Realizing active targeting in cancer nanomedicine with ultrasmall nanoparticles

• André F. Lima,
• Giselle Z. Justo and
• Alioscka A. Sousa

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1208–1226, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.98

• primarily occurs via transendothelial transport pathways [6][7]. Regardless of the mode of NP extravasation, active targeting strategies have been widely explored to further enhance NP accumulation in tumors and NP internalization by cancer cells [8][9]. Active targeting involves the modification of NPs

• incorporation of active targeting strategies is expected to further enhance the selectivity and performance of usNPs for cancer treatment. By designing usNPs to target surface receptors on cancer cells, tumor retention can be improved by minimizing particle intravasation back to tumor blood vessels. Active

• interaction with cell surface receptors on cancer cells, the incorporation of targeting ligands onto usNPs must optimize the exposure, orientation, and conformation of the functional portion. For small molecules and peptides in particular, the functional moiety must circumvent both steric hindrance from the

Synthesis, characterization and anticancer effect of doxorubicin-loaded dual stimuli-responsive smart nanopolymers

• Ömür Acet,
• Pavel Kirsanov,
• Burcu Önal Acet,
• Inessa Halets-Bui,
• Dzmitry Shcharbin,
• Şeyda Ceylan Cömert and
• Mehmet Odabaşı

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1189–1196, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.96

• physiological functions. They can effectively transport therapeutic agents to targeted cells or specific intracellular regions through passive targeting or ligand-based strategies [9][10][11]. The use of certain polymers could potentially enable sustained drug levels for controlled release and extended

• the HeLa cancer cell line (CCL-2 ATCC). Cells were grown in full DMEM with stable glutamine, 4.5 g/L glucose (Life Technologies, Paisley, U.K.), 10% FBS (Life Technologies, Paisley, U.K.), 100 U/mL penicillin, and 0.1 mg/mL streptomycin (Millipore-Sigma, Burlington, MA, United States) at 37 °C in a

• ). Cytotoxicity test Cell viability was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The method is based on the ability of NADPH-dependent cellular oxidoreductase in living, metabolically active cells to reduce MTT to water-insoluble crystals of formazan. Cells were seeded

AI-assisted models to predict chemotherapy drugs modified with C₆₀ fullerene derivatives

• Jonathan-Siu-Loong Robles-Hernández,
• Dora Iliana Medina,
• Katerin Aguirre-Hurtado,
• Marlene Bosquez,
• Roberto Salcedo and
• Alan Miralrio

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1170–1188, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.95

• ][17]. This G-protein is targeted because studies show a possible positive effect on inhibiting the metastasis of cervical cancer cells [18]. However, more clinical and preclinical studies on CXCR7 and its co-player CXCR4 are required since alterations have been detected in diseases such as cancer

Quantum-to-classical modeling of monolayer Ge₂Se₂ and its application in photovoltaic devices

• Anup Shrivastava,
• Shivani Saini,
• Dolly Kumari,
• Sanjai Singh and
• Jost Adam

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1153–1169, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.94

• 2004, the unique properties of two-dimensional materials have sparked intense research interest regarding their use as alternative materials in various photonic applications. Transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers have been proposed as transport layers in photovoltaic cells, but the promising

• optoelectronic devices, including next-generation solar cells. The hybrid quantum-to-macroscopic methodology presented here applies to broader classes of 2D and 3D materials and structures, showing a path to the computational design of future photovoltaic materials. Keywords: 2D materials; density functional

• theory; hole transport layer; optical properties; solar cells; Introduction Reducing fossil fuels and their harmful environmental impact requires improvements in green, sustainable energy sources. Among the various sources of green energy generation, solar energy has been identified as the most

Introducing third-generation periodic table descriptors for nano-qRASTR modeling of zebrafish toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles

• Supratik Kar and
• Siyun Yang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1142–1152, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.93

• strong antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticancer, and photocatalytic activities [7][8][9]. Besides the medical field, they are also commonly used in commercial products such as fuel cells and plastics, and environmental applications such as analysis, sensing, remediation, and

• , affecting not only individual cells but also developmental processes. The implications for zebrafish embryos include potential deformities, impaired development, and mortality. Employing zebrafish as a biological model facilitates the evaluation of toxicity, offering an integrative perspective on the

Recent updates in applications of nanomedicine for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis

• Damai Ria Setyawati,
• Fransiska Christydira Sekaringtyas,
• Riyona Desvy Pratiwi,
• A’liyatur Rosyidah,
• Rohimmahtunnissa Azhar,
• Nunik Gustini,
• Gita Syahputra,
• Idah Rosidah,
• Etik Mardliyati,
• Tarwadi and
• Sjaikhurrizal El Muttaqien

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1105–1116, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.89

• accumulation selectively through specific binding to receptors overexpressed by cancer cells (left panel of Figure 1), resulting in enhanced therapeutic activity and reduced systemic toxicity. Globally, there are around 15 approved cancer drug nanoformulations for clinical use, and 80 candidates for novel

• to the trans-differentiation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into collagen-producing myofibroblasts, resulting in the progressive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein [12]. The condition may be caused by various etiologies, including viral hepatitis infection, alcohol abuse, and

• interactions The accumulation of any type of NPs in the liver is generally accomplished because of the central role of the liver itself as a main metabolic and excretory organ in the body. The presence of fenestrations in the layers of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and the absence of the

Unveiling the potential of alginate-based nanomaterials in sensing technology and smart delivery applications

• Shakhzodjon Uzokboev,
• Khojimukhammad Akhmadbekov,
• Ra’no Nuritdinova,
• Salah M. Tawfik and
• Yong-Ill Lee

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1077–1104, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.88

• discussed, including drug delivery and environmental sensing applications for humidity, heavy metals, and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, biomedical sensing applications of alginate-based nanoparticles regarding various analytes such as glucose, cancer cells, pharmaceutical drugs, and human motion will also be

• example, it is possible to deliver medications to cancer cells with little side effects and minimum damage to healthy cells. As a result, DDSs can improve patient compliance and adherence to medications [39]. Furthermore, smart drug delivery can also increase the bioavailability of drugs, which refers to

• advantages of using biopolymeric nanoparticles Nanoparticle systems offer several advantages in drug delivery [41][47]. One of the major advantages of nanoparticle-based DDSs is that they can protect drugs and ensure the delivery of drugs to targeted cells or tissue [48]. By encapsulating drugs within

Interface properties of nanostructured carbon-coated biological implants: an overview

• Mattia Bartoli,
• Francesca Cardano,
• Erik Piatti,
• Stefania Lettieri,
• Andrea Fin and
• Alberto Tagliaferro

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1041–1053, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.85

• environments represented by implant–tissue interfaces [18] through the tuning of different parameters (i.e., surface roughness and potential as well as hydrophobicity). Cells and biomolecules can selectively adhere to or be repelled from artificial implanted surfaces, triggering several metabolic pathways of

• pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. The final step in the immune system response involves the formation of foreign-body giant cells on the implant surface. Increased cytokine levels trigger the release of pro-fibrogenic factors and recruiting fibroblasts. Fibroblasts induce the

• NDs by CVD at 400 °C and observed good proliferation of osteogenic cells on a bone implant, even better than on a commonly used surface. They suggested that the osteoblast proliferation was mainly due to the surface morphology and the good match between cells and surface potentials. Carbon-based

Entry of nanoparticles into cells and tissues: status and challenges

• Kirsten Sandvig,
• Tore Geir Iversen and
• Tore Skotland

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1017–1029, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.83

• , University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway 10.3762/bjnano.15.83 Abstract In this article we discuss how nanoparticles (NPs) of different compositions may interact with and be internalized by cells, and the consequences of that for cellular functions. A large number of NPs are made with the intention to improve

• ) are important tools to diagnose and treat diseases, and have proven useful in basic mechanistic studies of cells and animals. Thus, knowledge about cellular uptake, intracellular transport, and metabolism of NPs in cells, as well as their biodistribution, degradation, and excretion following

• of new types of NPs, there is a knowledge gap when it comes to our understanding of the interaction of NPs with both cells and tissues. However, it is well known that NP properties, such as surface charge, size, and the material they are composed of can affect cellular uptake, biodistribution, and

Atomistic insights into the morphological dynamics of gold and platinum nanoparticles: MD simulations in vacuum and aqueous media

• Evangelos Voyiatzis,
• Eugenia Valsami-Jones and
• Antreas Afantitis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 995–1009, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.81

• category of engineered NPs is comprised of metal and metal oxide NPs, which rank among the highest in production volume. They have already found widespread applications in technological advancements such as photovoltaics, catalysis, gas sensors, fuel cells, and adsorbents [7][8]. This prevalence is

Recent progress on field-effect transistor-based biosensors: device perspective

• Billel Smaani,
• Fares Nafa,
• Mohamed Salah Benlatrech,
• Ismahan Mahdi,
• Hamza Akroum,
• Mohamed walid Azizi,
• Khaled Harrar and
• Sayan Kanungo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 977–994, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.80

• biosensor. 4 Summary and future research works FET-based biosensors have been designed and developed to achieve higher performance and improved sensitivity in detecting various types of species, such as viruses, cancer cells, proteins, DNA, glucose, and nucleic acids. The latest emerging 3D and 2D FET-based

Therapeutic effect of F127-folate@PLGA/CHL/IR780 nanoparticles on folate receptor-expressing cancer cells

• Thi Ngoc Han Pham,
• Phuong-Thao Dang-Luong,
• Hong-Phuc Nguyen,
• Loc Le-Tuan,
• Xuan Thang Cao,
• Thanh-Danh Nguyen,
• Vy Tran Anh and
• Hieu Vu_Quang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 954–964, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.78

• chemotherapeutic agent chlorambucil (CHL) and the imaging agent IR780. The approach in this study incorporates Pluronic F127-folate onto the PLGA nanoparticles, which enables targeted delivery to folate receptor-expressing cancer cells. The F127-folate@PLGA/CHL/IR780 nanoparticles were formulated using a

• nanoprecipitation technique, resulting in small size, high homogeneity, and negative surface charge. Importantly, the folate-targeted nanoparticles demonstrated enhanced uptake and cytotoxicity in folate receptor-positive cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and HepG-2) compared to folate receptor-negative cells (HEK 293

• ). Additionally, the F127-folate@PLGA/CHL/IR780 nanoparticles exhibited a lower IC50 value against cancer cells than non-targeted F127@PLGA/CHL/IR780 nanoparticles. These findings suggest that the developed F127-folate@PLGA/CHL/IR780 nanoparticles hold promise as a theragnostic system for targeted cancer therapy

Electrospun nanofibers: building blocks for the repair of bone tissue

• Tuğrul Mert Serim,
• Gülin Amasya,
• Tuğba Eren-Böncü,
• Ceyda Tuba Şengel-Türk and
• Ayşe Nurten Özdemir

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 941–953, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.77

• deficiencies of bone tissue by the harmonious operation of osteoblasts, osteocytes, osteoclasts, and bone lining cells. Various materials can be used to both trigger the bone healing process and to provide mechanical support to damaged bone. Nanofiber scaffolds are at the forefront of these types of systems

• delivery systems [1][2][3][4][5]. Because of the structural properties of nanofibers, which enable cell growth and proliferation, their use in tissue engineering, especially regarding bone tissue, is quite common [2]. Nanofiber scaffolds may carry active substances such as cells for tissue repair

• of calcium and phosphate and the protection of bone marrow are among the characteristics of bone tissue [9][10]. Bone tissue, which is a special form of connective tissue, consists of cells, fibers, and extracellular matrix; histologically, it can be divided into two bone types, namely, woven bone

Identification of structural features of surface modifiers in engineered nanostructured metal oxides regarding cell uptake through ML-based classification

• Indrasis Dasgupta,
• Totan Das,
• Biplab Das and
• Shovanlal Gayen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 909–924, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.75

• significantly contribute to the cellular uptake of ENMOs in multiple cell types, including pancreatic cancer cells (PaCa2), human endothelial cells (HUVEC), and human macrophage cells (U937). The best models have been identified for each cell type and analyzed to detect the structural fingerprints/features

• or passive transport across the cell membrane [12]. Excessive absorption by normal cells enables metal oxide nanoparticles to engage with various subcellular organelles, initiating diverse signaling pathways to generate a stress response within cells. This results in the production of free radicals

• . Ultimately, this cascade leads to damage to cellular organelles and the demise of the cell [13][14][15]. ENMOs have also been explored for potential diagnostic applications, particularly in targeting cancer cells [16][17]. To create target-specific NPs, researchers synthesized magnetofluorescent NPs with an

The effect of age on the attachment ability of stick insects (Phasmatodea)

• Marie Grote,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Thies H. Büscher

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 867–883, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.72

• of tissues, for example, exocrine cells within the arolium [81], could potentially also influence fluid production within the arolium. These exocrine cells produce adhesive secretions that play different roles in adhesive systems [11][40][85]. In stick insects, such fluids consist of a watery and a

A review on the structural characterization of nanomaterials for nano-QSAR models

• Salvador Moncho,
• Eva Serrano-Candelas,
• Jesús Vicente de Julián-Ortiz and
• Rafael Gozalbes

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 854–866, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.71

• ]. Additionally, focusing on the role of the NM as contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging, the authors added the specific property of cellular internalization of iron, measured as the amount of iron inside the cells [25]. Zhang et al. [79] created a predictive model that uses regression trees to predict the

• conditions in E. coli and in HaCaT cells in a multi-target QSTR model [88]. Conclusion In this review we have analyzed in depth the descriptors used in the literature in QSAR and related in silico prediction models for NMs. Our review highlights that the high degree of variability in the NM properties is a

Synthesis of silver–palladium Janus nanoparticles using co-sputtering of independent sources: experimental and theorical study

• Maria J. Martínez-Carreón,
• Francisco Solís-Pomar,
• Abel Fundora,
• Claudio D. Gutiérrez-Lazos,
• Sergio Mejía-Rosales,
• Hector N. Fernández-Escamilla,
• Jonathan Guerrero-Sánchez,
• Manuel F. Meléndrez and
• Eduardo Pérez-Tijerina

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 808–816, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.67

• ) interplanar distance is reported in the Experimental section, we computed the Ag and Pd (111) surface models. The Ag(111) (Figure 6a,b) and Pd(111) (Figure 6d,e) surfaces were modeled in a hexagonal lattice, with a slab thickness equivalent to three unit cells (approximately 2 nm). All models considered

Electrospun polysuccinimide scaffolds containing different salts as potential wound dressing material

• Veronika Pálos,
• Krisztina S. Nagy,
• Rita Pázmány,
• Krisztina Juriga-Tóth,
• Bálint Budavári,
• Judit Domokos,
• Dóra Szabó,
• Ákos Zsembery and
• Angela Jedlovszky-Hajdu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 781–796, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.65

• potential cytotoxicity of the scaffolds on human tumorous and healthy cells. Except for the ones containing zinc acetate salt, the scaffolds are not cytotoxic to either tumor or healthy cells. Keywords: antibacterial activity; electrospinning; polysuccinimide; scaffold; wound dressing; Introduction

• , and fibers can be produced with uniform diameters in a controlled way [13][14]. Electrospun fibers are similar to macromolecule networks (e.g., collagen, fibrinogen, elastin) around the cells, which are called extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM has fiber diameters in the size range of 50–500 nm and

• of streptomycin. The medium for the 155BR cells contained 15% of fetal bovine serum, 1% of non-essential amino acids, 2 mM of ʟ-glutamine, 100 IU/mL of penicillin, and 100 µg/mL of streptomycin in DMEM. Cytotoxicity tests Indirect cytotoxicity tests were based on a previous publications of our

Effect of repeating hydrothermal growth processes and rapid thermal annealing on CuO thin film properties

• Monika Ozga,
• Eunika Zielony,
• Aleksandra Wierzbicka,
• Anna Wolska,
• Marcin Klepka,
• Marek Godlewski,
• Bogdan J. Kowalski and
• Bartłomiej S. Witkowski

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 743–754, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.62

• -cleaning [1], anti-corrosion [2], and antibacterial [3] coatings. Like other CuO nanostructures, thin films also show potential for applications in photovoltaic cells [4][5], lithium-ion batteries [6], supercapacitors [7], gas sensors [8], and biosensors [9]. Furthermore, the literature reports their

Level set simulation of focused ion beam sputtering of a multilayer substrate

• Alexander V. Rumyantsev,
• Nikolai I. Borgardt,
• Roman L. Volkov and
• Yuri A. Chaplygin

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 733–742, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.61

• %, the values of the parameters were taken into account, and the cell was marked as containing redeposited material. If in the subsequent calculations the fraction of the redeposited material in the cells dropped below 50%, these cells were marked as containing no redeposited material. The set of the

• cells with the redeposited oxygen and silicon atoms was employed in the following section where the simulation results were compared with the experimental data. The concentration of the oxygen atoms CO in the redeposited material stemming from the sputtering of the SiO2 layer was determined as . For

Simultaneous electrochemical determination of uric acid and hypoxanthine at a TiO₂/graphene quantum dot-modified electrode

• Vu Ngoc Hoang,
• Dang Thi Ngoc Hoa,
• Nguyen Quang Man,
• Le Vu Truong Son,
• Le Van Thanh Son,
• Vo Thang Nguyen,
• Le Thi Hong Phong,
• Ly Hoang Diem,
• Kieu Chan Ly,
• Ho Sy Thang and
• Dinh Quang Khieu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 719–732, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.60

• electrochemistry, combining GQDs with semiconductors, especially TiO2, has been of interest. For example, GQDs have been successfully introduced into TiO2 [17] to enhance its photocatalytic activity. John Peter et al. reported TiO2/GQDs as anodes for enhancing the short-circuit current in solar cells [18]. The

Functional fibrillar interfaces: Biological hair as inspiration across scales

• Guillermo J. Amador,
• Brett Klaassen van Oorschot,
• Caiying Liao,
• Jianing Wu and
• Da Wei

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 664–677, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.55

• structures must not be internally active. Obviously, this excludes organisms’ slender body parts, such as elephant trunks, the legs of mammals and insects, and the cilia and flagella of eukaryotic microorganisms. As a side note, flagella of eukaryotic cells (e.g., algae, protists, and sperms) and prokaryotic

• cells (bacteria) should not be confused. Eukaryotic flagella are essentially the same organelles as cilia, consisting of a well-organized microtubular backbone and orchestrated internal protein motors, whereas bacterial flagella are simply passive, stiff filaments. The passive nature of the hairs does

• same phylogenetic class, order, family, genus, and species [8]. However, hair mass deviates slightly from isometry, and it appears that larger organisms are more “hairy”. First, the exponent for power-law fits increases with size, as evidenced by comparing the fits for cells and phages, insects

Comparative analysis of the ultrastructure and adhesive secretion pathways of different smooth attachment pads of the stick insect Medauroidea extradentata (Phasmatodea)

• Julian Thomas,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Thies H. Büscher

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 612–630, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.52

• delineate a potential pathway for adhesive secretions, originating from exocrine epidermal cells and traversing various layers before reaching the surface. Within the attachment pad, the fluid may influence the viscoelastic properties of the pad and control the attachment/detachment process. Understanding

• differences between the tarsal frictional pads (euplantulae) and the pretarsal adhesion pads (arolia)? (2) Where is the adhesive secretion produced and stored? (3) How many different types of exocrine cells producing pad secretions do exist? (4) How is the adhesive secretion transported from the production

• cuticle (Figure 2D). Internally, the main part of the arolium consists of a large epithelium, recognizable by the light hue of the toluidine blue staining. The epithelium mainly consists of exocrine cells (ex) which display a large surface area towards the hemolymph due to irregular protrusions (Figure 2B

AFM-IR investigation of thin PECVD SiO_x films on a polypropylene substrate in the surface-sensitive mode

• Hendrik Müller,
• Hartmut Stadler,
• Teresa de los Arcos,
• Adrian Keller and
• Guido Grundmeier

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 603–611, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.51

• nanoscale resolution of AFM-IR down to 10 nm [3]. Nowadays, the limit of the spatial resolution is given by the apex of the AFM tip. One of the first AFM-IR demonstrations was reported in 2005 by Dazzi et al. [4], who presented AFM-IR spectra of single bacterial cells. Further on, this technique became more

Radiofrequency enhances drug release from responsive nanoflowers for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

• Yanyan Wen,
• Ningning Song,
• Yueyou Peng,
• Weiwei Wu,
• Qixiong Lin,
• Minjie Cui,
• Rongrong Li,
• Qiufeng Yu,
• Sixue Wu,
• Yongkang Liang,
• Wei Tian and
• Yanfeng Meng

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 569–579, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.49

• suppressor gene [14]. Curcumin can also curtail HCC angiogenesis by decreasing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) [15]. Furthermore, CUR has the potential to inhibit HCC by reducing the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and interfering with angiogenesis by

• ). The special structure of nanoflowers improves the stability and efficiency of the surface reaction [24]. Furthermore, prior research has verified that radiofrequency (RF) hyperthermia can significantly improve the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy at approximately 42 °C [25][26][27

• ]. Radiofrequency-induced hyperthermia has been confirmed to augment the permeability of the plasma membrane, facilitating the entry of drugs into tumor cells to kill them [28][29]. In this study, we present the synthesis of an intelligent TME-responsive nanomaterial, superparamagnetic ferric oxide nanoclusters