Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.8
5.6
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Polymer Nanomaterials in Biomedicine
ijms-logo
Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Polymer Nanomaterials in Biomedicine

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2022) | Viewed by 10659

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Hyeonseok Yoon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
Interests: conducting polymers; nanoparticles; composites; sensors; electrochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Owing to their exclusive advantages originating from the nanometer size, nanoparticles and nanostructures have gained increasing interest as emerging materials that are essential for advances in biomedicine. Polymers have provided many advantages over other metals and ceramics in biomedical applications, such as mild synthetic condition, structural diversity, flexibility, and biocompatibility. Advances in polymer nanotechnologies have allowed the design and synthesis of various polymer nanomaterials for biomedical applications as well as the study of their biological behavior in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this Special Issue is to publish high-quality research papers and reviews focusing on the design, synthesis, and applications of nanoparticulate and nanostructured polymers in various biomedical applications. Research topics include but are not limited to the following:

  • In vitro/in vivo imaging/sensing
  • Hydrothermia
  • DNA/RNA delivery
  • Drug carriers
  • Bioscaffolds
  • Biofouling
  • Coating and surface functionalization
  • Small molecules versus polymers in biomedical applications

Prof. Dr. Hyeonseok Yoon
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • nanoparticles
  • nanostructures
  • polymers
  • biomedical applications

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 159 KiB  
Editorial
Polymer Nanomaterials in Biomedicine
by Hyeonseok Yoon
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7480; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087480 - 19 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 864
Abstract
Polymer nanomaterials have emerged as a promising class of materials within the field of biomedicine, owing to their unique physical, chemical, and biological properties [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanomaterials in Biomedicine)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

16 pages, 3742 KiB  
Article
Complexes of Cationic Pyridylphenylene Dendrimers with Anionic Liposomes: The Role of Dendrimer Composition in Membrane Structural Changes
by Anna A. Efimova, Svetlana A. Sorokina, Kseniya S. Trosheva, Alexander A. Yaroslavov and Zinaida B. Shifrina
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2225; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032225 - 22 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1396
Abstract
In the last decades, dendrimers have received attention in biomedicine that requires detailed study on the mechanism of their interaction with cell membranes. In this article, we report on the role of dendrimer structure in their interaction with liposomes. Here, the interactions between [...] Read more.
In the last decades, dendrimers have received attention in biomedicine that requires detailed study on the mechanism of their interaction with cell membranes. In this article, we report on the role of dendrimer structure in their interaction with liposomes. Here, the interactions between cationic pyridylphenylene dendrimers of the first, second, and third generations with mixed or completely charged pyridyl periphery (D16+, D215+, D229+, and D350+) with cholesterol-containing (CL/Chol/DOPC) anionic liposomes were investigated by microelectrophoresis, dynamic light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, and conductometry. It was found that the architecture of the dendrimer, namely the generation, the amount of charged pyridynium groups, the hydrophobic phenylene units, and the rigidity of the spatial structure, determined the special features of the dendrimer–liposome interactions. The binding of D350+ and D229+ with almost fully charged peripheries to liposomes was due to electrostatic forces: the dendrimer molecules could be removed from the liposomal surfaces by NaCl addition. D350+ and D229+ did not display a disruptive effect toward membranes, did not penetrate into the hydrophobic lipid bilayer, and were able to migrate between liposomes. For D215+, a dendrimer with a mixed periphery, hydrophobic interactions of phenylene units with the hydrocarbon tails of lipids were observed, along with electrostatic complexation with liposomes. As a result, defects were formed in the bilayer, which led to irreversible interactions with lipid membranes wherein there was no migration of D215+ between liposomes. A first-generation dendrimer, D16+, which was characterized by small size, a high degree of hydrophobicity, and a rigid structure, when interacting with liposomes caused significant destruction of liposomal membranes. Evidently, this interaction was irreversible: the addition of salt did not lead to the dissociation of the complex. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanomaterials in Biomedicine)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3919 KiB  
Article
Development of a Polymersome-Based Nanomedicine for Chemotherapeutic and Sonodynamic Combination Therapy
by Mingyun Kim, Doyeon Kim, Yongho Jang, Hyounkoo Han, Seonock Lee, Hyungwon Moon, Jungho Kim and Hyuncheol Kim
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1194; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021194 - 07 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1656
Abstract
In anticancer therapy, combination therapy has been suggested as an alternative to the insufficient therapeutic efficacy of single therapy. Among combination therapies, combination chemo- and photodynamic therapy are actively investigated. However, photodynamic therapy shows a limitation in the penetration depth of the laser. [...] Read more.
In anticancer therapy, combination therapy has been suggested as an alternative to the insufficient therapeutic efficacy of single therapy. Among combination therapies, combination chemo- and photodynamic therapy are actively investigated. However, photodynamic therapy shows a limitation in the penetration depth of the laser. Therefore, sonodynamic therapy (SDT), using ultrasound instead of a laser as a trigger, is an upcoming strategy for deep tumors. Additionally, free drugs are easily degraded by enzymes, have difficulty in reaching the target site, and show side effects after systemic administration; therefore, the development of drug delivery systems is desirable for sufficient drug efficacy for combination therapy. However, nanocarriers, such as microbubbles, and albumin nanoparticles, are unstable in the body and show low drug-loading efficiency. Here, we propose polylactide (PLA)-poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymersomes (PLs) with a high drug loading rate of doxorubicin (DOX) and verteporfin (VP) for effective combination therapy in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The cellular uptake efficiency and cytotoxicity test results of VP-DOX-PLs were higher than that of single therapy. Moreover, in vivo biodistribution showed the accumulation of the VP-DOX-PLs in tumor regions. Therefore, VP-DOX-PLs showed more effective anticancer efficacy than either single therapy in vivo. These results suggest that the combination therapy of SDT and chemotherapy could show novel anticancer effects using VP-DOX-PLs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanomaterials in Biomedicine)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2016 KiB  
Article
Development and Comprehensive Characteristics of Thermosensitive Liquid Suppositories of Metoprolol Based on Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) Nanoparticles
by Maria Bialik, Joanna Proc, Anna Zgadzaj, Karolina Mulas, Marzena Kuras, Marcin Sobczak and Ewa Oledzka
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 13743; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232213743 - 08 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1386
Abstract
Thermosensitive liquid suppositories (LSs) carrying the model antihypertensive drug metoprolol tartrate (MT) were developed and evaluated. The fundamental purpose of this work was to produce, for the first time, liquid MT suppositories based on biodegradable nanoparticles and optimize their rheological and mechanical properties [...] Read more.
Thermosensitive liquid suppositories (LSs) carrying the model antihypertensive drug metoprolol tartrate (MT) were developed and evaluated. The fundamental purpose of this work was to produce, for the first time, liquid MT suppositories based on biodegradable nanoparticles and optimize their rheological and mechanical properties for prospective rectal administration. The nanoparticle system was based on a biodegradable copolymer synthesized by ring opening polymerization (ROP) of glycolide (GL) and L,L-lactide (LLA). Biodegradable nanoparticles loaded with the model drug were produced by the o/o method at the first stage of the investigation. Depending on the concentration of the drug in the sample, from 66 to 91% of MT was released over 12 h, according to first-order kinetics. Then, thermosensitive LSs with MT-loaded biodegradable nanoparticles were obtained by a cold method and their mechanical and rheological properties were evaluated. To adjust the thermogelling and mucoadhesive properties for rectal administration, the amounts of major formulation components such as poloxamers (P407, P188), Tween 80, hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and sodium alginate were optimized. The in vitro release results revealed that more than 80% of the MT was released after 12 h, following also first-order kinetics. It was discovered that the diffusion process was dominant. The drug release profile was mainly governed by the rheological and mechanical properties of the developed formulation. Such a novel, thermosensitive formulation might be an effective alternative to hypertension treatment, particularly for unconscious patients, patients with mental illnesses, geriatric patients, and children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanomaterials in Biomedicine)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 2921 KiB  
Article
The Effect of the Topmost Layer and the Type of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Immobilization on the Mesenchymal Stem Cell Response
by Magdalena Wytrwal-Sarna, Małgorzata Sekuła-Stryjewska, Agata Pomorska, Ewa Ocłoń, Katarzyna Gajos, Michal Sarna, Ewa Zuba-Surma, Andrzej Bernasik and Krzysztof Szczubiałka
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(16), 9287; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23169287 - 18 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1717
Abstract
Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) plays a key role in the stem cell response, not only via its influence on osteogenesis, but also on cellular adhesion, migration, and proliferation. However, when applied clinically, its supra-physiological levels cause many adverse effects. Therefore, there [...] Read more.
Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) plays a key role in the stem cell response, not only via its influence on osteogenesis, but also on cellular adhesion, migration, and proliferation. However, when applied clinically, its supra-physiological levels cause many adverse effects. Therefore, there is a need to concomitantly retain the biological activity of BMP-2 and reduce its doses. Currently, the most promising strategies involve site-specific and site-directed immobilization of rhBMP-2. This work investigated the covalent and electrostatic binding of rhBMP-2 to ultrathin-multilayers with chondroitin sulfate (CS) or diazoresin (DR) as the topmost layer. Angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study the exposed chemical groups. The rhBMP-2 binding efficiency and protein state were studied with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Quartz crystal microbalance, atomic force microscopy, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to analyze protein–substrate interactions. The effect of the topmost layer was tested on initial cell adhesion and short-term osteogenesis marker expression. The results show the highest expression of selected osteomarkers in cells cultured on the DR-ended layer, while the cellular flattening was rather poor compared to the CS-ended system. rhBMP-2 adhesion was observed only on negatively charged layers. Cell flattening became more prominent in the presence of the protein, even though the osteogenic gene expression decreased. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanomaterials in Biomedicine)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

51 pages, 16099 KiB  
Review
Nanoparticulate Photoluminescent Probes for Bioimaging: Small Molecules and Polymers
by Sanghyuck Lee, Chul Soon Park and Hyeonseok Yoon
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4949; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094949 - 29 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2606
Abstract
Recent interest in research on photoluminescent molecules due to their unique properties has played an important role in advancing the bioimaging field. In particular, small molecules and organic dots as probes have great potential for the achievement of bioimaging because of their desirable [...] Read more.
Recent interest in research on photoluminescent molecules due to their unique properties has played an important role in advancing the bioimaging field. In particular, small molecules and organic dots as probes have great potential for the achievement of bioimaging because of their desirable properties. In this review, we provide an introduction of probes consisting of fluorescent small molecules and polymers that emit light across the ultraviolet and near-infrared wavelength ranges, along with a brief summary of the most recent techniques for bioimaging. Since photoluminescence probes emitting light in different ranges have different goals and targets, their respective strategies also differ. Diverse and novel strategies using photoluminescence probes against targets have gradually been introduced in the related literature. Among recent papers (published within the last 5 years) on the topic, we here concentrate on the photophysical properties and strategies for the design of molecular probes, with key examples of in vivo photoluminescence research for practical applications. More in-depth studies on these probes will provide key insights into how to control the molecular structure and size/shape of organic probes for expanded bioimaging research and applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Nanomaterials in Biomedicine)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop