Nanotechnology applications: from bone regeneration to cancer therapy

Nanotechnology is still one of the best promises to overcome the major challenges of modern medicine. In this work, we identified innovative nanotools as potential candidates in two main biomedical applications: bone regeneration and cancer treatment. Knowing the correlation between the immune system function and the bone regeneration, nanomaterials able to combine and sustain an immune-mediated bone renewal are still missing. Considering the promising use of graphene, we exploited the intrinsic immune-characteristics of a specific Graphene Oxide (GO) and the well-known osteoinductive capacity of Calcium Phosphates (CaP) in a novel unique biocompatible nanomaterial called maGO-CaP (Monocytes Activator Graphene Oxide conjugated with Calcium Phosphates). This new material demonstrates, by performing in vitro and in vivo analysis, its ability to induce osteoinductive stimuli capable to increase bone regeneration. A very important challenge in medical research is the fight against cancer. In this context, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) represent a promising nano-tool able to offer an interesting option for cancer therapy. We proposed a “green” synthesis method to produce AgNPs, using Artemisia arborescens extracts. We investigated the potential antiproliferative and anticancer proprieties of Artemisia-AgNPs using several approaches, from cell cycle analysis to RNA-sequencing, demonstrating the potentiality of Artemisia-AgNPs as a suitable candidate agent in cancer research.