Immunology of biodegradable nanoparticles: a brief overview on a wide growing field

Immunity is continuously evolving by evolutionary mechanisms shaped by pathogenic stimuli of different kinds. Man-made nanomaterials (NMs) have been developed in the last decades and represent a novel challenge for our immune system, especially when applied to medical science. Toxicological studies of such nanoparticles (NPs) revealed that size, shape, and surface chemistry are key parameters to understand their noxious effects on cellular mechanisms. Less is known on the immune reactions to NMs since prolonged exposure data are not so detailed as the results for acute administration. The importance of immunity to biocompatible NPs is underlined by their increasing use as drug or gene delivery carriers in common pharmaceutical preparations and vaccines. In the latter case, the immunomodulatory properties of NMs allow their use also as efficient adjuvants to enhance the innate immune response. In the current manuscript, the authors discuss the main concepts in this fast-growing field by restricting our view to NMs with consolidated application in biomedicine

Biomedical Nanoparticles: Overview of Their Surface Immune-Compatibility

Diagnostic- and therapeutic release-aimed nanoparticles require the highest degree of biocompatibility. Some physical and chemical characteristics of such nanomaterials are often at odds with this requirement. For instance, metals with specific features used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging need particular coatings to improve their blood solubility and increase their biocompatibility. Other examples come from the development of nanocarriers exploiting the different characteristics of two or more materials, i.e., the ability to encapsulate a certain drug by one core-material and the targeting capability of a different coating surface. Furthermore, all these “human-non-self” modifications necessitate proofs of compatibility with the immune system to avoid inflammatory reactions and resultant adverse effects for the patient. In the present review we discuss the molecular interactions and responses of the immune system to the principal nanoparticle surface modifications used in nanomedicine

Editorial: Nanomaterials for the diagnosis and therapy of viral infections

[no abstract available

Novel siRNA delivery strategy: A new "strand" in CNS translational medicine?

RNA interference has been envisaged as a powerful tool for molecular and clinical investigation with a great potential for clinical applications. In recent years, increased understanding of cancer biology and stem cell biology has dramatically accelerated the development of technology for cell and gene therapy in these areas. This paper is a review of the most recent report of innovative use of siRNA to benefit several central nervous system diseases. Furthermore, a description is made of innovative strategies of delivery into the brain by means of viral and non-viral vectors with high potential for translation into clinical use. Problems are also highlighted that might hamper the transition from bench to bed, analyzing the lack of reliable preclinical models with predictive validity and the lack of effective delivery systems, which are able to overcome biological barriers and specifically reach the brain site of action. \ua9 2013 Springer Basel

Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes in the Brain: Cellular Internalization and Neuroinflammatory Responses

The potential use of functionalized carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) for drug and gene delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) and as neural substrates makes the understanding of their in vivo interactions with the neural tissue essential. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between chemically functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWNTs) and the neural tissue following cortical stereotactic administration. Two different f-MWNT constructs were used in these studies: shortened (by oxidation) amino-functionalized MWNT (oxMWNT-NH3+) and amino-functionalized MWNT (MWNT-NH3+). Parenchymal distribution of the stereotactically injected f-MWNTs was assessed by histological examination. Both f-MWNT were uptaken by different types of neural tissue cells (microglia, astrocytes and neurons), however different patterns of cellular internalization were observed between the nanotubes. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining for specific markers of glial cell activation (GFAP and CD11b) was performed and secretion of inflammatory cytokines was investigated using real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Injections of both f-MWNT constructs led to a local and transient induction of inflammatory cytokines at early time points. Oxidation of nanotubes seemed to induce significant levels of GFAP and CD11b over-expression in areas peripheral to the f-MWNT injection site. These results highlight the importance of nanotube functionalization on their interaction with brain tissue that is deemed critical for the development nanotube-based vector systems for CNS application

Updated landslide inventory of the area between the Furiano and Rosmarino creeks (Sicily, Italy)

A 1:10,000 scale landslide inventory map has been prepared for the area between the Furiano and Rosmarino creeks, in the Nebrodi Mountains (north-eastern Sicily, Italy), a territory highly prone to slope failures, due to the local geological and geomorphological settings and intense rainfall. The landslide inventory database included within the Hydrogeological Setting Plan of the Sicily Region has been used as a starting point for this work. The updated inventory map has been compiled through a combination of conventional approaches (i.e. aerial photo-interpretation and field surveys) and new remote sensing techniques (ground deformation measurements obtained by interferometric analysis of satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar images). The new landslide inventory consists of 566 events, classified according to their typology and state of activity

The biocompatibility of amino functionalized CdSe/ZnS quantum-dot-Doped SiO2 nanoparticles with primary neural cells and their gene carrying performance.

Nanoparticles have an enormous potential for the development of applications in biomedicine such as gene or drug delivery. We developed and characterized NH(2) functionalized CdSe/ZnS quantum dot (QD)-doped SiO(2) nanoparticles (NPs) with both imaging and gene carrier capabilities. We show that QD-doped SiO(2) NPs are internalized by primary cortical neural cells without inducing cell death in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the ability to bind, transport and release DNA into the cell allows GFP-plasmid transfection of NIH-3T3 and human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell lines. QD-doped SiO(2) NPs properties make them a valuable tool for future nanomedicine application

Transmyocardial laser revascularization. Personal experience

Background. Indirect revascularization is a therapeutic approach in case of severe angina not suitable for percutaneous or surgical revascularization. Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR) is one of the techniques used for indirect revascularization and it allows to create transmyocardial channels by a laser energy bundle delivered on left ventricular epicardial surface. Benefits of the procedure are related mainly to the angiogenesis caused by inflammation and secondly to the destruction of the nervous fibers of the heart. Patients and method. From September 1996 up to July 1997, 14 patients (9 males – 66.7%, mean age 64.8±7.9 years) underwent TMR. All patients referred angina at rest; Canadian Angina Class was IV in 7 patients (58.3%), III in 5 (41.7%). Before the enrollment, coronarography was routinely performed to find out the feasibility of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG): 13 patients (91,6%) had coronary arteries lesions not suitable for direct revascularization; this condition was limited only to postero-lateral area in one patient submitted to combined TMR + CABG procedures. Results. Mean discharge time was 3,2±1,3 days after surgery. All patients were discharged in good clinical conditions. Perfusion thallium scintigraphy was performed in 7 patients at a mean follow-up of 4±2 months, showing in all but one an improvement of perfusion defects. Moreover an exercise treadmill improvement was observed in the same patients and all of them are in good clinical conditions, with significantly reduced use of active drugs. Conclusion. Our experience confirms that TMR is a safe and feasible procedure and it offers a therapeutic solution in case of untreatable angina. Moreover, it could be a hybrid approach for patients undergoing CABGs in case of absence of vessels suitable for surgical approach in limited areas of the heart