Nanomaterials for Healthcare Biosensing Applications

In recent years, an increasing number of nanomaterials have been explored for their applications in biomedical diagnostics, making their applications in healthcare biosensing a rapidly evolving field. Nanomaterials introduce versatility to the sensing platforms and may even allow mobility between different detection mechanisms. The prospect of a combination of different nanomaterials allows an exploitation of their synergistic additive and novel properties for sensor development. This paper covers more than 290 research works since 2015, elaborating the diverse roles played by various nanomaterials in the biosensing field. Hence, we provide a comprehensive review of the healthcare sensing applications of nanomaterials, covering carbon allotrope-based, inorganic, and organic nanomaterials. These sensing systems are able to detect a wide variety of clinically relevant molecules, like nucleic acids, viruses, bacteria, cancer antigens, pharmaceuticals and narcotic drugs, toxins, contaminants, as well as entire cells in various sensing media, ranging from buffers to more complex environments such as urine, blood or sputum. Thus, the latest advancements reviewed in this paper hold tremendous potential for the application of nanomaterials in the early screening of diseases and point-of-care testing

Microneedle based electrochemical (bio)sensing: towards decentralized and continuous health status monitoring

Microneedle (MN) based electrochemical (bio)sensing has become a growing field within the discipline of analytical chemistry as a result of its unique capacity for continuous, decentralized health status monitoring. There are two significant advantages to this exclusive feature: i) the ability to directly analyze interstitial fluid (ISF), a body fluid with a similar enough composition to plasma (and blood) to be considered a plentiful source of information related to biologically relevant molecules and biomarkers; and ii) the capacity to overcome some of the major limitations of blood analysis including painful extraction, high interferant concentrations, and incompatibility with diagnosis of infants (and especially newborns). Recent publications have demonstrated important advancements in electrochemical MN sensor technology, among which are included new MN fabrication methods and various modification strategies, providing different architectures and allowing for the integration of electronics. This versatility highlights the undeniable need for interdisciplinary efforts towards tangible progress in the field. In a context evidently dominated by glucose sensing, which is slowly being expanded towards other analytes, the following crucial questions arise: to what extent are electrochemical MN (bio)sensors a reliable analytical tool for continuous ISF monitoring? Which is the best calibration protocol to be followed for in vivo assays? Which strategies can be employed to protect the sensing element during skin penetration? Is there an appropriate validation methodology to assess the accuracy of electrochemical MN (bio)sensors? How significant is the distinction between successful achievements in the laboratory and the real commercial feasibility of products? This paper aims to reflect on those previous questions while reviewing the progress of electrochemical MN (bio)sensors in the last decade with a focus on the analytical aspects. Overall, we describe the current state of electrochemical MN (bio)sensors, the benefits and challenges associated to ISF monitoring, as well as key features (and bottlenecks) regarding its implementation for in vivo assays

Nanotechnology Synergised Immunoengineering for Cancer

Novel strategies modulating the immune system yielded enhanced anticancer responses and improved cancer survival. Nevertheless, the success rate of immunotherapy in cancer treatment has been below expectation(s) due to unpredictable efficacy and off-target effects from systemic dosing of immunotherapeutic. As a result, there is an unmet clinical need for improving conventional immunotherapy. Nanotechnology offers several new strategies, multimodality, and multiplex biological targeting advantage to overcome many of these challenges. These efforts enable programming the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, delivery of immunomodulatory agents/co-delivery of compounds to prime at the tumor sites for improved therapeutic benefits. This review provides an overview of the design and clinical principles of biomaterials driven nanotechnology and their potential use in personalized nanomedicines, vaccines, localized tumor modulation, and delivery strategies for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we also summarize the latest highlights and recent advances in combinatorial therapies avail in the treatment of cold and complicated tumors. It also presents key steps and parameters implemented for clinical success. Finally, we analyse, discuss, and provide clinical perspectives on the integrated opportunities of nanotechnology and immunology to achieve synergistic and durable responses in cancer treatment

Theranostic Gelatin Nanoparticles for Antigen Delivery and Combined Strategies for Transcutaneous Application

Transcutaneous application of vaccines is a promising strategy to enhance the effectiveness of vaccination using a reachable route of administration. Additionally, replacing the conventional needles with skin mechanical penetration techniques as microneedles or skin laser microporation will offer great advantages. This transcutaneous delivery techniques are pain-free and will help to avoid the hazards of needles. For the delivery of antigens, nanocarriers are so promising to enhance and modulate their immune response. The nanocarriers offer merits such as antigen protection from degradation, and controlling the release rate of the antigen. Additionally, due to the particulate nature of the nanocarriers, they can potentially display the antigen in a way that better mimics pathogens. For this aim, ovalbumin as a model antigen has been delivered using functionalized theranostic gelatin nanoparticles to bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). The nanoparticles were rendered fluorescent by using a novel imaging agent (gold and silver alloy nanoclusters) that emits near-infra red light. This was beneficial to study the nanoparticles uptake by BMDCs and also to image the nanoparticles within the skin tissue. Finally, the developed theranostic nanocarriers induced the maturation of the BMDCs and enhanced the proliferation of both helper T cells (CD4+) and cytotoxic T cells (CD8+). This indicates the potential efficacy of the delivery system for vaccination either against allergy or viruses and tumors

Emerging Theranostic Nanomaterials in Diabetes and Its Complications

Diabetes mellitus (DM) refers to a group of metabolic disorders that are characterized by hyperglycemia. Oral subcutaneously administered antidiabetic drugs such as insulin, glipalamide, and metformin can temporarily balance blood sugar levels, however, long-term administration of these therapies is associated with undesirable side effects on the kidney and liver. In addition, due to overproduction of reactive oxygen species and hyperglycemia-induced macrovascular system damage, diabetics have an increased risk of complications. Fortunately, recent advances in nanomaterials have provided new opportunities for diabetes therapy and diagnosis. This review provides a panoramic overview of the current nanomaterials for the detection of diabetic biomarkers and diabetes treatment. Apart from diabetic sensing mechanisms and antidiabetic activities, the applications of these bioengineered nanoparticles for preventing several diabetic complications are elucidated. This review provides an overall perspective in this field, including current challenges and future trends, which may be helpful in informing the development of novel nanomaterials with new functions and properties for diabetes diagnosis and therapy.Peer reviewe

Biosensors to Monitor Cell Activity in 3D Hydrogel-Based Tissue Models

Three-dimensional (3D) culture models have gained relevant interest in tissue engineering and drug discovery owing to their suitability to reproduce in vitro some key aspects of human tissues and to provide predictive information for in vivo tests. In this context, the use of hydrogels as artificial extracellular matrices is of paramount relevance, since they allow closer recapitulation of (patho)physiological features of human tissues. However, most of the analyses aimed at characterizing these models are based on time-consuming and endpoint assays, which can provide only static and limited data on cellular behavior. On the other hand, biosensing systems could be adopted to measure on-line cellular activity, as currently performed in bi-dimensional, i.e., monolayer, cell culture systems; however, their translation and integration within 3D hydrogel-based systems is not straight forward, due to the geometry and materials properties of these advanced cell culturing approaches. Therefore, researchers have adopted different strategies, through the development of biochemical, electrochemical and optical sensors, but challenges still remain in employing these devices. In this review, after examining recent advances in adapting existing biosensors from traditional cell monolayers to polymeric 3D cells cultures, we will focus on novel designs and outcomes of a range of biosensors specifically developed to provide real-time analysis of hydrogel-based cultures

Chitosan-graphene nanocomposite microneedle arrays for transdermal drug delivery

The project focused on the hypothesis that degradable, polymer microneedle arrays are a promising alternative to traditional drug delivery routes, offering the patient a painless, high concentration, and quick delivery of therapeutics through the skin. This project explored chitosan-graphene nanocomposites as potential materials for microneedle arrays; the addition of graphene to chitosan is believed to yield improved mechanical properties and electrical conductivity over pristine chitosan, which will allow for long and slender microneedles and for electrically stimulated drug delivery, and may positively affect the degradation and drug delivery properties of chitosan. Graphene derivatives, such as graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, graphene quantum dots, and magnetic graphene quantum dots were synthesised and then characterised, before they were used as the filler within chitosan nanocomposites. Their effect at varying concentrations upon the mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, drug release, and enzymatic degradation rate of chitosan were assessed. It was determined that reduced graphene oxide was the optimum nanoparticle to reinforce chitosan, achieving the best mechanical and electrical conductivity properties of the nanocomposites. Chitosan-graphene nanocomposite microneedle arrays were shown to passively release small molecular weight drugs at a high delivery quantity and rate. Conductive chitosan-graphene nanocomposite microneedles were tested to determine the effect of electrical stimulation on the release of large molecular weight drugs from the nanocomposite, with substantial improvements in the release rate of large molecular weight drugs when compared to passive diffusion. The microneedle arrays were shown to survive the force of insertion through compressive loading. The depth of penetration of the microneedles was determined through cross-sectional analysis of chicken skin

Advances in electrochemical aptasensors based on carbon nanomaterials

Carbon nanomaterials offer unique opportunities for the assembling of electrochemical aptasensors due to their high electroconductivity, redox activity, compatibility with biochemical receptors and broad possibilities of functionalization and combination with other auxiliary reagents. In this review, the progress in the development of electrochemical aptasensors based on carbon nanomaterials in 2016–2020 is considered with particular emphasis on the role of carbon materials in aptamer immobilization and signal generation. The synthesis and properties of carbon nanotubes, graphene materials, carbon nitride, carbon black particles and fullerene are described and their implementation in the electrochemical biosensors are summarized. Examples of electrochemical aptasensors are classified in accordance with the content of the surface layer and signal measurement mode. In conclusion, the drawbacks and future prospects of carbon nanomaterials’ application in electrochemical aptasensors are briefly discussed. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.R.S. acknowledges support of the state subsidy in the sphere of scientific activity for Kazan Federal University (proposal No 0671-2020-0063). T.H. acknowledges funding from the Science Grant Agency VEGA, project No.: 1/0419/20

Micro and Nanotechnologies for Biotechnology

Countless healthcare and biomedical solutions with high impact in terms of timely diagnostics, therapeutic success, patient comfort or financial sustainability of healthcare systems rely on micro- and nanotechnologies. Thus, it is not at all exaggerate to claim that such technologies play in current days a tremendous role with respect to improving the quality of our life, health and well-being, which are the main priorities of modern science. This volume illustrates these statements, addressing highly significant scientific subjects from diverse areas of micro- and nanotechnologies for biotechnology. Authoritative voices in their fields present in this volume their work, or review recent trends, concepts and applications, in a manner that is accessible to a broad readership audience from both within and outside their specialist area