Covalently Functionalized Egyptian Blue Nanosheets for Near-Infrared Bioimaging.

Fluorophores emitting in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength region present optimal characteristics for photonics and especially bioimaging. Unfortunately, only few NIR fluorescent materials are known, and even fewer are biocompatible. For this reason, the scientific interest in designing NIR fluorophores is very high.

Trimethyl-Chitosan Coated Gold Nanoparticles Enhance Delivery, Cellular Uptake and Gene Silencing Effect of EGFR-siRNA in Breast Cancer Cells.

Despite the promising therapeutic effects of gene silencing with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), the challenges associated with delivery of siRNAs to the tumor cells , has greatly limited its clinical application. To overcome these challenges, we employed gold nanoparticles modified with trimethyl chitosan (TMC) as an effective delivery carrier to improve the stability and cellular uptake of siRNAs against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that is implicated in breast cancer. AuNPs were prepared by the simple aqueous reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl) with ascorbic acid and coated with synthesized TMC.

Imaging of Monoamine Neurotransmitters with Fluorescent Nanoscale Sensors.

Cells use biomolecules to convey information. For instance, neurons communicate by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters, including several monoamines. The information transmitted by neurons is, in part, coded in the type and amount of neurotransmitter released, the spatial distribution of release sites, the frequency of release events, and the diffusion range of the neurotransmitter.

Near-Infrared Imaging of Serotonin Release from Cells with Fluorescent Nanosensors.

Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter involved in various functions of the nervous, blood, and immune system. In general, detection of small biomolecules such as serotonin in real time with high spatial and temporal resolution remains challenging with conventional sensors and methods. In this work, we designed a near-infrared (nIR) fluorescent nanosensor (NIRSer) based on fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to image the release of serotonin from human blood platelets in real time.

Immobilization of HIV-1 TAT peptide on gold nanoparticles: A feasible approach for siRNA delivery.

RNA interference is one of the prosperous approaches for cancer treatment. However, small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery to cancer cells has been faced with various challenges restricting their clinical application over the decades. Since ROR1 is an onco-embryonic gene overexpressed in many malignancies, suppression of ROR1 by siRNA can potentially fight cancer.

Author Correction: Restoration of tumour-growth suppression in vivo via systemic nanoparticle-mediated delivery of PTEN mRNA.

The authors wish to add the following sentence into the 'Competing interests' section of this Article: "P.W.K.

Restoration of tumour-growth suppression in vivo via systemic nanoparticle-mediated delivery of PTEN mRNA.

Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a well-characterized tumour-suppressor gene that is lost or mutated in about half of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers and in many other human cancers. The restoration of functional PTEN as a treatment for prostate cancer has, however, proven difficult. Here, we show that PTEN messenger RNA (mRNA) can be reintroduced into PTEN-null prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo via its encapsulation in polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles coated with a polyethylene glycol shell.

Glutathione responsive chitosan-thiolated dextran conjugated miR-145 nanoparticles targeted with AS1411 aptamer for cancer treatment.

miR-145 is a tumor suppressive miRNA which is abnormally reduced in different cancers. miR-145 overexpression reduces cancer migration, invasion, and cell adhesion. Increasing miR-145 level using suitable and efficient gene delivery systems could be valuable in cancer treatment.

Multifunctional core-shell nanoplatforms (gold@graphene oxide) with mediated NIR thermal therapy to promote miRNA delivery.

Recent insights into the nanomedicine have revealed that nanoplatforms enhance the efficacy of carrier in therapeutic applications. Here, multifunctional nanoplatforms were utilized in miRNA-101 delivery and NIR thermal therapy to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Au nanorods (NRs) or nanospheres (NSs) covered with graphene oxide (GO) were prepared and functionalized with polyethylene glycol as a stabilizer and poly-L-arginine (P-L-Arg) as a targeting agent.

Application of nanostructured lipid carriers: the prolonged protective effects for sesamol in in vitro and in vivo models of ischemic stroke via activation of PI3K signalling pathway.

Background: Treatment of the ischemic stroke has remained a major healthcare challenge. The phenolic compound, sesamol, has shown promising antioxidant and neuroprotective effects, however, fast clearance may negatively affect its efficiency. This, prompted us to incorporate sesamol into the nanostructured lipid carriers (S-NLCs) and evaluate its therapeutic potential in in vitro and in vivo models of ischemic stroke.

Inhibiting influenza virus replication and inducing protection against lethal influenza virus challenge through chitosan nanoparticles loaded by siRNA.

Influenza virus causes a highly contagious viral respiratory tract infection with potentially fatal outcomes in humans and animals. There is now widespread influenza virus resistance to commercial drugs due to the genetic diversity of virus. Therefore, new therapeutic formulation needs to be developed.

Prospects of siRNA applications in regenerative medicine.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has established its reputation in the field of tissue engineering owing to its ability to silence the proteins that inhibit tissue regeneration. siRNA is capable of regulating cellular behavior during tissue regeneration processes. The concept of using siRNA technology in regenerative medicine derived from its ability to inhibit the expression of target genes involved in defective tissues and the possibility to induce the expression of tissue-inductive factors that improve the tissue regeneration process.

Docetaxel-Chitosan nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment: cell viability and gene expression study.

Docetaxel acts through the inhibition of tubulin polymerization and reduction in the expression of BCL-2 gene. In this study, nanoparticles containing Docetaxel were prepared and their effects on the gene expression levels of BCL-2 and BAX genes were investigated. The drug was first conjugated to chitosan, and the nanoparticles were assembled in the presence of hyaluronic acid.

Thiolated carboxymethyl dextran as a nanocarrier for colon delivery of hSET1 antisense: In vitro stability and efficiency study.

Gene therapy is an optimistic approach in cancer treatment. However, for efficient delivery of gene materials, designing an appropriate vector is necessary. Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) of chitosan and dextran could be considered a proper nanoparticulate carrier for sensitive biomaterials.

Chitosan nanoparticles as a potential nonviral gene delivery for HPV-16 E7 into mammalian cells.

Chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) were prepared as a carrier for Human papillomavirus type 16 HPV-16) E7 gene and their gene transfection ability were evaluated in vitro. The plasmid expressing green fluorescent protein (pEGFP) was used as a reporter gene. Gel electrophoresis demonstrated full binding of CS NPs with the pDNA.