Nanodiamond as a Cytokine Sponge in Infectious Diseases

Silver and Carbon Nanomaterials/Nanocomplexes as Safe and Effective ACE2-S Binding Blockers on Human Skin Cell Lines

(1) Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a crucial functional receptor of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although the scale of infections is no longer at pandemic levels, there are still fatal cases. The potential of the virus to infect the skin raises questions about new preventive measures. In the context of anti-SARS-CoV-2 applications, the interactions of antimicrobial nanomaterials (silver, Ag; diamond, D; graphene oxide, GO and their complexes) were examined to assess their ability to affect whether ACE2 binds with the virus. (2) Methods: ACE2 inhibition competitive tests and in vitro treatments of primary human adult epidermal keratinocytes (HEKa) and primary human adult dermal fibroblasts (HDFa) were performed to assess the blocking capacity of nanomaterials/nanocomplexes and their toxicity to cells. (3) Results: The nanocomplexes exerted a synergistic effect compared to individual nanomaterials. HEKa cells were more sensitive than HDFa cells to Ag treatments and high concentrations of GO. Cytotoxic effects were not observed with D. In the complexes, both carbonic nanomaterials had a soothing effect against Ag. (4) Conclusions: The Ag5D10 and Ag5GO10 nanocomplexes seem to be most effective and safe for skin applications to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection by blocking ACE2-S binding. These nanocomplexes should be evaluated through prolonged in vivo exposure. The expected low specificity enables wider applications.

Developments and Trends of Nanotechnology Application in Sepsis: A Comprehensive Review Based on Knowledge Visualization Analysis

Sepsis, a common life-threatening clinical condition, continues to have high morbidity and mortality rates, despite advancements in management. In response, significant research efforts have been directed toward developing effective strategies. Within this scope, nanotechnology has emerged as a particularly promising field, attracting significant interest for its potential to enhance disease diagnosis and treatment. While several reviews have highlighted the use of nanoparticles in sepsis, comprehensive studies that summarize and analyze the hotspots and research trends are lacking. To identify and further promote the development of nanotechnology in sepsis, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on the relevant literature, assessing research trends and hotspots in the application of nanomaterials for sepsis. Next, a comprehensive review of the subjectively recognized research hotspots in sepsis, including nanotechnology-enhanced biosensors and nanoscale imaging for sepsis diagnostics, and nanoplatforms designed for antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and detoxification strategies in sepsis therapy, is elucidated, while the potential side effects and toxicity risks of these nanomaterials were discussed. Particular attention is given to biomimetic nanoparticles, which mimic the biological functions of source cells like erythrocytes, immune cells, and platelets to evade immune responses and effectively deliver therapeutic agents, demonstrating substantial translational potential. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives of nanotechnology applications in sepsis with a view to maximizing their great potential in the research of translational medicine are also discussed.

A Comprehensive Assessment of the Biocompatibility and Safety of Diamond Nanoparticles on Reconstructed Human Epidermis

Diamond nanoparticles, also known as nanodiamonds (NDs), exhibit remarkable, awe-inspiring properties that make them suitable for various applications in the field of skin care products. However, a comprehensive assessment of their compatibility with human skin, according to the irritation criteria established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has not yet been conducted. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if diamond nanoparticles at a concentration of 25 μg/mL, incubated with reconstituted human epidermis (EpiDermTM) for 18 h, conform to the OECD TG439 standard used to classify chemical irritants. For this purpose, a cell viability test (MTT assay), histological assessment, and analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression were performed. The results indicated that NDs had no toxic effect at the tested concentration. They also did not adversely affect tissue structure and did not lead to a simultaneous increase in protein and mRNA expression of the analyzed cytokines. These results confirm the safety and biocompatibility of NDs for application in skincare products, thereby creating a wide range of possibilities to exert an impact on the advancement of contemporary cosmetology in the future.

Recent Development of Nano-Carbon Material in Pharmaceutical Application: A Review

Carbon nanomaterials have attracted researchers in pharmaceutical applications due to their outstanding properties and flexible dimensional structures. Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) have electrical properties, high thermal surface area, and high cellular internalization, making them suitable for drug and gene delivery, antioxidants, bioimaging, biosensing, and tissue engineering applications. There are various types of carbon nanomaterials including graphene, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, nanodiamond, quantum dots and many more that have interesting applications in the future. The functionalization of the carbon nanomaterial surface could modify its chemical and physical properties, as well as improve drug loading capacity, biocompatibility, suppress immune response and have the ability to direct drug delivery to the targeted site. Carbon nanomaterials could also be fabricated into composites with proteins and drugs to reduce toxicity and increase effectiveness in the pharmaceutical field. Thus, carbon nanomaterials are very effective for applications in pharmaceutical or biomedical systems. This review will demonstrate the extraordinary properties of nanocarbon materials that can be used in pharmaceutical applications.