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1.
Interfacing nature's catalytic machinery with synthetic materials for semi-artificial photosynthesis.
Kornienko, N, Zhang, JZ, Sakimoto, KK, Yang, P, Reisner, E
Nature nanotechnology. 2018;(10):890-899
Abstract
Semi-artificial photosynthetic systems aim to overcome the limitations of natural and artificial photosynthesis while providing an opportunity to investigate their respective functionality. The progress and studies of these hybrid systems is the focus of this forward-looking perspective. In this Review, we discuss how enzymes have been interfaced with synthetic materials and employed for semi-artificial fuel production. In parallel, we examine how more complex living cellular systems can be recruited for in vivo fuel and chemical production in an approach where inorganic nanostructures are hybridized with photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic microorganisms. Side-by-side comparisons reveal strengths and limitations of enzyme- and microorganism-based hybrid systems, and how lessons extracted from studying enzyme hybrids can be applied to investigations of microorganism-hybrid devices. We conclude by putting semi-artificial photosynthesis in the context of its own ambitions and discuss how it can help address the grand challenges facing artificial systems for the efficient generation of solar fuels and chemicals.
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2.
Recent advances in designing nanomaterial based biointerfaces for electrochemical biosensing cardiovascular biomarkers.
Farzin, L, Shamsipur, M, Samandari, L, Sheibani, S
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis. 2018;:344-376
Abstract
Early diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is critically important for successful treatment and recovery of patients. At present, detection of CVD at early stages of its progression becomes a major issue for world health. The nanoscale electrochemical biosensors exhibit diverse outstanding properties, rendering them extremely suitable for the determination of CVD biomarkers at very low concentrations in biological fluids. The unique advantages offered by electrochemical biosensors in terms of sensitivity and stability imparted by nanostructuring the electrode surface together with high affinity and selectivity of bioreceptors have led to the development of new electrochemical biosensing strategies that have introduced as interesting alternatives to conventional methodologies for clinical diagnostics of CVD. This review provides an updated overview of selected examples during the period 2005-2018 involving electrochemical biosensing approaches and signal amplification strategies based on nanomaterials, which have been applied for determination of CVD biomarkers. The studied CVD biomarkers include AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, apolipoproteins, cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, fibrinogen (Fib), glucose, insulin, interleukins, lipoproteins, myoglobin, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and troponins (Tns) on electrochemical transduction format. Identification of new specific CVD biomarkers, multiplex bioassay for the simultaneous determination of biomarkers, emergence of microfluidic biosensors, real-time analysis of biomarkers and point of care validation with high sensitivity and selectivity are the major challenges for future research.
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3.
Graphene and graphene oxide: Functionalization and nano-bio-catalytic system for enzyme immobilization and biotechnological perspective.
Adeel, M, Bilal, M, Rasheed, T, Sharma, A, Iqbal, HMN
International journal of biological macromolecules. 2018;(Pt B):1430-1440
Abstract
Graphene-based nanomaterials have gained high research interest in different fields related to proteins and thus are rapidly becoming the most widely investigated carbon-based materials. Their exceptional physiochemical properties such as electrical, optical, thermal and mechanical strength enable graphene to render graphene-based nanostructured materials suitable for applications in different fields such as electroanalytical chemistry, electrochemical sensors and immobilization of biomolecules and enzymes. The structural feature of oxygenated graphene, i.e., graphene oxide (GO) covered with different functionalities such as epoxy, hydroxyl, and carboxylic group, open a new direction of chemical modification of GO with desired properties. This review describes the recent progress related to the structural geometry, physiochemical characteristics, and functionalization of GO, and the development of graphene-based novel carriers as host for enzyme immobilization. Graphene derivatives-based applications are progressively increasing, in recent years. Therefore, from the bio-catalysis and biotransformation viewpoint, the biotechnological perspective of graphene-immobilized nano-bio-catalysts is of supreme interest. The structural geometry, unique properties, and functionalization of graphene derivatives and graphene-based nanomaterials as host for enzyme immobilization are highlighted in this review. Also, the role of GO-based catalytic systems such as microfluidic bio-catalysis, enzyme-based biofuel cells, and biosensors are also discussed with potential future perspectives of these multifaceted materials.
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4.
Graphene-Based Nanomaterials and Their Applications in Biosensors.
Kim, YJ, Jeong, B
Advances in experimental medicine and biology. 2018;:61-71
Abstract
Recently graphene has been drawing tremendous attention mainly due to its potential contributions to applications in biology, information technology and energy. Among these applications graphene-based biosensors have been particularly progressed caused in part by development of diverse derivatives of graphene such as graphene oxides (GOs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs). In this chapter preparation and functionalization of the graphene and GOQs are described together with their optoelectronic properties. Recent progresses in graphene and GQD-based biosensors are also highlighted with emphasis on immunoassay which utilizes unique interaction between antigen and antibody, and oligonucleotide assay which utilizes hybridization process. Since electrical and optical features are the most prominent characteristics of graphene-based nanomaterials, biosensor systems will be focused on electrochemical and fluorescence-based detection scheme.
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5.
Recent Trends in Hydroxyapatite (HA) Synthesis and the Synthesis Report of Nanostructure HA by Hydrothermal Reaction.
Kien, PT, Phu, HD, Linh, NVV, Quyen, TN, Hoa, NT
Advances in experimental medicine and biology. 2018;:343-354
Abstract
This research summary the trend in synthesis of Hydroxyapatite (HA) using different route such as dry method and wet method (co-precipitation method; emulsion method, hydrolysis method, sol-gel method, hydrothermal method). In addition, the research group also report the technique to synthesis nano-structure HA by hydrothermal reaction using Ca(OH)2 and H3PO4 with the Ca/P molar ratio of 1.67. The mixture after homogenized for 2 h, follow by hydrothermal reaction at different hydrothermal temperature time (100 °C, 150 °C, and 180 °C) and different hydrothermal reaction time (0 h, 12 h and 24 h). The 180 °C-hydrothermal treated-HA has needle-like shape with the diameter of 10 ~ 20 nm and length of below 100 nm, which is similar with human bone. For the hydrothermal reaction, temperature is the key to form nanostructure HA.
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6.
Nanotherapy for Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia: Targeting senile endothelium.
D'Arrigo, JS
Advances in colloid and interface science. 2018;:44-54
Abstract
Due to the complexity of Alzheimer's disease, multiple cellular types need to be targeted simultaneously in order for a given therapy to demonstrate any major effectiveness. Ultrasound-sensitive coated microbubbles (in a targeted lipid nanoemulsion) are available. Versatile small molecule drug(s) targeting multiple pathways of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis are known. By incorporating such drug(s) into the targeted "lipid-coated microbubble" [LCM]/"nanoparticle-derived" [ND] (or LCM/ND) nanoemulsion type, one obtains a multitasking combination therapeutic for translational medicine. This multitasking therapeutic targets cell-surface scavenger receptors (mainly class B type I), or SR-BI, making possible for various Alzheimer's-related cell types to be simultaneously searched out for localized drug treatment in vivo. Besides targeting cell-surface SR-BI, the proposed LCM/ND-nanoemulsion combination therapeutic(s) include a characteristic lipid-coated microbubble [LCM] subpopulation (i.e., a stable LCM suspension); such film-stabilized microbubbles are well known to substantially reduce the acoustic power levels needed for accomplishing temporary noninvasive (transcranial) ultrasound treatment, or sonoporation, if additionally desired for the Alzheimer's patient.
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7.
Occupational exposure to graphene based nanomaterials: risk assessment.
Pelin, M, Sosa, S, Prato, M, Tubaro, A
Nanoscale. 2018;(34):15894-15903
Abstract
Graphene-based materials (GBMs) are a family of novel materials including graphene, few layer graphene (FLG), graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP). Currently, the risk posed by them to human health is associated mainly with the occupational exposure during their industrial and small-scale production or waste discharge. The most significant occupational exposure routes are inhalation, oral, cutaneous and ocular, inhalation being the majorly involved and most studied one. This manuscript presents a critical up-to-date review of the available in vivo toxicity data of the most significant GBMs, after using these exposure routes. The few in vivo inhalation toxicity studies (limited to 5-days of repeated exposure and only one to 5 days per week for 4 weeks) indicate inflammatory/fibrotic effects at the pulmonary level, not always reversible after 14/90 days. More limited in vivo data are available for the oral and ocular exposure routes, whereas the studies on cutaneous toxicity are at the initial stage. A long persistence of GBMs in rodents is recorded, while contradictory genotoxic data are reported. Data gap identification is also provided. Based on the available data, the occupational exposure limit cannot be determined. More experimental toxicity studies according to specific guidelines (tentatively validated for nanomaterials) and more information on the actual occupational exposure level to GBMs are needed. Furthermore, ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion), genotoxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity data related to the occupational exposure to GBMs have to be implemented. In addition, sub-chronic and/or chronic studies are still needed to completely exclude other toxic effects and/or carcinogenicity.
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8.
Effects of food-borne nanomaterials on gastrointestinal tissues and microbiota.
Bouwmeester, H, van der Zande, M, Jepson, MA
Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology. 2018;(1)
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Abstract
Ingestion of engineered nanomaterials is inevitable due to their addition to food and prevalence in food packaging and domestic products such as toothpaste and sun cream. In the absence of robust dosimetry and particokinetic data, it is currently challenging to accurately assess the potential toxicity of food-borne nanomaterials. Herein, we review current understanding of gastrointestinal uptake mechanisms, consider some data on the potential for toxicity of the most commonly encountered classes of food-borne nanomaterials (including TiO2 , SiO2, ZnO, and Ag nanoparticles), and discuss the potential impact of the luminal environment on nanoparticle properties and toxicity. Much of our current understanding of gastrointestinal nanotoxicology is derived from increasingly sophisticated epithelial models that augment in vivo studies. In addition to considering the direct effects of food-borne nanomaterials on gastrointestinal tissues, including the potential role of chronic nanoparticle exposure in development of inflammatory diseases, we also discuss the potential for food-borne nanomaterials to disturb the normal balance of microbiota within the gastrointestinal tract. The latter possibility warrants close attention given the increasing awareness of the critical role of microbiota in human health and the known impact of some food-borne nanomaterials on bacterial viability. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2018, 10:e1481. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1481 This article is categorized under: Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials.
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Optimization of process parameters in preparation of tocotrienol-rich red palm oil-based nanoemulsion stabilized by Tween80-Span 80 using response surface methodology.
Chong, WT, Tan, CP, Cheah, YK, B Lajis, AF, Habi Mat Dian, NL, Kanagaratnam, S, Lai, OM
PloS one. 2018;(8):e0202771
Abstract
Red palm oil (RPO) is a natural source of Vitamin E (70-80% tocotrienol). It is a potent natural antioxidant that can be used in skin-care products. Its antioxidant property protects skin from inflammation and aging. In our work, a tocotrienol-rich RPO-based nanoemulsion formulation was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and formulated using high pressure homogenizer. Effect of the concentration of three independent variables [surfactant (5-15 wt%), co-solvent (10-30 wt%) and homogenization pressure (500-700 bar)] toward two response variables (droplet size, polydispersity index) was studied using central composite design (CCD) coupled to RSM. RSM analysis showed that the experimental data could be fitted into a second-order polynomial model and the coefficients of multiple determination (R2) is 0.9115. The optimized formulation of RPO-based nanoemulsion consisted of 6.09 wt% mixed surfactant [Tween 80/Span 80 (63:37, wt)], 20 wt% glycerol as a co-solvent via homogenization pressure (500 bar). The optimized tocotrienol-rich RPO-based nanoemulsion response values for droplet size and polydispersity index were 119.49nm and 0.286, respectively. The actual values of the formulated nanoemulsion were in good agreement with the predicted values obtained from RSM, thus the optimized compositions have the potential to be used as a nanoemulsion for cosmetic formulations.
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10.
Tungsten disulfide (WS2) nanosheet-based photoelectrochemical aptasensing of chloramphenicol.
Zhou, Y, Sui, C, Yin, H, Wang, Y, Wang, M, Ai, S
Mikrochimica acta. 2018;(10):453
Abstract
A method is described for photoelectrochemical determination of chloramphenicol (CLOA). It is based on the use of (a) aptamers protected with photoactive WS2 nanosheets, and (b) DNase I-assisted target recycling. The DNA aptamer without label was employed for recognition of CLOA. In the absence of CLOA, the aptamer is adsorbed on the surface of WS2. This leads to a decrease of photocurrent due to the steric-hindrance effect of aptamer DNA. The adsorption of WS2 also protects the aptamer from digestion by DNase. In the presence of CLOA, the aptamer will be desorbed from the WS2 surface due to formation of an aptamer/CLOA conjugate. This results in an increased photocurrent due to a decreased amount of aptamer DNA on the electrode surface. The increase of photocurrent can be further improved by applying DNase triggered catalytic recycling of CLOA. Under optimal experimental conditions, the response is linear 10 pM - 10 nM CLOA concentration range, with a 3.6 pM lower detection limit (at 3σ). This method is acceptably selective, accurate and stable. It was applied to the determination of CLOA in spiked milk samples and gave satisfactory results. Graphical abstract A simple and sensitive photoelectrochemical apta-biosensor was fabricated for chloramphenicol detection. In this work, WS2 nanosheets were employed as photoactive material, and DNase I catalytic chloramphenicol recycling strategy was adopted to amplify the detection signal.