Publication: Nanomaterials. 2022 Mar 11;12(6):929. Publication Date: March 11, 2022.

Abstract:
Gold nanorods (AuNRs) have been proposed to promote stem cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined a particular type of AuNR in supporting the differentiation of rat fetal neural stem cells (NSCs) into oligodendrocytes (ODCs). AuNRs were synthesized according to the seed-mediated method resulting in nanorods with an aspect ratio of around 3 (~12 nm diameter, 36 nm length) and plasmon resonance at 520 and 780 nm, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-vis spectroscopy, respectively. A layer-by-layer approach was used to fabricate the AuNR substrate on the functionalized glass coverslips. NSCs were propagated for 10 days using fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth-factor-supplemented culture media, and differentiated on an AuNR or poly-D-lysine (PDL)-coated surface using differentiation media containing triiodothyronine for three weeks. Results showed that NSCs survived better and differentiated faster on the AuNRs compared to the PDL surface. By week 1, almost all cells had differentiated on the AuNR substrate, whereas only ~60% differentiated on the PDL surface, with similar percentages of ODCs and astrocytes. This study indicates that functionalized AuNR substrate does promote NSC differentiation and could be a viable tool for tissue engineering to support the differentiation of stem cells.

The post Gold Nanorod Substrate for Rat Fetal Neural Stem Cell Differentiation into Oligodendrocytes appeared first on Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.

Publication: Scientific Reports, Volume 10, Issue 1, 2020

Abstract: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most complex types of cancers to detect, diagnose, and treat. However, the field of nanomedicine has strong potential to address such challenges. When evaluating the diffusion and penetration of theranostic nanoparticles, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is of crucial importance because it acts as a barrier to the tumor microenvironment. In the present study, the penetration of functionalized, fluorescent gold nanorods into large (>500 ÎĽm) multicellular 3D tissue spheroids was studied using a multimodal imaging approach. The spheroids were generated by co-culturing pancreatic cancer cells and pancreatic stellate cells in multiple ratios to mimic variable tumor-stromal compositions and to investigate nanoparticle penetration. Fluorescence live imaging, photothermal, and photoacoustic analysis were utilized to examine nanoparticle behavior in the spheroids. Uniquely, the nanorods are intrinsically photoacoustic and photothermal, enabling multi-imaging detection even when fluorescence tracking is not possible or ideal.

The post Tracking gold nanorods’ interaction with large 3D pancreatic-stromal tumor spheroids by multimodal imaging: Fluorescence, photoacoustic, and photothermal microscopies appeared first on Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.

Publication: Nanoscale Horiz., 2019, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/c9nh00628a

Abstract:

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is one of the most promising techniques for cancer tumor ablation. Nanoparticles are increasingly being investigated for use with PTT and can serve as theranostic agents. Based on the ability of near-infrared nano-photo-absorbers to generate heat under laser irradiation, PTT could prove advantageous in certain situations over more classical cancer therapies. To analyze the efficacy of nanoparticle-based PTT, preclinical in vitro studies typically use 2D cultures, but this method cannot completely mimic the complex tumor organization, bioactivity, and physiology that all control the complex penetration depth, biodistribution, and tissue diffusion parameters of nanomaterials in vivo. To fill this knowledge gap, 3D culture systems have been explored for PTT analysis. These models provide more realistic microenvironments that allow spatiotemporal oxygen gradients and cancer cell adaptations to be considered. This review highlights the work that has been done to advance 3D models for cancer microenvironment modeling, specifically in the context of advanced, functionalized nanoparticle-directed PTT.

The post 3D cultures for modeling nanomaterial-based photothermal therapy appeared first on Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.

Publication: Nanomaterials (Basel). 2019 Jul 18;9(7). pii: E1029. doi: 10.3390/nano9071029.

Abstract:

Gold nanosystems have been investigated extensively for a variety of applications, from specific cancer cell targeting to tissue regeneration. Specifically, a recent and exciting focus has been the gold nanosystems’ interface with neuronal biology. Researchers are investigating the ability to use these systems neuronal applications ranging from the enhancement of stem cell differentiation and therapy to stimulation or inhibition of neuronal activity. Most of these new areas of research are based on the integration of the plasmonic properties of such nanosystems into complex synthetic extracellular matrices (ECM) that can interact and affect positively the activity of neuronal cells. Therefore, the ability to integrate the plasmonic properties of these nanoparticles into multidimensional and morphological structures to support cellular proliferation and activity is potentially of great interest, particularly to address medical conditions that are currently not fully treatable. This review discusses some of the promising developments and unique capabilities offered by the integration of plasmonic nanosystems into morphologically complex ECM devices, designed to control and study the activity of neuronal cells.

The post Plasmonic Nanofactors as Switchable Devices to Promote or Inhibit Neuronal Activity and Function appeared first on Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.

Publication: Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, Volume 21, October 2019, 102048

Abstract:

Neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injuries can destroy neurons, resulting in sensory and motor function loss. Transplantation of differentiated neurons from stem cells could help restore such lost functions. Plasmonic gold nanorods (AuNR) were integrated in growth surfaces to stimulate and modulate neural cells in order to tune cell physiology. An AuNR nanocomposite system was fabricated, characterized, and then utilized to study the differentiation of embryonic rat neural stem cells (NSCs). Results demonstrated that this plasmonic surface 1) accelerated differentiation, yielding almost twice as many differentiated neural cells as a traditional NSC culture surface coated with poly-D-lysine and laminin for the same time period; and 2) promoted differentiation of NSCs into neurons and astrocytes in a 2:1 ratio, as evidenced by the expression of relevant marker proteins. These results indicate that the design and properties of this AuNR plasmonic surface would be advantageous for tissue engineering to address neural degeneration.

The post Plasmonic Nano Surface for Neuronal Differentiation and Manipulation appeared first on Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.

Publication: J Nanomed Nanotechnol, Volume 9 • Issue 3 • 1000505

Abstract:

A crucial element in construction, tunnels, roads, and more, concrete has become one of the most important materials in the world. At the same time, air pollution, particularly in crowded cities, is increasing, mainly due to industrial activity and transportation. Therefore, one possible approach to reduce pollution is to use “smart” construction materials, particularly those that incorporate photocatalytic active nano- and micro-size structures into concrete. Incorporating titanium dioxide (TiO2) in roads and pavements could degrade and reduce various pollutants under ultraviolet sun radiation. TiO2-infused concrete would also maintain its optical characteristics for far longer than traditional concrete mix. This study evaluated the ability of concrete containing nano- and micro-TiO2
to degrade organic molecules, as assessed by the concrete’s ability to degrade Rhodamine B dye. The amount of nano- and micro-TiO2
in the concrete samples was 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15% of the cement composition. The resulting concrete blocks were exposed to sunlight
for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Both the nano- and micro-TiO2 significantly degraded the Rhodamine B dye, demonstrating the potential of this approach to benefit the smart construction industry and, as a result, fight certain types of air pollution

The post Using Nano- and Micro-Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) in Concrete to Reduce Air Pollution appeared first on Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.

Publication: Nanotechnology, Volume 28, Number 2, doi:10.1088/1361-6528/28/2/025704

Abstract:

Multicomponent nano-agents were designed and built via a core–shell approach to enhance their surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals. These nano-agents had 36 nm Ă— 12 nm gold nanorod cores coated by 4 nm thick silver shell films and a subsequent thin bifunctional thiolated polyethylene glycol (HS-PEG-COOH) layer. Ambient time-lapsed SERS signal measurements of these functionalized nanorods taken over a two-week period indicated no signal degradation, suggesting that large portions of the silver shells remained in pure metallic form. The morphology of the nanorods was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultra-high resolution scanning TEM. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) were utilized to assess the oxidation states of the silver shells covered by HS-PEG-COOH. The binding energies of Ag 3d XPS spectra yielded very small chemical shifts with oxidation; however, the AES peak shapes gave meaningful information about the extent of oxidation undergone by the nano-agent. While the silver shells without HS-PEG-COOH coatings oxidized significantly, the silver shells with HS-PEG-COOH remained predominantly metallic. In fact, six month-old samples still retained mostly metallic silver shells. These findings further demonstrate the stability and longevity of the nanostructures, indicating their significant potential as plasmonically active agents for highly sensitive detection in various biological systems, including cancer cells, tissues, or even organisms.

The post X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis of silver-coated gold nanorods designed for bionanotechnology applications appeared first on Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.

Publication: Nanotechnology. 2017 Jan 6;28(1):015101. Epub 2016 Nov 28.

Abstract:

A major benefit to nanomaterial based-medicine is the ability to provide nanosized vehicles for sporadic metabolites. Here, we describe how the conjugation of valuable ginseng secondary metabolites (ginsenoside Rb1 or Rg1) with carbon nanotubes (CNT) can enhance their anti-proliferative and anti-cancer effects. Ginsenoside-CNT conjugate (Rb-CNT or Rg-CNT) permitted the ginsenosides to be used at a low dose, yet achieve a higher incidence of cancer killing. We were able to demonstrate that the ginsenoside-CNT conjugate can decrease cell viability up to 62% in breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and enhance antiproliferation of drug-resistant pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1) by 61%. The interaction of the ginsenoside-CNT conjugate with breast cancer cells was studied using Raman Spectroscopy mapping. Total transcriptome profiling (Affymetrix platform) of MCF-7 cells treated with the ginsenoside-CNT conjugate shows that a number of cellular, apoptotic and response to stimulus processes were affected. Therefore, our data confirmed the potential use of CNT as a drug delivery system.

The post Carbon nanotubes as carriers of Panax ginseng metabolites and enhancers of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 anti-cancer activity appeared first on Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.

Publication: Drug Metabolism Reviews, Volume 47, Issue 4

Abstract:

Bone loss and failure of proper bone healing continues to be a significant medical condition in need of solutions that can be implemented successfully both in human and veterinary medicine. This is particularly true when large segmental defects are present, the bone has failed to return to normal form or function, or the healing process is extremely prolonged. Given the inherent complexity of bone tissue – its unique structural, mechanical, and compositional properties, as well as its ability to support various cells – it is difficult to find ideal candidate materials that could be used as the foundation for tissue regeneration from technological platforms. Recently, important developments have been made in the implementation of complex structures built both at the macro- and the nano-level that have been shown to positively impact bone formation and to have the ability to deliver active biological molecules (drugs, growth factors, proteins, cells) for controlled tissue regeneration and the prevention of infection. These materials are diverse, ranging from polymers to ceramics and various composites. This review presents developments in this area with a focus on the role of scaffold structure and chemistry on the biologic processes that influence bone physiology and regeneration.

The post Bone-tissue Engineering: Complex Tunable Structural and Biological Responses to Injury, Drug Delivery, and Cell-based Therapies appeared first on Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.

Publication: Drug Metabolism Reviews, Volume 47, Issue 3

Abstract:

Growing biomedical applications of non-fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) for molecular imaging, disease diagnosis, drug delivery, and theranostics require new tools for real-time detection of nanomaterials, drug nano-carriers, and NP-drug conjugates (nanodrugs) in complex biological environments without additional labeling. Photothermal (PT) microscopy (PTM) has enormous potential for absorption-based identification and quantification of non-fluorescent molecules and NPs at a single molecule and 1.4 nm gold NP level. Recently, we have developed confocal PTM providing three-dimensional (3D) mapping and spectral identification of multiple chromophores and fluorophores in live cells. Here, we summarize recent advances in the application of confocal multicolor PTM for 3D visualization of single and clustered NPs, alone and in individual cells. In particular, we demonstrate identification of functionalized magnetic and gold–silver NPs, as well as graphene and carbon nanotubes in cancer cells and among blood cells. The potential to use PTM for super-resolution imaging (down to 50 nm), real-time NP tracking, guidance of PT nanotherapy, and multiplex cancer markers targeting, as well as analysis of non-linear PT phenomena and amplification of nanodrug efficacy through NP clustering and nano-bubble formation are also discussed.

The post Photothermal Confocal Multicolor Microscopy of Nanoparticles and Nanodrugs in Live Cells appeared first on Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences.