Nanotechnology, Science and Applications最新文献

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), particularly those exhibiting superparamagnetism and biocompatibility, have garnered significant interest in the biomedical field due to their unique physicochemical properties. Recent studies have shown that MNPs can modulate neural plasticity by influencing key signaling pathways such as BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) and the PI3K/Akt pathway, critical for neuronal growth, synaptic connectivity, and functional recovery. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms through which MNPs interact with neural tissues, highlighting the diversity of nanoparticle types (eg, iron oxide, gold, and carbon-based nanoparticles) and their applications in neurodegenerative disease treatment and neural regeneration. Despite the immense potential of MNPs in neurodegenerative disease treatment, this review also compares them with traditional interventions, discussing their advantages and limitations. Additionally, it addresses key challenges, particularly the difficulty of overcoming the blood-brain barrier, and issues related to biocompatibility, toxicity, and long-term safety. In clinical applications, ethical concerns, such as patient informed consent and long-term risks, must also be considered alongside efficacy and safety. This review offers insights into these challenges and provides a framework for future research, aiming to accelerate the clinical integration of MNP-based neurotherapies.

Introduction: In tissue engineering, there is a growing need for patient-specific strategies that enable precise control of cellular behaviour - such as adhesion, proliferation, and migration - to enhance tissue integration and reduce transplant rejection. Engineering the physicochemical properties and topography of substrates is a promising way to guide cell responses. Among available materials, graphene nanoplatelets offer outstanding physicochemical, electrical, and mechanical properties, making them ideal for biomedical use. Moreover, printed electronics techniques allow efficient, cost-effective fabrication of continuous coatings or intricate micropatterns on flexible substrates.

Methods: Graphene nanoplatelet patterns were fabricated on flexible thermoplastic polyurethane substrates using inkjet and aerosol jet printing to compare the methods and their influence on cell behaviour. Layers were analysed for morphology, topography, and electrical properties (SEM, Raman spectroscopy, profilometry, electrical measurements). Surface wettability and surface free energy were measured via contact angle measurements. L929 fibroblast cells were cultured on printed patterns and assessed by confocal microscopy and MTT assay.

Results and discussion: Graphene patterns significantly improved cell proliferation compared to TPU controls. Cells aligned and migrated along printed graphene features, especially on aerosol jet-printed patterns, which promoted attachment and spreading. Quantitative analysis confirmed enhanced cell coverage and proliferation, highlighting the potential of graphene micropatterns for precise cellular control in regenerative medicine.

Purpose: This nanotechnology-oriented study provides insights into the nanoscale structural and compositional modulation of hydroxyapatite. This study investigated the effect of zinc ions (Zn²⁺) content (0-1.8 mol%) in nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite on its physicochemical and biological properties, focusing on biomedical applications.

Materials and methods: A series of zinc-enriched nanocrystalline hydroxyapatites was synthesized via aqueous precipitation. Their ultrastructure and crystallinity were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), including unit cell analysis. Chemical composition-specifically OH^-, HPO₄ ^2-, and CO₃ ^2- groups-was examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR). Zn²⁺ content and release over seven weeks were quantified via flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS). Cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT and NRU assays.

Results: Increasing Zn²⁺ concentration led to reduced crystal size and crystallinity. Zinc ions were incorporated both into the crystalline core and the hydrated surface layer of hydroxyapatite. At concentrations ≥1.0 mol%, an amorphous zinc phosphate phase appeared. Higher Zn²⁺ levels also correlated with decreased hydroxyl groups and carbonate impurities, accompanied by increased water content and acidic phosphate groups. Zinc ion release remained minimal across all samples, independent of the initial zinc concentration. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that samples containing 0-0.6 mol% Zn²⁺ were non-toxic, while those with 1.0 mol% and 1.8 mol% Zn²⁺ exhibited cytotoxic effects.

Conclusion: Zn-doped hydroxyapatite containing up to 0.6 mol% Zn²⁺ exhibits enhanced structural stability and cytocompatibility, establishing 0.6 mol% as the optimal threshold for biomedical applications.

Purpose: Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are nanoscale biomaterial-like structures involved in intercellular communication and cancer progression. Aberrant surface glycosylation may serve as a diagnostic marker for malignancy. This study aimed to compare the size, glycosylation, and biophysical properties of sEVs secreted by primary and metastatic melanoma cells, and to evaluate a novel analytical technique for glycoprofiling.

Methods: sEVs were isolated from the primary (WM115) and metastatic (WM266-4) melanoma cell lines. Their size and concentration were assessed via Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), and exosomal identity was confirmed using Western blotting. Glycosylation profiling was performed using a multimodal strategy: Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), Nanoplasmonic Sensing (NPS), and, for the first time, Flow-Induced Dispersion Analysis (FIDA). Concanavalin A (Con A) was used as the probe for high-mannose glycans.

Results: WM266-4-derived sEVs were significantly larger, whereas WM115 cells secreted more vesicles. Western blotting confirmed the presence of exosomal markers and absence of organelle contaminants. QCM-D and NPS showed stronger Con A binding and higher glycan viscoelasticity index (gVI) in metastatic sEVs, indicating altered glycan architecture. FIDA further confirmed these differences by quantifying a lower dissociation constant (Kd) and multivalent binding behavior in WM266-4-derived sEVs, consistent with a denser glycan coat.

Conclusion: Metastatic melanoma-derived sEVs exhibited distinct Con A-detectable high-mannose glycosylation patterns that may represent malignancy-associated features. This study demonstrates the utility of multimodal nanobiophysical methods, particularly FIDA, as sensitive tools for EV glycoprofiling. While the present findings are based on cell line-derived sEVs, they support the translational potential of glycan-based signatures for future liquid biopsy platforms and expand the analytical capabilities of cancer nanodiagnostics.

Introduction: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly heterogeneous and aggressive tumor characterized by rapid growth and therapy resistance. The dynamic interactions of tumor cells with the extracellular matrix (ECM) contribute to treatment inefficacy. While diamond nanoparticles (NDs) are emerging as potential antitumor agents, their mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated spherical NDs with distinct surface compositions and hydrocolloidal stability and their role in regulating crucial cellular processes in T98G glioblastoma cells.

Methods: Two types of detonation diamond nanoparticles (NDs) were characterized using TEM imaging and hydrocolloidal stability assessment in various diluents. Their effects on T98G glioblastoma cells were examined through SEM imaging, cytotoxicity assays, monitoring of spontaneous and collective migration, and early adhesion examination combined with an extensive integrin-blocking panel. Furthermore, characterization via mass spectrometry provided deeper insight into how physicochemical differences between the two NDs types modulate glioblastoma microenvironment and cell responses.

Results: NDs were observed to be both intensively internalized by cells and bound to cell membrane, influencing cellular interactions with the extracellular environment. NDs significantly reduced T98G glioblastoma cell migration within 48 hours and impaired early adhesion by effectively blocking α/β integrins. Modified NDs (NDM) demonstrated enhanced hydrocolloidal stability and stronger integrin blocking efficiency. Proteomic analysis revealed that NDs downregulated proteins involved in RNA processing, splicing, and translation while upregulating ECM-related proteins, which profile changed depending on the NDs type.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that NDs with distinct surface properties may interact with multiple surface receptors, independently modulate intracellular signaling pathways, and remodel the tumor microenvironment by altering ECM protein composition, positioning them as versatile, multi-targeting agents with antitumor potential.

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, is increasingly leveraged in nanomedicine to sensitise tumours and overcome drug resistance. Driven by the Fenton reaction, ferroptosis results in lipid peroxidation through elevated intracellular iron levels and excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this review, we outline the molecular markers of ferroptosis and define the criteria necessary to attribute ferroptosis induction to nanoparticles (NPs). We emphasise the importance of distinguishing targeted ferroptosis from non-specific ROS-mediated nanotoxicity and other types of programmed cell death. This distinction requires the use of lipophilic radical-trapping antioxidants (eg, ferrostatin-1, liproxstatin-1), iron chelators, and evidence implicating glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) or the system Xc^- antiporter. Morphology is considered supportive but non-diagnostic, requiring converging evidence from both biochemical and genetic sources. We then compare various nanosystems designed to induce ferroptosis, such as iron-based nanoparticles, lipid nanocarriers, light-triggered nanoparticles, and magnetically induced nanocarriers, highlighting mechanistic patterns, efficacy determinants, and common pitfalls that often occur during biological investigations. Finally, we discuss translational challenges, including tumour microenvironment heterogeneity, NP protein corona dynamics, clearance and off-target effects. We aim to provide a framework that links NP design to ferroptotic mechanisms and clinically relevant outcomes, offering clear criteria and priorities for future research.

This review explores the emerging potential of theranostic approaches in the pulmonary delivery of antimicrobial agents, with particular attention to recent FDA warnings concerning inhaled antifungal therapies. Pulmonary infections remain difficult to treat effectively due to the limitations of systemic drug delivery, anatomical and physiological barriers within the lungs, and microbial strategies that promote colonization. Inhaled drug delivery offers a targeted alternative but faces significant challenges, including the inherent variability of lung anatomy, disease-induced pulmonary alterations, and host defence mechanisms. We examine the crucial role of lung imaging in enabling theranostic applications, emphasizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the most promising modality due to its ability to provide non-invasive, radiation-free, and repeatable assessments of drug deposition. Within this context, the use of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as MRI contrast agents is critically assessed. SPIONs offer a safer alternative to gadolinium-based agents and hold considerable promise for improving the precision of imaging and treatment monitoring in the lungs. The article also outlines the significant regulatory barriers to the development and clinical adoption of inhaled antimicrobial therapies. These include the lack of standardized patient selection criteria, poorly defined clinical endpoints, and the inherent complexity of trial design for heterogeneous patient populations. To address these issues, we propose a conceptual framework for translating inhaled theranostic formulations into personalized antimicrobial therapies. This includes individualized dose adjustments based on imaging data and real-time monitoring of drug concentrations at the infection site. Such a tailored approach could significantly enhance treatment outcomes and meet the urgent clinical need for safer, more effective inhaled antimicrobial treatments.

Background: Vesicular drug delivery systems, including bilosome-based nanoparticles containing bile salts, have revolutionized the field of colloid chemistry, nanomedicine, and nanobiotechnology. Due to their versatility and adaptability to various applications, they have gained considerable attention among researchers, thus offering a promising pathway to achieve effective and targeted delivery of miscellaneous drugs.

Purpose: This study presents a novel class of positively charged bilosomes with surface-associated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-lipid, co-entrapped the anionic xanthene dye (Rose Bengal), and natural carotenoid pigment derived from the mold Blakeslea trispora (astaxanthin), as a safe and effective transdermal drug delivery system.

Methods: Bilosomal nanosystems were prepared using thin film hydration combined with sonication. The physicochemical properties of the vesicles were characterized, including particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and morphology. Cellular uptake, cyto- and phototoxicity experiments were investigated in vitro against human melanoma cancer cells.

Results: The multidrug bilosome formulation exhibited a particle size of less than 100 nm and a zeta potential of more than +40 mV, indicating beneficial properties for potential transdermal administration. In vitro biological experiments have shown remarkable antitumor efficacy against human skin epithelial (A375) and malignant (Me45) melanoma cell lines. After irradiating the samples with green light at a wavelength of 520-560 nm (10 J/cm² of total light dose), we observed a significant decrease in mitochondrial metabolic activity, ie, a reduction in cell viability below 30% compared to the control. Higher phototherapeutic activity, in contrast to the administration of non-encapsulated active agents, indicates shared synergistic effects through the simultaneous action of advanced bilosome-derived nanophotosensitizers and phyto-photodynamic therapy.

Conclusion: Our encouraging results provide new potential candidates for preclinical development in innovative photodynamic therapy targeting melanoma and also pave the way for future therapeutic strategies with broad applications in many biological fields.

Purpose: Biofilm-related infections, especially those associated with medical devices like catheters, pose significant clinical challenges due to their resistance to conventional treatments. This study investigates a green chemistry-based approach to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) stabilized with trans-cinnamaldehyde (t-CA) and evaluates their potential for combating microbial biofilms and based on novel mechanism of action.

Methods: Silver nanoparticles (t-CA-AgNPs) were synthesized using t-CA as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The NPs were then thoroughly characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy (TEM, SEM, STEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). We evaluated its antimicrobial potential against the most prevalence biofilm-forming pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans using minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. Moreover, we investigated the mechanism of action of t-CA-AgNPs underlying biofilm inhibition. Biofilm formation and structure were verified by SEM imagining.

Results: DLS analysis confirmed that t-CA-AgNPs had an average particle diameter of 2.5 nm, coupled with a notably negative zeta potential (-45 mV), indicative of good colloidal stability. t-CA-AgNPs displayed potent antimicrobial properties, with MIC values ranging from 26 to 412 µg/mL and MBC values from 103 to 825 µg/mL. Biofilm formation inhibitory properties reached 88.74% of inhibition for P. aeruginosa and 70.60% for E. coli. Moreover, we found potent metal ion-chelating capabilities, importantly, in binding and reducing ferrous ions, the crucial factor of biofilm formation. Furthermore, t-CA-AgNPs substantially impaired biofilm development on catheter surfaces, underscoring their robust antibiofilm potential.

Conclusion: Presented here t-CA-AgNPs exhibit significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity. By effectively targeting critical elements in biofilm formation, such as ferrous ions, coupled with antimicrobial potential of both active compounds, these green-synthesized NPs have potential applications in significantly improving the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. However, further studies are needed to ensure their efficacy in clinical use.

Introduction: The floating catalyst chemical vapour deposition (FC-CVD) method is widely used for synthesising carbon nanotubes (CNTs), typically with ferrocene as the catalyst. This study explores the use of alternative, nonferrous metallocenes to investigate their impact on carbon nanostructure formation.

Methods: Six metallocenes - ferrocene, cobaltocene, ruthenocene, vanadocene, manganocene, and magnesocene - were tested under comparable FC-CVD conditions. The resulting materials were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS).

Results and discussion: Ferrocene produced vertically aligned CNT carpets with high crystallinity. Cobaltocene and magnesocene also yielded CNTs, though less aligned and more defective. Ruthenocene and vanadocene resulted in disordered graphitic carbon without nanotube morphology, confirmed by the presence of broad D and G bands in Raman spectra. Notably, manganocene catalysed the formation of dendritic structures with oxidised and functionalised surfaces, exhibiting unique morphologies distinct from conventional CNTs.

Conclusion: These results highlight the ability of nonferrous metallocenes to direct the growth of unconventional carbon nanostructures. The findings suggest new possibilities for tailoring nanocarbon morphology through catalyst selection, particularly for applications requiring high surface area or chemical functionality.