Dendrimer based theranostic nanostructures for combined chemo- and photothermal therapy of liver cancer cells in vitro

Magnetic engineering nanoparticles: Versatile tools revolutionizing biomedical applications

The use of nanoparticles has increased significantly over the past few years in a number of fields, including diagnostics, biomedicine, environmental remediation, and water treatment, generating public interest. Among various types of nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as an essential tool for biomedical applications due to their distinct physicochemical properties compared to other nanoparticles. This review article focuses on the recent growth of MNPs and comprehensively reviews the advantages, multifunctional approaches, biomedical applications, and latest research on MNPs employed in various biomedical techniques. Biomedical applications of MNPs hold on to their ability to rapidly switch magnetic states under an external field at room temperature. Ideally, these MNPs should be highly susceptible to magnetization when the field is applied and then lose that magnetization just as quickly once the field is removed. This unique property allows MNPs to generate heat when exposed to high-frequency magnetic fields, making them valuable tools in developing treatments for hyperthermia and other heat-related illnesses. This review underscores the role of MNPs as tools that hold immense promise in transforming various aspects of healthcare, from diagnostics and imaging to therapeutic treatments, with discussion on a wide range of peer-reviewed articles published on the subject. At the conclusion of this work, challenges and potential future advances of MNPs in the biomedical field are highlighted.

Nano-based drug delivery systems in hepatocellular carcinoma

The high recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and poor prognosis after medical treatment reflects the necessity to improve the current chemotherapy protocols, particularly drug delivery methods. Development of targeted and efficient drug delivery systems (DDSs), in all active, passive and stimuli-responsive forms for selective delivery of therapeutic drugs to the tumour site has been extended to improve efficacy and reduce the severe side effects. Recent advances in nanotechnology offer promising breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of cancer cells. In this review, the specific design of DDSs based on the different nano-particles and their surface engineering is discussed. In addition, the innovative clinical studies in which nano-based DDS was used in the treatment of HCC were highlighted.

An integrated methodology for quality assessment of therapeutic antibodies with potential long circulation half-life in harvested cell culture fluid using FcRn immobilized hydrophilic magnetic graphene

Designing modified therapeutic antibodies with enhanced FcRn-binding affinity holds promise in the extension of circulation half-lives and potential refinement of pharmacokinetics. During the development of these new-generation therapeutic antibodies, FcRn binding affinity of IgGs is emphasized and monitored as a critical quality attribute (CQA), alongside other critical assessments including titer and aggregation level. However, the traditional workflow for assessing the overall quality of expressed IgGs in harvested cell culture fluid (HCCF) is blamed to be cumbersome and time-consuming. This study presents an integrated methodology for the rapid quality assessment of IgGs in HCCF by selectively extracting IgGs with favorable high FcRn affinity for subsequent analysis using size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The approach utilizes innovative adsorbents known as FcRn immobilized hydrophilic magnetic graphene (MG@PDA@PAMAM-FcRn) in a magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) process. To simulate the in vivo binding dynamics, MSPE binding and dissociation was performed at pH 6.0 and 7.4, respectively. The composite have demonstrated enhanced extraction efficiency and impurity removal ability in comparison to commercially available magnetic beads. The SEC monomer peak area value provides the output of this method, the ranking of which enabled the facile identification of superior HCCF samples with high overall quality of IgG. Optimization of MSPE parameters was performed, and the method was validated for specificity, precision, sensitivity, and accuracy. The proposed method exhibited an analytical time of 0.6 h, which is 7-22 times shortened in comparison to the conventional workflow.

Fluorinated Organic Polymers for Cancer Drug Delivery

In the realm of cancer therapy, the spotlight is on nanoscale pharmaceutical delivery systems, especially polymer-based nanoparticles, for their enhanced drug dissolution, extended presence in the bloodstream, and precision targeting achieved via surface engineering. Leveraging the amplified permeation and retention phenomenon, these systems concentrate therapeutic agents within tumor tissues. Nonetheless, the hurdles of systemic toxicity, biological barriers, and compatibility with living systems persist. Fluorinated polymers, distinguished by their chemical idiosyncrasies, are poised for extensive biomedical applications, notably in stabilizing drug metabolism, augmenting lipophilicity, and optimizing bioavailability. Material science heralds the advent of fluorinated polymers that, by integrating fluorine atoms, unveil a suite of drug delivery merits: the hydrophobic traits of fluorinated alkyl chains ward off lipid or protein disruption, the carbon-fluorine bond's stability extends the drug's lifecycle in the system, and a lower alkalinity coupled with a diminished ionic charge bolsters the drug's ability to traverse cellular membranes. This comprehensive review delves into the utilization of fluorinated polymers for oncological pharmacotherapy, elucidating their molecular architecture, synthetic pathways, and functional attributes, alongside an exploration of their empirical strengths and the quandaries they encounter in both experimental and clinical settings.

Oxidative Stress in Xenograft Mouse Model Exposed to Dendrimers Decorated Polydopamine Nanoparticles and Targeted Chemo- and Photothermal Therapy

Polydopamine (PDA)-based nanostructures are used for biomedical purposes. A hybrid drug nanocarrier based on a PDA decorated with polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers G 3.0 (DG3) followed by a connection with glycol (PEG) moieties, folic acid (FA), and drug doxorubicin (DOX) was used for combined chemo- and photothermal therapy (CT-PTT) of liver cancer. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of cancer, and PDA seems to have the ability to both donate and accept electrons. We investigated oxidative stress in organs by evaluating oxidative stress markers in vivo. In the liver, the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) was lower and the level of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) was higher in the group receiving doxorubicin encapsulated in PDA nanoparticles with phototherapy (PDA@DG3@PEG@FA@DOX + PTT) compared to the control group. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in livers, was higher in the group receiving PDA coated with PAMAM dendrimers and functionalized with PEG and FA (PDA@DG3@PEG@FA) than in other groups. Markers in the brain also showed lower levels of GSH in the PDA@DG3@PEG@FA group than in the control group. Markers of oxidative stress indicated changes in the organs of animals receiving PDA nanoparticles with PAMAM dendrimers functionalized with FA in CT-PTT of liver cancer under in vivo conditions. Our work will provide insights into oxidative stress, which can be an indicator of the toxic potential of PDA nanoparticles and provide new strategies to improve existing therapies.

Review of the Application of Dual Drug Delivery Nanotheranostic Agents in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer has high incidence and mortality rates and its treatment generally requires the use of a combination treatment strategy. Therefore, the early detection and diagnosis of liver cancer is crucial to achieving the best treatment effect. In addition, it is imperative to explore multimodal combination therapy for liver cancer treatment and the synergistic effect of two liver cancer treatment drugs while preventing drug resistance and drug side effects to maximize the achievable therapeutic effect. Gold nanoparticles are used widely in applications related to optical imaging, CT imaging, MRI imaging, biomarkers, targeted drug therapy, etc., and serve as an advanced platform for integrated application in the nano-diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Dual-drug-delivery nano-diagnostic and therapeutic agents have drawn great interest in current times. Therefore, the present report aims to review the effectiveness of dual-drug-delivery nano-diagnostic and therapeutic agents in the field of anti-tumor therapy from the particular perspective of liver cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Magnetic nanoparticles: multifunctional tool for cancer therapy

INTRODUCTION

Cancer has one of the highest mortality rates globally. The traditional therapies used to treat cancer have harmful adverse effects. Considering these facts, researchers have explored new therapeutic possibilities with enhanced benefits. Nanoparticle development for cancer detection, in addition to therapy, has shown substantial progress over the past few years.

AREA COVERED

Herein, the latest research regarding cancer treatment employing magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in chemo-, immuno-, gene-, and radiotherapy along with hyperthermia is summarized, in addition to their physio-chemical features, advantages, and limitations for clinical translation have also been discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

MNPs are being extensively investigated and developed into effective modules for cancer therapy. They are highly functional tools aimed at cancer therapy owing to their excellent superparamagnetic, chemical, biocompatible, physical, and biodegradable properties.

Effect of Ionization Degree of Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimer and 5-Fluorouracil on the Efficiency of Complex Formation-A Theoretical and Experimental Approach

Due to their unique structure, poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers can bind active ingredients in two ways: inside the structure or on their surface. The location of drug molecules significantly impacts the kinetics of active substance release and the mechanism of internalization into the cell. This study focuses on the effect of the protonation degree of the G4PAMAM dendrimer and the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU) on the efficiency of complex formation. The most favorable conditions for constructing the G4PAMAM-5FU complex are a low degree of protonation of the dendrimer molecule with the drug simultaneously present in a deprotonated form. The fluorine components in the XPS spectra confirm the formation of the stable complex. Through SAXS and DLS methods, a decrease in the dendrimer's molecular size resulting from protonation changes at alkaline conditions was demonstrated. The gradual closure of the dendrimer structure observed at high pH values makes it difficult for the 5FU molecules to migrate to the interior of the support structure, thereby promoting drug immobilization on the surface. The ¹H NMR and DOSY spectra indicate that electrostatic interactions determine the complex formation process. Through MD simulations, the localization profile and the number of 5FU molecules forming the complex were visualized on an atomic scale.

Biocompatible Polymer Nano-Constructs: A Potent Platform for Cancer Theranostics

Nano-constructs of biocompatible polymers have drawn wide attention owing to their potential as theranostics for simultaneous therapy and detection of cancer. The present mini review summarizes various nano-architectures of polymers that have been developed as theranostic agents for the simultaneous treatment and diagnosis of cancer in a single platform. Additionally, research prospects of polymeric cancer theranostics for the future have been highlighted.

Effect of the Synthetic Approach on the Formation and Magnetic Properties of Iron-Based Nanophase in Branched Polyester Polyol Matrix

This article shows the success of using the chemical reduction method, the polyol thermolytic process, the sonochemistry method, and the hybrid sonochemistry/polyol process method to design iron-based magnetically active composite nanomaterials in a hyperbranched polyester polyol matrix. Four samples were obtained and characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. In all cases, the hyperbranched polymer is an excellent stabilizer of the iron and iron oxides nanophase. In addition, during the thermolytic process and hybrid method, the branched polyol exhibits the properties of a good reducing agent. The use of various approaches to the synthesis of iron nanoparticles in a branched polyester polyol matrix makes it possible to control the composition, geometry, dispersity, and size of the iron-based nanophase and to create new promising materials with colloidal stability, low hemolytic activity, and good magnetic properties. The NMR relaxation method proved the possibility of using the obtained composites as tomographic probes.

Tractable Method for Rapid Quality Assessment of Therapeutic Antibodies in Harvested Cell Culture Fluid based on FcγRIIIa-Immobilized Magnetic Microspheres

FcγRIIIa-binding affinity is one of the key factors to ensure the efficacy of many antitumor therapeutic antibodies, which should be monitored along with the titer, protein aggregation, and other critical quality attributes. The conventional workflow for the quality assessment of therapeutic antibodies in harvested cell culture fluid (HCCF) is time-consuming and costly nevertheless. In this study, a tractable method was established for rapid quality assessment of a HCCF sample through differentially extracting IgG with different FcγRIIIa affinity levels using FcγRIIIa-immobilized magnetic microspheres, followed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to determine the amount and monomer percentage of IgGs in the preceding eluate. FcγRIIIa-immobilized magnetic microspheres with polydopamine (PDA) and hydrophilic dendrimer (PAMAM) coating (denoted as Fe₃O₄@PDA@PAMAM-FcγRIIIa) were synthesized for the first time as magnetic adsorbents. The PDA cladding endowed the composites with good chemical stability in acidic elution buffer, and the PAMAM dendrimer empowered the composites of high ligand immobilization capacity and hydrophilic surface. The labile FcγRIIIa was immobilized under mild conditions. By directly applying a simple magnetic solid phase extraction procedure to treat HCCF, favored IgG species with high FcγRIIIa affinity would be selectively captured by Fe₃O₄@PDA@PAMAM-FcγRIIIa composites for subsequent SEC analysis. The monomer peak area value in SEC, which was set as the read-out of the proposed method, correlated directly with the theoretical overall quality of standard-spiked HCCF samples.

Current Progress in Cancer Treatment Using Nanomaterials

The pathological processes of cancer are complex. Current methods used for chemotherapy have various limitations, such as cytotoxicity, multi-drug resistance, stem-like cells growth, and lack of specificity. Several types of nanomaterials are used for cancer treatment. Nanomaterials 1–100 nm in size have special optical, magnetic, and electrical characteristics. Nanomaterials have been fabricated for cancer treatments to overcome cytotoxicity and low specificity, and improve drug capacity and bioavailability. Despite the increasing number of related studies, few nanodrugs have been approved for clinical use. To improve translation of these materials, studies of targeted drug delivery using nanocarriers are needed. Cytotoxicity, enhanced permeability and retention effects, and the protective role of the protein corona remain to be addressed. This mini-review summarizes new nanomaterials manufactured in studies and in clinical use, analyses current barriers preventing their translation to clinical use, and describes the effective application of nanomaterials in cancer treatment.

Effects of Electromagnets on Bovine Corneal Endothelial Cells Treated with Dendrimer Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles

To improve bovine corneal endothelial cell (BCEC) migration, enhance cell energy, and facilitate symmetric cell distribution in corneal surfaces, an electromagnet device was fabricated. Twenty nanometer superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) functionalized with fourth-generation dendrimer macromolecules were synthesized, and their size and structure were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results confirmed the configuration of the dendrimer on the SPION surfaces. In vitro biocompatibility was assessed using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. No significant toxicity was noted on BCECs within 24 h of incubation. In the cell migration assay, cells treated with dendrimer-coated SPIONs exhibited a relatively high wound healing rate under sample addition (1 μg/mL) under a magnetic field. Real-time PCR on BCECs treated with dendrimer-coated SPIONs revealed upregulation of specific genes, including AT1P1 and NCAM1, for BCECs-dendrimer-coated SPIONs under a magnetic field. The three-dimensional dispersion of BCECs containing dendrimer-coated SPIONs under a magnetic field was evaluated using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The results revealed the BCECs-SPION vortex pattern layers in the corneal surface corresponded to the electromagnet's displacement from the ocular surface. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated that dendrimer-coated SPIONs can be used as a T2 contrast agent.

Dendrimer as a promising nanocarrier for the delivery of doxorubicin as an anticancer therapeutics

Dendrimers are macromolecules with high-polymeric branching capable of undergoing major modifications. These characteristics make them an efficient nanocarrier capable of encapsulating and delivering drug, antibodies, or any therapeutic gene. The failure of conventional techniques to deliver drug with higher efficacy and reduced side effects has led to the use of nanomedicines including dendrimers. Dendrimers are novel drug carriers that are modified, complexed, and conjugated with different ligands and receptors to target the delivery of drug at the specific site without impacting any of the normal cells in surrounding. Moreover, the biocompatibility and safety of the dendrimers can be altered accordingly by the process of functionalization by PEGylation, acetylation, or amination. Various dendrimers have been designed to incorporate and deliver anticancer drug either in free form or as codelivery in conjugation with other drugs or therapeutic siRNA/DNA. Doxorubicin (DOX) is one such chemotherapeutic drug that acts by disrupting the process of DNA repair in tumor cells and hence is, since long been used for anticancer therapy. Certain adverse effects such as cardiotoxicity has limited the use of conventional DOX and has shifted the focus on use of safe nanodelivery systems viz dendrimers. DOX either in free or salt form can be loaded or encapsulated accordingly within the core of the dendrimers and linked with different receptors expressed over tumor cells to improve targeting in any cancerous organ site. Positive results obtained after cytotoxicity assay and in vivo/in vitro studies on different cancerous cell lines, and grafted models suggested the potential use of multifunctional DOX-dendrimers characterized with controlled release, better penetration, improved bioavailability, and reduced organ toxicity. This review consolidates studies on different types of DOX-loaded dendrimers that were synthesized, investigated, and are currently being explored for better cancer targeting. Foreseeing the prospects of dendrimers and their compatibility with DOX (free/salt), the article was updated with all current insights.

Recent advances in bionanomaterials for liver cancer diagnosis and treatment

According to the World Health Organization, liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer associated with death worldwide. It demands effective treatment and diagnostic strategies to hinder its recurrence, complexities, aggressive metastasis and late diagnosis. With recent progress in nanotechnology, several nanoparticle-based diagnostic and therapeutic modalities have entered into clinical trials. With further developments in nanoparticle mediated liver cancer diagnosis and treatment, the approach holds promise for improved clinical liver cancer management. In this review, we discuss the key advances in nanoparticles that have potential for liver cancer diagnosis and treatment. We also discuss the potential of nanoparticles to overcome the limitations of existing therapeutic modalities.

Nanomaterials for cancer therapy: current progress and perspectives

Cancer is a disease with complex pathological process. Current chemotherapy faces problems such as lack of specificity, cytotoxicity, induction of multi-drug resistance and stem-like cells growth. Nanomaterials are materials in the nanorange 1–100 nm which possess unique optical, magnetic, and electrical properties. Nanomaterials used in cancer therapy can be classified into several main categories. Targeting cancer cells, tumor microenvironment, and immune system, these nanomaterials have been modified for a wide range of cancer therapies to overcome toxicity and lack of specificity, enhance drug capacity as well as bioavailability. Although the number of studies has been increasing, the number of approved nano-drugs has not increased much over the years. To better improve clinical translation, further research is needed for targeted drug delivery by nano-carriers to reduce toxicity, enhance permeability and retention effects, and minimize the shielding effect of protein corona. This review summarizes novel nanomaterials fabricated in research and clinical use, discusses current limitations and obstacles that hinder the translation from research to clinical use, and provides suggestions for more efficient adoption of nanomaterials in cancer therapy.

Insights into Nanotherapeutic Strategies as an Impending Approach to Liver Cancer Treatment

Liver cancer, being the utmost prevalent fatal malignancy worldwide, is ranked as the fifth leading cause of deaths associated with cancer. Patients with liver cancer are diagnosed often at an advanced stage, contributing to poor prognosis. Of all forms of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) contributes to 90% of cases, with chemotherapy being the treatment of choice. However, unfavorable toxicity of chemotherapy drugs and the vulnerability of nucleic acid-based drugs to degradation, have limited their application in clinical settings. So, in order to improvise their therapeutic efficacy in HCC treatment, various nanocarrier drug delivery systems have been explored. Furthermore, nanoparticle based imaging provides valuable means of accurately diagnosing HCC. Thus, in recent years, the advent of nanomedicine has shown great potential and progress in dramatically altering the approach to the diagnosis as well as treatment of liver cancer. Nanoparticles (NPs) are being explored as potential drug carriers for small molecules, miRNAs, and therapeutic genes used for liver cancer treatment. This review emphasizes on the current developments and applications of nanomedicine based therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in HCC.

Nanotechnology Based Approach for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Targeting

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary liver cancer that has shown a high incidence and mortality rate worldwide among several types of cancers. A large variety of chemotherapeutic agents employed for the treatment have a limited success rate owing to their limited site-specific drug targeting ability. Thus, there is a demand to develop novel approaches for the treatment of HCC. With advancements in nanotechnology-based drug delivery approaches, the challenges of conventional chemotherapy have been continuously decreasing. Nanomedicines constituted of lipidic and polymeric composites provide a better platform for delivering and opening new pathways for HCC treatment. A score of nanocarriers such as surface-engineered liposomes, nanoparticles, nanotubes, micelles, quantum dots, etc., has been investigated in the treatment of HCC. These nanocarriers are considered to be highly effective clinically for delivering chemotherapeutic drugs with high site-specificity ability and therapeutic efficiency. The present review highlights the current focus on the application of nanocarrier systems using various ligand-based receptor-specific targeting strategies for the treatment and management of HCC. Moreover, the article has also included information on the current clinically approved drug therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment and updates of regulatory requirements for approval of such nanomedicines.

Dendrimer-based nanohybrids in cancer photomedicine

Cancer phototherapy with non-invasiveness and high therapeutical efficiency has emerged as a hot spot research in cancer management. Various nanomaterials have been involved in the development of novel photoactive agents to overcome the current limitations in cancer phototherapy. Dendrimers, as an excellent nanocarrier with unique physicochemical properties, have received extensive attention and much effort has been made in the development of dendrimer-based hybrid platforms for photomedicine applications. Dendrimers can be entrapped with photosensitive agents within their internal cavities and be surface modified with reactive molecules, constructing multifunctional nanoplatforms for cancer treatment. In this review, we concisely survey the design of several different kinds of dendrimer-based nanohybrids for cancer photomedicine applications, and provide an overview of their recent applications in molecular imaging, single-modality photothermal therapy or photodynamic therapy, combination therapy, and theranostics of cancer. In addition, we also briefly discuss the future perspectives in the area of dendrimer-based nanohybrids for cancer photomedicine.

Polydopamine-Based Nanoparticles for Photothermal Therapy/Chemotherapy and their Synergistic Therapy with Autophagy Inhibitor to Promote Antitumor Treatment

Polydopamine (PDA) has attracted much attention recently due to its strong adhesion capability to most substrates. After combining with organic (such as organic metal framework, micelles, hydrogel, polypeptide copolymer) or inorganic nanomaterials (such as gold, silicon, carbon), polydopamine-based nanoparticles (PDA NPs) exhibit the merging of characteristics. Until now, the preparation methods, polymerization mechanism, and photothermal therapy (PTT) or chemotherapy (CT) applications of PDA NPs have been reported detailly. Since the PTT or CT treatment process is often accompanied by exogenous stimuli, tumor cells usually induce pro-survival autophagy to protect the cells from further damage, which will weaken the therapeutic effect. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of PDA NPs modulated PTT, CT, and autophagy is required. However, this association is rarely reviewed. Herein, we briefly described the relationship between PTT/CT, autophagy, and tumor treatment. Then, the outstanding performances of PDA NPs in PTT/CT and their combination with autophagy inhibitors for tumor synergistic therapy have been summarized. This work is expected to shed light on the multi-strategy antitumor therapy applications of PDA NPs.

Dendrimer Architectonics to Treat Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases with Implications in Theranostics and Personalized Medicine

Integration of diagnostic and therapeutic functions in a single platform namely theranostics has become a cornerstone for personalized medicine. Theranostics platform facilitates noninvasive detection and treatment while allowing the monitoring of disease progression and therapeutic efficacy in case of chronic conditions of cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Theranostic tools function by themselves or with the aid of carrier, viz. liposomes, micelles, polymers, or dendrimers. The dendrimer architectures (DA) are well-characterized molecular nanoobjects with a large number of terminal functional groups to enhance solubility and offer multivalency and multifunctional properties. Various noninvasive diagnostic tools like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), gamma scintigraphy, and optical techniques have been accomplished utilizing DAs for simultaneous imaging and drug delivery. Obstacles in the formulation design, drug loading, payload delivery, biocompatibility, overcoming cellular membrane and blood-brain barrier (BBB), and systemic circulation remain a bottleneck in translational efforts. This review focuses on the diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic potential of DA-based nanocarriers in treating cancer and neurodegenerative disorders like AD and Parkinson's disease (PD), among others. In view of the inverse relationship between cancer and AD, designing suitable DA-based theranostic nanodrug with high selectivity has tremendous implications in personalized medicine to treat cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

Electron Spin Relaxation Studies of Polydopamine Radicals

We present a thoroughgoing electron paramagnetic resonance investigation of polydopamine (PDA) radicals using multiple electron paramagnetic resonance techniques at the W-band (94 GHz), electron nuclear double resonance at the Q-band (34 GHz), spin relaxation, and continuous wave measurements at the X-band (9 GHz). The analysis proves the existence of two distinct paramagnetic species in the PDA structure. One of the two radical species is characterized by a long spin-lattice T1 relaxation time equal to 46.9 ms at 5 K and is assigned to the radical center on oxygen. The obtained data revealed that the paramagnetic species exhibit different electron spin relaxation behaviors due to different couplings to local phonons, which confirm spatial distancing between two radical types. Our results shed new light on the radical structure of PDA, which is of great importance in the application of PDA in materials science and biomedicine and allows us to better understand the properties of these materials and predict their future applications.

Polyamidoamine Dendrimers Decorated Multifunctional Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Targeted Chemo- and Photothermal Therapy of Liver Cancer Model

The development of multifunctional drug delivery systems combining two or more nanoparticle-mediated therapies for efficient cancer treatment is highly desired. To face this challenge, a photothermally active polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticle-based platform was designed for the loading of chemotherapeutic drug and targeting of cancer cells. PDA spheres were first functionalized with polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers followed by the conjugation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) moieties and folic acid (FA) targeting ligand. The anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was then absorbed on the particle surface. We performed the physico-chemical characterization of this versatile material and we assessed further its possible application in chemo- and photothermal therapy using liver cancer cell model. These nanoparticles exhibited high near-infrared photothermal conversion efficacy and allowed for loading of the drug, which upon release in specifically targeted cancer cells suppressed their growth. Using cell proliferation, membrane damage, apoptosis, and oxidative stress assays we demonstrated high performance of this nanosystem in cancer cell death induction, providing a novel promising approach for cancer therapy.

Current update on nanoplatforms as therapeutic and diagnostic tools: A review for the materials used as nanotheranostics and imaging modalities

In the last decade, the use of nanotheranostics as emerging diagnostic and therapeutic tools for various diseases, especially cancer, is held great attention. Up to date, several approaches have been employed in order to develop smart nanotheranostics, which combine bioactive targeting on specific tissues as well as diagnostic properties. The nanotheranostics can deliver therapeutic agents by concomitantly monitor the therapy response in real-time. Consequently, the possibility of over- or under-dosing is decreased. Various non-invasive imaging techniques have been used to quantitatively monitor the drug delivery processes. Radiolabeling of nanomaterials is widely used as powerful diagnostic approach on nuclear medicine imaging. In fact, various radiolabeled nanomaterials have been designed and developed for imaging tumors and other lesions due to their efficient characteristics. Inorganic nanoparticles as gold, silver, silica based nanomaterials or organic nanoparticles as polymers, carbon based nanomaterials, liposomes have been reported as multifunctional nanotheranostics. In this review, the imaging modalities according to their use in various diseases are summarized, providing special details for radiolabeling. In further, the most current nanotheranostics categorized via the used nanomaterials are also summed up. To conclude, this review can be beneficial for medical and pharmaceutical society as well as material scientists who work in the field of nanotheranostics since they can use this research as guide for producing newer and more efficient nanotheranostics.

Magnetite Nanoparticles and Spheres for Chemo- and Photothermal Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in vitro

Introduction

We present a multimodal nanoplatforms for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro. The nanoplatforms are based on polydopamine (PDA)-coated magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) and spheres (sMAG) with PAMAM dendrimers and functionalized with NHS-PEG-Mal (N-hydroxysuccinimide–polyethylene glycol–maleimide) linker, which allows their functionalization with a folic acid derivative. The nanomaterials bearing a folic acid-targeting moiety show high efficiency in killing cancer cells in the dual chemo- and photothermal therapy (CT-PTT) of the liver cancer cells in comparison to modalities performed separately.

Materials and Methods

All materials are characterized in detail with transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, zeta potential and magnetic measurements. Also, photothermal properties were determined under irradiation of nanoparticles with laser beam of 2 W/cm². The nontoxicity of nanoparticles with doxorubicin and without was checked by WST and LIVE/DEAD assay. Those tests were also used to evaluate materials bearing folic acid and anticancer drug in combined chemo- and photothermal therapy of HCC. Further, the generation of reactive oxygen species profile was also evaluated using flow cytometry test.

Results

Both NPs and sMAG showed high photothermal properties. Nevertheless, the higher photothermal response was found for magnetic spheres. Materials of concentration above 10 µg/mL reveal that their activity was comparable to free doxorubicin. It is worth highlighting that a functionalized magnetic sphere with DOXO more strongly affected the HepG2 cells than smaller functionalized nanoparticles with DOXO in the performed chemotherapy. This can be attributed to the larger size of particles and a different method of drug distribution. In the further stage, both materials were assessed in combined chemo- and photothermal therapy (CT-PTT) which revealed that magnetic spheres were also more effective in this modality than smaller nanoparticles.

Conclusion

Here, we present two types of nanomaterials (nanoparticles and spheres) based on polydopamine and PAMAM dendrimers g.5.0 functionalized with NHS-PEG-Mal linker terminated with folic acid for in vitro hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. The obtained materials can serve as efficient agents for dual chemo- and photothermal therapy of HCC. We also proved that PDA-coated magnetic spheres were more efficient in therapies based on near-infrared irradiation because determined cell viabilities for those materials are lower than for the same concentrations of nanomaterials based on small magnetic nanoparticles.

Effect of PAMAM Dendrimers on Interactions and Transport of LiTFSI and NaTFSI in Propylene Carbonate-Based Electrolytes

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM)-based electrolytes are prepared by dissolving the PAMAM half-generations G1.5 or G2.5 in propylene carbonate (PC), either with lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) or sodium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (NaTFSI) salts. The solutions, designed for ion battery applications, are studied in terms of ions transport properties. Raman Spectroscopy reveals information about the interactions between cations and PAMAM dendrimers as well as full dissociation of the salts in all solutions. Pulsed-field gradient Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (PFG NMR), measured as a function of both temperature and PAMAM concentration, are obtained for the cation, anion, solvent, and dendrimer molecules using lithium (7Li), sodium (23Na), fluorine (19F), and hydrogen (1H) NMR, respectively. It was found that lithium diffusion is slow compared to the larger TFSI anion and decreases with PAMAM concentration due to interactions between cation and dendrimer. Comparison of conductivities calculated from diffusion coefficients using the Nernst-Einstein equation, with conductivity measurements obtained from Impedance Spectroscopy (IS), shows slightly higher IS conductivities, caused among others by PAMAM conductivity.

Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery, Imaging, and Theragnosis

In the past few decades, polymeric nanocarriers have been recognized as promising tools and have gained attention from researchers for their potential to efficiently deliver bioactive compounds, including drugs, proteins, genes, nucleic acids, etc., in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Remarkably, these polymeric nanocarriers could be further modified as stimuli-responsive systems based on the mechanism of triggered release, i.e., response to a specific stimulus, either endogenous (pH, enzymes, temperature, redox values, hypoxia, glucose levels) or exogenous (light, magnetism, ultrasound, electrical pulses) for the effective biodistribution and controlled release of drugs or genes at specific sites. Various nanoparticles (NPs) have been functionalized and used as templates for imaging systems in the form of metallic NPs, dendrimers, polymeric NPs, quantum dots, and liposomes. The use of polymeric nanocarriers for imaging and to deliver active compounds has attracted considerable interest in various cancer therapy fields. So-called smart nanopolymer systems are built to respond to certain stimuli such as temperature, pH, light intensity and wavelength, and electrical, magnetic and ultrasonic fields. Many imaging techniques have been explored including optical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear imaging, ultrasound, photoacoustic imaging (PAI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET). This review reports on the most recent developments in imaging methods by analyzing examples of smart nanopolymers that can be imaged using one or more imaging techniques. Unique features, including nontoxicity, water solubility, biocompatibility, and the presence of multiple functional groups, designate polymeric nanocues as attractive nanomedicine candidates. In this context, we summarize various classes of multifunctional, polymeric, nano-sized formulations such as liposomes, micelles, nanogels, and dendrimers.

A Review of Microwave Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanomaterials: Reactants, Process Parameters and Morphoslogies

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a multifunctional material due to its exceptional physicochemical properties and broad usefulness. The special properties resulting from the reduction of the material size from the macro scale to the nano scale has made the application of ZnO nanomaterials (ZnO NMs) more popular in numerous consumer products. In recent years, particular attention has been drawn to the development of various methods of ZnO NMs synthesis, which above all meet the requirements of the green chemistry approach. The application of the microwave heating technology when obtaining ZnO NMs enables the development of new methods of syntheses, which are characterised by, among others, the possibility to control the properties, repeatability, reproducibility, short synthesis duration, low price, purity, and fulfilment of the eco-friendly approach criterion. The dynamic development of materials engineering is the reason why it is necessary to obtain ZnO NMs with strictly defined properties. The present review aims to discuss the state of the art regarding the microwave synthesis of undoped and doped ZnO NMs. The first part of the review presents the properties of ZnO and new applications of ZnO NMs. Subsequently, the properties of microwave heating are discussed and compared with conventional heating and areas of application are presented. The final part of the paper presents reactants, parameters of processes, and the morphology of products, with a division of the microwave synthesis of ZnO NMs into three primary groups, namely hydrothermal, solvothermal, and hybrid methods.

Magnetic Nanoparticles as MRI Contrast Agents

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional contrast agents (CAs) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They have been extensively investigated as CAs due to their high biocompatibility and excellent magnetic properties. Furthermore, the ease of functionalization of their surfaces with different types of ligands (antibodies, peptides, sugars, etc.) opens up the possibility of carrying out molecular MRI. Thus, IONPs functionalized with epithelial growth factor receptor antibodies, short peptides, like RGD, or aptamers, among others, have been proposed for the diagnosis of various types of cancer, including breast, stomach, colon, kidney, liver or brain cancer. In addition to cancer diagnosis, different types of IONPs have been developed for other applications, such as the detection of brain inflammation or the early diagnosis of thrombosis. This review addresses key aspects in the development of IONPs for MRI applications, namely, synthesis of the inorganic core, functionalization processes to make IONPs biocompatible and also to target them to specific tissues or cells, and finally in vivo studies in animal models, with special emphasis on tumor models.

LyP-1-Modified Multifunctional Dendrimers for Targeted Antitumor and Antimetastasis Therapy

We designed and synthesized ¹³¹I-labeled dendrimers modified with the LyP-1 peptide as a multifunctional platform for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging, radionuclide therapy, and antimetastasis therapy of cancer. The multifunctional platform was constructed by modifying amine-terminated generation 5 poly(amidoamine) dendrimers with 33.1 LyP-1 peptide and 9.2 3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid-OSu (HPAO), followed by acetylation of the remaining dendrimer terminal amines and radiolabeling with ¹³¹I via the HPAO moieties. The LyP-1-modified dendrimers showed favorable cytocompatibility in the studied concentration range of 0.1-10 μM for 24 h and could be labeled by ¹³¹I with satisfactory radiochemical purity (>99%) and stability (>90% even at 16 h). The ¹³¹I-labeled LyP-1-modified dendrimers were capable of being utilized as a diagnostic probe for SPECT imaging and as a therapeutic agent for radionuclide therapy and antimetastasis of cancer cells in vitro and in a subcutaneous tumor model in vivo. Based on analyses of the tumor microenvironment, the antitumor and antimetastasis effects could be because of the reduced levels of the molecular markers associated with proliferation and metastasis, improved local hypoxia, and increased apoptosis rate. The developed ¹³¹I-labeled dendrimeric nanodevice may hold great promise to be used as a nanotheranostic platform for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Nanocarrier-Based Therapeutics and Theranostics Drug Delivery Systems for Next Generation of Liver Cancer Nanodrug Modalities

The development of therapeutics and theranostic nanodrug delivery systems have posed a challenging task for the current researchers due to the requirement of having various nanocarriers and active agents for better therapy, imaging, and controlled release of drugs efficiently in one platform. The conventional liver cancer chemotherapy has many negative effects such as multiple drug resistance (MDR), high clearance rate, severe side effects, unwanted drug distribution to the specific site of liver cancer and low concentration of drug that finally reaches liver cancer cells. Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel strategies and novel nanocarriers that will carry the drug molecules specific to the affected cancerous hepatocytes in an adequate amount and duration within the therapeutic window. Therapeutics and theranostic systems have advantages over conventional chemotherapy due to the high efficacy of drug loading or drug encapsulation efficiency, high cellular uptake, high drug release, and minimum side effects. These nanocarriers possess high drug accumulation in the tumor area while minimizing toxic effects on healthy tissues. This review focuses on the current research on nanocarrier-based therapeutics and theranostic drug delivery systems excluding the negative consequences of nanotechnology in the field of drug delivery systems. However, clinical developments of theranostics nanocarriers for liver cancer are considered outside of the scope of this article. This review discusses only the recent developments of nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems for liver cancer therapy and diagnosis. The negative consequences of individual nanocarrier in the drug delivery system will also not be covered in this review.

Bi-functional nature of nanoceria: pro-drug and drug-carrier potentiality towards receptor-mediated targeting of doxorubicin

The bifunctional nature of nanoceria as pro-drug and vehicle for the site-specific targeted delivery of DOX is achieved with CeO₂–(DOX–FA) nanoconjugates towards MFC-7 cells.

Therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles and routes of administration

In modern-day medicine, nanotechnology and nanoparticles are some of the indispensable tools in disease monitoring and therapy. The term “nanomaterials” describes materials with nanoscale dimensions (< 100 nm) and are broadly classified into natural and synthetic nanomaterials. However, “engineered” nanomaterials have received significant attention due to their versatility. Although enormous strides have been made in research and development in the field of nanotechnology, it is often confusing for beginners to make an informed choice regarding the nanocarrier system and its potential applications. Hence, in this review, we have endeavored to briefly explain the most commonly used nanomaterials, their core properties and how surface functionalization would facilitate competent delivery of drugs or therapeutic molecules. Similarly, the suitability of carbon-based nanomaterials like CNT and QD has been discussed for targeted drug delivery and siRNA therapy. One of the biggest challenges in the formulation of drug delivery systems is fulfilling targeted/specific drug delivery, controlling drug release and preventing opsonization. Thus, a different mechanism of drug targeting, the role of suitable drug-laden nanocarrier fabrication and methods to augment drug solubility and bioavailability are discussed. Additionally, different routes of nanocarrier administration are discussed to provide greater understanding of the biological and other barriers and their impact on drug transport. The overall aim of this article is to facilitate straightforward perception of nanocarrier design, routes of various nanoparticle administration and the challenges associated with each drug delivery method.

Synthesis, Characterization and Dye Removal Behavior of Core-Shell-Shell Fe3O4/Ag/Polyoxometalates Ternary Nanocomposites

The ternary nanocomposites Fe3O4/Ag/polyoxometalates (Fe3O4/Ag/POMs) with core-shell-core nanostructure were synthesized by coating [Cu(C6H6N2O)2(H2O)]H2[Cu(C6H6N2O)2(P2Mo5O23)]·4H2O polyoxometalates on the surface of Fe3O4/Ag (core-shell) nanoparticles. The transmission electron microscopy/high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses show that the Fe3O4/Ag/POMs ternary nanocomposites reveal a core-shell-core nanostructure, good dispersibility, and high crystallinity. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and physical property measurement system (PPMS) demonstrated the good magnetic properties and superparamagnetic behavior of the nanocomposites at 300 K. The UV-vis spectroscopy displayed the broadband absorption of the Fe3O4/Ag/POMs with the maximum surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanostructure around 420 nm. The dye removal capacity of Fe3O4/Ag/POMs was investigated using methylene blue (MB) as a probe. Through adsorption and photocatalysis, the nanocomposites could quickly remove MB with a removal efficiency of 98.7% under the irradiation of visible light at room temperature. The removal efficiency was still as high as 97.5% even after six runs by magnetic separation of photocatalytic adsorbents after processing, indicating the reusability and high stability of the nanocomposites. These Fe3O4/Ag/POMs photocatalytic adsorbents with magnetic properties will hopefully become a functional material for wastewater treatment in the future.

Ag@Fe3O4@C nanoparticles for multi-modal imaging-guided chemo-photothermal synergistic targeting for cancer therapy

Novel multifunctional core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted widespread attention due to their easy-to-modify surface properties and abundant functional groups. This study introduces a facile approach to synthesize Ag@ iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) @C NPs, and modify with amino-poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-carboxyl and folate (FA) on the exposed carbon surface to produce high contrast for excellent stability, good biocompatibility, cancer cell targeting, and synergistic treatment. The multi-armed PEG at the edge of Ag@Fe₃O₄@C NPs provides the materials an excellent capacity for doxorubicin (DOX) loading. The carbon layer could be used as a photothermal reagent due to its excellent near-infrared (NIR) absorbance capacity, and Fe₃O₄ was used as a reagent for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In vivo combination therapy with this agent was administered in a mouse tumor model, and a remarkable synergistic antitumor effect that is superior to that obtained by monotherapy was achieved. Concerning these features together, these unique multifunctional Ag@Fe₃O₄@C-PEG-FA/DOX NPs could be regarded as an attractive nanoplatforms for chemo-photothermal synergistic tumor therapy with dual-modal fluorescence and MR imaging-guided targeting.

Nanoparticle Size Effect on Water Vapour Adsorption by Hydroxyapatite

Handling and properties of nanoparticles strongly depend on processes that take place on their surface. Specific surface area and adsorption capacity strongly increase as the nanoparticle size decreases. A crucial factor is adsorption of water from ambient atmosphere. Considering the ever-growing number of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles applications, we decided to investigate how the size of nanoparticles and the changes in relative air humidity affect adsorption of water on their surface. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles of two sizes: 10 and 40 nm, were tested. It was found that the nanoparticle size has a strong effect on the kinetics and efficiency of water adsorption. For the same value of water activity, the quantity of water adsorbed on the surface of 10 nm nano-hydroxyapatite was five times greater than that adsorbed on the 40 nm. Based on the adsorption isotherm fitting method, it was found that a multilayer physical adsorption mechanism was active. The number of adsorbed water layers at constant humidity strongly depends on particles size and reaches even 23 layers for the 10 nm particles. The amount of water adsorbed on these particles was surprisingly high, comparable to the amount of water absorbed by the commonly used moisture-sorbent silica gel.

Removal of Hazardous Oxyanions from the Environment Using Metal-Oxide-Based Materials

Scientific development has increased the awareness of water pollutant forms and has reawakened the need for its effective purification. Oxyanions are created by a variety of redox-sensitive metals and metalloids. These species are harmful to living matter due to their toxicity, nondegradibility, and mobility in aquatic environments. Among a variety of water treatment techniques, adsorption is one of the simplest, cheapest, and most effective. Since metal-oxide-based adsorbents poses a variety of functional groups onto their surface, they were widely applied in ions sorption. In this paper adsorption of harmful oxyanions by metal oxide-based materials according to literature survey was studied. Characteristic of oxyanions originating from As, V, B, W and Mo, their probable adsorption mechanisms and comparison of their sorption affinity for metal-oxide-based materials such as iron oxides, aluminum oxides, titanium dioxide, manganium dioxide, and various oxide minerals and their combinations are presented in this paper.

1st Symposium on Polydopamine and NanoTech Poland 2018: Conference Report

The NanoTech Poland is an annual international conference with a strong scientific agenda focused on nanotechnology in energy, environment, and biomedicine. The Nanotech Poland 2018 was held at the NanoBioMedical Centre and Department of Physics at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań from June 6th to June 9th. The aim of NanoTech Poland 2018 was to bring together the scientific community's principal investigators, scientists, researchers, analysts, clinicians, policy makers, industry experts, and well-established and budding entrepreneurs to discuss the present and future perspectives in nanotechnology and nanoscience research and development. This year, the 1st Symposium on Polydopamine was held on June 6th. This forum was dedicated to the application of polydopamine and related catechol materials in a variety of research fields, both at the nano- and macroscale. The symposium gathered leading scientists from this important research field from top universities and institutions that have been involved in the research revolved around polydopamine. With over 200 national and international participants, NanoTech Poland 2018 and the 1st Symposium on Polydopamine provided a forum to present and discuss the latest scientific news from the field of nanotechnology with a strong interdisciplinary aspect and bioinspired materials.