Recent advances in photothermal nanomaterials for ophthalmic applications

• Jiayuan Zhuang,
• Linhui Jia,
• Chenghao Li,
• Rui Yang,
• Jiapeng Wang,
• Wen-an Wang,
• Heng Zhou and
• Xiangxia Luo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 195–215, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.16

• diminish contrast sensitivity and potentially contribute to impaired vision quality, adversely affecting the patient’s quality of life and leading to psychological issues [121]. Hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated AuNPs accumulate on human vitreous opacities obtained through vitrectomy [52]. When exposed to

Nanocarriers and macrophage interaction: from a potential hurdle to an alternative therapeutic strategy

• Naths Grazia Sukubo,
• Paolo Bigini and
• Annalisa Morelli

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 97–118, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.10

• previously, NCs provide an innovative approach for delivering therapeutics to macrophages, particularly by targeting specific subsets, such as M2-like macrophages in tumor microenvironments. One widely studied approach involves sugars like mannose and hyaluronic acid, which naturally bind to macrophage

• unique physicochemical properties of these mannose-decorated hybrid NPs, such as controlled particle size (≈265 nm) and stability ensured by negative zeta potential, make them highly effective for receptor-mediated endocytosis and intracellular drug delivery [57]. Similarly, hyaluronic acid-coated NCs

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

• ALT). To further improve the therapeutic outcome of the liver-targeted nanocarriers, recently, Zhang and co-workers developed a dual-nanoparticle co-delivery system for targeting LSECs and HSCs [86]. Two types of DSPE-PEG NPs were prepared, and each of them was decorated with either hyaluronic acid or

Classification and application of metal-based nanoantioxidants in medicine and healthcare

• Nguyen Nhat Nam,
• Nguyen Khoi Song Tran,
• Tan Tai Nguyen,
• Nguyen Ngoc Trai,
• Nguyen Phuong Thuy,
• Hoang Dang Khoa Do,
• Nhu Hoa Thi Tran and
• Kieu The Loan Trinh

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 396–415, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.36

• . Another study employed CD44–hyaluronic acid interaction to endow a diselenide-bridged hyaluronic acid nanogel (SeNG) with the ability to specifically accumulate at CD44-overexpressed inflammatory cells [103]. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the designed SeNG could not only

• typical example, nanofibers composed of polygalacturonic acid, hyaluronic acid, and embedded silver nanoparticles were applied to recover wounded areas of albino rats in vivo [149]. In this nanocomposite, silver nanoparticles acted as an antioxidant, polygalacturonic acid acted as a reducing agent for

• generating silver nanoparticles from silver ions, whereas hyaluronic acid enhanced hydrophilicity and strain activities. To enhance wound repair, metal or metal oxide-based nanoantioxidants can be conjugated with miRNA146a. Because of the capability of miRNA146a to downregulate IL-6 and IL-8 expression, this

Elasticity, an often-overseen parameter in the development of nanoscale drug delivery systems

• Agnes-Valencia Weiss and
• Marc Schneider

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 1149–1156, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.95

• biological applications Mechanical properties of particles have a significant impact on the cell–particle interaction; most particles are reported to be taken up faster when they are more rigid [36]. Some materials such as phospholipids and organic silica NPs with a hyaluronic acid coating show superior

• -mediated uptake mechanisms, whereas hard NLGs are predominantly internalized via the clathrin-mediated pathway [32]. Another example of the enhanced tumor accumulation of softer nanoparticles is presented by Tao et al. Even though the hyaluronic-acid-modified mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MMONs

• into the tumor cells with the highest uptake for particles with a Young’s modulus of 0.4 GPa. This trend is the opposite to the majority of other studies and could have several reasons. On the one hand, the hyaluronic acid might modify the particle–cell interaction and foster uptake. On the other hand

Industrial perspectives for personalized microneedles

• Remmi Danae Baker-Sediako,
• Benjamin Richter,
• Matthias Blaicher,
• Michael Thiel and
• Martin Hermatschweiler

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 857–864, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.70

• hydrogels infused with hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, caffeine, various vitamins (B3, C, and E), and a blend of various peptides. Beyond cosmetic applications, microneedle patches are also being investigated for vaccine delivery. The most notable example of vaccine-loaded microneedles comes from the

Nanotechnology – a robust tool for fighting the challenges of drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer

• Filip Gorachinov,
• Fatima Mraiche,
• Diala Alhaj Moustafa,
• Ola Hishari,
• Yomna Ismail,
• Jensa Joseph,
• Maja Simonoska Crcarevska,
• Marija Glavas Dodov,
• Nikola Geskovski and
• Katerina Goracinova

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 240–261, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.23

• erlotinib, coated with a phospholipid layer, with anchors composed of hyaluronic acid–adipic acid hydralazide–poly(ethylene glycol) (HA-ADH-PEG). Hyaluronic acid-decorated lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPH NPs) specifically target overexpressed CD44 at the NSCLC cells. In the acidic tumor environment

• with hyaluronic acid–doxorubicin NPs layered by electrostatic adsorption upon the micelle surface. Hyaluronic acid was used for CD44 targeting (a receptor that is often overexpressed on the surface of lung tumor cells), as well as for the optimization of biodistribution, improved tumor homing potential

Cyclodextrins as eminent constituents in nanoarchitectonics for drug delivery systems

• Makoto Komiyama

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 218–232, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.21

• the target site with desired timing. In Figure 4, hyaluronic acid (HA) is modified with α-CyD (green torus), and diphenylalanine is modified with both azobenzene (golden hexagons/small red balls) and N-methylimidazolium ions (small dark blue circle) [66]. From these two components, supramolecular

• recent topics on medical applications of CyD 6.1 Chemical modification of CyD for precise targeting to predetermined cells A multicharged nanoassembly was constructed from β-CyD bearing seven hexylimidazolium units, adamantane-grafted hyaluronic acid, and chlorambucil (an anticancer drug) [90]. In cancer

• 30, © 2019); permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. This content is not subject to CC BY 4.0. Photoinduced delivery of siRNA by a composite formed from α-CyD-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-α-CyD) and an azobenzene-modified diphenylalanine derivative. Upon UV irradiation

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

• injection [175]. Albadr et al. designed a rapidly dissolving MN patch for ocular delivery of amphotericin B for the treatment of corneal fungal infections (Figure 5). The patch was manufactured from a blend of PVP and hyaluronic acid (HA) by molding. The components of the MN matrix ensured a very fast

• al. employed a computer-aided design for the optimization of microneedle systems based on hyaluronic acid and a copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride (Gantrez®S-97) produced by micromolding (Figure 7). Fluorescein sodium (FS) was used as a model compound with hydrophilic properties

• of methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA), while the interior was filled with unmodified HA. The needles were, in turn, attached to the HA patch. This design ensured the needles to detach immediately after application. Then, the inner layer of HA quickly degraded and the drug was released, while the

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

• effect of EGCG used as an active substance is quite limited [8][9]. In one study, a nanotransfersome carrier system containing EGCG and hyaluronic acid, which can penetrate into the lower layers of the skin given its elastic structure such as ETHs, was developed and its effect against skin aging caused

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

• slow and plays a critical role in cartilage functionality and homeostasis. Therefore, any degradation would result in the damage and failure of cartilage to withstand mechanical loads. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an unbranched polysaccharide with a high molecular weight, which plays a major role in

• , the administration of these NPs remarkably decreased the Outerbridge classification and Mankin pathological scores in rats with knee OA [69]. Recently, researchers developed an injectable hyaluronic acid hydrogel (m-HA) containing kartogenin (KGN)-loaded PLGA NPs and subsequently evaluated the

A comprehensive review on electrospun nanohybrid membranes for wastewater treatment

• Senuri Kumarage,
• Imalka Munaweera and
• Nilwala Kottegoda

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 137–159, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.10

• the mechanical properties of electrospun PVA, PEO, and blends of PVA/hyaluronic acid (HA) and PEO/CS in acetic acid [42]. They have observed that the fiber diameter decreases with increasing relative humidity from 4 to 70%, but with a higher relative standard deviation. Also, at high relative humidity

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

• the surface of CUR nanococrystals with hyaluronic acid to increase its hydrophilicity, which resulted in a better biodistribution. They reported an advantage in the release profile as a function of pH due to a lower CUR release at pH 7.4 (40%) as compared to the acidic pH (pH 5, 80%) which is

Comprehensive review on ultrasound-responsive theranostic nanomaterials: mechanisms, structures and medical applications

• Sepand Tehrani Fateh,
• Lida Moradi,
• Elmira Kohan,
• Michael R. Hamblin and
• Amin Shiralizadeh Dezfuli

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 808–862, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.64

Wet-spinning of magneto-responsive helical chitosan microfibers

• Dorothea Brüggemann,
• Johanna Michel,
• Naiana Suter,
• Matheus Grande de Aguiar and
• Michael Maas

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 991–999, doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.83

• polysaccharides such as alginate, hyaluronic acid or chitosan, are widely used as biocompatible materials since they are biochemically similar to the native extracellular matrix (ECM) [16]. Chitosan is a biopolymer that combines excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity and antibacterial properties with a low

Multilayer capsules made of weak polyelectrolytes: a review on the preparation, functionalization and applications in drug delivery

• Varsha Sharma and
• Anandhakumar Sundaramurthy

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 508–532, doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.41

• in multilayer films such as PGA/PLL, PAH/PAAm and hyaluronic acid (HA)/chitosan when one of the polymeric pair is grafted with an arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD) peptide sequence [104][105][106]. Similarly, the PLL/PGA film showed better cell attachment when plain PGA was replaced with a laminin

Interactions at the cell membrane and pathways of internalization of nano-sized materials for nanomedicine

• Valentina Francia,
• Daphne Montizaan and
• Anna Salvati

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 338–353, doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.25

• corresponding receptors [23][24], or hyaluronic acid, which directs nanocarriers to CD44-overexpressing tumour cells [25], among many others. While many new targeted nanomedicines are developed, just few of them are currently present on the market [6]. In fact, achieving efficient targeting in vivo remains a

Rational design of block copolymer self-assemblies in photodynamic therapy

• Maxime Demazeau,
• Laure Gibot,
• Anne-Françoise Mingotaud,
• Patricia Vicendo,
• Clément Roux and
• Barbara Lonetti

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 180–212, doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.15

• -assembly [93][111][112]. Among the targeting molecules, hyaluronic acid [111][112] is known to interact with CD44 over-expressed by some tumor cells. Mannitol [113] or galactose [114] have been used for their inherent biocompatibility and bioadhesive/targeting properties. Interestingly mannitol derivatives

• an hydrophilic shell, using lipids [125], albumin [62] or hyaluronic acid conjugated with chlorin-e6 conjugated [112]. In this way oxygen molecules can be absorbed in the core and the photosensitizer IR780 in the shell. A main drawback of this approach is extravasation from the nanoobjects, which can

The different ways to chitosan/hyaluronic acid nanoparticles: templated vs direct complexation. Influence of particle preparation on morphology, cell uptake and silencing efficiency

• Arianna Gennari,
• Julio M. Rios de la Rosa,
• Erwin Hohn,
• Maria Pelliccia,
• Enrique Lallana,
• Roberto Donno,
• Annalisa Tirella and
• Nicola Tirelli

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 2594–2608, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.250

• 6EU London, United Kingdom 10.3762/bjnano.10.250 Abstract This study is about linking preparative processes of nanoparticles with the morphology of the nanoparticles and with their efficiency in delivering payloads intracellularly. The nanoparticles are composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan

• , typically an inorganic anion of low molecular weight, such as triphosphate (TPP) is used, while in the latter negatively charged polymers, e.g., hyaluronic acid (HA) [11][12] or alginate [13], are commonly used. HA is a particularly interesting component, since its presence allows for a reduced serum

• degradation of the above high-MW chitosan (1 wt % in 0.1 M HCl/3 mM sodium nitrite, room temperature, 12 h) [21]. Hyaluronic acid (HA) with weight average molecular weight = 180 kDa was kindly donated by Kyowa Hakko Bio Italia Srl (Milan, Italy). Preparation of chitosan/HA nanoparticles In all cases, the

High-tolerance crystalline hydrogels formed from self-assembling cyclic dipeptide

• Yongcai You,
• Ruirui Xing,
• Qianli Zou,
• Feng Shi and
• Xuehai Yan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1894–1901, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.184

• (ALG), hyaluronic acid (HA)), extreme acid/base environments, and thermal conditions. Owing to the robustness of the hydrogel, the material also showed excellent performance as an electrochemical supercapacitor. Hence, self-assembled CDP hydrogels are promising for applications in complex and harsh

Cytotoxicity of doxorubicin-conjugated poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide]-modified γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles towards human tumor cells

• Zdeněk Plichta,
• Yulia Kozak,
• Rostyslav Panchuk,
• Viktoria Sokolova,
• Matthias Epple,
• Lesya Kobylinska,
• Pavla Jendelová and
• Daniel Horák

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2533–2545, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.236

• high molecular weight, such as silica, chitosan, poly(amino acids), poly(acrylic acid), hyaluronic acid, alginic acid, poly(vinyl alcohol), polyethylenimine, dextran, or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) [10][11][12]. The latter one is known to escape recognition by reticuloendothelial system prolonging thus

Nanoparticle delivery to metastatic breast cancer cells by nanoengineered mesenchymal stem cells

• Liga Saulite,
• Karlis Pleiko,
• Ineta Popena,
• Dominyka Dapkute,
• Ricardas Rotomskis and
• Una Riekstina

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 321–332, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.32

• , thymus, skin, adipose tissue, umbilical cord and placenta [5]. MSCs express CD105 (SH2 or endoglin), CD73 (SH3 and SH4), CD106 (VCAM-1), CD44 (hyaluronic acid receptor), CD90 (Thy 1.1), CD29, CD146 and CD166 surface markers and can be induced to differentiate in vitro into diverse lineages of mesodermal

• natural compounds, such as chitosan and hyaluronic acid, or synthetic agents, such as polyHEMA and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) [14][36]. PolyHEMA has been widely used to induce spheroid formation in cancer cells and cells from healthy tissue [37][38]. Notably, the cell morphology and even phenotype changes

Nano-engineered skin mesenchymal stem cells: potential vehicles for tumour-targeted quantum-dot delivery

• Liga Saulite,
• Dominyka Dapkute,
• Karlis Pleiko,
• Ineta Popena,
• Simona Steponkiene,
• Ricardas Rotomskis and
• Una Riekstina

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1218–1230, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.123

• and dental pulp. According to current understanding, MSCs are defined as adherent cells with a spindle-like morphology, expressing CD105 (SH2 or endoglin), CD73 (SH3 and SH4), CD106 (VCAM-1), CD44 (hyaluronic acid receptor), CD90 (Thy 1.1), CD29, CD146 and CD166 surface markers [7][8]. MSCs can be

Nanoscale isoindigo-carriers: self-assembly and tunable properties

• Tatiana N. Pashirova,
• Andrei V. Bogdanov,
• Lenar I. Musin,
• Julia K. Voronina,
• Irek R. Nizameev,
• Marsil K. Kadirov,
• Vladimir F. Mironov,
• Lucia Ya. Zakharova,
• Shamil K. Latypov and
• Oleg G. Sinyashin

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 313–324, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.34

• , hyaluronic acid, and heparin, also amphiphilic prodrugs, and supramolecular hydrogels) [38][39][40]. One of the main strategies deals with the creation of self-assembled supramolecular structures with tunable morphologies (e.g., nanospheres, rods, nanofibers or nanotubes) adapted to the administration route

Nano- and microstructured materials for in vitro studies of the physiology of vascular cells

• Alexandra M. Greiner,
• Adria Sales,
• Hao Chen,
• Sarah A. Biela,
• Dieter Kaufmann and
• Ralf Kemkemer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1620–1641, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.155

• . Additional examples for materials are listed in Table 1 and in some other review articles [4][5][46][47][71][86][87] Polymers from natural sources can be divided in either protein-based (e.g., collagen, fibrin, matrigel, elastin), polysaccharide-based (e.g., hyaluronic acid, chitin, agar, dextran, alginate