Green Plasmonic Nanoparticles and Polymer Vesicles for Nanomedicine Application
1University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
2Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
Green Plasmonic Nanoparticles and Polymer Vesicles for Nanomedicine Application
Description
In the last years, there has been a growing interest in the application of nanoscaled materials for a plethora of diseases due to their unique physico-chemical properties.
However, their use is controversial because of their possible accumulation in living organisms, and the relative adverse effects. Starting from these pieces of evidence, the green synthetic routes, able to produce noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) such as silver and gold (Ag and Au) NPs, are suitable processes to obtain safe materials without the use of toxic surfactants and solvents, widely used in traditional chemical routes. These metal NPs, having plasmonic properties, are considered powerful tools as active anticancer agents, in combination with other techniques, such as photo-thermal therapy. Strictly connected with this topic, the use of stimuli-responsive polymeric bio-inspired nanovesicles (liposomes, polymersomes, and chitosan/alginate NPs) has revolutionised the supply of anticancer drugs. Stimuli-responsive polymeric bioinspired nanovesicles are used as new drug delivery agents, and they are easily customized to improve their efficacy in cells and tissues. In addition, they can also use for imaging and diagnostics or to deliver antibacterial or antiviral compounds.
The aim of this Special Issue is to solicit original research articles, as well as review articles, regarding the development of noble metals NPs. Research also focusing on synthesised NPs via new green routes, and polymeric vesicle development with the aim to obtain biocompatible objects acting in vitro and in vivo, is particularly encouraged. We hope to attract submissions from researchers in nanomedicine, and cancer therapy.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Nanomedicine
- Nanochemistry
- Nanotoxicology
- Morphomechanical alteration
- Noble metals nanoparticles via green routes
- Polymeric nanoparticles such as alginate, and chitosan
- Polymersomes
- Antimicrobial and antiviral activity
- Immunoresponse
- Modelling and simulation