Volume 5, Issue 2

Restrategizing becomes inevitable when in trying to proffer solution to a problem, damage in a different form is done. The unintended effects of drugs (side effects) could be leaving behind more damage than the therapeutic effect they are required to provide. This has led to the withdrawal of a number of drugs. However, there are still a number of options to explore in delivery, especially in the application of nanomedicine. Such advances in nanomedicine employ the use of phenylboronic acid-installed polymeric micelles, matrix metalloproteinase 2-sensitive poly(ethylene glycol)-drug conjugate, multifunctional DNA nanoflowers, single vehicular delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA), nanoparticle-mediated codelivery of siRNA and prodrug, lipopeptide nanoparticles for siRNA delivery, ferrous iron-dependent drug delivery, polyprodrug amphiphiles, transepithelial transport of Fc-targeted nanoparticles, mutant KRAS target, monovalent molecular shuttle, near-infrared-actuated devices, transferrin receptor trafficking, remote loading of preencapsulated drugs, ATP-mediated liposomal drug delivery, nanoparticle-based combination chemotherapy delivery system, nucleic acid nanoparticle conjugates, ultrasound-triggered disruption of cross-linked hydrogels, refilling drug delivery depots through the blood, siRNA payloads to target KRAS-mutant cancer, delivery of antibody mimics into mammalian cells, biologically “smart” hydrogel, combination of liposomes containing bio-enhancers, and tetraether lipids. Minimized side effects, increased bioavailability, and reduced dosage are possible benefits of improved drug targeting.

Stimuli-responsive controlled-release nanocarriers are promising vehicles for delivery of bioactive molecules that can minimize side effects and maximize efficiency. The release of the drug occurs when the nanocarrier is triggered by an internal or external stimulus. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) can have drugs and bioactive cargos loaded into the high-capacity pores, and their release can be triggered by activation of a variety of stimulus-responsive molecular “gatekeepers” or “nanovalves.” In this mini-review, we discuss the basic concepts of MSN in targeted drug-release systems and cover different stimulus-responsive gatekeepers. Internal stimuli include redox, enzymes, and pH, while external stimuli include light, ultrasound, and magnetic fields, and temperature can either be internal or external.

Nanotechnology opens a large scope of novel applications in the fields of plant nutrition needed to meet the future demands of the growing population because nanoparticles (NPs) have unique physicochemical properties, i.e. high surface area, high reactivity, tunable pore size, and particle morphology. Management of optimum nutrients for sustainable crop production is a priority-based area of research in agriculture. In this regard, nanonutrition has proved to be the most interesting area of research and concerns with the provision of nano-sized nutrients for sustainable crop production. Using this technology, we can increase the efficiency of micro- as well as macronutrients of plants. In the literature, various NPs and nanomaterials (NMs) have been successfully used for better nutrition of crop plants compared to the conventional fertilizers. This review summarizes these NPs and NMs into macro-, micro-, and nanocarrier-based fertilizers and plant-growth-enhancing NPs with unclear mechanisms, describing their role in improving growth and yield of crops, concentration/rate of application, particle size, mechanism of action if known, toxic effects if any, and research gaps in the present research. Moreover, future research directions for achieving sustainable agriculture are also discussed in the appropriate section and at the end in the concluding remarks section.

In spite of the limited sources of fossil fuels, energy demand has been considerably increased since the last century. The problems associated with global warming due to rising atmospheric greenhouse gas levels and scarcity of fossil fuels make it imperative to reduce our heavy dependency on fossil fuels. These reasons forced countries throughout the world to search for new fuel alternatives. Biofuel have gathered considerable attention due to their inherent benefits, like lower greenhouse gas emission, renewability, and sustainability. Commercially, biofuels are produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, and carbohydrates by using transesterification and fermentation. However, biofuel production suffers from high production costs and other technical barriers. Considering the environmental and economic issues, use of nanotechnology seems to be a viable solution. Nanoparticles have a number of interesting properties for the production of second-generation ethanol or transesterification of oils and fats to yield biodiesel. It is advantageous for recovery and reuse of catalysts. The present review discusses the role of nanotechnology in the production of bioethanol and biodiesel. Moreover, applications of nanoparticles for the production of biodiesel and second-generation ethanol with special reference to enzyme immobilization and chemical nano-catalysis have been described.

This study reports a single-step, fast and eco-friendly procedure for preparing silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate solution using fruit extract of Benincasa hispida along with the study of its ability for fast detection of hydrogen peroxide. Silver nanoparticle formation was confirmed by scanning the reacting mixture at regular intervals using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the dried nanoparticles revealed the information about different phases and crystallinity of biogenic Ag nanoparticles. The size, shape and morphology of the nanoparticles were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was performed to identify organic molecules that reduced and capped the colloidal particles in the reacting medium. Furthermore, the H 2 O 2 detecting ability of these biogenic silver nanoparticles was explored and the Ag nanoparticles were found to detect H 2 O 2 instantly.

Numerous different photonics and biomedical applications depend on the fluorescent polymer micro- and nanoparticles. Besides optical or spectroscopic properties, the performance of the polymer nanoparticles is determined by their size, size distribution, and surface charge. Moreover, in order to realize a very uniform performance, the functional polymer nanoparticles should be of high homogeneity and demand for the preparation in a minimum number of synthesis steps. Here, we present a microfluidic-assisted synthesis of different types of reproducible fluorescent polymer nanoparticles with tuned size (40 nm up to 600 nm) and surface charge (ζ potential=-52 mV up to +45 mV). Four different preparation strategies were introduced for fluorophore-functionalized nanoparticles: (a) noncovalent binding of fluorophores with high loading, (b) covalent linking of fluorophores with enhanced stability, (c) surface-anchored fluorophores by hydrophobic interactions for triple function at the same time, and (d) surface immobilization of biomolecules and fluorophore by ionic as well as secondary interactions. In this way, four different classes of nanoparticles suited for different applications were prepared with a spherical shape as a model system. Moreover, the principle has been extended to the different types of nonspherical and composite polymer nanoparticles.

Cancer encompasses a group of diseases characterized by abnormal cell growth. In the 44 years following the signing of the National Cancer Act of 1971, multiple genetic and environmental factors have been identified as initiators of the disease. Considerable progress has been made in the treatment and detection of many forms of cancer, but despite this progress, it remains as the most lethal group of diseases worldwide (Stewart BW, Wild CP. World Cancer Report 2014 . Geneva: World Health Organization, 2014). The barriers to developing new cancer therapies lie in the heterogeneity, adaptability, and physiological complexity of these diseases (Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell 2011, 144, 646–647). To address these challenges, MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research has combined the strengths of both cancer biology and engineering to take a multidisciplinary, multi-investigator approach to cancer research. The insights and technologies developed by this approach are already bearing fruit, serving as an inspirational model for disease-focused research.