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Nanomaterials
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Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications (Second Edition)
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Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications (Second Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 23 May 2025 | Viewed by 5144

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zili Sideratou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, NCSR Demokritos, Aghia Paraskevi 15310, Greece
Interests: functional liposomes; functional dendritic polymers; carbon-based nanostructured materials; nano-sized drug delivery systems; drug targeting; triggered drug release; antibacterial agents
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The present Special Issue is a continuation of the previous successful Special Issue, titled “Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials/special_issues/nano_bio_pharmaceutical), hosted by this editor.

Nanotechnology is an emerging field that encompasses the manipulation of matter at the nanometer scale, leading to a new class of materials with improved properties for a wide range of applications. Concerning terminology, nanotechnology can be characterized as science and engineering that deals with the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of materials and devices with at least one dimension on the nanometer scale. Currently, nanomedicine, which is related to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of various diseases using tools at the nanoscale, and biomedical engineering are among the most promising and challenging fields involved in the application of nanostructured materials. Nanostructured materials, including inorganic or organic, crystalline or amorphous, and supramolecular structures such as micelles, liposomes, polymersomes, dendrimers, cyclodextrins, polymeric, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, lipid and polymeric nanocapsules, carbon nanostructures, quantum dots, etc., have been used in a wide variety of biological and pharmaceutical applications due to their excellent structural properties and their ability to be functionalized with specific ligands, achieving controllable size and shape, enhanced targetability, high loading capacity, controlled release of drugs or other bioactive molecules, etc. Although various types of nanostructured materials have been developed and proposed for potential biological applications, only a handful have been approved due to concerns and challenges they face in biocompatibility, pharmacokinetics, and in vivo targeting efficacy. Therefore, there is still room for improvement, as some aspects such as cytotoxicity, immunogenicity, and low biocompatibility need to be addressed in a more extensive manner.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight recent advances in all aspects relevant to the design, synthesis, and characterization of nanostructured materials for intended applications such as drug and gene delivery systems, stimulus-responsive therapeutics, bioimaging agents, bioanalytical diagnostics, theranostics, tissue engineering scaffolds and devices, antibacterial agents, etc. This Special Issue of Nanomaterials will collate original high-quality research papers focused on the most recent advances and comprehensive reviews addressing state-of-the-art topics in the field of various nanostructured materials for biological and pharmaceutical applications.

Dr. Zili Sideratou
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. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • nanostructured materials
  • drug and gene delivery systems
  • stimuli-responsive therapeutics
  • bioimaging agents
  • bio-analytical diagnostics
  • theranostics
  • antibacterial/antimicrobial/antiviral agents
  • drug targeting
  • triggered drug release

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4459 KiB  
Article
Novel Spectroscopic Studies of the Interaction of Three Different Types of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Albumin
by Silviya Abarova, Tsenka Grancharova, Plamen Zagorchev, Boris Tenchov and Bissera Pilicheva
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(23), 1861; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14231861 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 435
Abstract
In the present work, we studied the interactions of three types of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with human serum albumin (HSA) by fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The determined binding parameters of the reactions and the thermodynamic parameters, including ΔHo, ΔSo, and ΔGo indicated [...] Read more.
In the present work, we studied the interactions of three types of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) with human serum albumin (HSA) by fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The determined binding parameters of the reactions and the thermodynamic parameters, including ΔHo, ΔSo, and ΔGo indicated that electrostatic forces play a major role in the interaction of IONPs with HSA. These measurements indicate a fluorescent quenching mechanism based on IONPs-HSA static complex formation. Our study shows that the interaction between HSA and IONPs depends on the nanoparticle structure. The interaction between IONPs and HSA was found to be spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy-driven. HSA was shown to interact moderately with IONPs obtained with plant extracts of Uncaria tomentosa L. (IONP@UT) and Clinopodium vulgare L. (IONP@CV), and firmly with IONPs prepared with Ganoderma lingzhi (Reishi) extract (IONP@GL), via ground-state association. Analysis by modified Stern-Volmer approximation indicates that the quenching mechanism is static. Our study significantly improves our understanding of the mechanisms of interaction, distribution, and transport involved in the interaction between proteins and IONPs. It provides crucial insights into the functional perturbations of albumin binding capacity and the effects of IONPs on the stability and structural modifications of plasma carrier proteins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications (Second Edition))
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13 pages, 2803 KiB  
Article
Study of Hard Protein Corona on Lipid Surface of Composite Nanoconstruction
by Anna V. Epanchintseva, Svetlana V. Baranova, Julia E. Poletaeva, Irina A. Bakhno, Elena I. Ryabchikova and Ilya S. Dovydenko
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(21), 1767; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14211767 - 4 Nov 2024
Viewed by 764
Abstract
The composition of the protein corona covering any nanoparticle (NP) when it enters a biological fluid determines the parameters of the NP’s interaction with the body. To “control” these parameters, it is important to know the composition of the protein corona, the determination [...] Read more.
The composition of the protein corona covering any nanoparticle (NP) when it enters a biological fluid determines the parameters of the NP’s interaction with the body. To “control” these parameters, it is important to know the composition of the protein corona, the determination of which is a complex task associated with the two-layer organization of the corona (hard and soft coronas). In a previous publication, we reported obtaining lipid-coated NPs with a full protein corona, isolating them, and proving the presence of the corona on the surface of the NPs. This work reports on the preparation, isolation, and purification of lipid-coated NPs bearing a hard corona. The protein corona composition was determined by using the LC–MS/MS method. Thirty-seven serum proteins were identified with a high degree of reliability. The hard corona contained various apolipoproteins, including apolipoprotein E, which can potentially affect the penetration of NPs into the cell. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications (Second Edition))
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16 pages, 2888 KiB  
Article
Co-Assembled Nanosystems Exhibiting Intrinsic Fluorescence by Complexation of Amino Terpolymer and Its Quaternized Analog with Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) Dye
by Michaila Akathi Pantelaiou, Dimitrios Vagenas, Evangelos S. Karvelis, Georgios Rotas and Stergios Pispas
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(20), 1631; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14201631 - 11 Oct 2024
Viewed by 892
Abstract
Aggregation-induced emission dyes (AIEs) have gained significant interest due to their unique optical properties. Upon aggregation, AIEs can exhibit remarkable fluorescence enhancement. These systems are ideal candidates for applications in bioimaging, such as image-guided drug delivery or surgery. Encapsulation of AIEs in polymeric [...] Read more.
Aggregation-induced emission dyes (AIEs) have gained significant interest due to their unique optical properties. Upon aggregation, AIEs can exhibit remarkable fluorescence enhancement. These systems are ideal candidates for applications in bioimaging, such as image-guided drug delivery or surgery. Encapsulation of AIEs in polymeric nanocarriers can result in biocompatible and efficient nanosystems. Herein, we report the fabrication of novel nanoaggregates formulated by amino terpolymer and tetraphenylethylene (TPE) AIE in aqueous media. Poly(di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate-co-oligoethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate), P(DEGMA-co-DMAEMA-co-OEGMA) hydrophilic terpolymer was utilized for the complexation of the sodium tetraphenylethylene 4,4′,4″,4‴-tetrasulfonate AIE dye. Fluorescence spectroscopy, physicochemical studies, and self-assembly in aqueous and fetal bovine serum media were carried out. The finely dispersed nanoparticles exhibited enhanced fluorescence compared to the pure dye. To investigate the role of tertiary amino groups in the aggregation phenomenon, the polymer was quaternized, and quaternized polymer nanocarriers were fabricated. The increase in fluorescence intensity indicated stronger interaction between the cationic polymer analog and the dye. A stronger interaction between the nanoparticles and fetal bovine serum was observed in the case of the quaternized polymer. Thus, P(DEGMA-co-DMAEMA-co-OEGMA) formulations are better candidates for bioimaging applications than the quaternized ones, presenting both aggregation-induced emission and less interaction with fetal bovine serum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications (Second Edition))
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23 pages, 6816 KiB  
Article
Fabrication and Optimisation of Alumina Nanoporous Membranes for Drug Delivery Applications: A Comparative Study
by Lamyaa Osama, Hala T. Handal, Sara A. M. El-Sayed, Emad M. Elzayat and Mostafa Mabrouk
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(13), 1078; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14131078 - 24 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1157
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders cause most physical and mental disabilities, and therefore require effective treatment. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) prevents drug molecules from crossing from the blood to the brain, making brain drug delivery difficult. Implantable devices could provide sustained and regulated medication to solve [...] Read more.
Neurodegenerative disorders cause most physical and mental disabilities, and therefore require effective treatment. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) prevents drug molecules from crossing from the blood to the brain, making brain drug delivery difficult. Implantable devices could provide sustained and regulated medication to solve this problem. Two electrolytes (0.3 M oxalic acid and 0.3 M sulphuric acid) were used to anodise Al2O3 nanoporous membranes, followed by a third anodisation in concentrated H2SO4 to separate the through-hole membranes from the aluminium substrate. FTIR, AFM, and SEM/EDX were used to characterise the membranes’ structure and morphology. The effects of the anodisation time and electrolyte type on the AAO layer pore density, diameter, interpore distance, and thickness were examined. As a model drug for neurodegenerative disorders, donepezil hydrochloride (DHC) was loaded onto thin alumina nanoporous membranes. The DHC release profiles were characterised at two concentrations using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer. Oxalic acid membranes demonstrated an average pore diameter of 39.6–32.5 nm, which was two times larger than sulphuric acid membranes (22.6–19.7 nm). After increasing the anodisation time from 3 to 5 h, all of the membranes showed a reduction in pore diameter that was stable regardless of the electrolyte type or period. Drug release from oxalic acid-fabricated membranes was controlled and sustained for over 2 weeks. Thus, nanoporous membranes as implantable drug delivery systems could improve neurodegenerative disease treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications (Second Edition))
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18 pages, 18368 KiB  
Article
Development of Biologically Active Phytosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Marrubium vulgare L. Extracts: Applications and Cytotoxicity Studies
by Alina Ioana Lupuliasa, Răzvan Mihai Prisada, Roxana Ioana Matei (Brazdis), Sorin Marius Avramescu, Bogdan Ștefan Vasile, Radu Claudiu Fierascu, Irina Fierascu, Bianca Voicu-Bălașea, Marina Meleșcanu Imre, Silviu-Mirel Pițuru, Valentina Anuța and Cristina Elena Dinu-Pîrvu
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(10), 895; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14100895 - 20 May 2024
Viewed by 1275
Abstract
Metal nanoparticle phytosynthesis has become, in recent decades, one of the most promising alternatives for the development of nanomaterials using “green chemistry” methods. The present work describes, for the first time in the literature, the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using extracts obtained [...] Read more.
Metal nanoparticle phytosynthesis has become, in recent decades, one of the most promising alternatives for the development of nanomaterials using “green chemistry” methods. The present work describes, for the first time in the literature, the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using extracts obtained by two methods using the aerial parts of Marrubium vulgare L. The extracts (obtained by classical temperature extraction and microwave-assisted extraction) were characterized in terms of total phenolics content and by HPLC analysis, while the phytosynthesis process was confirmed using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, the results suggesting that the classical method led to the obtaining of smaller-dimension AgNPs (average diameter under 15 nm by TEM). In terms of biological properties, the study confirmed that AgNPs as well as the M. vulgare crude extracts reduced the viability of human gingival fibroblasts in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, with microwave-assisted extracts having the more pronounced effects. Additionally, the study unveiled that AgNPs transiently increased nitric oxide levels which then decreased over time, thus offering valuable insights into their potential therapeutic use and safety profile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials for Biological and Pharmaceutical Applications (Second Edition))
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: The photomodification method allows determining the composition of the full and soft protein corona on the lipid surface of composite nanoparticles
Authors: Anna V. Epanchintseva †, Svetlana V. Baranova †, Julia E. Poletaeva, Anastasiya V. Tupitsyna, Elena I. Ryabchikova* and Ilya S. Dovydenko*
Affiliation: Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; [email protected] (A.V.E.); [email protected] (S.V.B.); [email protected] (J.E.P.); [email protected] (I.A.B.) * Correspondence: [email protected] (E.I.R.); [email protected] (I.S.D.) † These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract: A protein corona (PC) is formed and maintained on the surface of any nanoparticle (NP) introduced into the body. The full PC is formed by a hard and soft corona, and the latter determines the nature of the interaction of NPs with cells and the body's liquids. Nanomedicines are becoming increasingly important in modern health service, making information about the composition of PC on the surface of NPs critically important for “managing” the behavior of nanoobjects in the body. Currently, only a few studies report on the composition of the complete PC, since the isolation and preservation of the soft corona on the surface of the NP is extremely difficult. Recently, we proposed for the first time a photomodification method to fix PC on the lipid surface of composite NPs, their isolation and purification. In this work, using tandem mass spectrometry, we successively determined the composition of the hard and full corona on the lipid surface of composite NPs, and also set the composition of the soft corona. To test the method, we changed the composition of the medium whose proteins formed the soft corona, and found changes in its composition

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