Microneedle-based ocular drug delivery systems – recent advances and challenges

• Piotr Gadziński,
• Anna Froelich,
• Monika Wojtyłko,
• Antoni Białek,
• Julia Krysztofiak and
• Tomasz Osmałek

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1167–1184, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.98

• used. Unfortunately, they are usually not well tolerated by patients due to the need for frequent use as well as the discomfort during application. Therefore, novel drug delivery systems with improved biopharmaceutical properties are a subject of ongoing scientific investigations. Due to the

• physiology of the eye are summarized and discussed. Keywords: eye; microneedles; ocular drug delivery; ophthalmic drugs; Review 1 Introduction Since its first appearance in biomedicine, microtechnology is rapidly entering the world of pharmaceutical sciences, including pharmaceutical technology [1][2][3][4

• ]. Due to the impressive evolution of new manufacturing techniques, it offers completely new opportunities to develop very sophisticated and precise drug delivery tools [5][6]. A large number of concepts and implemented projects, which is reflected in a large number of scientific papers, consistently

Recent advances in green carbon dots (2015–2022): synthesis, metal ion sensing, and biological applications

• Aisha Kanwal,
• Naheed Bibi,
• Sajjad Hyder,
• Arif Muhammad,
• Hao Ren,
• Jiangtao Liu and
• Zhongli Lei

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1068–1107, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.93

• sensing, bioimaging, catalysis, medicine, optoelectronics, and drug delivery due to their unique properties, that is, low cytotoxicity, cytocompatibility, water-solubility, multicolor wavelength tuned emission, photo-stability, easy modification, strong chemical inertness, etc. This review article

• nanomaterials has proved to be useful for applications in a variety of disciplines, including chemical or biological sensing, bioimaging, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis, with advantages over commonly used semiconductor dots or conventional fluorescent probes such as

Biomimetic chitosan with biocomposite nanomaterials for bone tissue repair and regeneration

• Se-Kwon Kim,
• Sesha Subramanian Murugan,
• Pandurang Appana Dalavi,
• Sebanti Gupta,
• Sukumaran Anil,
• Gi Hun Seong and
• Jayachandran Venkatesan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1051–1067, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.92

• tissue engineering, drug delivery, diagnostic, and bioimaging applications due to its biocompatibility, tuneable size, and ability to cover different kinds of therapeutic agents. Gold nanoparticles control osteoclastic differentiation [113][114][115]. Osteogenic properties of AuNPs were proven by in

• demonstrated the best biocompatible behaviour which is suitable for bone tissue engineering applications [80]. Chitosan–graphene oxide nanocomposites Graphene oxide is gaining much attention in biomedical applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and bioimaging applications due to its large

• regeneration, and other applications. Furthermore, chitosan-containing polymer composites are being extensively explored for drug delivery in targeted tumour treatment and nucleic acid delivery in genetic engineering applications. More research is required to optimise chitosan composites utilised in scaffolds

Gelatin nanoparticles with tunable mechanical properties: effect of crosslinking time and loading

• Agnes-Valencia Weiss,
• Daniel Schorr,
• Julia K. Metz,
• Metin Yildirim,
• Saeed Ahmad Khan and
• Marc Schneider

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 778–787, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.68

• Agnes-Valencia Weiss Daniel Schorr Julia K. Metz Metin Yildirim Saeed Ahmad Khan Marc Schneider Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Campus C4 1, Saarbruecken, Germany Department, Drug Delivery, PharmBioTec Research and Development GmbH

• nanoparticles intended to be used in drug delivery is of great interest. To this end, different potential formulations are developed since the particle elasticity is affecting the in vitro and in vivo performance of the nanoparticles. Here we present a method to determine the elasticity of single gelatin

• . Keywords: atomic force microscopy; drug delivery; elasticity; gelatin nanoparticles; Young’s modulus; Introduction Developing nanoparticulate drug carriers for various diseases and application routes requires establishing controllable systems, matching the needs of the respective application to achieve

Fabrication and testing of polymer microneedles for transdermal drug delivery

• Vahid Ebrahiminejad,
• Zahra Faraji Rad,
• Philip D. Prewett and
• Graham J. Davies

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 629–640, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.55

• considerable potential for medical applications such as transdermal drug delivery, point-of-care diagnostics, and vaccination. These miniature microdevices should successfully pierce the skin tissues while having enough stiffness to withstand the forces imposed by penetration. Developing low-cost and simple

• safety for the current MN design demonstrated its potential for transdermal drug delivery and fluid sampling. Experimental results indicated significant penetration improvements using the prototype applicator, which produced array penetration efficiencies as high as >92%, depending on the impact velocity

• setting. Keywords: hot embossing; microneedles; penetration efficiency; thermoplastic polymers; two-photon polymerization; Introduction During the past two decades, MN devices have become a promising tool for transdermal drug delivery, vaccination, and point-of-care diagnostics [1][2]. MNs are a

A new method for obtaining the magnetic shape anisotropy directly from electron tomography images

• Cristian Radu,
• Ioana D. Vlaicu and
• Andrei C. Kuncser

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 590–598, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.51

• advancements in medical fields (hyperthermia and drug delivery), permanent magnet industry, sensoristics, and spintronics. The program has been tested not only on simulated tomograms but also on tomograms obtained on real-life systems of magnetite MNPs, obtained in-house by co-precipitation methods. Starting

Detection and imaging of Hg(II) in vivo using glutathione-functionalized gold nanoparticles

• Gufeng Li,
• Shaoqing Li,
• Rui Wang,
• Min Yang,
• Lizhu Zhang,
• Yanli Zhang,
• Wenrong Yang and
• Hongbin Wang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 549–559, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.46

• biocompatibility, large specific surface area, and remarkable photoelectric properties [1][2][3]. Among them, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have been frequently employed for drug delivery, sensing, imaging, and photodynamic therapy owing to their high extinction coefficient, distinct optical properties, excellent

Ciprofloxacin-loaded dissolving polymeric microneedles as a potential therapeutic for the treatment of S. aureus skin infections

• Sharif Abdelghany,
• Walhan Alshaer,
• Yazan Al Thaher,
• Maram Al Fawares,
• Amal G. Al-Bakri,
• Saja Zuriekat and
• Randa SH. Mansour

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 517–527, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.43

• results suggest that CIP_MN1 can be a potential delivery system for the treatment of S. aureus skin infections. Keywords: dissolving microneedles; microneedles; polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); skin infection; Introduction Topical and transdermal drug delivery is a major route for

• the administration of antimicrobials to the infected parts of the skin and to the systemic circulation. The main limitation to dermal drug delivery is skin barriers. This is mainly due the uppermost dead keratinized skin layer known as the stratum corneum [1]. Microneedles of different shapes and

• sizes have been utilized to overcome this limitation since they can painlessly penetrate the upper skin layers [2]. Patients can self-administer microneedles and, thus, overcome the pain associated with conventional parenteral injections. Moreover, this drug delivery system can potentially overcome the

Design and characterization of polymeric microneedles containing extracts of Brazilian green propolis

• Camila Felix Vecchi,
• Rafaela Said dos Santos,
• Jéssica Bassi da Silva and
• Marcos Luciano Bruschi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 503–516, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.42

• Camila Felix Vecchi Rafaela Said dos Santos Jessica Bassi da Silva Marcos Luciano Bruschi Laboratory of Research and Development of Drug Delivery Systems, Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, State University of Maringa, Maringa, Brazil 10.3762/bjnano.13.42

• permeation mechanism [6][9][10]. Nanocarriers can be used together with polymeric MNs in a synergistic therapy. The nanocarriers can immediately come into contact with the stratum corneum with the help of polymeric MNs, enhancing the transdermal drug delivery of the drugs. Furthermore, these polymeric MNs

• safe than conventional needles [5]. In general, MNs cause less damage than other larger, more invasive devices, such as hypodermic needles [15]. The creation of micropores is a physical technique that can be used to increase transdermal drug delivery by creating micropores in the stratum corneum before

Ethosomal (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate as a novel approach to enhance antioxidant, anti-collagenase and anti-elastase effects

• Çiğdem Yücel,
• Gökçe Şeker Karatoprak,
• Sena Yalçıntaş and
• Tuğba Eren Böncü

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 491–502, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.41

• neurodegenerative disorders [7][8][9]. However, there are some difficulties in the formulation of EGCG such as the first pass metabolism effect, enzymatic degradation, and low bioavailability [8][10]. Skin delivery, besides being painless and noninvasive, has many advantages such as controlled drug delivery

• , reduced dose frequency, avoidance of first pass metabolism by the liver, and it can be self-administered. It includes the concept of topical drug delivery aimed at treating a local dermatological disorder without the need to target the systemic circulation by using transdermal drug delivery for systemic

Micro- and nanotechnology in biomedical engineering for cartilage tissue regeneration in osteoarthritis

• Zahra Nabizadeh,
• Mahmoud Nasrollahzadeh,
• Hamed Daemi,
• Mohamadreza Baghaban Eslaminejad,
• Ali Akbar Shabani,
• Mehdi Dadashpour,
• Majid Mirmohammadkhani and
• Davood Nasrabadi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 363–389, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.31

• engineering cartilage tissue structures. 3.1.1 Application of microspheres in chondrogenic differentiation. Microspheres are used in drug delivery systems because of their spatiotemporally controlled release capabilities (see Table 2 below). They are small spherical particles from organic or inorganic

• ]. Electrospun nanofibers are widely used in various fields from industry to biomedicine because of their excellent characteristics. Electrospun nanofibers have been used in medicine as wound dressings [103], medical textile compounds [104], drug delivery systems [105], and in regenerative medicine and TE as

• biomimetic nanocomposites to imitate pseudostratified features of the ECM to develop bioinspired scaffolds [47][48][49]. 3.1.2.1 Nanoparticles (NPs). In recent years, NPs have been increasingly used in regenerative medicine (Table 1) and other medical areas. NPs have been successfully developed for drug

Systematic studies into uniform synthetic protein nanoparticles

• Nahal Habibi,
• Ava Mauser,
• Jeffery E. Raymond and
• Joerg Lahann

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 274–283, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.22

• , 48109, USA 10.3762/bjnano.13.22 Abstract Nanoparticles are frequently pursued as drug delivery carriers due to their potential to alter the pharmacological profiles of drugs, but their broader utility in nanomedicine hinges upon exquisite control of critical nanoparticle properties, such as shape, size

• SPNPs made from blended proteins can serve as a promising drug delivery carrier owing to the ease of production, the composition versatility, and the control over their size, shape and dispersity. Keywords: nanogels; nanomedicine; particle characterization; protein-based biomaterials; Introduction As

• nanoparticle platforms for drug delivery transition from novelties to foundational biomedical technologies [1][2][3], it is critical to augment the existing strategies with precisely engineered nanocarriers that are better equipped to maneuver the host of barriers that exist in clinical translation [4][5

Photothermal ablation of murine melanomas by Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle clusters

• Xue Wang,
• Lili Xuan and
• Ying Pan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 255–264, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.20

• MRI imaging, targeted drug delivery and hyperthermia therapy [8][9]. Hyperthermia therapy can be achieved by using either magnetic fields or NIR irradiation. Application of an external alternating magnetic field on these nanoparticles leads to the production of heat to mediate magnetic hyperthermia

Effects of drug concentration and PLGA addition on the properties of electrospun ampicillin trihydrate-loaded PLA nanofibers

• Tuğba Eren Böncü and
• Nurten Ozdemir

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 245–254, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.19

• tissue engineering and drug delivery systems. Electrospinning is the most commonly used polymeric nanofiber preparation method, because it is an easy, single-step, low-cost, and reproducible method. It allows for the production of extracellular matrix-like nanofibers that can be easily scaled up and has

• improved mechanical properties compared to those of PLA nanofibers and PLA/PCL nanofibers, improving cell viability and differentiation. Conclusion Nanofibers can be effectively used in tissue engineering and controlled drug delivery due to their structural properties, which are morphologically similar to

Engineered titania nanomaterials in advanced clinical applications

• Padmavati Sahare,
• Paulina Govea Alvarez,
• Juan Manual Sanchez Yanez,
• Gabriel Luna-Bárcenas,
• Samik Chakraborty,
• Sujay Paul and
• Miriam Estevez

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 201–218, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.15

• delivery. Ideal drug delivery systems encompass two elements, that is, the control over drug release and the ability to target specific locations in order to reduce systemic toxicity and undesirable side effects. Porous TiO2 has shown tremendous ability to sustain a concentration of drugs within the

• their clinical applications, including their usage as an implant material, antimicrobial agent, drug delivery vehicle, photothermal therapeutic tool, and antivenom. In addition, the intriguing physical and chemical properties of titania nanomaterials that affect their biocompatibility are also discussed

• -workers have developed a well-designed controllable drug delivery system by functionalizing 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) on TNTs and found that the drug loading capacity was improved by 30–36 wt % in comparison with unmodified TNTs. Intriguingly, the hydrophilic nature of APTES was favorable for

Piezoelectric nanogenerator for bio-mechanical strain measurement

• Zafar Javed,
• Lybah Rafiq,
• Muhammad Anwaar Nazeer,
• Saqib Siddiqui,
• Muhammad Babar Ramzan,
• Muhammad Qamar Khan and
• Muhammad Salman Naeem

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 192–200, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.14

• , monofilaments, and powder. This material is trending in textile-based research where different researchers are working to manufacture smart textiles to generate energy [22][23]. Nanofibers have many technical applications such as in air and liquid filtration [24][25], tissue engineering [26][27], drug delivery

• developing artificial organs and blood vessels, and in gene and drug delivery [35]. Monitoring joint angles through wearable systems enables human posture and gesture to be reconstructed as a support for physical rehabilitation both in clinics and at the patients’ home [36]. To date, wearable sensors used

Bacterial safety study of the production process of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers

• Axel Steffen,
• Yu Xiong,
• Radostina Georgieva,
• Ulrich Kalus and
• Hans Bäumler

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 114–126, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.8

• modifications [5][6]. Thus, it was possible to immobilize vitamin B2 (riboflavin) in these particles together with human serum albumin (HSA). This resulted in a drug delivery system with good hemocompatibility and release of riboflavin over a prolonged period [7]. In addition, HSA microparticles could be loaded

Theranostic potential of self-luminescent branched polyethyleneimine-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

• Rouhollah Khodadust,
• Ozlem Unal and
• Havva Yagci Acar

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 82–95, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.6

• , holds great potential for effective gene/drug delivery coupled with dual-mode imaging. a) TEM image of SPION@bPEI. b) AFM micrograph image of SPION@bPEI (magnetic mode). c) X-ray diffraction pattern of SPION@bPEI prepared via the in situ coating method. Since the presence of the polymer prevented the

Sputtering onto liquids: a critical review

• Anastasiya Sergievskaya,
• Adrien Chauvin and
• Stephanos Konstantinidis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 10–53, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.2

Biocompatibility and cytotoxicity in vitro of surface-functionalized drug-loaded spinel ferrite nanoparticles

• Sadaf Mushtaq,
• Khuram Shahzad,
• Tariq Saeed,
• Anwar Ul-Hamid,
• Bilal Haider Abbasi,
• Nafees Ahmad,
• Waqas Khalid,
• Muhammad Atif,
• Zulqurnain Ali and
• Rashda Abbasi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1339–1364, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.99

• permeability and retention (EPR) effect [7]. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have gained significant attention as effective drug delivery systems due to their distinct physiochemical attributes, high surface-to-volume ratio, and the possibility of surface functionalization [8]. Furthermore, magnetic-field

• -assisted control of the behavior of MNPs makes them suitable candidates for targeted drug delivery, hyperthermia, biosensors, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic separation [9][10]. Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs), belonging to the spinel ferrite class, are the most extensively studied

• cytotoxicity of these nanocarriers for potential anticancer drug delivery systems. Results and Discussion Physical characterizations The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data of all samples was analyzed using Rietveld refinement techniques in the Fullprof Suit program. The data was refined according to their space

Identifying diverse metal oxide nanomaterials with lethal effects on embryonic zebrafish using machine learning

• Richard Liam Marchese Robinson,
• Haralambos Sarimveis,
• Philip Doganis,
• Xiaodong Jia,
• Marianna Kotzabasaki,
• Christiana Gousiadou,
• Stacey Lynn Harper and
• Terry Wilkins

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1297–1325, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.97

• ; Introduction A variety of nanomaterial (NM)-enabled products have already been marketed [1][2] and there is considerable interest in the development of novel engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) for a variety of applications. Nanomedicine, including ENM-based therapeutic agents, nanocarriers (i.e., targeted drug

• delivery vehicles), diagnostic tools and medical devices, is a key application area [2][3]. However, as well as recognising the benefits associated with nanotechnology, it is also important to address potential negative impacts upon human health and the environment. Nanosafety concerns are reflected in

Self-assembly of amino acids toward functional biomaterials

• Huan Ren,
• Lifang Wu,
• Lina Tan,
• Yanni Bao,
• Yuchen Ma,
• Yong Jin and
• Qianli Zou

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1140–1150, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.85

• biomaterials; intermolecular interactions; self-assembly; Review Introduction Biomaterials play a crucial role in the treatment of diseases and health care and have been widely used in prostheses and drug delivery devices [1]. Clinical applications of biomaterials include the use of metals, ceramics, and

• in vivo [28] compared with the self-assembly of large molecules, such as proteins and peptides. Importantly, amino acids or amino acid derivatives may be self-assembled with other components to form functional architectures, such as drug delivery systems, light collection systems, and imaging systems

• physical and chemical properties, and great potential in cell culture, photocatalysis, drug delivery, and antibacterial applications [27]. The Fmoc modification of a single amino acid is the simplest building block, among which Fmoc-phenylalanine is the most studied due to its good hydrocoagulant

pH-driven enhancement of anti-tubercular drug loading on iron oxide nanoparticles for drug delivery in macrophages

• Karishma Berta Cotta,
• Sarika Mehra and
• Rajdip Bandyopadhyaya

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1127–1139, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.84

• deployment in drug delivery is contingent upon controlled drug loading and a desired release profile, with simultaneous biocompatibility and cellular targeting. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), being biocompatible, are used as drug carriers. However, to prevent aggregation of bare IONPs, they are coated

• the center-stage in drug delivery applications, wherein they can improve drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and may also increase drug accumulation in both animal cells and bacteria, proving beneficial to overcome drug resistance [1][2]. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), due to their

• biocompatibility and magnetic properties, have found applications in drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging and treatment of iron deficiencies [3][4][5][6]. The property of hyperthermia has been found to be beneficial in localized drug release, particularly in cancer therapy [7]. In anti-cancer therapy, IONPs

Use of nanosystems to improve the anticancer effects of curcumin

• Andrea M. Araya-Sibaja,
• Norma J. Salazar-López,
• Krissia Wilhelm Romero,
• José R. Vega-Baudrit,
• J. Abraham Domínguez-Avila,
• Carlos A. Velázquez Contreras,
• Ramón E. Robles-Zepeda,
• Mirtha Navarro-Hoyos and
• Gustavo A. González-Aguilar

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1047–1062, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.78

• materials for nanomedical applications. Imaging-guided drug delivery of CUR-based nanosystems may also directly target specific cells, thereby increasing the therapeutic and chemopreventive efficacy of this versatile compound. Keywords: nanocarrier; nanoformulations; nanosized delivery systems; phenolic

• improved pharmacokinetics. Their hydrophobicity makes them promising to achieve controlled release and targeted drug delivery to the mononuclear phagocyte system [65]. Effects on the stability of SLN have been reported during storage, mostly due to loss of the solid crystalline structure, which can cause

• of nanosystems, precise drug delivery, and sustained release support their recommendation to be used as a drug delivery mechanism to induce apoptosis due to hyperthermia (41.85 °C) [136] and higher drug concentration at the target site [138]. Photodynamic nanosystems. Photodynamic therapy is based on

An overview of microneedle applications, materials, and fabrication methods

• Zahra Faraji Rad,
• Philip D. Prewett and
• Graham J. Davies

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1034–1046, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.77

• expand the scope for delivery of vaccines and therapeutic agents through the skin and withdrawing biofluids for point-of-care diagnostics – so-called theranostics. Unskilled and painless applications of microneedle patches for blood collection or drug delivery are two of the advantages of microneedle

• arrays over hypodermic needles. Developing the necessary microneedle fabrication processes has the potential to dramatically impact the health care delivery system by changing the landscape of fluid sampling and subcutaneous drug delivery. Microneedle designs which range from sub-micron to millimetre

• microneedle systems applications, designs, material selection, and manufacturing methods. Keywords: drug delivery; microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); microfabrication; microneedles; point-of-care diagnostics; Introduction The concept of microneedle structures to penetrate painlessly the outermost layer