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Fatemeh Karimi

Bio: Fatemeh Karimi is an academic researcher from University of Melbourne. The author has contributed to research in topics: Integrin & Integrin binding. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 17 publications receiving 424 citations. Previous affiliations of Fatemeh Karimi include University of Tehran & University of New South Wales.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In vitro experiments demonstrate that this novel nanoparticle is cytotoxic to cancer cells (HeLa) through generation of OH• inside the cells, and a new type of agent for controlled hydroxyl radical generation using the Fenton reaction to kill the tumor cells.
Abstract: A novel reduced iron metal-organic framework nanoparticle with cytotoxicity specific to cancer cells is presented. This nanoparticle was prepared via a hydrothermal method, reduced using hydroquinone, and finally conjugated with folic acid (namely, rMOF-FA). The synthesized nanoparticle shows the controlled release of iron in an acidic ex-vivo environment. Iron present on the rMOF-FA and released into solution can react with high levels of hydrogen peroxide found specifically in cancer cells to increase the hydroxyl radical concentration. The hydroxyl radicals oxidize proteins, lipids, and/or DNA within the biological system to decrease cell viability. In vitro experiments demonstrate that this novel nanoparticle is cytotoxic to cancer cells (HeLa) through generation of OH• inside the cells. At low concentrations of rMOF-FA, the cancer cell viability decreases dramatically, with no obvious reduction of normal cell (NIH-3T3) viability. The calculated half-maximum inhibitory concentration value (IC50) was 43 μg/mL for HeLa cells, which was significantly higher than 105 μg/mL for NIH-3T3. This work thus demonstrates a new type of agent for controlled hydroxyl radical generation using the Fenton reaction to kill the tumor cells.

132 citations

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TL;DR: Key architectures obtained through NCA ROP or in combination with other polymerization methods are reviewed, as these play an important role in the wide range of applications towards which polypeptides have been applied.
Abstract: Polypeptides have attracted considerable attention in recent decades due to their inherent biodegradability and tunable cytocompatibility. Macromolecular design in conjunction with rational monomer composition can direct architecture, self-assembly and chemical behavior, ultimately guiding the choice of appropriate application within the biomedical field. This review focuses on the applications of polypeptides alongside the synthetic advances in the ring opening polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides achieved in the past five years. Key architectures obtained through NCA ROP or in combination with other polymerization methods are reviewed, as these play an important role in the wide range of applications towards which polypeptides have been applied.

131 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The fundamental processes that can lead to either the homolytic cleavage of polymer chains, or the sonolysis of solvent (or other) small molecules, under the application of ultrasound are described.
Abstract: The use of ultrasound as an external stimulus for promoting polymerization reactions has received increasing attention in recent years. In this Review article, the fundamental processes that can lead to either the homolytic cleavage of polymer chains, or the sonolysis of solvent (or other) small molecules, under the application of ultrasound are described. These reactions promote the production of reactive radicals, which can be utilized in chain-growth radical polymerizations under the right conditions. A full historical overview of the development of ultrasound-assisted radical polymerization is provided, with special attention given to the recently described systems that are "controlled" by methods of reversible (radical) deactivation. Perspectives are shared on what challenges still remain in polymer sonochemistry, as well as new areas that are yet to be explored.

99 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The techniques that enable the fabrication of nanopatterned materials with nanoscale clusters of ligands that promote both integrin occupancy and clustering of the receptors are introduced and the improved biological effects that have been achieved are described.
Abstract: Material systems that exhibit tailored interactions with cells are a cornerstone of biomaterial and tissue engineering technologies. One method of achieving these tailored interactions is to biofunctionalize materials with peptide ligands that bind integrin receptors present on the cell surface. However, cell biology research has illustrated that both integrin binding and integrin clustering are required to achieve a full adhesion response. This biophysical knowledge has motivated researchers to develop material systems biofunctionalized with nanoscale clusters of ligands that promote both integrin occupancy and clustering of the receptors. These materials have improved a wide variety of biological interactions in vitro including cell adhesion, proliferation, migration speed, gene expression, and stem cell differentiation; and improved in vivo outcomes including increased angiogenesis, tissue healing, and biomedical device integration. This review first introduces the techniques that enable the fabrication of these nanopatterned materials, describes the improved biological effects that have been achieved, and lastly discusses the current limitations of the technology and where future advances may occur. Although this technology is still in its nascency, it will undoubtedly play an important role in the future development of biomaterials and tissue engineering scaffolds for both in vitro and in vivo applications.

89 citations

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TL;DR: TheseCryogels were shown to be enzymatically biodegradable and demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, cell attachment and cell proliferation profiles with mammalian fibroblast (NIH-3T3) cells, demonstrating the appeal of these novel cryogels as highly suitable cellular scaffolds.

43 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Various strategies based on the Fenton reaction have been employed to enhance hydroxyl radical generation, including nanomaterials selection, modulation of the reaction environment, and external energy fields stimulation, which are discussed systematically in this Minireview.
Abstract: Tailored to the specific tumour microenvironment, which involves acidity and the overproduction of hydrogen peroxide, advanced nanotechnology has been introduced to generate the hydroxyl radical ( OH) primarily for tumour chemodynamic therapy (CDT) through the Fenton and Fenton-like reactions Numerous studies have investigated the enhancement of CDT efficiency, primarily the increase in the amount of OH generated Notably, various strategies based on the Fenton reaction have been employed to enhance OH generation, including nanomaterials selection, modulation of the reaction environment, and external energy fields stimulation, which are discussed systematically in this Minireview Furthermore, the potential challenges and the methods used to facilitate CDT effectiveness are also presented to support this cutting-edge research area

1,190 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
20 Nov 2018-ACS Nano
TL;DR: This review aims to highlight the use of the Fenton reaction using different nanoparticles to improve traditional cancer therapies and the emerging Fenton-based therapy, highlighting the obstacles, challenges, and promising developments in each of these areas.
Abstract: Currently, cancer is the second largest cause of death worldwide and has reached critical levels. In spite of all the efforts, common treatments including chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy suffer from various problems which limit their efficiency and performance. For this reason, different strategies are being explored which improve the efficiency of these traditional therapeutic methods or treat the tumor cells directly. One such strategy utilizing the Fenton reaction has been investigated by many groups for the possible treatment of cancer cells. This approach is based on the knowledge that high levels of hydrogen peroxide exist within cancer cells and can be used to catalyze the Fenton reaction, leading to cancer-killing reactive oxygen species. Analysis of the current literature has shown that, due to the diverse morphologies, different sizes, various chemical properties, and the tunable structure of nanoparticles, nanotechnology offers the most promising method to facilitate the Fenton reaction with cancer therapy. This review aims to highlight the use of the Fenton reaction using different nanoparticles to improve traditional cancer therapies and the emerging Fenton-based therapy, highlighting the obstacles, challenges, and promising developments in each of these areas.

374 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Recent research breakthroughs have provided a broader insight on the correct choice of biomaterial physicochemical modifications to tune the reaction of the host immune system to implanted biomaterial and to favor integration and healing.
Abstract: The perspectives of regenerative medicine are still severely hampered by the host response to biomaterial implantation, despite the robustness of technologies that hold the promise to recover the functionality of damaged organs and tissues. In this scenario, the cellular and molecular events that decide on implant success and tissue regeneration are played at the interface between the foreign body and the host inflammation, determined by innate and adaptive immune responses. To avoid adverse events, rather than the use of inert scaffolds, current state of the art points to the use of immunomodulatory biomaterials and their knowledge-based use to reduce neutrophil activation, and optimize M1 to M2 macrophage polarization, Th1 to Th2 lymphocyte switch, and Treg induction. Despite the fact that the field is still evolving and much remains to be accomplished, recent research breakthroughs have provided a broader insight on the correct choice of biomaterial physicochemical modifications to tune the reaction of the host immune system to implanted biomaterial and to favor integration and healing.

362 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review describes the emergence of a number of new research directions, specifically in the context of polymer-polymer complex coacervates, which are inspired by anumber of key physical and chemical insights and driven by a diverse range of experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches.
Abstract: Complex coacervation is an associative, liquid–liquid phase separation that can occur in solutions of oppositely-charged macromolecular species, such as proteins, polymers, and colloids. This process results in a coacervate phase, which is a dense mix of the oppositely-charged components, and a supernatant phase, which is primarily devoid of these same species. First observed almost a century ago, coacervates have since found relevance in a wide range of applications; they are used in personal care and food products, cutting edge biotechnology, and as a motif for materials design and self-assembly. There has recently been a renaissance in our understanding of this important class of material phenomena, bringing the science of coacervation to the forefront of polymer and colloid science, biophysics, and industrial materials design. In this review, we describe the emergence of a number of these new research directions, specifically in the context of polymer–polymer complex coacervates, which are inspired by a number of key physical and chemical insights and driven by a diverse range of experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches.

282 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article provides comprehensive knowledge and highlights recent research on functional biopolymer composites used in various medical applications, such as tissue engineering comprising skin, bone, cartilage, vascular graft, and other organs, implantable medical devices including stent and barrier membrane, and some delivery systems of bioactive agents.

247 citations