Toward clinical translation of carbon nanomaterials in anticancer drug delivery: the need for standardisation

• Michał Bartkowski,
• Francesco Calzaferri and
• Silvia Giordani

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2092–2104, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.144

• therapeutics are loaded onto the CNMs via approaches like physical adsorption, covalent attachment, or encapsulation. The resulting formulations undergo in vitro evaluation, and the promising candidates then proceed to in vivo testing in animal models to evaluate therapeutic efficacy, biodistribution, and

• , aspect ratio, surface area, and surface chemistry result in unique biodistribution patterns, metabolic fates, and pharmacokinetic profiles. For instance, the high aspect ratio of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) contributes to their prolonged pulmonary retention, often linked to chronic inflammation and fibrotic

• given CNM, leading to distinct biological behaviours. For instance, diethylentriaminepentaacetic dianhydride-functionalised multiwalled CNTs exhibited markedly different biodistribution profiles following intravenous administration in mice, depending on their degree of functionalisation. CNTs with a low

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

• lipids themselves may influence LNP biodistribution [51]. By partially substituting a total of 2.5 mol % DSPE-PEG content with functionalized PEG containing maleimide, carboxylic acid, or PDP, the study systematically examined how the functionalized groups alone can modulate LNP targeting. Maleimide-LNPs

• effect on uptake or transfection efficiency, suggesting limited interaction enhancement through that functional group. This study highlights that even without ligands, functionalized PEG lipids may be able to modulate LNP surface interactions and biodistribution, though the effect strongly depends on

• leading to diminished therapeutic efficacy and altered biodistribution. Evidence from further animal studies suggests that the ABC effect follows a biphasic timeline, with initial immune priming occurring shortly after the first dose and peak clearance effects observed during subsequent administrations

On the road to sustainability – application of metallic nanoparticles obtained by green synthesis in dentistry: a scoping review

• Lorena Pinheiro Vasconcelos Silva,
• Joice Catiane Soares Martins,
• Israel Luís Carvalho Diniz,
• Júlio Abreu Miranda,
• Danilo Rodrigues de Souza,
• Éverton do Nascimento Alencar,
• Moan Jéfter Fernandes Costa and
• Pedro Henrique Sette-de-Souza

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1851–1862, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.128

• conducted exclusively in vitro experiments, with no progression to in vivo experimentation in 53.7% (n = 53) of cases. Moreover, 47.8% (n = 45) lacked cytotoxicity assessments or evaluations in human cells. This gap raises important concerns regarding the long-term biocompatibility, biodistribution, and

Exploring the potential of polymers: advancements in oral nanocarrier technology

• Rousilândia de Araujo Silva,
• Igor Eduardo Silva Arruda,
• Luise Lopes Chaves,
• Mônica Felts de La Roca Soares and
• Jose Lamartine Soares Sobrinho

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1751–1793, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.122

• permeability, critical factors for effective oral drug delivery, are discussed in detail. Furthermore, nanoparticle synthesis methods that enable controlled release profiles, optimized biodistribution, and improved therapeutic efficacy are also explored. Thus, polymers represent a dynamic platform for

• biodistribution while preventing undesirable interactions and degradation before reaching target tissues and cells [10]. Moreover, by overcoming the biological and chemical barriers of the body, nanotechnology increases the efficiency and effectiveness of therapeutic and diagnostic regimens, offering less

Prospects of nanotechnology and natural products for cancer and immunotherapy

• Jan Filipe Andrade Santos,
• Marcela Bernardes Brasileiro,
• Pamela Danielle Cavalcante Barreto,
• Ligiane Aranha Rocha and
• José Adão Carvalho Nascimento Júnior

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1644–1667, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.116

• presentation, facilitates immune cell trafficking, and reduces toxic side effects on non-target cells [101][102]. However, nanoparticles have disadvantages, such as lack of routes of administration, concerns about crossing biological barriers, and tempering biodistribution. In addition, they can cause

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

• selectivity, poor biodistribution and pharmacokinetics, poor water solubility, dose-limiting toxicity, and fast degradation in vivo. We will discuss next the major discoveries in the field of the application of nano-based systems for the targeted delivery of metal complex-based antibiotic compounds, focusing

• water solubility, low stability in aqueous solutions under physiological conditions, and unfavorable metabolic or biodistribution profiles. To address these limitations and enhance the delivery of Ru metalloantibiotics to the infection site, several nano-based strategies were developed [126]. For

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

• a crucial parameter that influences their biodistribution, cellular uptake, and drug release. DLS is a widely used technique to determine the size distribution of liposomes in solution [110][125]. DLS measures the fluctuations in light intensity generated by the Brownian motion of liposome particles

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

• –protein binding in vivo, nanoparticles can adsorb plasma proteins at their surface in blood circulation and form a corona, which can alter their biodistribution, cell uptake, and intracellular degradation [90]. Thus, as the protein corona increases, albumin proteins affect nanoparticle fate in vivo. As

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

• stability, absorption, and biodistribution impairments. Among the DDSs, we can highlight hydrogels and nanogels, which are easy to obtain, show good biocompatibility, and have several applications in the design of drug carriers for dermal and ocular administration. In this review, we introduce a brief

• nanocarriers, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters – such as size, release kinetics, and biodistribution of the encapsulated drug – must be carefully defined to maximize the efficacy of the system [65]. Such considerations are essential to obtain stable formulations with a controlled release profile

• ± 1.9%. In dermal toxicity studies, the nanogel-MTX formulation showed no signs of irritation or toxicity, while in the biodistribution study, the nanogel-MTX displayed sustained systemic release up to 48 hours with low accumulation in organs such as liver, kidney, and intestine. A therapeutic efficacy

Chitosan nanocomposite containing rotenoids: an alternative bioinsecticidal approach for the management of Aedes aegypti

• Maria A. A. Bertonceli,
• Vitor D. C. Cristo,
• Ivo J. Vieira,
• Francisco J. A. Lemos,
• Arnoldo R. Façanha,
• Raimundo Braz-Filho,
• Gustavo V. T. Batista,
• Luis G. M. Basso,
• Sérgio H. Seabra,
• Thalya S. R. Nogueira,
• Felipe F. Moreira,
• Arícia L. E. M. Assis,
• Antônia E. A. Oliveira and
• Kátia V. S. Fernandes

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1197–1208, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.88

• important parameter for assessing nanoparticle stability and biodistribution. Typically, particles acquire an electric charge at the shear plane when dispersed in a liquid, which is reflected by their zeta potential, that is key to understanding dispersion and aggregation processes in nanoformulations. Zeta

Serum heat inactivation diminishes ApoE-mediated uptake of D-Lin-MC3-DMA lipid nanoparticles

• Demian van Straten,
• Luuk van de Schepop,
• Rowan Frunt,
• Pieter Vader and
• Raymond M. Schiffelers

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 740–748, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.57

• vitro cellular models aiming to eventually understand biodistribution and cargo delivery efficiency of the LNPs in vivo. For in vitro cell culture, fetal calf serum (FCS) is supplemented to culture media to provide nutrients and promote cell viability and growth. Heat inactivation of FCS is often

• inherent limitations of different classes of therapeutics, ranging from small molecule drugs, to biologicals such as proteins and nucleic acids. Nanoparticles can enhance the solubility and stability of their payload, prolong its circulation time, and improve its biodistribution to increase their safety

• nanoparticle, reviewed by [6][7][8], as well as the protein source of the corona [9][10][11]. Ultimately, the protein corona can change the uptake [12][13][14], biodistribution [15][16][17][18], immunological responses [19][20] and toxicity [6][21][22] of nanoparticles and its characterization should thus play

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

• valuable candidates for various biomedical applications such as diagnosis, therapeutics, and drug delivery. The efficacy of these NPs is closely linked to their pharmacokinetic properties. The biodistribution, safety profile, and clearance mechanism of NPs plays a critical role in the clinical application

• through kidneys and liver and excretion in urine and fecal matter, respectively. In the brain, the biodistribution of NP mainly occurs through the CSF. Direct infusion into the CSF results in rapid and widespread NP distribution, particularly in brainstem, cerebellum, and amygdala. The clearance of NPs

• from the brain is predominantly mediated by the paravascular glymphatic pathway, with studies suggesting that up to 80% of NPs are cleared through this route. Biodistribution and clearance of NPs have been shown to depend on their size and surface properties. Smaller graphene oxide (GO) sheets (20–70

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

• target diseases and genetic variations. However, the lack of disease-specific biomarkers, which facilitate the identification of disease phenotypes, the poor chemical stability of nucleotide-based molecules and their inefficient biodistribution and targeted delivery result in insufficient biological

• oligonucleotide drugs, their poor biodistribution and intracellular delivery have limited their use as therapeutic agents. In fact, efficient delivery to most tissues other than liver, kidneys, lungs, retina, brain, and spinal cord poses major challenges because of the broad systemic distribution, the extensive

• negatively charged nucleic acids and enhances cellular uptake, leading to increased accumulation of therapeutic agents at the target site [104]. Extensive literature regarding the biodistribution and cell internalisation of polyamine-based carriers has shown that factors such as the molecular weight [105

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

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

• leads to toxicity and diminishes their therapeutic value [4][6]. Additionally, the necessity for chemical conjugation between CPPs and therapeutic agents introduces complexities that can affect the pharmacokinetic profile and biodistribution of the drug. Alternative approaches, such as the use of

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

• such as: loss of stability, low efficiency in crossing biological barriers, inadequate efficacy in reaching target active molecules, and poor biodistribution [13][14]. Nanocarriers are employed to transport raw materials, which can be vesicles or solid nanoparticles [15]. Despite the significant

Liver-targeting iron oxide nanoparticles and their complexes with plant extracts for biocompatibility

• Shushanik A. Kazaryan,
• Seda A. Oganian,
• Gayane S. Vardanyan,
• Anatolie S. Sidorenko and
• Ashkhen A. Hovhannisyan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1593–1602, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.125

• adverse reactions. The toxicity of MNPs depends on various factors such as size, shape, structure, surface modification, concentration, dosage, biodistribution, bioavailability, solubility, immunogenicity, and pharmacokinetics [23][24]. Their use in some clinical applications is limited by low solubility

• and toxicity effects; as of May 2024, the website clinicaltrials.gov listed data on the development of 51 clinical protocols involving iron oxides NPs [25][26][27]. Surface chemistry and delivery route of MNPs affect their biodistribution patterns and circulation time in the body [28]. It is known

• that MNPs larger than 200 nm are captured by the spleen through mechanical filtration, while MNPs smaller than 10 nm can be eliminated via renal clearance. Therefore, the 10–100 nm range is considered optimal for administration in specific applications [29]. The biodistribution patterns of these

The round-robin approach applied to nanoinformatics: consensus prediction of nanomaterials zeta potential

• Dimitra-Danai Varsou,
• Arkaprava Banerjee,
• Joyita Roy,
• Kunal Roy,
• Giannis Savvas,
• Haralambos Sarimveis,
• Ewelina Wyrzykowska,
• Mateusz Balicki,
• Tomasz Puzyn,
• Georgia Melagraki,
• Iseult Lynch and
• Antreas Afantitis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1536–1553, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.121

• NMs and accelerate regulatory decision-making procedures [2][5][13]. An IATA scheme for the prediction of the short-term regional lung-deposited dose of inhaled inorganic NMs in humans following acute exposure and the longer-term NM biodistribution after inhalation, has already been presented [14

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

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

• for CNS targeting. For example, size, shape, and surface characteristics of a DDS directly affect cellular transport and uptake, biodistribution, and the interaction with biological interfaces [64][65]. Regarding particle size, NPs with a size of approx. 15 nm or below were observed to penetrate the

Interaction of graphene oxide with tannic acid: computational modeling and toxicity mitigation in C. elegans

• Romana Petry,
• James M. de Almeida,
• Francine Côa,
• Felipe Crasto de Lima,
• Diego Stéfani T. Martinez and
• Adalberto Fazzio

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1297–1311, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.105

• interaction of GO with tannic acid (TA) and its consequences for GO toxicity. We focused on understanding how TA interacts with GO, its impact on the material surface chemistry, colloidal stability, as well as, toxicity and biodistribution using the Caenorhabditis elegans model. Employing computational

• toxicity and highlight the potential of tannic acid for the synthesis and surface functionalization of graphene-based nanomaterials, offering insights into safer nanotechnology development. Keywords: biodistribution; density functional theory; ecotoxicity; molecular dynamics; surface interactions

• understand how GO’s toxicity changes regarding surface modifications such as interactions with biomolecules. In this study, we investigate the interaction of GO with TA linked to its impacts on surface chemistry, colloidal stability, lethality, and biodistribution in the C. elegans model for the first time

Dual-functionalized architecture enables stable and tumor cell-specific SiO₂NPs in complex biological fluids

• Iris Renata Sousa Ribeiro,
• Raquel Frenedoso da Silva,
• Romênia Ramos Domingues,
• Adriana Franco Paes Leme and
• Mateus Borba Cardoso

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1238–1252, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.100

• to the formation of aggregates of NPs and activation of unplanned biological pathways (e.g., the complement system) [16][17][18]. The factors mentioned above hamper the biodistribution of nanomedicines and their targeting efficiency, therefore causing adverse effects. Multiple functionalization

Realizing active targeting in cancer nanomedicine with ultrasmall nanoparticles

• André F. Lima,
• Giselle Z. Justo and
• Alioscka A. Sousa

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1208–1226, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.98

• value (1.8 nM) compared to the free PMSA-targeting ligand (4.5 nM). Urinary clearance in healthy mice was found to be 26% ID at 4 h p.i., reaching a total clearance of 53% ID at day 7. Biodistribution studies performed 24 h p.i. revealed that the particles accumulated to 5% ID/g or less in major organs

• microenvironment, thus enhancing treatment efficacy. The study revealed that 64Cu-Cu@CuOx-ECL1i exhibited suitable biodistribution and biocompatibility. Moreover, 64Cu-Cu@CuOx-ECL1i-Gem was able to induce tumor inhibition and to prolong survival in a syngeneic xenograft mouse model of PDAC. 5.7 Antibody-based

• ) Preparation of AuNCs through a one-pot synthesis with c(RGDyc) peptides. The targeted AuNCs were evaluated as radiotherapy sensitizers in tumor-bearing mice. (B) Biodistribution, including tumor accumulation, of targeted vs non-targeted AuNCs. (C) Photographs of dissected tumor tissues following treatment. (D

Introducing third-generation periodic table descriptors for nano-qRASTR modeling of zebrafish toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles

• Supratik Kar and
• Siyun Yang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1142–1152, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.93

• , through aggregation, cause localized toxicity to zebrafish. Additionally, their size affects biodistribution and clearance, with larger MONPs tending to accumulate within the zebrafish organism, further exacerbating toxicity (Figure 3). In zebrafish, these mechanisms can manifest in several ways

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

• played an important role in the enhancement of therapeutic outcomes compared to those of conventional therapy. At the same time, nanoparticle drug delivery systems offer a significant reduction in side effects of treatments by lowering the off-target biodistribution of the active pharmaceutical

• uptake in a time-dependent manner. Ultimately, the nanocomplex showed excellent in vitro gene-silencing activities, that is, approximately 80–85% of the Pcbp2 mRNA expression was inhibited in activated HSCs-T6 cells after gene transfection for 24 h. The in vivo biodistribution showed that the nanocomplex