Synthetic-polymer-assisted antisense oligonucleotide delivery: targeted approaches for precision disease treatment

• Ana Cubillo Alvarez,
• Dylan Maguire and
• Ruairí P. Brannigan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 435–463, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.34

• % inhibition by the ASO alone. Furthermore, the Gal–PLL conjugation facilitated higher liver-specific uptake, with a 52.1% concentration in the liver compared to 21.9% for ASOs alone. This targeted approach resulted in a significant reduction in HBV DNA levels in transgenic mice, with some achieving

• 81.5% compared to 56.8% for dendrimers with fewer charges. This improved transfection efficiency correlated with a significant reduction in VEGF expression, with certain dendrimer/ODN-1 complexes maintaining VEGF inhibition for up to 48 h after transfection. Moreover, in vivo experiments using a rat

• demonstrated that ARG-coated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles significantly improved the internalisation of ASOs into cancer cells, leading to effective inhibition of miR-155, a known oncogene, and alteration of the splicing pattern of the Mcl-1 gene, promoting the pro-apoptotic isoform. In

Graphene oxide–chloroquine conjugate induces DNA damage in A549 lung cancer cells through autophagy modulation

• Braham Dutt Arya,
• Sandeep Mittal,
• Prachi Joshi,
• Alok Kumar Pandey,
• Jaime E. Ramirez-Vick,
• Govind Gupta and
• Surinder P. Singh

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 316–332, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.24

• -damage response. GO–Chl causes loss of plasma membrane integrity, cell cycle arrest, and significant genotoxicity in A549 cells. Further, elevated expression of key autophagy proteins beclin-1, ATG-7, LC-3-I/II, and SQSTM1/p62 reveal that inhibition of autophagy plays a crucial role in regulating DDR

• ataxia-telangiectasia mutated, Rad3-related (ATR), and DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), upon exposure to chemotherapeutics is a major hurdle in the treatment of chemoresistant tumors due to its complexity and redundancy [5]. Various preclinical studies have shown that inhibition

• of DDR either through autophagy modulation or poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition could provide a better therapeutic response [6][7]. Recently, nanomedicine has shown immense potential/efficacy in the treatment of chemoresistant tumors by providing improved molecular targeting, better

Fabrication and evaluation of BerNPs regarding the growth and development of Streptococcus mutans

• Tuyen Huu Nguyen,
• Hong Thanh Pham,
• Kieu Kim Thanh Nguyen,
• Loan Hong Ngo,
• Anh Ngoc Tuan Mai,
• Thu Hoang Anh Lam,
• Ngan Thi Kim Phan,
• Dung Tien Pham,
• Duong Thuy Hoang,
• Thuc Dong Nguyen and
• Lien Thi Xuan Truong

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 308–315, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.23

• clindamycin or rifampicin effectively reduced the bacterial density to one hundredth within 24 h [30]. The study by Sun et al. demonstrated that berberine produced notable antibacterial inhibition zones against four strains of Cutibacterium acnes, with MIC values ranging from 6.3 to 12.5 µg/mL and MBC values

• partial degradation of the proteins [33]. In this study, FE-SEM analysis further confirmed that one of the mechanisms by which BerNPs kill S. mutans involves the disruption and damage of the bacterial membrane. Inhibition of biofilm formation Streptococcus mutans is the primary cause of dental caries [34

• biosynthesis of S. mutans, has been reported to be inhibited by berberine [39]. The inhibition of biofilm formation by S. mutans was also observed in the study by Zhou and coworkers. The results showed that berberine chloride hydrate effectively downregulated the expression of the genes srtA, spaP, gbpC, comX

Radiosensitizing properties of dual-functionalized carbon nanostructures loaded with temozolomide

• Radmila Milenkovska,
• Nikola Geskovski,
• Dushko Shalabalija,
• Ljubica Mihailova,
• Petre Makreski,
• Dushko Lukarski,
• Igor Stojkovski,
• Maja Simonoska Crcarevska and
• Kristina Mladenovska

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 229–251, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.18

• controlled release of TMZ [41][42]. In another publication [25], the suitability of graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with folic acid (FA) for controlled release of TMZ and the inhibition of glioma growth was confirmed in vivo. To our knowledge (and stated also in the paper of Petrenko et al. [35]), our

• of Wang et al. [25], formulations made of TMZ-loaded and FA-functionalized GO provided pH-dependent and controlled TMZ release, and the favorable release profile was further confirmed in vivo by successful inhibition of glioma growth. In our previous study [43], in which non-covalent PEGylation of

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

• residual lens epithelial cells (LECs) around implanted intraocular lenses (IOLs), obscuring the visual axis and leading to potential blindness [111]. (c, d) The implantation of Au@SiO2-coated IOLs into eyes with cataracts in rabbits demonstrates the inhibition of LEC fibrosis. This is achieved through

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

• demonstrated by Ji and colleagues in a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced fibrosis, where they inhibited the proliferation of fibroblasts [46]. An alternative to depletion is the inhibition of KCs through chloroquine, an antimalaria agent that inhibits macrophage-specific endocytosis, or

• by suppressing anti-inflammatory pathways, while miR-146a enhances endotoxin tolerance by modulating TLR signaling through Notch1 inhibition [68][69]. miR-221-3p drives M2 macrophages towards the M1 phenotype by inhibiting the JAK3/STAT3 signaling pathway. Conversely, miR-1246 promotes M2

Characterization of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GP258

• Prashantkumar Siddappa Chakra,
• Aishwarya Banakar,
• Shriram Narayan Puranik,
• Vishwas Kaveeshwar,
• C. R. Ravikumar and
• Devaraja Gayathri

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 78–89, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.8

• potential of −60 mV. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles displayed significant antibacterial activity against selected human pathogens, with the biggest inhibition zone observed against Staphylococcus aureus (22 ± 0.57 mm) and the smallest inhibition zone observed against Salmonella enterica serovar

• -positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Of the five pathogens examined, three exhibited susceptibility to the ZnO NPs, while the remaining two showed reduced zones of inhibition, indicative of resistance. Noteworthy, susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus, evidenced by the largest zone of inhibition

• . aureus were observed, with a zone of inhibition measuring 22 ± 1 mm. In contrast, Salmonella enterica serovar typhi showed lower susceptibility, with an inhibition zone of 3 ± 1 mm, though antibacterial activity was still evident. Suba et al. [22] also reported antibacterial activity of ZnO NPs

Biomimetic nanocarriers: integrating natural functions for advanced therapeutic applications

• Hugo Felix Perini,
• Beatriz Sodré Matos,
• Carlo José Freire de Oliveira and
• Marcos Vinicius da Silva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1619–1626, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.127

• nanoparticles (AuNPs) with polyoxometalate and the peptides POMD and LPFFD (AuNPs@POMD-pep) have shown inhibition of Aβ1 aggregation and Aβ-induced cytotoxicity. However, the inherent toxicity of this formulation, challenges in particle digestion, and the potential for triggering immune reactions remain

Polymer lipid hybrid nanoparticles for phytochemical delivery: challenges, progress, and future prospects

• Iqra Rahat,
• Pooja Yadav,
• Aditi Singhal,
• Mohammad Fareed,
• Jaganathan Raja Purushothaman,
• Mohammed Aslam,
• Raju Balaji,
• Sonali Patil-Shinde and
• Md. Rizwanullah

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1473–1497, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.118

• non-targeted PLHNPs. A pharmacodynamic study of targeted PLHNPs in DMBA-induced BC-bearing female BALB/c mice showed that the targeted PLHNPs yielded significantly enhanced and synergistic therapeutic efficacy and showed much better tumor inhibition and improved survival rate than the non-targeted

• controlled drug release characteristics for up to 48 h. In vivo therapeutic efficacy was determined in MCF-7 tumor-bearing BALB/c female mice. The developed PLHNPs revealed much better tumor inhibition potential than the native compound. Altogether, developing psoralen-encapsulated PLHNPs significantly

• improved antitumor efficacy against cervical cancer [139]. The formulation showed better stability and sustained release properties. Antitumor activity in U14 tumor-bearing female CD-1 mice revealed that the UA-PLHNPs exhibited much higher tumor growth inhibition. Further, UA-PLHNPs represented better

Effect of radiation-induced vacancy saturation on the first-order phase transformation in nanoparticles: insights from a model

• Aram Shirinyan and
• Yuriy Bilogorodskyy

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1453–1472, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.117

• II in Figure 2. This correspondence highlights the significant impact of nucleation on the phase transition dynamics. Specifically, the presence of nucleation fundamentally alters the situation, leading to the possibility of phase transition inhibition due to the existence of a very high energy

Hymenoptera and biomimetic surfaces: insights and innovations

• Vinicius Marques Lopez,
• Carlo Polidori and
• Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1333–1352, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.107

• effective ultrasound equipment, thus improving patient outcomes in both diagnostics and treatment. Furthermore, studying the use of acoustic signals in hymenopterans may offer valuable inspiration for future research, as these context-dependent signals can modulate the production or inhibition of chemical

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

• microenvironment, thus enhancing treatment efficacy. The study revealed that 64Cu-Cu@CuOx-ECL1i exhibited suitable biodistribution and biocompatibility. Moreover, 64Cu-Cu@CuOx-ECL1i-Gem was able to induce tumor inhibition and to prolong survival in a syngeneic xenograft mouse model of PDAC. 5.7 Antibody-based

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

• inhibition of the zebrafish hatching enzyme ZHE1 with the nano-qRASTR approach to improve the model quality, predictability, and reliability significantly. Materials and Methods Dataset The percentage decrease in enzymatic activity expressed in the form of enzyme inhibition to zebrafish in % (%EIzebrafish

• approach for the inhibition of ZHE1 hatching enzyme activity: The first descriptor represents the total metal electronegativity in a specific metal oxide and shows a negative correlation to the inhibition of the ZHE 1 hatching enzyme. In this case, an increase in electronegativity will result in a

• ), suggesting that nanomaterials composed of atoms with larger radii are associated with a decrease in %EIzebrafish. A larger atomic radius might indicate weaker bonding and less effective interaction with the enzyme or its substrate, leading to less enzyme inhibition. This could be due to the diffuse nature of

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

• the activation of HSCs is the most important strategy in liver fibrosis therapy. It includes both inhibition of HSC proliferation and of pro-fibrogenic cytokine and growth factor secretion. In the last few years, the research on interferon γ (IFNγ), the angiotensin II-receptor antagonist Losartan

• overexpressed in activated HSCs and strongly related to the transformation of HSCs into matrix-producing myofibroblasts during liver fibrinogenesis [68][69]. The HSC-mediated antifibrotic drugs work through several mechanisms, including inhibition of fibrogenesis (ECM synthesis), inhibition of HSC proliferation

• , inhibition of profibrogenic cytokine and growth factors secretion, and induction of ECM degradation [70]. A summary of liver-targeted delivery systems is shown in Table 1. Passive and active delivery strategies were combined by Luo and co-workers, who prepared silibinin–human serum albumin nanocrystals [71

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

• the initial 120 h. Furthermore, in vitro tests showed the effective inhibition of MCF-7 human breast cells without any damage to human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The created new alginate-based nanoplatform can be used in targeted and prolonged drug delivery of capsaicin in cancer prevention and

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

• the FimH protein complex involved in bladder infection. CNTs also prevent the formation of biofilm as reported by Sivaraj et al. [126], who obtained zones of inhibition of up to 12 mm. Morco et al. [127] suggested that the biofilm inhibition by CNTs is mainly due to the increase of surface

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

• as a control to see that the treatment reduces the uptake of this ligand. Chlorpromazine has been reported to lead to relocalization of clathrin and the adaptor AP2 from the plasma membrane and to endosomes [46]. Notably, this is associated with an inhibition of the recycling of receptors for α2

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

• 8 h; however, only 50% of the zinc acetate was dissolved. In addition, antibacterial activity tests were performed with four different bacterial strains relevant to skin surface injuries, leading to the appearance of inhibition zones around the scaffold discs in most cases. We also investigated the

• the discs were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h, and then inhibition/diffuse zones were observed. The diameter of the inhibition zones is the area where bacteria do not appear at all. The diffuse zones defined in our paper are areas where the salt could diffuse out from the scaffold and start some clean-up

• zone in the agar (not a totally clean area from bacteria). These zones were measured by the ImageJ software, and with Equation 6, the specific antibacterial area was calculated [22]. The dzone means the diameter of the inhibition or diffuse zone and dscaffold means the diameter of the scaffolds after

Laser synthesis of nanoparticles in organic solvents – products, reactions, and perspectives

• Theo Fromme,
• Sven Reichenberger,
• Katharine M. Tibbetts and
• Stephan Barcikowski

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 638–663, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.54

• nanocomposites based on sp-hybridized carbon chains [64]. Liang et al. specified the conditions for inhibition of phase crystallization and, hence, the formation of metallic glass nanoparticles in organic solvents, which was attributed to the carbon doping of the amorphous phase as well as carbon shell formation

Fabrication of nanocrystal forms of ᴅ-cycloserine and their application for transdermal and enteric drug delivery systems

• Hsuan-Ang Tsai,
• Tsai-Miao Shih,
• Theodore Tsai,
• Jhe-Wei Hu,
• Yi-An Lai,
• Jui-Fu Hsiao and
• Guochuan Emil Tsai

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 465–474, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.42

• absorber [20]. In addition, silver (Ag) nanoparticles were synthesized from cotton fabrics and exhibited strong inhibition activity against some bacteria [21]. Recently, pure active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) composed of nanocrystals was investigated, as opposed to drug nanocarrier platforms [22

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

• % DPPH inhibition and exhibit in vivo hepatoprotective properties in laboratory mice [12]. The combination of copper and cerium in nanoparticle structures enhances antioxidant activity through a synergistic effect. CuCe nanoparticles have been demonstrated for therapeutic effects in ischemic vascular

• ]. Antioxidants contribute to cancer inhibition and cancer treatment by several mechanisms. First, nanoantioxidants reduce cancer initiation by protecting DNA molecules from oxidative stress and stimulating DNA repair. For example, platinum nanoparticles inhibited the growth of epithelial lung cancer cells by

• between cerium(IV) and cerium(III). SOD activity immobilized through cross-linking on a Zr framework (SOD-ZrMOF) demonstrates effective scavenging of ROS and inhibition of oxidative stress. A prolonged investigation using an animal model of acute myocardial infarction revealed that SOD-ZrMOF has the

Controllable physicochemical properties of WO_x thin films grown under glancing angle

• Rupam Mandal,
• Aparajita Mandal,
• Alapan Dutta,
• Rengasamy Sivakumar,
• Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava and
• Tapobrata Som

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 350–359, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.31

• inhibition of crystallization at lower thicknesses arises mainly because of a considerable contribution of the surface energy to the total Gibbs free energy of crystallization, resulting in a higher crystallization temperature and/or time [47][48]. It can be concluded that the annealing condition (i.e., 673

Vinorelbine-loaded multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles as anticancer drug delivery systems: synthesis, characterization, and in vitro release study

• Zeynep Özcan and
• Afife Binnaz Hazar Yoruç

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 256–269, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.24

• cancer cell growth, slowing their proliferation and disrupting mitotic regulation, leading to the stimulation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 and the inhibition or inactivation of various signaling pathways [31][32]. Its widespread adoption in medicine can be attributed to its strong therapeutic

Assessing phytotoxicity and tolerance levels of ZnO nanoparticles on Raphanus sativus: implications for widespread adoptions

• Pathirannahalage Sahan Samuditha,
• Nadeesh Madusanka Adassooriya and
• Nazeera Salim

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 115–125, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.11

• ]. High concentrations of Zn are implicated in the shifting of soil microbial communities and inhibition of microbial enzymes, thereby affecting soil fertility [1]. The excess levels of Zn, disrupting soil homeostasis, negatively affects plants and human health by inducing acute toxicity due to the

• coir without displaying chlorosis, necrosis, or strong growth inhibition, indicating its tolerance to elevated Zn levels [47]. Its resilience may have implications not only for the plant but also for the surrounding soil environment, microflora, and potentially human health. Metal-based engineered

• noteworthy internalization of Zn by R. sativus at 10,000 mg/L exceeded the healthy level of Zn by 340%. Despite this, R. sativus demonstrated survival at 1000 mg/L without signs of chlorosis, necrosis, or growth inhibition, suggesting its Zn-tolerant nature. This study emphasized the need for proactive

Berberine-loaded polylactic acid nanofiber scaffold as a drug delivery system: The relationship between chemical characteristics, drug-release behavior, and antibacterial efficiency

• Le Thi Le,
• Hue Thi Nguyen,
• Liem Thanh Nguyen,
• Huy Quang Tran and
• Thuy Thi Thu Nguyen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 71–82, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.7

• inhibition concentration for MRSA. The release of BBR from PLA nanofiber scaffolds was best fit with Ritger–Peppas models, suggesting that BBR release was mainly controlled by a diffusion mechanism. Additionally, the BBR NPs/PLA nanofiber scaffold did not exhibit cytotoxic activity against MA-104 monolayer