Nanobiotechnology

About: Nanobiotechnology is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 796 publications have been published within this topic receiving 46309 citations. The topic is also known as: bionanotechnology & nanobiology.

Bionanotechnology: Axonal Alignment and Enhanced Neuronal Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells on Graphene‐Nanoparticle Hybrid Structures (Adv. Mater. 38/2013)

Abstract: Graphene-nanoparticle hybrid structures have been developed to control the behavior of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) in a unique manner. The axons from the differentiated hNSCs, as described by Ki-Bum Lee and co-workers on page 5477, show enhanced growth and alignment. While the axonal alignment is primarily due to the presence of graphene, the underlying nanoparticle monolayer causes enhanced neuronal differentiation of the hNSCs, thus having great implications of these hybrid-nanostructures for neuroregenerative medicine.

Genetically Encoded Synthetic Beta Cells for Insulin Biosynthesis and Release under Hyperglycemic Conditions

Abstract: Advances in artificial/synthetic cells have drawn a new era of nanobiotechnology, which have shown broad prospects in biomedical applications. The rational nanoengineering of synthetic cells that can closely substitute the systematic biological functions of cells is a next grand challenge. Here, a genetically encoded synthetic beta cell, which can sense hyperglycemic conditions to initiate programmed biosynthesis and secretion of insulin is reported. By encapsulating different metal–organic framework‐based artificial organelles with distinctive bifunctionalities, the synthetic cell can undergo programmed, sequential subcellular events, including glucose sensing, initiation of insulin gene transcription and translation, and finally excretion of functional insulin, under hyperglycemic conditions. Glucose uptake assay suggests that the insulin produced by the synthetic cells can successfully promote glucose uptake into mammalian cells. The construction of a higher‐order cell cluster by ligand‐mediated super‐assembly of the synthetic cells is further demonstrated. Such a robust and smart synthetic system that closely mimics the cellular activities of beta cells in response to glucose levels is promising for improving clinical outcomes in diabetes treatment.

Phage display-selected peptides for binding and synthesis of nanoparticles: ZnO as an example

Abstract: Nanoparticles of metal oxides are widely used in bionanotechnology, particularly in bio-medical applications; e.g., construction of biosensors, separation of biological materials, molecular imaging, and anticancer and antimicrobial therapies. However, synthesis of these nanoparticles using physico-chemical methods is problematic, because such procedures require high-temperature processes and harsh chemical treatments. The use of peptides specifically binding particular nanoparticles or nanostructures and facilitating their synthesis appears to be an encouraging alternative. Specific peptides capable of such reactions may be identified with the use of the phage display method. In this mini-review, zinc oxide is discussed as an exemple material whose nanoparticles can be bound and synthesized by such peptides exposed on the surface of bacteriophage capsids. An analysis of reports on studies into methods of peptide-aided synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles has indicated that, despite the encouraging results obtained so far, further studies are necessary to optimize such procedures. This may also be true for nanoparticles of other materials, particularly metal oxides.