Toxicological Effects of Metal Nanoparticles Employed in Biomedicine: Biocompatibility,Clinical Trials,and Future Perspective

Metal nanoparticles play a crucial role in the medical industry due to its desirable properties such as antimicrobial activity, anti-cancer property, and its application in disease diagnostics. These properties enable the nanoparticles to be used as efficient medical devices for various treatments as well as drug delivery systems. Despite all the positives, metal nanoparticles are known for causing toxicity in the living system. The toxicological effects of metal nanoparticles are due to their size, surface*e coating, and the dose administered. Therefore, it is important to study the toxic effects of these nanoparticles before they are used as medical devices for various treatments. This review focuses on the five major metal nanoparticles used in the medical field, namely; silver, gold, iron oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The non-exhaustive review consists of an introduction to the toxicological effects of these nanoparticles, the biocompatibility, and the current and future clinical perspective on metal nanoparticles.     

Self-assembled structure of nanoparticles at a liquid-liquid interface

Pickering emulsions are used as a template to investigate the multiphase interactions and self-assembled structure of nanoparticles at a trichloroethylene-water interface. The dodecanethiol-capped silver nanoparticles of 1-5 nm form randomly distributed multilayers at the liquid/liquid interface, with an interparticle distance varying from close contact to approximately 25 nm. This report offers the first direct observation of nanoparticles in a liquid medium using the environmental transmission electron microscope, as well as the first work revealing the detailed self-assembled structure of nanoparticles at a liquid/liquid interface when the size of the nanoparticles is comparable to the molecular dimension of the liquids.     

Spacer-mediated synthesis of size-controlled gold nanoparticles using geminis as ligands

We report a new methodology for the size-controlled aqueous synthesis of gold nanoparticles using geminis with different spacers as ligands. Geminis possess a unique structure in which two hydrophobic chains and two polar headgroups are combined via a spacer. We herein demonstrate that the spacer can be used as a tool to control particle size when geminis are used as ligands for gold nanoparticles. Varying the spacer length of geminis yields facile control over the size and size distribution of nanoparticles. For the 18-s-18-capped gold nanoparticles, FTIR and TGA experiments indicate that the geminis form bilayers on the surface of gold nanoparticles, which serve as templates that control the formation of nanoparticles. The smallest particles are obtained with a moderate spacer length (s = 8) because in that case the gemini bilayers interdigitate to the fullest degree to reach the maximum chain-chain interaction, thus yielding the most compact coating on the surface of gold nanoparticles. This work provides a new approach to the size control of nanoparticles.     

An Evaluation of Antimicrobial,Anticancer, Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Leaf Extract of Madhuca longifolia Utilizing Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

In the current decade, nanoparticles are synthesized using solvents that are environmentally friendly. A number of nanoparticles have been synthesized at room temperature using water as a solvent, such as gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles. As part of nanotechnology, nanoparticles are synthesized through biological processes. Biological methods are the preferred method for the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a result of their simple and non-hazardous nature. Nanoparticles of silver are used in a variety of applications, including catalysts, spectrally selective coatings for solar absorption, optical objectives, pharmaceutical constituents, and chemical and biological sensing. Antimicrobial agents are among the top uses of silver nanoparticles. In the current study, silver nanoparticles were biologically manufactured through Madhuca longifolia, and their antibacterial activity against pathogenic microorganisms, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities were assessed. UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD (X-ray diffraction), transmission electron microscopy, Zeta Potential, and FTIR were used to characterize silver nanoparticles. The current work describes a cheap and environmentally friendly method to synthesize silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate solution by using plant crude extract as a reducing agent.     

Effect of molecular weight heterogeneity on drug encapsulation efficiency of gelatin nano-particles

Influence of molecular weight heterogeneity and drug solubility, drug loading and hydrodynamic conditions on drug release kinetics from gelatin nanoparticles were investigated. Also to assess the ability of gelatin nanoparticles as a potential intravascular probe for diagnostic purposes and in improving the biodelivery of cycloheximide (CHX), which is being used as a representative drug. Comparative characterization of 75 Bloom (type B, bovine), 175 and 300 Bloom (type A, porcine) gelatin nanoparticles was done to understand the phase behavior and hydrodynamic properties of gelatin chains and its nanoparticles. Gelatin nanoparticles were prepared by two-step desolvation method. Dynamic light scattering studies were performed to estimate hydrodynamic radii as well as intermolecular interaction. Effects of parameters like pH, temperature and molecular weight on the size and stability of the nanoparticles were studied. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements were done for size and stability analysis. Enhanced visco-elastic properties of nanoparticles were observed as compared to normal solutions of gelatin.     

Solution-based direct readout surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) detection of ultra-low levels of thiram with dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles

We report the use of two different sizes of dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles as colloidal substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based detection of ultra-low levels of thiram, a dithiocarbamate fungicide. We demonstrate the ability to use a solution based, direct readout SERS method as a quantitative tool for the detection of ultra-low levels of thiram. The two different sizes of dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles are synthesized by using the seed-mediated growth method and characterized by using UV-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The smaller dogbone shaped nanoparticles have an average size of 43 ± 13 nm. The larger dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles have an average size of 65 ± 15 nm. The nanoparticle concentration is 1.25 × 10(11) nanoparticles per mL for the smaller dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles and is 1.13 × 10(11) nanoparticles per mL for the larger dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles. Different concentrations of thiram are allowed to bind to the two different sizes of dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles and the SERS spectra are obtained. From the calibration curve, the limit of detection for thiram is 43.9 ± 6.2 nM when the smaller dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles are used as colloidal SERS substrates In the case of the larger dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles, the limit of detection for thiram is 11.8 ± 3.2 nM. The lower limit of detection obtained by using the larger dogbone shaped gold nanoparticles as colloidal substrates is due to the lightning rod effect, higher contributions from the electromagnetic enhancement effect, and larger number of surface sites for thiram to bind.     

Stoichiometric functionalization of gold nanoparticles in solution through a free radical polymerization approach

A new simple concept for the stoichiometrical functionalization of nanoparticles based on free radical polymerization of vinyl protected nanoparticles is presented. To demonstrate this concept 2-bis(4-vinylphenyl)disulfane was synthesized and used in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles, leading to 4-vinylthiophenol functionalized nanoparticles. Simple free radical polymerization of these particles initiated by 4,4'-azobis-(4-cyanopentanoic acid) delivered nanoparticles with a single carboxyl group. These monofunctionalized gold nanoparticles were utilized for chemical preparation of gold nanoparticle dimers as well as for construction of gold nanoparticle arrays via binding to polyallylamine.     

Use of nanoparticles in capillary and microchip electrochromatography

Applications of nanoparticles are of rising interest in separation science, due to their favorable surface-to-volume ratio as well as their applicability in miniaturization. A stationary phase with large surface area in combination with an electroosmotic flow-driven system has great potential in a highly efficient separation system. This review covers the use of various nanoparticles as stationary or pseudostationary phase in capillary and microchip electrochromatography. The use of nanoparticles in pseudostationary phase capillary electrochromatography and open-tubular capillary electrochromatography are thoroughly discussed. The stationary and pseudostationary phases that are described include polymer nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes.     

Stimuli‐responsive zein‐based nanoparticles as a potential carrier for ellipticine: Synthesis,release, and in vitro delivery

In the present research, we have investigated a drug delivery system based on the pH‐responsive behaviors of zein colloidal nanoparticles coated with sodium caseinate (SC) and poly ethylene imine (PEI). These systematically designed nanoparticles were used as nanocarriers for encapsulation of ellipticine (EPT), as an anticancer drug. SC and PEI coatings were applied through electrostatic adsorption, leading to the increased size and improved polydispersity index of nanoparticles as well as sustained release of drug. Physicochemical characteristics such as hydrodynamic diameter, size distribution, zeta potential and morphology of nanoparticles prepared using different formulations and conditions were also determined. Based on the results, EPT was encapsulated into the prepared nanoparticles with a high drug loading capacity (5.06%) and encapsulation efficiency (94.8%) under optimal conditions. in vitro experiments demonstrated that the release of EPT from zein‐based nanoparticles was pH sensitive. When the pH level decreased from 7.4 to 5.5, the rate of drug release was considerably enhanced. The mechanism of pH‐responsive complexation in the drug encapsulation and release processes was extensively investigated. The pH‐dependent electrostatic interactions and drug state were hypothesized to affect the release profiles. Compared to the EPT‐loaded zein/PEI nanoparticles, the EPT‐loaded zein/SC nanoparticles exhibited a better drug sustained‐release profile, with a smaller initial burst release and longer release period. According to the results of in vitro cytotoxicity experiments, drug‐free nanoparticles were associated with a negligible cytotoxicity, whereas the EPT‐loaded nanoparticles displayed a high toxicity for the cancer cell line, A549. Our findings indicate that these pH‐sensitive protein‐based nanoparticles can be used as novel nanotherapeutic tools and potential antineoplastic drug carriers for cancer chemotherapy with controlled release.     

Effect of colloidal nanocatalysis on the metallic nanoparticle shape: the Suzuki reaction

Dominantly tetrahedral shaped poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-platinum (PVP-Pt) nanoparticles are shown to catalyze the Suzuki reaction between phenylboronic acid and iodobenzene but are not as active as the spherical palladium nanoparticles studied previously. The dominantly tetrahedral PVP-Pt nanoparticles (55 +/- 4% regular tetrahedral, 22 +/- 2% distorted tetrahedral, and 23 +/- 2% spherical nanoparticles) are synthesized by using the hydrogen reduction method. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show that a transformation of shape from tetrahedral to spherical Pt nanoparticles takes place 3 h into the first cycle of the reaction. After the first cycle, the spherical nanoparticles have a similar size distribution to that of the tetrahedral nanoparticles before the reaction and the observed shape distribution is 18 +/-6% regular tetrahedral, 28 +/- 5% distorted tetrahedral, and 54 +/- 5% spherical nanoparticles. After the second cycle of the Suzuki reaction, the shape distribution is 13 +/- 5% regular tetrahedral, 24 +/- 5% distorted tetrahedral, and 63 +/- 7% spherical nanoparticles. After the second cycle, the transformed spherical nanoparticles continue to grow, and this could be due to the strong capping action of the higher molecular weight PVP (M(w) = 360 000), which makes the nanoparticles more resistant to aggregation and precipitation, unlike the Pd nanoparticles capped with the lower molecular weight PVP (M(w) = 40 000) used previously. The transformation in shape also occurs when the nanoparticles are refluxed in the presence of the solvent, sodium acetate, and iodobenzene and results in spherical nanoparticles with a similar size distribution to that of the tetrahedral nanoparticles before any perturbations. However, in the presence of phenylboronic acid, the regular tetrahedral nanoparticles remain dominant (51 +/- 6%) and maintain their size. These results support our previous studies in which we proposed that phenylboronic acid binds to the nanoparticle surface and thus acts as a capping agent for the particle and reacts with the iodobenzene. Recycling the nanoparticles results in a drastic reduction of the catalytic activity, and this must be due to the transformation of shape from the dominantly tetrahedral to the larger dominantly spherical nanoparticles. This also supports results in the literature that show that spherical platinum nanoparticles do not catalyze this reaction.     

Electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence of organic nanoparticles

This review discusses briefly the preparation, electrochemistry, and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) as well as spectroscopic properties of organic nanoparticles. Organic nanoparticles, ranging from several tens of nanometers to hundreds of nanometers in diameter, were successfully prepared by various methods. Using a simple reprecipitation method, organic nanoparticles of a very small size can be prepared and show unique electrochemical and ECL characteristics. As with inorganic nanoparticles, organic nanoparticles suggest possible applications, like labels for the analysis of biological materials with ECL.     

Synthesis of dendrimer-protected TiO2 nanoparticles and photodegradation of organic molecules in an aqueous nanoparticle suspension

Dendrimer-protected TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrolysis of TiCl4 in solutions of poly(amido amine) dendrimers (64 terminals) under cooling. The morphology of dendrimers surrounding TiO2 nanoparticles depended on the terminal groups (amine, carboxyl, hydroxy) of dendrimers. The size (4.4-6.7 nm) of dendrimer-protected TiO2 nanoparticles was slightly smaller than that (7.5 nm) of bare TiO2 nanoparticles. The photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid revealed that dendrimer-protected TiO2 nanoparticles are more active as a photocatalyst than TiO2 nanoparticles without protectors. This suggests that the dendrimer acts as a reservoir of photoreacting reagents besides acting as a protector of nanoparticles.     

Synthesis of copolymer-stabilized silver nanoparticles for coating materials

Silver ions being less toxic than silver nanoparticles, a more safe material can be obtained to be used as antimicrobial coating. This can be achieved by using thiol chemistry and covalently attach the silver nanoparticles in the coating. Our aim is to produce a coating having antimicrobial properties of silver ions but with the silver nanoparticles firmly attached in the coating. Here, we present a way to produce silver nanoparticles that can be used as a component in a coating or as such to produce an antimicrobial coating. The silver nanoparticles presented here are stabilized by a copolymer (poly(butyl acrylate–methyl methacrylate)) that is soft and has well-known good film-producing properties. The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer radical polymerization technique used to prepare the polymers provides conveniently a thiol group for effective binding of the silver nanoparticles to the polymers and thus to the coating.     

Dual mode bioreactions on polymer nanoparticles covered with phosphorylcholine group

We investigated the preparation of polymer nanoparticles covered with phosphorylcholine (PC) groups and the immobilization of proteins in order to observe dual mode bioreactions on the nanoparticles. For the surface modification on the nanoparticles, a water-soluble amphiphilic phospholipid polymer with PC groups as a hydrophilic moiety was synthesized. In this polymer, an active ester group, which can immobilize proteins, was introduced. Using the phospholipid polymer as a solubilizer, poly(L-lactic acid) nanoparticles were prepared from its methylene chloride solution in an aqueous medium by the solvent evaporation method. The diameter of the nanoparticles was ca. 200 nm and the surface was covered with the PC groups and active ester groups. Proteins could immobilize on the nanoparticles under mild conditions by the reaction between the active ester group and amino group in the proteins. Both an antibody and enzyme were immobilized on the nanoparticles and bioreactions such as the antigen/antibody reaction and enzymatic reaction were observed. When an antigen was added to the suspension of the nanoparticles, aggregation of the nanoparticles occurred and then they precipitated. Also, the enzymatic reaction proceeded well when the enzyme substrate was added to the suspension. Based on these results, we provided polymer nanoparticles functionalized with both the antibody and enzyme, and the dual mode bioreactions could occur. We concluded that the novel polymer nanoparticles could be used for nano-/micro-scaled diagnostic and medical treatment systems.     

Size-controlled synthesis of monodispersed silver nanoparticles capped by long-chain alkyl carboxylates from silver carboxylate and tertiary amine

Monodispersed silver nanoparticles capped by long-chain alkyl carboxylates were prepared by the reaction of silver carboxylate with tertiary amine at 80 degrees C for 2 h. This approach is a unique, size-controlled synthetic method for the large-scale preparation of silver nanoparticles. Long-chain alkyl carboxylate derived from a precursor acts as a stabilizer to avoid the aggregation of silver nanoparticles and to control particle size. In addition, amine plays an important role both as a reagent to form a thermally unstable, amine-coordinated intermediate, bis(amine)silver(I) carboxylate, and as a mild reducing agent for the intermediate to produce nanoparticles at a low temperature. The silver core and carboxylate-capping ligand of silver nanoparticles were characterized by various techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, optical absorption spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, gas chromatograph mass spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis. The diameter of the nanoparticles can be strongly influenced by the alkyl chain length and the structure of the carboxylate. The average diameters of the silver nanoparticles were controlled to less than 5 nm in the case of silver carboxylate with a single alkyl chain length of 13 or 17 carbon atoms. On the contrary, the average diameters of silver nanoparticles became large and polydisperse in the case of silver carboxylate with a chain length of 7 carbon atoms or a branched chain. In comparing triethylamine with trioctylamine, there was no obvious effect to regulate the size distribution of the nanoparticles because they could not function as a capping ligand of the nanoparticles due to their weak coordination to silver. In addition, the heat treatment of silver nanoparticles in solution rather than in the solid state was effective for the growth of particles while maintaining narrow size distributions.     

Magnetic properties of monodisperse NiHx nanoparticles and comparison to those of monodisperse Ni nanoparticles

We produced, for the first time, monodisperse NiH(x) nanoparticles with particle diameters of 7.0 nm and investigated their magnetic properties. We also produced monodisperse Ni nanoparticles with nearly the same particle diameters as those of NiH(x) nanoparticles as a comparison. The magnetic properties of NiH(x) nanoparticles were quite different from those of Ni nanoparticles. We observed two compositional phases in NiH(x) nanoparticles, similar to bulk material: one is the nearly pure Ni phase with the blocking temperature (T(B)) of 11 K and the other is the hydride phase. We observed T(B) of 40 K in Ni nanoparticles.     

A biologically friendly approach for silver nanoparticle formation and their in situ attachment to lecithin vesicles

There has been a keen interest for developing a biologically friendly approach for the preparation of silver nanoparticles for their application reasons. A biocompatible, single step method is established for the preparation of silver nanoparticles in lecithin (Egg phosphatidylcholine)/water systems where lecithin itself acts as a reductant for silver nitrate to form the silver nanoparticles. In another attempt, silver nanoparticles were successfully synthesized inside the lecithin vesicles and were found attached to the bilayers of lecithin vesicles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report where a biological surfactant has acted as a mild reducing agent for silver nitrate by itself to form silver nanoparticles.     

A Novel Nano-finish Formulations for Enhancing Performance Properties in Leather Finishing Applications

The present study was aimed to investigate the novel approach for the promotion of leather finishing properties through the incorporation of copper nanoparticles (Cu nanoparticles). Cu nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction method, and particle sizes were in the range of 25–50 nm. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, ultra violet-vis spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the Cu nanoparticles. The ascorbic acid was used as a protective agent to prevent the oxidation. Polyvinylpyrrolidone used as a stabilizing and dispersing agent, whereas sodium borohydride was used as a reducing agent. Spray coatings were carried out with Cu nanoparticles on both base and top coat formulations to evaluate their performance properties. Interestingly, the Cu nanoparticles coated leather samples showed the improved wet and rub fastness, color fastness to water and adhesion strength.     

Microemulsions: Options To Expand the Synthesis of Inorganic Nanoparticles

Microemulsions (MEs) are ideal for obtaining high‐quality inorganic nanoparticles. As thermodynamically stable systems with a nanometer‐sized droplet phase that serves as a nanoreactor, MEs have obvious advantages for the synthesis of nanoparticles. MEs also have disadvantages, such as their complexity as multicomponent systems, the low amount of obtainable nanoparticles, their limited thermal stability, the fact that hydrolyzable or oxidizable compounds are often excluded from synthesis, the partly elaborate separation of nanoparticles, as well as the removal of surface‐adhered surfactants subsequent to synthesis. This Review presents some strategies to further expand the options of ME‐based synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles. This comprises the crystallization of nanoparticles in “high‐temperature MEs”, the synthesis of hollow nanospheres, the use of hydrogen peroxide or liquid ammonia as the polar droplet phase, and the synthesis of base metals and nitrides in MEs.     

Controlled Synthesis of Water‐Dispersible Faceted Crystalline Copper Nanoparticles and Their Catalytic Properties

We report a solution‐phase synthetic route to copper nanoparticles with controllable size and shape. The synthesis of the nanoparticles is achieved by the reduction of copper(II) salt in aqueous solution with hydrazine under air atmosphere in the presence of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as capping agent. The results suggest that the pH plays a key role for the formation of pure copper nanoparticles, whereas the concentration of PAA is important for controlling the size and geometric shape of the nanoparticles. The average size of the copper nanoparticles can be varied from 30 to 80 nm, depending on the concentration of PAA. With a moderate amount of PAA, faceted crystalline copper nanoparticles are obtained. The as‐synthesized copper nanoparticles appear red in color and are stable for weeks, as confirmed by UV/Vis and X‐ray photoemission (XPS) spectroscopy. The faceted crystalline copper nanoparticles serve as an effective catalyst for N‐arylation of heterocycles, such as the C? N coupling reaction between p‐nitrobenzyl chloride and morpholine producing 4‐(4‐nitrophenyl)morpholine in an excellent yield under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the nanoparticles are proven to be versatile as they also effectively catalyze the three‐component, one‐pot Mannich reaction between p‐substituted benzaldehyde, aniline, and acetophenone affording a 100 % conversion of the limiting reactant (aniline).