Tweaking the NRF2 signaling cascade in human myelogenous leukemia cells by artificial nano-organelles.

NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2) is a key regulator of genes involved in the cell's protective response to oxidative stress. Upon activation by disturbed redox homeostasis, NRF2 promotes the expression of metabolic enzymes to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cell internalization of peroxisome-like artificial organelles that harbor redox-regulating enzymes was previously shown to reduce ROS-induced stress and thus cell death.

High-Throughput Silica Nanoparticle Detection for Quality Control of Complex Early Life Nutrition Food Matrices.

The addition of nanomaterials to improve product properties has become a matter of course for many commodities: e.g., detergents, cosmetics, and food products.

Peptide nanocarriers co-delivering an antisense oligonucleotide and photosensitizer elicit synergistic cytotoxicity.

Combination therapies demand co-delivery platforms with efficient entrapment of distinct payloads and specific delivery to cells and possibly organelles. Herein, we introduce the combination of two therapeutic modalities, gene and photodynamic therapy, in a purely peptidic platform. The simultaneous formation and cargo loading of the multi-micellar platform is governed by self-assembly at the nanoscale.

Advancing the Design of Artificial Nano-organelles for Targeted Cellular Detoxification of Reactive Oxygen Species.

Artificial organelles (AnOs) are in the spotlight as systems to supplement biochemical pathways in cells. While polymersome-based artificial organelles containing enzymes to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known, applications requiring control of their enzymatic activity and cell-targeting to promote intracellular ROS detoxification are underexplored. Here, we introduce advanced AnOs where the chemical composition of the membrane supports the insertion of pore-forming melittin, enabling molecular exchange between the AnO cavity and the environment, while the encapsulated lactoperoxidase (LPO) maintains its catalytic function.

Synthetic Cells Revisited: Artificial Cells Construction Using Polymeric Building Blocks.

The exponential growth of research on artificial cells and organelles underscores their potential as tools to advance the understanding of fundamental biological processes. The bottom-up construction from a variety of building blocks at the micro- and nanoscale, in combination with biomolecules is key to developing artificial cells. In this review, artificial cells are focused upon based on compartments where polymers are the main constituent of the assembly.

A DNA-Micropatterned Surface for Propagating Biomolecular Signals by Positional on-off Assembly of Catalytic Nanocompartments.

Signal transduction is pivotal for the transfer of information between and within living cells. The composition and spatial organization of specified compartments are key to propagating soluble signals. Here, a high-throughput platform mimicking multistep signal transduction which is based on a geometrically defined array of immobilized catalytic nanocompartments (CNCs) that consist of distinct polymeric nanoassemblies encapsulating enzymes and DNA or enzymes alone is presented.

Inverting glucuronidation of hymecromone by catalytic nanocompartments.

Glucuronidation is a metabolic pathway that inactivates many drugs including hymecromone. Adverse effects of glucuronide metabolites include a reduction of half-life circulation times and rapid elimination from the body. Herein, we developed synthetic catalytic nanocompartments able to cleave the glucuronide moiety from the metabolized form of hymecromone in order to convert it to the active drug.

Membrane protein channels equipped with a cleavable linker for inducing catalysis inside nanocompartments.

Precisely timed initiation of reactions and stability of the catalysts are fundamental in catalysis. We introduce here an efficient closing-opening method for nanocompartments that contain sensitive catalysts and so achieve a controlled and extended catalytic activity. We developed a chemistry-oriented approach for modifying a pore-forming membrane protein which allows for a stimuli-responsive pore opening within the membrane of polymeric nanocompartments.

Clustering of catalytic nanocompartments for enhancing an extracellular non-native cascade reaction.

Compartmentalization is fundamental in nature, where the spatial segregation of biochemical reactions within and between cells ensures optimal conditions for the regulation of cascade reactions. While the distance between compartments or their interaction are essential parameters supporting the efficiency of bio-reactions, so far they have not been exploited to regulate cascade reactions between bioinspired catalytic nanocompartments. Here, we generate individual catalytic nanocompartments (CNCs) by encapsulating within polymersomes or attaching to their surface enzymes involved in a cascade reaction and then, tether the polymersomes together into clusters.

Modulation of Efficient Diiodo-BODIPY Phototoxicity to Cancer Cells by Carbon Nano-Onions.

Photodynamic therapy is currently one of the most promising approaches for targeted cancer treatment. It is based on responses of vital physiological signals, namely, reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are associated with diseased condition development, such as tumors. This study presents the synthesis, incorporation, and application of a diiodo-BODIPY-based photosensitizer, based on a non-covalent functionalization of carbon nano-onions (CNOs).

Self-Assembled Polymeric Membranes and Nanoassemblies on Surfaces: Preparation, Characterization, and Current Applications.

Biomembranes play a crucial role in a multitude of biological processes, where high selectivity and efficiency are key points in the reaction course. The outstanding performance of biological membranes is based on the coupling between the membrane and biomolecules, such as membrane proteins. Polymer-based membranes and assemblies represent a great alternative to lipid ones, as their presence not only dramatically increases the mechanical stability of such systems, but also opens the scope to a broad range of chemical functionalities, which can be fine-tuned to selectively combine with a specific biomolecule.

Carbon Nano-Onions as Non-Cytotoxic Carriers for Cellular Uptake of Glycopeptides and Proteins.

Carbon nano-onions (CNOs) possess favorable properties that make them suitable for biomedical applications, including their small size, ready surface modification, and good biocompatibility. Here, we report the covalent immobilization of a synthetic glycopeptide and the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) onto the surface of carbon nano-onions using the maleimide-thiol "addition reaction". The glycopeptide and BSA are readily transported inside different cell lines, together with carbon nano-onions, through the endocytosis pathway.

Carbon Nano-onions: A Valuable Class of Carbon Nanomaterials in Biomedicine.

The development of nanoscale materials is an important area of research as it provides access to materials with unique properties that can be applied to improve quality of life. Multi-layer fullerenes, also known as carbon nano-onions (CNOs) are an exciting class of nanostructures which show great versatility and applicability. They find applications in several fields of technology and biomedicine.

Highly surface functionalized carbon nano-onions for bright light bioimaging.

Carbon-based nanomaterials functionalized with fluorescent and water-soluble groups have emerged as platforms for biological imaging because of their low toxicity and ability to be internalized by cells. The development of imaging probes based on carbon nanomaterials for biomedical studies requires the understanding of their biological response as well as the efficient and safety exposition of the nanomaterial to the cell compartment where it is designed to operate. Here, we present a fluorescent probe based on surface functionalized carbon nano-onions (CNOs) for biological imaging.