Multimodal Composite Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Geometry and Surface Area Optimization in Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Magnetic Properties

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are recognized for their potential in biomedical applications due to their distinctive physicochemical properties. This study investigates the synthesis of IONPs with various geometric morphologies-cubic, star-like, truncated icosahedron, and spherical-via thermal decomposition to enhance their utility in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and targeted drug delivery. X-ray diffraction analysis verified the Fe3O4 phase in all nanoparticles, illustrating the synthesis's efficacy. Particle morphologies were well-defined, with sizes ranging from 10 to 150 nm, as determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Magnetic evaluations using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM-PPMs) demonstrated their superparamagnetic behavior, with larger particles exhibiting greater saturation magnetization. Notably, truncated icosahedron and cubic IONPs showed superior transverse relaxation rates, with r2 values of 56.77 s1 mM1 and 42.67 s1 mM1, respectively. These results highlight the potential of customizing IONP geometries to optimize their magnetic properties and increase surface area available for functionalization, thereby improving their efficacy for biomedical applications.

Current Progress in the Science of Novel Adjuvant Nano-Vaccine-Induced Protective Immune Responses

Vaccinations are vital as they protect us from various illness-causing agents. Despite all the advancements in vaccine-related research, developing improved and safer vaccines against devastating infectious diseases including Ebola, tuberculosis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains a significant challenge. In addition, some of the current human vaccines can cause adverse reactions in some individuals, which limits their use for massive vaccination program. Therefore, it is necessary to design optimal vaccine candidates that can elicit appropriate immune responses but do not induce side effects. Subunit vaccines are relatively safe for the vaccination of humans, but they are unable to trigger an optimal protective immune response without an adjuvant. Although different types of adjuvants have been used for the formulation of vaccines to fight pathogens that have high antigenic diversity, due to the toxicity and safety issues associated with human-specific adjuvants, there are only a few adjuvants that have been approved for the formulation of human vaccines. Recently, nanoparticles (NPs) have gain specific attention and are commonly used as adjuvants for vaccine development as well as for drug delivery due to their excellent immune modulation properties. This review will focus on the current state of adjuvants in vaccine development, the mechanisms of human-compatible adjuvants and future research directions. We hope this review will provide valuable information to discovery novel adjuvants and drug delivery systems for developing novel vaccines and treatments.

Injectable hydrogels as emerging drug-delivery platforms for tumor therapy

Tumor therapy continues to be a prominent field within biomedical research. The development of various drug carriers has been propelled by concerns surrounding the side effects and targeting efficacy of various chemotherapeutic drugs and other therapeutic agents. These carriers strive to enhance drug concentration at tumor sites, minimize systemic side effects, and improve therapeutic outcomes. Among the reported delivery systems, injectable hydrogels have emerged as an emerging candidate for the in vivo delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs due to their minimal invasive drug delivery properties. This review systematically summarizes the composition and preparation methodologies of injectable hydrogels and further highlights the delivery mechanisms of diverse drugs using these hydrogels for tumor therapy, along with an in-depth discussion on the optimized therapeutic efficiency of drugs encapsulated within the hydrogels. The work concludes by providing a dynamic forward-looking perspective on the potential challenges and possible solutions of the in situ injectable hydrogels for non-surgical and real-time diagnostic applications.

Green synthesis of iron nanoparticles: Sources and multifarious biotechnological applications

Green synthesis of iron nanoparticles is a highly fascinating research area and has gained importance due to reliable, sustainable and ecofriendly protocol for synthesizing nanoparticles, along with the easy availability of plant materials and their pharmacological significance. As an alternate to physical and chemical synthesis, the biological materials, like microorganisms and plants are considered to be less costly and environment-friendly. Iron nanoparticles with diverse morphology and size have been synthesized using biological extracts. Microbial (bacteria, fungi, algae etc.) and plant extracts have been employed in green synthesis of iron nanoparticles due to the presence of various metabolites and biomolecules. Physical and biochemical properties of biologically synthesized iron nanoparticles are superior to that are synthesized using physical and chemical agents. Iron nanoparticles have magnetic property with thermal and electrical conductivity. Iron nanoparticles below a certain size (generally 10-20 nm), can exhibit a unique form of magnetism called superparamagnetism. They are non-toxic and highly dispersible with targeted delivery, which are suitable for efficient drug delivery to the target. Green synthesized iron nanoparticles have been explored for multifarious biotechnological applications. These iron nanoparticles exhibited antimicrobial and anticancerous properties. Iron nanoparticles adversely affect the cell viability, division and metabolic activity. Iron nanoparticles have been used in the purification and immobilization of various enzymes/proteins. Iron nanoparticles have shown potential in bioremediation of various organic and inorganic pollutants. This review describes various biological sources used in the green synthesis of iron nanoparticles and their potential applications in biotechnology, diagnostics and mitigation of environmental pollutants.

Cobalt Iron Oxide (CoFe2O4) Nanoparticles Induced Toxicity in Rabbits

The market for nanoparticles has grown significantly over the past few decades due to a number of unique qualities, including antibacterial capabilities. It is still unclear how nanoparticle toxicity works. In order to ascertain the toxicity of synthetic cobalt iron oxide (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles (CIONPs) in rabbits, this study was carried out. Sixteen rabbits in total were purchased from the neighborhood market and divided into two groups (A and B), each of which contained eight rabbits. The CIONPs were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. Crystallinity and phase identification were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The average size of the nanoparticles (13.2 nm) was calculated by Scherrer formula (Dhkl = 0.9 λ/β cos θ) and confirmed by TEM images. The saturation magnetization, 50.1 emug-1, was measured by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). CIONPs were investigated as contrast agents (CA) for magnetic resonance images (MRI). The relaxivity (r = 1/T) of the MRI was also investigated at a field strength of 0.35 T (Tesla), and the ratio r2/r1 for the CIONPs contrast agent was 6.63. The CIONPs were administrated intravenously into the rabbits through the ear vein. Blood was collected at days 5 and 10 post-exposure for hematological and serum biochemistry analyses. The intensities of the signal experienced by CA with CIONPs were 1427 for the liver and 1702 for the spleen. The treated group showed significantly lower hematological parameters, but significantly higher total white blood cell counts and neutrophils. The results of the serum biochemistry analyses showed significantly higher and lower quantities of different serum biochemical parameters in the treated rabbits at day 10 of the trial. At the microscopic level, different histological ailments were observed in the visceral organs of treated rabbits, including the liver, kidneys, spleen, heart, and brain. In conclusion, the results revealed that cobalt iron oxide (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles induced toxicity via alterations in multiple tissues of rabbits.

Challenges and advances for glioma therapy based on inorganic nanoparticles

Glioma is one of the most serious central nervous system diseases, with high mortality and poor prognosis. Despite the continuous development of existing treatment methods, the median survival time of glioma patients is still only 15 months. The main treatment difficulties are the invasive growth of glioma and the obstruction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to drugs. With rapid advancements in nanotechnology, inorganic nanoparticles (INPs) have shown favourable application prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of glioma. Due to their extraordinary intrinsic features, INPs can be easily fabricated, while doping with other elements and surface modification by biological ligands can be used to enhance BBB penetration, targeted delivery and biocompatibility. Guided glioma theranostics with INPs can improve and enhance the efficacy of traditional methods such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and gene therapy. New strategies, such as immunotherapy, photothermal and photodynamic therapy, magnetic hyperthermia therapy, and multifunctional inorganic nanoplatforms, have also been facilitated by INPs. This review emphasizes the current state of research and clinical applications of INPs, including glioma targeting and BBB penetration enhancement methods, in vivo and in vitro biocompatibility, and diagnostic and treatment strategies. As such, it provides insights for the development of novel glioma treatment strategies.

Recent Advances in ROS-Scavenging Metallic Nanozymes for Anti-Inflammatory Diseases: A Review

Oxidative stress and dysregulated inflammatory responses are the hallmarks of inflammatory disorders, which are key contributors to high mortality rates and impose a substantial economic burden on society. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are vital signaling molecules that promote the development of inflammatory disorders. The existing mainstream therapeutic approaches, including steroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and proinflammatory cytokine inhibitors with anti-leucocyte inhibitors, are not efficient at curing the adverse effects of severe inflammation. Moreover, they have serious side effects. Metallic nanozymes (MNZs) mimic the endogenous enzymatic process and are promising candidates for the treatment of ROS-associated inflammatory disorders. Owing to the existing level of development of these metallic nanozymes, they are efficient at scavenging excess ROS and can resolve the drawbacks of traditional therapies. This review summarizes the context of ROS during inflammation and provides an overview of recent advances in metallic nanozymes as therapeutic agents. Furthermore, the challenges associated with MNZs and an outline for future to promote the clinical translation of MNZs are discussed. Our review of this expanding multidisciplinary field will benefit the current research and clinical application of metallic-nanozyme-based ROS scavenging in inflammatory disease treatment.

Synthesis of Water-Dispersed Sulfobetaine Methacrylate-Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Coated Graphene Composite by Free Radical Polymerization

Research on the synthesis of water-soluble polymers has accelerated in recent years, as they are employed in many bio-applications. Herein, the synthesis of poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (PSB) by free radical polymerization in a sonication bath is described. PSB and iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were simultaneously stabilized on the graphene surface. Graphene surfaces with PSB (GPSB) and graphene surfaces with PSB and IONPs (GPSBI) were prepared. Since PSB is a water-soluble polymer, the hydrophobic nature of graphene surfaces converts to hydrophilic nature. Subsequently, the prepared graphene composites, GPSB and GPSBI, were well-dispersed in water. The preparation of GPSB and GPSBI was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The impacts of PSB and IONPs on the graphene surfaces were studied systematically.

Polymeric Composite of Magnetite Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Application in Biomedicine: A Review

A broad spectrum of nanomaterials has been investigated for multiple purposes in recent years. Some of these studied materials are magnetics nanoparticles (MNPs). Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are MNPs that have received extensive attention because of their physicochemical and magnetic properties and their ease of combination with organic or inorganic compounds. Furthermore, the arresting of these MNPs into a cross-linked matrix known as hydrogel has attracted significant interest in the biomedical field. Commonly, MNPs act as a reinforcing material for the polymer matrix. In the present review, several methods, such as co-precipitation, polyol, hydrothermal, microemulsion, and sol-gel methods, are reported to synthesize magnetite nanoparticles with controllable physical and chemical properties that suit the required application. Due to the potential of magnetite-based nanocomposites, specifically in hydrogels, processing methods, including physical blending, in situ precipitation, and grafting methods, are introduced. Moreover, the most common characterization techniques employed to study MNPs and magnetic gel are discussed.

Vimentin Targeted Nano-gene Carrier for Treatment of Renal Diseases

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health problem, and there is no permanent treatment for reversing kidney failure; thus, early diagnosis and effective treatment are required. Gene therapy has outstanding potential; however, the lack of safe gene delivery vectors, a reasonable transfection rate, and kidney targeting ability limit its application. Nanoparticles can offer innovative ways to diagnose and treat kidney diseases as they facilitate targetability and therapeutic efficacy.

METHODS

Herein, we developed a proximal renal tubule-targeting gene delivery system based on alternative copolymer (PS) of sorbitol and polyethyleneimine (PEI), modified with vimentin-specific chitobionic acid (CA), producing PS-conjugated CA (PSC) for targeting toward vimentin-expressing cells in the kidneys. In vitro studies were used to determine cell viability, transfection efficiency, serum influence, and specific uptake in the human proximal renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2). Finally, the targeting efficiency of the prepared PSC gene carriers was checked in a murine model of Alport syndrome.

RESULTS

Our results suggested that the prepared polyplex showed low cytotoxicity, enhanced transfection efficiency, specific uptake toward HK-2 cells, and excellent targeting efficiency toward the kidneys.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, from these results it can be inferred that the PSC can be further evaluated as a potential gene carrier for the kidney-targeted delivery of therapeutic genes for treating diseases.

Advances in Injectable In Situ-Forming Hydrogels for Intratumoral Treatment

Chemotherapy has been linked to a variety of severe side effects, and the bioavailability of current chemotherapeutic agents is generally low, which decreases their effectiveness. Therefore, there is an ongoing effort to develop drug delivery systems to increase the bioavailability of these agents and minimize their side effects. Among these, intratumoral injections using in situ-forming hydrogels can improve drugs' bioavailability and minimize drugs' accumulation in non-target organs or tissues. This review describes different types of injectable in situ-forming hydrogels and their intratumoral injection for cancer treatment, after which we discuss the antitumor effects of intratumoral injection of drug-loaded hydrogels. This review concludes with perspectives on the future applicability of, and challenges for, the adoption of this drug delivery technology.

Magnetism-controlled assembly of composite stem cell spheroids for the biofabrication of contraction-modulatory 3D tissue

Biofabrication of organ-like engineered 3D tissue through the assembly of magnetized 3D multi-cellular spheroids has been recently investigated in tissue engineering. However, the cytotoxicity of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and contraction-induced structural deformation of the constructs have been major limitations. In this study, we developed a method to fabricate composite stem cell spheroids using MNP-coated fibers, alleviating MNP-mediated toxicity and controlling structural assembly under external magnetic stimuli. The MNP-coated synthetic fibers (MSFs) were prepared by coating various amounts of MNPs on the fibers via electrostatic interactions. The MSFs showed magnetic hysteresis and no cytotoxicity on 2D-cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). The composite spheroids containing MSFs and ADSCs were rapidly formed in which the amount of impregnated MSFs modulated the spheroid size. The fusion ofin vitrocomposite spheroids was then monitored at the contacting interface; the fused spheroids with over 10μg of MSF showed minimal contraction after 7 d, retaining around 90% of total area ratio regardless of the number of cells, indicating that the presence of fibers within the composite spheroid supported its structural maintenance. The fusion of MSF spheroids was modulated by external magnetic stimulation, and the effect of magnetic force on the movement and fusion of the spheroids was investigated using COMSOL simulation. Finally, ring and lamellar structures were successfully assembled using remote-controlled MSF spheroids, showing limited deformation and high viability up to 50 d duringin vitroculture. In addition, the MSFs demonstrated no adverse effects on ADSC osteochondral differentiation. Altogether, we envision that our magnetic assembly system would be a promising method for the tissue engineering of structurally controlled organ-like constructs.

Metallic Nanoparticle-Mediated Immune Cell Regulation and Advanced Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy strategies leveraging the body's own immune system against cancer cells have gained significant attention due to their remarkable therapeutic efficacy. Several immune therapies have been approved for clinical use while expanding the modalities of cancer therapy. However, they are still not effective in a broad range of cancer patients because of the typical immunosuppressive microenvironment and limited antitumor immunity achieved with the current treatment. Novel approaches, such as nanoparticle-mediated cancer immunotherapies, are being developed to overcome these challenges. Various types of nanoparticles, including liposomal, polymeric, and metallic nanoparticles, are reported for the development of effective cancer therapeutics. Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) are one of the promising candidates for anticancer therapy due to their unique theranostic properties and are thus explored as both imaging and therapeutic agents. In addition, MNPs offer a dense surface functionalization to target tumor tissue and deliver genetic, therapeutic, and immunomodulatory agents. Furthermore, MNPs interact with the tumor microenvironment (TME) and regulate the levels of tumor hypoxia, glutathione (GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) for remodulation of TME for successful therapy. In this review, we discuss the role of nanoparticles in tumor microenvironment modulation and anticancer therapy. In particular, we evaluated the response of MNP-mediated immune cells, such as dendritic cells, macrophages, T cells and NK cells, against tumor cells and analyzed the role of MNP-based cancer therapies in regulating the immunosuppressive environment.

Aspects of high-performance and bio-acceptable magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical application

This review covers extensively the synthesis & surface modification, characterization, and application of magnetic nanoparticles. For biomedical applications, consideration should be given to factors such as design strategies, the synthesis process, coating, and surface passivation. The synthesis method regulates post-synthetic change and specific applications in vitro and in vivo imaging/diagnosis and pharmacotherapy/administration. Special insights have been provided on biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity in a living system, which is imperative for their wider application in biology. These nanoparticles can be decorated with multiple contrast agents and thus can also be used as a probe for multi-mode imaging or double/triple imaging, for example, MRI-CT, MRI-PET. Similarly loading with different drug molecules/dye/fluorescent molecules and integration with other carriers have found application not only in locating these particles in vivo but simultaneously target drug delivery/hyperthermia inside the body. Studies are underway to collect the potential of these magnetically driven nanoparticles in various scientific fields such as particle interaction, heat conduction, imaging, and magnetism. Surely, this comprehensive data will help in the further development of advanced techniques for theranostics based on high-performance magnetic nanoparticles and will lead this research area in a new sustainable direction.

Synergistic effect of electromagnetic fields and nanomagnetic particles on osteogenesis through calcium channels and p-ERK signaling

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are widely used in a number of cell therapies and bone disorder treatments, and nanomagnetic particles (NMPs) also promote cell activity. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effects of EMFs and NMPs on the osteogenesis of the human Saos-2 osteoblast cell line and in a rat calvarial defect model. The Saos-2 cells and critical-size calvarial defects of the rats were exposed to EMF (1 mT, 45 Hz, 8 h/day) with or without Fe₃ O₄ NMPs. Biocompatibility was evaluated with MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) assays. This analysis showed that NMP and EMF did not induce cell toxicity. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction indicated that the osteogenesis-related markers were highly expressed in the NMP-incorporated Saos-2 cells after exposure to EMF. Also, the expression of gene-encoding proteins involved in calcium channels was activated and the calcium concentration of the NMP-incorporated + EMF-exposed group was increased compared with the control group. In particular, in the NMP-incorporated + EMF-exposed group, all osteogenic proteins were more abundantly expressed than in the control group. This indicated that the NMP incorporation + EMF exposure induced a signaling pathway through activation of p-ERK and calcium channels. Also, in vivo evaluation revealed that rat calvarial defects treated with EMFs and NMPs had good regeneration results with new bone formation and increased mineral density after 6 weeks. Altogether, these results suggest that NMP treatment or EMF exposure of Saos-2 cells can increase osteogenic activity and NMP incorporation following EMF exposure which is synergistically efficient for osteogenesis.

Electrochemical Biosensing of Dopamine Neurotransmitter: A Review

Neurotransmitters are biochemical molecules that transmit a signal from a neuron across the synapse to a target cell, thus being essential to the function of the central and peripheral nervous system. Dopamine is one of the most important catecholamine neurotransmitters since it is involved in many functions of the human central nervous system, including motor control, reward, or reinforcement. It is of utmost importance to quantify the amount of dopamine since abnormal levels can cause a variety of medical and behavioral problems. For instance, Parkinson's disease is partially caused by the death of dopamine-secreting neurons. To date, various methods have been developed to measure dopamine levels, and electrochemical biosensing seems to be the most viable due to its robustness, selectivity, sensitivity, and the possibility to achieve real-time measurements. Even if the electrochemical detection is not facile due to the presence of electroactive interfering species with similar redox potentials in real biological samples, numerous strategies have been employed to resolve this issue. The objective of this paper is to review the materials (metals and metal oxides, carbon materials, polymers) that are frequently used for the electrochemical biosensing of dopamine and point out their respective advantages and drawbacks. Different types of dopamine biosensors, including (micro)electrodes, biosensing platforms, or field-effect transistors, are also described.

External and Internal Stimuli-Responsive Metallic Nanotherapeutics for Enhanced Anticancer Therapy

Therapeutic, diagnostic, and imaging approaches based on nanotechnology offer distinct advantages in cancer treatment. Various nanotherapeutics have been presented as potential alternatives to traditional anticancer therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical intervention. Notably, the advantage of nanotherapeutics is mainly attributable to their accumulation and targeting ability toward cancer cells, multiple drug-carrying abilities, combined therapies, and imaging approaches. To date, numerous nanoparticle formulations have been developed for anticancer therapy and among them, metallic nanotherapeutics reportedly demonstrate promising cancer therapeutic and diagnostic efficiencies owing to their dense surface functionalization ability, uniform size distribution, and shape-dependent optical responses, easy and cost-effective synthesis procedure, and multiple anti-cancer effects. Metallic nanotherapeutics can remodel the tumor microenvironment by changing unfavorable therapeutic conditions into therapeutically accessible ones with the help of different stimuli, including light, heat, ultrasound, an alternative magnetic field, redox, and reactive oxygen species. The combination of metallic nanotherapeutics with both external and internal stimuli can be used to trigger the on-demand release of therapeutic molecules, augmenting the therapeutic efficacies of anticancer therapies such as photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, magnetic hyperthermia, sonodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy. In this review, we have summarized the role of different metallic nanotherapeutics in anti-cancer therapy, as well as their combinational effects with multiple stimuli for enhanced anticancer therapy.

Recent advances in nanomaterial-modified electrical platforms for the detection of dopamine in living cells

Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter that plays essential roles in the central nervous system, including motor control, motivation, arousal, and reward. Thus, abnormal levels of dopamine directly cause several neurological diseases, including depressive disorders, addiction, and Parkinson's disease (PD). To develop a new technology to treat such diseases and disorders, especially PD, which is currently incurable, dopamine release from living cells intended for transplantation or drug screening must be precisely monitored and assessed. Owing to the advantages of miniaturisation and rapid detection, numerous electrical techniques have been reported, mostly in combination with various nanomaterials possessing specific nanoscale geometries. This review highlights recent advances in electrical biosensors for dopamine detection, with a particular focus on the use of various nanomaterials (e.g., carbon-based materials, hybrid gold nanostructures, metal oxides, and conductive polymers) on electrode surfaces to improve both sensor performance and biocompatibility. We conclude that this review will accelerate the development of electrical biosensors intended for the precise detection of metabolite release from living cells, which will ultimately lead to advances in therapeutic materials and techniques to cure various neurodegenerative disorders.

Preparation of amphiphilic magnetic polyvinyl alcohol targeted drug carrier and drug delivery research

Currently, magnetic applications have great potential for development in the field of drug carriers. In this paper, Fe₃O₄-PVA@SH, an amphiphilic magnetically targeting drug carrier, was prepared by using Fe₃O₄ and PVA with thiohydrazide-iminopropyltriethoxysilane(TIPTS). The loading capacity of Fe₃O₄-PVA@SH on Aspirin and the drug release kinetics of loaded drugs were studied. The obtained Fe₃O₄-PVA@SH exhibits excellent drug release properties in simulating the human body fluid environment (pH 7.2). Since magnetically targeting drug carriers are readily available and have excellent biocompatibility and the characteristics of drug release. This work’s development, preparing amphiphilic magnetically targeting drug carriers in drug delivery and other fields, has great significance.

Utilization of Polymer-Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticles for Targeted Anti-Cancer Therapy

Cancer represents one of the most dangerous diseases, with 1.8 million deaths worldwide. Despite remarkable advances in conventional therapies, these treatments are not effective to completely eradicate cancer. Nanotechnology offers potential cancer treatment based on formulations of several nanoparticles (NPs). Liposomes and polymeric nanoparticle are the most investigated and effective drug delivery systems (DDS) for cancer treatment. Liposomes represent potential DDS due to their distinct properties, including high-drug entrapment efficacy, biocompatibility, low cost, and scalability. However, their use is restricted by susceptibility to lipid peroxidation, instability, burst release of drugs, and the limited surface modification. Similarly, polymeric nanoparticles show several chemical modifications with polymers, good stability, and controlled release, but their drawbacks for biological applications include limited drug loading, polymer toxicity, and difficulties in scaling up. Therefore, polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes are combined to form polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLHNPs), with the positive attributes of both components such as high biocompatibility and stability, improved drug payload, controlled drug release, longer circulation time, and superior in vivo efficacy. In this review, we have focused on the prominent strategies used to develop tumor targeting PLHNPs and discuss their advantages and unique properties contributing to an ideal DDS.

Mesoporous Silica Hybridized With Gadolinium(III) Nanoplatform for Targeted Magnetic Imaging-Guided Photothermal Breast Cancer Therapy

Achieving drug target accumulation in antitumor tissue, simultaneous diagnostic imaging, and optimal release behavior with treatment needs a best chemotherapy procedure involving receptive switch of drug delivery. Constructed on mesoporous silica nanoparticles, which are crossed with multiscale charming nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-aided and alternate magnetic field (AMF) response chemotherapy for breast cancer, we report in this work the assembly of a new theranostics drug conveyance process. Hydrothermal processes (gadolinium(III) oxide nanoparticles [Gd-NPs]) and heat decomposition process (radical size uFe-NPs) were used to prepare superparamagnetic Gd-NPs with multiscale sizes. Gadolinium(III) oxide nanoparticles act as an AMF-responsive heat mediator, while ultra-Fe nanoparticles (uFe-NPs) act as an MRI T₂ contrast mediator. Nanoparticles of the mesoporous silica with radially oriented mesochannels were further grown in situ on the surfaces of the Gd-NPs, and the uFe-NPs anticancer drug doxorubicin can be easily incorporated in the mesochannels. To provide better targeting capabilities for the as-synthesized biotin-loaded nanohybrids, the particle surfaces are updated with biotin (Bt). This optimized drug conveyance method based on nanocomposites of SiO₂ demonstrated great efficiency of medication charging and receptive properties of AMF stimulus release. However, tests of MRI in vitro showed an outstanding contrast effect in MRI with a high stimulation quality (299 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹). In contrast, the study of in vitro cytotoxicity assessment revealed that an MRI-directed stimulus-mediated theranostics tool can be used as a drug conveyance device to efficiently treat breast cancer.

Recent Advances in Nanovaccines Using Biomimetic Immunomodulatory Materials

The development of vaccines plays a vital role in the effective control of several fatal diseases. However, effective prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines have yet to be developed for completely curing deadly diseases, such as cancer, malaria, HIV, and serious microbial infections. Thus, suitable vaccine candidates need to be designed to elicit appropriate immune responses. Nanotechnology has been found to play a unique role in the design of vaccines, providing them with enhanced specificity and potency. Nano-scaled materials, such as virus-like particles, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), and protein NPs, have received considerable attention over the past decade as potential carriers for the delivery of vaccine antigens and adjuvants, due to their beneficial advantages, like improved antigen stability, targeted delivery, and long-time release, for which antigens/adjuvants are either encapsulated within, or decorated on, the NP surface. Flexibility in the design of nanomedicine allows for the programming of immune responses, thereby addressing the many challenges encountered in vaccine development. Biomimetic NPs have emerged as innovative natural mimicking biosystems that can be used for a wide range of biomedical applications. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in biomimetic nanovaccines, and their use in anti-bacterial therapy, anti-HIV therapy, anti-malarial therapy, anti-melittin therapy, and anti-tumor immunity.