Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dot-Combined Sodium 10-Amino-2-methoxyundecanoate: Studies of Proinflammatory Gene Expression and Live Cell Imaging

Turn-Off Fluorometric Determination of Bilirubin Using Facile Synthesized Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots as a Fluorescent Probe

Bilirubin plays a significant role in human health management, particularly in the case of jaundice. Because of the need for the monitoring of bilirubin levels in jaundice patients, the development of a robust sensitive method becomes essential. Here, we describe the development of a highly sensitive and selective turn-off fluorometric detection method for bilirubin in blood serum samples using nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs). N-CDs was synthesized by the pyrolysis process, using citric acid and L-asparagine as the carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The prepared N-CDs solution showed highly intense blue emission with good stability. The HR-TEM image of N-CDs revealed spherical dot-like structures with an average size calculated to be 7.16 nm. Further, the surface functional groups of N-CDs were analyzed by FT-IR, Raman, XRD, and XPS techniques. Fluorescence spectra showed the maximum emission intensity at 443 nm (λex). The linear range of addition was performed from 1 to 150 µM, and the limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 1.97 nM. The emission of N-CDs was quenched by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) by adding bilirubin. These N-CDs showed extraordinary sensitivity and selectivity in the detection of bilirubin. Hence, this fluorescent probe has been proven successful in detecting the concentration of free bilirubin in human serum samples.

Core-Shell Nanoparticles for Pulmonary Drug Delivery

Nanoscale drug delivery systems have provoked interest for application in various therapies on account of their ability to elevate the intracellular concentration of drugs inside target cells, which leads to an increase in efficacy, a decrease in dose, and dose-associated adverse effects. There are several types of nanoparticles available; however, core-shell nanoparticles outperform bare nanoparticles in terms of their reduced cytotoxicity, high dispersibility and biocompatibility, and improved conjugation with drugs and biomolecules because of better surface characteristics. These nanoparticulate drug delivery systems are used for targeting a number of organs, such as the colon, brain, lung, etc. Pulmonary administration of medicines is a more appealing method as it is a noninvasive route for systemic and locally acting drugs as the pulmonary region has a wide surface area, delicate blood-alveolar barrier, and significant vascularization. A core-shell nano-particulate drug delivery system is more effective in the treatment of various pulmonary disorders. Thus, this review has discussed the potential of several types of core-shell nanoparticles in treating various diseases and synthesis methods of core-shell nanoparticles. The methods for synthesis of core-shell nanoparticles include solid phase reaction, liquid phase reaction, gas phase reaction, mechanical mixing, microwave- assisted synthesis, sono-synthesis, and non-thermal plasma technology. The basic types of core-shell nanoparticles are metallic, magnetic, polymeric, silica, upconversion, and carbon nanomaterial- based core-shell nanoparticles. With this special platform, it is possible to integrate the benefits of both core and shell materials, such as strong serum stability, effective drug loading, adjustable particle size, and immunocompatibility.

Synergistic anti-inflammatory effects of graphene oxide quantum dots and trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

Graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) have attracted substantial attention in numerous fields due to their unique physicochemical properties. However, their nanotoxicity and potential for use in biomedicine still require further study. In this work, the effects of GOQD and trans- 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) cotreatment on the immune function of macrophages (RAW264.7 cells) were investigated. In particular, LC/MS-based metabolomics was performed to evaluate the effects of GOQDs on the metabolism of LPS-stimulated macrophages. Herein, we fabricated GOQDs with good dispersibility and a uniform size distribution of approximately 7 nm using a polyimide-pyrolyzed carbon film as the working electrode, a high-voltage graphite electrode as the cathode, and H₂O₂ as the oxidant. The GOQDs entered the macrophages and emitted green fluorescence under UV irradiation. Cotreatment with GOQDs and 10-HDA induced RAW 264.7 cell proliferation. GOQDs promoted the anti-inflammatory effect of 10-HDA on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and attenuated the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. The metabolites in RAW264.7 cells treated with GOQDs were significantly different from those in RAW264.7 cells treated with LPS. The enrichment analysis showed that treatment with GOQDs interfered with amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Our results demonstrate the role of GOQDs in macrophages and provide a basis for their further application in biomedical fields.

Nanotechnology based advanced therapeutic strategies for targeting interleukins in chronic respiratory diseases

Both communicable and non-communicable chronic respiratory conditions have accorded for suffering of millions of people of all ages and stated to be leading cause of death, morbidity, economic and social pressures, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) worldwide. These illnesses impair patient's health and negatively impacts families and society, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) affect different organs of respiratory system, involving airways, parenchyma, and pulmonary vasculature. As the number of respiratory diseases are exponentially escalating but still the stakeholders are not paying attention towards its serious complications. Currently, the treatment being used primarily focusses only on alleviating symptoms of these illness rather delivering the therapeutic agent at target site for optimal care and/or prevention. Lately, extensive research is being conducted on airways and systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, airway, or parenchymal rehabilitation. From which macrophages, neutrophils, and T cells, as well as structural cells as fibroblasts, epithelial, endothelial, and smooth muscle cells have been found to be active participants that are involved in these chronic respiratory diseases. The pathogenesis of all these chronic respiratory diseases gets caused differently via mediators and proteins, including cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and oxidants. Presently, the target of prescription therapies is to reduce the inflammation of airways and relieve the airway contraction. In all studies, cytokines have been found to play an imperative role in fostering chronic airway inflammation and remodelling. Owing to the limitations of conventional treatments, the current review aims to summarize the current knowledge about the chronic respiratory disease and discuss further about the various conventional methods that can be used for treating this ailment. Additionally, it also highlights and discusses about the advanced drug delivery system that are being used for targeting the interleukins for the treatment of CRDs.

How macrophages respond to two-dimensional materials: a critical overview focusing on toxicity

With wider use of graphene-based materials and other two-dimensional (2 D) materials in various fields, including electronics, composites, biomedicine, etc., 2 D materials can trigger undesired effects at cellular, tissue and organ level. Macrophages can be found in many organs. They are one of the most important cells in the immune system and they are relevant in the study of nanomaterials as they phagocytose them. Nanomaterials have multi-faceted effects on phagocytic immune cells like macrophages, showing signs of inflammation in the form of pro-inflammatory cytokine or reactive oxidation species production, or upregulation of activation markers due to the presence of these foreign bodies. This review is catered to researchers interested in the potential impact and toxicity of 2 D materials, particularly in macrophages, focusing on few-layer graphene, graphene oxide, graphene quantum dots, as well as other promising 2 D materials containing molybdenum, manganese, boron, phosphorus and tungsten. We describe applications relevant to the growing area of 2 D materials research, and the possible risks of ions and molecules used in the production of these promising 2 D materials, or those produced by the degradation and dissolution of 2 D materials.

Update on Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery System for Anti-inflammatory Treatment

Nanobiotechnology plays an important role in drug delivery, and various kinds of nanoparticles have demonstrated new properties, which may provide opportunities in clinical treatment. Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery systems have been used in anti-inflammatory therapies. Diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis have been widely impacted by the pathogenesis of inflammation. Efficient delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce medical dosage and improve therapeutic effect. In this review, we discuss nanoparticles with potential anti-inflammatory activity, and we present a future perspective regarding the application of nanomedicine in inflammatory diseases.

Core-shell nanostructures: perspectives towards drug delivery applications

Nanosystems have shown encouraging outcomes and substantial progress in the areas of drug delivery and biomedical applications. However, the controlled and targeted delivery of drugs or genes can be limited due to their physicochemical and functional properties. In this regard, core-shell type nanoparticles are promising nanocarrier systems for controlled and targeted drug delivery applications. These functional nanoparticles are emerging as a particular class of nanosystems because of their unique advantages, including high surface area, and easy surface modification and functionalization. Such unique advantages can facilitate the use of core-shell nanoparticles for the selective mingling of two or more different functional properties in a single nanosystem to achieve the desired physicochemical properties that are essential for effective targeted drug delivery. Several types of core-shell nanoparticles, such as metallic, magnetic, silica-based, upconversion, and carbon-based core-shell nanoparticles, have been designed and developed for drug delivery applications. Keeping the scope, demand, and challenges in view, the present review explores state-of-the-art developments and advances in core-shell nanoparticle systems, the desired structure-property relationships, newly generated properties, the effects of parameter control, surface modification, and functionalization, and, last but not least, their promising applications in the fields of drug delivery, biomedical applications, and tissue engineering. This review also supports significant future research for developing multi-core and shell-based functional nanosystems to investigate nano-therapies that are needed for advanced, precise, and personalized healthcare systems.