Nanomedicine

About: Nanomedicine is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4287 publications have been published within this topic receiving 200647 citations.

Dendrimers for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

Abstract: Dendrimers are a unique class of synthetic macromolecules having a highly branched, three-dimensional, nanoscale architecture with very low polydispersity and high functionality. Structural advantages allow dendrimers to play an important role in the fields of nanotechnology, pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry. This review discusses several aspects of dendrimers, including preparation, dendrimer-drug coupling chemistry, structural models of dendrimer-based drug delivery systems, and physicochemical and toxicological properties.

Are quantum dots ready for in vivo imaging in human subjects

Abstract: Nanotechnology has the potential to profoundly transform the nature of cancer diagnosis and cancer patient management in the future. Over the past decade, quantum dots (QDs) have become one of the fastest growing areas of research in nanotechnology. QDs are fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles suitable for multiplexed in vitro and in vivo imaging. Numerous studies on QDs have resulted in major advancements in QD surface modification, coating, biocompatibility, sensitivity, multiplexing, targeting specificity, as well as important findings regarding toxicity and applicability. For in vitro applications, QDs can be used in place of traditional organic fluorescent dyes in virtually any system, outperforming organic dyes in the majority of cases. In vivo targeted tumor imaging with biocompatible QDs has recently become possible in mouse models. With new advances in QD technology such as bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, synthesis of smaller size non-Cd based QDs, improved surface coating and conjugation, and multifunctional probes for multimodality imaging, it is likely that human applications of QDs will soon be possible in a clinical setting.

Intracellular uptake, transport, and processing of gold nanostructures.

Abstract: The emerging field of nanomedicine requires better understanding of the interface between nanotechnology and medicine Better knowledge of the nano-bio interface will lead to better tools for diagnostic imaging and therapy In this review, recent progress in understanding of how size, shape, and surface properties of nanoparticles (NPs) affect intracellular fate of NPs is discussed Gold nanostructures are used as a model system in this regard since their physical and chemical properties can be easily manipulated The NP-uptake is dependent on the physiochemical properties, and once in the cell, most of the NPs are trafficked via an endo-lysosomal path followed by a receptor-mediated endocytosis process at the cell membrane Within the size range of 2-100 nm, Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) of diameter 50 nm demonstrate the highest uptake Cellular uptake studies of gold nanorods (GNRs) show that there is a decrease in uptake as the aspect ratio of GNRs increases Theoretical models support the size- and shape-dependent NP-uptake The intracellular transport of targeted NPs is faster than untargeted NPs The surface ligand and charge of NPs play a bigger role in their uptake, transport, and organelle distribution Exocytosis of NPs is dependent on size and shape as well; however, the trend is different compared to endocytosis GNPs are now being incorporated into polymer and lipid based NPs to build multifunctional devices A multifunctional platform based on gold nanostructures, with multimodal imaging, targeting, and therapeutics; hold the possibility of promising directions in medical research

Multifunctional nanoparticles as biocompatible targeted probes for human cancer diagnosis and therapy

Abstract: The use of nanoparticles in biological applications has been rapidly advancing toward practical applications in human cancer diagnosis and therapy. Upon linking the nanoparticles with biomolecules, they can be used to locate cancerous areas as well as for traceable drug delivery with high affinity and specificity. In this feature article, we discuss the engineering of multifunctional nanoparticle probes and their use in bioimaging and nanomedicine.