Cytotoxicity of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles is shape and cell dependent.

Nanosized hydroxyapatite (nHA) has been proposed as drug delivery vehicles because of its biocompatibility. While the possible risks of nHA inducing inflammation have been highlighted, the specific influence of varying nHA particle morphology is still unclear. In order to establish this understanding, nHA of four different shapes--needle (nHA-ND), plate (nHA-PL), sphere (nHA-SP) and rod (nHA-RD)--were synthesized.

Comparative cytotoxicity evaluation of lanthanide nanomaterials on mouse and human cell lines with metabolic and DNA-quantification assays.

Lanthanide nanomaterials are considered a less toxic alternative to quantum dots for bioimaging applications. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of terbium (Tb)-doped gadolinium oxide (Gd(2)O(3)) and dysprosium oxide (Dy(2)O(3)) nanoparticles exposed to human (BEAS-2B) and mouse (L929) cell lines at a concentration range of 200-2000 μg/ml for 48 h. Two assay methods were utilized-WST-8 assay (colorimetric) based on mitochondrial metabolic activity and Pico-Green assay (fluorescence), which measures total DNA content.

Polymer- and liposome-based nanoparticles in targeted drug delivery.

This review focuses on polymer- and liposome-based nanoparticles used in targeted delivery of bioactive molecules, from drugs to siRNA to pDNA. The perspective centers around commercial and clinical successes, and a rationalization of these successes. Microparticulate systems are not covered, and only those applications that truly utilize the advantages of nano size are covered.

Initial attachment of osteoblastic cells onto sol-gel derived fluoridated hydroxyapatite coatings.

Initial cell attachment and spreading of anchorage-dependent cells onto the material surface are crucial concerns for the development of more effective implants. In this study, MG63 cells were employed to investigate the initial cell response to sol-gel derived fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA) coatings. Along with that, surface roughness, wettability, and protein adsorption were also characterized for those FHA coatings, respectively.

Osteoblastic cell response on fluoridated hydroxyapatite coatings.

Fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA) coatings were deposited onto Ti6Al4V substrates by sol-gel dip-coating method. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that fluoride ions were successfully incorporated into the hydroxyapatite (HA) lattice structure. The dissolution behavior in Tris-buffered physiological saline indicated that all fluoridated HA coatings had lower solubility than that of the pure HA coating.

ABA and BAB type triblock copolymers of PEG and PLA: a comparative study of drug release properties and "stealth" particle characteristics.

We synthesized two types of triblock copolymers containing PEG and PLA as controlled release carriers of hydrophobic drugs: these are the ABA type (PLA-PEG-PLA) and the BAB type (PEG-PLA-PEG). These polymers are amphiphilic and can form nanomicelles (40-200nm) in aqueous medium. On the surface of PLA-PEG-PLA (ABA) type nanomicelles, the PEG content was enhanced somewhat over the bulk amount; whereas in the PEG-PLA-PEG (BAB type), surface segregation was much higher.