Biomedical Applications of Nano-Base Composites

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Medicines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 17121

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Texas A&M Health Science Center - Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
2. Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
Interests: nanobiotechnology; nanotoxicology; nanomedicine; nanoparticles functionalization for nanotheranostics
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Guest Editor
Institute Bioscience and Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Interests: nanotechnology; nanomedicine; brain injury; oxidative stress; catalytic nanoparticles

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to the biomedical applications of cellular redox modulating nanocomposites (NCs). NCs are a diverse group of materials with many different syntheses and may potentially have biomedical applications. The composition of the NC in part dictates its function. For instance, some nanocomposites carry magnetic nanoparticles suitable for magnetic resonance imaging, some are micellar or polymeric particles that carry drugs, while others are redox active metal oxide or graphene-containing antioxidants: The potential range of applications is nearly endless. NCs are extensible by their nature, and functionalities can be added to enhance cellular uptake, target intracellular compartments, deliver drugs or nucleic acid sequences, or themselves act as a bioactive agent, among many other potential functions. The many design strategies are testaments to the enormous synthetic space these materials are part of.

In this Special Issue, we will compile the recent advancements in the multidisciplinary field of functional nanocomposites with potential therapeutic applications. We will pay special attention to materials that alter cellular metabolism, act as antioxidants, initiate free radicals, or function as sensitizers such as radiation for other therapies.

Our Special Issue invites full-size articles, short communications, case reports, and reviews. Submission deadline is October 30, 2020

Dr. Anton Valeri Liopo
Dr. Paul J. Derry
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • manufacturing
  • functionalized and characterization nano-based composites
  • cell compartment targeting
  • theranostics
  • radiosensitization
  • redox and nanotherapeutic

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2270 KiB  
Article
Bead-Immobilized Multimodal Molecular Beacon-Equipped DNA Machinery for Specific RNA Target Detection: A Prototypical Molecular Nanobiosensor
by Jeonghun Kim, So Yeon Ahn and Soong Ho Um
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1617; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11061617 - 20 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3093
Abstract
A variety of nanostructured diagnostic tools have been developed for the precise detection of known genetic variants. Molecular beacon systems are very promising tools due to their specific selectivity coupled with relatively lower cost and time requirements than existing molecular detection tools such [...] Read more.
A variety of nanostructured diagnostic tools have been developed for the precise detection of known genetic variants. Molecular beacon systems are very promising tools due to their specific selectivity coupled with relatively lower cost and time requirements than existing molecular detection tools such as next generation sequencing or real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). However, they are prone to errors induced by secondary structure responses to environmental fluctuations, such as temperature and pH. Herein, we report a temperature-insensitive, bead-immobilized, molecular beacon-equipped novel DNA nanostructure for detection of cancer miRNA variants with the consideration of thermodynamics. This system consists of three parts: a molecular beacon for cancer-specific RNA capture, a stem body as a core template, and a single bead for solid-support. This DNA system was selectively bound to nanosized beads using avidin–biotin chemistry. Synthetic DNA nanostructures, designed based on the principle of fluorescence-resonance enhanced transfer, were effectively applied for in vitro cancer-specific RNA detection. Several parameters were optimized for higher performance, with a focus on thermodynamic stability. Theoretical issues regarding the secondary structure of a single molecular beacon and its combinatory forms were also studied. This study provides design guidelines for new sensing systems of miRNA variation for next-generation biotechnological applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Nano-Base Composites)
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12 pages, 2769 KiB  
Article
Antioxidative Activity of Soy, Wheat and Pea Protein Isolates Characterized by Multi-Enzyme Hydrolysis
by Chiung-Yueh Chang, Jinn-Der Jin, Hsiao-Li Chang, Ko-Chieh Huang, Yi-Fen Chiang, Mohamed Ali and Shih-Min Hsia
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1509; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11061509 - 7 Jun 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3710
Abstract
Hydrolysis of protein by proteases produces small molecular weights (MWs) peptides as nanomaterials that are easily absorbed. This study investigated the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of three plant protein isolates (PIs) including soy, wheat and pea after multi-enzyme hydrolysis. The MWs, particle [...] Read more.
Hydrolysis of protein by proteases produces small molecular weights (MWs) peptides as nanomaterials that are easily absorbed. This study investigated the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of three plant protein isolates (PIs) including soy, wheat and pea after multi-enzyme hydrolysis. The MWs, particle size and microstructure of PI hydrolysate (PIH) were determined by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF-MS mass spectrometry, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Cell viability was determined in vitro using a mouse skeletal muscle cell line (C2C12) and crystal violet staining. The MWs and particle sizes of the three plant PIs were reduced after hydrolysis by three proteases (bromelain, Neutrase and Flavourzyme). The MWs of soy, wheat and pea PIH were 103.5–383.0 Da, 103.5–1146.5 Da and 103.1–1937.7 Da, respectively, and particle size distributions of 1.9–2.0 nm, 3.2–5.6 nm and 1.3–3.2 nm, respectively. All three plant PIHs appeared as aggregated nanoparticles. Soy PIH (100 μg/mL) provided better protection against H2O2-induced oxidative damage to C2C12 than wheat or pea PIH. In summary, soy PIH had the best antioxidant activity, and particle size than wheat PIH and pea PIH. Therefore, soy PIH might be a dietary supplement for healthy diet and medical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Nano-Base Composites)
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12 pages, 2886 KiB  
Article
Transdermal System Based on Solid Cilostazol Nanoparticles Attenuates Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Brain Injury in Mice
by Hiroko Otake, Mizuki Yamaguchi, Fumihiko Ogata, Saori Deguchi, Naoki Yamamoto, Hiroshi Sasaki, Naohito Kawasaki and Noriaki Nagai
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(4), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11041009 - 15 Apr 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2368
Abstract
Cilostazol (CIL) exerted a protective effect by promoting blood–brain barrier integrity as well as improving the status of neurological dysfunctions following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We attempted to design a 0.5% CIL carbopol gel using solid nanoparticles (CIL-Ngel), and then investigated the relationships [...] Read more.
Cilostazol (CIL) exerted a protective effect by promoting blood–brain barrier integrity as well as improving the status of neurological dysfunctions following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We attempted to design a 0.5% CIL carbopol gel using solid nanoparticles (CIL-Ngel), and then investigated the relationships between energy-dependent endocytosis and the skin penetration of CIL-Ngel in this study. In addition, we evaluated whether the CIL-Ngel attenuated I/R-induced brain injury in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion model mouse. The particle size of CIL was decreased using a bead mill, and the CIL particles (14.9 × 1014 particles/0.3 g) in the CIL-Ngel were approximately 50–180 nm. The release of CIL in the CIL-Ngel was higher than that in gel containing CIL powder (CIL-Mgel), and the CIL particles were released from the CIL-Ngel as nanoparticles. In addition, the percutaneous absorption of CIL from the CIL-Ngel was higher in comparison with that from CIL-Mgel, and clathrin-dependent endocytosis and caveolae-dependent endocytosis were related to the enhanced skin penetration of CIL-NPs. In the traditional (oral administration of CIL powder, 3 mg/kg) and transdermal administration (CIL-Ngel, 0.3 g) for 3 days (once a day), the area under the plasma CIL concentration–time curves (AUC) was similar, although the CIL supplied to the blood by the CIL-Ngel was more sustained than that via oral administration of CIL powder. Furthermore, the CIL-Ngel attenuated the ischemic stroke. In conclusion, we designed a gel using solid CIL-NPs, and we showed that the sustained release of CIL by CIL-Ngel provided an effective treatment for ischemic stroke in MCAO/reperfusion model mice. These findings induce the possibilities of developing novel applications of CIL solid nanoparticles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Nano-Base Composites)
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12 pages, 3572 KiB  
Article
Ultrabright Green-Emitting Nanoemulsions Based on Natural Lipids-BODIPY Conjugates
by Xinyue Wang, Sophie Bou, Andrey S. Klymchenko, Nicolas Anton and Mayeul Collot
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(3), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11030826 - 23 Mar 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3249
Abstract
Nanoemulsions (NEs) are water-dispersed oil droplets that constitute stealth biocompatible nanomaterials. NEs can reach an impressive degree of fluorescent brightness owing to their oily core that can encapsulate a large number of fluorophores on the condition the latter are sufficiently hydrophobic and oil-soluble. [...] Read more.
Nanoemulsions (NEs) are water-dispersed oil droplets that constitute stealth biocompatible nanomaterials. NEs can reach an impressive degree of fluorescent brightness owing to their oily core that can encapsulate a large number of fluorophores on the condition the latter are sufficiently hydrophobic and oil-soluble. BODIPYs are among the brightest green emitting fluorophores and as neutral molecules possess high lipophilicity. Herein, we synthesized three different natural lipid-BODIPY conjugates by esterification of an acidic BODIPY by natural lipids, namely: α-tocopherol (vitamin E), cholesterol, and stearyl alcohol. The new BODIPY conjugates were characterized in solvents and oils before being encapsulated in NEs at various concentrations. The physical (size, stability over time, leakage) and photophysical properties (absorption and emission wavelength, brightness, photostability) are reported and showed that the nature of the lipid anchor and the nature of the oil used for emulsification greatly influence the properties of the bright NEs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Nano-Base Composites)
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Review

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34 pages, 7290 KiB  
Review
Emerging Hybrid Nanocomposite Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Antibiotics: Insights into Their Designs and Mechanisms
by Karuppannan Rokesh, Mohan Sakar and Trong-On Do
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(3), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11030572 - 25 Feb 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3848
Abstract
The raising occurrence of antibiotics in the global water bodies has received the emerging concern due to their potential threats of generating the antibiotic-resistive and genotoxic effects into humans and aquatic species. In this direction, the solar energy assisted photocatalytic technique offers a [...] Read more.
The raising occurrence of antibiotics in the global water bodies has received the emerging concern due to their potential threats of generating the antibiotic-resistive and genotoxic effects into humans and aquatic species. In this direction, the solar energy assisted photocatalytic technique offers a promising solution to address such emerging concern and paves ways for the complete degradation of antibiotics with the generation of less or non-toxic by-products. Particularly, the designing of hybrid photocatalyticcomposite materials has been found to show higher antibiotics degradation efficiencies. As the hybrid photocatalysts are found as the systems with ideal characteristic properties such as superior structural, surface and interfacial properties, they offer enhanced photoabsorbance, charge-separation, -transfer, redox properties, photostability and easy recovery. In this context, this review study presents an overview on the recent developments in the designing of various hybrid photocatalytic systems and their efficiency towards the degradation of various emerging antibiotic pharmaceutical contaminants in water environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Nano-Base Composites)
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