Surface functionalization of nanoparticles for nanomedicine

Abstract

Control of interactions between nanoparticles and biosystems is essential for the effective utilization of these materials in biomedicine. A wide variety of nanoparticle surface structures have been developed for imaging, sensing, and delivery applications. In this research Highlight, we will emphasize advances in tailoring nanoparticle interfaces for implementation in nanomedicine.

Fig. 1

Schematic representation of competitive binding between the quenched nanoparticle-GFP complexes and the cell surface (a), using array of nanoparticles functionalized with different ligands (b).

Fig. 2

Schematic illustration of surface charge dependent nanoparticle internalization by cells. Positively charged particles have high internalization efficiency as compared to negative and neutral particles.

Fig. 3

Schematic illustration of tumor targeting by cooperative nanomaterials. Pre-delivered gold nanorods can guide the therapeutic (drug loaded liposomes) and diagnostic (iron oxide nanoworms) payloads to the tumor site.

Fig. 4

Schematics showing gold nanocages (a) functionalized with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm) polymer (b) that carries drug molecules. On exposure to near-infrared laser, the polymer collapse and thus release the pre-loaded drug. When the laser is turned off, the polymer chains relax back to the extended conformation and terminate the release (c).

Fig. 5

Schematic showing the fabrication of ‘nanoflares’ for intracellular mRNA quantification. Fluorescent dye labeled reporter flare, which is hybridized to DNA-AuNPs, gets replaced by target mRNA inside cell and thus reports the quantity of intracellular mRNA.