Nanoscale

doi: 10.1039/d5nr90039epmid: N/A

doi: 10.1039/d5nr90040apmid: N/A

doi: 10.1039/d5nr90041gpmid: N/A

Schock Vaiani, Julie; Broekgaarden, Mans; Coll, Jean-Luc; Sancey, Lucie; Busser, Benoit

doi: 10.1039/d4nr05371kpmid: 39927415

Gene and RNA-based therapeutics represent a promising frontier in oncology, enabling targeted modulation of tumor-associated genes and proteins. This review explores the latest advances in payload vectorization and delivery systems developed for in vivo cancer treatments. We discuss viral and non-viral organic particles, including lipid based nanoparticles and polymeric structures, for the effective transport of plasmids, siRNA, and self-amplifying RNA therapeutics. Their physicochemical properties, strategies to overcome intracellular barriers, and innovations in cell-based carriers and engineered extracellular vesicles are highlighted. Moreover, we consider oncolytic viruses, novel viral capsid modifications, and approaches that refine tumor targeting and immunomodulation. Ongoing clinical trials and regulatory frameworks guide future directions and emphasize the need for safe, scalable production. The potential convergence of these systems with combination therapies paves the way toward personalized cancer medicine.

Campos, Miguel T.; Pires, Laura S.; Magalhães, Fernão D.; Oliveira, Maria J.; Pinto, Artur M.

doi: 10.1039/d4nr04537hpmid: 39905908

Controlled self-assembly of inorganic nanoparticles has the potential to generate complex nanostructures with distinctive properties. The advancement of more precise techniques empowers researchers in constructing and assembling diverse building blocks, marking a pivotal evolution in nanotechnology and biomedicine. This progress enables the creation of customizable biomaterials with unique characteristics and functions. This comprehensive review takes an innovative approach to explore the current state-of-the-art self-assembly methods and the key interactions driving the self-assembly processes and provides a range of examples of biomedical and therapeutic applications involving inorganic or hybrid nanoparticles and structures. Self-assembly methods applied to bionanomaterials are presented, ranging from commonly used methods in cancer phototherapy and drug delivery to emerging techniques in bioimaging and tissue engineering. The most promising in vitro and in vivo experimental results achieved thus far are presented. Additionally, the review engages in a discourse on safety and biocompatibility concerns related to inorganic self-assembled nanomaterials. Finally, opinions on future challenges and prospects anticipated in this evolving field are provided.

Jing, Yutong; Liu, Xueting; Zhu, Yajing; Wu, Lichuan; Nong, Wenqian

doi: 10.1039/d4nr03898cpmid: 39918280

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials renowned for their high porosity, large specific surface area, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Hydrogel microneedles (MNs) is an emerging technology that minimally disrupts the skin or mucosal membranes, bypassing gastrointestinal absorption and the rapid metabolism typical of oral drug delivery. Over the past few decades, both MOFs and MNs have found applications across a range of fields. However, MOFs alone cannot penetrate the skin or mucosal barrier to deliver drugs effectively, and MNs have limited direct loading capacity. When combined, MOFs enhance the loading efficiency of therapeutic agents in hydrogel MNs and optimize their release kinetics. Additionally, the incorporation of MOFs improves the mechanical properties of hydrogel MNs, increasing their permeability to the skin. In turn, hydrogel MNs enable MOFs—whether therapeutically active or drug-loaded—to bypass the skin or mucosal barrier and deliver active compounds directly to the target site for localized treatment. This review discusses the structural features and preparation methods of MOFs and MOF-based MNs, explores their synergistic potential, and highlights strategies for integrating MOFs with MNs to enhance transdermal drug delivery in applications such as wound healing, scar management, acne treatment, and tumor suppression. Finally, we examine the challenges and future potential of MOF-based MNs and offer insights into their role in advancing transdermal therapies.

Xie, Yijia; Liu, Huanhuan; Teng, Zihao; Ma, Jiaxin; Liu, Gang

doi: 10.1039/d4nr04774epmid: 39918303

Biofilms play a pivotal role in bacterial pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance, representing a major challenge in the treatment of bacterial infections. The limited diffusion and inactivation efficacy of antibiotics within biofilms hinder their clearance, and while increasing dosage may enhance effectiveness, it also promotes antibiotic resistance. Nano-delivery systems that target antimicrobial agents directly to biofilms offer a promising strategy to overcome this challenge. This review summarizes the resistance mechanisms and therapeutic challenges associated with biofilms, with a focus on recent advances in nano-delivery systems such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, cell membrane vesicles (CMVs), polymers, dendrimers, nanogels, inorganic nanoparticles, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Furthermore, the review explores the potential applications and challenges of nano-delivery systems in biofilm treatment and provides recommendations to guide future research and development in this field.

Li, Qian; Zhang, Jie; Yu, Tong; Chen, Jinwei; Wang, Gang; Shi, Zongbo; Zhuo, Runsheng; Wang, Ruilin

doi: 10.1039/d4nr04482gpmid: 39931811

Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) technology has been considered an important breakthrough to cope with the ever-increasing demand for propylene. Developing high-performance non-noble metal catalysts has emerged as an effective approach for replacing the currently used commercial Pt- and Cr-based catalysts with high cost and toxicity. Metal oxides have attracted much attention as PDH catalysts due to their high C–H activity, abundant active sites, and desirable dehydrogenation pathways. Regulating the supports and active sites through the rational design of structure and composition provides a new promising platform to improve the dehydrogenation activity and stability of metal oxide catalysts. This review systematically summarizes the catalytic mechanism of PDH. The rational design of metal oxide catalysts with suitable supports and precisely modulated active sites is described with their catalytic performances. In addition, the important roles played by reaction conditions to promote PDH processes are discussed. Furthermore, combined with well-developed advanced characterization methods, the in-depth exploration of the metal oxide-based PDH catalysts is highlighted. Finally, some perspectives for metal oxide-based PDH catalysts are concisely proposed to achieve their future innovations and industrialization.

Wang, Jiaqi; Shang, Xiaopeng; Zhou, Xinzhao; Chen, Huawei

doi: 10.1039/d4nr04891apmid: 39937064

Field-assisted manufacturing (FAM) technology, which employs external fields to transport and manipulate micro/nanoparticles for tailored arrangements and structures, can produce novel materials with specific properties and functions. Acoustic particle manipulation has attracted increasing attention in FAM due to its various advantages, such as a wide range of materials, ease of fabrication, rapid actuation, non-invasive operation and high biocompatibility. The present review summarizes the recent progress of acoustic particle manipulation in the FAM area, with respect to operation principles, fabrication and control of particles, and particle cluster patterning. The emphasis is placed on the recent innovative applications of microparticle manipulation realized by acoustic fields in different advanced manufacturing technologies. Finally, we provide our perspective on the current challenges and potential prospects of acoustic particle manipulation technology in FAM.

Wulandari, Retno Dwi; Yin, Dongbao; Septianto, Ricky Dwi; Izawa, Seiichiro; Iwasa, Yoshihiro; Bisri, Satria Zulkarnaen; Majima, Yutaka

doi: 10.1039/d4nr04703fpmid: 39898612

The growing need for high-performance computing continues to drive improvement in circuit and device technologies, particularly with respect to speed and power efficiency. Device scaling remains the most effective strategy for meeting circuit performance requirements while reducing power consumption. Thanks to their solution processability, colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are highly suitable for device miniaturisation as quantum information science platforms. Quantum mechanical effects must be carefully considered when designing nanometre-scale electronic devices (i.e., transistors) that incorporate a single QD. Here, we demonstrate a resonant tunnelling transistor (RTT) based on a single lead sulfide (PbS) QD anchored by a bidentate ligand molecule attached to heteroepitaxial spherical Au/Pt nanogap electrodes. Five negative differential resistances (NDRs) were observed at both positive and negative drain voltages in output characteristics, which could be attributed to the formation of a double-barrier “quantum well” structure with the strong Fermi level pinning of the discrete energy level of the QD to one electrode. Furthermore, these NDRs could be tuned by applying a gate electric field, which will become one of the keys for enabling quantum and neuromorphic electronics. This demonstration of single PbS-QD-based RTTs paves the way for sub-10 nm solution-processable quantum electronic devices.