Nanomedicine (London, England)最新文献

Aims: This study aimed to develop a rapid and highly sensitive electrochemical biosensor for the sequence-specific detection of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA using a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe immobilized on a graphene - NH/gold-nanoparticle (GNH - AuNP) composite.

Materials & methods: An SH-terminated PNA probe was covalently attached to a GNH - AuNP nanocomposite layer deposited on gold screen-printed electrodes via 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA). The electrode assembly and hybridization processes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Quantification was achieved using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with hexaammineruthenium(III) (RuHex) as an electrostatic redox indicator.

Results: Hybridization of the target 16S rRNA sequence produced a distinct "signal-on" DPV response proportional to target concentration. The biosensor exhibited excellent linearity from 1 to 1000 pM (R² = 0.9984), with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.21 pM and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.70 pM. The neutral-backbone PNA probe improved hybridization kinetics and selectivity.

Conclusions: The PNA/GNH - AuNP interface enabled fast, stable, and highly sensitive E. coli detection. Its disposable electrode format and portable electrochemical readout make it suitable for on-site diagnostic and food-safety monitoring applications.

Oral inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis, peri-implantitis, and oral mucositis contribute significantly to tooth loss, impaired oral function, and systemic comorbidities. These conditions are driven by dysregulated immune responses, leading to persistent inflammation and poor tissue regeneration. Conventional treatments mainly target microbial reduction but overlook immune imbalance, limiting long-term efficacy. Immunomodulation offers a promising strategy to restore homeostasis and promote repair. Nanoparticles present a versatile platform for immunotherapy owing to their tunable size, surface chemistry, and capacity to target immune cells or respond to pathological cues. This review (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, 2015-2025) explores immunomodulatory nanoparticles in dentistry, grouped as organic (lipid-based, polymeric, self-assembled), inorganic (metallic, metal oxide, ceramic), exosome- and extracellular vesicle-derived, and hybrid systems. These platforms modulate macrophage polarization, cytokine production, and T cell balance to control inflammation and support regeneration. Advanced biomimetic designs further integrate antimicrobial, antioxidative, and pro-regenerative features. Despite encouraging preclinical data, translation faces challenges, including limited understanding of immune-nanoparticle interactions, safety issues, regulatory hurdles, lack of predictive models, and absence of standardized characterization protocols. Future directions include smart, personalized, and biomimetic systems, improved in vivo models, companion diagnostics, and harmonized evaluation standards, positioning these nanotechnologies as transformative tools in precision dental medicine.

Cancer remains a critical global health challenge, with conventional chemotherapy limited by systemic toxicity, poor bioavailability, and lack of tumor specificity. This review comprehensively explores silk fibroin (SF)-a natural, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer-as a versatile platform for advanced anticancer drug delivery systems. SF's unique structural properties, including amphiphilicity, tunable crystallinity, and abundant functional groups, enable efficient encapsulation of hydrophobic/hydrophilic drugs (e.g., paclitaxel, doxorubicin, curcumin) and facilitate controlled release. We detail SF nanoparticle (NP) fabrication methods (e.g., desolvation, salting-out), alternative delivery forms (hydrogels, microspheres, fibers), and mechanisms for passive (EPR effect) and active targeting (e.g., ligand conjugation to iRGD, LyP-1, HA). Crucially, SF's responsiveness to tumor microenvironment stimuli (pH, redox, temperature, enzymes) enhances site-specific drug release. Key physicochemical parameters-particle size (50-200 nm optimal), surface charge (near-neutral for prolonged circulation), β-sheet content (governing release kinetics), and stability-are analyzed for their impact on therapeutic efficacy. Despite SF's advantages (low immunogenicity, organic solvent-free processing, FDA-approved biocompatibility), challenges persist in batch-to-batch consistency, scalable NP synthesis, and precise control over drug release profiles. Future directions include multifunctional SF hybrids (e.g., magnetic/pH-responsive systems), combinatorial drug loading, and clinical translation to address current chemotherapy limitations. SF-based carriers hold significant promise for enhancing tumor targeting, reducing systemic toxicity, and improving patient outcomes in precision oncology.

Atherosclerosis remains the primary cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with intercellular communication critically influencing vascular homeostasis and disease progression. The connexome comprises connexins, pannexins, and associated proteins, and coordinates endothelial, smooth muscle, and immune cell interactions. Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) are key transcriptional regulators that modulate endothelial phenotype, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Advances in nanomedicine provide targeted platforms for modulating these molecular networks, offering novel diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities. This review is integrated by a comprehensive literature review conducted across Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science focusing on connexome regulation in vascular biology, and transcriptional control in the context of atherosclerosis. The discussion draws on recent experimental and translational studies linking connexin biology, KLF signaling, and nanomedicine in vascular health and disease. Emphasis is placed on translational evidence for nanoparticle-based delivery systems, including small molecules, nucleic acids, and imaging agents designed to target vascular lesions, with attention to strategies that improve specificity and bioavailability. The convergence of nanomedicine with connexome and KLF-targeted interventions could redefine atherosclerosis management by enabling precision drug delivery and real-time monitoring. Achieving clinical translation will require overcoming challenges related to nanoparticle biocompatibility, targeted biodistribution, immune compatibility, and long-term safety to fully realize their therapeutic potential.

Aims: The role of cardiac programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL1) in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) - related myocarditis (irMyocarditis) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether ligand PDL1 could serve as an early indicator and a potential therapeutic target for irMyocarditis.

Methods: Cardiac PDL1 expression was assessed using single-nucleus RNA sequencing and multiplex immunohistochemistry in human patients and mouse models of irMyocarditis. A PDL1-targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) nanoprobe was developed for noninvasive imaging of irMyocarditis. Additionally, an adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) vector was employed to deliver the PDL1 gene to cardiomyocytes, and its therapeutic effects on irMyocarditis were evaluated in a mouse model.

Results: PDL1 expression was significantly elevated in the myocardium of irMyocarditis patients and mouse models. The PDL1-targeted MRI nanoprobe successfully detected myocarditis in vivo, with enhanced cardiac signals observed in affected mice compared to isotype controls. Therapeutic intervention using AAV9-mediated PDL1 gene delivery significantly reduced immune cell infiltration and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, improving left ventricular ejection fraction over a 2-month follow-up period.

Conclusions: This study identifies PDL1 as a critical biomarker and therapeutic target for irMyocarditis. PDL1-targeted MRI nanoprobe enables early, noninvasive diagnosis, while AAV9-mediated PDL1 gene therapy offers a promising strategy to mitigate irMyocarditis and restore cardiac function in ICI therapy recipients.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and its treatment continues to present significant challenges. Nanomedicines have shown remarkable potential in cancer therapy; however, research on their delivery still faces several limitations. Studies have revealed that different nanoparticle morphologies during delivery can result in variations in delivery efficiency, cellular uptake, circulation time, and tumor targeting, ultimately leading to inconsistent therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, the shape of nanoparticles is a critical factor influencing their in vivo transport behavior. In recent years, advances in artificial intelligence have enabled computational prediction to emerge as a high-throughput screening tool that effectively reduces both time and economic costs. A key question is how simulation techniques can be leveraged to predict the impact of nanoparticle shape on interactions with biological systems. This review examines the effects of various nanoparticle shapes on tumor therapy and their underlying mechanisms, outlines computational methods for predicting the impact of shape, analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of different computational approaches, and interprets considerations related to scale and implementation strategies based on computational methods and shape parameters. Finally, we discuss major challenges in computationally predicting therapeutic outcomes and highlight future directions for research on shape effect prediction.Literature Search Methods [PubMed database 2007-2025].

Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. While doxorubicin (DOX) demonstrates efficacy, its associated toxicity is considerable, necessitating innovative strategies to reduce dosage and adverse effects. This study aimed to develop a graphene oxide - gold nanoparticle (GO-AuNP) nanocarrier designed to deliver DOX alongside an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) plasmid to improve therapeutic effectiveness against HCC.

Methods: AuNPs-Functionalized Graphene Oxide Nanostructures were engineered for the co-delivery of DOX and EGFP. The transfection efficiency of the drug delivery nanocarrier, the release kinetics of the drugs, and the cytotoxic effects on cells were assessed using HepG2 and L929 cell lines.

Results: The GO-Au nanocarriers demonstrated a controlled release of DOX, significantly inhibiting the proliferation of HepG2 cells at the 72-hour mark. Fluorescence imaging validated the effective transfection of EGFP and the internalization by cells. Importantly, the nanocarriers induced cytotoxicity from DOX at lower doses compared to free DOX, while enhancing the viability of L929 cells.

Conclusion: The GO-Au nanostructure effectively co-delivered DOX and EGFP into HCC cells, exhibiting improved transfection efficiency, along with reduced toxicity to normal cells. This dual-functional nanoplatform presents a promising approach for real-time monitoring of gene and drug delivery.

Aim: In the present research work, multifunctional dendrimeric nanoconjugates were developed, where poly(amidoamine) dendrimer generation 4.0 (G4.0) was conjugated with folic acid and N-acetyl cysteine simultaneously to deliver rutin for potential neuroprotective applications.

Methods: G4.0 was functionalized with folic acid and N-acetyl cysteine by carbodiimide coupling chemistry, and the conjugation was confirmed using ¹H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. Further, rutin was incorporated within the conjugate, and the rutin-loaded dendrimeric conjugate was evaluated for size, drug release, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and antioxidant activity.

Results: The results of FTIR and ¹H NMR confirmed the conjugation of folic acid and N-acetyl cysteine over the dendrimeric surface. The particle size of NAC-FA-G4.0 was 163.4 ± 16.63 nm, which was increased to 229.76 ± 14.05 nm following the rutin incorporation. The in vitro drug release study showed an initial burst release of rutin, i.e. 44.27 ± 6.4% from dendrimeric conjugate within 4 h, followed by sustained release up to 72 h. The safety and biocompatibility of the developed nanoconjugate were confirmed by the hemolytic toxicity and cytotoxicity studies.

Conclusion: The developed rutin-loaded dendrimeric conjugate showed improved antioxidant activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibition, suggesting promising neuroprotection properties and hence may be further explored for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.

Circulating plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a natural nanoscale carrier designed to transport cholesterol throughout the body through specific receptor mediated processes. During malignant transformation, cancer cells upregulate their LDL receptors (LDLR) to scavenge LDL from their environments to support their rapid membrane turnover. This aberrant activity has prompted many research teams to investigate the potential of LDL as a drug carrier against cancer. In this article, we reviewed preclinical studies aimed at evaluating LDL-based nanoparticles for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Prior to assessing each research study, we examined the impact of chronic liver disease/cirrhosis and HCC progression on lipoprotein homeostasis, as well as the status of LDLR in these tissues. Various approaches have been used to functionalize LDL for drug delivery. These include: conjugation of cholesterol moieties to drug molecules for enhanced incorporation into LDL; development of LDL-nanoparticle hybrid formulation for increased drug versatility; and reconstitution of the apolar cholesterol core with alternative bioactive lipids. We highlight each of these LDL-based nanoconstructs, discussing their capacity to home to LDLR and induce cytotoxic effects against HCC. Concerns regarding the safety of these LDL nanomedicines in the diseased liver were raised and pathways for clinical translation are discussed.

Introduction: This meta-analysis examined the antibacterial efficacy of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) through statistical analysis of published data.

Method: Following a comprehensive literature search and systematic screening, data were extracted and analyzed using STATA software to calculate pooled standard mean differences and effect sizes.

Results: Analysis of data from 58 articles (218 experiments) demonstrated significant antibacterial activity. Analysis of 189 agar diffusion tests showed substantial effect (EF = 15.04; 95% CI = 14.793-15.277; p < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis revealed greater efficacy for particles larger than 50 nm and rod-shaped nanoparticles. CeO₂ NPs were effective against both Gram-positive (EF = 18.194) and Gram-negative (EF = 14.049) bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Compared to conventional antibiotics, CeO₂ NPs were generally less effective (SMD = -2.846, p < 0.0001) but performed comparably to Amoxicillin, Streptomycin, Linezolid, and Clindamycin. MIC and CFU tests confirmed significant growth-inhibitory effects across multiple bacterial species.

Conclusion: CeO₂ NPs demonstrate significant broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, suggesting potential against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Future research should explore synergistic effects with standard antibiotics.