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Nanoparticles for Diagnostics and Therapies: Interactions with Bio-Environment

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2023) | Viewed by 11211

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Lionel Maurizi

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Guest Editor

Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne (ICB), UMR 6303 CNRS—Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, BP 47870, CEDEX, 21000 Dijon, France
Interests: nanoparticles; elaboration; surface characterizations; surface functionalization; scale-up; biological interactions of nanoparticles; protein corona
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology for biomedical applications as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic approach is a research area that has received growing public interest in recent decades. The possibility of using the singular properties of nanomaterials to solve long-standing problems is becoming more and more promising. Nanoparticles (NPs) have shown potentially interesting use in many biological and medical fields as diagnostics probes, drug delivery vectors, or for other therapeutic purposes. Regardless of the bio-application, NPs’ surfaces have to be functionalized, for instance, to improve their biocompatibility, to increase their chemical affinity, or to target specific pathologies. Surface chemistry is an inherent parameter in the set-up of innovative nanohybrids. Engineering NPs allow optimizing different physicochemical parameters such as size, shape, charge, and more globally surface chemistry. These changes come from the nature of the NPs themselves or from the molecules used to functionalize them (polymer type, molecular weights, chemical groups, charges, etc.).

In addition to developing nanoparticles-based solutions for theranostics, it is crucial to study the potential interactions of their various surfaces with the biological environment, especially in biological fluids. These interactions will affect the behaviors of engineered NPs and could also lead to a decrease in their potential efficiency.

In this Special Issue, we will overview the major challenges on the development of nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications such as diagnosis, therapy, and of course theragnosis, with a focus on innovative surface modifications (i.e., aptamers, antibodies, drug/gene delivery, RNA, etc.). Efforts around the understanding of NPs’ surface interactions with biological environments (toxicity, inflammation, protein corona) is also crucial to further and better develop nanomedicine.

Dr. Lionel Maurizi
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
surface functionalization drug delivery
theranostics
biological interactions
nanotoxicity
protein corona

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

12 pages, 2607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Insight into the Combined Toxicity of 3,4-Dichloroaniline with Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials: From Classical Mixture Theory to Structure-Activity Relationship

by Zhuang Wang and Le Yu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3723; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043723 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1068

Abstract

The assessment and prediction of the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials (NMs) present in mixtures is a challenging research issue. Herein, the toxicity of three advanced two-dimensional nanomaterials (TDNMs), in combination with an organic chemical (3,4-dichloroaniline, DCA) to two freshwater microalgae (Scenedesmus obliquus and Chlorella pyrenoidosa), was assessed and predicted not only from classical mixture theory but also from structure-activity relationships. The TDNMs included two layered double hydroxides (Mg-Al-LDH and Zn-Al-LDH) and a graphene nanoplatelet (GNP). The toxicity of DCA varied with the type and concentration of TDNMs, as well as the species. The combination of DCA and TDNMs exhibited additive, antagonistic, and synergistic effects. There is a linear relationship between the different levels (10, 50, and 90%) of effect concentrations and a Freundlich adsorption coefficient (K_F) calculated by isotherm models and adsorption energy (E_a) obtained in molecular simulations, respectively. The prediction model incorporating both parameters K_F and E_a had a higher predictive power for the combined toxicity than the classical mixture model. Our findings provide new insights for the development of strategies aimed at evaluating the ecotoxicological risk of NMs towards combined pollution situations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles for Diagnostics and Therapies: Interactions with Bio-Environment)

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20 pages, 1749 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protein-Nanoparticle Interactions Govern the Interfacial Behavior of Polymeric Nanogels: Study of Protein Corona Formation at the Air/Water Interface

by Federico Traldi, Pengfei Liu, Inês Albino, Lino Ferreira, Ali Zarbakhsh and Marina Resmini

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2810; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032810 - 01 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2358

Abstract

Biomedical applications of nanoparticles require a fundamental understanding of their interactions and behavior with biological interfaces. Protein corona formation can alter the morphology and properties of nanomaterials, and knowledge of the interfacial behavior of the complexes, using in situ analytical techniques, will impact the development of nanocarriers to maximize uptake and permeability at cellular interfaces. In this study we evaluate the interactions of acrylamide-based nanogels, with neutral, positive, and negative charges, with serum-abundant proteins albumin, fibrinogen, and immunoglobulin G. The formation of a protein corona complex between positively charged nanoparticles and albumin is characterized by dynamic light scattering, circular dichroism, and surface tensiometry; we use neutron reflectometry to resolve the complex structure at the air/water interface and demonstrate the effect of increased protein concentration on the interface. Surface tensiometry data suggest that the structure of the proteins can impact the interfacial properties of the complex formed. These results contribute to the understanding of the factors that influence the bio-nano interface, which will help to design nanomaterials with improved properties for applications in drug delivery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles for Diagnostics and Therapies: Interactions with Bio-Environment)

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17 pages, 6851 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization Challenges of Self-Assembled Polymer-SPIONs Nanoparticles: Benefits of Orthogonal Methods

by Cintia Marques, Lionel Maurizi, Gerrit Borchard and Olivier Jordan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(24), 16124; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232416124 - 17 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1953

Abstract

Size and zeta potential are critical physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs), influencing their biological activity and safety profile. These are essential for further industrial upscale and clinical success. However, the characterization of polydisperse, non-spherical NPs is a challenge for traditional characterization techniques (ex., dynamic light scattering (DLS)). In this paper, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL) exhibiting different terminal groups at their surface, either hydroxyl (OH), carboxyl (COOH) or amino (NH₂) end groups. Size, zeta potential and concentration were characterized by orthogonal methods, namely, batch DLS, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4) coupled to multi-angle light scattering (MALS), UV–Visible and online DLS. Finally, coated SPIONs were incubated with albumin, and size changes were monitored by AF4-MALS-UV-DLS. NTA showed the biggest mean sizes, even though DLS PVAL-COOH SPION graphs presented aggregates in the micrometer range. TRPS detected more NPs in suspension than NTA. Finally, AF4-MALS-UV-DLS could successfully resolve the different sizes of the coated SPION suspensions. The results highlight the importance of combining techniques with different principles for NPs characterization. The advantages and limitations of each method are discussed here. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles for Diagnostics and Therapies: Interactions with Bio-Environment)

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16 pages, 4979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Immunopathological Inflammation in the Evolution of Mucositis and Peri-Implantitis

by Varvara Labis, Ernest Bazikyan, Svetlana Sizova, Vladimir Oleinikov, Andrey Trulioff, Maria Serebriakova, Igor Kudryavtsev, Olga Zhigalina, Dmitry Khmelenin, Irina Dyachkova, Denis Zolotov, Victor Asadchikov, Alexey Volkov, Sergey Khaidukov and Ivan Kozlov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(24), 15797; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232415797 - 13 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1378

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide an immuno-mediated substantiation of the etiopathogenesis of mucositis and peri-implantitis based on the results of experimental, laboratory and clinical studies. The biopsy material was studied to identify impregnated nanoscale and microscale particles in the structure of pathological tissues by using X-ray microtomography and X-ray fluorescence analyses. Electron microscopy with energy-dispersive analysis identified the composition of supernatants containing nanoscale metal particles obtained from the surfaces of dental implants. The parameters of the nanoscale particles were determined by dynamic light scattering. Flow cytometry was used to study the effect of nanoscale particles on the ability to induce the activation and apoptosis of immunocompetent cells depending on the particles’ concentrations during cultivation with the monocytic cell line THP-1 with the addition of inductors. An analysis of the laboratory results suggested the presence of dose-dependent activation, as well as early and late apoptosis of the immunocompetent cells. Activation and early and late apoptosis of a monocytic cell line when THP-1 was co-cultured with nanoscale metal particles in supernatants were shown for the first time. When human venous blood plasma was added, both activation and early and late apoptosis had a dose-dependent effect and differed from those of the control groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles for Diagnostics and Therapies: Interactions with Bio-Environment)

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16 pages, 2909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Anticancer Effect of a Novel Quinoline Derivative 91b1 through Downregulation of Lumican

by Yuanyuan Zhou, Zhongguo Zhou, Dessy Chan, Po yee Chung, Yongqi Wang, Albert Sun chi Chan, Simon Law, Kim hung Lam and Johnny Cheuk On Tang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(21), 13181; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232113181 - 29 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1454

Abstract

Quinoline derivatives have been reported to possess a wide range of pharmaceutical activities. Our group previously synthesized a series of quinoline compounds, in which compound 91b1 showed a significant anticancer effect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anticancer activity of compound 91b1 in vitro and in vivo, and screen out its regulated target. A series of cancer cell lines and nontumor cell lines were treated with compound 91b1 by MTS cytotoxicity assay and cell-cycle assay. In vivo anticancer activity was evaluated by a xenografted model on nude mice. Target prediction of 91b1 was assessed by microarray assay and confirmed by pancancer analysis. Relative expression of the target gene Lumican was measured by qRT-PCR. 91b1 significantly reduced tumor size in the nude mice xenograft model. Lumican was downregulated after 91b1 treatment. Lumican was proven to increase tumorigenesis in vivo, as well as cancer cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in vitro. The results of this study suggest that the anticancer activity of compound 91b1 probably works through downregulating the gene Lumican. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles for Diagnostics and Therapies: Interactions with Bio-Environment)

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Review

Jump to: Research

28 pages, 2778 KiB

Open AccessReview

Application of Bioelectrochemical Systems and Anaerobic Additives in Wastewater Treatment: A Conceptual Review

by Nhlanganiso Ivan Madondo, Sudesh Rathilal, Babatunde Femi Bakare and Emmanuel Kweinor Tetteh

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4753; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054753 - 01 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2200

Abstract

The interspecies electron transfer (IET) between microbes and archaea is the key to how the anaerobic digestion process performs. However, renewable energy technology that utilizes the application of a bioelectrochemical system together with anaerobic additives such as magnetite-nanoparticles can promote both direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) as well as indirect interspecies electron transfer (IIET). This has several advantages, including higher removal of toxic pollutants present in municipal wastewater, higher biomass to renewable energy conversion, and greater electrochemical efficiencies. This review explores the synergistic influence of bioelectrochemical systems and anaerobic additives on the anaerobic digestion of complex substrates such as sewage sludge. The review discussions present the mechanisms and limitations of the conventional anaerobic digestion process. In addition, the applicability of additives in syntrophic, metabolic, catalytic, enzymatic, and cation exchange activities of the anaerobic digestion process are highlighted. The synergistic effect of bio-additives and operational factors of the bioelectrochemical system is explored. It is elucidated that a bioelectrochemical system coupled with nanomaterial additives can increase biogas–methane potential compared to anaerobic digestion. Therefore, the prospects of a bioelectrochemical system for wastewater require research attention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles for Diagnostics and Therapies: Interactions with Bio-Environment)

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