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

• and coworkers synthesised a library of bPEI polyplexes grafted with hydrophobic ligands including aliphatic alkanes, fluoroalkanes, and cycloalkanes of varying lengths and analysed the structure–activity relationship of these compounds to deliver anti-luciferase siRNA oligonucleotides [119]. All PEI

Size control of nanoparticles synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquids using donut-shaped beams

• Abdel Rahman Altakroury,
• Oleksandr Gatsa,
• Farbod Riahi,
• Zongwen Fu,
• Miroslava Flimelová,
• Andrei Samokhvalov,
• Stephan Barcikowski,
• Carlos Doñate-Buendía,
• Alexander V. Bulgakov and
• Bilal Gökce

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 407–417, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.31

• ][26], ligands [27], and low-salinity ions [28], or by choosing different liquid media [29]. Nevertheless, the addition of molecular stabilizers or the use of liquids that increase the stability reduces the versatility of the technique and limits the applicability of the produced colloidal NPs. The

Pulsed laser in liquid grafting of gold nanoparticle–carbon support composites

• Madeleine K. Wilsey,
• Teona Taseska,
• Qishen Lyu,
• Connor P. Cox and
• Astrid M. Müller

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 349–361, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.26

• surfactants for size control [17][18][19]. Nanoparticles prepared by pulsed laser in liquid synthesis are surfactant-free [1], but the same binder strategies are used for nanoparticle–support composites as for conventionally made nanoparticles. Capping ligands and binders hinder intimate contact between

Preferential enrichment and extraction of laser-synthesized nanoparticles in organic phases

• Theo Fromme,
• Maximilian L. Spiekermann,
• Florian Lehmann,
• Stephan Barcikowski,
• Thomas Seidensticker and
• Sven Reichenberger

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 254–263, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.20

• particles should be less oxidized. Hence, the properties of the bottom phase (to function as surface ligand) are influencing the mass fraction but do not change the preferred phase for nanoparticle enrichment. This also indicates that the alcohols functioning as ligands have no strong effect on the

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

• for active agent loading and functionalization with (intra)cellular component targeting ligands, and extremely small size for crossing the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and targeted delivery to the brain. The hydrophobic nature of the CNs offers good membrane permeability. Through chemical modifications

• formulation, biopharmaceutics/release kinetics, and pharmacokinetics of TMZ. Also, surface functionalization attempts with multiple targeting ligands were made to deliver TMZ to the site of interest, exploiting the site-specific expression or overexpression of specific molecules on BBTB and GBM cells to

• indicate that chemically modified CNs are highly water soluble and that their toxicity depends on the degree of functionalization. Considering the specific targeting ligands used for dual functionalization of the CNs in the present study, aside from their effects on the solubility of CNs, one cannot

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

• triggers a rapid, collective resonance among them [44]. This resonance leads to interactions between the excited free electrons and other electrons, lattice phonons, and surface ligands, converting the kinetic energy of these electrons into thermal energy through the Joule mechanism, an exceptionally

Probing the potential of rare earth elements in the development of new anticancer drugs: single molecule studies

• Josiane A. D. Batista,
• Rayane M. de Oliveira,
• Carlos H. M. Lima,
• Milton L. Lana Júnior,
• Virgílio C. dos Anjos,
• Maria J. V. Bell and
• Márcio S. Rocha

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 187–194, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.15

• -disorder statistical model that describes DNA interactions with small ligands was developed by our group in the past [22][19]. Such a model allows one to extract the binding parameters of a given interaction from the data of the persistence length as a function of the ligand concentration in the sample [22

• ]. In summary, for DNA ligands that induce monotonic changes on the persistence length upon binding, the effective measured value (AE) of this mechanical parameter can be written as where A0 is the persistence length of the bare DNA molecule, A1 is the local persistence length induced by the ligand upon

A review of metal-organic frameworks and polymers in mixed matrix membranes for CO₂ capture

• Charlotte Skjold Qvist Christensen,
• Nicholas Hansen,
• Mahboubeh Motadayen,
• Nina Lock,
• Martin Lahn Henriksen and
• Jonathan Quinson

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 155–186, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.14

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

• tissue damage and chronic inflammation. This prolonged M1 activity is a hallmark of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The activation of M1 macrophages is primarily mediated by the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), which is triggered by microbial ligands binding to

• into four subtypes, that is, M2a, M2b, M2c, and M2d, based on their specific activation signals, cytokine production, and functional roles. The already mentioned M2 macrophages driven by IL-4 and IL-13, are known as M2a. M2b macrophages, induced by immune complexes and TLR ligands, regulate

• inflammation and tissue damage in RA models [75]. Beyond cytokines, mRNA therapies have targeted macrophage-specific markers to induce phenotype switching. Polyethylenimine NPs grafted with mannose ligands have been used to deliver genes encoding CD163, a hallmark of M2 macrophages. This system successfully

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

• bacteria contribute to the creation of NPs by acting as ligands for the metal ions. Extracellular and intracellular enzymes also play a role in this process, acting as capping, stabilizing, and reducing agents [9]. The study focuses on using LAB to synthesize ZnO NPs with wurtzite (B4) structure under

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

• replicating the characteristics or functions of native cells [19]. Nanoparticle coating involves obtaining nanoparticles (Figure 1-2A), which can be organic or inorganic in structure (Figure 2A), and conjugating them with functional ligands (Figure 1-2B) or biological structures, such as cell membranes

• strategy involves surface coating with specific ligands which interact with elevated levels of target-specific receptors. Both delivery systems aim to achieve responsive drug release directly at the therapeutic target (Figure 2B) [19][30]. Therefore, a crucial step in constructing efficient biomimetic

• , consequently, sustained and controlled release of potential associated drugs [21]. To overcome these limitations and enhance coating efficiency, the decoration of nanostructures with functional ligands increases their biological interactions. Decreasing nonspecific interactions and immunogenicity is one of the

Electrochemical nanostructured CuBTC/FeBTC MOF composite sensor for enrofloxacin detection

• Thi Kim Ngan Nguyen,
• Tien Dat Doan,
• Huy Hieu Luu,
• Hoang Anh Nguyen,
• Thi Thu Ha Vu,
• Quang Hai Tran,
• Ha Tran Nguyen,
• Thanh Binh Dang,
• Thi Hai Yen Pham and
• Mai Ha Hoang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1522–1535, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.120

• sensor was presented by You et al. in 2002 [22]. MOFs are crystalline hybrid materials with network structures formed by the self-assembly of metal ions or metal clusters and organic ligands, which give them ultrahigh porosity and enormous internal surface area. However, using MOFs for electrochemical

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

• hydrophilic drugs are entrapped in the lipid shell. PLHNPs demonstrate relatively greater loading capacity for lipophilic compounds than other nanoparticle systems [12][19]. Moreover, the surface modification of PLHNPs with targeting ligands, such as antibodies, peptides, or aptamers, has been explored to

• , prolongs their circulation time in the body, and enhances their therapeutic effectiveness [42][43]. Additionally, surface engineering of PLHNPs with different ligands facilitates specific delivery of drug/phytochemicals to desired tissues or cells, reduces their adverse effects, and improves their

• the functionalization of the outer surface of nanoparticles with specific molecules or ligands to impart desired properties or functionalities. This process plays a crucial role in enhancing the targeting, stability, and therapeutic efficacy of PLHNPs for drug/phytochemical delivery. Surface

Ion-induced surface reactions and deposition from Pt(CO)₂Cl₂ and Pt(CO)₂Br₂

• Mohammed K. Abdel-Rahman,
• Patrick M. Eckhert,
• Atul Chaudhary,
• Johnathon M. Johnson,
• Jo-Chi Yu,
• Lisa McElwee-White and
• D. Howard Fairbrother

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1427–1439, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.115

• under steady-state conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and mass spectrometry data from monolayer thick films of Pt(CO)2Cl2 and Pt(CO)2Br2 exposed to 3 keV Ar+, He+, and H2+ ions indicate that deposition is initiated by the desorption of both CO ligands, a process ascribed to momentum

• ), dissociative ionization (DI), neutral dissociation (ND), and dipolar dissociation (DD) [44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]. One of the most important factors that govern deposit purity is the identity of ligands present in the precursor. The coordination sphere of ligands is addressed by precursor design [5

• ][53][54]. An ideal precursor candidate would have sufficient volatility and stability for the transport of intact gas phase precursor molecules during the process. The ligands should readily and cleanly be liberated from the precursor upon irradiation to provide a metallic deposit in the path of the

Nanotechnological approaches for efficient N2B delivery: from small-molecule drugs to biopharmaceuticals

• Selin Akpinar Adscheid,
• Akif E. Türeli,
• Nazende Günday-Türeli and
• Marc Schneider

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1400–1414, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.113

• therapeutic applications. For example, polymeric NPs exhibit easily tunable surface properties [117], lipid NPs offer high bioavailability and -compatibility [118], and inorganic NPs provide unique magnetic or optical properties [119]. Moreover, DDSs can be conjugated with ligands and coated with mucoadhesive

• brain targeting. Providing extra stability to the drugs through their tailorable characteristics, DDSs could be used to efficiently target the brain and minimize rapid nasal clearance. They can be combined with ligands to advance the targeting to the brain and exhibit mucoadhesive properties to help the

Nanoarchitectonics with cetrimonium bromide on metal nanoparticles for linker-free detection of toxic metal ions and catalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol

• Akash Kumar and
• Raja Gopal Rayavarapu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1312–1332, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.106

• does not allow for interactions with ligands via ion–ion interactions. Therefore, multiple surface modifications or linkers must be used for selective interaction between ligand and CTAB-capped gold and silver nanoparticles [7][9]. Contaminants in form of heavy metals and pollutant such as 4

• interaction with ligands [23]. Previously, post-synthesis surface-modified CTAB-capped gold and silver nanoparticles were used to detect various compounds, including heavy metals [9][24]. Moudgil et al. showed that that poly-ʟ-lysine-coated CTAB-AgNPs are selective and sensitive for detecting Hg2+ [9]. GSH

• established that CTAB prevents interactions with ligands such as metal ions. Consequently, alternative linkers have typically facilitated metal ion detection using CTAB-capped nanoparticles. However, this study has developed a system capable of detecting metal ions without such linkers. The detection

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

• demonstrate favorable tumor penetration and intratumoral diffusion. Active targeting strategies, incorporating ligands for specific tumor receptor binding, serve to further enhance usNP tumor selectivity and therapeutic performance. Numerous preclinical studies have already demonstrated the potential of

• with targeting ligands (i.e., small molecules, peptides, or antibodies) that bind to overexpressed receptors within the tumor microenvironment. Despite the promise of nanomedicine, neither passive nor active delivery strategies have significantly improved clinical therapeutic outcomes for solid tumors

• reliance on passive targeting, the more complex designs of targeted NPs, the potential for attached functional ligands to increase phagocytic capture and shorten blood circulation time, and the formation of a protein corona that may block the targeting ligand on the particle surface [15][16][17]. Over the

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

• protein to obtain the docking score, number of established hydrogen bonds, and the protein residues interacting with the ligands in a coordination sphere of 3 Å. The results obtained with Autodock Vina [47][68] for training–testing and validation sets are shown in Table 2. The docking scores ranged from

Direct electron beam writing of silver using a β-diketonate precursor: first insights

• Katja Höflich,
• Krzysztof Maćkosz,
• Chinmai S. Jureddy,
• Aleksei Tsarapkin and
• Ivo Utke

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1117–1124, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.90

• functionality [23][24]. Here, skin depth refers to the penetration depth of an electromagnetic field into a (non-transparent) metallic material. While pure metal deposition by direct electron beam writing was demonstrated for gold precursors with inorganic ligands [25][26], high purity comes often at the

• compounds exist that feature sufficient vapor pressure and stability to be delivered into and used in a vacuum chamber. To date, only the class of carboxylates led to successful implementation, including both fluorinated and non-flourinated ligands [27]. The surprisingly high content of elemental silver

• that was found in the deposit, despite the large number of carbon atoms in the ligands, was attributed to the thermodynamically favorable release of CO2 upon ligand cleavage [31]. All successfully tested silver carboxylates exhibit a generally high reactivity and sensitivity upon electron beam impact

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

• target because the activation of these cells is the central event underlying liver fibrosis. Considering the involvement of multiple cell types on the exacerbation of hepatic fibrosis, more studies targeting other liver cells should be carried out using various ligands. One needs to take into account

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

• . These functional groups can include ligands or antibodies that specifically bind to the target cells or tissues [51]. Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles help reduce toxicity and control drug biodistribution [46]. Alginate-based nanoparticles The preparation methods of alginate-based nanoparticles The

• , while TEM and SEM yield images of separated particles [61]. Surface area: The reactivity of nanoparticles and their ability to interact with ligands highly depend on their surface area. This property of the nanoparticles can be detected directly by adsorbing an inert gas under various pressures to form

• performance in glucose detection. For instance, the surface of alginate-based nanoparticles can be modified with specific receptors or ligands that selectively bind to glucose molecules, improving the sensitivity and selectivity of the biosensor. Moreover, alginate-based nanoparticles have the potential for

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

• with bound ligands enter by the same mechanism as the free ligands? Will the NPs affect intracellular transport and what are the consequences for the cell or tissue? In vivo, one might want NPs to be transcytosed across a cell layer. However, not much is known about the requirements for NPs to cross a

• cell layer in this manner when it comes to size, charge, material, and NP-associated ligands. In vivo there are also a number of challenges regarding studies of distribution, half-life, and long-term effects. Furthermore, there is a major challenge in the field of NP research regarding the fact that

• , was formed, and the internalized ligands could be directly transferred to the endoplasmic reticulum, thereby avoiding ending up in lysosomes and being degraded [33]. However, the same authors published in 2010 that this was wrong, and they advised that the name caveosome should not be used [34]. In

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

• copolymer has been utilized in many studies to develop a carrier that is effective for both treatment and diagnostics [8][9]. Its delivery efficiency can be improved by modifying the substance with targeted ligands such as folic acid, RGD, or antibodies [10][11]. Folic acid is one of the most common ligands

• the nanoparticles and the targeting ligands. Longer retention times for nanoparticles make it more likely that they will target the right area with the right targeting ligands, which leads to more nanoparticles building up in cancer cells. Nanoparticle size, charge, and composition all have an impact

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

• ENMOs (monocrystalline magnetic nanoparticles having overall size of 38 nm and an average of 60 ligands per nanoparticle, indicating a consistent level of attachment across different preparations) regarding human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells (PaCa2), human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Facile synthesis of Fe-based metal–organic frameworks from Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles and their application for CO₂/N₂ separation

• Van Nhieu Le,
• Hoai Duc Tran,
• Minh Tien Nguyen,
• Hai Bang Truong,
• Toan Minh Pham and
• Jinsoo Kim

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 897–908, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.74

• (DUT), and others. Among them, the Fe-based MIL-100(Fe) material stands out as an exceptional member of the MIL family because of its distinct properties [7][8]. MIL-100(Fe) offers a substantial number of unsaturated metal sites. These sites act as Lewis acid sites once ligands (–OH and water) are

• (ethanol and water) inside the pore system were released at low temperature around 100 °C. Subsequently, the ligands (water and/or –OH ligands) connected to Fe sites of the iron oxo-clusters were removed, leaving unsaturated metal sites inside the framework. Finally, a significant weight loss (approx. 41.8