Polyurethane/silk fibroin-based electrospun membranes for wound healing and skin substitute applications

• Iqra Zainab,
• Zohra Naseem,
• Syeda Rubab Batool,
• Muhammad Waqas,
• Ahsan Nazir and
• Muhammad Anwaar Nazeer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 591–612, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.46

• , and cytokines regulate the leucocytes at the injury site. Neutrophils (leucocytes) remove pathogens and necrotic tissues by phagocytosis, antimicrobial peptides, and the release of active oxygen species, proteolytic enzymes, as well as eicosanoids [39]. Excessive and uncontrolled inflammation causes

Nanomaterials in targeting amyloid-β oligomers: current advances and future directions for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and therapy

• Shiwani Randhawa,
• Trilok Chand Saini,
• Manik Bathla,
• Rahul Bhardwaj,
• Rubina Dhiman and
• Amitabha Acharya

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 561–580, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.44

• aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, primarily Aβ40 and Aβ42. These oligomers typically consist of a limited number of Aβ monomers, often ranging from trimers to tetramers, but they can form larger aggregates under certain conditions. Their small size and unique structural properties contribute to several

• improved associated neurotoxicity [52]. Shifting from imaging to electrochemical approaches, researchers have developed biosensors comprising immobilized thiolated PrPC peptides on a graphene oxide/gold nanoparticle hydrogel electrode. This nanobiosensor displayed high specificity and sensitivity for

• therapeutic applications. CNMs can be categorized into three primary forms, namely, zero-dimensional fullerenes (e.g., C60), one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and two-dimensional graphene. Each of these NMs possesses distinct attributes that facilitate their engagement with proteins and peptides

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

• in ASO-based therapies. Some promising strategies to overcome these limitations involve the conjugation of ASOs with peptides [53], polymers [54], aptamers [55], and antibodies [56], as well as the development of novel drug delivery systems [57][58]. This review discusses the challenges associated

• synthetic approaches, that is, chemical–enzymatic synthesis (CES), solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), and ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of N-carboxy anhydrides [62]. While CES and SPPS offer access to structural isomers (i.e., α-PLL or ε-PLL) and sequence-controlled ʟ-lysine-rich peptides

• . These results underscored the potential of these nanocarriers as a non-invasive method for effective ASO delivery to the brain, offering a promising strategy for treating central nervous system disorders. Besides glycosylation, the utilisation of targeting sequenced peptides has also gained attention

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

• cellular functions. Future developments may see the integration of photothermal nanomaterial therapies with viruses, receptors, antibodies, aptamers, peptides, multifunctional genes, self-assembled DNA structures, and proteins. Given the diversity and adaptability of nanomaterials, it is conceivable 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

• . Coating NCs with membranes from red blood cells or neutrophils or decorating them with peptides can camouflage the NCs and prevent macrophage ingestion [51][52]. 4.4 Endosomal escape After reaching the target site, as discussed in the previous paragraphs, NCs should release their cargo to exert their

Mechanistic insights into endosomal escape by sodium oleate-modified liposomes

• Ebrahim Sadaqa,
• Satrialdi,
• Fransiska Kurniawan and
• Diky Mudhakir

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1667–1685, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.131

• developed. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), renowned for their ability to traverse biological membranes, have been extensively studied for their potential to enhance endosomal escape by causing membrane disruption [5]. However, the broad utility of CPPs is limited by their non-specific nature, which often

• endocytosis, likely due to membrane modulation by SO [18][19]. For AUR-Lipo (Figure 2c,f), amiloride significantly reduced fluorescence (p < 0.001), confirming that macropinocytosis is the primary pathway for AUR-Lipo. This is consistent with previous studies of cationic antimicrobial peptides using

• acid residues is crucial for the transmembrane insertion of peptides, particularly in acidic environments [21]. Our simulation data further indicate that, in the absence of protonation under these acidic conditions, there is no significant interaction between AUR and the membrane. This finding

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

• these carriers are improved [19][21][22][23][24][25]. Various cellular components such as extracellular vesicles, leukocyte and red blood cell membranes are beneficial for developing bioinspired devices. Specific targets, including peptides, aptamers, proteins, and viral capsids, may also be utilized in

• 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

Facile synthesis of size-tunable L-carnosine-capped silver nanoparticles and their role in metal ion sensing and catalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol

• Akash Kumar,
• Ridhima Chadha,
• Abhishek Das,
• Nandita Maiti and
• Rayavarapu Raja Gopal

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1576–1592, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.124

• conductivity, and potent catalytic activity, make them ideal candidates for environmental monitoring and remediation [3]. Modifying silver nanoparticles with various biological molecules, peptides, proteins, and enzymes has further enhanced their functionality, stability, and selectivity towards specific

• pollutants [4][5][6]. Biomolecule-capped silver nanoparticles, particularly those stabilized by naturally occurring peptides such as ʟ-carnosine, have shown exceptional sensing and catalytic degradation capabilities. ʟ-Carnosine, a dipeptide consisting of β-alanine and histidine, stabilizes the nanoparticle

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

• antibodies, peptides, aptamers, or small molecules that specifically bind to receptors overexpressed on the surface of target cells or tissues. The conjugation of targeting ligands to the surface of PLHNPs enables specific delivery of drug/phytochemicals to desired sites within the body, such as tumor cells

• endocytosis. IQN-iRGD-PLHNPs also exhibited much higher cytotoxicity than non-targeted IQN-PLHNPs and free IQN. Interestingly, after leveraging iRGD peptides for active tumor-tissue accumulation and employing a stealth nanostructure for prolonged in vivo circulation, ISL-iRGD NPs exhibited superior

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

• administration also suffers from enzymatic degradation including peptidase and protease activity, making it challenging to deliver peptides and proteins [29][30]. Yet, the intranasal route still yields lower enzymatic degradation and higher bioavailability in the brain [31]. While the challenges of the

• critical literature reviews on N2B delivery of peptides and proteins. Considering the recent advancements and publications in the field, we highlight N2B delivery of biopharmaceuticals while emphasizing mAbs, RNA delivery, and NP functionalization techniques for better targeting the brain [150]. Despite

Dual-functionalized architecture enables stable and tumor cell-specific SiO₂NPs in complex biological fluids

• Iris Renata Sousa Ribeiro,
• Raquel Frenedoso da Silva,
• Romênia Ramos Domingues,
• Adriana Franco Paes Leme and
• Mateus Borba Cardoso

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1238–1252, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.100

• performed with dithiothreitol and iodoacetamide, respectively, followed by in-gel trypsin digestion. The peptides were desalted on a C18 Stage Tips column and an aliquot containing 2 µg of each sample was analyzed using an LTQ Orbitrap Velos (Thermo Fisher Scientific) coupled to a nanoflow EASY-nLC (Proxeon

• Biosystems) liquid chromatography system through a Proxeon nanoelectrospray ion source. Peptides were separated at a flow rate of 300 nL/min in a 2–90% acetonitrile gradient in 0.1% formic acid for a total gradient time of 65 min (35% acetonitrile at 33 min) using a PicoFrit analytical column (20 cm × ID75

• ions. The 20 most intense peptide ions with charge state ≥2 were sequentially isolated to a target value of 5000 and fragmented by collision-induced dissociation in the linear ion trap using a normalized collision energy of 35%. Dynamic exclusion was enabled with an exclusion size list of 500 peptides

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

• 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

• through surface coating of the inorganic core with small molecules, such as glutathione (GSH), glucose, low molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (PEG), and various short peptides, among others [60][61][62][63]. This characteristic stands in sharp contrast to conventional large NPs, which often necessitate

• actively targeted usNPs can enhance tumor accumulation compared to non-targeted particles (Section 5). Furthermore, usNPs containing tumor homing and penetrating peptides can target the more accessible tumor vasculature, potentially aiding in particle accumulation within the tumor site [85][86]. A direct

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

• ] which can facilitate the transport of mRNA from endosomes and into the cytosol. There, it can be translated into peptides/proteins which can serve as antigens for the formation of antibodies against Covid-19 virus proteins. A key question regarding the possibility to benefit from using similar lipid

Nanocarrier systems loaded with IR780, iron oxide nanoparticles and chlorambucil for cancer theragnostics

• Phuong-Thao Dang-Luong,
• Hong-Phuc Nguyen,
• Loc Le-Tuan,
• Xuan-Thang Cao,
• Vy Tran-Anh and
• Hieu Vu Quang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 180–189, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.17

• oxide) (PEO). To improve the targeting ability of nanoparticles, ligands are typically designed to be located on the exterior of nanoparticles. Typically, ligands are cell-type-specific monoclonal antibodies, RGD peptides for the overexpression of the asialoglycoprotein receptor on cancer cells [5

Nanotechnological approaches in the treatment of schistosomiasis: an overview

• Lucas Carvalho,
• Michelle Sarcinelli and
• Beatriz Patrício

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 13–25, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.2

• sublethal doses can cause alterations in parasite tegument [85]. Bee venom comprises various pharmacologically active components, including melittin (constituting more than 50% of total proteins) and a mixture of enzymes, cell-lytic peptides, proteases, and bioactive amines [86]. This mixture has

Nanoarchitectonics of photothermal materials to enhance the sensitivity of lateral flow assays

• Elangovan Sarathkumar,
• Rajasekharan S. Anjana and
• Ramapurath S. Jayasree

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 988–1003, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.82

• and for efficient light-to-heat conversion. The surface chemistry of the selected photothermal material should facilitate the successful immobilization of biomolecules, such as antibodies, aptamers, peptides, or affinity molecules. Finally, an efficient thermal energy readout system is needed for the

Antibody-conjugated nanoparticles for target-specific drug delivery of chemotherapeutics

• Mamta Kumari,
• Amitabha Acharya and
• Praveen Thaggikuppe Krishnamurthy

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 912–926, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.75

• of nanoscale chemotherapeutics is accomplished by two different approaches, namely the exploitation of leaky tumor vasculature (EPR effect) and the surface modification of nanoparticles (NPs) with various tumor-homing peptides, aptamers, oligonucleotides, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Because of

• the blood stream, they instantly absorb proteins to form a protein corona, which may prominently impede the binding of antibodies to their receptors [77]. There is increasing evidence that NPs conjugated with antibodies, peptides, and aptamers lose the ability to recognize or bind with specific

• targeting of cyclic RGD peptides attached on PEGylated NPs. The cellular uptake of NPs with bound proteins was reduced to 26% compared with NPs without bound proteins (ca. 76%). The in vivo results also demonstrated that the targeting efficacy of cyclic RGD peptide-functionalized PEGylated NPs was much

Green SPIONs as a novel highly selective treatment for leishmaniasis: an in vitro study against Leishmania amazonensis intracellular amastigotes

• Brunno R. F. Verçoza,
• Robson R. Bernardo,
• Luiz Augusto S. de Oliveira and
• Juliany C. F. Rodrigues

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 893–903, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.73

• L. major promastigotes [35]. Finally, a study showed the effect in vitro and in vivo of amphotericin B encapsulated in magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with glycine-rich peptides for treating visceral leishmaniasis caused by L. donovani [12]. All these studies demonstrated the potential gain

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

New trends in nanobiotechnology

• Pau-Loke Show,
• Kit Wayne Chew,
• Wee-Jun Ong,
• Sunita Varjani and
• Joon Ching Juan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 377–379, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.32

• the use of nanotechnology in self-assembly methods and the challenges to adapt these nanomaterials to commercial applications. Some other hot topics in the field of nanobiotechnology were also covered in the thematic issue. One of these topics is on the “Design and selection of peptides to block the

• SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain by molecular docking” [6]. This research work showcases peptides that are capable to bind and neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus through molecular docking. The latest developments of the molecular docking of peptides by molecular dynamics were investigated to understand

• the interaction between peptides with physiological proteins. Through the study, the selection and rapid design of peptides based on peptide binding sites, hydrogen bond number, and binding affinity were obtained. It was also concluded the potential role of these peptides in the prevention of

Polymer nanoparticles from low-energy nanoemulsions for biomedical applications

• Santiago Grijalvo and
• Carlos Rodriguez-Abreu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 339–350, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.29

• -co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a biodegradable polymer that decomposes by hydrolysis into non-toxic and easily metabolized monomers, namely lactic and glycolic acid. It is approved by FDA and EMA [23][48]. Biodegradable and biocompatible PLGA nanoparticles find uses as carriers for drugs, peptides

Biocatalytic synthesis and ordered self-assembly of silica nanoparticles via a silica-binding peptide

• Mustafa Gungormus

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 280–290, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.25

• methods for manufacturing ordered structures of nanoparticles is an ongoing challenge. Ordered structures of SiO2 nanoparticles have gained increased attention due to the great potential they offer in filtering, separation, drug delivery, optics, electronics, and catalysis. Biomolecules, such as peptides

• monodisperse nanoparticles and to modify the surface properties to fully exploit the advantages offered by self-assembly. Biomolecules, such as peptides and proteins, have been demonstrated to be useful in the synthesis and self-assembly of inorganic nanostructures [15][16]. Herein, we have investigated the

• utility of a silica-binding peptide (SiBP) in the single-step synthesis and self-assembly of SiO2 nanoparticles into ordered 3D structures. The SiBP is a member of the “solid-binding peptides” family. Solid-binding peptides are designed to have strong and often specific binding affinity to solid surfaces

Studies of probe tip materials by atomic force microscopy: a review

• Ke Xu and
• Yuzhe Liu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1256–1267, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.104

• surface and intracellular polysaccharides, proteins, peptides, antigens, hormones, and nucleic acids. They are gradually developing into an essential means to study gene function. AFM direct force measurements are mainly due to the colloidal probe technique's defined interaction geometry and versatility

Design of surface nanostructures for chirality sensing based on quartz crystal microbalance

• Yinglin Ma,
• Xiangyun Xiao and
• Qingmin Ji

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1201–1219, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.100

• . reported a Ru-modified porphyrin as a chiral recognition host to achieve specific recognition of racemic isocyanides and alcohols [85]. Imai et al. and Hayashi et al. obtained chiral recognition of amino acids and peptides using Zn-modified porphyrins [86][87]. In general, the chirality of the porphyrin

• resultant L- or R-TiO2 nanofibers were immobilized as recognition layers on the QCM electrode for selective adsorption of chiral peptides. The insulin monomers exhibited a higher tendency to bind to the R-surface than to the L-surface. The recognition difference was suggested mainly due to the steric effect

Bioselectivity of silk protein-based materials and their bio-inspired applications

• Hendrik Bargel,
• Vanessa T. Trossmann,
• Christoph Sommer and
• Thomas Scheibel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 902–921, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.81

• –Thr–Ser (LDTS) sequence in MAdCAM-1, and Ile–Asp–Ser (IDS) in VCAM-1 [19]. Another example of selective adhesion of cells expressing one type of integrin has been achieved by click chemistry to immobilize peptidomimetics of α5β1- or ανβ3-selective RGD peptides [45]. Two other commonly used adhesive

• peptides to promote cellular interactions with biomaterials are the pentapeptides IKVAV (Ile–Lys–Val–Ala–Val) and YIGSR (Tyr–Ile–Gly–Ser–Arg), which are naturally present in laminin and are used for increasing bioadhesiveness and cellular interactions with biomaterials [23][33][34][35][41][46][47][48

• pseudotuberculosis, and enteropathogenic E. coli [83][84]. Another protein-based antimicrobial strategy in nature is the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) [85]. These molecules are short-length amphipathic peptide molecules (between 10 and 50 amino acids), usually with cationic charges and hydrophobic residues