Understanding cellular interactions with nanomaterials: towards a rational design of medical nanodevices

Abstract

Biomedical applications increasingly require fully characterized new nanomaterials. There is strong evidence showing that nanomaterials not only interact with cells passively but also actively, mediating essential molecular processes for the regulation of cellular functions, but we are only starting to understand the mechanisms of those interactions. Systematic studies about cell behavior as a response to specific nanoparticle properties are scarce in the literature even when they are necessary for the rational design of medical nanodevices. Information in the literature shows that the physicochemical properties determine the bioactivity, biocompatibility, and safety of nanomaterials. The information available regarding the interaction and responses of cells to nanomaterials has not been analyzed and discussed in a single document. Hence, in this review, we present the latest advances about cellular responses to nanomaterials and integrate the available information into concrete considerations for the development of innovative, efficient, specific and, more importantly, safe biomedical nanodevices. We focus on how physicochemical nanoparticle properties (size, chemical surface, shape, charge, and topography) influence cell behavior in a first attempt to provide a practical guide for designing medical nanodevices, avoiding common experimental omissions that may lead to data misinterpretation. Finally, we emphasize the importance of the systematic study of nano-bio interactions to acquire sufficient reproducible information that allows accurate control of cell behavior based on tuning of nanomaterial properties. This information is useful to guide the design of specific nanodevices and nanomaterials to elicit desired cell responses, like targeting, drug delivery, cell attachment, differentiation, etc, or to avoid undesired side effects.

Nanospheres Loaded with Curcumin Improve the Bioactivity of Umbilical Cord Blood-Mesenchymal Stem Cells via c-Src Activation during the Skin Wound Healing Process

“…Many researchers have reported that liposomes are taken up into cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis [43,44]. In addition, it has been also suggested that around 100 nm-sized nanoparticles mainly are internalized via clathrin-mediated endocytosis [45]. Thus, we speculate that spherical CN with diameters around 120 nm is preferably suspected to internalize through a clathrin-dependent pathway.…”

Synthesis, characterization of blue fluorescent carbon nanoparticle and its in-vitro toxicity evaluation

“…Pinocytosis engulfs particle size equivalent to 100 nm whereas phagocytosis engulfs particle size larger than 0.5µm. Nanoparticles upto 50 nm penetrate via caveolin-mediated endocytosis whereas 50-100nm size nanoparticles penetrate via clathrin-mediated endocytosis (Villanueva-Flores et al, 2020). In this study, the size of synthesized CNPs ranged between 10-50 nm, the internalization mechanism shall be attributed to caveolinmediated endocytosis.…”

“…Several inconsistent reports were published on the toxicity of nanoparticles on human cells. For example, Villanueva-Flores et al (2020) suggested that nanoparticles of size less than 1.5 nm can interact with proteins or interfere with cellular channels and react causing inflammatory response or oxidative stress. On the contrary, Kokorina et al (2017) reviewed the biomedical application of non-cytotoxic carbon nanoparticles synthesized from different sources with variable size range between 0.5 and 120 nm.…”

Nanotechnology-based antiviral therapeutics

“…With the advent of nanotechnology, it has been possible to comprehend the cellular mechanisms of the living cells and to develop relevant technologies which facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of various viral infections [ 38 , 39 ]. Some of its applications consist of drug and gene delivery; use of fluorescent biological labels, detection of proteins, pathogens, and tumors; separation and purification of biological molecules and cells; tissue engineering; MRI contrast heightening; and pharmacokinetic studies [ 40 – 42 ].…”