Elsevier

Life Sciences

Volume 277, 15 July 2021, 119400
Life Sciences

Review article
The biomedical significance of multifunctional nanobiomaterials: The key components for site-specific delivery of therapeutics

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119400Get rights and content

Abstract

The emergence of nanotechnology has provided the possibilities to overcome the potential problems associated with the development of pharmaceuticals including the low solubility, non-specific cellular uptake or action, and rapid clearance. Regarding the biomaterials (BMs), huge efforts have been made for improving their multi-functionalities via incorporation of various nanomaterials (NMs). Nanocomposite hydrogels with suitable properties could exhibit a variety of beneficial effects in biomedicine particularly in the delivery of therapeutics or tissue engineering. NMs including the silica- or carbon-based ones are capable of integration into various BMs that might be due to their special compositions or properties such as the hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, magnetic or electrical characteristics, and responsiveness to various stimuli. This might provide multi-functional nanobiomaterials against a wide variety of disorders. Meanwhile, inappropriate distribution or penetration into the cells or tissues, bio-nano interface complexity, targeting ability loss, or any other unpredicted phenomena are the serious challenging issues. Computational simulations and models enable development of NMs with optimal characteristics and provide a deeper knowledge of NM interaction with biosystems. This review highlights the biomedical significance of the multifunctional NMs particularly those applied for the development of 2-D or 3-D BMs for a variety of applications including the site-specific delivery of therapeutics. The powerful impacts of the computational techniques on the design process of NMs, quantitation and prediction of protein corona formation, risk assessment, and individualized therapy for improved therapeutic outcomes have also been discussed.

Introduction

Over the last decade, biomaterials (BMs) have been shown as promising agents for delivery of therapeutics, accelerated healing of wounds, regenerating the tissues, or treatment of various disorders [1]. BMs are capable of mimicking the properties of extracellular matrix (ECM) which is known as 3-D dynamic and viscoelastic network composed of the polysaccharides and proteins and capable of regulating the differentiation, proliferation, and migration of cells via the biochemical and physical support [2]. In this respect, proper engineering of BMs with controlled chemical and biophysical characteristics might be of great significance for providing appropriate microenvironments for the cells and tissue engineering (TE) leading to the development of the compatible and functional architectures for supporting and controlling cell growth, differentiation, and migration and repairing or replacing the damaged organs or tissues [3]. Remarkable advancements in the techniques for designing the materials and functionalization their surfaces have enabled mimicking the biological, mechanical, and chemical characteristics of the ECM and micro/nanoscale topographies [4]. Nanocomposite hydrogels (NHGs) based on 2-D or 3-D nanobiomaterials or monolayers capable of self-assembly have shown great potential in biomedicine particularly in the fields of TE, nanobiosensor technology, or delivery of the therapeutics that might be due to their suitable biocompatibility and physicochemical properties [5]. Inclusion of NMs into the 3-D networks or 2-D surfaces results in the enhanced surface area, levels of connection points between the surfaces and cells, and transfer of information between the cells and material surface [6]. The superior characteristics of NMs including the electrical or magnetic ones, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, or responsiveness to a various stimuli have represented them as promising tools for development of the advanced materials for various applications. This manuscript highlights the importance of NMs for development of 2-D or 3-D materials for being applied in biomedicine with a special look at the significance of the computational techniques in this regard.

Section snippets

Biomedical significance of the functional NMs

Because of their size- and shape-dependent characteristics, NMs are suitable candidates for being applied in the field of nanobiotechnology.

The significance of the modeling approaches

Development of the multifunctional NPs capable of real-time imaging, protecting the entrapped therapeutics and monitoring their effects, prolonging the residence of drugs in their targets, and improving drug efficiency and safety is indeed an outstanding breakthrough in biomedicine. For instance, using nanotech-based strategies for sustained growth factor delivery holds considerable potential for CNS disease therapy [77,112]. Nanotechnology has also provided various platforms for detecting or

Concluding remarks

Targeted delivery of therapeutics for increasing their efficiency and reducing adverse events has been a major challenge in the pharmaceutical industry. Advanced NMs by providing a comprehensive knowledge about disease pathomechanisms and more powerful theranostics have opened up novel frontiers in the biomedical field. NM introducing into 3-D networks or on 2-D surfaces could alter NM properties and result in the formation of BMs with tunable and superior characteristics such as SAMLs or NHGs.

Role of the funding source

This work did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Declaration of competing interest

Author has no competing interests to declare.

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

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