Magnetic nanoparticles in nanomedicine: a review of recent advances

Magnetic Particle Spectroscopy for Point-of-Care: A Review on Recent Advances

Since its first report in 2006, magnetic particle spectroscopy (MPS)-based biosensors have flourished over the past decade. Currently, MPS are used for a wide range of applications, such as disease diagnosis, foodborne pathogen detection, etc. In this work, different MPS platforms, such as dual-frequency and mono-frequency driving field designs, were reviewed. MPS combined with multi-functional magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been extensively reported as a versatile platform for the detection of a long list of biomarkers. The surface-functionalized MNPs serve as nanoprobes that specifically bind and label target analytes from liquid samples. Herein, an analysis of the theories and mechanisms that underlie different MPS platforms, which enable the implementation of bioassays based on either volume or surface, was carried out. Furthermore, this review draws attention to some significant MPS platform applications in the biomedical and biological fields. In recent years, different kinds of MPS point-of-care (POC) devices have been reported independently by several groups in the world. Due to the high detection sensitivity, simple assay procedures and low cost per run, the MPS POC devices are expected to become more widespread in the future. In addition, the growth of telemedicine and remote monitoring has created a greater demand for POC devices, as patients are able to receive health assessments and obtain results from the comfort of their own homes. At the end of this review, we comment on the opportunities and challenges for POC devices as well as MPS devices regarding the intensely growing demand for rapid, affordable, high-sensitivity and user-friendly devices.

MRI/PAI Dual-modal Imaging-guided Precise Tracking of Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Labeled with Nanoparticles for Treating Liver Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Stem cell transplantation is a potential treatment option for liver cirrhosis (LC). Accurately and noninvasively monitoring the distribution, migration, and prognosis of transplanted stem cells using imaging methods is important for in-depth study of the treatment mechanisms. Our study aimed to develop Au-Fe₃O₄ silica nanoparticles (NPs) as tracking nanoplatforms for dual-modal stem cell imaging.

METHODS

Au-Fe₃O₄ silica NPs were synthesized by seed-mediated growth method and co-precipitation. The efficiency and cytotoxicity of the NPs-labeled bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, ICP-MS, phenotypic characterization, and histological staining. The biodistribution of labeled BM-MSCs injected through different routes (the hepatic artery or tail vein) into rats with LC was detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), and Prussian blue staining.

RESULTS

Synthesized Au-Fe₃O₄ silica NPs consisted of a core (star-shaped Au NPs) and an outside silica layer doped with Fe₃O₄ NPs. After 24 h coincubation with 2.0 OD concentration of NPs, the viability of BM-MSCs was 77.91%±5.86% and the uptake of Au and Fe were (22.65±1.82) µg/mL and (234.03±11.47) µg/mL, respectively. The surface markers of labeled BM-MSCs unchanged significantly. Labeled BM-MSCs have osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential. Post injection in vivo, rat livers were hypointense on MRI and hyperintense on PAI. Prussian blue staining showed that more labeled BM-MSCs accumulated in the liver of the hepatic artery group. The severity of LC of the rats in the hepatic artery group was significantly alleviated.

CONCLUSIONS

Au-Fe₃O₄ silica NPs were suitable MRI/PAI dual-modal imaging nanoplatforms for stem cell tracking in regenerative medicine. Transhepatic arterial infusion of BM-MSCs was the optimal route for the treatment of LC.

Magnetic nanoparticle-based hyperthermia: A prospect in cancer stem cell tracking and therapy

Tumor heterogeneity is a major problem in cancer treatment. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of tumor masses that produce proliferating and quiescent cells. Under stress-related conditions, quiescent cells are capable of repopulating tumor masses. Consequently, many attempts have been made to identify, isolate, and eradicate CSCs from various tumors. Research has found that quiescent CSCs are less susceptible to conventional therapy than bulk cancer cells. This could be due to reduced cell cycling and increased DNA repair capacity of these cells. Indeed, disease progression is temporarily suppressed by eliminating fast-proliferating tumor cells and sparing quiescent CSCs lead to cancer relapse. Among all the available therapeutic modalities for cancer treatment, hyperthermia uses moderate heat to kill tumor cells. Nanoparticle-based platforms have the potential to deposit heat locally and selectively with the simultaneous activation of nanoparticles as heat transducers. Over the past few decades, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely investigated in the biomedical field. Magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT) is a promising therapeutic approach in which MNPs are delivered directly through targeting (systemic) or by direct injection into a tumor under exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF). Heat is generated by the MNPs subjected to AMF at a frequency of 100 kHz. Despite the widespread use of MHT alone or in combination therapies, its effectiveness in targeting CSCs remains unclear. This review discusses various types of MHT and their related mechanisms in cancer therapy, particularly concerning the eradication of CSCs.

Polyetherimide- and folic acid-modified Fe3 O4 nanospheres for enhanced magnetic hyperthermia performance

Recent studies have highlighted the development prospects of magnetic hyperthermia in cancer therapy. A few studies on the application of Fe₃ O₄ nanospheres for the magnetic hyperthermia of gynecological malignancies have achieved certain efficacy, but there was no visible progress currently. In this work, Fe₃ O₄ nanospheres modified with polyetherimide (PEI) and folic acid (FA) were synthesized using a hydrothermal method for possible utility in biocompatible and active tumor-targeting magnetic induction hyperthermia. The PEI- and FA-coated Fe₃ O₄ nanospheres showed high crystallinity, well-dispersed spherical structures and ideal M_s value. As a result, the designed Fe₃ O₄ @ PEI@FA nanospheres achieved higher specific absorption rate (SAR) values at 360 kHz and 308 Oe, as well as excellent biocompatibility in Hela, SKOV3, HEC-1-A and NIH3T3 cells. These nanospheres can be used as an optimal heating agent for the magnetic hyperthermia treatment of gynecological cancers.

Versatile magnetic configuration for the control and manipulation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles

The control and manipulation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SP-MNP) is a significant challenge and has become increasingly important in various fields, especially in biomedical research. Yet, most of applications rely on relatively large nanoparticles, 50 nm or higher, mainly due to the fact that the magnetic control of smaller MNPs is often hampered by the thermally induced Brownian motion. Here we present a magnetic device able to manipulate remotely in microfluidic environment SP-MNPs smaller than 10 nm. The device is based on a specifically tailored configuration of movable permanent magnets. The experiments performed in 500 µm capillary have shown the ability to concentrate the SP-MNPs into regions characterized by different shapes and sizes ranging from 100 to 200 µm. The results are explained by straightforward calculations and comparison between magnetic and thermal energies. We provide then a comprehensive description of the magnetic field intensity and its spatial distribution for the confinement and motion of magnetic nanoparticles for a wide range of sizes. We believe this description could be used to establish accurate and quantitative magnetic protocols not only for biomedical applications, but also for environment, food, security, and other areas.

Ultrasound nanomedicine and materdicine

The conventional microbubble-based ultrasound biomedicine clinically plays a vital role in providing the dynamic detection of macro and microvasculature and disease theranostics. However, the intrinsic limitation of particle size severely decreases the treatment effectiveness due to their vascular transport characteristics, which promotes the development and application of multifunctional ultrasound-responsive nanomaterials. Herein, we put forward a research field of "ultrasound nanomedicine and materdicine", referring to the interdiscipline of ultrasound, nanobiotechnology and materials, which seeks to produce specific biological effects for addressing the challenges faced and dilemma of conventional ultrasound medicine. We comprehensively summarize the state-of-the-art scientific advances in the latest progress in constructing ultrasound-based platforms and ultrasound-activated sonosensitizers, ranging from the synthesis strategies, biological functions to ultrasound-triggered therapeutic applications. Ultimately, the unresolved challenges and clinical-translation potentials of ultrasound nanomedicine and materdicine are discussed and prospected in this evolving field.

The effect of size, shape, coating and functionalization on nuclear relaxation properties in iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles: a brief review of the situation

In this perspective article, we present a short selection of some of the most significant case studies on magnetic nanoparticles for potential applications in nanomedicine, mainly magnetic resonance. For almost 10 years, our research activity focused on the comprehension of the physical mechanisms on the basis of the nuclear relaxation of magnetic nanoparticles in the presence of magnetic fields; taking advantage of the insights gathered over this time span, we report on the dependence of the relaxation behaviour on the chemico-physical properties of magnetic nanoparticles and discuss them in full detail. In particular, a critical review is carried out on the correlations between their efficiency as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging and the magnetic core of magnetic nanoparticles (mainly iron oxides), their size and shape, and the coating and solvent used for making them biocompatible and well dispersible in physiological media. Finally, the heuristic model proposed by Roch and coworkers is presented, as it was extensively adopted to describe most of the experimental data sets. The large amount of data analyzed allowed us to highlight both the advantages and limitations of the model.

Development of pH-Sensitive Magnetoliposomes Containing Shape Anisotropic Nanoparticles for Potential Application in Combined Cancer Therapy

Late diagnosis and systemic toxicity associated with conventional treatments make oncological therapy significantly difficult. In this context, nanomedicine emerges as a new approach in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this work, pH-sensitive solid magnetoliposomes (SMLs) were developed for controlled release of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX). Shape anisotropic magnetic nanoparticles of magnesium ferrite with partial substitution by calcium (Mg_0.75Ca_0.25Fe₂O₄) were synthesized, with and without calcination, and their structural, morphological and magnetic properties were investigated. Their superparamagnetic properties were evaluated and heating capabilities proven, either by exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) (magnetic hyperthermia) or by irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) light (photothermia). The Mg_0.75Ca_0.25Fe₂O₄ calcined nanoparticles were selected to integrate the SMLs, surrounded by a lipid bilayer of DOPE:Ch:CHEMS (45:45:10). DOX was encapsulated in the nanosystems with an efficiency above 98%. DOX release assays showed a much more efficient release of the drug at pH = 5 compared to the release kinetics at physiological pH. By subjecting tumor cells to DOX-loaded SMLs, cell viability was significantly reduced, confirming that they can release the encapsulated drug. These results point to the development of efficient pH-sensitive nanocarriers, suitable for a synergistic action in cancer therapy with magnetic targeting, stimulus-controlled drug delivery and dual hyperthermia (magnetic and plasmonic) therapy.

Recent Progress of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Bacteria Detection

There are various pathogenic bacteria in the surrounding living environment, which not only pose a great threat to human health but also bring huge losses to economic development. Conventional methods for bacteria detection are usually time-consuming, complicated and labor-intensive, and cannot meet the growing demands for on-site and rapid analyses. Sensitive, rapid and effective methods for pathogenic bacteria detection are necessary for environmental monitoring, food safety and infectious bacteria diagnosis. Recently, benefiting from its advantages of rapidity and high sensitivity, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has attracted significant attention in the field of bacteria detection and identification as well as drug susceptibility testing. Here, we comprehensively reviewed the latest advances in SERS technology in the field of bacteria analysis. Firstly, the mechanism of SERS detection and the fabrication of the SERS substrate were briefly introduced. Secondly, the label-free SERS applied for the identification of bacteria species was summarized in detail. Thirdly, various SERS tags for the high-sensitivity detection of bacteria were also discussed. Moreover, we emphasized the application prospects of microfluidic SERS chips in antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). In the end, we gave an outlook on the future development and trends of SERS in point-of-care diagnoses of bacterial infections.

Design of functional nanoparticles by microfluidic platforms as advanced drug delivery systems for cancer therapy

Nanoparticle systems are functional carriers that can be used in the cancer therapy field for the delivery of a variety of hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic drugs. Recently, the advent of microfluidic platforms represents an advanced approach to the development of new nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems. Particularly, microfluidics can simplify the design of new nanoparticle-based systems with tunable physicochemical properties such as size, size distribution and morphology, ensuring high batch-to-batch reproducibility and consequently, an enhanced therapeutic effect in vitro and in vivo. In this perspective, we present accurate state-of-the-art microfluidic platforms focusing on the fabrication of polymer-based, lipid-based, lipid/polymer-based, inorganic-based and metal-based nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

Rapid Detection of Staphylococcus aureus in Milk and Pork via Immunomagnetic Separation and Recombinase Polymerase Amplification

Separation processes using immunomagnetic beads (IMBs) are advantageous for the rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Herein, a novel method, based on immunomagnetic separation using IMBs and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), was employed to detect S. aureus strains in milk and pork. IMBs were formed by the carbon diimide method using rabbit anti-S. aureus polyclonal antibodies and superparamagnetic carboxyl-Fe3O4 MBs. The average capture efficiency for 2.5 to 2.5 × 105 (CFU)/mL gradient dilution of S. aureus with 6 mg of IMBs within 60 min were a range of 62.74 to 92.75%. The detection sensitivity of the IMBs-RPA method in artificially contaminated samples was 2.5 × 101 CFU/mL. The entire detection process was completed within 2.5 h, including bacteria capture, DNA extraction, amplification, and electrophoresis. Among 20 actual samples, one case of raw milk sample and two cases of pork samples were tested positive using the established IMBs-RPA method, which were verified by the standard S. aureus inspection procedure. Therefore, the novel method shows potential for food safety supervision owing to its short detection time, higher sensitivity, and high specificity. IMPORTANCE Our study established IMBs-RPA method, which simplified the steps of bacteria separation, shortened the detection time, and realized the convenient detection of S. aureus in milk and pork samples. IMBs-RPA method was also suitable for the detection of other pathogens, providing a new method for food safety monitoring and a favorable basis for rapid and early diagnosis of diseases.

Nanosized drug delivery strategies in osteosarcoma chemotherapy

Despite recent developments worldwide in the therapeutic care of osteosarcoma (OS), the ongoing challenges in overcoming limitations and side effects of chemotherapy drugs warrant new strategies to improve overall patient survival. Spurred by rapid progress in biomedicine, nanobiotechnology, and materials chemistry, chemotherapeutic drug delivery in treatment of OS has become possible in recent years. Here, we review recent advances in the design of drug delivery system, especially for chemotherapeutic drugs in OS, and discuss the relative merits in trials along with future therapeutic options. These advances may pave the way for novel therapies requisite for patients with OS.

A Review of Biomimetic and Biodegradable Magnetic Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering and Oncology

Bone defects characterized by limited regenerative properties are considered a priority in surgical practice, as they are associated with reduced quality of life and high costs. In bone tissue engineering, different types of scaffolds are used. These implants represent structures with well-established properties that play an important role as delivery vectors or cellular systems for cells, growth factors, bioactive molecules, chemical compounds, and drugs. The scaffold must provide a microenvironment with increased regenerative potential at the damage site. Magnetic nanoparticles are linked to an intrinsic magnetic field, and when they are incorporated into biomimetic scaffold structures, they can sustain osteoconduction, osteoinduction, and angiogenesis. Some studies have shown that combining ferromagnetic or superparamagnetic nanoparticles and external stimuli such as an electromagnetic field or laser light can enhance osteogenesis and angiogenesis and even lead to cancer cell death. These therapies are based on in vitro and in vivo studies and could be included in clinical trials for large bone defect regeneration and cancer treatments in the near future. We highlight the scaffolds' main attributes and focus on natural and synthetic polymeric biomaterials combined with magnetic nanoparticles and their production methods. Then, we underline the structural and morphological aspects of the magnetic scaffolds and their mechanical, thermal, and magnetic properties. Great attention is devoted to the magnetic field effects on bone cells, biocompatibility, and osteogenic impact of the polymeric scaffolds reinforced with magnetic nanoparticles. We explain the biological processes activated due to magnetic particles' presence and underline their possible toxic effects. We present some studies regarding animal tests and potential clinical applications of magnetic polymeric scaffolds.

Nanoparticle-Based Techniques for Bladder Cancer Imaging: A Review

Bladder cancer is very common in humans and is often characterized by recurrences, compromising the patient's quality of life with a substantial social and economic impact. Both the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer are problematic due to the exceptionally impermeable barrier formed by the urothelium lining the bladder; this hinders the penetration of molecules via intravesical instillation while making it difficult to precisely label the tumor tissue for surgical resection or pharmacologic treatment. Nanotechnology has been envisaged as an opportunity to improve both the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for bladder cancer since the nanoconstructs can cross the urothelial barrier and may be functionalized for active targeting, loaded with therapeutic agents, and visualized by different imaging techniques. In this article, we offer a selection of recent experimental applications of nanoparticle-based imaging techniques, with the aim of providing an easy and rapid technical guide for the development of nanoconstructs to specifically detect bladder cancer cells. Most of these applications are based on the well-established fluorescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging currently used in the medical field and gave positive results on bladder cancer models in vivo, thus opening promising perspectives for the translation of preclinical results to the clinical practice.

Magnetic Ion Channel Activation (MICA)-Enabled Screening Assay: A Dynamic Platform for Remote Activation of Mechanosensitive Ion Channels

This study reports results of a mechanical platform-based screening assay (MICA) to evaluate the remote activation of mechanosensitive ion channels. Here, we studied ERK pathway activation and the elevation in intracellular Ca²⁺ levels in response to the MICA application using the Luciferase assay and Fluo-8AM assay, respectively. Functionalised magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) targeting membrane-bound integrins and mechanosensitive TREK1 ion channels were studied with HEK293 cell lines under MICA application. The study demonstrated that active targeting of mechanosensitive integrins via RGD (Arginylglycylaspartic acid) motifs or TREK1 (KCNK2, potassium channel subfamily K member 2) ion channels can stimulate the ERK pathway and intracellular calcium levels compared to non-MICA controls. This screening assay offers a powerful tool, which aligns with existing high-throughput drug screening platforms for use in the assessment of drugs that interact with ion channels and influence ion channel-modulated diseases.

The role of tumor model in magnetic targeting of magnetosomes and ultramagnetic liposomes

The combined passive and active targeting of tumoral tissue remains an active and relevant cancer research field. Here, we exploit the properties of two highly magnetic nanomaterials, magnetosomes and ultramagnetic liposomes, in order to magnetically target prostate adenocarcinoma tumors, implanted orthotopically or subcutaneously, to take into account the role of tumor vascularization in the targeting efficiency. Analysis of organ biodistribution in vivo revealed that, for all conditions, both nanomaterials accumulate mostly in the liver and spleen, with an overall low tumor retention. However, both nanomaterials were more readily identified in orthotopic tumors, reflecting their higher tumor vascularization. Additionally, a 2- and 3-fold increase in nanomaterial accumulation was achieved with magnetic targeting. In summary, ultramagnetic nanomaterials show promise mostly in the targeting of highly-vascularized orthotopic murine tumor models.

Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Cell Behavior in Response to Magnetic Materials and Magnetic Stimulation in Stem Cell (Neurogenic) Differentiation

Magnetic materials and magnetic stimulation have gained increasing attention in tissue engineering (TE), particularly for bone and nervous tissue reconstruction. Magnetism is utilized to modulate the cell response to environmental factors and lineage specifications, which involve complex mechanisms of action. Magnetic fields and nanoparticles (MNPs) may trigger focal adhesion changes, which are further translated into the reorganization of the cytoskeleton architecture and have an impact on nuclear morphology and positioning through the activation of mechanotransduction pathways. Mechanical stress induced by magnetic stimuli translates into an elongation of cytoskeleton fibers, the activation of linker in the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, and nuclear envelope deformation, and finally leads to the mechanical regulation of chromatin conformational changes. As such, the internalization of MNPs with further magnetic stimulation promotes the evolution of stem cells and neurogenic differentiation, triggering significant changes in global gene expression that are mediated by histone deacetylases (e.g., HDAC 5/11), and the upregulation of noncoding RNAs (e.g., miR-106b~25). Additionally, exposure to a magnetic environment had a positive influence on neurodifferentiation through the modulation of calcium channels' activity and cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. This review presents an updated and integrated perspective on the molecular mechanisms that govern the cellular response to magnetic cues, with a special focus on neurogenic differentiation and the possible utility of nervous TE, as well as the limitations of using magnetism for these applications.

Deterministic domain wall rotation in a strain mediated FeGaB/PMN-PT asymmetrical ring structure for manipulating trapped magnetic nanoparticles in a fluidic environment

The manipulation of domain walls (DWs) in strain-mediated magnetoelectric (ME) heterostructures has attracted much attention recently, with potential applications in precise and location-specific manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). However, the manipulation ability in these structures is restricted to magnetostrictive circular ring structures only, where the required onion state is metastable, less thermally stable, and cannot be obtained easily. This work investigates the highly shape anisotropic FeGaB magnetostrictive elliptical ring structures of different aspect ratios and trackwidths on the PMN-PT piezoelectric substrate to manipulate fluid-borne MNPs using active control of DWs. The proposed model utilizes the attribute that the required onion state in a magnetostrictive elliptical ring is thermally stable and easily obtained compared to magnetostrictive circular ring structures. By varying the trackwidth of elliptical rings, nucleated DWs are rotated at different angles to capture and transport fluid-borne MNPs. Up to a critical trackwidth, DW rotation is predicted by dominant stress anisotropy energy that leads the rotation of DWs and attached MNPs toward the dominant tensile strain direction of PMN-PT with reversibility. Increasing the trackwidth beyond the critical trackwidth caused a complete 90° rotation of DWs and attached MNPs without reversibility and is given by dominant shape anisotropy energy. The fundamental relationship of capture probability with the size and velocity of injected MNPs is also demonstrated. The nucleation and rotation of DWs are predicated using the coupled elastodynamic and electrostatic Finite Difference Method (FDM) micromagnetic model. Dynamics of MNP capture and rotation are envisaged using an analytical model.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Biocompatible Nanoplatform Based on Silica-Embedded SPIONs Functionalized with Polydopamine

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have gained increasing interest in nanomedicine, but most of those that have entered the clinical trials have been withdrawn due to toxicity concerns. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design low-risk and biocompatible SPION formulations. In this work, we present an original safe-by-design nanoplatform made of silica nanoparticles loaded with SPIONs and decorated with polydopamine (SPIONs@SiO2-PDA) and the study of its biocompatibility performance by an ad hoc thorough in vitro to in vivo nanotoxicological methodology. The results indicate that the SPIONs@SiO₂-PDA have excellent colloidal stability in serum-supplemented culture media, even after long-term (24 h) exposure, showing no cytotoxic or genotoxic effects in vitro and ex vivo. Physiological responses, evaluated in vivo using Caenorhabditis elegans as the animal model, showed no impact on fertility and embryonic viability, induction of an oxidative stress response, and a mild impact on animal locomotion. These tests indicate that the synergistic combination of the silica matrix and PDA coating we developed effectively protects the SPIONs, providing enhanced colloidal stability and excellent biocompatibility.

Nanoparticles in Clinical Trials: Analysis of Clinical Trials, FDA Approvals and Use for COVID-19 Vaccines

Nanoparticles are heterologous small composites that are usually between 1 and 100 nanometers in size. They are applied in many areas of medicine with one of them being drug delivery. Nanoparticles have a number of advantages as drug carriers which include reduced toxic effects, increased bioavailability, and their ability to be modified for specific tissues or cells. Due to the exciting development of nanotechnology concomitant with advances in biotechnology and medicine, the number of clinical trials devoted to nanoparticles for drug delivery is growing rapidly. Some nanoparticles, lipid-based types, in particular, played a crucial role in the developing and manufacturing of the two COVID-19 vaccines-Pfizer and Moderna-that are now being widely used. In this analysis, we provide a quantitative survey of clinical trials using nanoparticles during the period from 2002 to 2021 as well as the recent FDA-approved drugs (since 2016). A total of 486 clinical trials were identified using the clinicaltrials.gov database. The prevailing types of nanoparticles were liposomes (44%) and protein-based formulations (26%) during this period. The most commonly investigated content of the nanoparticles were paclitaxel (23%), metals (11%), doxorubicin (9%), bupivacaine and various vaccines (both were 8%). Among the FDA-approved nanoparticle drugs, polymeric (29%), liposomal (22%) and lipid-based (21%) drugs were the most common. In this analysis, we also discuss the differential development of the diverse groups of nanoparticles and their content, as well as the underlying factors behind the trends.

Application of nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease

With the development of nanotechnology, nanoparticles have been used in various industries. In medicine, nanoparticles have been used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The kidney is an important organ for waste excretion and maintaining the balance of the internal environment; it filters various metabolic wastes. Kidney dysfunction may result in the accumulation of excess water and various toxins in the body without being discharged, leading to complications and life-threatening conditions. Based on their physical and chemical properties, nanoparticles can enter cells and cross biological barriers to reach the kidneys and therefore, can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In the first search, we used the English terms "Renal Insufficiency, Chronic" [Mesh] as the subject word and terms such as "Chronic Renal Insufficiencies," "Chronic Renal Insufficiency," "Chronic Kidney Diseases," "Kidney Disease, Chronic," "Renal Disease, Chronic" as free words. In the second search, we used "Nanoparticles" [Mesh] as the subject word and "Nanocrystalline Materials," "Materials, Nanocrystalline," "Nanocrystals," and others as free words. The relevant literature was searched and read. Moreover, we analyzed and summarized the application and mechanism of nanoparticles in the diagnosis of CKD, application of nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of renal fibrosis and vascular calcification (VC), and their clinical application in patients undergoing dialysis. Specifically, we found that nanoparticles can detect CKD in the early stages in a variety of ways, such as via breath sensors that detect gases and biosensors that detect urine and can be used as a contrast agent to avoid kidney damage. In addition, nanoparticles can be used to treat and reverse renal fibrosis, as well as detect and treat VC in patients with early CKD. Simultaneously, nanoparticles can improve safety and convenience for patients undergoing dialysis. Finally, we summarize the current advantages and limitations of nanoparticles applied to CKD as well as their future prospects.

Different coatings on magnetic nanoparticles dictate their degradation kinetics in vivo for 15 months after intravenous administration in mice

BACKGROUND

The surface coating of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle (MNPs) drives their intracellular trafficking and degradation in endolysosomes, as well as dictating other cellular outcomes. As such, we assessed whether MNP coatings might influence their biodistribution, their accumulation in certain organs and their turnover therein, processes that must be understood in vivo to optimize the design of nanoformulations for specific therapeutic/diagnostic needs.

RESULTS

In this study, three different MNP coatings were analyzed, each conferring the identical 12 nm iron oxide cores with different physicochemical characteristics: 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APS), dextran (DEX), and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). When the biodistribution of these MNPs was analyzed in C57BL/6 mice, they all mainly accumulated in the spleen and liver one week after administration. The coating influenced the proportion of the MNPs in each organ, with more APS-MNPs accumulating in the spleen and more DMSA-MNPs accumulating in the liver, remaining there until they were fully degraded. The changes in the physicochemical properties of the MNPs (core size and magnetic properties) was also assessed during their intracellular degradation when internalized by two murine macrophage cell lines. The decrease in the size of the MNPs iron core was influenced by their coating and the organ in which they accumulated. Finally, MNP degradation was analyzed in the liver and spleen of C57BL/6 mice from 7 days to 15 months after the last intravenous MNP administration.

CONCLUSIONS

The MNPs degraded at different rates depending on the organ and their coating, the former representing the feature that was fundamental in determining the time they persisted. In the liver, the rate of degradation was similar for all three coatings, and it was faster than in the spleen. This information regarding the influence of coatings on the in vivo degradation of MNPs will help to choose the best coating for each biomedical application depending on the specific clinical requirements.

A Review of Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrates for Bioanalysis: Morphology, Function and Detection Application

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a kind of popular non-destructive and water-free interference analytical technology with fast response, excellent sensitivity and specificity to trace biotargets in biological samples. Recently, many researches have focused on the preparation of various magnetic nanoparticle-based SERS substrates for developing efficient bioanalytical methods, which greatly improved the selectivity and accuracy of the proposed SERS bioassays. There has been a rapid increase in the number of reports about magnetic SERS substrates in the past decade, and the number of related papers and citations have exceeded 500 and 2000, respectively. Moreover, most of the papers published since 2009 have been dedicated to analytical applications. In the paper, the recent advances in magnetic nanoparticle-based SERS substrates for bioanalysis were reviewed in detail based on their various morphologies, such as magnetic core-shell nanoparticles, magnetic core-satellite nanoparticles and non-spherical magnetic nanoparticles and their different functions, such as separation and enrichment, recognition and SERS tags. Moreover, the typical application progress on magnetic nanoparticle-based SERS substrates for bioanalysis of amino acids and protein, DNA and RNA sequences, cancer cells and related tumor biomarkers, etc., was summarized and introduced. Finally, the future trends and prospective for SERS bioanalysis by magnetic nanoparticle-based substrates were proposed based on the systematical study of typical and latest references. It is expected that this review would provide useful information and clues for the researchers with interest in SERS bioanalysis.

Correlating Magnetic Hyperthermia and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Performance of Cubic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Crystal Structural Integrity

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have multiple biomedical applications in AC-field hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement. Here, two cubic particle suspensions are analyzed in detail, one suspension displayed strong magnetic heating and MRI contrast efficacies, while the other responded weakly. This is despite them having almost identical size, morphology, and colloidal dispersion. Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed that the spinel phase Fe₃O₄ was present in both samples and identified prominent crystal lattice defects for the weakly responding one. These are interpreted as frustrating the orientation of the moment within the cubic crystals. The relationship between crystal integrity and the moment magnitude and dynamics is elucidated for the case of fully dispersed single nanocubes, and its connection with the emergent hyperthermia and MRI contrast responses is established.

Nanotechnology-based diagnostic methods for coronavirus: From nucleic acid extraction to amplification

The recent emergence of human coronaviruses (CoVs) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is posing a great threat to global public health. Therefore, the rapid and accurate identification of pathogenic viruses plays a vital role in selecting appropriate treatments, saving people's lives and preventing epidemics. Nucleic acids, including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), are natural biopolymers composed of nucleotides that store, transmit, and express genetic information. Applications of nucleic acid detection range from genotyping and genetic prognostics, to expression profiling and detection of infectious disease. The nucleic acid detection for infectious diseases is widely used, as evidenced by the widespread use of COVID-19 tests for the containment of the pandemic. Nanotechnology influences all medical disciplines and has been considered as an essential tool for novel diagnostics, nanotherapeutics, vaccines, medical imaging, and the utilization of biomaterials for regenerative medicine. In this review, the recent advances in the development of nanotechnology-based diagnostic methods for coronavirus, and their applications in nucleic acid detection are discussed in detail. The techniques for the amplification of nucleic acids are summarized, as well as the use of magnetic nanoparticles for nucleic acid extraction. Besides, current challenges and future prospects are proposed, along with the great potential of nanotechnology for the effective diagnosis of coronavirus.

Nanotechnological engineering of extracellular vesicles for the development of actively targeted hybrid nanodevices

Background

We propose an efficient method to modify B-cell derived EVs by loading them with a nanotherapeutic stimuli-responsive cargo and equipping them with antibodies for efficient targeting of lymphoma cells.

Results

The post-isolation engineering of the EVs is accomplished by a freeze–thaw method to load therapeutically-active zinc oxide nanocrystals (ZnO NCs), obtaining the so-called TrojanNanoHorse (TNH) to recall the biomimetism and cytotoxic potential of this novel nanoconstruct. TNHs are further modified at their surface with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (TNH^CD20) achieving specific targeting against lymphoid cancer cell line. The in vitro characterization is carried out on CD20+ lymphoid Daudi cell line, CD20-negative cancerous myeloid cells (HL60) and the healthy counterpart (B lymphocytes). The TNH shows nanosized structure, high colloidal stability, even over time, and good hemocompatibility. The in vitro characterization shows the high biocompatibility, targeting specificity and cytotoxic capability. Importantly, the selectivity of TNH^CD20 demonstrates significantly higher interaction towards the target lymphoid Daudi cell line compared to the CD20-negative cancerous myeloid cells (HL60) and the healthy counterpart (lymphocytes). An enhanced cytotoxicity directed against Daudi cancer cells is demonstrated after the TNH^CD20 activation with high-energy ultrasound shock-waves (SW).

Conclusion

This work demonstrates the efficient re-engineering of EVs, derived from healthy cells, with inorganic nanoparticles and monoclonal antibodies. The obtained hybrid nanoconstructs can be on-demand activated by an external stimulation, here acoustic pressure waves, to exploit a cytotoxic effect conveyed by the ZnO NCs cargo against selected cancer cells.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00784-9.

Critical Offset Magnetic PArticle SpectroScopy for rapid and highly sensitive medical point-of-care diagnostics

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been adapted for many applications, e.g., bioassays for the detection of biomarkers such as antibodies, by controlled engineering of specific surface properties. Specific measurement of such binding states is of high interest but currently limited to highly sensitive techniques such as ELISA or flow cytometry, which are relatively inflexible, difficult to handle, expensive and time-consuming. Here we report a method named COMPASS (Critical-Offset-Magnetic-Particle-SpectroScopy), which is based on a critical offset magnetic field, enabling sensitive detection to minimal changes in mobility of MNP ensembles, e.g., resulting from SARS-CoV-2 antibodies binding to the S antigen on the surface of functionalized MNPs. With a sensitivity of 0.33 fmole/50 µl (≙7 pM) for SARS-CoV-2-S1 antibodies, measured with a low-cost portable COMPASS device, the proposed technique is competitive with respect to sensitivity while providing flexibility, robustness, and a measurement time of seconds per sample. In addition, initial results with blood serum demonstrate high specificity.

A Nanomedicine Structure-Activity Framework for Research, Development, and Regulation of Future Cancer Therapies

Despite their clinical success in drug delivery applications, the potential of theranostic nanomedicines is hampered by mechanistic uncertainty and a lack of science-informed regulatory guidance. Both the therapeutic efficacy and the toxicity of nanoformulations are tightly controlled by the complex interplay of the nanoparticle's physicochemical properties and the individual patient/tumor biology; however, it can be difficult to correlate such information with observed outcomes. Additionally, as nanomedicine research attempts to gradually move away from large-scale animal testing, the need for computer-assisted solutions for evaluation will increase. Such models will depend on a clear understanding of structure-activity relationships. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the field of cancer nanomedicine and provides a knowledge framework and foundational interaction maps that can facilitate future research, assessments, and regulation. By forming three complementary maps profiling nanobio interactions and pathways at different levels of biological complexity, a clear picture of a nanoparticle's journey through the body and the therapeutic and adverse consequences of each potential interaction are presented.

Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Based Ferro-Nanofluids for Advanced Technological Applications

Iron oxide nanoparticle (ION)-based ferro-nanofluids (FNs) have been used for different technological applications owing to their excellent magneto-rheological properties. A comprehensive overview of the current advancement of FNs based on IONs for various engineering applications is unquestionably necessary. Hence, in this review article, various important advanced technological applications of ION-based FNs concerning different engineering fields are critically summarized. The chemical engineering applications are mainly focused on mass transfer processes. Similarly, the electrical and electronics engineering applications are mainly focused on magnetic field sensors, FN-based temperature sensors and tilt sensors, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and on-chip components, actuators, and cooling for electronic devices and photovoltaic thermal systems. On the other hand, environmental engineering applications encompass water and air purification. Moreover, mechanical engineering or magneto-rheological applications include dampers and sealings. This review article provides up-to-date information related to the technological advancements and emerging trends in ION-based FN research concerning various engineering fields, as well as discusses the challenges and future perspectives.

Magnetic Iron Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Surface Enhancements, and Biological Challenges

This review focuses on the role of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), their physicochemical properties, their potential applications, and their association with the consequent toxicological effects in complex biologic systems. These MNPs have generated an accelerated development and research movement in the last two decades. They are solving a large portion of problems in several industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, water remediation, photoelectronics, and information storage, to name a few. As a result, more MNPs are put into contact with biological organisms, including humans, via interacting with their cellular structures. This situation will require a deeper understanding of these particles’ full impact in interacting with complex biological systems, and even though extensive studies have been carried out on different biological systems discussing toxicology aspects of MNP systems used in biomedical applications, they give mixed and inconclusive results. Chemical agencies, such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemical substances (REACH) legislation for registration, evaluation, and authorization of substances and materials from the European Chemical Agency (ECHA), have held meetings to discuss the issue. However, nanomaterials (NMs) are being categorized by composition alone, ignoring the physicochemical properties and possible risks that their size, stability, crystallinity, and morphology could bring to health. Although several initiatives are being discussed around the world for the correct management and disposal of these materials, thanks to the extensive work of researchers everywhere addressing the issue of related biological impacts and concerns, and a new nanoethics and nanosafety branch to help clarify and bring together information about the impact of nanoparticles, more questions than answers have arisen regarding the behavior of MNPs with a wide range of effects in the same tissue. The generation of a consolidative framework of these biological behaviors is necessary to allow future applications to be manageable.

Cell-based carrier for targeted hitchhiking delivery

Drug delivery systems aim at improving drug transport efficiency and therapeutic efficacy by rational design, and current research on conventional delivery systems brings new developments for disease treatment. Recently, studies on cell-based drug delivery systems are rapidly emerging, which shows great advantages in comparison to conventional drug delivery system. The system uses cells as carriers to delivery conventional drugs or nanomedicines and shows good biocompatibility and enhanced targeting efficiency, beneficial from self component and its physiological function. The construction methodology of cell-based carrier determines the effect on the physiological functions of transporting cell and affects its clinical application. There are different strategies to prepare cell-based carrier, such as direct internalization or surface conjugation of drugs or drug loaded materials. Thus, it is necessary to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of different strategies for constructing cell-based carrier and then to seek the appropriate construction methodology for achieving better therapeutic results based on disease characterization. We here summarize the application of different types of cell-based carriers reported in recent years and further discuss their applications in disease therapy and the dilemmas faced in clinical translation. We hope that this summary can accelerate the process of clinical translation by promoting the technology development of cell-based carrier.

Biosensors and Drug Delivery in Oncotheranostics Using Inorganic Synthetic and Biogenic Magnetic Nanoparticles

Magnetic nanocarriers have attracted attention in translational oncology due to their ability to be employed both for tumor diagnostics and therapy. This review summarizes data on applications of synthetic and biogenic magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in oncological theranostics and related areas. The basics of both types of MNPs including synthesis approaches, structure, and physicochemical properties are discussed. The properties of synthetic MNPs and biogenic MNPs are compared with regard to their antitumor therapeutic efficiency, diagnostic potential, biocompatibility, and cellular toxicity. The comparative analysis demonstrates that both synthetic and biogenic MNPs could be efficiently used for cancer theranostics, including biosensorics and drug delivery. At the same time, reduced toxicity of biogenic particles was noted, which makes them advantageous for in vivo applications, such as drug delivery, or MRI imaging of tumors. Adaptability to surface modification based on natural biochemical processes is also noted, as well as good compatibility with tumor cells and proliferation in them. Advances in the bionanotechnology field should lead to the implementation of MNPs in clinical trials.

Advances in Antitumor Nano-Drug Delivery Systems of 10-Hydroxycamptothecin

10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is a natural plant alkaloid from Camptotheca that shows potent antitumor activity by targeting intracellular topoisomerase I. However, factors such as instability of the lactone ring and insolubility in water have limited the clinical application of this drug. In recent years, unprecedented advances in biomedical nanotechnology have facilitated the development of nano drug delivery systems. It has been found that nanomedicine can significantly improve the stability and water solubility of HCPT. NanoMedicines with different diagnostic and therapeutic functions have been developed to significantly improve the anticancer effect of HCPT. In this paper, we collected reports on HCPT nanomedicines against tumors in the past decade. Based on current research advances, we dissected the current status and limitations of HCPT nanomedicines development and looked forward to future research directions.

Magneto-Mechanical Approach in Biomedicine: Benefits, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

The magneto-mechanical approach is a powerful technique used in many different applications in biomedicine, including remote control enzyme activity, cell receptors, cancer-selective treatments, mechanically-activated drug releases, etc. This approach is based on the use of a combination of magnetic nanoparticles and external magnetic fields that have led to the movement of such nanoparticles with torques and forces (enough to change the conformation of biomolecules or even break weak chemical bonds). However, despite many theoretical and experimental works on this topic, it is difficult to predict the magneto-mechanical effects in each particular case, while the important results are scattered and often cannot be translated to other experiments. The main reason is that the magneto-mechanical effect is extremely sensitive to changes in any parameter of magnetic nanoparticles and the environment and changes in the parameters of the applied magnetic field. Thus, in this review, we (1) summarize and propose a simplified theoretical explanation of the main factors affecting the efficiency of the magneto-mechanical approach; (2) discuss the nature of the MNP-mediated mechanical forces and their order of magnitude; (3) show some of the main applications of the magneto-mechanical approach in the control over the properties of biological systems.

Distinguishing Nanoparticle Aggregation from Viscosity Changes in MPS/MSB Detection of Biomarkers

Magnetic particle spectroscopy (MPS) in the Brownian relaxation regime, also termed magnetic spectroscopy of Brownian motion (MSB), can detect and quantitate very low, sub-nanomolar concentrations of molecular biomarkers. MPS/MSB uses the harmonics of the magnetization induced by a small, low-frequency oscillating magnetic field to provide quantitative information about the magnetic nanoparticles' (mNPs') microenvironment. A key application uses antibody-coated mNPs to produce biomarker-mediated aggregation that can be detected using MPS/MSB. However, relaxation changes can also be caused by viscosity changes. To address this challenge, we propose a metric that can distinguish between aggregation and viscosity. Viscosity changes scale the MPS/MSB harmonic ratios with a constant multiplier across all applied field frequencies. The change in viscosity is exactly equal to the multiplier with generality, avoiding the need to understand the signal explicitly. This simple scaling relationship is violated when particles aggregate. Instead, a separate multiplier must be used for each frequency. The standard deviation of the multipliers over frequency defines a metric isolating viscosity (zero standard deviation) from aggregation (non-zero standard deviation). It increases monotonically with biomarker concentration. We modeled aggregation and simulated the MPS/MSB signal changes resulting from aggregation and viscosity changes. MPS/MSB signal changes were also measured experimentally using 100 nm iron-oxide mNPs in solutions with different viscosities (modulated by glycerol concentration) and with different levels of aggregation (modulated by concanavalin A linker concentrations). Experimental and simulation results confirmed that viscosity changes produced small changes in the standard deviation and aggregation produced larger values of standard deviation. This work overcomes a key barrier to using MPS/MSB to detect biomarkers in vivo with variable tissue viscosity.

Emerging trends in the nanomedicine applications of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles as novel therapies for acute and chronic diseases

High-quality point-of-care is critical for timely decision of disease diagnosis and healthcare management. In this regard, biosensors have revolutionized the field of rapid testing and screening, however, are confounded by several technical challenges including material cost, half-life, stability, site-specific targeting, analytes specificity, and detection sensitivity that affect the overall diagnostic potential and therapeutic profile. Despite their advances in point-of-care testing, very few classical biosensors have proven effective and commercially viable in situations of healthcare emergency including the recent COVID-19 pandemic. To overcome these challenges functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as key players in advancing the biomedical and healthcare sector with promising applications during the ongoing healthcare crises. This critical review focus on understanding recent developments in theranostic applications of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Given the profound global economic and health burden, we discuss the therapeutic impact of functionalized MNPs in acute and chronic diseases like small RNA therapeutics, vascular diseases, neurological disorders, and cancer, as well as for COVID-19 testing. Lastly, we culminate with a futuristic perspective on the scope of this field and provide an insight into the emerging opportunities whose impact is anticipated to disrupt the healthcare industry.

Functionalized PEG-PLA nanoparticles for brain targeted delivery of ketoconazole contribute to pregnane X receptor overexpressing in drug-resistant epilepsy

OBJECTIVE

To develop a functionalized PEG-PLA nanoparticle system containing ketoconazole (KCZ) to overcome the overactivity of pregnane X receptor (PXR) for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).

SIGNIFICANCE

KCZ was developed as a therapy strategy for DRE limited by its lethal hepatotoxicity and minute brain concentration. KCZ-incorporated nanoparticles modified with angiopep-2 (NPs/KCZ) could reduce adverse effects of KCZ and achieve epileptic foci-targeted drug delivery.

METHODS

NPs/KCZ was prepared by thin-film hydration method and characterized in vitro and in vivo. The efficacy evaluation of NPs/KCZ was evaluated in a kainic acid (KA)-induced mice model of epilepsy with carbamazepine (CBZ) treatment.

RESULTS

The mean particle size and Zeta potential of NPs/KCZ were 17.84 ± 0.33 nm and - 2.28 ± 0.12 mV, respectively. The drug-loading (DL%) of KCZ in nanoparticles was 8.96 ± 0.12 % and the entrapment efficiency (EE%) was 98.56 ± 0.02 %. The critical value of critical micelle concentration was 10^-3.3 mg/ml. No obvious cytotoxicity was found in vitro. The behavioral and electrographic seizure activities were obviously attenuated in NPs/KCZ+CBZ group. The CBZ concentration of brain tissues in mice treated with NPs/KCZ+CBZ was significantly increased than those treated with CBZ alone (P = 0.0028). A significantly decreased expression level of PXR and its downstream proteins was observed in NPs/KCZ+CBZ group compared with that in the control and CBZ group (All P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that NPs/KCZ achieved the epileptic foci-targeted delivery of KCZ and ameliorated the efficacy of CBZ on DRE by attenuating the overactivity of PXR.

Biomimetic Nanomaterials: Diversity, Technology, and Biomedical Applications

Biomimetic nanomaterials (BNMs) are functional materials containing nanoscale components and having structural and technological similarities to natural (biogenic) prototypes. Despite the fact that biomimetic approaches in materials technology have been used since the second half of the 20th century, BNMs are still at the forefront of materials science. This review considered a general classification of such nanomaterials according to the characteristic features of natural analogues that are reproduced in the preparation of BNMs, including biomimetic structure, biomimetic synthesis, and the inclusion of biogenic components. BNMs containing magnetic, metal, or metal oxide organic and ceramic structural elements (including their various combinations) were considered separately. The BNMs under consideration were analyzed according to the declared areas of application, which included tooth and bone reconstruction, magnetic and infrared hyperthermia, chemo- and immunotherapy, the development of new drugs for targeted therapy, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy, and bioimaging. In conclusion, the authors’ point of view is given about the prospects for the development of this scientific area associated with the use of native, genetically modified, or completely artificial phospholipid membranes, which allow combining the physicochemical and biological properties of biogenic prototypes with high biocompatibility, economic availability, and scalability of fully synthetic nanomaterials.

Efficient Green Synthesis of (Fe3O4) and (NiFe2O4) Nanoparticles Using Star Anise (Illicium verum) Extract and Their Biomedical Activity against Some Cancer Cells

Magnetite Fe3O4 and spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared by simple and affordable co-precipitation methods using an extract of star anise (Illicium verum) as a green reducing agent. The morphology and chemical composition of these MNPs were confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The synthesized magnetite Fe3O4 and spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe2O4 MNPs were in the size range of 0.1-1 µm. The MNPs had irregular clustered platelets (magnetite Fe3O4) and pyramidal structures (spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe2O4 NPs). The average sizes of the synthesized magnetite Fe3O4, and spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe2O4 MNPs calculated using XRD analysis were 66.8, 72.5, and 72.9 nm, respectively. In addition to the characteristic absorption peaks of magnetite Fe3O4, those of spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe2O4 MNPs were detected at ~300-350 nm and ~700 nm, respectively. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the synthesized magnetite Fe3O4, and spinel (2:1) and (4:1) NiFe2O4 MNPs showed high biomedical activities against liver carcinoma cells and non-small lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular aging and related diseases

Aging-induced alternations of vasculature structures, phenotypes, and functions are key in the occurrence and development of vascular aging-related diseases. Multiple molecular and cellular events, such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, cellular senescence, and epigenetic alterations are highly associated with vascular aging physiopathology. Advances in nanoparticles and nanotechnology, which can realize sensitive diagnostic modalities, efficient medical treatment, and better prognosis as well as less adverse effects on non-target tissues, provide an amazing window in the field of vascular aging and related diseases. Throughout this review, we presented current knowledge on classification of nanoparticles and the relationship between vascular aging and related diseases. Importantly, we comprehensively summarized the potential of nanoparticles-based diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in vascular aging and related diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, as well as chronic kidney diseases, and discussed the advantages and limitations of their clinical applications.

Therapeutic Potential of MgO and MnO Nanoparticles Within the Context of Thyroid Profile and Pancreatic Histology in a Diabetic Rat Model

Magnesium oxide (MgO) and manganese oxide (MnO) have been reported to be effective against Diabetes Mellitus (DM). However, their nanoparticulate form has not been evaluated for antidiabetic effect. MgO and MnO nanoparticles (15–35 nm) were synthesized and subsequently characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), zeta sizer, and scanning electron microscopy. 6–7 weeks old rats weighing 200–220 mg were divided into 07 equal groups (n = 8), namely, negative control (NC), positive control (PC), standard control (Std-C), MgO high dose group (MgO-300) and low dose group (MgO-150), and MnO nanoparticle high dose (MnO-30) and low dose group (MnO-15). Diabetes was chemically induced (streptozotocin 60 mg/kg B.W) in all groups except the NC. Animals were given CMD and water was ad libitum. Nanoparticles were supplemented for 30 days after the successful induction of diabetes. Blood and tissue samples were collected after the 30^th day of the trial. The mean serum glucose, insulin, and glucagon levels were improved maximally in the MgO-300 group followed by MgO-150 and MnO-30 groups. Whereas the MnO-15 group fails to show any substantial improvement in the levels of glucose, insulin, and glucagon as compared to the positive control group. Interesting the serum triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were markedly improved in all the nanoparticle treatment groups and were found to be similar to the standard control group. These results highlight the modulatory properties of MgO and MnO nanoparticles and merit further studies delineating the molecular mechanisms through which these nanoparticles induce antidiabetic effects.

Advances of functional nanomaterials for magnetic resonance imaging and biomedical engineering applications

Functional nanomaterials have been widely used in biomedical fields due to their good biocompatibility, excellent physicochemical properties, easy surface modification, and easy regulation of size and morphology. Functional nanomaterials for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can target specific sites in vivo and more easily detect disease-related specific biomarkers at the molecular and cellular levels than traditional contrast agents, achieving a broad application prospect in MRI. This review focuses on the basic principles of MRI, the classification, synthesis and surface modification methods of contrast agents, and their clinical applications to provide guidance for designing novel contrast agents and optimizing the contrast effect. Furthermore, the latest biomedical advances of functional nanomaterials in medical diagnosis and disease detection, disease treatment, the combination of diagnosis and treatment (theranostics), multi-model imaging and nanozyme are also summarized and discussed. Finally, the bright application prospects of functional nanomaterials in biomedicine are emphasized and the urgent need to achieve significant breakthroughs in the industrial transformation and the clinical translation is proposed. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.

Current Researches on Nanodrug Delivery Systems in Bladder Cancer Intravesical Chemotherapy

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in urinary system. Intravesical chemotherapy is a common adjuvant therapy after transurethral resection of bladder tumors. However, it has several disadvantages such as low drug penetration rate, short residence time, unsustainable action and inability to release slowly, thus new drug delivery and new modalities in delivery carriers need to be continuously explored. Nano-drug delivery system is a novel way in treatment for bladder cancer that can increase the absorption rate and prolong the duration of drug, as well as sustain the action by controlling drug release. Currently, nano-drug delivery carriers mainly included liposomes, polymers, and inorganic materials. In this paper, we reveal current researches in nano-drug delivery system in bladder cancer intravesical chemotherapy by describing the applications and defects of liposomes, polymers and inorganic material nanocarriers, and provide a basis for the improvement of intravesical chemotherapy drugs in bladder cancer.

SPION based magnetic PLGA nanofibers for neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Recently, magnetic platforms have been widely investigated in diagnostic, therapeutic and research applications due to certain properties, such as cell and tissue tracking and imaging, thermal therapy and being dirigible. In this study, the incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in nanofibers has been proposed to combine the advantages of both nanofibers and MNPs to induce neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Magnetic poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanofibers (containing 0%, 5% and 10% SPION) were fabricated and utilized as the matrix for the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Morphological, magnetic and mechanical properties were analyzed using FESEM, VSM and tensile test, respectively. The expression of neural markers (TUJ-1, NSE, MAP-2) was assessed quantitative and qualitatively utilizing RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Results confirmed the incorporation of MNPs in nanofibrous scaffold, presenting a saturation magnetization of 9.73 emu g^-1. Also, with increase in magnetic particle concentration (0%-10%), tensile strength increased from 4.08 to 5.85 MPa, whereas the percentage of elongation decreased. TUJ-1 expression was 3.8 and 1.8 fold for 10% and 5% magnetic scaffold (versus non-magnetic scaffold) respectively, and the expression of NSE was 6.3 and 1.2-fold for 10% and 5%, respectively. Consequently, it seems that incorporation of magnetic biomaterial can promote the neural differentiation of MSCs, during which the augmentation of super paramagnetic iron oxide concentration from 0% to 10% accelerates the neural differentiation process.