A novel graphene nanodots inlaid porous gold electrode for electrochemically controlled drug release

Porous biomaterials for tissue engineering: a review

The field of biomaterials has grown rapidly over the past decades. Within this field, porous biomaterials have played a remarkable role in: (i) enabling the manufacture of complex three-dimensional structures; (ii) recreating mechanical properties close to those of the host tissues; (iii) facilitating interconnected structures for the transport of macromolecules and cells; and (iv) behaving as biocompatible inserts, tailored to either interact or not with the host body. This review outlines a brief history of the development of biomaterials, before discussing current materials proposed for use as porous biomaterials and exploring the state-of-the-art in their manufacture. The wide clinical applications of these materials are extensively discussed, drawing on specific examples of how the porous features of such biomaterials impact their behaviours, as well as the advantages and challenges faced, for each class of the materials.

Ultrathin 2D flower-like CoP@C with the active (211) facet for efficient electrocatalytic water splitting

Due to the more exposed (211) facet, the electrocatalytic water splitting activity of 2D CoP@C is superior to that of its counterpart 3D structure.

Mesoporous gold nanoparticles for photothermal controlled anticancer drug delivery

Aim: To realize the transit and release of cancer drug exactly as well as high drug loading ratio, we reported a biocompatible and temperature responsive controlled drug delivery system based on 3D mesoporous structured Au networks. Materials & methods: Here, we filled the hollow interiors of Au networks with a phase-change material so that the drug release was easily regulated by controlling the temperature only. Results: Thanks to the high near-infrared reflectance absorbance and mesoporous structure, the Au–PEG + lauric acid/doxorubicin system showed a strong photothermal conversion efficiency, high drug-loading ratio (54.2% for doxorubicin) and controlled drug release. Conclusion: This system revealed great advantages in photothermal therapy and chemotherapy, offering an obvious synergistic effect in cancer treatment.

Mitochondria and Nuclei Dual-Targeted Hollow Carbon Nanospheres for Cancer Chemophotodynamic Synergistic Therapy

Dual-targeted nanoparticles are gaining increasing importance as a more effective anticancer strategy by attacking double key sites of tumor cells, especially in chemophotodynamic therapy. To retain the nuclei inhibition effect and enhance doxorubicin (DOX)-induced apoptosis by mitochondrial pathways simultaneously, we synthesized the novel nanocarrier (HKH) based on hollow carbon nitride nanosphere (HCNS) modified with hyaluronic acid (HA) and the mitochondrial localizing peptide D[KLAKLAK]2 (KLA). DOX-loaded HKH nanoparticles (HKHDs) showed satisfactory drug-loading efficiency, excellent solubility, and very low hemolytic effect. HA/CD44 binding and electrostatic attraction between positively charged KLA and A549 cells facilitated HKHD uptake via the endocytosis mechanism. Acidic microenvironment, hyaluronidase, and KLA targeting together facilitate doxorubicin toward the mitochondria and nuclei, resulting in apoptosis, DNA intercalation, cell-cycle arrest at the S phase, and light-induced reactive oxygen species production. Intravascular HKHD inhibited tumor growth in A549-implanted mice with good safety. The present study, for the first time, systemically reveals biostability, targetability, chemophotodynamics, and safety of the functionalized novel HKHD.

A multifunctional biomimetic hybrid nanocarrier for the controlled delivery of chemotherapy drugs by near-infrared light

We have constructed a biocompatible magnetic nanoparticle-based nanocomposite material by integrating the features of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, mesoporous silica and lipid bilayer for the treatment of tumor.

Ultrasound-accelerated synthesis of gold nanoparticles modified choline chloride functionalized graphene oxide as a novel sensitive bioelectrochemical sensor: Optimized meloxicam detection using CCD-RSM design and application for human plasma sample

In this research, gold nanoparticles modified choline chloride functionalized graphene oxide (AuNPs-ChCl-GO) was synthesized through the assistance of ultrasound and fabricated as a novel bioelectrochemical sensor and utilized for the sensitive detection of meloxicam (MEL). The morphological and structural features of the AuNPs-ChCl-GO were characterized using different techniques including FTIR, TEM, FE-SEM, EDX, and XRD. The modified electrode showed a remarkable improvement in the anodic oxidation activity of MEL due to the enhancement in the current response compared to the bare carbon paste electrode (CPE). The biosensor composition and measurement conditions were optimized using an experimental design. The differential pulse voltammetry (DPVs) exhibited expanded linear dynamic in the range of 9.0 × 10^-9 to 8.5 × 10^-7 M for MEL in Britton-Robinson buffer at pH = 4.0 with a detection limit of 1.008 × 10^-9 M. The practical utility of the modified electrode was demonstrated by the accurate detection of MEL in human plasma sample.

Encapsulating Co2 P@C Core-Shell Nanoparticles in a Porous Carbon Sandwich as Dual-Doped Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution

A highly efficient and pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst with a sandwich-architecture constructed using zero-dimensional N- and P-dual-doped core-shell Co₂ P@C nanoparticles embedded into a 3 D porous carbon sandwich (Co₂ P@N,P-C/CG) was synthesized through a facile two-step hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis method. The interfacial electron transfer rate and the number of active sites increased owing to the synergistic effect between the N,P-dual-doped Co₂ P@C core-shell and sandwich-nanostructured substrates. The presence of a high surface area and large pore sizes improved the mass-transfer dynamics. This nanohybrid showed remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward the HER in a wide pH range with good stability. The computational study and experiments revealed that the carbon atoms close to the N and P dopants on the shell of Co₂ P@N,P-C were effective active sites for HER catalysis and that both Co₂ P and the N,P dopants gave rise to an optimized binding free energy of H on the active sites.

Primary tumor and pre-metastatic niches co-targeting “peptides-lego” hybrid hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for metastatic breast cancer treatment

Hybrid hydroxyapatite nanoparticles orchestrating tumor metastasis resisting therapy (TMRT) and tumor metastasis targeting therapy (TMTT).

Biodegradable pH-responsive hydrogels for controlled dual-drug release

pH-Responsive biodegradable hydrogels based on NIPAM/AA and a PLLA/PEG macro-crosslinker demonstrated pH mediated differential release of doxorubicin and tetracycline.

Lipid bilayer modified gold nanorod@mesoporous silica nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery triggered by near-infrared light

We coupled the photothermal and thermoresponsive properties in one nanoplatform by wrapping AuNRs@mSiO₂ with thermoresponsive lipid bilayer.

Mitochondria and nuclei dual-targeted heterogeneous hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for enhancing therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin

Dual-targeted nanoparticles have been increasingly used to realize greater anti-proliferation effect by attacking double key sites of tumor cells. In order to retain nuclei inhibition effect and enhance DOX-induced apoptosis by mitochondrial pathway simultaneously, hyaluronic acid (HA) modified hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles (HAP-HA), the functional calcium-based tumor targeting nanoparticles, have been developed. In this nanosystem, HA acts as an active tumor-targeting ligand to bind the CD44 receptors which are overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells while HAP can load and deliver DOX to both nuclei and mitochondria of tumor cells. In this study, DOX-loaded HAP-HA nanoparticles (DOX/HAP-HA) exhibited satisfactory drug loading efficiency which was up to 214.55 ± 51.05 μg mg(-1) and showed a uniform nano-scaled particle size. The mitochondrial and nuclei targetability of DOX/HAP-HA was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy analyses. Besides, western blot assay demonstrated that DOX/HAP-HA could markedly enhance mitochondrial cytochrome C leakage and thereby activate apoptotic cascade associated with it. In addition, in vivo anti-tumor efficacy and toxicity evaluation of DOX/HAP-HA indicated that DOX/HAP-HA was more effective and less harmful compared to other groups. DOX/HAP-HA might be a new promising targeted delivery system for effective cancer therapy.

Graphene and graphene-based nanocomposites: biomedical applications and biosafety

Graphene is the first carbon-based two dimensional atomic crystal and has gained much attention since its discovery by Geim and co-workers in 2004.