The effect of nanoparticle uptake on cellular behavior: disrupting or enabling functions?

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) are materials with overall dimensions in the nanoscale range. They have unique physicochemical properties, and have emerged as important players in current research in modern medicine. In the last few decades, several types of NPs and microparticles have been synthesized and proposed for use as contrast agents for diagnostics and imaging and for drug delivery; for example, in cancer therapy. Yet specific targeting that will improve their delivery still represents an unsolved challenge. The mechanism by which NPs enter the cell has important implications not only for their fate but also for their impact on biological systems. Several papers in the literature discuss the potential risks related to NP exposure, and more recently the concept that even sublethal doses of NPs may elicit a cell response has been proposed. In this review, we intend to present an overall view of cell mechanisms that may be perturbed by cell-NP interaction. Published data, in fact, emphasize that NPs should no longer be viewed only as simple carriers for biomedical applications, but that they can also play an active role in mediating biological effects.

A holistic approach to targeting disease with polymeric nanoparticles

“…It also requires understanding from a biochemical perspective the surface expression required on the targeted cell relative to non-targeted cells and nanoparticle avidity in order to ensure strong nanoparticle association. In instances where a suitable cell surface target does exist, it is also important to realize that the binding of the targeting moiety to the targeted receptor may itself lead to a biologic response that can either enhance or inhibit the desired therapeutic effect 84 .…”

Folate-grafted boron nitride nanotubes: Possible exploitation in cancer therapy

“…Furthermore, the co-localization with lysosomes suggests a receptor-mediated endocytosis as the process enabling FA-BNNT enhanced internalization by cancer cells (Barz et al, 2010). This observation is important when envisaging, for example, a drug delivery based on pH-responsiveness (Panariti et al, 2012).…”

Fabrication and Cytotoxicity of Gemcitabine-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles

“…The cytoskeleton is considered to be a “biosensor of cellular well-being” [45], its changes in integrity directly affecting the cells normal functioning, as the cytoskeleton is implied in many cellular functions: (1) cell division (mitosis stage); (2) cytokinesis; (3) cell motility; (4) contraction in muscle cells; (5) endocytosis; (6) intracellular trafficking; (7) protein secretion; (8) normal morphology maintenance; [46]. …”