Nanoparticles are now an indispensable material for science and technology, in the context of material science, cosmetics, and medicine. In particular, they are presently considered the cornerstone for diagnostics and drug delivery. In this regard, promising nanotechnologies range from organic and inorganic solid nanoparticles (e.g. dyes, carbon-based nanoparticles) to loaded nanodroplets, stabilized nanobubbles, and nanorobots. Controlling the dispersion stability of nanoparticles in various liquid media is essential for controlling the properties of the final products. Moreover, nanoparticles offer the advantage that they can be designed specifically with respect to their composition, size, shape, and surface chemistry, to give them unique properties. Thus, the study of nanoparticles in liquids is an urgent task both from a fundamental and a technological point of view, with important implications for the fields of biology, biotechnology, and medicine.
Nanoparticles are materials with overall dimensions in the submicron scale, i.e., 100 – 500 nm. Nanoparticles in a liquid is a highly interdisciplinary frontier interfacing physics, chemistry, and life sciences. In recent years, these materials have emerged as important players in modern medicine, with applications ranging from contrast agents in medical imaging to carriers for gene delivery into individual cells. Nanoparticles have a number of properties that distinguish them from bulk materials simply by virtue of their size, such as chemical reactivity, energy absorption, and biological mobility. The benefits of nanoparticles to modern medicine are numerous. Indeed, there are some instances where nanoparticles enable analyses and therapies that simply cannot be performed otherwise. However, nanoparticles also bring with them unique environmental and societal challenges, particularly in regard to toxicity. This Research Topic is intended to serve as an introduction to the role of nanoparticles in medicine, with a particular focus on medical imaging and drug/gene delivery. The goal is to develop a balanced collection of theoretical, numerical, and experimental studies, summarizing the recent advances and the yet open questions of this constantly-evolving field.
The manuscripts should preferentially be original contributions such as Original Research articles and Brief Research Reports, however, Review articles are also welcome:
• Stable (long-living) gas nanobubbles.
• Spontaneous nucleation of liquid nanodroplets in aqueous-organic mixtures.
• Interaction between proteins and nanobubbles / nanoparticles / nanodroplets.
• Aggregation of protein macromolecules in water and aqueous-organic mixtures.
• Aqueous solutions of nanoparticles, protein macromolecules, and biologically active substances.
• Interaction of gas nanobubbles and nanodroplets with surfaces.
• Nanoparticles and nanodroplets in viscoelastic matrices and tissue-mimicking materials.
• Nanoparticles, nanodroplets, and nanobubbles for target drug delivery and cancer treatment.
• Laser diagnostic techniques with nanoparticles, nanodroplets, and nanobubbles.
• Nanoparticle, nanodroplet, and nanobubble manipulation.
• Suspensions of metal nanoparticles in liquids.
• Aggregates formation and phase separation of nanoparticles, nanodroplets, and nanobubbles in organic solutions.
• Active nanorobots.
Nanoparticles are now an indispensable material for science and technology, in the context of material science, cosmetics, and medicine. In particular, they are presently considered the cornerstone for diagnostics and drug delivery. In this regard, promising nanotechnologies range from organic and inorganic solid nanoparticles (e.g. dyes, carbon-based nanoparticles) to loaded nanodroplets, stabilized nanobubbles, and nanorobots. Controlling the dispersion stability of nanoparticles in various liquid media is essential for controlling the properties of the final products. Moreover, nanoparticles offer the advantage that they can be designed specifically with respect to their composition, size, shape, and surface chemistry, to give them unique properties. Thus, the study of nanoparticles in liquids is an urgent task both from a fundamental and a technological point of view, with important implications for the fields of biology, biotechnology, and medicine.
Nanoparticles are materials with overall dimensions in the submicron scale, i.e., 100 – 500 nm. Nanoparticles in a liquid is a highly interdisciplinary frontier interfacing physics, chemistry, and life sciences. In recent years, these materials have emerged as important players in modern medicine, with applications ranging from contrast agents in medical imaging to carriers for gene delivery into individual cells. Nanoparticles have a number of properties that distinguish them from bulk materials simply by virtue of their size, such as chemical reactivity, energy absorption, and biological mobility. The benefits of nanoparticles to modern medicine are numerous. Indeed, there are some instances where nanoparticles enable analyses and therapies that simply cannot be performed otherwise. However, nanoparticles also bring with them unique environmental and societal challenges, particularly in regard to toxicity. This Research Topic is intended to serve as an introduction to the role of nanoparticles in medicine, with a particular focus on medical imaging and drug/gene delivery. The goal is to develop a balanced collection of theoretical, numerical, and experimental studies, summarizing the recent advances and the yet open questions of this constantly-evolving field.
The manuscripts should preferentially be original contributions such as Original Research articles and Brief Research Reports, however, Review articles are also welcome:
• Stable (long-living) gas nanobubbles.
• Spontaneous nucleation of liquid nanodroplets in aqueous-organic mixtures.
• Interaction between proteins and nanobubbles / nanoparticles / nanodroplets.
• Aggregation of protein macromolecules in water and aqueous-organic mixtures.
• Aqueous solutions of nanoparticles, protein macromolecules, and biologically active substances.
• Interaction of gas nanobubbles and nanodroplets with surfaces.
• Nanoparticles and nanodroplets in viscoelastic matrices and tissue-mimicking materials.
• Nanoparticles, nanodroplets, and nanobubbles for target drug delivery and cancer treatment.
• Laser diagnostic techniques with nanoparticles, nanodroplets, and nanobubbles.
• Nanoparticle, nanodroplet, and nanobubble manipulation.
• Suspensions of metal nanoparticles in liquids.
• Aggregates formation and phase separation of nanoparticles, nanodroplets, and nanobubbles in organic solutions.
• Active nanorobots.