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Molecules
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Complex Multifunctional Organic/Inorganic Nanocarriers
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Complex Multifunctional Organic/Inorganic Nanocarriers

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 18050

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Luigi Paduano

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Science, Complesso Monte S. Angelo, Via Cinthia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
Interests: amphiphilic aggregates; nanogels; self-assembly; physicochemical properties; light and neutron scattering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Giuseppe Vitiello

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, P. le Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy
2. Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), Via della Lastruccia, 80100 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Interests: nanochemistry; colloids; amphiphiles; hybrid nanomaterials; functional biointerfaces; emulsions; EPR spectroscopy; neutron scattering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanocarriers have shown great opportunities in the field of targeted drug delivery, especially in cancer therapy. The functionalization of nanomaterials through the simultaneous assembly of chemical moieties has been a strategy of wide interest, to acquire properties such as longevity in circulation, site specificity, and stimuli sensitivity. Imparting multifunctionality to nanocarriers controls their biological interaction in a desired fashion and enhances the efficacy of therapy and diagnostic protocols. In this way, “simple nanocarriers” have attracted wide interest, and span diverse materials such as magnetic or colloidal metals, carbon-based structures, inorganic nanoparticles, liposomes, or polymeric formulations. These materials differ in size, shape, loading capacity, payload release, stability, retention, and clearance from the body, which impose further restrictions on their efficacy as therapeutic/diagnostic agents. Although nanocarrier technology has improved, their lack of target specificity limits their widespread use. Particularly, an increasing interest is focused on the design and formulation of complex multifunctional nanocarriers (i.e., nanohybrids; protocells; lipid-coated and/or polymeric-coated nanoparticles) combining multiple features of simple nanocarriers to exploit their strengths while reducing or eliminating their limitations. Indeed, they can show improved properties such as a high loading capacity, great stability, higher biocompatibility, reduced clearance, and increased targeting flexibility.

This Special Issue aims to attract contributions on all aspects of the chemistry, physico-chemistry, and biological activity of complex multifunctional organic and organic/inorganic nanocarriers. The challenge remains to further explore the range of their chemical and biophysico-chemical features, as well as their potential applications as biomedical (i.e., theranostic, diagnostic, anticancer, antibody, and antioxidant) nanosystems.

Prof. Luigi Paduano
Dr. Giuseppe Vitiello
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. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • multifunctional nanomaterials
  • complex nanocarriers
  • organic–inorganic nanoparticles
  • amphiphilic self-assembled nanostructures
  • hybrid nanomaterials
  • theranostic

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 6825 KiB  
Article
Functionalization of Silica Nanoparticles to Improve Crosslinking Degree, Insulation Performance and Space Charge Characteristics of UV-initiated XLPE
by Yu-Wei Fu, Yong-Qi Zhang, Wei-Feng Sun and Xuan Wang
Molecules 2020, 25(17), 3794; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25173794 - 20 Aug 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2710
Abstract
In order to inhibit the outward-migrations of photo-initiator molecules in the ultraviolet-initiated crosslinking process and simultaneously improve the crosslinking degree and dielectric properties of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) materials, we have specifically developed surface-modified-SiO2/XLPE nanocomposites with the silica nanofillers that have been [...] Read more.
In order to inhibit the outward-migrations of photo-initiator molecules in the ultraviolet-initiated crosslinking process and simultaneously improve the crosslinking degree and dielectric properties of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) materials, we have specifically developed surface-modified-SiO2/XLPE nanocomposites with the silica nanofillers that have been functionalized through chemical surface modifications. With the sulfur-containing silanes and 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxy silane (MPTMS), the functional monomers of auxiliary crosslinker triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC) have been successfully grafted on the silica surface through thiol–ene click chemistry reactions. The grafted functional groups are verified by molecular characterizations of Fourier transform infrared spectra and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectra. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) indicates that the functionalized silica nanoparticles have been filled into polyethylene matrix with remarkably increased dispersivity compared with the neat silica nanoparticles. Under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, the high efficient crosslinking reactions of polyethylene molecules are facilitated by the auxiliary crosslinkers that have been grafted onto the surfaces of silica nanofillers in polyethylene matrix. With the UV-initiated crosslinking technique, the crosslinking degree, insulation performance, and space charge characteristics of SiO2/XLPE nanocomposites are investigated in comparison with the XLPE material. Due to the combined effects of the high dispersion of nanofillers and the polar-groups of TAIC grafted on the surfaces of SiO2 nanofillers, the functionlized-SiO2/XLPE nanocomposite with an appropriate filling content represents the most preferable crosslinking degree with multiple improvements in the space charge characteristics and direct current dielectric breakdown strength. Simultaneously employing nanodielectric technology and functional-group surface modification, this study promises a modification strategy for developing XLPE nanocomposites with high mechanical and dielectric performances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complex Multifunctional Organic/Inorganic Nanocarriers)
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11 pages, 2502 KiB  
Article
Beyond Oncological Hyperthermia: Physically Drivable Magnetic Nanobubbles as Novel Multipurpose Theranostic Carriers in the Central Nervous System
by Eleonora Ficiarà, Shoeb Anwar Ansari, Monica Argenziano, Luigi Cangemi, Chiara Monge, Roberta Cavalli and Federico D’Agata
Molecules 2020, 25(9), 2104; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25092104 - 30 Apr 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2592
Abstract
Magnetic Oxygen-Loaded Nanobubbles (MOLNBs), manufactured by adding Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) on the surface of polymeric nanobubbles, are investigated as theranostic carriers for delivering oxygen and chemotherapy to brain tumors. Physicochemical and cyto-toxicological properties and in vitro internalization by human brain microvascular [...] Read more.
Magnetic Oxygen-Loaded Nanobubbles (MOLNBs), manufactured by adding Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) on the surface of polymeric nanobubbles, are investigated as theranostic carriers for delivering oxygen and chemotherapy to brain tumors. Physicochemical and cyto-toxicological properties and in vitro internalization by human brain microvascular endothelial cells as well as the motion of MOLNBs in a static magnetic field were investigated. MOLNBs are safe oxygen-loaded vectors able to overcome the brain membranes and drivable through the Central Nervous System (CNS) to deliver their cargoes to specific sites of interest. In addition, MOLNBs are monitorable either via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Ultrasound (US) sonography. MOLNBs can find application in targeting brain tumors since they can enhance conventional radiotherapy and deliver chemotherapy being driven by ad hoc tailored magnetic fields under MRI and/or US monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complex Multifunctional Organic/Inorganic Nanocarriers)
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12 pages, 3074 KiB  
Article
Hematite Nanoparticles from Unexpected Reaction of Ferrihydrite with Concentrated Acids for Biomedical Applications
by Afanasy V. Lunin, Anna A. Lizunova, Elizaveta N. Mochalova, Maria N. Yakovtseva, Vladimir R. Cherkasov, Maxim P. Nikitin and Eugene L. Kolychev
Molecules 2020, 25(8), 1984; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25081984 - 23 Apr 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4325
Abstract
The development of synthetic ways to fabricate nanosized materials with a well-defined shape, narrow-sized distribution, and high stability is of great importance to a rapidly developing area of nanotechnology. Here, we report an unusual reaction between amorphous two-line ferrihydrite and concentrated sulfuric or [...] Read more.
The development of synthetic ways to fabricate nanosized materials with a well-defined shape, narrow-sized distribution, and high stability is of great importance to a rapidly developing area of nanotechnology. Here, we report an unusual reaction between amorphous two-line ferrihydrite and concentrated sulfuric or other mineral and organic acids. Instead of the expected dissolution, we observed the formation of new narrow-distributed brick-red nanoparticles (NPs) of hematite. Different acids produce similar nanoparticles according to scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The reaction demonstrates new possibilities for the synthesis of acid-resistant iron oxide nanoparticles and shows a novel pathway for the reaction of iron hydroxide with concentrated acids. The biomedical potential of the fabricated nanoparticles is demonstrated by the functionalization of the particles with polymers, fluorescent labels, and antibodies. Three different applications are demonstrated: i) specific targeting of the red blood cells, e.g., for red blood cell (RBC)-hitchhiking; ii) cancer cell targeting in vitro; iii) infrared ex vivo bioimaging. This novel synthesis route may be useful for the development of iron oxide materials for such specificity-demanding applications such as nanosensors, imaging, and therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complex Multifunctional Organic/Inorganic Nanocarriers)
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Review

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23 pages, 1791 KiB  
Review
Nanoliposomes and Tocosomes as Multifunctional Nanocarriers for the Encapsulation of Nutraceutical and Dietary Molecules
by Ali Zarrabi, Mandana Alipoor Amro Abadi, Sepideh Khorasani, M.-Reza Mohammadabadi, Aniseh Jamshidi, Sarabanou Torkaman, Elham Taghavi, M.R. Mozafari and Babak Rasti
Molecules 2020, 25(3), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25030638 - 01 Feb 2020
Cited by 68 | Viewed by 7675
Abstract
Nanoscale lipid bilayers, or nanoliposomes, are generally spherical vesicles formed by the dispersion of phospholipid molecules in a water-based medium by energy input. The other nanoscale object discussed in this entry, i.e., tocosome, is a recently introduced bioactive carrier made mainly from tocopheryl [...] Read more.
Nanoscale lipid bilayers, or nanoliposomes, are generally spherical vesicles formed by the dispersion of phospholipid molecules in a water-based medium by energy input. The other nanoscale object discussed in this entry, i.e., tocosome, is a recently introduced bioactive carrier made mainly from tocopheryl phosphates. Due to their bi-compartmental structure, which consists of lipidic and aqueous compartments, these nanocarriers are capable of carrying hydrophilic and hydrophobic material separately or simultaneously. Nanoliposomes and tocosomes are able to provide protection and release of sensitive food-grade bioactive materials in a sustained manner. They are being utilized for the encapsulation of different types of bioactive materials (such as drugs, vaccines, antimicrobials, antioxidants, minerals and preservatives), for the enrichment and fortification of different food and nutraceutical formulations and manufacturing of functional products. However, a number of issues unique to the nutraceutical and food industry must first be resolved before these applications can completely become a reality. Considering the potentials and promises of these colloidal carrier systems, the present article reviews various aspects of nanoliposomes, in comparison with tocosomes, including the ingredients used in their manufacture, formation mechanisms and issues pertaining to their application in the formulation of health promoting dietary supplements and functional food products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Complex Multifunctional Organic/Inorganic Nanocarriers)
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