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Pharmaceutics
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Design of Multifunctional Nanomaterials for Diagnostic and Therapy: The Transition...
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Design of Multifunctional Nanomaterials for Diagnostic and Therapy: The Transition Pathway from Conventional to Personalized Medicine

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2022) | Viewed by 7563

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cristina Mariana Uritu

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Guest Editor
Advanced Centre for Research-Development in Experimental Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iași, 700115 Iași, Romania
Interests: drug delivery; gene therapy; biomaterials; nanotechnology; radiopharmaceuticals; radiotracers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Gabriela Dumitrița Stanciu

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Guest Editor
Advanced Research and Development Center for Experimental Medicine “Prof. Ostin C. Mungiu”, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, Iasi, Romania
Interests: neuroscience; Alzheimer’s disease; in vivo studies; drug development; cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals; repurposing current therapeutics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Luminita Marin

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Guest Editor
“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Gr. Ghica Voda Alley, 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Interests: hydrogels; imine; chitosan; Schiff base; phenothiazine; azomethine; drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, progress in the development of multifunctional nanomaterials for biomedical applications for both diagnosis and/or therapy has significantly increased; still, the achievements made strongly encourage continuous exploration in the field, with clear prospects to improve the quality of human life. Since nanotechnology holds great potential for providing tailor-made nanomaterials functionalized with specific ligands, by incorporating therapeutic, diagnostic, as well as targeting, molecules into one single nanosystem, it would be possible to design all-in-one theranostic agents for personalized medicine. The theranostic approach focuses on patient-centered care, by combining pharmacotherapy in a predictable release manner in tandem with diagnosis, which is appreciated at multi-level medical care with special consideration in oncology, wherein nanostructures in the form of liposomes, dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, quantum dots and carbon nanotubes play a very important role. An ideal nanosystem for biological applications has to meet several conditions, among which can be mentioned: being safe for humans, having no damaging effects on the healthy tissues and organs, and bring quickly expelled from the body or biodegraded into nontoxic by-products.

The aim of this Special Issue of Pharmaceutics is to present original research and review papers comprising the newest findings concerning different nanoparticulate entities that are capable of efficiently releasing the therapeutic agent to the disease site, or which can also fulfil a role as a diagnostic agent. We welcome articles related to all aspects of the synthesis, characterization and in vitro or in vivo applications of such innovative functional nanomaterials in drug release, bioimaging, therapeutics, and theranostics, inviting scientists to express their proficient opinions and perspectives in these areas. 

Dr. Cristina Mariana Uritu
Dr. Gabriela Dumitrita STANCIU
Dr. Luminita Marin
Guest Editors

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. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2900 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

  • drug release
  • multifunctional nanomaterials
  • bioimaging
  • molecular imaging
  • theranostic
  • contrast agents

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 72752 KiB  
Article
Manganese-Doped N-Hydroxyphthalimide-Derived Carbon Dots—Theranostics Applications in Experimental Breast Cancer Models
by Adrian Tiron, Corneliu S. Stan, Gabriel Luta, Cristina M. Uritu, Irina-Cezara Vacarean-Trandafir, Gabriela D. Stanciu, Adina Coroaba and Crina E. Tiron
Pharmaceutics 2021, 13(11), 1982; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13111982 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2201
Abstract
Background: Theranostics, a novel concept in medicine, is based on the use of an agent for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment. Nanomaterials provide promising novel approaches to theranostics. Carbon Dots have been shown to exhibit anti-tumoral properties in various cancer models. The aim of [...] Read more.
Background: Theranostics, a novel concept in medicine, is based on the use of an agent for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment. Nanomaterials provide promising novel approaches to theranostics. Carbon Dots have been shown to exhibit anti-tumoral properties in various cancer models. The aim of the present study is to develop gadolinium, Fe3+, and Mn2+-doped N-hydroxyphthalimide-derived Carbon Dots. The resulted doped Carbon Dots should preserve the anti-tumoral properties while gaining magnetic resonance imaging properties. Methods: Normal and cancer cell lines have been treated with doped Carbon Dots, and the cell viability has been measured. The doped Carbon Dots that exhibited the most prominent anti-tumoral effect accompanied by the lowest toxicity have been further in vivo tested. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluates both in vitro and in vivo the possibility of using doped Carbon Dots as a contrast agent. Results: According to the results obtained from both the in vitro and in vivo experimental models used in our study, Mn2+-doped Carbon Dots (Mn-CDs-NHF) exhibit anti-tumoral properties, do not significantly impair the cell viability of normal cells, and reduce lung metastasis and the volume of mammary primary tumors while allowing magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusions: Our findings prove that Mn-CDs-NHF can be used as theranostics agents in pre-clinical models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Multifunctional Nanomaterials for Diagnostic and Therapy: The Transition Pathway from Conventional to Personalized Medicine)
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13 pages, 15785 KiB  
Article
Brachytherapy Approach Using 177Lu Conjugated Gold Nanostars and Evaluation of Biodistribution, Tumor Retention, Dosimetry and Therapeutic Efficacy in Head and Neck Tumor Model
by Min-Ying Lin, Hsin-Hua Hsieh, Jyh-Cheng Chen, Chuan-Lin Chen, Nin-Chu Sheu, Wen-Sheng Huang, Shinn-Ying Ho, Ting-Wen Chen, Yi-Jang Lee and Chun-Yi Wu
Pharmaceutics 2021, 13(11), 1903; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13111903 - 09 Nov 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1828
Abstract
Brachytherapy can provide sufficient doses to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with minimal damage to nearby normal tissues. In this study, the β−-emitter 177Lu was conjugated to DTPA-polyethylene glycol (PEG) decorated gold nanostars (177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS) used in [...] Read more.
Brachytherapy can provide sufficient doses to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with minimal damage to nearby normal tissues. In this study, the β−-emitter 177Lu was conjugated to DTPA-polyethylene glycol (PEG) decorated gold nanostars (177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS) used in surface-enhanced Raman scattering and photothermal therapy (PTT). The accumulation and therapeutic efficacy of 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS were compared with those of 177Lu-DTPA on an orthotopic HNSCC tumor model. The SPECT/CT imaging and biodistribution studies showed that 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS can be accumulated in the tumor up to 15 days, but 177Lu-DTPA could not be detected at 24 h after injection. The tumor viability and growth were suppressed by injected 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS but not nonconjugated 177Lu-DTPA, as evaluated by bioluminescent imaging. The radiation-absorbed dose of the normal organ was the highest in the liver (0.33 mSv/MBq) estimated in a 73 kg adult, but that of tumorsphere (0.5 g) was 3.55 mGy/MBq, while intravenous injection of 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS resulted in 1.97 mSv/MBq and 0.13 mGy/MBq for liver and tumorsphere, respectively. We also observed further enhancement of tumor-suppressive effects by a combination of 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS and PTT compared to 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS alone. In conclusion, 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS may be considered as a potential radiopharmaceutical agent for HNSCC brachytherapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Multifunctional Nanomaterials for Diagnostic and Therapy: The Transition Pathway from Conventional to Personalized Medicine)
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20 pages, 3149 KiB  
Article
Development of Dextran-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles Loaded with Protocatechuic Acid for Vascular Inflammation Therapy
by Maria Anghelache, Mihaela Turtoi, Anca Roxana Petrovici, Adrian Fifere, Mariana Pinteala and Manuela Calin
Pharmaceutics 2021, 13(9), 1414; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13091414 - 07 Sep 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2703
Abstract
Vascular inflammation plays a crucial role in the progression of various pathologies, including atherosclerosis (AS), and thus it has become an attractive therapeutic target. The protocatechuic acid (PCA), one of the main metabolites of complex polyphenols, is endowed with anti-inflammatory activity, but its [...] Read more.
Vascular inflammation plays a crucial role in the progression of various pathologies, including atherosclerosis (AS), and thus it has become an attractive therapeutic target. The protocatechuic acid (PCA), one of the main metabolites of complex polyphenols, is endowed with anti-inflammatory activity, but its formulation into nanocarriers may increase its bioavailability. In this study, we developed and characterized dextran shell‒iron oxide core nanoparticles loaded with PCA (MNP-Dex/PCA) and assessed their cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory potential on cells acting as key players in the onset and progression of AS, namely, endothelial cells (EC) and monocytes/macrophages. The results showed that MNP-Dex/PCA exert an anti-inflammatory activity at non-cytotoxic and therapeutically relevant concentrations of PCA (350 μM) as supported by the reduced levels of inflammatory molecules such as MCP-1, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and CCR2 in activated EC and M1-type macrophages and functional monocyte adhesion assay. The anti-inflammatory effect of MNP-Dex/PCA was associated with the reduction in the levels of ERK1/2 and p38-α mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NF-kB transcription factor. Our data support the further development of dextran shell-magnetic core nanoparticles as theranostic nanoparticles for guidance, imaging, and therapy of vascular inflammation using PCA or other anti-inflammatory compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design of Multifunctional Nanomaterials for Diagnostic and Therapy: The Transition Pathway from Conventional to Personalized Medicine)
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