Anticancer use of nanoparticles as nucleic acid carriers

Commonly used drugs can mainly be classified as protein-based drugs such as insulin and small-molecule chemicals such as aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid). Search for organic drug-like molecules with high efficacy and low side-effects revealed nucleic acids as potential drugs. siRNA and miRNAs are one of the negative regulators of gene expression controlling various fundamental biological processes such as cell proliferation, stem cell division, and apoptosis. They act either by altering the stability of the mRNA transcripts and/or blocking protein translation by ribosomes. During the last decade, RNA molecules (siRNA and miRNA) and DNA fragments that code for them (shRNA or miRNA genes) were analyzed in detail to reveal their potential as new generation drugs against cancer. Accumulating data on these drugs will be discussed in the light of recent advances about the usage of nano particles as nucleic acid drug carriers

Magnetic actuation of nanofluids with ferromagnetic particles

Electromagnetically actuated microflows are generated by using ferromagnetic nanofluids containing Fe2O3 based nanoparticles. Because of their magnetic properties these nanoparticles are able to response to a magnetic field imposed along a microchannel so that a microflow could be driven. Nanofluid samples were located inside a minichannel and were directed with a magnetic field, which was induced by a solenoid wrapped around the minichannel, to drive the flow inside the minichannel, where its flow rate was also recorded. The flow rate was measured as a function of the imposed magnetic field. The corresponding pressure drop to deliver the same flow rate with an ordinary pump along the same minichannel was estimated so that the potential of this system for acting as a micropump in microfluidic applications was revealed

Implementation of a simplified method for actuation of ferrofluids

Abstract Magnetic actuation of ferrofluids is an emergent field that will open up new possibilities in various fields of engineering. The quality and topology of the magnetic field that is being utilized in such systems is determinant in terms of flow properties, flow rates and overall efficiency. Determining the optimal magnetic field topology to achieve the desired results, and determining the methods by which these magnetic fields are to be generated are central problems of obtaining the desired flow. A healthy comparison of various magnetic field topologies requires a varied set of examples from the most simplified to most sophisticated. Such comparisons are necessary to have a well grounded starting point. This study focuses on a particular pump design that employs a simplified magnetic field topology to obtain ferrofluid flow. The results of this paper such as flow and pressure difference are intended to form a baseline for future reference

A novel magnetomechanical pump to actuate ferrofluids in minichannels

An improvement in the current methods of ferrofluid actuation was presented in this paper. A novel magnetomechanical microfluidic pump design was implemented with a ferrofluid as the active working fluid. Obtained flow rates were comparable to previous results in this research line. It was also seen that the basic pump architecture, which the subject pump is based on, enables much more room for further development

Anticancer use of nanoparticles as nucleic acid carriers

Advances in nanotechnology opened up new horizons in the field of cancer research. Nanoparticles made of various organic and inorganic materials and with different optical, magnetic and physical characteristics have the potential to revolutionize the way we diagnose, treat and follow-up cancers. Importantly, designs that might allow tumor-specific targeting and lesser side effects may be produced. Nanoparticles may be tailored to carry conventional chemotherapeutics or new generation organic drugs. Currently, most of the drugs that are commonly used, are small chemical molecules targeting disease-related enzymes. Recent progress in RNA interference technologies showed that, even proteins that are considered to be "undruggable" by small chemical molecules, might be targeted by small RNAs for the purpose of curing diseases, including cancer. In fact, small RNAs such as siRNAs, shRNAs and miRNAs can drastically change cellular levels of almost any given disease-associated protein or protein group, resulting in a therapeutic effect. Gene therapy attempts were failing mainly due to delivery viral vector-related side effects. Biocompatible, non-toxic and efficient nanoparticle carriers raise new hopes for the gene therapy of cancer. In this review article, we discuss new advances in nucleic acid and especially RNA carrier nanoparticles, and summarize recent progress about their use in cancer therapy