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Bioactive Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Potential Applications

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Nanoscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2024 | Viewed by 2727

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Nano Fusion Technology Research Group, Institute for Fiber Engineering (IFES), Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research (ICCER), Shinshu University, Tokida 3-15-1, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
Interests: materials chemistry; nanofibers, carbon materials, nanocatalysis, supercapacitor, biomedical; sensors

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Nano Fusion Technology Research Group, Institute for Fiber Engineering (IFES), Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research (ICCER), Shinshu University, Tokida 3-15-1, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
Interests: nanofibers; electrospinning; bio-medical; sensors; carbon materials; food packing; nano-catalysis; supercapacitor; drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Materials Chemistry Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeonsan 38541, Republic of Korea
Interests: Functional polymers; supercapacitor; bio-film applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive nanoparticles can significantly influence interactions with biological systems. They often exhibit unique bioactivities owing to their nanoscale size effect, well-defined architecture, and precise surface property. Without doubt, bioactive nanoparticles have represented an important and exciting area of research. Bioactive nanoparticles can be inorganic, organic, inorganic–organic hybrid, carbon-based composites, polymeric, or supramolecular-based materials. Synthetic methods have significant effect on the physicochemical properties of the bioactive nanoparticles. Recently, there has been growing interest in the potential use of bioactive nanoparticles in bio-catalysis, biosensing, imaging, hemostasis, cancer immunotherapy, bone regeneration, wound dressing, and so on. In this light, the aim of this Special Issue is to generate discussion on the latest advances in research on the synthesis and potential applications of bioactive nanoparticles.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Synthesis of bioactive nanoparticles;
  • Inorganic bioactive nanoparticles;
  • Polymetric nanoparticles;
  • Carbon-based nanoparticles;
  • Biosensing;
  • Bio-catalysis;
  • Drug release;
  • Wound healing;
  • Cancer;
  • Anti-microbial;
  • Disease treatment;
  • Hemostasis;
  • Bioimaging;
  • Bone regeneration;
  • Neurodegenerative disease therapy.

Dr. Gopiraman Mayakrishnan
Prof. Dr. Ick-Soo Kim
Dr. Vanaraj Ramkumar
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomaterials
  • nanoparticles
  • biomedical
  • biosensing
  • bio-catalysis

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3582 KiB  
Article
Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as a New Nanoscale Resistance Inducer for Fusarium Wilt Control: Size Effects and Mechanism of Action
by Chaopu Ding, Yunfei Zhang, Chongbin Chen, Junfang Wang, Mingda Qin, Yu Gu, Shujing Zhang, Lanying Wang and Yanping Luo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4514; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084514 - 20 Apr 2024
Viewed by 276
Abstract
In agriculture, soil-borne fungal pathogens, especially Fusarium oxysporum strains, are posing a serious threat to efforts to achieve global food security. In the search for safer agrochemicals, silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) have recently been proposed as a new tool to alleviate pathogen [...] Read more.
In agriculture, soil-borne fungal pathogens, especially Fusarium oxysporum strains, are posing a serious threat to efforts to achieve global food security. In the search for safer agrochemicals, silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) have recently been proposed as a new tool to alleviate pathogen damage including Fusarium wilt. Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs), a unique class of SiO2NPs, have been widely accepted as desirable carriers for pesticides. However, their roles in enhancing disease resistance in plants and the specific mechanism remain unknown. In this study, three sizes of HMSNs (19, 96, and 406 nm as HMSNs-19, HMSNs-96, and HMSNs-406, respectively) were synthesized and characterized to determine their effects on seed germination, seedling growth, and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli (FOP) suppression. The three HMSNs exhibited no side effects on cowpea seed germination and seedling growth at concentrations ranging from 100 to 1500 mg/L. The inhibitory effects of the three HMSNs on FOP mycelial growth were very weak, showing inhibition ratios of less than 20% even at 2000 mg/L. Foliar application of HMSNs, however, was demonstrated to reduce the FOP severity in cowpea roots in a size- and concentration-dependent manner. The three HMSNs at a low concentration of 100 mg/L, as well as HMSNs-19 at a high concentration of 1000 mg/L, were observed to have little effect on alleviating the disease incidence. HMSNs-406 were most effective at a concentration of 1000 mg/L, showing an up to 40.00% decline in the disease severity with significant growth-promoting effects on cowpea plants. Moreover, foliar application of HMSNs-406 (1000 mg/L) increased the salicylic acid (SA) content in cowpea roots by 4.3-fold, as well as the expression levels of SA marker genes of PR-1 (by 1.97-fold) and PR-5 (by 9.38-fold), and its receptor gene of NPR-1 (by 1.62-fold), as compared with the FOP infected control plants. Meanwhile, another resistance-related gene of PAL was also upregulated by 8.54-fold. Three defense-responsive enzymes of POD, PAL, and PPO were also involved in the HMSNs-enhanced disease resistance in cowpea roots, with varying degrees of reduction in activity. These results provide substantial evidence that HMSNs exert their Fusarium wilt suppression in cowpea plants by activating SA-dependent SAR (systemic acquired resistance) responses rather than directly suppressing FOP growth. Overall, for the first time, our results indicate a new role of HMSNs as a potent resistance inducer to serve as a low-cost, highly efficient, safe and sustainable alternative for plant disease protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Potential Applications)
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15 pages, 3926 KiB  
Article
Cytotoxic-Ag-Modified Eggshell Membrane Nanocomposites as Bactericides in Concrete Mortar
by Samuel Tomi Aina, Hilda Dinah Kyomuhimbo, Barend Du Plessis, Vuyo Mjimba, Nils Haneklaus and Hendrik Gideon Brink
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(20), 15463; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015463 - 23 Oct 2023
Viewed by 813
Abstract
Against the backdrop of escalating infrastructure budgets worldwide, a notable portion—up to 45%—is allocated to maintenance endeavors rather than innovative infrastructure development. A substantial fraction of this maintenance commitment involves combatting concrete degradation due to microbial attacks. In response, this study endeavors to [...] Read more.
Against the backdrop of escalating infrastructure budgets worldwide, a notable portion—up to 45%—is allocated to maintenance endeavors rather than innovative infrastructure development. A substantial fraction of this maintenance commitment involves combatting concrete degradation due to microbial attacks. In response, this study endeavors to propose a remedial strategy employing nano metals and repurposed materials within cement mortar. The methodology entails the adsorption onto eggshell membranes (ESM) of silver nitrate (ESM/AgNO3) or silver nanoparticles (ESM/AgNPs) yielding silver–eggshell membrane composites. Subsequently, the resulting silver–eggshell membrane composites were introduced in different proportions to replace cement, resulting in the formulation of ten distinct mortar compositions. A thorough analysis encompassing a range of techniques, such as spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and MTT assay, was performed on these composite blends. Additionally, evaluations of both compressive and tensile strengths were carried out. The mortar blends 3, 5, and 6, characterized by 2% ESM/AgNO3, 1% ESM/AgNPs, and 2% ESM/AgNPs cement replacement, respectively, exhibited remarkable antimicrobial efficacy, manifesting in substantial reduction in microbial cell viability (up to 50%) of typical waste activated sludge. Concurrently, a marginal reduction of approximately 10% in compressive strength was noted, juxtaposed with an insignificant change in tensile strength. This investigation sheds light on a promising avenue for addressing concrete deterioration while navigating the balance between material performance and structural integrity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Potential Applications)
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Review

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60 pages, 30540 KiB  
Review
Cationic Materials for Gene Therapy: A Look Back to the Birth and Development of 2,2-Bis-(hydroxymethyl)Propanoic Acid-Based Dendrimer Scaffolds
by Silvana Alfei
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(21), 16006; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242116006 - 06 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1133
Abstract
Gene therapy is extensively studied as a realistic and promising therapeutic approach for treating inherited and acquired diseases by repairing defective genes through introducing (transfection) the “healthy” genetic material in the diseased cells. To succeed, the proper DNA or RNA fragments need efficient [...] Read more.
Gene therapy is extensively studied as a realistic and promising therapeutic approach for treating inherited and acquired diseases by repairing defective genes through introducing (transfection) the “healthy” genetic material in the diseased cells. To succeed, the proper DNA or RNA fragments need efficient vectors, and viruses are endowed with excellent transfection efficiency and have been extensively exploited. Due to several drawbacks related to their use, nonviral cationic materials, including lipidic, polymeric, and dendrimer vectors capable of electrostatically interacting with anionic phosphate groups of genetic material, represent appealing alternative options to viral carriers. Particularly, dendrimers are highly branched, nanosized synthetic polymers characterized by a globular structure, low polydispersity index, presence of internal cavities, and a large number of peripheral functional groups exploitable to bind cationic moieties. Dendrimers are successful in several biomedical applications and are currently extensively studied for nonviral gene delivery. Among dendrimers, those derived by 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propanoic acid (b-HMPA), having, unlike PAMAMs, a neutral polyester-based scaffold, could be particularly good-looking due to their degradability in vivo. Here, an overview of gene therapy, its objectives and challenges, and the main cationic materials studied for transporting and delivering genetic materials have been reported. Subsequently, due to their high potential for application in vivo, we have focused on the biodegradable dendrimer scaffolds, telling the history of the birth and development of b-HMPA-derived dendrimers. Finally, thanks to a personal experience in the synthesis of b-HMPA-based dendrimers, our contribution to this field has been described. In particular, we have enriched this work by reporting about the b-HMPA-based derivatives peripherally functionalized with amino acids prepared by us in recent years, thus rendering this paper original and different from the existing reviews. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Potential Applications)
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