Wound healing strategies based on nanoparticles incorporated in hydrogel wound patches

The intricate, tightly controlled mechanism of wound healing that is a vital physiological mechanism is essential to maintaining the skin's natural barrier function. Numerous studies have focused on wound healing as it is a massive burden on the healthcare system. Wound repair is a complicated process with various cell types and microenvironment conditions. In wound healing studies, novel therapeutic approaches have been proposed to deliver an effective treatment. Nanoparticle-based materials are preferred due to their antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and increased mechanical strength in wound healing. They can be divided into six main groups: metal NPs, ceramic NPs, polymer NPs, self-assembled NPs, composite NPs, and nanoparticle-loaded hydrogels. Each group shows several advantages and disadvantages, and which material will be used depends on the type, depth, and area of the wound. Better wound care/healing techniques are now possible, thanks to the development of wound healing strategies based on these materials, which mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment of the wound. Bearing this in mind, here we reviewed current studies on which NPs have been used in wound healing and how this strategy has become a key biotechnological procedure to treat skin infections and wounds.

Bioinspired Collagen/Gelatin Nanopillared Films as a Potential Implant Coating Material

Collagen-based Sharpey's fibers are naturally located between alveolar bone and tooth, and they have critical roles in a well-functioning tooth such as mechanical stability, facile differentiation, and disease protection. The success of Sharpey's fibers in these important roles is due to their unique location, vertical alignment with respect to tooth surface, as well as their micronanofiber architecture. Inspired by these structures, herein, we introduce the use of nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide molds in a drop-casting setup to fabricate biopolymeric films possessing arrays of uniform Collagen:Gelatin (Col:Gel) nanopillars. Obtained structures have diameters of ∼90 nm and heights of ∼300 nm, yielding significantly higher surface roughness values compared to their flat counterparts. More importantly, the nanostructures were parallel to each other but perpendicular to the underlying film surface imitating the natural collagenous structures of Sharpey's fibers regarding nanoscale morphology, geometrical orientation, as well as biochemical content. Viability testing showed that the nanopillared Col:Gel films have high cell viabilities (over 90%), and they display significantly improved attachment (ca. ∼ 2 times) and mineralization for Saos-2 cells when compared to flat Col:Gel films and Tissue Culture Polystyrene (TCPS) controls, plausibly due to their largely increased surface roughness and area. Hence, such Sharpey's fiber-inspired bioactive nanopillared Col:Gel films can be used as a dental implant coating material or tissue engineering platform with enhanced cellular and osteogenic properties.

Local Epidermal Growth Factor Delivery Using Nanopillared Chitosan-Gelatin Films for Melanogenesis and Wound Healing

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is required for various regulations of skin tissue including wound healing, however, it has limited stability due to the physicochemical conditions of the wound milieu. The...

Nanopillared Chitosan/Gelatin Films: A Biomimetic Approach for Improved Osteogenesis

Biomimicry strategies, inspired from natural organization of living organisms, are being widely used in the design of nanobiomaterials. Particularly, nonlithographic techniques have shown immense potential in the facile fabrication of nanostructured surfaces at large-scale production. Orthopedic biomaterials or coatings possessing extracellular matrix-like nanoscale features induce desirable interactions between the bone tissue and implant surface, also known as osseointegration. In this study, nanopillared chitosan/gelatin (C/G) films were fabricated using nanoporous anodic alumina molds, and their antibacterial properties as well as osteogenesis potential were analyzed by comparing to the flat C/G films and tissue culture polystyrene as controls. In vitro analysis of the expression of RUNX2, osteopontion, and osteocalcin genes for mesenchymal stem cells as well as osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells was found to be increased for the cells grown on nano C/G films, indicating early-stage osteogenic differentiation. Moreover, the mineralization tests (quantitative calcium analysis and alizarin red staining) showed that nanotopography significantly enhanced the mineralization capacity of both cell lines. This work may provide a new perspective of biomimetic surface topography fabrication for orthopedic implant coatings with superior osteogenic differentiation capacity and fast bone regeneration potential.

Anemone-like nanostructures for non-lithographic, reproducible, large-area, and ultra-sensitive SERS substrates

The melt-infiltration technique enables the fabrication of complex nanostructures for a wide range of applications in optics, electronics, biomaterials, and catalysis. Here, anemone-like nanostructures are produced for the first time under the surface/interface principles of melt-infiltration as a non-lithographic method. Functionalized anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes are used as templates to provide large-area production of nanostructures, and polycarbonate (PC) films are used as active phase materials. In order to understand formation dynamics of anemone-like structures finite element method (FEM) simulations are performed and it is found that wetting behaviour of the polymer is responsible for the formation of cavities at the caps of the structures. These nanostructures are examined in the surface-enhanced-Raman-spectroscopy (SERS) experiment and they exhibit great potential in this field. Reproducible SERS signals are detected with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 7.2-12.6% for about 10,000 individual spots. SERS measurements are demonstrated at low concentrations of Rhodamine 6G (R6G), even at the picomolar level, with an enhancement factor of ∼10(11). This high enhancement factor is ascribed to the significant electric field enhancement at the cavities of nanostructures and nanogaps between them, which is supported by finite difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. These novel nanostructured films can be further optimized to be used in chemical and plasmonic sensors and as a single molecule SERS detection platform.

Fabrication and modification of composite silica nano test tubes for targeted drug delivery

Drug containing composite silica nano test tubes were fabricated within alumina template membranes, and upon liberation, modified with targeting moieties to specifically kill cancer cells.

One-dimensional surface-imprinted polymeric nanotubes for specific biorecognition by initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD)

Molecular imprinting is a powerful, generic, and cost-effective technique; however, challenges still remain related to the fabrication and development of these systems involving nonhomogeneous binding sites, insufficient template removing, incompatibility with aqueous media, low rebinding capacity, and slow mass transfer. The vapor-phase deposition of polymers is a unique technique because of the conformal nature of coating and offers new possibilities in a number of applications including sensors, microfluidics, coating, and bioaffinity platforms. Herein, we demonstrated a simple but versatile concept to generate one-dimensional surface-imprinted polymeric nanotubes within anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes based on initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) technique for biorecognition of immunoglobulin G (IgG). It is reported that the fabricated surface-imprinted nanotubes showed high binding capacity and significant specific recognition ability toward target molecules compared with the nonimprinted forms. Given its simplicity and universality, the iCVD method can offer new possibilities in the field of molecular imprinting.

Nanoporous polymeric nanofibers based on selectively etched PS-b-PDMS block copolymers

One-dimensional nanoporous polymeric nanofibers have been fabricated within an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane by a facile approach based on selective etching of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) domains in polystyrene-block-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PS-b-PDMS) block copolymers that had been formed within the AAO template. It was observed that prior to etching, the well-ordered PS-b-PDMS nanofibers are solid and do not have any porosity. The postetched PS nanofibers, on the other hand, had a highly porous structure having about 20-50 nm pore size. The nanoporous polymeric fibers were also employed as a drug carrier for the native, continuous, and pulsatile drug release using Rhodamine B (RB) as a model drug. These studies showed that enhanced drug release and tunable drug dosage can be achieved by using ultrasound irradiation.

Surface-induced self-assembly of dipeptides onto nanotextured surfaces

There is an increasing interest for the utilization of biomolecules for fabricating novel nanostructures due to their ability for specific molecular recognition, biocompatibility, and ease of availability. Among these molecules, diphenylalanine (Phe-Phe) dipeptide is considered as one of the simplest molecules that can generate a family of self-assembly based nanostructures. The properties of the substrate surface, on which the self-assembly process of these peptides occurs, play a critical role. Herein, we demonstrated the influence of surface texture and functionality on the self-assembly of Phe-Phe dipeptides using smooth silicon surfaces, anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes, and poly(chloro-p-xylylene) (PPX) films having columnar and helical morphologies. We found that helical PPX films, AAO, and silicon surfaces induce similar self-assembly processes and the surface hydrophobicity has a direct influence for the final dipeptide structure whether being in an aggregated tubular form or creating a thin film that covers the substrate surface. Moreover, the dye staining data indicates that the surface charge properties and hence the mechanism of the self-assembly process are different for tubular structures as opposed to the peptidic film. We believe that our results may contribute to the control of surface-induced self-assembly of peptide molecules and this control can potentially allow the fabrication of novel peptide based materials with desired morphologies and unique functionalities for different technological applications.

Resistive-pulse detection of short dsDNAs using a chemically functionalized conical nanopore sensor

Aims: To develop nanopore resistive-pulse sensors for the detection of short (50 base-pair [bp] and 100 bp) DNAs. Materials & methods: Conically shaped nanopores were chemical etched into polyethylene terphthalate membranes. The as-etched membrane had anionic carboxylate sites on the pore walls. Neutral and hydrophilic ethanolamine functional groups were attached to these carboxylate sites using well-established EDC (1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl] carbodiimide hydrochloride) chemistry. Results & discussion: The ethanolamine-functionalized pores were used to detect 50 and 100 bp DNAs via the resistive-pulse method. The resistive-pulse signature produced by the 50 bp DNA could be distinguished from that of the 100 bp DNA with these sensors. Conclusions: Attachment of ethanolamine to the carboxylate groups on the pore wall lowered the anionic charge density on the wall. This mitigated the problem of electrostatic rejection of the anionic DNAs from the pore and enabled the detection of these DNA analytes.

Antibody-functionalized nano test tubes target breast cancer cells

Aim: To develop nano test tubes that will deliver a biomedical payload to a specific cell type. Methods: The template-synthesis method was used to prepare silica nano test tubes. An antibody that is specific for breast cancer cells was attached to the outer tube surfaces. A fluorophore was attached to the inner surfaces of the nano test tubes. The tubes were incubated with the breast cancer cells and the extent of attachment to the cell surfaces was investigated by fluorescence microscopy. Results: Tubes modified on their outer surfaces with the target antibody showed enhanced attachment to breast-cancer cells, relative to tubes modified on their outer surfaces with a species and isotype-matched control antibody. Conclusions: This work is a first step toward demonstrating that nano test tubes can be used as cell-specific delivery vehicles.

Biofunctionalization and capping of template synthesized nanotubes

Using alumina templates both nanotubes (open on both ends) and nano test tubes (open on only one end) have been synthesized from many different materials and these have great potential as delivery vehicles for biomedical applications. This review focuses on our recent results directed towards developing "smart" nanotubes for biomolecule delivery applications. While intensive efforts have focused on spherical nanoparticles that are easier to make, cylindrical particles or nanotubes offer many advantages. First, the tunable alumina template allows one to dictate both the pore diameter and length of the nanotube. In addition, template synthesized nanotubes can be differentially functionalized on their inner and outer surfaces. This review highlights these advantages in the contexts of drug extraction and antibody-antigen interactions, the synthesis of protein nanotubes, and recent advances in covalently capped ("corked") nanotubes designed to prevent premature payload leakage. Though diverse applications for nanotubes have already been discovered, many new and exciting paths await exploration.

Template synthesized nanotubes for biomedical delivery applications

This review details the advances made in alumina template-synthesized nanotubes and nano test tubes as delivery vehicles for biomedical applications. Most current research has focused on spherical nanoparticles because they are easier to make; however, cylindrical particles or nanotubes offer many advantages over spherical particles. One advantage is that the template is tunable, which means the pore diameter and template thickness can be controlled, resulting in larger payload capacities for nanotubes. Another advantage is that template synthesized nanotubes can be differentially functionalized on their inner and outer surfaces. Inner and outer surface nanotube modification for use in drug extraction, antibody–antigen interactions and magnetization is discussed. Recent advances made in covalent capping (‘corking’) nanotubes to prevent premature payload leakage are also covered. Although many applications for nanotubes have already been discovered, many new and exciting paths await exploration.

Corking Nano Test Tubes by Chemical Self-Assembly

There is tremendous current interest in using nanoparticles to deliver biomolecules and macromolecules (e.g., drugs and DNA) to specific sites in living systems. Release of the biomedical payload from the nanoparticle can be accomplished by chemical or enzymatic degradation of the nanoparticle or of the link between the payload and the nanoparticle. We are exploring an alternative payload-release strategy that builds on our work on template-synthesized nano test tubes. These are hollow nanotubes that are closed on one end and open on the other, and the dimensions can be controlled at will. If these nano test tubes could be filled with a payload and then the open end corked with a chemically labile cap, they might function as a universal delivery vehicle. We show here that silica nano test tubes can be covalently corked by chemical self-assembly of nanoparticles to the tubes. We also show that the nanoparticle corks remain attached to the mouths of the nano test tubes after liberation from the alumina template. For this proof-of-principle study, we used simple imine linkages to attach the corks to the test tubes. Schiff's bases are thermodynamically unstable in the presence of water; however, the multiple points of contact between the nano test tubes and nanoparticles allow the assembled structure to be metastable under our experimental conditions. Other chemical linkages-either more or less stable-may be more appropriate for other applications, and these are currently under development.