Two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenide nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis and treatment

For more than a decade, the exfoliation of graphene and other layered materials has led to a tremendous amount of research in two-dimensional (2D) materials, among which 2D transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) nanomaterials have attracted much attention in a wide range of applications including photoelectric devices, lithium-ion batteries, catalysis, and energy conversion and storage owing to their unique photoelectric physical properties. With such large specific surface area, strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption and abundant chemical element composition, 2D TMCs nanomaterials have become good candidates in biomedical imaging and cancer treatment. This review systematically summarizes recent progress on 2D TMCs nanomaterials, which includes their synthesis methods and applications in cancer treatment. At the end of this review, we also highlight the future prospects and challenges of 2D TMCs nanomaterials. It is expected that this work can provide the readers with a detailed overview of the synthesis of 2D TMCs and inspire more novel functional biomaterials based on 2D TMCs for cancer treatment in the future.     

Gold Nanomaterials: Preparation,Chemical Modification,Biomedical Applications and Potential Risk Assessment

Gold nanomaterials (Au NMs) have attracted increasing attention in biomedicine due to their facile preparation, multifunctional modifications, unique optical and electrical properties, and good biocompatibility. The physicochemical properties of Au NMs at nanoscale, like size, shape, surface chemistry, and near field effects, are rendering Au NMs potent candidates in biomedicine. Thus, risk assessment of negative effects of Au NMs on biological systems is becoming urgent and necessary for future applications. In this review, we summarize up-to-date progresses on the preparation and modification of Au NMs and their biomedical applications, including biosensor, bioimaging and phototherapy, gene/drug delivery. Finally, we discuss the potential risk of Au NMs to biological systems, which is instructive for rationally designing and preparing nanomaterials for safe applications in nanomedicine.     

What are carbon nanotubes’ roles in anti-tumor therapies?

Since their discovery, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have become one of the most promising nanomaterials in many industrial and biomedical applications. Due to their unique physicochemical properties, CNTs have been proposed and actively exploited as multipurpose innovative carriers for cancer therapy. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the status of applications, advantages, and up-to-date research and development of carbon nanotubes in cancer therapy with an emphasis on drug delivery, photothermal therapy, gene therapy, RNAi, and immune therapy. In addition, the issues of risk and safety of CNTs in cancer nanotechnology are discussed briefly.     

核酸适体-纳米材料复合物用于癌症的诊断与靶向治疗研究进展

因具有独特的光、电、磁、热等优异性能,纳米材料已被广泛应用于生物分析与生物医学领域。核酸适体是一类能够高亲和力和高特异性地与靶标结合的寡核苷酸序列。将核酸适体作为识别单元与纳米材料相结合,可以构建核酸适体-纳米材料复合物。近年来,在肿瘤靶向治疗方面,核酸适体-纳米材料复合物受到了人们的广泛关注。通过纳米材料与具有特异性识别能力的核酸适体的结合,核酸适体-纳米材料复合物可以为癌症治疗提供一种更有效的、低毒副作用的新策略。本文综述了核酸适体-纳米材料复合物作为药物输送载体在癌症的特异性识别与诊断及靶向治疗方面的应用。除此之外,本文还总结了核酸适体-纳米材料复合物与其他新兴技术的有效结合从而提高选择性和癌症治疗效率的相关研究进展。     

Localized surface plasmon resonance properties and biomedical applications of copper selenide nanomaterials

Nanomaterials with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) locating in the near-infrared region have broad application prospects in the field of biomedicine. However, the biggest problem that limits the biomedical application of such nanomaterials lies in two aspects: First, the potential long-term in vivo toxicity caused by the metabolism of many nanomaterials with LSPR effect; Second, most of current nanomaterials with LSPR effect are difficult to achieve LSPR wavelength tunability in the near-infrared region to adapt to different biomedical applications. Copper selenide nanomaterials are composed of selenium and copper, which are necessary nutrient elements for human life. Because of the active and flexible chemical properties of selenium and copper, copper selenide nanomaterials can not only be effectively degraded and utilized in human body, but also be endowed with various physicochemical properties by chemical modification or doping. Recently, copper selenide nanomaterials have shown unique properties such as LSPR in the near-infrared region, making them attractive for near-infrared thermal ablation, photoacoustic imaging, disease marker detection, multimode imaging, and so on. Currently, to the best of our knowledge, there is no review on the LSPR properties of copper selenide nanomaterials and its biomedical applications. This review first discusses the relationship between the physicochemical properties and the LSPR of copper selenide nanomaterials and then summarizes the latest progress in the application of copper selenide nanomaterials in biological detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. In addition, the advantages, and prospects of copper selenide nanomaterials in biomedicine are also highlighted.     

纳米材料-蛋白质界面相互作用的分子机制

纳米材料由于其优异的性能在化工、电子、机械、环境、能源、航天等各个领域已经得到了广泛的应用,并且在生物医学方面的应用越来越受到重视。纳米材料-蛋白质界面相互作用是纳米生物医学领域重要的科学问题,对于纳米材料的生物医学应用以及生物安全性评价至关重要。蛋白质分子与纳米材料在界面的相互作用,一方面可以诱导蛋白质的构象、组装结构甚至功能的改变,另一方面可以引起纳米材料的表面亲疏水性、电荷性质等表面物理化学性质的改变。基于蛋白质与纳米材料相互作用检测技术及结果,本文从分子水平阐述了纳米材料与蛋白质分子在界面之间的相互作用机理及相应的结构与性质的变化,从而可以深化对两者之间复杂的相互作用机制的理解,对于推进纳米材料在生物医学的应用及健康、安全、持续发展具有重要意义。     

Carbon Nanomaterials for Targeted Cancer Therapy Drugs: A Critical Review

Cancer represents one of the main causes of human death in developed countries. Most current therapies, unfortunately, carry a number of side effects, such as toxicity and damage to healthy cells, as well as the risk of resistance and recurrence. Therefore, cancer research is trying to develop therapeutic procedures with minimal negative consequences. The use of nanomaterial‐based systems appears to be one of them. In recent years, great progress has been made in the field using nanomaterials with high potential in biomedical applications. Carbon nanomaterials, thanks to their unique physicochemical properties, are gaining more and more popularity in cancer therapy. They are valued especially for their ability to deliver drugs or small therapeutic molecules to these cells. Through surface functionalization, they can specifically target tumor tissues, increasing the therapeutic potential and significantly reducing the adverse effects of therapy. Their potential future use could, therefore, be as vehicles for drug delivery. This review presents the latest findings of research studies using carbon nanomaterials in the treatment of various types of cancer. To carry out this study, different databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar were employed. The findings of research studies chosen from more than 2000 viewed scientific publications from the last 15 years were compared.     

Recent Advance of Tellurium for Biomedical Applications

Tellurium(Te) nanomaterials have aroused a wide interest in semiconductor, thermoelectric, piezoelectric, as well as biomedical applications. The last decades of reports indicated a major nanostructure of one-dimensional (1D) Te on account of its inherent structural anisotropy. Two-dimenional(2D) Te has been newly developed and drawn a lot of interests recently. This review presents the intrinsic biological potential of Te-based nanomaterials and summarizes their up-to-date advance in phototherapy and reactive oxygen species(ROS)-related applications in the biomedical field.     

Recent advancements in 2D nanomaterials for cancer therapy

Since mechanical exfoliation of graphene in 2004, unprecedented scientific and technological advances have been achieved in the development of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials. These 2D nanomaterials exhibit various unique mechanical, physical and chemical properties on account of their ultrathin thickness, which are highly desirable for many applications such as catalysis, optoelectronics, energy storage/conversion, as well as disease diagnosis and therapeutics. In this review, we summarized recent progress on the design and fabrication of functional 2D nanomaterials capable of being applied for the cancer treatment including drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy. Their anticancer mechanisms were discussed in detail, and the related safety concerns were analyzed based on current research developments. This review is expected to provide an insight in the field of 2D nanostructured materials for anticancer applications.     

Chemistry of two-dimensional MXene nanosheets in theranostic nanomedicine

Transition metal carbide,carbonitride and nitride MXenes,as the emerging two-dimensional(2D)nanomaterials,have aroused burgeoning research interest in a broad range of applications ranging from energy conversion to biomedicines attributing to their distinctive planar nanostructure,physiochemical properties and biological effects.They are featured with fascinating electronic,optical,magnetic,mechanical and thermal properties,which exert significant roles in biomedical applications of 2D MXenes.In this review,we briefly summarize the recent research progress of 2D MXenes and highlight their intrinsic chemistry in theranostic nanomedicines,focusing on the synthetic chemistry for MXenes construction,surface chemistry for surface engineering,physiochemical property for theranostic application and biological chemistry for biosafety evaluation.Furthermore,based on the current achieve ments on MXenes,their potential research directio n,critical challenges and future development in biomedicine are also discussed.It is highly expected that 2D MXene-based nanosystems would have a broad application prospect in theranostic biomedicine provided the current facing critical issues and challenges are adequately solved.     

贵金属基纳米酶的研究进展

贵金属纳米材料在纳米尺度具有独特的光学、 电学性质及优异的催化性能, 是一类重要的功能纳米材料. 基于贵金属材料的纳米酶研究是贵金属纳米材料在生物医学领域的一个前沿研究方向. 贵金属基纳米酶具有特殊的光学性质、 较好的化学稳定性、 可调控的类酶活性及良好的生物相容性, 是目前纳米生物医学领域的热点研究材料. 本文总结了贵金属基纳米酶的活性种类、 活性机理、 活性调控以及在生物医学等领域的潜在应用.     

Phase engineering two-dimensional nanostructures for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction

Hydrogen(H₂) is considered to be a promising substitute for fossil fuels. Two-dimensional(2D) nanomaterials have exhibited an efficient electrocatalytic capacity to catalyze hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Particularly, phase engineering of 2D nanomaterials is opening a novel research direction to endow 2D nanostructures with fascinating properties for deep applications in catalyzing HER. In this review, we briefly summarize the research progress and present the current challenges on...     

单原子材料类酶催化及生物医学应用研究进展

纳米酶因其经济、 稳定、 性质可调和可循环利用等诸多优势, 成功地克服了天然酶在实际应用中的不足. 单原子材料的出现使得对纳米酶的研究迈入原子水平, 其较高的原子利用率、 独特的配位环境和较强的金属-载体相互作用为揭示纳米酶构效关系及调控类酶活性提供了可能. 本文总结了近年来单原子材料类酶催化的研究进展, 重点讨论了单原子材料类酶活性的调控策略和催化机理, 概述了单原子类酶材料在癌症治疗、 抗氧化治疗、 抗菌以及生物传感等方面的应用, 并对单原子类酶材料的发展前景进行了展望.     

Emerging 2D pnictogens for biomedical applications

Two-dimensional(2D) materials composed of single pnictogen element, namely, 2D pnictogens(e.g.,black phosphorus, arsenene, antimonene and bismuthine), have recently showed remarkable potential for biomedical applications, especially after the rapid development of black phosphorus. With unique optical and electronic properties, 2D pnictogens are considered as promising nanoagents for biosensors, diagnosis and therapy. In this review, after brief introduction of the structure, properties, synthesi...     

Melanin/polydopamine-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications

The natural melanin is one kind of ubiquitous biological pigments, which is produced in melanosomes and widely distributed in living organisms. The synthetic melanin, often known as polydopamine(PDA), has similar chemical compositions and physical properties to natural melanin. In recent years, both natural melanin and PDA have aroused increased research interests in biomedical fields owing to their inherent biocompatibility, antioxidant activity, free-radical scavenging, metal ion chelation,strong near-infrared absorption and high photothermal conversion efficiency. Inspired by these fascinating properties, melanin and PDA have been widely used as building blocks for the construction of multifunctional nanoplatforms for various biomedical applications. This review focuses on the state-of-the-art progress in melanin/PDA-based nanomaterials, which covers from their preparation methods to biomedical applications including bioimaging, treatment, theranostics, antibacterial, UV/radiation protection, biosensor and tissue engineering. Moreover, the current trends and the future prospects of melanin/PDA-based nanomaterials are also discussed.     

手性纳米材料: 生物成像、 生物传感与治疗

手性无机纳米结构不仅形貌和结构可调控、 易于表面功能化修饰, 而且光学性质独特, 在生物领域的应用上展现了很大的优异性. 本文综述了近年来手性纳米技术在生物医学领域的研究进展, 重点介绍了手性金属和手性半导体纳米结构的合成策略、 圆二色效应、 光手性机制及在生物成像、 生物传感、 肿瘤以及神经退行性疾病等医学领域的应用. 手性纳米材料的研究丰富了生物化学的纳米技术手段, 促进了肿瘤等重大疾病诊断与治疗技术的进步, 推动了手性在生命科学中的发展, 鼓励了研究者对这一新兴领域的持续探索与挑战.     

Recent progress in conductive polymeric materials for biomedical applications

Advanced polymeric materials undoubtedly constitute one of the most promising classes of new materials due to their intriguing electronic, optical, and redox properties. The incredible progress in this area has been driven by the development of novel synthetic procedures owing to the emergence of nanotechnology and by the large array of applications. In particular, hybridization of polymeric materials with nanomaterials has allowed the production of promising functional materials with tailored properties and functionalities for targeted biomedical applications. Consequently, sufficient researchers have carried out imperative studies on these advanced polymeric materials over the last decade. Beyond scientific and fundamental interest, such advanced materials are conspicuous from technological perspectives as well. In this review, we accentuate the proliferation of advanced polymeric materials in diverse biomedical applications.     

Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: Production,Characterisations, Recent Trends and Difficulties

Designing of nanomaterials has now become a top-priority research goal with a view to developing specific applications in the biomedical fields. In fact, the recent trends in the literature show that there is a lack of in-depth reviews that specifically highlight the current knowledge based on the design and production of nanomaterials. Considerations of size, shape, surface charge and microstructures are important factors in this regard as they affect the performance of nanoparticles (NPs). These parameters are also found to be dependent on their synthesis methods. The characterisation techniques that have been used for the investigation of these nanomaterials are relatively different in their concepts, sample preparation methods and obtained results. Consequently, this review article aims to carry out an in-depth discussion on the recent trends on nanomaterials for biomedical engineering, with a particular emphasis on the choices of the nanomaterials, preparation methods/instruments and characterisations techniques used for designing of nanomaterials. Key applications of these nanomaterials, such as tissue regeneration, medication delivery and wound healing, are also discussed briefly. Covering this knowledge gap will result in a better understanding of the role of nanomaterial design and subsequent larger-scale applications in terms of both its potential and difficulties.     

无机纳米晶-生物界面作用的分子机制

无机纳米晶材料以其独特的光、电、磁、力学性质,成为疾病诊断与治疗功能的关键材料.本文总结了无机纳米晶的表面化学活性、离子释放性、晶相结构、晶格缺陷、表面吸附和表面修饰等与尺寸相关的理化性质与生物效应之间的关系.综述了无机纳米晶与蛋白质、磷脂生物膜间的界面相互作用,探讨了纳米晶-生物界面作用的分子机理.这有助于理解无机纳米晶的生物行为和毒理性质,指导设计安全、高效的纳米晶生物医学材料.     

Functional tumor imaging based on inorganic nanomaterials

Inorganic nanomaterials have attracted substantial research interest due to their unique intrinsic physicochemical properties.We highlighted recent advances in the applications of inorganic nanoparticles regarding their imaging efficacy, focusing on tumor-imaging nanomaterials such as metal-based and carbon-based nanomaterials and quantum dots. Inorganic nanoparticles gain excellent in vivo tumor-imaging functions based on their specific characteristics of strong near-infrared optical absorption and/or X-ray attenuation capability. The specific response signals from these novel nanomaterials can be captured using a series of imaging techniques, i.e., optical coherence tomography(OCT), X-ray computed tomography(CT) imaging, two-photon luminescence(TPL), photoacoustic tomography(PAT), magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), surface-enhanced Raman scattering(SERS) and positron emission tomography(PET). In this review, we summarized the rapid development of inorganic nanomaterial applications using these analysis techniques and discussed the related safety issues of these materials.