V.F.C. and A.F. contributed equally to this work. The authors thank the FCT—Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia—for financial support under framework of the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2013, project PTDC/ EEI-SII/5582/2014 and project UID/EEA/04436/2013 by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020—Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalizacao (POCI). Funds provided by FCT in the framework of EuroNanoMed 2016 call, Project LungChek ENMed/0049/2016 are also gratefully acknowledged. V.F.C., A.F., C.R., and P.M. also thank the FCT for the grants SFRH/BPD/98109/2013, SFRH/BPD/104204/2014, SFRH/ BPD/90870/2012 and SFRH/BPD/96227/2013, respectively. Finally, the authors acknowledge funding by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) through the project MAT2016-76039C4-3-R (AEI/FEDER, UE) and from the Basque Government Industry Department under the ELKARTEK program.

Advances in Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications.

Nanomaterials, in addition to their small size, possess unique physicochemical properties that differ from bulk materials, making them ideal for a host of novel applications. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are one important class of nanomaterials that have been widely studied for their potential applications in nanomedicine. Due to the fact that MNPs can be detected and manipulated by remote magnetic fields, it opens a wide opportunity for them to be used in vivo. Nowadays, MNPs have been used for diverse applications including magnetic biosensing (diagnostics), magnetic imaging, magnetic separation, drug and gene delivery, and hyperthermia therapy, etc. Specifically, we reviewed some emerging techniques in magnetic diagnostics such as magnetoresistive (MR) and micro-Hall (μHall) biosensors, as well as the magnetic particle spectroscopy, magnetic relaxation switching and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based bioassays. Recent advances in applying MNPs as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging and as tracer materials in magnetic particle imaging are reviewed. In addition, the development of high magnetic moment MNPs with proper surface functionalization has progressed exponentially over the past decade. To this end, different MNP synthesis approaches and surface coating strategies are reviewed and the biocompatibility and toxicity of surface functionalized MNP nanocomposites are also discussed. Herein, we are aiming to provide a comprehensive assessment of the state-of-the-art biological and biomedical applications of MNPs. This review is not only to provide in-depth insights into the different synthesis, biofunctionalization, biosensing, imaging, and therapy methods but also to give an overview of limitations and possibilities of each technology.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6528/ab4241/pdf

Magnetic nanoparticles in nanomedicine: a review of recent advances.

Nanomaterials, in addition to their small size, possess unique physicochemical properties that differ from the bulk materials, making them ideal for a host of novel applications. Magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) is one important class of nanomaterials that have been widely studied for their potential applications in nanomedicine. Due to the fact that MNPs can be detected and manipulated by remote magnetic fields, it opens a wide opportunity for them to be used in vivo. Nowadays, MNPs have been used for diverse applications including magnetic biosensing (diagnostics), magnetic imaging, magnetic separation, drug and gene delivery, and hyperthermia therapy, etc. This review aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the state-of-the-art biological and biomedical applications of MNPs. In addition, the development of high magnetic moment MNPs with proper surface functionalization has progressed exponentially over the past decade. Herein, we also reviewed the recent advances in the synthesis and surface coating strategies of MNPs. This review is not only to provide in-depth insights into the different synthesis, biofunctionalization, biosensing, imaging, and therapy methods but also to give an overview of limitations and possibilities of each technology.

Magnetic nanoparticles in nanomedicine

Preparation, surface functionalization and application of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles.

Liposome is a new nanostructure for the encapsulation and delivery of bioactive agents. There are a lot of bioactive materials that could be incorporated into liposomes including cosmetics, food ingredients, and pharmaceuticals. Liposomes possess particular properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability; accompanied by their nanosize they have potential applications in nanomedicine, cosmetics, and food industry. Nanoliposome technology offers thrilling chances for food technologists in fields including encapsulation and controlled release of food ingredients, also improved bioavailability and stability of sensitive materials. Amid numerous brilliant new drug and gene delivery systems, liposomes provide an advanced technology to carry active molecules to the specific site of action, and now days, various formulations are in clinical use. In this paper, we provide review of the main physicochemical properties of liposomes, current methods of the manufacturing and introduce some of their usage in food nanotechnology as carrier vehicles of nutrients, enzymes, and food antimicrobials and their applications as drug carriers and gene delivery agents in biomedicine.

Recent advances on liposomal nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and biomedical applications.

Super-paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been widely explored as novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents because of a combination of favorable super-paramagnetic properties, biodegradability, and surface properties. Among the numerous MNPs under examination, SPIONs have involved considerable interest due to their outstanding magnetic properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. This review debates the ABCs of MR imaging, reports and informs the state of the art of magnetic nanoparticles in cancer dealing the source of SPIONs' exclusive magnetic properties, recent progresses in MRI acquisition methods for detection of SPIONs.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/21691401.2016.1167704

Magnetic nanoparticles: preparation methods, applications in cancer diagnosis and cancer therapy.

Background: Polymeric materials are widely known as versatile materials, particularly for biomedical applications. The bioavailability, low toxicity, solubility, and permeability of this material play an essential role in biomedical implants, such as joint replacements, bone plates, ligaments, vascular grafts, intraocular lenses, heart valves, sutures, and dental implants. These materials can be formed as either biodegradable or other naturally bioactive polymers, which are composed of nano-sized particles in the composition of other materials. For example, PCL-P (HEMA-NIPAAm) is a thermosensitive, biodegradable, and biocompatible hydrogel for biomedical applications. In this study, we aimed to create a VEGF-loaded PCL-P (HEMA-NIPAAm) hybrid copolymer and analyze VEGF gene expression in human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) that adhere to the copolymer. Methods: VEGF (0.1 Â g/mL) was loaded onto synthesized PCL-P (HEMA-NIPAAm), and hDPSCs were seeded into the scaffolds. To describe the hDPSC changes, VEGF mRNA, VEGF protein, and calcific deposition were examined. Results: VEGF-loaded PCL-P (HEMA-NIPAAm) increased VEGF mRNA and protein expression in hDPSCs compared to PCL-P (HEMA-NIPAAm) and cells with any scaffold (P>0.05). After 21 days of culture, the color intensity of alizarin red was significantly higher in VEGF-loaded PCL-P (HEMA-NIPAAm) cells than in those with any scaffold (P<0.05) and PCL-P (HEMA-NIPAAm) cells (P<0.05). Conclusion: Finally, thermosensitive and injectable PCL-P (HEMA-NIPAAM), including VEGF, enhanced the expression of genes associated with osteogenesis and angiogenesis in hDPSCs. Thus, these results imply that the thermo-sensitive PCL-P (HEMA-NIPAAm) scaffold may be a good option for future use as a VEGF carrier for hDPSC implantation.

/pdf/application-of-novel-vegf-loaded-pcl-p-based-hybrid-sx476e9s.pdf

Application of Novel VEGF-Loaded PCL-P Based Hybrid Copolymer Scaffold for Bone Regeneration

Introduction: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of metformin in complication improvement of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial that involved 189 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Patients in the intervention group received metformin-500 mg twice daily. Patients who received metformin before admission were excluded from the control group. Patients who were discharged before taking at least 2000 mg of metformin were excluded from the study. Primary outcomes were vital signs, need for ICU admission, need for intubation, and mortality. Results: Data showed that patients with diabetes with previous metformin in their regimen had lower percentages of ICU admission and death in comparison with patients without diabetes (11.3% vs. 26.1% (p=0.014) and 4.9% vs. 23.9% (p=<0.001), respectively). Admission time characteristics were the same for both groups except for diabetes and hyperlipidemia, which were significantly different between the two groups. Observations of naproxen consumption on endpoints, duration of hospitalization, and the levels of spO2 did not show any significant differences between the intervention and the control group. The adjusted OR for intubation in the intervention group versus the control group was 0.21 [95%CI, 0.04-0.99 (p=0.047)]. Conclusions: In this trial, metformin consumption had no effect on mortality and ICU admission rates in non-diabetic patients. However, metformin improved COVID-19 complications in diabetic patients who had been receiving metformin prior to COVID-19 infection, and it significantly lowered the intubation rates.

Saeid Shabestari Khiabani

Papers

Magnetic nanoparticles: preparation methods, applications in cancer diagnosis and cancer therapy.

Application of Novel VEGF-Loaded PCL-P Based Hybrid Copolymer Scaffold for Bone Regeneration

Long and Short-Term Metformin Consumption as a Potential Therapy to Prevent Complications of COVID-19