Nanomedicine entails the use of nanomaterials, nanodevices or bio-nanotechnologies for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Recent research applications include the use of bio-nanosystems or nanoscale materials, such as engineered biomolecules, nanoparticles and nanorobots, for identification of disease biomarkers and the development of targeted drug delivery systems. While most of these nanomedicine technologies are in early research stages, the prospects of these technologies in the development of comprehensive disease therapies continue to drive research investment. This thematic issue provides a platform to stimulate the continuing efforts of developing nanomedicines for various disease diagnosis and treatment applications.
Download all of the current publications in this thematic issue by clicking on "Download Issue".
Figure 1: Unstained TEM images of Au-CPMV with the corresponding DLS size distribution histograms (inset). (A...
Figure 2: NTA measurement of Au-CPMV at 25 °C recorded from three consecutive runs (60 s) for each sample. (A...
Figure 3: (A) UV–vis spectrum of 50 nm unconjugated Au-CPMV (green) and antibody-labeled Au-CPMV particles (b...
Figure 4: Confocal fluorescence microscopy images of fluorescent labeled VCAM1-PEG5000AuCPMV particles. RAW24...
Figure 5: (A) High-resolution TEM image of Antibody-PEG5000AuCPMV; (B) elemental EDX map of gold; the signal ...
Figure 6: CT images of Au-CPMV particles of different sizes suspended in DD water at, the gold concentration ...
Figure 1: Synthetic approach (upper panel), final structure and nomenclature (lower panels) of the mannose-fu...
Scheme 1: Synthetic pathway to obtain linear and four-arm mannosylated copolymers.
Figure 2: A) Kinetic profiles obtained for the synthesis of (A4-)PEG9-PCL1 and (A4-)PEG8-PCL2 copolymers. Rea...
Figure 3: Comparison of the 1H NMR spectrum of one selected polymer (A4-PEG8-PCL2, MeOD) before (upper panel)...
Figure 4: TEM images of A4-PEG8-PCL2 10 mg/mL in water; size distribution is dominated by small nanoparticles...
Figure 5: DLS size distribution (vol %) of the glycopolymers PEG9-PCL1-Man1 (A), PEG8-PCL2-Man2 (B), A4-PEG9-...
Figure 6: A) Schematic representation of Con A clustering by multivalent ligands. B) Con A suspensions after ...
Figure 7: Turbidimetric assay results. A) Optical density (OD) data were recorded at 420 nm every 12 s for 10...
Figure 1: GRPR functionality in lung cancer cells. (A) Exemplar fluorescence trace from H345 cells loaded wit...
Figure 2: Mass spectrometry characterisation of cystabn-lipid conjugate. MALDI–TOF mass spectra of crude DSPE...
Figure 3: Colloidal stability of liposomes. Control and target liposomes were exposed to PBS (A,C) or 10% FBS...
Figure 4: GRPR targeting with cystabn increases cell accumulation of liposomes. (A) A549-GRPR cells were expo...
Figure 1: Synthesis of the simultaneously cross-linked and thiolated PSI and PASP gels.
Figure 2: The dependence of the mass swelling degree of (a) the PSI- and (b) the PASP-based gels on the pH va...
Figure 3: (a) Swelling and (b) dissolution kinetics of different PASP-XCYS-LYS gels in 0.1 M DTT solution at ...
Figure 4: Dependence of the relative swelling degree of the PASP-20CYS-LYS gel on the amount of DTT a) betwee...
Figure 5: Dependence of the elastic modulus G (black squares, blue triangles) and the concentration of the el...
Figure 6: a) Viability of the PDLCs measured one and three days after seeding. The average viability value me...
Figure 7: Metoprolol release from the different PASP-XCYS-LYS gels (cmet) in physiological saline solution (b...
Scheme 1: In the templated process (left), in a lightly acidic aqueous solution the protonated chitosan amine...
Figure 1: A) Size distribution of chitosan/HA nanoparticles (1 mg/mL, deionized water) prepared from 35 (top)...
Figure 2: Tapping-mode AFM height images of chitosan/HA dried on mica (left) and height profiles correspondin...
Figure 3: A) Asymmetric-flow field flow fractionation (AF4) characterization of nanoparticles (see also Supporting Information File 1, Fig...
Figure 4: Protection of siRNA payload from enzymatic degradation. Left: PAGE analysis of entrapped siRNA afte...
Figure 5: A) Relative cell viability of RAW 264.7 (left) and HCT-116 (right) cell lines as a function of nano...
Figure 6: siRNA-mediated luciferase silencing using nanoparticles obtained via a templated or direct complexa...
Figure 1: Schematic description of in vitro PDT processes using photosensitizer (PS) encapsulated in a block ...
Figure 2: Chemical structures of four molecular photosensitizers commonly used: a) pheophorbide a; b) chlorin...
Figure 3: Schematic representation of the strategies used for delivery of photosensitizers using block copoly...
Figure 4: Chemical structures of the main blocks commonly described in recent literature.
Figure 5: a) Light-responsive self-immolative polymers. Adapted with permission from [70], copyright 2018 America...
Figure 6: Block copolymers used as nanocarriers for overcoming hypoxia; a) adapted with permission from [104], cop...
Figure 7: Schematic representation of the interplay between polymer structure, physicochemical characteristic...
Figure 8: Representative snapshots describing the endocytosis pathway for spherocylindrical nanoparticles. Re...
Figure 9: Field flow fractograms of PEO(2400)-b-PDLLA(2000) and PEO(3100)-b-PS(2300) micelles. The multi-angl...
Figure 10: Idealized docking of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (m-THPC, shown as van der Waals su...
Figure 11: Modulation of PDT efficiency through introduction of bulky substituents on the PS, which inhibit ag...
Figure 12: Use of Hansen solubility parameters to optimize polymeric nanovectors.
Figure 13: Types of pathways of block copolymer micelle–cell membrane interactions. Reprinted with permission ...
Figure 14: Schematic view of photodynamic therapy (PDT) strategies with polymeric nanovectors targeting subcel...
Figure 15: Illustration of the PTX@PAsp-g-(PEG-ICG) ER-targeting process and mechanism of cell death. PTX@PAsp-...
Figure 1: Alterations in cell-free DNA. Cell-free DNA can be released from both cancerous and normal cells lo...
Figure 2: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are genetic mutations that alter single base in DNA, causing...
Figure 3: Gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric assays in the colloidal phase. a) Cross-linking hybridization ...
Figure 4: Discrimination of SNPs by means of the kinetics of particle aggregation. a) The spurious catalyst d...
Figure 5: Working principle of the colorimetric assay for the detection of EGFR mutants in long DNA sequences...
Figure 6: The combination of unmodified gold nanorods as signal transducers in an HCR amplification process f...
Figure 7: Working principle of EASA for the colorimetric detection of DNA mismatches. The consumption of a la...
Figure 8: Schematic illustration of the colorimetric method for the detection of specific miRNA based on the ...
Figure 9: Colorimetric method for the detection of specific miRNA based on the combination of enzyme-assisted...
Figure 10: The combination of isothermal strand-displacement polymerase reactions and lateral flow strip for v...
Figure 11: The use of gold nanoparticles as fluorescence quencher in the discrimination of SNP through cyclic ...
Figure 12: Colorimetric DNA detection through rolling circle amplification (RCA) and NEase-assisted nanopartic...
Figure 13: a) The working principle of DNA target detection through an invasive reaction coupled with NEase-as...
Figure 1: XRD spectrum of aragonite cuttlefish bone (CB), calcite, and hydroxyapatite (Hap) nanorods using cu...
Figure 2: FTIR spectra of cuttlefish bone and hydroxyapatite (Hap) nanorods using cuttlefish bone powder as a...
Figure 3: Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of cuttlefish bone (CB) powder and hydroxyapatite (Hap) nanorods u...
Figure 4: TEM images of hydroxyapatite (Hap) nanorods using cuttlefish bone powder as a precursor (CB-Hap NRs...
Figure 5: Hemolytic behavior of hydroxyapatite (Hap) nanorods using cuttlefish bone powder as a precursor (CB...
Figure 6: Antibacterial activity of hydroxyapatite (Hap) nanorods using cuttlefish bone powder as a precursor...
Figure 7: Oil-bath-mediated synthesis of CB-Hap NRs.
Figure 1: Images of pHEMA gels prepared with different quantities of DI water.
Figure 2: Plot showing pH-dependent swelling behavior of the pHEMA hydrogel prepared with 1.3 mL DI water ove...
Figure 3: SEM images of pHEMA hydrogel samples synthesized using different quantities of DI water. (a) 1 mL, ...
Figure 4: Facile syringe-tube assembly used in fabricating the hydrogel channels.
Figure 5: Different iron oxide NPs synthesized for the flow experiments. (a) Schematic overview, (b) hydrodyn...
Figure 6: Experimental investigation of NP transport through soft hydrogel flow paths. (a) Representative hyd...
Figure 7: Experimental velocity profile of the iron oxide NPs. (a) Plot showing the average flow velocity of ...
Figure 8: Experimental mass loss of the NPs during flow through hydrogel channels. (a) Plot showing average m...
Figure 9: Plot showing the average mass loss percentage of NPs as a function of the size at three different i...
Figure 10: Velocity profile of NPs flowing through the hydrogel channel using CFD.
Figure 1: Interaction of nano-sized materials at the cell surface. First, nanoparticles adhere at the plasma ...
Figure 2: Scheme of possible scenarios that can occur at the cell surface, resulting in nanoparticle uptake. ...
Figure 3: Common features of endocytic pathways [73]. Endocytosis requires a specific cell membrane composition a...
Figure 1: Cellular uptake of CCMV and BMV viruses. (a) Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images of MC...
Figure 2: Internalization of CCMV and BMV conjugated with FITC. MDA-MB-231 cells were incubated with BMV-FITC...
Figure 3: Biocompatibility and immune response of BMV and CCMV. (A) MDA-MB-231 cells were incubated with the ...
Figure 4: Encapsidation of siRNA in BMV capsid proteins. TEM images of virus-like particles in vitro assemble...
Figure 5: Anti-tumor effect of virus nanoparticles. (A) Schematic illustration of the experimental design. (B...
Figure 1: Schematic representation showing the capsule fabrication, drug encapsulation and release of loaded ...
Figure 2: Morphological changes in PAH/PMA capsules templated on a SiO2 core (a–d). AFM images showing hollow...
Figure 3: Illustration of driving forces for capsule assembly. (a) Opening of electrostatically bound multila...
Figure 4: CLSM images of PAH/PMA microcapsules incubated with FITC-BSA at (a) pH 3 and (b) pH 7. SEM investig...
Figure 5: The morphological investigation of PAH/DS capsules incorporating silver NPs by (a) TEM, (b) AFM and...
Figure 6: (a) Illustration of the fabrication of PAH/GO microcapsules, (b) CLSM investigation showing the enc...
Figure 7: Schematic illustration of (a) the formation of PVP/TA capsules loaded with Dox, (b) the ultrasound ...
Figure 8: (a) Schematic representation showing the assembly of MnP-PVP/TA multilayers on silica template to o...
Figure 1: Structure, synthesis and properties of gold nanoclusters. A) Nanoclusters provide a link between mo...
Figure 2: AuNC-based pathogen sensing and imaging. A) (a–h) Photographs showing the sensing of various pathog...
Figure 3: Schematic representation of AuNCIA in the detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen inspired by [85].
Figure 4: Cellular labeling and imaging using AuNCs. A) HeLa cells were treated with (a, b) Au-MUDA NCs and (...
Figure 5: Plasmonic magnetoluminescent agglomerates. A) Schematic representation of the fabrication of the PM...
Figure 6: A) Confocal fluorescent microscopy images showing the metabolism of Au-BSA NCs and Au-NAC-CS NCs in...
Figure 7: In vivo bioimaging using luminescent AuNCs. A) NIR fluorescence imaging of BALB/c mouse treated wit...
Figure 8: A) Principle of Aβ/copper and ascorbate- or Fe(II)-catalyzed formation of AuNCs. B) Illustration of...
Figure 1: Representative SEM micrographs of silica and carbon nanoparticles. The scale bar in each inset is 1...
Figure 2: a) Zeta potential versus pH curves for carbon nanoparticles (CNP-M and CNP-S) and silica nanopartic...
Figure 3: a) SDS-PAGE gel of hard protein corona formed after 1 h of incubation in human plasma. b) Densitome...
Figure 4: Abundance of fibrinogen and apolipoprotein A1 in silica and carbon nanoparticle corona at different...
Figure 5: Venn diagrams showing the number of proteins shared by small silica (black) and carbon nanoparticle...
Figure 6: Relative concentration of proteins on small silica (SNP-S) and carbon (CNP-S) nanoparticle coronas ...
Figure 7: Classification of the human plasma corona proteins identified on small silica (SNP-S) and carbon (C...
Figure 8: Effect of hard corona formed at different plasma concentrations on nanoparticles agglomeration in w...
Figure 9: Effect of nanoparticles on platelet aggregation. a) Platelets activated by collagen; b) platelets a...
Figure 10: Effect of the nanoparticles on platelet activation measured as secretion of P-selectin.
Figure 11: Effect of the nanoparticles on platelet adhesion. a) Total number of platelets adhering to the subs...
Figure 12: The strategy used to unravel possible structure–activity relationships in the present study.