Review on Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Materials: Bioimaging, Biosensing, Drug Delivery, Tissue Engineering, Antimicrobial, and Agro-Food Applications

Abstract

In the last few decades, the vast potential of nanomaterials for biomedical and healthcare applications has been extensively investigated. Several case studies demonstrated that nanomaterials can offer solutions to the current challenges of raw materials in the biomedical and healthcare fields. This review describes the different nanoparticles and nanostructured material synthesis approaches and presents some emerging biomedical, healthcare, and agro-food applications. This review focuses on various nanomaterial types (e.g., spherical, nanorods, nanotubes, nanosheets, nanofibers, core-shell, and mesoporous) that can be synthesized from different raw materials and their emerging applications in bioimaging, biosensing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, antimicrobial, and agro-foods. Depending on their morphology (e.g., size, aspect ratio, geometry, porosity), nanomaterials can be used as formulation modifiers, moisturizers, nanofillers, additives, membranes, and films. As toxicological assessment depends on sizes and morphologies, stringent regulation is needed from the testing of efficient nanomaterials dosages. The challenges and perspectives for an industrial breakthrough of nanomaterials are related to the optimization of production and processing conditions.

Keywords: drug delivery systems; market and regulations; nanomaterials; nanostructures; risks and toxicities; skincare; tissue-engineered scaffolds; wound dressings.

Figure 1

Summary of the recent topic on nanoparticles and nanostructured materials and their applications in bioimaging, biosensing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, antimicrobial, and agro-food sectors. Image created by Biorender.

Figure 2

Schematic representation showing the utilization of magnetic nanoparticles in tumor bioimaging and therapy [30]. Copyright 2016, American Chemical Society.

Figure 3

Schematic presentation showing fluorescence imaging approaches of traditional methods versus rare-earth-metal doped nanoparticles. (A) The spectral range of classical fluorescence imaging methods. NIR, near-infrared region. (B) Examples of probes in the NIR-II region: single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), rare-earth-metal doped nanoparticles (RENPs), organic dyes, conjugated polymers, and quantum dots (QDs). (C) Nanoparticles are doped with rare-earth metals (Nd, Tm, Pr, Ho, Er) [42]. Copyright 2020, Frontiers.

Figure 4

Multicolor conjugated polymer with carboxyl groups were fabricated from poly (styrene co-maleic anhydride) (PSMA) with four conjugated polymers (P1, P2, P3, and P4), for cancer cell bioimaging and detection. (a) UV-vis absorption, and (b) fluorescence emission spectra of P1–4/PSMA nanoparticles in water (excitation wavelength: 360 nm). The conjugated polymer nanoparticles were fabricated by precipitation of the tetrahydrofuran solution (2.0 µg/mL of P1, 7.0 µg/mL of P2, 4.0 µg/mL of P3, 12.0 µg/mL of P4, and 20.0 µg/mL of PSMA) into water. (c) Multi-channel fluorescence images of MCF-7 cells using P1–4/PSMA/anti-EpCAM polymer nanoparticles. The excitation wavelengths are indicated above the panels [67]. Copyright 2014, Wiley.

Figure 5

Characteristics of nanomaterials that can cross the biological membranes to deliver a drug to a specific site and mechanisms influencing controlled drug release. Image created by Biorender.

Figure 6

Schematic presentation showing the preparation of morin-loaded nano-antioxidants of (nano-RA/MH) loaded onto mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN). (a) The graphic path from the single components to therosmarinic acid nanocarrier (nano-RA) and (b) morin loading on the nanocarrier (nano-RA/MH) [149]. Copyright 2016, MDPI.

Figure 7

Schematic representation of several factors that influence silver nanoparticles’ (Ag NPs) antibacterial activity.

Figure 8

Combinatorial approaches based on organic nanoparticles (ONP) for gene therapy are associated with other therapies [214]. Copyright 2017, Trends in Biotechnology.

Figure 9

Schematic representation of the components of a typical biosensor and of the different types of bioreceptors and transducers. Image created by Biorender.

Figure 10

Vesicles displaying antibacterial activity and good antibiotic delivery capacity for the management of biofilm-induced periodontitis. (a) Co-assemblage of multifunctional corona vesicles. (b) Encapsulation of ciprofloxacin within the multifunctional corona vesicles. (c) Antibacterial activity of the multifunctional corona vesicles to remove dental plaque biofilms produced by bacteria [238]. Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.

Figure 11

Schematic figure to show how electrospun nanofibers promote the differentiation of various types of pluripotent stem cells into different lineages [248]. Copyright 2020, Wiely.

Figure 12

Potential applications of nanomaterials in the animal and agriculture industry. Increase the productivity of the crop using nano-pesticides and smart packaging; Improve the quality of the soil using nano-fertilizers; Stimulate animal and plant growth using nanomaterials; Provide smart monitoring for animals and plants using nanosensors by wireless communication devices. Image created by Biorender.

Figure 13

Disease caused by exposure to nanoparticles and entrances of nanoscale materials into the body through inhalation, dermal exposure, and ingestion, resulting in many potential hazards. Image created by Biorender.