A Review of Microfluidic Experimental Designs for Nanoparticle Synthesis

Microfluidics is defined as emerging science and technology based on precisely manipulating fluids through miniaturized devices with micro-scale channels and chambers. Such microfluidic systems can be used for numerous applications, including reactions, separations, or detection of various compounds. Therefore, due to their potential as microreactors, a particular research focus was noted in exploring various microchannel configurations for on-chip chemical syntheses of materials with tailored properties. Given the significant number of studies in the field, this paper aims to review the recently developed microfluidic devices based on their geometry particularities, starting from a brief presentation of nanoparticle synthesis and mixing within microchannels, further moving to a more detailed discussion of different chip configurations with potential use in nanomaterial fabrication

Applications of Chitosan-Alginate-Based Nanoparticles—An Up-to-Date Review

Chitosan and alginate are two of the most studied natural polymers that have attracted interest for multiple uses in their nano form. The biomedical field is one of the domains benefiting the most from the development of nanotechnology, as increasing research interest has been oriented to developing chitosan-alginate biocompatible delivery vehicles, antimicrobial agents, and vaccine adjuvants. Moreover, these nanomaterials of natural origin have also become appealing for environmental protection (e.g., water treatment, environmental-friendly fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides) and the food industry. In this respect, the present paper aims to discuss some of the newest applications of chitosan-alginate-based nanomaterials and serve as an inception point for further research in the field

Natural Compounds for Preventing Ear, Nose, and Throat-Related Oral Infections

Oral health is an essential element in maintaining general well-being. By preserving the complex equilibrium within the oral microbial community, commensal microorganisms can protect against extrinsic pathogenic threats. However, when an imbalance occurs, the organism is susceptible to a broad range of infections. Synthetic drugs can be administered to help the body fight against the fungal, bacterial, or viral burden. Nonetheless, they may produce undesirable consequences such as toxicity, adverse effects, and drug resistance. In this respect, research has focused on finding safer and more efficient alternatives. Particularly, increasing attention has been drawn towards developing novel formulations based on natural compounds. This paper reviews the plant-based, algae-based, and beehive products investigated for their antimicrobial properties, aiming to thoroughly present the state of the art on oral infection prevention in the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) field

An Up-to-Date Review of Biomaterials Application in Wound Management

Whether they are caused by trauma, illness, or surgery, wounds may occur throughout anyone’s life. Some injuries’ complexity and healing difficulty pose important challenges in the medical field, demanding novel approaches in wound management. A highly researched possibility is applying biomaterials in various forms, ranging from thin protective films, foams, and hydrogels to scaffolds and textiles enriched with drugs and nanoparticles. The synergy of biocompatibility and cell proliferative effects of these materials is reflected in a more rapid wound healing rate and improved structural and functional properties of the newly grown tissue. This paper aims to present the biomaterial dressings and scaffolds suitable for wound management application, reviewing the most recent studies in the field

Novel Tumor-Targeting Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment—A Review

Being one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, cancer represents an ongoing interdisciplinary challenge for the scientific community. As currently used treatments may face limitations in terms of both efficiency and adverse effects, continuous research has been directed towards overcoming existing challenges and finding safer specific alternatives. In particular, increasing interest has been gathered around integrating nanotechnology in cancer management and subsequentially developing various tumor-targeting nanoparticles for cancer applications. In this respect, the present paper briefly describes the most used cancer treatments in clinical practice to set a reference framework for recent research findings, further focusing on the novel developments in the field. More specifically, this review elaborates on the top recent studies concerning various nanomaterials (i.e., carbon-based, metal-based, liposomes, cubosomes, lipid-based, polymer-based, micelles, virus-based, exosomes, and cell membrane-coated nanomaterials) that show promising potential in different cancer applications

Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial Agents Delivery—An Up-to-Date Review

Infectious diseases constitute an increasing threat to public health and medical systems worldwide. Particularly, the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens has left the pharmaceutical arsenal unarmed to fight against such severe microbial infections. Thus, the context has called for a paradigm shift in managing bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections, leading to the collision of medicine with nanotechnology. As a result, renewed research interest has been noted in utilizing various nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles, aiming to overcome the limitations of current treatment options. In more detail, numerous studies have loaded natural and synthetic antimicrobial agents into different inorganic, lipid, and polymeric-based nanomaterials and tested them against clinically relevant pathogens. In this respect, this paper reviews the most recently reported successfully fabricated nanoformulations that demonstrated a great potential against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites of interest for human medicine

New Applications of Lipid and Polymer-Based Nanoparticles for Nucleic Acids Delivery

Nucleic acids represent a promising lead for engineering the immune system. However, naked DNA, mRNA, siRNA, and other nucleic acids are prone to enzymatic degradation and face challenges crossing the cell membrane. Therefore, increasing research has been recently focused on developing novel delivery systems that are able to overcome these drawbacks. Particular attention has been drawn to designing lipid and polymer-based nanoparticles that protect nucleic acids and ensure their targeted delivery, controlled release, and enhanced cellular uptake. In this respect, this review aims to present the recent advances in the field, highlighting the possibility of using these nanosystems for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes towards combatting a broad range of infectious, chronic, and genetic disorders

Antibacterial Efficiency of <i>Tanacetum vulgare</i> Essential Oil against ESKAPE Pathogens and Synergisms with Antibiotics

Medicinal plants with multiple targets of action have become one of the most promising solutions in the fight against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy) is one of the medicinal plants with antibacterial qualities that deserve to be studied. Thus, this research takes a closer look at tansy extract’s composition and antibacterial properties, aiming to highlight its potential against clinically relevant bacterial strains. In this respect, the antibacterial test was performed against several drug-resistant pathogenic strains, and we correlated them with the main isolated compounds, demonstrating the therapeutic properties of the extract. The essential oil was extracted via hydrodistillation, and its composition was characterized via gas chromatography. The main isolated compounds known for their antibacterial effects were α-Thujone, β-Thujone, Eucalyptol, Sabinene, Chrysanthenon, Camphor, Linalool oxide acetate, cis-Carveol, trans-Carveyl acetate, and Germacrene. The evaluation of the antibacterial activity was carried out using the Kirby–Bauer and binary microdilution methods on Gram-positive and Gram-negative MDR strains belonging to the ESKAPE group (i.e., Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.). Tansy essential oil showed MIC values ranging from 62.5 to 500 μg/mL against the tested strains. Synergistic activity with different classes of antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, monobactams, aminoglycosides, and quinolones) has also been noted. The obtained results demonstrate that tansy essential oil represents a promising lead for developing new antimicrobials active against MDR alone or in combination with antibiotics

Screw Osteointegration—Increasing Biomechanical Resistance to Pull-Out Effect

Spinal disorders cover a broad spectrum of pathologies and are among the most prevalent medical conditions. The management of these health issues was noted to be increasingly based on surgical interventions. Spinal fixation devices are often employed to improve surgery outcomes, increasing spinal stability, restoring structural integrity, and ensuring functionality. However, most of the currently used fixation tools are fabricated from materials with very different mechanical properties to native bone that are prone to pull-out effects or fail over time, requiring revision procedures. Solutions to these problems presently exploited in practice include the optimal selection of screw shape and size, modification of insertion trajectory, and utilization of bone cement to reinforce fixation constructs. Nevertheless, none of these methods are without risks and limitations. An alternative option to increasing biomechanical resistance to the pull-out effect is to tackle bone regenerative capacity and focus on screw osteointegration properties. Osteointegration was reportedly enhanced through various optimization strategies, including use of novel materials, surface modification techniques (e.g., application of coatings and topological optimization), and utilization of composites that allow synergistic effects between constituents. In this context, this paper takes a comprehensive path, starting with a brief presentation of spinal fixation devices, moving further to observations on how the pull-out strength can be enhanced with existing methods, and further focusing on techniques for implant osteointegration improvement

Nanomaterials Synthesis through Microfluidic Methods: An Updated Overview

Microfluidic devices emerged due to an interdisciplinary “collision” between chemistry, physics, biology, fluid dynamics, microelectronics, and material science. Such devices can act as reaction vessels for many chemical and biological processes, reducing the occupied space, equipment costs, and reaction times while enhancing the quality of the synthesized products. Due to this series of advantages compared to classical synthesis methods, microfluidic technology managed to gather considerable scientific interest towards nanomaterials production. Thus, a new era of possibilities regarding the design and development of numerous applications within the pharmaceutical and medical fields has emerged. In this context, the present review provides a thorough comparison between conventional methods and microfluidic approaches for nanomaterials synthesis, presenting the most recent research advancements within the field