Self-Assembly of Asymmetrically Functionalized Titania Nanoparticles into Nanoshells

Development of Janus Particles as Potential Drug Delivery Systems for Diabetes Treatment and Antimicrobial Applications

Janus particles have emerged as a novel and smart material that could improve pharmaceutical formulation, drug delivery, and theranostics. Janus particles have two distinct compartments that differ in functionality, physicochemical properties, and morphological characteristics, among other conventional particles. Recently, Janus particles have attracted considerable attention as effective particulate drug delivery systems as they can accommodate two opposing pharmaceutical agents that can be engineered at the molecular level to achieve better target affinity, lower drug dosage to achieve a therapeutic effect, and controlled drug release with improved pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. This article discusses the development of Janus particles for tailored and improved delivery of pharmaceutical agents for diabetes treatment and antimicrobial applications. It provides an account of advances in the synthesis of Janus particles from various materials using different approaches. It appraises Janus particles as a promising particulate system with the potential to improve conventional delivery systems, providing a better loading capacity and targeting specificity whilst promoting multi-drugs loading and single-dose-drug administration.

Special Issue "Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Design, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications"

The current Special Issue entitled "Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Design, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications" aims to present contributions from all scientists producing and/or applying metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in a diagnostic, therapeutic or theranostics context [...].

Hemocompatibility of Nanotitania-Nanocellulose Hybrid Materials

In order to develop a new type of improved wound dressing, we combined the wound healing properties of nanotitania with the advantageous dressing properties of nanocellulose to create three different hybrid materials. The hemocompatibility of the synthesized hybrid materials was evaluated in an in vitro human whole blood model. To our knowledge, this is the first study of the molecular interaction between hybrid nanotitania and blood proteins. Two of the hybrid materials prepared with 3 nm colloidal titania and 10 nm hydrothermally synthesized titania induced strong coagulation and platelet activation but negligible complement activation. Hence, they have great potential as a new dressing for promoting wound healing. Unlike the other two, the third hybrid material using molecular ammonium oxo-lactato titanate as a titania source inhibited platelet consumption, TAT generation, and complement activation, apparently via lowered pH at the surface interface. It is therefore suitable for applications where a passivating surface is desired, such as drug delivery systems and extracorporeal circuits. This opens the possibility for a tailored blood response through the surface functionalization of titania.