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Hybrid Nanoparticles for Biological Applications
Nanoparticles (NPs) are synthetic materials with considerable applications in biomedicine due
to the unique way in which they interact with matter (Wagner, Dullaart et al. 2006, Kim,
Rutka et al. 2010, Jokerst, Lobovkina et al. 2011). The control of hybrid nano-objects with
tailored shapes and dimensions have attracted extensive researches because of their
tremendous interest in numerous applications involving their optical properties, photo-thermal
activity or ability for imaging. NPs can be used in diagnosis, as contrast agents in optical,
photoacustic and MRI imaging, or in drug delivery, as carriers able to increase tumour
exposure to therapeutic agents, improving treatment effects by prolonging circulation times,
protecting carried drug from degradation and enhancing tumour uptake (Fernandez-Fernandez,
Manchanda et al. 2011). TiO2 nanoparticles and Gold Nanoparticles can be applied in
biomedical field like photodynamic and sonodynamic therapy for cancer (Yamaguchi,
Kobayashi et al. 2011). Nevertheless, nanoparticles exhibit a potential toxicity to cells and
organism, due to the small size and corresponding high specific surface area (Huang,
Aronstam et al. 2010). One strategy to prevent TiO2 nanoparticles toxicity is to coat particles
with poly-ethylene glycol (PEG). PEG is a hydrophilic, non-ionic polymer that has been
shown to exhibit excellent biocompatibility. In both imaging and drug delivery the addition of
PEG to NPs increases circulation time preventing the uptake by the reticuloendothelial system
(Jacobson, Gonzalez-Gonzalez et al. 2010). For direct targeted therapy is necessary to
incorporate, on the nanoparticle surface, a targeting moiety (e.g., antibodies, peptides) able to
bind a tumour-associated antigen or receptor and facilitate the delivery of nanoparticles.
Preclinical studies have shown that targeted nanoparticles have better antitumor activity
compared with nontargeted nanoparticles (Kirpotin, Drummond et al. 2006, Gu, Zhang et al.
2008)