Search

A new nanodevice based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with poly(diethylvinylphosphonate) (PDEVP) has been synthesized, showing interesting photophysical and thermoresponsive properties. The synthesis involves a properly designed Yttriocene catalyst coordinating the vinyl-lutidine (VL) initiator active in diethyl vinyl phosphonate polymerization. The unsaturated PDEVP chain ending was thioacetylated, deacetylated, and reacted with tetrachloroauric acid and sodium borohydride to form PDEVP-VL-capped AuNPs. The NMR, UV–Vis, and ESI-MS characterization of the metal nanoparticles confirmed the formation of the synthetic intermediates and the expected colloidal systems. AuNPs of subnanometric size were determined by WAXD and UV–Vis analysis. UV–Vis and fluorescence analysis confirmed the effective anchoring of the thiolated PDEVP to AuNPs. The formation of 50–200 nm globular structures was assessed by SEM and AFM microscopy in solid state and confirmed by DLS in aqueous dispersion. Hydrodynamic radius studies showed colloidal contraction with temperature, demonstrating thermoresponsive behavior. These properties suggest potential biomedical applications for the photoablation of malignant cells or controlled drug delivery induced by light or heat for the novel PDEVP-capped AuNP systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabigerol's (CBG) therapeutic effects are limited by its poor water solubility and low dissolution rate. To improve these properties, supercritical CO2-assisted atomization (SAA) was applied to produce coprecipitates, i.e., CBG nanoparticles coprecipitated in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) microparticles. The experiments were performed by varying the CBG/PVP mass ratio (R) and the overall concentration of solutes CBG+PVP to study the influence of these parameters on particle morphology, particle size, and size distribution. Periodic dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis was performed at regular time intervals to measure the size of CBG nanoparticles in PVP microparticles. It showed that CBG nanoparticles down to 105 nm were successfully produced through SAA. Dissolution tests were used to verify that a reduction of CBG particle size significantly increased its dissolution rate. In the liquid medium adopted, untreated CBG powder was released in 210 min, whereas CBG nanoparticles of 105 nm were completely dissolved in only 15 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theranostics is a growing field that matches diagnostics and therapeutics. In this approach, drugs and techniques are uniquely coupled to diagnose and treat medical conditions synergically or sequentially. By integrating diagnostic and treatment functions in a single platform, the aim of theranostics is to improve precision medicine by tailoring treatments based on real-time information. In this context, lipid-based nanocarriers have attracted great scientific attention due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and targeting capabilities. The present review highlights the latest research advances in the field of lipid-based nanocarriers for cancer theranostics, exploring several ways of improving in vivo performance and addressing associated challenges. These nanocarriers have significant potential to create new perspectives in the field of nanomedicine and offer promise for a significant step towards more personalized and precise medicine, reducing side effects and improving clinical outcomes for patients. This review also presents the actual barriers to and the possible challenges in the use of nanoparticles in the theranostic field, such as regulatory hurdles, high costs, and technological integration. Addressing these issues through a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach among institutions could be essential for advancing lipid nanocarriers in the theranostic field. Such collaborations can leverage diverse expertise and resources, fostering innovation and overcoming the complex challenges associated with clinical translation. This approach will be crucial for realizing the full potential of lipid-based nanocarriers in precision medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is the most promising strategy to repair bones injuries and defects. It relies on the utilization of a temporary support to host the cells and promote nutrient exchange (i.e., the scaffold). Supercritical CO2 assisted drying can preserve scaffold nanostructure, crucial for cell attachment and proliferation. In this work, agarose aerogels, loaded with hydroxyapatite were produced in view of BTE applications. Different combinations of agarose concentration and hydroxyapatite loadings were tested. FESEM and EDX analyses showed that scaffold structure suffered from partial closure when increasing filler concentration; hydroxyapatite distribution was homogenous, and Young's modulus improved. Looking at BTE applications, the optimal combination of agarose and hydroxyapatite resulted to be 1% w/w and 10% w/v, respectively. Mechanical properties showed that the produced composites could be eligible as starting scaffold for BTE, with a Young's Modulus larger than 100 kPa for every blend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text discusses the use of nanosomes in precision nanomedicine to deliver drugs to specific cells or tissues, improving efficacy and safety. Various types of nanosomes, such as niosomes and transfersomes, are explored for drug delivery applications. Researchers have developed innovative methods and materials, like Fe-N-C nanozymes and polydopamine, to enhance drug delivery and treatment outcomes. The field of nanomedicine is rapidly expanding, with a focus on personalized medicine and reducing side effects for patients worldwide. [Extracted from the article]

Niosomes are arousing significant interest thanks to their low cost, high biocompatibility, and negligible toxicity. In this work, a supercritical CO2-assisted process was performed at 100 bar and 40 °C to produce niosomes at different Span 80/Tween 80 weight ratios. The formulation of cholesterol and 80:20 Span 80/Tween 80 was selected to encapsulate vancomycin, used as a model active compound, to perform a drug release rate comparison between PEGylated and non-PEGylated niosomes. In both cases, nanometric vesicles were obtained, i.e., 214 ± 59 nm and 254 ± 73 nm for non-PEGylated and PEGylated niosomes, respectively, that were characterized by a high drug encapsulation efficiency (95% for non-PEGylated and 98% for PEGylated niosomes). However, only PEGylated niosomes were able to prolong the vancomycin release time up to 20-fold with respect to untreated drug powder, resulting in a powerful strategy to control the drug release rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, scientific research has faced the numerous problems deriving from the presence of active ingredients in surface and groundwater. Traditional removal methods, such as adsorption and bioremediation, have several disadvantages; thus, in this work, membranes based on cellulose acetate loaded with Fe-N-TiO2, were tested for the photocatalytic degradation of Ceftriaxone Sodium from aqueous solution. The immobilization of the photocatalyst allows to overcome the limits of the photocatalytic process in suspension, which requires expensive and time-consuming post-treatments. Membranes were obtained by supercritical CO2 phase inversion process and were subjected to characterizations such as EDX, TGA, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy and, subsequently, tested in adsorption tests in the dark and in the presence of visible light, to evaluate their photocatalytic activity. The variations in the concentration of the antibiotic, during the tests conducted, were monitored by HPLC chromatographic analysis. Samples with 10% and 30% by weight of Fe-N-TiO2 demonstrated relatively low adsorption efficiencies of the target contaminant, respectively equal to 22% and 18% in 180 minutes, for reasons related both to the morphology of the samples products, which changes from cellular to finger-like as the photocatalyst load increases, and to the quality of the dispersion. The membrane loaded with 20% by weight of Fe-N-TiO2 allowed a degradation of the model pollutant of 35% in 180 minutes; moreover, the reusability of the membranes was verified. The photocatalytic tests showed that the photocatalytic efficiency was highly correlated to the dispersion of the photocatalyst nanoparticles and to its loading in the polymeric membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of organic dyes in wastewater raises significant environmental and human health concerns, owing to their high toxicity. In light of this, a novel adsorbent material with porous cryogel architecture was developed and employed for the effective removal of organic dyes from an aqueous solution. Initially, a titanium dioxide nanowire doped with zirconium HZTO was synthesized by the hydrothermal process. Subsequently, the beads (SA/HZTO) of sodium alginate and HZTO were successfully prepared through a cross-linking process, employing Ca2+ ions as the crosslinking agent. Structural analysis of SA/ HZTO beads was performed using FTIR, SEM, and EDX techniques. We systematically examined the impact of different conditions, including the initial dye concentration, pH, contact time, and adsorbent dosage, on the adsorption process. Batch experiments, both in signal and binary systems, were conducted to rigorously assess the dye adsorption capabilities. Kinetic modeling revealed that the adsorption process adhered to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Remarkably, the prepared beads exhibited impressive adsorption capacities of 26 and 29 mg/g toward methylene blue (MB) and safranin (SF), respectively. SA/ HZTO beads have demonstrated excellent adsorption properties, offering a promising avenue for the development of low-cost, efficient, and reusable adsorbent to remove dyes from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]