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Noble-Metal Nanoparticles: Design, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 6759

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Laura Polito

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Guest Editor

Institute of Science and Chemical Technologies “Giulio Natta” (SCITEC), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
Interests: nanomaterials; gold nanoparticles; hybrid nanomaterials; carbohydrate chemistry; immunology

Dr. Marcello Marelli

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Guest Editor

Institute of Science and Chemical Technologies “Giulio Natta” (SCITEC), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
Interests: electron microscopy; nanostructured materials; analytical methodologies; photo-catalysis; hybrid nanomaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Noble metals have gained increased interest in science since the discovery of new properties raised by nanoarchitectures and nanostructures. Unique and peculiar chemical-physic features such as electrical, optical, catalytic, and biological properties have opened new paths and applications in all scientific and engineering fields. Among these nano-systems, gold and silver are now used in many different biomedical applications, from imaging and bio-sensing to drug-carrier and gene therapy. The high flexibility of nanoparticle design allows one to tune their morphology (i.e., size and shape) and surface chemistry. All these parameters are able to imprint enhanced optical properties, and increase biological compatibility and targeting ability or antimicrobial efficacy. Despite the huge amount of data available in the literature, noble metal nanoparticles’ design and applications are still challenging and growing fields. Therefore, there is a need to present the results of original research undertaken to develop innovative, green, and efficient noble-metal nanoparticle synthesis; to modify known processes for their preparation; to improve properties and morphology; or to develop innovative hybrid nanomaterials. Moreover, an ever-stronger effort must be devoted to the fine characterization of both the metallic core as the engineered surface, with special attention paid to the bio/nano interface that can influence the nanoparticle activity in biomedical applications.

This Special Issue of Materials aims to publish original high-quality research papers covering the most recent advances as well as comprehensive reviews, addressing state-of-the-art topics in the field of noble-metal nanoparticle design and characterization, with a special focus on biocompatibility for the current and future treatment and management of human diseases.

Dr. Laura Polito
Dr. Marcello Marelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

Nanoparticle design
Noble-metal nanomaterials
Biomedical applications
Biocompatibility
Surface functionalization
Protein corona
Theranostics
Nanoparticle characterization
Hybrid nanomaterials
Engineered nanoparticles.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 4672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Silver Nanoparticles Promote Inflammation Shutdown in Human Leukemic Monocytes

by Mariafrancesca Cascione, Loris Rizzello, Daniela Manno, Antonio Serra and Valeria De Matteis

Materials 2022, 15(3), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15030775 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1871

Abstract

The use of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in the biomedical field deserves a mindful analysis of the possible inflammatory response which could limit their use in the clinic. Despite the anti-cancer properties of Ag NPs having been widely demonstrated, there are still few studies concerning their involvement in the activation of specific inflammatory pathways. The inflammatory outcome depends on the synthetic route used in the NPs production, in which toxic reagents are employed. In this work, we compared two types of Ag NPs, obtained by two different chemical routes: conventional synthesis using sodium citrate and a green protocol based on leaf extracts as a source of reduction and capping agents. A careful physicochemical characterization was carried out showing spherical and stable Ag NPs with an average size between 20 nm and 35 nm for conventional and green Ag NPs respectively. Then, we evaluated their ability to induce the activation of inflammation in Human Leukemic Monocytes (THP-1) differentiated into M0 macrophages using 1 µM and 2 µM NPs concentrations (corresponded to 0.1 µg/mL and 0.2 µg/mL respectively) and two-time points (24 h and 48 h). Our results showed a clear difference in Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κb) activation, Interleukins 6–8 (IL-6, IL-8) secretion, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression exerted by the two kinds of Ag NPs. Green Ag NPs were definitely tolerated by macrophages compared to conventional Ag NPs which induced the activation of all the factors mentioned above. Subsequently, the exposure of breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) to the green Ag NPs showed that they exhibited antitumor activity like the conventional ones, but surprisingly, using the MCF-10A line (not tumoral breast cells) the green Ag NPs did not cause a significant decrease in cell viability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noble-Metal Nanoparticles: Design, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications)

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11 pages, 2520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Raltitrexed-Modified Gold and Silver Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Therapy: Cytotoxicity Behavior In Vitro on A549 and HCT-116 Human Cancer Cells

by Jeroni Morey, Pere Llinás, Alberto Bueno-Costa, Alberto J. León and M. Nieves Piña

Materials 2021, 14(3), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030534 - 22 Jan 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1951

Abstract

Two different raltitrexed gold and silver nanoparticles for the delivery of an antitumoral drug into cancer cells were synthesized and characterized. A cysteine linker was used for the covalent bonding of raltitrexed to the surface of nanoparticles. To evaluate the efficacy of the antifolate-derivative nanoparticles, their cytotoxicity was assayed in vitro with A549 human lung adenocarcinoma and HCT-116 colorectal carcinoma human cells. Modified nanoparticles are a biocompatible material, and administration of silver raltitrexed nanoparticles strongly inhibited the viability of the cancer cells; gold raltitrexed nanoparticles do not show any type of cytotoxic effect. The results suggest that silver raltitrexed nanoparticles could be a potential delivery system for certain cancer cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noble-Metal Nanoparticles: Design, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications)

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Review

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17 pages, 5000 KiB

Open AccessReview

Genotoxicity Assessment of Metal-Based Nanocomposites Applied in Drug Delivery

by Sara Cardoso, Classius F. da Silva, Patrícia Severino, Amélia M. Silva, Selma B. Souto, Aleksandra Zielińska, Jacek Karczewski and Eliana B. Souto

Materials 2021, 14(21), 6551; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216551 - 1 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2340

Abstract

Nanocomposites as drug delivery systems (e.g., metal nanoparticles) are being exploited for several applications in the biomedical field, from therapeutics to diagnostics. Green nanocomposites stand for nanoparticles of biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic profiles. When using metal nanoparticles for drug delivery, the question of how hazardous these “virus-sized particles” can be is posed, due to their nanometer size range with enhanced reactivity compared to their respective bulk counterparts. These structures exhibit a high risk of being internalized by cells and interacting with the genetic material, with the possibility of inducing DNA damage. The Comet Assay, or Single-Cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE), stands out for its capacity to detect DNA strand breaks in eukaryotic cells. It has huge potential in the genotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles and respective cells’ interactions. In this review, the Comet assay is described, discussing several examples of its application in the genotoxicity evaluation of nanoparticles commonly administered in a set of routes (oral, skin, inhaled, ocular and parenteral administration). In the nanoparticles boom era, where guidelines for their evaluation are still very limited, it is urgent to ensure their safety, alongside their quality and efficacy. Comet assay or SCGE can be considered an essential tool and a reliable source to achieve a better nanotoxicology assessment of metal nanoparticles used in drug delivery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noble-Metal Nanoparticles: Design, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications)

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