Recent biomedical advancements in graphene oxide- and reduced graphene oxide-based nanocomposite nanocarriers.

Recently, nanocarriers, including micelles, polymers, carbon-based materials, liposomes, and other substances, have been developed for efficient delivery of drugs, nucleotides, and biomolecules. This review focuses on graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as active components in nanocarriers, because their chemical structures and easy functionalization can be valuable assets for in vitro and in vivo delivery. Herein, we describe the preparation, structure, and functionalization of GO and rGO. Additionally, their important properties to function as nanocarriers are presented, including their molecular interactions with various compounds, near-infrared light adsorption, and biocompatibility. Subsequently, their mechanisms and the most appealing examples of their delivery applications are summarized. Overall, GO- and rGO-based nanocomposites show great promise as multipurpose nanocarriers owing to their various potential applications in drug and gene delivery, phototherapy, bioimaging, biosensing, tissue engineering, and as antibacterial agents.

Facile preparation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/graphene oxide nanocomposites for chemo-photothermal therapy.

Carbon-based nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, nanodiamonds, and graphene, have been investigated for various biomedical applications, including biological imaging, photothermal therapy, drug/gene delivery, cancer therapy, biosensors, and electrochemical sensors. Graphene oxide (GO) has unique physicochemical properties and can be used to restore conductivity through oxidation. In this study, we developed poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-based nanogel systems containing GO for controlled in vitro drug delivery. The photothermal effects of the PNIPAM/GO- and PNIPAMAAM/GO-based nanogel systems were enhanced. The release of DOX from the PNIPAM/GO-based nanogel was achieved using the photothermal effect of near-infrared irradiation. Using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, the cytotoxicity of all conditions demonstrated that the PNIPAM composite-based nanogels were biocompatible with no significance.

Spheroid Culture System Methods and Applications for Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Owing to the importance of stem cell culture systems in clinical applications, researchers have extensively studied them to optimize the culture conditions and increase efficiency of cell culture. A spheroid culture system provides a similar physicochemical environment in vivo by facilitating cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction to overcome the limitations of traditional monolayer cell culture. In suspension culture, aggregates of adjacent cells form a spheroid shape having wide utility in tumor and cancer research, therapeutic transplantation, drug screening, and clinical study, as well as organic culture. There are various spheroid culture methods such as hanging drop, gel embedding, magnetic levitation, and spinner culture. Lately, efforts are being made to apply the spheroid culture system to the study of drug delivery platforms and co-cultures, and to regulate differentiation and pluripotency. To study spheroid cell culture, various kinds of biomaterials are used as building forms of hydrogel, film, particle, and bead, depending upon the requirement. However, spheroid cell culture system has limitations such as hypoxia and necrosis in the spheroid core. In addition, studies should focus on methods to dissociate cells from spheroid into single cells.

Gold Nanoparticles for Photothermal Cancer Therapy.

Gold is a multifunctional material that has been utilized in medicinal applications for centuries because it has been recognized for its bacteriostatic, anticorrosive, and antioxidative properties. Modern medicine makes routine, conventional use of gold and has even developed more advanced applications by taking advantage of its ability to be manufactured at the nanoscale and functionalized because of the presence of thiol and amine groups, allowing for the conjugation of various functional groups such as targeted antibodies or drug products. It has been shown that colloidal gold exhibits localized plasmon surface resonance (LPSR), meaning that gold nanoparticles can absorb light at specific wavelengths, resulting in photoacoustic and photothermal properties, making them potentially useful for hyperthermic cancer treatments and medical imaging applications. Modifying gold nanoparticle shape and size can change their LPSR photochemical activities, thereby also altering their photothermal and photoacoustic properties, allowing for the utilization of different wavelengths of light, such as light in the near-infrared spectrum. By manufacturing gold in a nanoscale format, it is possible to passively distribute the material through the body, where it can localize in tumors (which are characterized by leaky blood vessels) and be safely excreted through the urinary system. In this paper, we give a quick review of the structure, applications, recent advancements, and potential future directions for the utilization of gold nanoparticles in cancer therapeutics.

Draft genome sequence of the thermophilic bacterium Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis G10.

Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis G10 is a spore-forming thermophilic bacterium isolated from a hot spring in Indonesia. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of A. kamchatkensis G10 that may reveal insights into aerobic/anaerobic metabolisms and carbon utilization in moderate thermophiles.

Draft genome sequence of Bacillus oceanisediminis 2691.

Bacillus oceanisediminis 2691 is an aerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming, and moderately halophilic bacterium that was isolated from marine sediment of the Yellow Sea coast of South Korea. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of B. oceanisediminis 2691 that may have an important role in the bioremediation of marine sediment.