Hybrid metal-organic nanoflowers and their application in biotechnology and medicine.

Nanoflowers - new nanostructures - have aroused the interest of scientists due to the topographic features of nanolayers, the special location of which allows a higher surface-to-volume ratio compared to classic spherical nanoparticles, which significantly increases the efficiency of surface reactions for nanoflowers. The main purpose of these types of nanomaterials is their use as enzyme stabilizers. To facilitate the functioning of enzymes under different conditions, organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials have been developed, the name of which indicates that all components of inorganic nanoparticles are associated with organic materials. These nanoparticles have many promising applications in catalysis, as biosensors, and for drug delivery. Organic-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers have led to the development of a new branch of chemistry - the chemistry of hybrid nanomaterials - in which research is rapidly developing. Thus, studying organic-inorganic hybrid nanocrystals can lead to creative new solutions in the field of chemistry of enzyme systems and the rapid development of bionanomaterials and new biotechnology industries. Present review focuses on wide biomedical applications of nanoflowers including biocatalysis, detection of substances, electrochemical biosensors based on nanoflowers, photosensitizers, drug and gene carriers and detection of various diseases, photothermal and other treatments. It will be interesting for wide range of scientists focusing in topic of new kinds of nanoparticles.

Role of cationic carbosilane dendrons and metallic core of functionalized gold nanoparticles in their interaction with human serum albumin.

Functionalization of gold nanoparticles by different chemical groups is an important issue regarding the biomedical applications of such particles. Therefore we have analyzed the interaction between gold nanoparticles functionalized by carbosilane dendrons with human serum albumin at different pHs, and in the presence of the protein unfolding agent, guanidine hydrochloride, using circular dichroism, zeta-potential and fluorescence quenching. The effect of a nanoparticle dendronization and pure dendrons on the immunoreactivity of albumin was estimated using ELISA. In addition, the tool to estimate the binding capacity of dendronized gold nanoparticles using a hydrophobic fluorescent probe 1,8-ANS (1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid) was chosen. We concluded that the effect of a nanoparticle on the structure, immunochemical properties and unfolding of albumin significantly decreased with second and third generations dendrons attached. Differences in pH dependence of the interaction between nanoparticles, their dendrons and albumin showed several effects of the "dendritic corona" and the metallic part of nanoparticle on the protein. These interactions indicate changes in the immunoreactivity of the protein, whereas dendron coating per se had no effect. Thus, dendronization of gold nanoparticles helps to shield them from interactions with plasma proteins.

Ruthenium dendrimers as carriers for anticancer siRNA.

Dendrimers, which are considered as one of the most promising tools in the field of nanobiotechnology due to their structural organization, showed a great potential in gene therapy, drug delivery, medical imaging and as antimicrobial and antiviral agents. This article is devoted to study interactions between new carbosilane-based metallodendrimers containing ruthenium and anti-cancer small interfering RNA (siRNA). Formation of complexes between anti-cancer siRNAs and Ru-based carbosilane dendrimers was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, circular dichroism and fluorescence. The zeta-potential and the size of dendriplexes were determined by dynamic light scattering. The internalization of dendriplexes were estimated using HL-60 cells. Results show that ruthenium dendrimers associated with anticancer siRNA have the ability to deliver siRNA as non-viral vectors into the cancer cells. Moreover, dendrimers can protect siRNA against nuclease degradation. Nevertheless, further research need to be performed to examine the therapeutic potential of ruthenium dendrimers as well as dendrimers complexed with siRNA and anticancer drugs towards cancer cells.

Gold nanoparticles stabilized by cationic carbosilane dendrons: synthesis and biological properties.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and polycationic macromolecules are used as gene carriers. Their behaviour is dependent on several factors, such as the size and type of the framework, charge, etc. We have combined both types of systems and prepared AuNPs covered with cationic carbosilane dendrons with the aim to evaluate their biocompatibility. Water soluble dendronized cationic AuNPs were prepared following a straightforward procedure from dendrons, a gold precursor and a reducing agent in water and were characterized by 1H NMR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), and zeta potential (ZP). The biological properties of dendrons and AuNPs were determined by hemolysis, platelet aggregation and lymphocyte proliferation. These assays reflect modification of dendron properties when covering nanoparticles. For dendrons, hemolysis and platelet aggregation are generation dependent whilst, for AuNPs these properties are related to the bigger size of NPs. On the other hand, none of the systems induced lymphocyte proliferation. Selected cationic dendrons and AuNPs were chosen for gene delivery experiments employing a small interference RNA (siRNA Nef) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Nanoparticle corona for proteins: mechanisms of interaction between dendrimers and proteins.

Protein absorption at the surface of big nanoparticles and formation of 'protein corona' can completely change their biological properties. In contrast, we have studied the binding of small nanoparticles - dendrimers - to proteins and the formation of their 'nanoparticle corona'. Three different types of interactions were observed. (1) If proteins have rigid structure and active site buried deeply inside, the 'nanoparticle corona' is unaffected. (2) If proteins have a flexible structure and their active site is also buried deeply inside, the 'nanoparticle corona' affects protein structure, but not enzymatic activity. (3) The 'nanoparticle corona' changes both the structure and enzymatic activity of flexible proteins that have surface-based active centers. These differences are important in understanding interactions taking place at a bio-nanointerface.

Anticancer siRNA cocktails as a novel tool to treat cancer cells. Part (A). Mechanisms of interaction.

This paper examines a perspective on the use of newly engineered nanomaterials as effective and safe carriers of genes for the therapy of cancer. Three different groups of cationic dendrimers (PAMAM, phosphorus and carbosilane) were complexed with anticancer siRNA and their biophysical properties of the dendriplexes analyzed. The potential of the dendrimers as nanocarriers for anticancer siBcl-xl, siBcl-2, siMcl-1 siRNAs and a siScrambled sequence was explored. Dendrimer/siRNA complexes were characterized by methods including fluorescence, zeta potential, dynamic light scattering, circular dichroism, gel electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy. Some of the experiments were done with heparin to check if siRNA can be easily disassociated from the complexes, and whether released siRNA maintains its structure after interaction with the dendrimer. The results indicate that siRNAs form complexes with all the dendrimers tested. Oligoribonucleotide duplexes can be released from dendriplexes after heparin treatment and the structure of siRNA is maintained in the case of PAMAM or carbosilane dendrimers. The dendrimers were also effective in protecting siRNA from RNase A activity. The selection of the best siRNA carrier will be made based on cell culture studies (Part B).

How to study dendrimers and dendriplexes III. Biodistribution, pharmacokinetics and toxicity in vivo.

This paper reviews the biodistribution, toxicity and pharmacokinetics of pure dendrimers and their complexes with nucleic acids (dendriplexes) in animals, including mice, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Methods and results will both be discussed. The paradigm about dendrimers' toxicity based on in vitro studies should be revised; almost all dendrimers of low and middle generations are non-toxic in vivo, despite showing some cytotoxic effects in vitro. Only the high generations of unmodified cationic dendrimers in high doses have some toxicity in vivo. Modifications of dendrimers decrease their toxicity, even when this has already been acceptable with regard to unmodified dendrimers. Several undesirable effects following administration of unmodified cationic dendrimers diminish during prolonged dosing because of the development of counteracting mechanisms. Disturbances tend to return to normal levels during the recovery period after dendrimers have ceased to be administered to animals. Neutralization of the surface charge of dendrimers in their dendriplexes leads to less toxicity in vivo. Although dendrimers and dendriplexes accumulate temporarily in liver, pancreas, heart, and kidneys, they do not do permanent damage to them, i.e. the risk of irreversible damage or malfunction of these internal organs is slight. Chemical modifications of dendrimers determine the desired location of multifunctional dendrimer-based conjugates and dendriplexes in a targeted organ. Clearance of dendrimers also strongly depends on their chemical structure. When nucleic acids are complexed with dendrimers (forming so-called dendriplexes), they are more stable, having longer circulation times than free and PEI-complexed ones. Dendrimers are highly efficient in transfection and can be targeted to any organ, e.g. brain, lung and kidneys. The vast majority of dendrimers and dendriplexes are non-immunogenic. To sum up, these promising results from in vivo studies open up the possibility of dendrimers being applied as a new generation of nano-therapeutic agents in medicine, especially in human gene therapy.

Acidosis, magnesium and acetylsalicylic acid: effects on thrombin.

Thrombin, an enzyme from the hydrolase family, is the main component of the blood coagulation system. In ischemic stroke it acts as a serine protease that converts soluble fibrinogen into insoluble strands of fibrin forming blood clots in the brain. It has been found to phosphoresce at room temperature in the millisecond and microsecond ranges. The phosphorescence of thrombin was studied under physiological conditions, in acidosis (decrease of pH from 8.0 to 5.0) and on the addition of salts (magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride) and of acetylsalicylic acid, and its connection with thrombin function is discussed. Acidosis significantly increased the internal dynamics of thrombin. We propose that lactate-acidosis plays a protective role in stroke, preventing the formation of clots. The addition of NaCl and MgSO(4) in different concentrations increased the internal dynamics of thrombin. Also, the addition of MgSO(4) decreased thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. However, magnesium sulfate and acetylsalicylic acid in the therapeutic concentrations used for treatment of ischemic stroke had no effect on thrombin internal dynamics. The data obtained will help to elucidate the conformational stability of thrombin under conditions modulating lactate-acidosis and in the presence of magnesium sulfate.