PEGylated lipids in lipid nanoparticle delivery dynamics and therapeutic innovation

• Peiyang Gao

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1914–1930, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.133

• LNPs remain limited, substantial insights can be drawn from studies on liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles. As shown in Figure 1, the PEG chain conformation is found to be fundamentally determined by the PEG grafting density on the nanoparticle surface, which can be quantitatively estimated by the

Targeting the vector of arboviruses Aedes aegypti with nanoemulsions based on essential oils: a review with focus on larvicidal and repellent properties

• Laryssa Ferreira do Nascimento Silva,
• Douglas Dourado,
• Thayse Silva Medeiros,
• Mariana Alice Gonzaga Gabú,
• Maria Cecilia Queiroga dos Santos,
• Daiane Rodrigues dos Santos,
• Mylena Lemos dos Santos,
• Gabriel Bezerra Faierstein,
• Rosângela Maria Rodrigues Barbosa and
• Fabio Rocha Formiga

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1894–1913, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.132

• , nanotechnological strategies have been used, such as polymeric nanocarriers [30], solid lipid nanoparticles [31], liposomes [32], and nanoemulsions [13][14][33]. Among these strategies, nanoemulsions, kinetically stable nanometric dispersions (20–500 nm) of two immiscible liquids, stabilized by surfactants, have

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agency approved the first nanomedicine, Doxil® (doxorubicin-loaded liposomes) for chemotherapy. Over the past 30 years, research and development in nanotechnology have expanded significantly, with more than 70 nanomedicines approved by FDA or EMA [83][84][85][86

• ]. Beyond liposomes, other lipid-based nanosystems have gained prominence, such as nanoemulsions (NEs) [87]. NEs are kinetically stable dispersed systems composed of two immiscible phases, typically an oil and aqueous phases, with droplets (20–500 nm) stabilized by surfactants. NEs can be classified as oil

Advances of aptamers in esophageal cancer diagnosis, treatment and drug delivery

• Yang Fei,
• Hui Xu,
• Chunwei Zhang,
• Jingjing Wang and
• Yong Jin

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1734–1750, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.121

• , coupling drugs, covalent binding with siRNA, and chemical modification [34][35] to promote their role in cancer drug delivery. Conventional drug delivery systems, including metal nanoparticles, nanohydrogels, liposomes, and polymeric micelles [36][37][38], have gained widespread adoption due to their

• help of aptamers. Common nanocarrier systems, including micelles, liposomes, metal nanoparticles, and solid lipid nanoparticles, demonstrate well-established fabrication protocols, yet often face challenges with in vivo stability. Emerging nanoplatforms, such as four-way junction RNA nanostructures

• delivery of gene-silencing therapeutics; (2) direct intercalation of aptamers with small-molecule chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., DOX), forming stable complexes; (3) co-encapsulation of aptamers and hydrophobic drugs into nanoparticles (e.g., liposomes or polymeric micelles) to improve drug solubility and

Multifunctional anionic nanoemulsion with linseed oil and lecithin: a preliminary approach for dry eye disease

• Niédja Fittipaldi Vasconcelos,
• Almerinda Agrelli,
• Rayane Cristine Santos da Silva,
• Carina Lucena Mendes-Marques,
• Isabel Renata de Souza Arruda,
• Priscilla Stela Santana de Oliveira,
• Mércia Liane de Oliveira and
• Giovanna Machado

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1711–1733, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.120

• reduce DED symptoms. ONSs include nanoparticles such as nanoemulsions, liposomes, nanomicelles, and dendrimers, which can serve as carriers for both lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs. This allows for smaller doses and more precise drug targeting [16]. Nanoemulsions (NEs) show promise in improving drug

• factors are crucial for organizing amphiphilic molecules and influencing the uniformity of micellar dispersions in ophthalmic nanoformulations. Lecithin is a mixture of phospholipids and consists mainly of phosphatidylcholine, which typically forms liposomes (concentric lipid bilayers) rather than

• , thus destabilizing bilayer formation. Conversely, lecithins with a higher proportion of saturated phospholipids are more likely to organize into stable bilayer vesicles like liposomes. These structural features of lecithin play a crucial role in determining the physicochemical properties of the

Nanomaterials for biomedical applications

• Iqra Zainab,
• Zohra Naseem,
• Syeda Rubab Batool,
• Filippo Pierini,
• Seda Kizilel and
• Muhammad Anwaar Nazeer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1499–1503, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.105

• designing nanomaterials that can bring the drug to the required place and then release it in a planned way. One of the earliest nanocarriers examined for drug delivery was liposomes. They are tiny spheres made of lipids, either naturally or synthetically, and their structure is closely similar to the cell

• [9]. Along with liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles have turned out to be an equally dynamic platform. Typically, these particles are composed of biodegradable materials, such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) or chitosan. One of the main advantages of polymers is that they can be designed to

• usage in everyday healthcare is becoming more evident. Liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles are already being used in certain cancer and vaccine treatments [41]. Detection of diseases at an early stage is becoming more possible with gold nanoparticles or quantum dots. Scaffolds made from nanofibers and

Enhancing the therapeutical potential of metalloantibiotics using nano-based delivery systems

• Alejandro Llamedo,
• Marina Cano,
• Raquel G. Soengas and
• Francisco J. García-Alonso

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1350–1366, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.98

• application of metalloantibiotics is limited by their potential toxicity, instability, and lack of target specificity. Encapsulating metalloantibiotics in drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, nanoparticles, and polymeric carriers, could mitigate these challenges, enhancing their therapeutic index and

• systems [40][41]. Other bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus express alpha-toxin, which perforates the membrane of liposomes and can be utilized to trigger the release of antibiotics from the drug delivery system at the target site [42]. Also, enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) is observed at

• targeted therapeutic effect, and the desired release rate. The most common encapsulation nanosystems are represented in Figure 2. Organic nanoparticles Lipid-based nanoparticles. Liposomes: Liposomes are versatile lipid-based nanoparticles that have gained prominence in drug delivery systems due to their

Ferroptosis induction by engineered liposomes for enhanced tumor therapy

• Alireza Ghasempour,
• Mohammad Amin Tokallou,
• Mohammad Reza Naderi Allaf,
• Mohsen Moradi,
• Hamideh Dehghan,
• Mahsa Sedighi,
• Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi and
• Fahimeh Lavi Arab

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1325–1349, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.97

• ferroptosis-based therapy. Among them, engineered liposomes have received more attention due to their biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and flexibility in chemical and structural modifications. The present review focuses on the mechanisms of ferroptosis and its induction by engineered liposomes to improve

• systems include precise targeting, controlled release over time, prolonged half-life, and reduced systemic toxicity [19]. Liposomes, as lipid-based nanoparticles, hold promise for improving cancer therapies as they can encapsulate various anticancer molecules [20]. A liposome typically consists of a

• hydrophobic phospholipid bilayer and a hydrophilic core. Depending on the physicochemical properties of the drug, this type of structure allows the entrapment of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs [1]. Liposomes, like other nanosystems, have many benefits, such as prolonged systemic blood circulation

Better together: biomimetic nanomedicines for high performance tumor therapy

• Imran Shair Mohammad,
• Gizem Kursunluoglu,
• Anup Kumar Patel,
• Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq,
• Cansu Umran Tunc,
• Dilek Kanarya,
• Mubashar Rehman,
• Omer Aydin and
• Yin Lifang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1246–1276, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.92

• release behavior, targeting ability, and surface modifications [12][13][14][15]. A variety of nanoparticles have been researched including liposomes, polymer NPs, solid lipid NPs, and hybrid NPs [16]. Nanoscale drug carriers with the advantage of high penetration, long circulation, and significant

• targetability have been employed for the treatment of various fatal diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, stroke, and diabetes [17][18][19]. However, the development of optimum NP drug carriers is still critical as they all come with several limitations. For example, liposomes can carry hydrophilic drugs that

• [41]. Wayteck et al. have prepared liposomes that can hitchhike on cells to the tumor site and get separated to perform their cytotoxic activity [42]. 1.1.5 Cancer cells. Cancer cells establish their own mechanism to escape immune response [43]. They are tightly bound by surface proteins to hinder the

Hydrogels and nanogels: effectiveness in dermal applications

• Jéssica da Cruz Ludwig,
• Diana Fortkamp Grigoletto,
• Daniele Fernanda Renzi,
• Wolf-Rainer Abraham,
• Daniel de Paula and
• Najeh Maissar Khalil

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1216–1233, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.90

• antimetabolite used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, were obtained by Sadarani et al. (2019). First, methotrexate was encapsulated in deformable liposomes followed by incorporation in the hydroxyethylcellulose gel. The nanogel-MTX presented a small particle size of 110 ± 20 nm and a drug encapsulation rate of 42

Fabrication of metal complex phthalocyanine and porphyrin nanoparticle aqueous colloids by pulsed laser fragmentation in liquid and their potential application to a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy

• Taisei Himeda,
• Risako Kunitomi,
• Ryosuke Nabeya,
• Tamotsu Zako and
• Tsuyoshi Asahi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1088–1096, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.80

• nanoparticles and nanomicelle encapsulation have been used to disperse them in water [2][3][4][5][6][7]. For example, AlClPc has been loaded into nanoemulsions using castor oil and Cremophor ELP® [5]. ZnPc was dispersed in unilamellar liposomes by a solvent exchange method [7][8], and its photocytotoxicity

Nanomaterials in targeting amyloid-β oligomers: current advances and future directions for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and therapy

• Shiwani Randhawa,
• Trilok Chand Saini,
• Manik Bathla,
• Rahul Bhardwaj,
• Rubina Dhiman and
• Amitabha Acharya

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 561–580, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.44

• peptide (CP-2) that selectively targets toxic AβOs. Their studies indicated that CP-2-liposomes effectively disrupt Aβ aggregation, mitigate Aβ-mediated toxicity, and improve cognitive and behavioral outcomes in both in vitro and in vivo models. Notably, these liposomes can cross the BBB, suggesting their

Synthetic-polymer-assisted antisense oligonucleotide delivery: targeted approaches for precision disease treatment

• Ana Cubillo Alvarez,
• Dylan Maguire and
• Ruairí P. Brannigan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 435–463, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.34

Radiosensitizing properties of dual-functionalized carbon nanostructures loaded with temozolomide

• Radmila Milenkovska,
• Nikola Geskovski,
• Dushko Shalabalija,
• Ljubica Mihailova,
• Petre Makreski,
• Dushko Lukarski,
• Igor Stojkovski,
• Maja Simonoska Crcarevska and
• Kristina Mladenovska

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 229–251, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.18

• incorporation of TMZ in organic and inorganic nanomaterials and their hybrids, designed in a wide variety of shapes such as nanoparticles (NPs), conjugates, dendrimers, and liposomes [35]. With various bioengineering techniques, the nanomaterials’ size, shape, and surface properties were modified to improve

Recent advances in photothermal nanomaterials for ophthalmic applications

• Jiayuan Zhuang,
• Linhui Jia,
• Chenghao Li,
• Rui Yang,
• Jiapeng Wang,
• Wen-an Wang,
• Heng Zhou and
• Xiangxia Luo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 195–215, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.16

• conditions of the ICG NPs. Among them, only ICG liposomes synthesized using lipids can induce the production of VNBs. The ICG concentration in PLGA ICG NPs is below 15 μg·mL−1, which is not sufficient to rapidly increase the temperature to produce VNBs. Evaluation of the VNB effect in bovine retinal explants

• showed that ICG liposomes led to subtle disruption effects in the ILM, in which completely ablated ILM regions alternate with intact regions. Photoporation strategies to overcome the ILM have the potential to improve the efficacy of all retinal therapies impeded by ILM delivery barriers, including

• sources, high adjustability, and ease of access, have paved the way for precise and controllable photothermal therapies. Notably, therapeutic platforms that integrate photothermal nanomaterials with drugs, antibodies, liposomes, hydrogels, heat/pH-sensitive materials, and shape memory materials have

Nanocarriers and macrophage interaction: from a potential hurdle to an alternative therapeutic strategy

• Naths Grazia Sukubo,
• Paolo Bigini and
• Annalisa Morelli

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 97–118, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.10

• . Intranasal delivery has emerged as a promising strategy for targeting the central nervous system by bypassing the blood–brain barrier (BBB). This approach was demonstrated by the nose-to-brain administration of D6-cholestrol-loaded liposomes, which led to an accumulation of D6-cholesterol in the brain in

• STAT6 inhibitor AS1517499, zoledronic acid, or muramyl tripeptide (MTP), these liposomes inhibited M2 polarization. In preclinical breast cancer models, PAPC nanoliposomes reduced tumor growth, inhibited the M2 phenotype, and prevented pre-metastatic niche formation, achieving up to a 70% reduction in

• inflammation resolution and tissue repair. In IBD, sustaining the M2 phenotype is particularly challenging because of the pro-ferroptotic microenvironment, which undermines macrophage survival. Zhao et al. addressed this issue by developing calcium carbonate (CaCO3)-mineralized liposomes (CLF) loaded with the

Mechanistic insights into endosomal escape by sodium oleate-modified liposomes

• Ebrahim Sadaqa,
• Satrialdi,
• Fransiska Kurniawan and
• Diky Mudhakir

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1667–1685, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.131

• .15.131 Abstract Endosomal entrapment significantly limits the efficacy of drug delivery systems. This study investigates sodium oleate-modified liposomes (SO-Lipo) as an innovative strategy to enhance endosomal escape and improve cytosolic delivery in 4T1 triple-negative breast cancer cells. We aimed to

• elucidate the mechanistic role of sodium oleate in promoting endosomal escape and compared the performance of SO-Lipo with unmodified liposomes (Unmodified-Lipo) and Aurein 1.2-modified liposomes (AUR-Lipo). Liposomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration method, resulting in Unmodified-Lipo, SO-Lipo

• measuring the colocalization of labeled liposomes with lysosomal markers, quantified using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Lipid mixing assays assessed the potential fusogenic effect, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations explored the interactions of protonated sodium oleate (SO) with the endosomal

Biomimetic nanocarriers: integrating natural functions for advanced therapeutic applications

• Hugo Felix Perini,
• Beatriz Sodré Matos,
• Carlo José Freire de Oliveira and
• Marcos Vinicius da Silva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1619–1626, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.127

• differences in key characteristics. The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) emphasizes that nanomaterials hold promising potential across various fields of knowledge [1][5]. Materials such as liposomes, nanoparticles, polymer–drug conjugates, inorganic noble metals, and quantum dots may improve

• is linked to dementia and neuronal loss [70]. Focusing on BBB compatibility, lipid-based nanoparticles demonstrate high potential in facilitating drug delivery. Macrophage membrane-coated liposomes co-modified with the RVG29 peptide and triphenylphosphine cation have shown improved targeting of brain

Polymer lipid hybrid nanoparticles for phytochemical delivery: challenges, progress, and future prospects

• Iqra Rahat,
• Pooja Yadav,
• Aditi Singhal,
• Mohammad Fareed,
• Jaganathan Raja Purushothaman,
• Mohammed Aslam,
• Raju Balaji,
• Sonali Patil-Shinde and
• Md. Rizwanullah

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1473–1497, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.118

• biological fluids [51]. During the development of these nanocarriers, the concentration of cationic lipids for the inner core, density of the PEG chain on the outer layer, and molecular weight of the polymers are adjusted to modulate their physicochemical characteristics [52][53]. Polymer-caged liposomes As

• the name suggests, the structural arrangement of these nanocarriers involves the surface coating of liposomes with biodegradable polymers/copolymers. The surface modification not only imparts surface functionality to the nanocarrier but also enhances its therapeutic efficacy by site-specific targeting

• -PLHNPs than that of the free drug. Jøraholmen and co-workers fabricated polymer-coated liposomes using CHS for better topical delivery of RVT to treat vaginal inflammation and infections [109]. The developed RVT-PLHNPs showed excellent mucoadhesive characteristics and sustained drug release. The radical

Nanotechnological approaches for efficient N2B delivery: from small-molecule drugs to biopharmaceuticals

• Selin Akpinar Adscheid,
• Akif E. Türeli,
• Nazende Günday-Türeli and
• Marc Schneider

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1400–1414, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.113

• ; intranasal delivery; liposomes; nanomedicine; nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs); polymer nanoparticles; RNA delivery; solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs); Introduction The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and the spinal cord and is considered the body’s processing and control center. While

• lipid NPs, polymeric NPs, liposomes, emulsions, and novel hybrid NPs and their potential use as DDSs in N2B delivery (Figure 4). Polymeric NPs Because of their tunable physicochemical characteristics, polymeric NPs are a potential vehicle for different drug delivery applications [71]. They can be

• ]. Liposomes Liposomes are another type of DDS that has been extensively investigated over the years [87][88][89]. The structure of a liposome contains a lipid bilayer surrounding an aqueous core, which offers advantages in encapsulating both hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances [90]. The additional

Synthesis, characterization and anticancer effect of doxorubicin-loaded dual stimuli-responsive smart nanopolymers

• Ömür Acet,
• Pavel Kirsanov,
• Burcu Önal Acet,
• Inessa Halets-Bui,
• Dzmitry Shcharbin,
• Şeyda Ceylan Cömert and
• Mehmet Odabaşı

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1189–1196, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.96

• than free DOX. To date, several types of nanoparticles, such as liposomes, micelles, and metal-organic frameworks, have been studied to encapsulate DOX to obtain effective and non-toxic drugs [7][8]. Great attention has been paid to nanoparticles because of their specific properties, such as small size

Recent updates in applications of nanomedicine for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis

• Damai Ria Setyawati,
• Fransiska Christydira Sekaringtyas,
• Riyona Desvy Pratiwi,
• A’liyatur Rosyidah,
• Rohimmahtunnissa Azhar,
• Nunik Gustini,
• Gita Syahputra,
• Idah Rosidah,
• Etik Mardliyati,
• Tarwadi and
• Sjaikhurrizal El Muttaqien

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1105–1116, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.89

• , liver-targeted nanocarriers are needed to increase the drug concentration in the liver with minimum off-target effects. For this purpose, both passive and active targeting strategies of nanomedicine-based drug deliveries have been studied. Liposomes, micelles, solid lipid NPs, and gold NPs are examples

• penetration through biological barriers, leading to the alteration of the drug’s pharmacological activity. Among them, lipid-based NPs, including liposomes, represent the most common nanocarrier platform currently used at the clinical stage for liver fibrosis treatment [21][22][23]. Nanocarrier–liver

• as an absorption enhancer [51]. The therapeutic potential of curcumin using nanoformulations was reviewed by several researchers, summarizing recent curcumin encapsulation works on various NP platforms (liposomes, solid lipid NPs, micelles, and polymeric NPs) [52][53]. For example, polymeric

Entry of nanoparticles into cells and tissues: status and challenges

• Kirsten Sandvig,
• Tore Geir Iversen and
• Tore Skotland

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1017–1029, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.83

• intravenous (i.v.) injection is required to benefit from NPs as therapeutics or imaging agents in an optimal way. Many different types of NPs have been made; for an overview, see [1]. Doxorubicin encapsulated in liposomes (Doxil®/Caelyx®) was the first NP-based drug approved for cancer treatment by the US

A review on the structural characterization of nanomaterials for nano-QSAR models

• Salvador Moncho,
• Eva Serrano-Candelas,
• Jesús Vicente de Julián-Ortiz and
• Rafael Gozalbes

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 854–866, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.71

• structures involving organic polymeric substances (such as nanoplastics and dendrimers) or lipids (such as liposomes). Because of the simpler chemical structure of the components typically found in NMs, the chemical descriptors tend to be also simpler than those of organic molecules. Furthermore, it is

Cholesterol nanoarchaeosomes for alendronate targeted delivery as an anti-endothelial dysfunction agent

• Horacio Emanuel Jerez,
• Yamila Roxana Simioni,
• Kajal Ghosal,
• Maria Jose Morilla and
• Eder Lilia Romero

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 517–534, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.46

• basal compartments. The endocytosis of nanoARC-Chol(ALN), was observed to partly reduce the endothelial-mesenchymal transition of HUVECs. Besides, while 10 mg/mL dexamethasone, 7.6 mM free ALN and ALN-loaded liposomes failed, 50 μg/mL TL + 2.5 μg/mL ALN (i.e., nanoARC-Chol(ALN)) reduced the IL-6 and IL

• interest in the drug delivery field [27][28]. Nanoarchaeosomes (nanoARC) prepared with lipids extracted from H. tebenquichense, for example, are naturally targeted to scavenger receptor A I/II (SRAI/II) expressed by phagocytic cells and certain endothelial cells and outperform liposomes in structural

• compartments, respectively. Our main findings were that the endocytosis of nanoARC-Chol(ALN) by HUVECs reduced the endothelial-mesenchymal transition induced by LPS; also, while dexamethasone, micromolar-free ALN, and ALN-loaded HSPC-Chol liposomes failed, nanoARC-Chol(ALN) strongly reduced the production of

Nanomedicines against Chagas disease: a critical review

• Maria Jose Morilla,
• Kajal Ghosal and
• Eder Lilia Romero

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 333–349, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.30

• still required regarding a realistic use of nanomedicines effective against CD. Keywords: benznidazole; liposomes; nanocrystals; nanomedicines; nanoparticles; Trypanosoma cruzi; Introduction Nanomedicines are used to solve the problems posed by poor solubility and/or permeability and high toxicity of

• countries’ institutions (Brazil and Argentina), and private pharmaceutical companies. The project started proposing a sublingual formulation of BNZ within liposomes or lipid nanoparticles, assuming the intact formulations could reach the blood, avoid the hepatic first-pass metabolism, and reduce the

• toxicity of BNZ. The project, however, failed in its attempt to incorporate BNZ into liposomes, while lipid nanoparticles could not be formulated into sublingual tablets. The project changed to formulate BNZ/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin complexes. These complexes were prepared on a scale seven times larger