Antibiotic-Loaded Smart Platelet: A Highly Effective Invisible Mode of Killing Both Antibiotic-Sensitive and -Resistant Bacteria

Structural and Surface Properties of pH-Varied Fe2O3 Nanoparticles: Correlation with Antibacterial Properties

Hematite (Fe2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized using a hydrothermal synthesis route under different pH conditions (pH ∼8,10,11.5) (i.e., different ratios of H+/OH- ions). The sample synthesized at pH 10 had better motility toward the bacterial surface due to having an overall positive charge (ξ-potential = +11.10), leading to a minimal hydrodynamic size (Dτ = 186.6). The results are discussed in light of the relative ratio of H+/OH- that may affect bond formation by influencing the electronic clouds of the participating ions that can modify the structure. This, in turn, modifies crystallinity, strain, disorder, surface termination, and thereby, the surface charge, which has been correlated to the antibacterial properties of the nanoparticles due to the interaction between the respective opposite charges on the nanoparticle surface and bacterial cell wall. The structural modifications were correlated to all of these parameters in this work.

Cell-Based Drug Delivery Systems with Innate Homing Capability as a Novel Nanocarrier Platform

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have been designed to treat various diseases. However, many problems remain, such as inadequate tumor targeting and poor therapeutic outcomes. To overcome these obstacles, cell-based drug delivery systems have been developed. Candidates for cell-mediated drug delivery include blood cells, immune cells, and stem cells with innate tumor tropism and low immunogenicity; they act as a disguise to deliver the therapeutic payload. In drug delivery systems, therapeutic agents are encapsulated intracellularly or attached to the surface of the plasma membrane and transported to the desired site. Here, we review the pros and cons of cell-based therapies and discuss their homing mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment. In addition, different strategies to load therapeutic agents inside or on the surface of circulating cells and the current applications for a wide range of disease treatments are summarized.