Biomedical Applications Research Articles

Mannose: A Promising Player in Clinical and Biomedical Applications.

Mannose, an isomer of glucose, exhibits a distinct molecular structure with the same formula but a different atom arrangement, contributing to its specific biological functions. Widely distributed in body fluids and tissues, particularly in the nervous system, skin, testes, and retinas, mannose plays a crucial role as a direct precursor for glycoprotein synthesis. Glycoproteins, essential for immune regulation and glycosylation processes, underscore the significance of mannose in these physiological activities. The clinical and biomedical applications of mannose are diverse, encompassing its anti-inflammatory properties, potential to inhibit bacterial infections, role in metabolism regulation, and suggested involvement in alleviating diabetes and obesity. Additionally, mannose shows promise in antitumor effects, immune modulation, and the construction of drug carriers, indicating a broad spectrum of therapeutic potential. The article aims to present a comprehensive review of mannose, focusing on its molecular structure, metabolic pathways, and clinical and biomedical applications, and also to emphasize its status as a promising therapeutic agent.

Preparation of disulfiram-Cu2+-polylactide nanofibrous membranes via electrostatic spinning and evaluation of their in vitro anticancer effects

The antitumor effects of disulfiram (DSF) —a conventional medication used to treat alcohol dependence—have been documented in numerous studies. However, because of its low water solubility and Cu2+-dependent anticancer effects, the application of DSF in cancer therapy has been limited. Nanofibrous membranes produced via electrospinning have large specific surface areas. Consequently, they have been extensively used in biomedical applications, such as tissue scaffolding, drug delivery. In this study, a polylactic acid nanofibrous membrane was designed to encapsulate Cu2+ and DSF. The encapsulated drug was released when the membranes came into contact with the tumor tissue. DSF functioned as a Cu-ion carrier and combined with Cu2+ to induce tumor-cell apoptosis. The anticancer properties of the drug-loaded nanofibrous membrane were verified at the cellular level using in vitro experiments with cells. The results indicated that DSF and Cu2+ were released from the fiber membrane, and the combination of DSF and Cu2+ exhibited a better of cancer are proposed.

The Influence of Washing of Rice Straw Lignin Isolation on Polyurethane Synthesis for Coating in Biomedical Application

This study examined the effectiveness of different washing methods in improving the quality and functionality of rice straw lignin for its application in the synthesis of polyurethane as a coating material for biomedical pulp. The findings demonstrated that lignin subjected to triple washing (LW3) displayed the highest level of purity, as evidenced by elevated values of ph-OH and total phenolic content. LW3 exhibited the lowest syringyl/guaiacyl ratio, however, it had the highest mean molecular weight. Moreover, the LW3 was employed as a precursor for the production of polyurethane. Kidney trays coated with polyurethane demonstrated prolonged resistance to hot and cold water for over 4 hours. This coating effectively adhered to the fibers of the tray and sealed the pores, resulting in enhanced water resistance. This study offers valuable insights into the advancement of sustainable biobased materials for the purpose of utilizing agricultural byproducts in the synthesis of polymers for various high-value applications.

Application of biogenic silver nanoparticle incorporated nanofibers in biomedical science

The applications of nanotechnology are expanding into medical science for designing new medical devices related products. These products can deliver targeted therapies to diseases such as cancer and peripheral artery treatment. Therefore, with the goal to treat peripheral artery disease, we integrated biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into polyethylene glycol-polycaprolactone (PEG-PCL) nanofibrous (NFs). The AgNPs-NFs mats were successfully fabricated using a blended electrospinning process. AgNPs with average sizes of 35–55 nm were produced and characterized using multiple techniques such as UV–Vis spectroscopy, TEM, SEM and FTIR. Nanofibrous membranes containing 1 %, 2 %, and 3 % AgNPs by weight were developed, showing a reduction in fiber diameter from 473 nm to 179 nm due to the introduction of charged particles. The scaffold’s suitability and drug release profile were critically analyzed, revealing results consistent with optimal biomedical applications. Preliminary studies indicated that AgNPs dose-dependent inhibition of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) may potentially help prevent atherosclerosis. These findings underscore the potential of AgNPs integrated PEG-PCL NFs mats for advanced biomedical applications.

Yeast-Mediated Nanoparticles and Their Biomedical Applications

Yeast-Mediated Nanoparticles and Their Biomedical Applications

Non-Destructive Integration of Spark-Discharge Produced Gold Nanoparticles onto Laser-Scribed Graphene Electrodes for Advanced Electrochemical Sensing Applications

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) decorated graphene materials are preferable materials in a wide range of electrochemical applications, however, the current methods for preparing them have several limitations. Herein, we have developed a green, solution-free, and non-destructive method for the in-situ generation of AuNPs on laser-scribed graphene electrodes (LSGEs), addressing the limitations of traditional preparation methods. This novel technique, contrasting with the conventional solution-based electrochemical deposition, utilizes spark discharge to modify LSGEs, demonstrating superior performance in sensors and biosensors applications. Through comprehensive characterizations (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM)), we observed significant distinctions in particle size, metal loading, stability, surface-to-volume ratio, and graphene quality between spark-discharge produced AuNPs (SP-AuNPs) and electrodeposition produced AuNPs (EC-AuNPs). The average particle sizes of the SP-AuNPs and EC-AuNPs are 10 nm and 38 nm, respectively. The SP-AuNPs modified LSGEs demonstrate exceptional electroanalytical performance in dopamine detection, with a broad detection range (0.6–90 µM) and low LOD (0.40 µM), further validated in human neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y. Our findings suggest that the spark discharge method represents a significant advancement in the synthesis of metal nanoparticle enhanced LSG electrodes, with broad implications for electrochemical sensing, biosensing, and biomedical applications.

Dissolving alginate-based blend microneedles with enhanced mechanical performance for transdermal delivery of vitamin B12

Transdermal delivery of vitamin B12 (Vit-B12) is challenging due to its high hydrophilicity and molecular weight that limit permeation through the skin. Polymeric microneedles (MNs) have been demonstrated to facilitate enhanced transdermal delivery of various drugs with different properties, by piercing the outermost layer of the skin barrier in a minimally-invasive manner. Although sodium alginate (SA) has been widely investigated and used for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, MNs made of pure SA, exhibit poor mechanical properties. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of incorporating different excipients into SA MNs, to enhance their insertion ability and mechanical performance, by a modified vacuum deposition micromolding method. Among these, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-containing SA MNs at a ratio of 1:8 show improved mechanical strength with minimal height reduction (< 10%) at all tested forces, and higher insertion capabilities into a skin-simulant parafilm model (> 65% in the second layer), compared to control SA MNs. Consequently, Vit-B12 was successfully loaded and concentrated into the MN shafts of the lead formulations, by the addition of hydroxypropyl cellulose to the baseplate. Vit-B12 MNs were characterized by means of fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, drug loading and dissolution kinetics. The MNs exhibited adequate mechanical properties and a complete drug release within 30 min, while a considerable fraction was released after few minutes. The present study shows promising findings regarding the potential use of SA in the preparation of dissolving MNs with enhanced mechanical performance for transdermal delivery of Vit-B12. However, further preclinical investigations are necessary to comprehensively evaluate their therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, this work suggests that alginate-based blend MNs may have a potential application in the delivery of other hydrophilic and large compounds for improved therapeutic outcomes.

Quantitative Characterization of the Effect of Biogenic silver-based Nanoparticles on Breast Cancer Cells by High Content Analysis

Background: Among the various types of cancer, breast cancer is the most incident among women. Due to the resistance to antitumor treatments, alternative treatments have been sought, such as metallic nanoparticles. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antitumor potential and cytotoxicity induction mechanisms of green synthesized AgCl-NPs and Ag/AgCl-NPs. Methods: The antitumor potential of nanoparticles was evaluated in breast cancer BT-474 and MDAMB- 436 cell lines treated with 0-40 μg/mL AgCl-NPs or 0-12.5 μg/mL Ag/AgCl-NPs through imagebased high content analysis method. Normal human retinal pigment epithelial 1 (RPE-1) cells were used for comparison. Results: The growth rate of the RPE-1 cells treated with nanoparticles was insignificantly affected, and no significant changes in cell viability were observed. In these cells, the nanoparticle treatments did not induce lysosomal damage, changes in ROS production, or reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential. The level of BT-474 and MDA-MB-436 cell proliferation was markedly decreased, and cell viability was reduced by 64.19 and 46.19% after treatment with AgCl-NPs and reduced by 98.36 and 82.29% after treatment with Ag/AgCl-NPs. The cells also showed a significant increase in ROS production and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which culminated in an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells. BT-474 cells also presented lysosomal damage when treated with the highest concentrations of both nanoparticle types and actin polymerization was observed after exposure to Ag/AgCl-NPs. Conclusions: Together, the results showed overall cytotoxic effects of both AgCl-NPs and Ag/AgCl- NPs towards breast cancer cells with negligible effects against healthy cells, which suggests their promising anticancer and biomedical applications.

Molecular self-assembly of stable and small branched DNA nanostructures: Higher than a helical turn is enough for hybridization

The Watson-Crick base pairing property of DNA is widely used for fabricating DNA nanostructures with well-defined geometry. Moreover, DNA nanostructures can be easily modified in terms of shape, size and function at the nanoscale level. Therefore, investigation on smaller and stable branched DNA (bDNA) is of critical significance for biomedical applications. In the present communication, we report smaller and stable branched DNA (bDNA) which is of critical significance for biomedical applications. In the present study, a novel strategy has been used in identifying stable bDNA nanostructures with a minimum number of Watson-Crick base pairings. The importance of hybridizing regions and helical twists between multiple oligonucleotides has been explored using various biophysical techniques. The electrophoretic analysis demonstrated that hybridizing regions with ≥12 nt nucleotides can form stable bDNA structures. Substantial negative enthalpic contributions determine the significance of base stacking and the length of oligonucleotides in the hybridization process. Finally, thermal melting investigations confirmed the creation of bDNA nanostructures with ≥12 nt long hybridizing regions. In general, our findings indicate that bDNA oligonucleotides do not undergo hybridization if the number of base pairs is lesser for a single helical turn. Furthermore, the yield and stability of smaller bDNA nanostructures in physiological conditions are comparable with the earlier reported higher-order structures. Hence, smaller bDNAs are more stable which may be preferred over conventional bDNA nanostructures for advanced biomedical applications.

Recent trends in the synthesis, characterization and commercial applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles- a review

Zinc oxide has been increasingly gaining popularity due to its various multifunctional features and applications in nanotechnology. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are versatile, as these are utilized in multiple areas like gas sensing, biomedical applications, rubber composites, cosmetics formulations, food, and agriculture industry, etc. ZnO NPs have excellent features like biocompatibility, electrochemical activities, chemical stability, non-toxic nature, high surface area, high-electron communicating properties, ease of synthesis, and many more. This review paper comprehensively explores the advancements and trends of synthesis, characterization, and industrial applications of ZnO NPs. Synthesis methods including physical, chemical, and green manner are discussed herewith. General exploration of fields and applications, with special emphasis on rubber, biomedical, and sensors has been elucidated. Investigators have emphasized the photocatalytic applications, of the ZnO NPs especially in the removal of pollutants from wastewater. Further emphasizing the need for eminent research to unlock the full potential of ZnO NPs in commercializing from the laboratory to the industry.

Marine Seaweed Polysaccharides: An Insight into Biological Activities and Biomedical Applications

: Natural products from various sources play a major role in the healthcare sector, mainly in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agro and medical divisions. Polysaccharides are one of the important biomacromolecules present in higher plants, animals, fungi and algae, and aid in the growth and development of an organism. They play a vital role in regulating and maintaining cellular homeostasis in all forms of life. They are considered bioactive polymers and possess promising beneficial effects on human health without any harmful side effects. Among different biopolymers, polysaccharides have gained greater attention in the area of natural products and biomedical research due to their unique physio-chemical properties, bioactivities and health-promoting effects. The molecular structure of the polysaccharides is highly complex, depending on their origin and the structural diversity. Carbohydrate polymers differ largely based on their molecular weight, composition, functional derivatives, pattern of glycosidic linkages and degree of polymerization. In recent years, seaweed polysaccharides have been identified in large numbers and are effectively used by the food and biotechnology industries for the production of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. Several researches have demonstrated the biological activities of seaweed polysaccharides such as antioxidant, antiviral, hypoglycemic, antidiabetic, antitumor and immunomodulatory. Moreover, there has been a substantial increase in the utilization of natural polymeric biomaterials in the biomedical field. This review summarizes the diverse biological effects of polysaccharides derived from different types of seaweeds as well as their biomedical applications. The information reviewed here provides an insight into the biopotential efficiency of algal-based polysaccharides, further help in the development of novel pharmaceutical and biomedical products.

Transforming waste into multifunctional nanomaterials: Mg-doped carbon dots from cow dung for Y(III) detection and biomedical applications

Rare earth metal Yttrium (Y3+) plays a vital role in many electronic devices however, discarding these devices eventually contaminates the environmental sources. Herein, we have developed a Mg-doped carbon dots (M-CDs) as a fluorescent probe for selective and sensitive determination of Y3+ in water bodies. The M-CDs having maximum emission at 420 nm upon 310 nm excitation with 20 % quantum yield and which was synthesized from upcycling of agricultural waste i.e., cow dung by simple carbonization followed by hydrothermal method. M-CDs were confirmed using different analytical and characterization techniques as well as stable in different pH and ionic strength solutions. The M-CDs was highly selective towards Y3+ ions over different metal ions with significant blue shift. This fluorescent probe performs a good linear relationship between the different concentrations of Y3+ ion and fluorescence intensity (R2 = 0.99) within the range of 0.2 to 20 μg/mL with a detection limit of 0.019 µg/mL. The study indicates quenching of Y3+ was result of dynamic quenching and the Inner Filter Effect (IFE) effect. Also, the cytotoxicity of M-CDs was checked via CAM assay and significant growth in blood vascularization with healthy growth of chick embryo confirmed the M-CDs were biocompatible. The nontoxic M-CDs was employed for MCF-7 breast cancer cell imaging which gives bright blue fluoresce under UV light excitation. Further, aiming to a circular economy approach the residual carbon remaining after hydrothermal was used as reactivated carbon for the abatement of environmental pollutants. The sustainable, cost-effective and agricultural waste-derived Mg-doped CDs have potential applications in analytical, environmental, forensic as well as biomedical fields.

Contact Antibacterial and Biocompatible Polymeric, Composite with Copper Zeolite Filler and Copper Oxide, Nanoparticles: A Step Towards New Raw Materials for the Biomedical Industry

This paper introduces a simple procedure for developing composite materials with antibacterial and biocompatible properties using polylactic acid (PLA) and polypropylene (PP). These composites incorporate three variants of zeolites in different percentages as filler agents: pure zeolite (PZ), copper ion-saturated zeolite (LZ), and copper-ion-saturated zeolite with copper oxide nanoparticles (LZ-nCu). The composites were prepared by the extrusion method and manufactured by injection molding. The impact of these zeolites on various material properties was evaluated, including morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties, antibacterial capacity, biocompatibility, water absorption, and chemical resistance. The results demonstrated that (i) the incorporation of zeolite into the PP matrix improved thermal stability and increased the tensile modulus of the composites. For PLA-based composites, although there was a slight decrease in these values compared to pure PLA, they remained within acceptable ranges; (ii) zeolite LZ and LZnCu composites at 5 and 10% by weight effectively inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria within a maximum of 2 hours of contact; and (iii) composites containing 10% by weight of PZ, LZ, or LZ-nCu showed reduced mechanical properties due to a tendency to form agglomerates. Additionally, LZ and LZ-nCu composites with the same percentage proved highly toxic to human gingival fibroblast cells (HGFs). PLA/LZ-nCu at 5% and PP/LZ at 5% composites exhibited antibacterial properties with bactericidal effects upon contact, high biocompatibility, and lower water absorption compared to the pure polymeric matrix. These results highlight the operational effectiveness of the procedure and suggest the potential of these composites in biomedical applications, such as in vitro dentistry, without contamination risks.

Extraction of type I collagen and development of collagen methacryloyl (ColMA)/PEGDA ink for digital light processing printing

The fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) biostructures through additive manufacturing relies on the critical role of ink development. With the growing demand for high-resolution manufacturing, digital light processing (DLP) technology has emerged as a promising technique requiring specialised photosensitive inks. Although gelatine methacryloyl (GelMA) has been the primary option for DLP, its mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and low stability still present limitations. The development of collagen-based ink is thus in high demand for a wider stiffness adjustment range, native bioactivities, and versatility in biomedical engineering applications. In this paper, we report a rapid and low-cost protocol for collagen methacryloyl (ColMA)/poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) ink for DLP printing. The ink demonstrated the highest printing resolution of ~50 μm by using 405 nm visible light. The printability, mechanical properties and cell viability of the DLP-printed ColMA/PEGDA structures were comprehensively evaluated. The printed ColMA/PEGDA structures reached a compressive modulus over 100 kPa with 0.6 wt% collagen. The printed ColMA/PEGDA scaffolds promoted the attachment and proliferation of 3 T3 fibroblasts, demonstrating their potential in future applications in biomedical engineering.

Effect of Ag–Te alloys on pH sensitivity of Ag2O–TeO2 glass/stainless steel enamel

Glass pH sensors are unsuitable for in vivo biomedical, clinical, or food applications because of brittleness of glass, the difficulty in measurement of small volumes and complex matrices, and the need for calibration. Herein, a novel enamel reference electrode for pH sensors is developed using a binary xAg2O·(100–x)TeO2 glass/stainless steel (SUS) electrode. Subsequently, the effects of Ag2O content on the precipitated crystalline phases and pH sensitivity of Ag2O–TeO2 glass/SUS electrodes are examined. The results indicate that the xAg2O·(100–x)TeO2 glass/SUS samples exhibit relatively low pH sensitivity. The pH sensitivities of the samples can be classified into two distinct groups. The first group, comprising samples with an Ag2O content of 25 mol% or more, exhibits a pH sensitivity higher than 10 %. The second group, comprising samples with an Ag2O content of 22 mol% or less, exhibits a pH sensitivity of less than 10 %. The pH sensitivity tends to decrease with increase in stutzite fraction in Ag–Te alloys. Results of X-ray diffraction measurements and transmission electron microscopy observations indicate that the hessite and stutzite Ag–Te alloys, which are minor and conductive, are the primary contributors to the low pH sensitivity observed. Moreover, the pH sensitivity of xAg2O·(100–x)TeO2/SUS is observed to be between those of the Ag–Te alloy and the Ag2O–TeO2 glass matrix. We propose occurrence of an electrical shunt should occur between the Ag–Te alloy and the Ag+-ion conductive Ag2O–TeO2 glass matrix. Regarding xAg2O·(100–x)TeO2 glass/SUS, the 20Ag2O·80TeO2 glass/SUS to 21Ag2O·79TeO2 glass/SUS compositions represent promising candidates as for KCl-leakage-free reference electrodes for pH sensors.

Impact of polycaprolactone, alginate, chitosan and zein nanofiber physical properties on immune cells for safe biomedical applications.

Nanofiber safety, especially immunogenicity, is important for their successful translation to clinical setting. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of how nanofiber physical properties influence immune cells cultured on them, specifically peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We prepared nanofibers with a wide range of physical properties including various diameters, interfibrillar pore sizes and mat thicknesses, using four main polymers: polycaprolactone, alginate, chitosan, and zein. Our findings show that nanofiber diameters had only a marginal influence on the activity of immune cells, whereas interfibrillar nanofiber pore sizes had a significant effect, and mat thickness proved to have the greatest impact. Cells that penetrated deeper into the thick nanofiber mats ceased to proliferate but did not experience cytotoxicity. Moreover, we discovered that PBMCs penetrating the zein/PVP nanofiber mesh exhibited increased metabolic activity, indicating potential immunogenicity, whereas the other tested non-immunogenic nanofibers reduced it. To best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report on the impact of various nanofiber physical properties on in vitro immune cell behavior, thereby expanding the knowledge in the relatively unexplored field of nanofiber immunological safety. It underscores the need for rigorous preclinical nanofiber assessment and setting new standards for designing nanofiber-based biomedical products.

Effects of Plasma Surface Modification of Mg-2Y-2Zn-1Mn for Biomedical Applications

Magnesium (Mg) alloys have emerged as promising materials for biodegradable implants in orthopedic, oral, and cardiovascular applications. Despite their potential, high corrosion rate, and release of diatomic hydrogen in the surrounding environment remain the unmet challenges. In this research, oxygen plasma ion immersion implantation (O-PIII) was investigated in an attempt to modify the degradation rate of Mg-2Y-2Zn-1Mn alloy. In particular, the effects of pulse duration (tpd) and pressure (p) on the degradation rate were investigated. For all the investigated conditions, plasma treatment enriched the surface chemical composition with O, forming a Mg- and Y- rich oxide layer. Mg and Y elements were mainly concentrated at grain boundaries. The concurrent phenomena of sputtering and energetic implantation led to crystalline Y2O3 formation. Electrochemical investigations confirm that the degradation rate of samples decreased significantly, from ∼0.23 mm/y for untreated to ∼0.07 mm/y for O-PIII conditions. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of O-PIII in changing surface properties and controlling corrosion rate of Mg alloys.

Wideband trans-impedance amplifier with bandwidth tuning for near infra-red spectroscopy bio-medical applications

Wideband trans-impedance amplifier with bandwidth tuning for near infra-red spectroscopy bio-medical applications

Na+-doped WO3 double-layer resistive switching device for biomimetic applications

We report on polycrystalline double-layer NaWO3 thin films in a two-terminal device configuration showing resistive switching (RS) based on the neuronal ion Na+ for biomimetic applications. A top NayWO3 layer functions as a Na+ reservoir, enabling fast Na+ ion intercalation into a bottom NaxWO3 layer with x < y, giving good resistance control for analog processing. Operando Raman measurements show Na+ activation under 0.5 V and the electrical characterization proves that the switching is linked to the motion of Na+. The switching mechanism is investigated thoroughly by studying different film layer combinations. The observed RS performance can be explained by the change of electron emission/hopping site energy levels upon Na+ intercalation. The presented devices based on biocompatible materials constitute a promising route towards an analog processing building block for emulating neuronal ion channels for emerging biomimetic and potentially biomedical applications, as well as for flexible electronics.

Tailored graphene nanoparticles for bio-medical application: Preliminary in vitro characterization of the functionality in model cell lines

Thanks to an environmentally friendly physical treatment of high purity graphite, a good control of the structure of graphene nanoparticles (GNPs) has been obtained with the production of stable and reproducible GNPs water dispersions. The preparation protocol entailed ball-milling of synthetic graphite followed by sonication in water and centrifugation/separation procedures. This way, two different GNPs samples with slightly different structural characteristics were harvested: TOP60, showing an average lateral size of the graphene layers < L> = 70 nm and average number of stacked layers < N> = 4, and BOTTOM60, with < L> = 120 nm and < N> = 6. A detailed structural characterization of GNPs was performed as mandatory pre-requisite to build reliable structure/properties correlations, in terms of both bio-medical efficacy and toxicity, aiming at a rationale design of tailored materials for applications in biological environments.To this end, in this study GNPs were thoroughly characterized, focusing on cytotoxicity, cellular up-take, and inflammatory response, by testing their effect in different cell lines. BOTTOM60 GNPs in culture medium and in the presence of cells showed a tendency to form big aggregates, phenomenon that was probably responsible for their cytotoxicity at high concentrations. On the other hand, TOP60 GNPs showed a diverse behavior depending on the cell type under investigation. Indeed, the nanoparticles were internalized by cells specialized in endo/phagocytosis, such as astrocytoma cells, but not by carcinoma cells of epithelial origin. Moreover, TOP60 GNPs caused a reduction of proliferation only at high concentration and did not trigger an inflammatory response in THP-1-derived macrophages.The evidence here collected paves the way for further investigations towards the development of GNPs-based drug delivery systems.