temperature range. For the concentration of 0.017 mg/mL of Fe, the spin–spin relaxation time T₂ increased from 3.1 to 8.3 ms, while longitudinal relaxation time T₁ shows a moderate decrease from 149.0 to 125.1 ms. A temperature map of the phantom exposed to the radial temperature gradient obtained by heating it with an 808 nm laser was calculated from T₂ weighted spin-echo differential MR images. Analysis of temperature maps yields thermal/spatial resolution of 3.2 °C at the distance of 2.9 mm. The experimental relaxation rate R₂ data of water protons were compared with those obtained from calculations using a theoretical model incorporating the motion averaging regime. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Synthesis of Transition-Metal-Based Nanoparticles and Their Bioapplications)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 3203 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co-Delivery of Ylang Ylang Oil of Cananga odorata and Oxaliplatin Using Intelligent pH-Sensitive Lipid-Based Nanovesicles for the Effective Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

by Nada K. Sedky, Nour M. Abdel-Kader, Marwa Y. Issa, Manal M. M. Abdelhady, Samir N. Shamma, Udo Bakowsky and Sherif Ashraf Fahmy

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(9), 8392; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24098392 - 07 May 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2493

Abstract

Smart pH-responsive niosomes loaded with either Oxaliplatin (Ox), Ylang ylang essential oil (Y-oil), or co-loaded with both compounds (Ox-Y) (Ox@NSs, Y@NSs, and Ox-Y@NSs, respectively) were formulated utilizing the thin film method. The developed nanocontainers had a spherical morphology with mean particle sizes lower than 170 nm and showed negative surface charges, high entrapment efficiencies, and a pH-dependent release over 24 h. The prepared pH-responsive niosomes’ cytotoxicity was tested against the invasive triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells, compared to free OX and Y-oil. All niosomal formulations loaded with Ox and/or Y-oil significantly improved cytotoxic activity relative to their free counterparts. The Ox-Y@NSs demonstrated the lowest IC50 (0.0002 µg/mL) when compared to Ox@NSs (0.006 µg/mL) and Y@NSs (18.39 µg/mL) or unloaded Ox (0.05 µg/mL) and Y-oil (29.01 µg/mL). In addition, the percentages of the MDA-MB-231 cell population in the late apoptotic and necrotic quartiles were profoundly higher in cells treated with the smart Ox-Y@NSs (8.38% and 5.06%) than those exposed to free Ox (7.33% and 1.93%) or Y-oil (2.3% and 2.13%) treatments. Gene expression analysis and protein assays were performed to provide extra elucidation regarding the molecular mechanism by which the prepared pH-sensitive niosomes induce apoptosis. Ox-Y@NSs significantly induced the gene expression of the apoptotic markers Tp53, Bax, and Caspase-7, while downregulating the antiapoptotic Bcl2. As such, Ox-Y@NSs are shown to activate the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Moreover, the protein assay ascertained the apoptotic effects of Ox-Y@NSs, generating a 4-fold increase in the relative protein quantity of the late apoptotic marker Caspase-7. Our findings suggest that combining natural essential oil with synthetic platinum-based drugs in pH-responsive nanovesicles is a promising approach to breast cancer therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Synthesis of Transition-Metal-Based Nanoparticles and Their Bioapplications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4252 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Insights into the Biological Response Triggered by Dextran-Coated Maghemite Nanoparticles in Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Their Potential for Theranostic Applications

by Mihaela Balas, Daniela Predoi, Carmen Burtea and Anca Dinischiotu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3307; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043307 - 07 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1544

Abstract

Iron oxide nanoparticles are one of the most promising tools for theranostic applications of pancreatic cancer due to their unique physicochemical and magnetic properties making them suitable for both diagnosis and therapy. Thus, our study aimed to characterize the properties of dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (DIO-NPs) of maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) type synthesized by co-precipitation and to investigate their effects (low-dose versus high-dose) on pancreatic cancer cells focusing on NP cellular uptake, MR contrast, and toxicological profile. This paper also addressed the modulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and p53 protein expression as well as the potential of DIO-NPs for theranostic purposes. DIO-NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering analyses (DLS), and zeta potential. Pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1 cell line) were exposed to different doses of dextran-coated ɣ-Fe₂O₃ NPs (14, 28, 42, 56 μg/mL) for up to 72 h. The results revealed that DIO-NPs with a hydrodynamic diameter of 16.3 nm produce a significant negative contrast using a 7 T MRI scanner correlated with dose-dependent cellular iron uptake and toxicity levels. We showed that DIO-NPs are biocompatible up to a concentration of 28 μg/mL (low-dose), while exposure to a concentration of 56 μg/mL (high-dose) caused a reduction in PANC-1 cell viability to 50% after 72 h by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, reduced glutathione (GSH) depletion, lipid peroxidation, enhancement of caspase-1 activity, and LDH release. An alteration in Hsp70 and Hsp90 protein expression was also observed. At low doses, these findings provide evidence that DIO-NPs could act as safe platforms in drug delivery, as well as antitumoral and imaging agents for theranostic uses in pancreatic cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Synthesis of Transition-Metal-Based Nanoparticles and Their Bioapplications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 3300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Aluminum Oxides Submicron Particle Agglomeration in Polymethyl Methacrylate Composites

by Vladimir Kuklin, Sergey Karandashov, Elena Bobina, Sergey Drobyshev, Anna Smirnova, Oleg Morozov and Maxim Danilaev

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2515; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032515 - 28 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1027

Abstract

Agglomeration of distributed particles is the main problem in polymer composites reinforced with such particles. It leads to a decrease in mechanical performance and its poor reproducibility. Thus, development of methods to address the agglomeration of particles is relevant. Evaluation of the size and concentration of agglomerates is required to select a method to address agglomeration. The paper analyzes aluminum oxide particles agglomeration in particles-reinforced polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) composites. Quantitative parameters of polystyrene-coated aluminum oxide particles agglomerates are obtained for the first time in this article. Unlike uncoated aluminum oxide particles, when coated aluminum oxide particles are used, agglomerates concentration in polymer composites decreases approx. 10 times. It demonstrates that modification of submicron particles by a polymer coating decreases the number of agglomerates in the polymer composite. The use of transmittance and opacity values to estimate particles agglomerates is reasonable in this article. It is shown that the difference in optical performance of specimens reinforced with coated and the original particles is related to the number and average size of agglomerates in the specimens. For example, when the concentration exceeds 0.2%, transmittance values for the specimens reinforced with coated particles are greater than the ones for the specimens reinforced with the original particles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Synthesis of Transition-Metal-Based Nanoparticles and Their Bioapplications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 8111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Pretreatment on a PtCu/C Catalyst’s Structure and Functional Characteristics

by Sergey Belenov, Alina Nevelskaya, Alexey Nikulin and Mikhail Tolstunov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2177; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032177 - 22 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1219

Abstract

This research focuses on studying the effects of various pretreatment types on a PtCu/C catalyst synthesized by the co-deposition of metal precursors. The treatment in a 1 M HNO₃ solution for 1 h is shown to result in a slight increase in activity in the oxygen electroreduction reaction (both the mass activity and specific activity calculated for the value of the electrochemically active surface area). The sample obtained after the thermal treatment, which is carried out at 350 °C under an argon atmosphere for 1 h, demonstrates 1.7 times higher specific activity than the sample before the treatment. The durability testing results obtained by the stress testing method in a potential range of 0.6–1.4 V during 2000 cycles show that the PtCu/C catalysts after both the acid treatment and the thermal treatment are characterized by higher residual activity than the sample in the “as-prepared” state. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Synthesis of Transition-Metal-Based Nanoparticles and Their Bioapplications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3469 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oxidative Status as an Attribute for Selective Antitumor Activity of Platinum-Containing Nanoparticles against Hepatocellular Carcinoma

by Kamil Wawrowicz, Agnieszka Majkowska-Pilip, Marzena Szwed, Kinga Żelechowska-Matysiak, Ewelina Chajduk and Aleksander Bilewicz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 14773; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232314773 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1472

Abstract

Overcoming the limitations for efficient and selective drug delivery is one of the most challenging obstacles for newly designed anticancer agents. In this study, we present two types of platinum-based nanoparticles (NP), ultrasmall 2 nm PtNPs and core-shell 30 nm Au@Pt, which can be highly cytotoxic in an oxidative environment and remain biologically inactive in cells with lower oxidative status. Our research highlighted the differences in platinum nanoparticle-induced chemotoxicity and is the first study examining its mechanism as a substantial aspect of Au@Pt/PtNPs biological activity. Selectively induced oxidative stress was found to be a primary trigger of NPs’ toxicity. Significant differences between Au@Pt and PtNPs were observed especially during 24 h treatment, due to successful intranuclear PtNPs location (~13% of internalized fraction). Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-level induced from both NPs types were similar, while reduction of reduced glutathione (GSH) intracellular content was stronger after treatment with PtNPs. Any biological activity was found in HER2+ breast cancer cells, which have only slightly increased oxidative status. Platinum-containing nanoparticles are an interesting tool for the improvement of selectivity in anticancer therapies against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Due to intranuclear uptake, 2 nm PtNPs seems to be more promising for further research for HCC therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Synthesis of Transition-Metal-Based Nanoparticles and Their Bioapplications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Advances in Synthesis of Transition-Metal-Based Nanoparticles and Their Bioapplications

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Published Papers (7 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI