Nanomaterials and Nanostructures Hand-In-Hand with Biology.

The nanoparticle's synthesis had its tipping point at the beginning of the 21st century, opening up the possibility of manufacturing nanoparticles with almost every imaginable shape and size [...

Electrospraying as a Technique for the Controlled Synthesis of Biocompatible PLGA@AgS and PLGA@AgS@SPION Nanocarriers with Drug Release Capability.

AgS nanoparticles are near-infrared (NIR) probes providing emission in a specific spectral range (~1200 nm), and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) are colloidal systems able to respond to an external magnetic field. A disadvantage of AgS NPs is the attenuated luminescent properties are reduced in aqueous media and human fluids. Concerning SPION, the main drawback is the generation of undesirable clusters that reduce particle stability.

10-Fold Quantum Yield Improvement of AgS Nanoparticles by Fine Compositional Tuning.

AgS semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) are near-infrared luminescent probes with outstanding properties (good biocompatibility, optimum spectral operation range, and easy biofunctionalization) that make them ideal probes for in vivo imaging. AgS NPs have, indeed, made possible amazing challenges including in vivo brain imaging and advanced diagnosis of the cardiovascular system. Despite the continuous redesign of synthesis routes, the emission quantum yield (QY) of AgS NPs is typically below 0.

Nanoparticles for multimodal antivascular therapeutics: Dual drug release, photothermal and photodynamic therapy.

The poor delivery of nanoparticles to target cancer cells hinders their success in the clinical setting. In this work, an alternative target readily available for circulating nanoparticles has been selected to eliminate the need for nanoparticle penetration in the tissue: the tumor blood vessels. A tumor endothelium-targeted nanoparticle (employing an RGD-containing peptide) capable of co-delivering two anti-vascular drugs (one anti-angiogenic drug and one vascular disruption agent) is here presented.

Targeting strategies for improving the efficacy of nanomedicine in oncology.

The use of nanoparticles as drug carriers has provided a powerful weapon in the fight against cancer. These nanocarriers are able to transport drugs that exhibit very different nature such as lipophilic or hydrophilic drugs and big macromolecules as proteins or RNA. Moreover, the external surface of these carriers can be decorated with different moieties with high affinity for specific membrane receptors of the tumoral cells to direct their action specifically to the malignant cells.

Molecular Scaffolds as Double-Targeting Agents For the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuroblastoma.

The selective delivery of therapeutic and imaging agents to tumoral cells has been postulated as one of the most important challenges in the nanomedicine field. Meta-iodobenzilguanidine (MIBG) is widely used for the diagnosis of neuroblastoma (NB) due to its strong affinity for the norepinephrine transporter (NET), usually overexpressed on the membrane of malignant cells. Herein, a family of novel Y-shaped scaffolds has been synthesized, which have structural analogues of MIBG covalently attached at each end of the Y-structure.

From proof-of-concept material to PEGylated and modularly targeted ultrasound-responsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

In this work we present the synthesis, characterization and in vitro biological evaluation of PEGylated and actively-targeted ultrasound-responsive hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles. This work covers the development of the chemical strategies necessary to afford a modular nanocarrier starting from a proof-of-concept material presented in previous work. This functional ultrasound-responsive material can be adapted to different specific pathological conditions by carefully choosing the appropriate targeting moieties.

Janus Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Dual Targeting of Tumor Cells and Mitochondria.

The development of targeted nanocarriers able to be selectively internalized within tumor cells, and therefore to deliver anti-tumor drugs specifically to diseased cells, constitutes one of the most important goals in nano-oncology. Herein, the development of Janus mesoporous silica particles asymmetrically decorated with two targeting moieties, one of them selective for folate membrane cell receptors (folic acid) and the other one able to bind to mitochondria membrane (triphenylphosphine, TPP), is described in order to achieve sequential cell to organelle vectorization. The asymmetric decoration of each side of the particle allows fine control in the targeting attachment process in comparison with the use of symmetric nanocarriers.

Double Sequential Encrypted Targeting Sequence: A New Concept for Bone Cancer Treatment.

The selective transportation of therapeutic agents to tumoral cells is usually achieved by their conjugation with targeting moieties able to recognize these cells. Unfortunately, simple and static targeting systems usually show a lack in selectivity. Herein, a double sequential encrypted targeting system is proposed as a stimuli-responsive targeting analogue for selectivity enhancement.

A new targeting agent for the selective drug delivery of nanocarriers for treating neuroblastoma.

Novel targeting agents against neuroblastoma based on the meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) moiety were synthesized and biologically evaluated for nanocarrier vectorization. These compounds have been anchored on the surface of drug loaded mesoporous silica nanocarriers, resulting in the improved cellular uptake in tumoral cells. Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most frequent extracranial pediatric tumor.

Retrospective multicenter study of 230 6-mm SLA-surfaced implants with 1- to 6-year follow-up.

Purpose: Using short implants poses a challenge in implant surgery. Implant surfaces have evolved, making it possible to improve the success of short implants substantially. However, there is still little information about the long-term predictability achieved with short, rough-surfaced implants.

Development of homogeneous and heterogenized rhodium(I) and palladium(II) complexes with ligands based on a chiral proton sponge building block and their application as catalysts.

Chiral compounds prepared from proton sponge building block 8-((2R,5R)-2,5-dimethylpyrrolidin-1-yl)naphthalen-1-amine were found to be effective chiral ligands for obtaining complexes of rhodium(I) and palladium(II) by reaction with [RhCl(cod)](2), PdCl(2)(cod) or Pd(OAc)(2). The complexes bearing triethoxysilane groups were immobilized on mesoporous MCM-41 in order to obtain new heterogeneous catalysts. Both materials are active in the hydrogenation of alkenes and could be recycled without loss of activity or enantioselectivity.

Flapless immediate implant placement with or without immediate loading: a histomorphometric study in beagle dog.

Objective: To assess the osseointegration process after flapless immediate implant placement with or without immediate loading.

Material And Methods: This study was carried out on six beagle dogs. Four implants were placed in the lower jaw (two per side) in each dog immediately after tooth extraction (3rd and 4th premolars).

New chiral ligands bearing two N-heterocyclic carbene moieties at a dioxolane backbone. Gold, palladium and rhodium complexes as enantioselective catalysts.

Biscarbene ligands with two imidazolin-2-ylidene moieties at a chiral dioxolane backbone were used as ligands for gold, rhodium and palladium complexes. All new complexes showed varying degrees of enantioselectivity toward hydrogenation of prochiral alkenes with ees up to 95%.

Histomorphometric assessment in human cadavers of the peri-implant bone density in maxillary tuberosity following implant placement using osteotome and conventional techniques.

Objective: To evaluate and compare peri-implant bone condensation in the maxillary tuberosity of human cadavers following the osteotome and standard drilling techniques, and to determine whether peri-implant bone condensation following the osteotome technique is localized or homogeneous.

Material And Methods: Twenty-four cylinder-threaded titanium implants (12 on each side) were placed in the left (standard technique) and right (osteotome technique with tapered osteotomes for bone condensation, Straumann) maxillary tuberosities of 12 edentulous posterior maxillae of deceased people who had bequeathed their bodies to the University of Santiago de Compostela for medical-scientific research. After surgery, the implants were removed with the surrounding bone, prepared using sawing and grinding technique and examined histomorphometrically.